CharlotteBionic wrote:
We'd like it to be as similar to the iPad as possible, so being able to play games from the App Store is a must. as well as an easily cleaned or removable keyboard.
Currently, Apple has two basic notebook models: MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. The following article can help with comparing them to help with the decision on which one would be a better "fit" for your son:
As far as games, not all Apple App Store games are both iPadOS and macOS compatible. This is some may only be played on one platform or the other. Neither model has a removable keyboard, but both can accept connecting a wireless keyboard should he prefer using one.
Another issue we have is, we need to be able to play a few windows games, so it needs to have the capability to run something like bootcamp or boot into a parallel operating system if that makes sense.
It does. The issue here will be that both the newest M1 versions of these notebook cannot run Boot Camp. Nor is there currently a VM Manager (something like Parallels or VMware) to allow running a Windows VM. However, that may change in the near future as, more and more, app developers are providing support for the Apple M1 chip.
The "solution" would be to get a non-M1 Mac notebook if playing Windows-based games are critical to him. Apple still sells the 16" MacBook Pro. If gaming is important and money is no object, then this would be the best fit to meet those goals.
