iPad or Digital SLR Camera & 13 vs. 15in MacBook Pro

[udontno]

If you had about $600 to spend on either a digital SLR camera or the iPad, what would you purchase? WHY? I just graduated high school today and have already gotten a fair chunk of change from family, friends, etc. I've said for a LONG time that I want an SLR camera. I've worked with a lot of these cameras at school and my pictures have been featured in display cases, the school yearbook and newspaper, the local newspaper, PowerPoints, etc. I really think that if I had a nice camera that I could go very, very far with my photography. However, is $600 enough for a nice camera? I've used one at school that cost around $1,000... have I been spoiled by the nice ones at school and having to use a $600 will just frustrate me and make me feel limited?

I'd want to get the iPad with the middle amount of storage (isn't that 32GB?) that is $599 if I went that route. I like that idea because of the multiple uses of the iPad... however, I feel like I'll continue to long for that camera even if I have an iPad.

That being said, I'm also in need of a new computer. I've got an HP Pavilion dv2000 laptop that I've had about four years. I desperately want a Mac like there is no tomorrow. This computer actually is about 13in, which surprised me! I thought it was bigger than that. I've read countless, countless threads and articles about the 13in and the 15in. What would you do? I like the additional power of the 15in, but I'm not sure that it would be worth the additional weight. I'm not that big of a gal, so I really don't need a lot of stuff weighing me down. I'm already a bag lady as it is. I'm planning on waiting until July to get my Mac, so Lion will be pre-installed. Or would you buy now and download it later? I know that if you buy a Mac now, you can get Lion for free when it comes out.

I feel like my brain has exploded on this page because I've rambled a lot about the nice pieces of tech equipment I want. Please give me some guidance guys!

[Cabron]

Personally? I'd go for the Mac It's a better long-term investment--the iPad is just gonna be obsolete in a few months anyways and you'll be able to use the Mac for a wider range of things. The SLR seems like more of a 'fun' sort of purchase. I'm actually planning on buying a 13 inch Macbook Pro myself sooner than later, so maybe I'm a bit biased. That's my thoughts, anyways.

[MegaMadness]

I'd say get the SLR camera, well maybe not with the $600 if you can't get what you want for that amount but put it towards saving up for a more expensive one if needs be. Though I might be a bit biased because I'm a photographer and currently saving for an SLR. I guess it depends on how serious you want to be in photography and whether your passion for it is greater then your wants for those other things. To me, the others are wants, but the camera is a need. (Told you I'm a bit biased )

[udontno]

Originally Posted by Cabron

Personally? I'd go for the Mac It's a better long-term investment--the iPad is just gonna be obsolete in a few months anyways and you'll be able to use the Mac for a wider range of things. The SLR seems like more of a 'fun' sort of purchase. I'm actually planning on buying a 13 inch Macbook Pro myself sooner than later, so maybe I'm a bit biased. That's my thoughts, anyways.

Eeek, I don't think I made it clear in my original post that I'm debating between the iPad and the camera... I've got other money set aside for the Macbook Pro, it's just a matter of deciding what size and whether or not to buy now or wait until Lion is out.

Originally Posted by MegaMadness

I'd say get the SLR camera, well maybe not with the $600 if you can't get what you want for that amount but put it towards saving up for a more expensive one if needs be. Though I might be a bit biased because I'm a photographer and currently saving for an SLR. I guess it depends on how serious you want to be in photography and whether your passion for it is greater then your wants for those other things. To me, the others are wants, but the camera is a need. (Told you I'm a bit biased )

You definitely seemed biased towards the camera! The computer is a necessity and I've got money set aside to purchase that with, it's just a matter of purchasing it...

[how.we.operate.]

Macbook Pro:
It will be a $30 upgrade to Lion. If you need the computer now, get it. If you don't, you can wait if you don't want to spend the $30 too. ALSO look at the school deals that you can do-college students get $100 gift card to the App store! ALSO you can buy Lion off the App store.

Camera vs iPad:
If you are getting a laptop, do you need an iPad? That is the main thing...yes it is nice to have something pretty darn portable, but isn't that what a laptop is for? I do agree with MegaMadness about if you are serious about photography, then get the camera. Personally, I'd get the camera OR save up to get a nicer/pricier camera since the iPad is pretty much a portable computer which is what a laptop is.
On the other side of things, an iPad does have a camera and they take pretty decent pictures. It is nice to have something that takes decent picture and that you can carry around pretty easily.

Good luck!

