All iPads: The "iPad trap" ...

[entatlrg]

I call it the iPad trap, really it's poor self control but I find myself using the iPad over my laptop more than I should. The end result being I'm doing things less efficiently and slower than I would if I was doing the same tasks my laptop.

The iPad is so convenient to grab and go and use anywhere that it ends up being my device of choice. And for me that's a mistake. I'm CEO of a Design and Manufacturing company, I work long hours, time is money.

Whether it's typing emails on the touchscreen, inability to add attachments, viewing CAD files, editing documents or concept drawing it all goes quicker using a laptop.

It's time to get away from the iPad for a while, I'm going to start leaving it on my night stand and use it only as a consumption device and get back to getting things done quicker and easier with my Mac's.

It's an easy thing to fall into I think and I doubt I'm the only one that sits there at times typing on the touchscreen thinking what the heck am I doing, it would be so much easier/faster on my Mac.

Anyone share the same experience or am I only one with poor self control who gravitates to the iPad more than they should

[haruhiko]

Inability to add attachments? What kind of attachments do you want to add?

[ZZ Bottom]

Originally Posted by haruhiko

Inability to add attachments? What kind of attachments do you want to add?

Lol the only attachment you can add is a photo... Obviously he wants to attach one of the many many other file formats.

[haruhiko]

Originally Posted by ZZ Bottom

Lol the only attachment you can add is a photo... Obviously he wants to attach one of the many many other file formats.

To attach all other kinds of file you need some apps that manage files like GoodReader etc.

These apps can send all kinds of files via e-mail.

[praktical]

Seriously here. You'll never get anywhere really productive using your iPad no matter how many apps you have at your arsenal. The MBP keys to productivity in every way possible. However if emails are the definitive role in a productive day for ou if you're a top lev exec then fine but the average person reliant on his computer for productivity will never rely on his/her iPad.

[Stack Overflow]

Originally Posted by ZZ Bottom

Lol the only attachment you can add is a photo... Obviously he wants to attach one of the many many other file formats.

I attach PDFs from Pages all the time on mine.

[sim667]

1st world problems

[Ed91]

I'm no CEO, but I did find myself using my iPad instead of lugging my MBP out of it's bag when I got home, resulting in me doing nothing productive at all with my evenings. I've abandoned my iPad (Apple did too), and though my MBP is way less convenient, I actually do more than I ever could with the iPad.

I tend to agree, it's a seductive trap if you're unable to be productive on it.

[Shadyriley]

Lmao you make a thread about how your have to leave the iPad behind. Classic.

[Gregintosh]

As a fellow CEO (of an outsourced staffing agency) I feel your pain. I have found the best way for me to manage my iPad is to use Siri to write quick e-mail responses back when I am using it "after hours" for leisure. In fact, anything that involves typing I use siri voice recognition for.

I noticed the biggest "time suck" compared to doing something on a computer is the fact that the keyboard slows you down -- but overcome that with voice recognition and it's not so bad. Otherwise, I stick to my Macbook Pro Retina for day to day work.

CEO Pro Tip: I have also found that it is helpful to appoint someone to be your assistant and have them do all the heavy typing, number crunching, etc. Even spread it across a few people if needed. I was reluctant at first because it seemed like extra overhead but the amount of time I freed up is incredible, and I'm able to use it to focus on the bigger picture stuff I should be instead of the day to day minutia.

These days I like to spend my time strategizing with my top team members and having them delegate out the number crunching. I have found that this reduced my need for using any heavy apps other than the browser (since our systems like time clocks, invoicing, etc. are all web based) e-mail, and Skype for chat throughout most of my workflow.

If you need tips on getting a cheap assistant that can help you out let me know. :-)

[maflynn]

I use the tool that best fits my needs, and highly recommend the OP does as well. I have no problem using my laptop over the iPad. While the iPad has strengths in a number of areas, it also has weaknesses.

I find it a no brainer to grab my laptop when I want to create a spreadsheet, word document, or remotely access a server. While I can do all of these with the iPad, I'd rather not because the laptop is more efficient in handling these tasks

Just my $.02

[syd430]

Yes I can relate to this. Like you, i was turning to the ipad simply because it's often much more convient to grab and fire up, even though it was hindering productivity. It got to the point where I had to consciously limit the ipad use to only the following tasks:

- Browsing / light research
- Managing Calander and to do's in RTM
- Light emails
- Viewing documents in drop box / good reader
- Edits to various small txt files in Elements
- Banking
- Social networking / reddit / entertainment
- The occasional casual game (Kingdom rush, carcassonne etc)

Anything more heavy than this, then I will switch to desktop / laptop.

At one stage, I was editing docs and spreadsheets with heavy formatting in Docs to Go, pages, numbers etc, remoting in to my computer, playing graphic intensive games etc etc. It was all a waste of time because it could of have been done much more efficiently on the computer.

