Space Islands vs Mars

The advantage of space islands over terraforming Mars is that the
technowlogy for which Zubrin wishes to achieve his dream is based on
Junk Science. Transporting all that equipment is going to take time and
resources. And don't forget the personel who'll have to operate it and
the resources necessary to sustain them. The technowlogy to construct
space islands is basicly existing technowlogy adapted to zero gravity.
The resources are more readily at hand. And the time between starting
and delivery of space island habitats available for settelment is much
muck quicker in achievement than a new Mars.