Small footprint; multiple monitor support

Lacks expandability beyond ram/hard drive; no optical drive; no USB 3

Every computer mentioned in this article is capable of running all of the latest Mac software capably -- but some models just perform the tasks faster than others. Remember: you can't make a bad choice; just balance out the features that are most important within your budget.

The iPad is an interesting item to consider for work and study. The starting price? $399 for the iPad 2, which comes in a .37" thick aluminum frame and weighs less than a pound and a half. The iPad also offers instant-on, has an all-day battery life without any clever power management, has a vibrant third party accessory and app ecosystem, and offers instant document syncing and backup with iCloud (as well as other online services). I've been using the iPad since day one, and I have to tell you: the iPad is the most convenient computer I have ever used, with unprecedented reliability; the machine is virtually maintenance-free.