I know what you may be thinking…what? No contest. The Mac Pro is far faster than the iPad in every way. By most standards, yes. It is. However, how do you define ‘faster’ or ‘better’?

When was doing photography full time I made heavy use of my Mac Pro. Plenty of power, space, memory, and all the other good stuff tech geeks like. Lately I just don’t use it much. When I do it is for basic things: checking email, looking up information on line, sharing photos, or maybe some light video editing.

In March Apple was kind enough to replace my Macbook Pro with a brand new one. These new “Early 2011” models are fast…even faster than my 4 year old Mac Pro. When I needed to do some really intensive work like HD video or edit photos the new laptop was better than the Mac Pro. I figured I could just use external drives for data and the laptop for my main computer. So the Mac Pro was listed on Craigs List. I got about half what it cost me, plenty to cover the cost of a new iPad. 

In the weeks since Emily and I are both loving this decision. No longer do we have to start up the Mac Pro, sit at the desk in the corner and do stuff. 85% of what we used to do on it we can do on the iPad. No startup time and easy access means it is ‘faster’ in the sense that we get done sooner. When you take into account that the iPad lets you do all this while on the couch, in the office, in bed, sitting outside, or anywhere with wifi (or no wifi if you don’t need internet) the iPad is far superior.

It has also proven to be a real winner for work. I take it to meetings and conferences and the laptop stays in the bag most of the time. I can take notes, draw diagrams, and most anything else you need to do in a meeting. No need to transfer written notes to digital or lug a laptop around (and be the guy going clackity clack on the keyboard).

Other bonuses are its ability to serve as a media hub. With a $100 ($85 in refurb store) AppleTV you can play your music and videos on any HD TV. I can even see people using one of these for work. Bring you AppleTV, connect it to the presentation TV or porjector and viola, instant wireless presentation system.

Is the iPad a Mac Pro replacement? Absolutely not. You may still need a computer to store all the source files for photo/video, sync with, and do the heavy lifting. I’ve rarely needed to use the laptop, but when I do it shows why computers are not going away any time soon. Aperture, Final Cut Studio and Photoshop just can’t be replaced with anything on the iPad. But for most needs, even light video editing, the iPad performs very well. I’ve even found that the iPad version of applications are at times better on the iPad (OmniFocus being the primary example).

So what about those of you who don’t edit hundreds of 10MB photos or don’t need to capture and edit video? Chances are an iPad is a better fit than a new computer. Anyone looking to update their aging home computer or who is considering a laptop should give a good look at the iPad if:

• you mostly consume media (watch video, internet use, email, and such)
• are careful with portable electronics, they don’t play well with kids and clumsy people
• don’t mind the smaller screen
• have wifi at home
• don’t do a lot of video or photo editing

There certainly are limits to the iPad. I’ve found it can most everything I use a laptop or desktop for, and many things those simply cannot do. Do I regret selling the Mac Pro and ‘downgrading’ to an iPad? Not at all. Best move I made. Only wish I had done it sooner when I could have gotten more for the Mac Pro.