[Jessica Lares]

Why not just buy a wireless keyboard then? That's what I'm going to do.

[syd430]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

Why not just buy a wireless keyboard then? That's what I'm going to do.

This only solves about 10% of the problem though. You will still be limited to iOS (and iOS apps), touch input (rather than a pointer), and 1024x768 effective pixels (that includes the retina models). You can sort of work around 2 out the above 4 problems by remoting in to your computer, but latency issues on current wi-fi specs still prevents this from being a viable alternative for any serious use.

If all you are doing is writing a book though, then a wireless keyboard would be sufficient.

[thewitt]

Originally Posted by onthecouchagain

100% agree. I cannot do any serious work nor serious work in a timely fashion on my iPad.

It really is primarily a play/leisure device, which in my opinion, isn't worth investing in again unless iOS 7 brings some serious new features/changes. It plays games well, and is a decent device to browse the web on, but not much else.

Typing anything remotely long on the iPad is painful.

I carry my iPad in a courier bag with a wireless keyboard and can type just as fast as on my laptop. I don't find it limiting in that fashion at all.

I don't create PowerPoint presentations with it, but I use it for 80% of my work these days with no loss in productivity. If anything I'm more productive because it is with me much more often than my laptop and I'm much more connected.

[Maxblasta]

I have a mac, an ipad, and iphone. my uses change whenever i get an updated model of any of them. It's a neverending cycle...

[baypharm]

The answer to your concern is self control - that's it. Beyond that, current tablets will never be desktop or laptop replacements. Perhaps in coming years when they are considerably more advanced than the toys we have now.

[adnoh]

Originally Posted by entatlrg

I call it the iPad trap, really it's poor self control but I find myself using the iPad over my laptop more than I should. The end result being I'm doing things less efficiently and slower than I would if I was doing the same tasks my laptop.

The iPad is so convenient to grab and go and use anywhere that it ends up being my device of choice. And for me that's a mistake. I'm CEO of a Design and Manufacturing company, I work long hours, time is money.

Whether it's typing emails on the touchscreen, inability to add attachments, viewing CAD files, editing documents or concept drawing it all goes quicker using a laptop.

It's time to get away from the iPad for a while, I'm going to start leaving it on my night stand and use it only as a consumption device and get back to getting things done quicker and easier with my Mac's.

It's an easy thing to fall into I think and I doubt I'm the only one that sits there at times typing on the touchscreen thinking what the heck am I doing, it would be so much easier/faster on my Mac.

Anyone share the same experience or am I only one with poor self control who gravitates to the iPad more than they should

Dont blame perfectly good technology for your lack of discipline.

[maxosx]

Originally Posted by entatlrg

I call it the iPad trap, really it's poor self control but I find myself using the iPad over my laptop more than I should. The end result being I'm doing things less efficiently and slower than I would if I was doing the same tasks my laptop.

The iPad is so convenient to grab and go and use anywhere that it ends up being my device of choice. And for me that's a mistake. I'm CEO of a Design and Manufacturing company, I work long hours, time is money.

Whether it's typing emails on the touchscreen, inability to add attachments, viewing CAD files, editing documents or concept drawing it all goes quicker using a laptop.

It's time to get away from the iPad for a while, I'm going to start leaving it on my night stand and use it only as a consumption device and get back to getting things done quicker and easier with my Mac's.

It's an easy thing to fall into I think and I doubt I'm the only one that sits there at times typing on the touchscreen thinking what the heck am I doing, it would be so much easier/faster on my Mac.

Anyone share the same experience or am I only one with poor self control who gravitates to the iPad more than they should

First off, I enjoyed your post...

I don't believe it's a matter of poor self control, as much as a matter of convenience, enjoyment, and a way to take a break from the long standing way we've used computers.

My personal experience with the choices I have, is not too much unlike yours.

At this very moment I'm composing this on my iPad 4. Yet being at home, I could have chosen to use my Mac Pro, 15" MBPr, 13" MBA, iPad mini, or iPhone 5.

What's especially revealing is amongst these choices I really enjoy the laptops, and have for years. But I grabbed the iPad 4 most probably because of the casual feel, the relaxed impression it gives, knowing full well how much I detest typing on glass...ha...ha...ha

[relax11]

My MBA 11" has relegated my iPad 4 to a device which occasionally gets used on an airplane. The combination of portability and work make up for the fact that it's not quite as fun at consumption. The mini looks mildly interesting, but I'm waiting for retina and more speed.

[anthonymoody]

I have the opposite "problem" (see my signature): fewer and fewer and fewer instances over time - hardly any these days - wherein I could be more productive on a device other than my iPad. I'm wicked fast typing, employ a robust file system solution, and apps for everything I need and want. Hard to imagine ever going back to a laptop. I'm an independent feature film producer fwiw.