Laptop, surface, Ipad ???

Wow dont all jump st once!!

If you don't like Microsoft operating systems, why are you asking?

It's down to personal preference really i got a 1st gen android tablet and it kind of put me off tablets for the time being.

An Ipad will solve your opinion of the new Microsoft operating system.

Good luck choosing!

I bought a grunty little second-hand laptop on eBay and installed Ubuntu Linux. It flies and there are very few things I can't do on it compared to my Windows 7 desktop.

An Ipad will solve your opinion of the new Microsoft operating system.

Good luck choosing!

For writing and editing a good size keyboard is a must. I have an Ipad with an extra keyboard but it does not beat the laptop for usability (there may be better keyboard out there).

If you look at fit for purpose, a Ipad or tablet are probably not what you need. Although there are cool laptops where you detach the screen and it becomes a tablet (Somebody else may have tried one of those ).

Remember a Mac has a solid state drive which means you can only write to it so many times before it packs up. Then you can do 2 things - send it back to Apple for a huge fix price or put it to the back of the cupboard. Not the best thing if you are doing lots of video. If you want an all round performer go for a Win 7 device or wait for the upgraded Win 8 due anytime soon.

If you have the money, go for a Macbook Air, it's the perfect mix between a powerful workhouse like the iMac, and the mobility of the iPad.
Also, it doesn't come with Microsoft's awful, bloated OS.

I use a rather large laptop for my work. But if I had the money I would have bought something a little less heavy like a Mac Air or something similar. I hate having to carry my heavy laptop around with me everywhere. It is a good laptop, decent specs, but just really big.

Ipad, surface and other tablet devices are really for consuming not producing content. Even if you add a Bluetooth keyboard you will not get the mileage you need from it.

Get a MacBook air or Asus machine running Windows 7 or even a Chromebook so that you have the ability to really work on it as opposed to just surfing.

A laptop will give you the most usable options. I use a laptop for writing and adding website content.

Then, I have an ipad I take with me everywhere to do research and look things up when I need to. I think to be the most efficient, you need both.

Alright, so.

I have a Desktop setup with 3 monitors.
I bought a Macbook Air 13" intented to use when i'm away from the desktop.
I bought an iPad mini to use on the sofa, in bed and most importantly, while on the can.

I spend 90% of my time infront of my desktop and ever since I got the iPad I haven't touched the Macbook Air.. Even for meetings where I used to bring my Macbook, the iPad is more than enough for my use.

Its basically just for really light tasks, for anything heavier I use the PC. Much faster, more powerful and the multiple screens just make it so much easier to work with.

iPad > MBA. (at least for my perosnal use)

Good stuff....So in a nutshell, its still the laptop!! :-)

Both devices get their advantages and disadvantages. Better to get both. For serious job touchpad is not the best solution, but somewhere underway you can do something. Or consider to buy ultrabook, that is light and have a good screen and keyboard.

If I were you, I'd get a Macbook Air.

Well, in short a laptop is the only way to go for serious developers. It is the perfect combination of portability, usability and power. It's not like you would want to use a device while riding your skateboard down a mountain while holding a beer in the other hand.

However, oddly enough if you do feel that you need a device more portable than a laptop then I suggest you go for Surface Pro. You get performance power and a better operating system (as compared to Windows RT in Microsoft Surface).

Apart from that it comes with a Wacom digitizer which makes it PERFECT to use with photoshop.

Of course, all this rant is just pointless if you simply do not like the windows OS.

Hi there, I had the very same issue 4 months ago, however, you sound like you do not use Mac's? most people here will more than likely say mac laptop if you need portability. I considered buying an ipad, but it just won't do anything close to what a laptop can. So, after a lot of research and using Which? online, I ended up buying an Ultrabook, I went for the Sony 13" vaio i7 touchscreen. I find the touch screen slows me down under normal working conditions, great for browsing etc. However, I could not use it full time so I down loaded a free plugin that gives you back the tool bar just like you are used to. Search for (skip Metro Suite) SO I now have the best of both worlds! My order of priorities are, as I've never used mac's and I did not want a whole new learning curve! So, 1-Battery life, 2- light as a feather, 3- Speed, 4-Robust

The Battery life is one of the best for a laptop, on a single charge I'll get a whole day's worth of life.
Weight/Robust - give or take the odd few oz's it's not the most lightest out there, but it is the strongest given the ratio between light and strong! ( the body is solid, most laptops flex, this really is solid) Put it this way, when traveling I really do not notice the weight, unlike most traditional laptops.
Speed - If your budget will stretch, go for the i7 or what ever is the latest now, as you shouldn't have to buy a new one for at least 5-6 yrs. I'm not in the habit for getting the latest greatest every 2 yrs! But if you invest right in the beginning it will save you money in the long run. Lastly, the keyboard is amazing to use, friends tell me typing on this vaio, feels like an airbook. If my brain was wired differently, I would use a mac air, but it's not, and I can do everything I need to using an an ultrabook. I hope this helps, all the best - Nick. P.S. for all you real techies out there reading this I'm sure you'll disagree with many points. however, I have found over the years that MOST people never really use their computer to it's full capability :-)

FWIW, I personally feel the new MS downright rocks with touch and pen. Very fast and smooth. I use it (pro) for everything. It's a fujitsu tablet instead of surface and a couple of years old but it's my main computer.