[cptdean]

Seems like you are really into your photography and an ipad just doesnt cut it for a decent camera (bad quality, awkward to hold, no flash etc.) so you WILL want a camera. But go out to a store and see what $600 gets you and see if its what you want and you will probably be suprised what can be offered. Especially if you are going to get a Mac too because the ipad is very limited in quite alot of ways and will get you frustrated sometimes if you need to do something and the mac can do everything you would need from the ipad (but the ipad is a perfect internet browser, gaming device and info source)

I cant really comment between 13" and 15" but if you think if it being that bit bigger or that bit more powerful and that bit more expensive is really worth it to the point where you would be limited by going for 13 then go for the bigger one; but i feel you would probably be more than satisfied with the 13. And dont wait for lion as you can buy it cheap on the app store when its out, but dont rush your decision between 13 and 15.

Have fun with whatever you get!

[FlyingTrue]

Apple is going to roll out new upgrades to the Macbook family when Lion comes out in August so if you're planning to get one and you don't need it right away, I think it would be better to wait until then, then you'd get better bang for your buck.

I'd recommend getting the camera, DSLRs are definitely worth the investment and offer you a greater means of creative expression. In regards to iPads, they are a bit limited comparatively, and well if you are getting a MacBook to carry around, don't really think you would need an iPad.

[udontno]

Originally Posted by how.we.operate.

Macbook Pro:
It will be a $30 upgrade to Lion. If you need the computer now, get it. If you don't, you can wait if you don't want to spend the $30 too. ALSO look at the school deals that you can do-college students get $100 gift card to the App store! ALSO you can buy Lion off the App store.

Camera vs iPad:
If you are getting a laptop, do you need an iPad? That is the main thing...yes it is nice to have something pretty darn portable, but isn't that what a laptop is for? I do agree with MegaMadness about if you are serious about photography, then get the camera. Personally, I'd get the camera OR save up to get a nicer/pricier camera since the iPad is pretty much a portable computer which is what a laptop is.
On the other side of things, an iPad does have a camera and they take pretty decent pictures. It is nice to have something that takes decent picture and that you can carry around pretty easily.

Good luck!

Apple has stated that if you buy now, upgrading to Lion will be free. The App Store is the only place that you will be able to buy Lion from (at least that is what they are announcing right now). I definitely plan on buying with an education discount... I have not gotten my school email address yet so I will have to wait to do that. Just thought about that the other day. I'm also going to get the Microsoft Academic suite of software (Word, PP, etc.) for the Mac (you have to have a .edu address). It's fairly cheap and has more than what I need.

I'm not sure how my computing needs will change in college. I have a laptop now but I RARELY take it anywhere. Wifi in my area is limited and I refuse to pay for 3G service. I don't know how useful an iPad would be for portability and stuff. One of the big things that attracts me to it is the e-Reader function. I love to read and would love to be able to read books on the iPad, however... I think I'm a lot more concerned with the camera right now. I'm going to have to see what I can get with the camera.

Originally Posted by cptdean

Seems like you are really into your photography and an ipad just doesnt cut it for a decent camera (bad quality, awkward to hold, no flash etc.) so you WILL want a camera. But go out to a store and see what $600 gets you and see if its what you want and you will probably be suprised what can be offered. Especially if you are going to get a Mac too because the ipad is very limited in quite alot of ways and will get you frustrated sometimes if you need to do something and the mac can do everything you would need from the ipad (but the ipad is a perfect internet browser, gaming device and info source)

I cant really comment between 13" and 15" but if you think if it being that bit bigger or that bit more powerful and that bit more expensive is really worth it to the point where you would be limited by going for 13 then go for the bigger one; but i feel you would probably be more than satisfied with the 13. And dont wait for lion as you can buy it cheap on the app store when its out, but dont rush your decision between 13 and 15.

Have fun with whatever you get!

I'm thinking that I'm going to end up with the camera, I'm just hoping that a $600 one will be enough. You can get Lion for free if you buy a Mac now... Apple has announced this in press conferences. One of the reasons that I'm thinking about waiting is for the bugs to be ironed out and so I can take advantage of the .edu pricing.

Originally Posted by FlyingTrue

Apple is going to roll out new upgrades to the Macbook family when Lion comes out in August so if you're planning to get one and you don't need it right away, I think it would be better to wait until then, then you'd get better bang for your buck.

I'd recommend getting the camera, DSLRs are definitely worth the investment and offer you a greater means of creative expression. In regards to iPads, they are a bit limited comparatively, and well if you are getting a MacBook to carry around, don't really think you would need an iPad.

I don't think that Apple will update the Macbook Pros when they just updated them in like January.