iPad mini iPad Mini has killed my love for laptops

srkmish · Jul 19, 2013

When i got my first laptop in 2006 - Lenovo X40, i was on cloud nine. A portable PC which i could carry anywhere and more than 3 hours battery life. Seemed like a miracle then. It gave me 5 strong years of service. However, once i got a tablet, laptops seem cumbersome to me now. Here's why.

1. Putting a laptop on ur tummy while laying down is not for long periods. First of all, ur stomach stars to heat up with the heat of the system and the additional weight feels uncomfortable after a time. Tablets on the other hand are meant for this purpose. Laying down with this light weight device seems ideal.

2. The Touchpad is good but no replacement for a mouse. There is always a distance between you and the laptop with the touchpad. There is a millisecond gap between using it and accessing the activity u like. On the other hand, the swiping/pressing action on tablet seems more intuitive and natural.

3. Continuing the above point, the swiping action feels much more comfortable for casual gaming (vs flash games in laptop). Also reading pdfs is much more enjoyable than reading on a lappy screen. Yeah i know laptops can run heavy games, but i really prefer a desktop for FPS'. Lappy screen feels too small for that.

The desktop+Tablet combo works for me now and a lappy seems totally unnecessary for me. Anyone else who feels this way and if not why?

sonicrobby · Jul 19, 2013

I agree and disagree on points.

I agree the mini is a great device for pdfs and carrying it around. Its made college life a whole lot easier! But it hasnt replaced a laptop for me though, but mainly because I prefer a laptop over a desktop, so the laptop is my main computer. If I had to give one of them up tomorrow, I'd give up my mini. Ever since I got the rMBP, I've fallen in love with it!

Compared to my desktop, the laptop is more portable; compared to the mini, the laptop is more powerful. So I settled for the best of both worlds =P

As for fluidity and natural feel, try out OSX at the Apple store, that's probably one of the reasons Ive fallen in love with a laptop again. The iPad mini killed my love for laptops, but afterwards the Macbook pro killed my love for the mini; though i still like my mini

JAT · Jul 19, 2013

srkmish said:
2. The Touchpad is good but no replacement for a mouse. There is always a distance between you and the laptop with the touchpad. There is a millisecond gap between using it and accessing the activity u like. On the other hand, the swiping/pressing action on tablet seems more intuitive and natural.

While it is not a replacement for gaming and a couple other things that require specific movement, the main reason your touchpad didn't satisfy is because it wasn't a good one. A touchpad on an Apple laptop is far more similar to the feel and usability of an iPad than other brands.

oneMadRssn · Jul 19, 2013

srkmish said:
1. Putting a laptop on ur tummy while laying down is not for long periods. First of all, ur stomach stars to heat up with the heat of the system and the additional weight feels uncomfortable after a time. Tablets on the other hand are meant for this purpose. Laying down with this light weight device seems ideal.

2. The Touchpad is good but no replacement for a mouse. There is always a distance between you and the laptop with the touchpad. There is a millisecond gap between using it and accessing the activity u like. On the other hand, the swiping/pressing action on tablet seems more intuitive and natural.

3. Continuing the above point, the swiping action feels much more comfortable for casual gaming (vs flash games in laptop). Also reading pdfs is much more enjoyable than reading on a lappy screen. Yeah i know laptops can run heavy games, but i really prefer a desktop for FPS'. Lappy screen feels too small for that.

The desktop+Tablet combo works for me now and a lappy seems totally unnecessary for me. Anyone else who feels this way and if not why?

First, I'm totally glad it works for you and you're enjoying it; that's the most important thing. I'm not trying to change your mind.

However, I disagree with two of your points:

1. I find tablet requires awkward accesories to prop up in bed, whether on my stomach or next to me on a night stand. My Macbook Air seems perfect for this. It also doesn't get very hot, nor is it cumbersome. But it does standup just fine without needing any accesories or propping up.

2. I prefer the trackpad to a mouse for most uses. The only exception is gaming. Otherwise, for everything else, I love the trackpad. The gestures are great, and I feel like it's easier on my wrist than a mouse.

Your third point is correct:
Simply reading a PDF or playing a simple game is better on a tablet. When it comes to PDF, I find editing or anotating PDFs to be a major pain in the butt on tablets.

Hello... · Jul 19, 2013

Me too!

FrankB1191 · Jul 19, 2013

I had never used an Apple touchpad until 2 1/2 weeks ago, when we bought a rMBP. It made my non-Apple PC feel like a cheap piece of junk! The iPads are very nice for the purposes mentioned, and I even use my iPod 5G for really compact occasions! All of the Apple products can be run through Apple TV, so I can browse websites on my 42" TV using my iPod like a remote control.

takeshi74 · Jul 19, 2013

srkmish said:
The desktop+Tablet combo works for me now and a lappy seems totally unnecessary for me. Anyone else who feels this way and if not why?

Plenty of others do. One solution never fits everyone's needs/wants/preferences/priorities. Never assume that yours are universal no matter what the topic. Why does it matter if others do or do not feel the way you do? Use what works for you. Others will use what works for them. Your points aren't relevant to me. They will be relevant to some but there are certainly others for whom they will not be relevant as well.

srkmish said:
Putting a laptop on ur tummy while laying down is not for long periods.

