On the eve of iPad’s product launch, Steve Jobs claimed his striking new brainchild to be a missing link between an average smartphone and a laptop/netbook, something that would serve as a traveller’s or an office-goer’s pride.

But with this new kid on the block gathering the spotlight, would the sales of the original Apple computing genius, the MacBook, get hampered in the long run? It is a question which most sceptics are speculating on.

However, if you are a confused buyer scratching scalp on what to buy come summer – in love with the iPad’s oozing appeal on one hand and double-minded about its features and reviews on the other – then here’s some assistance on offer.

The latest MacBook Pro which was released back in October 2009 has gathered a commendable customer base globally. Now, with the iPad’s release this new year, it remains to be seen how well it fares against its own cousin.

Barring the multi-touch feature, the iPad’s 9.7 inch widescreen display falls a bit short in terms of looks compared to the glossy 13.3 inch MacBook display which supports a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution.

A 2.26 GHz Processor along with a two 2 GB RAM slots assures superior access and performance speed for the MacBook, way faster compared to the iPad, which runs on a 1 GHz Apple s4 processor.

The maximum storage capacity that an iPad can dish out is 64 GB with its high-end Wi-Fi + 3G model, whereas the MacBook comes fitted with a 250 GB HDD, which is expandable up to 500 GB.

Both MacBook and iPad have Wi-Fi connect facilities via a robust 802.11 a/b/g/n AirPort. But the advantage that the MacBook has here is that it also serves as a Bluetooth. On the flipside, the iPad’s top variant supports AT&T’s 3G connectivity.

The MacBook comes with an 8x DVD+R drive for reading and writing DVDs/data disks. In this aspect, the iPad proves to be futile with no slots for disks and no ports for USB.

Running on a smooth Mac OS X v10, the MacBook complies with most of the modern functions that one would expect a laptop to perform. But based on the iPhone’s 3.2 OS, the iPad may seem a swift-runner initially, but is devoid of most common programs.

Lastly, the iPad serves as a slim and trimmed traveller’s pet with a mere feather-weight of 1.5 to 1.6 lbs, whereas, like most laptops or netbooks, the MacBook – at 4.7 lbs – is a bit hard to carry around on trips and tours.

So, no matter what it seems like from the get-go, the iPad cannot be a replacement for a laptop, and definitely not a MacBook, which is craftily priced at $999, which seems legit compared to the $829 that the high-end iPad demands.

But what it will serve as readily in the times to come is as a perfect entertainment package – supplying feeds ranging from movies to music – for those who believe that “small is beautiful”.