I don't put my laptops there. Why would the way you use your laptop be relevant to me if it's completely different?

srkmish said:
The Touchpad is good but no replacement for a mouse.

I never cared for mice in the first place. I always used trackballs. That is, until I used the trackpad on my MBP. It's my preferred pointing device now. Have you tried one?

Again, use what works for you. Just don't assume that everyone else is the same.

Linchuankawa · Jul 19, 2013

Man, please listen.. If you haven't tried a MacBook, I really suggest you give its multitouch trackpad a go. I think most people here will agree with me on this, the multitouch trackpad is best thing about the MacBook, I cannot imagine using a laptop without it in most cases except playing games. But really, for general usage like web browsing etc. the trackpad is IMO the best controlling device. I can use the MacBook without the mouse, but not without the trackpad.

But back to the topic. Yes I love the iPad, and same as u it's taking away my love for laptop. In fact I'm typing this on my iPad now.. It's the device of the future.

0029937 · Jul 20, 2013

Linchuankawa said:
Man, please listen.. If you haven't tried a MacBook, I really suggest you give its multitouch trackpad a go. I think most people here will agree with me on this, the multitouch trackpad is best thing about the MacBook, I cannot imagine using a laptop without it in most cases except playing games.

Agree 100%. My situation however is I'm using a Magic Trackpad with my Mac. No going back to mouse for one reason: BetterTouchTool. Please everyone reading this, Goolge it. Will make any Trackpad insanely intuitive.

darngooddesign · Jul 20, 2013

Not me. I'm a dev and I love my laptop.

My laptop is better for watching videos in bed.

Eckscaliber · Jul 20, 2013

Laptops have been lame since 2009.

SlCKB0Y · Jul 21, 2013

You would have a different opinion of laptops if you'd owned a MacBook Air... In particular the haswell ones just released are very very good.

srkmish · Jul 22, 2013

Multitouch trackpad is intriguing. I had used my friend's Macbook , but dint find it very impressive.

As for Windows, i can never go back to Laptops. I have too much fun assembling PCs . Its great to know exactly what kind of setup you are building. Also, games are much better on a big monitor than a tiny lappy screen.

Rhyalus · Jul 22, 2013

iPads are hurting the laptop and PC market because all of the people who really don't need the power of those products now have a device that could do what they needed.

It is called market segmentation.

My ipad and my laptops have very separate uses in my home and office.

The ipad is of course much easier to use in bed for content consumption.

R

ohbrilliance · Jul 22, 2013

0029937 said:
Agree 100%. My situation however is I'm using a Magic Trackpad with my Mac.

I love using the trackpad on a MBP/MBA, but find the magic trackpad unusable on a desktop. Unlike a laptop or mouse, there's nothing at the level of the trackpad or mouse to rest your palm on. Hovering over it makes my wrist ache pretty quickly.

inselstudent · Jul 22, 2013

ohbrilliance said:
I love using the trackpad on a MBP/MBA, but find the magic trackpad unusable on a desktop. Unlike a laptop or mouse, there's nothing at the level of the trackpad or mouse to rest your palm on. Hovering over it makes my wrist ache pretty quickly.

but where do u rest your hand when using your laptop's trackpad then?

I use a MBA and while at home it's attached to a larger display, and I just love it to lean back in my chair and surf the web using a magic trackpad on my lap. it's also way more comfortable than using a tablet IMO

ohbrilliance · Jul 22, 2013

inselstudent said:
but where do u rest your hand when using your laptop's trackpad then?

I use a MBA and while at home it's attached to a larger display, and I just love it to lean back in my chair and surf the web using a magic trackpad on my lap. it's also way more comfortable than using a tablet IMO

When typing, on the palmrest to each side of the trackpad. When using the touchpad, I rest my palms below and to the sides of the trackpad. I also use the trackpad like that on the couch, but for me, the magic trackpad doesn't work well in conjunction with a separate keyboard on a desk.

Badrottie · Jul 23, 2013

When I got an iPad, I lost my love for my powerful and super fast desktop pc. Then I bought my first MBP I love it very much. When I bought an iPad 2 I use both until recently I bought rMBP I was close to give up my iPad 2 but I managed to stick to both for daily use. :apple:

raccoonboy · Jul 24, 2013

its true there is distance between you and laptop screen due to keyboard but i wouldnt sacrifice my laptop for an ipad mini.

Ipad mini is only good for gaming or maybe taking picture imo. The screen is too small for web surfing and not even crisp enough to read for long period. I would say Ipad 4 would make people forget their laptop but not mini.

charlituna · Jul 26, 2013

Rhyalus said:
iPads are hurting the laptop and PC market because all of the people who really don't need the power of those products now have a device that could do what they needed.

R

Yep. Apple wasn't trying to make a tablet to replace the computer in total, just for those that don't need a computer. Back in the day they would have been the target audience for the WebTV

yinz · Jul 26, 2013

The tablet revolution is crazy. It was funny when I first saw the iPad as a big iPod, but until you use one, you really don't know the ease of it. I traded my iPad 2 to my sister half a year ago, but couldn't stand not being able to just pick up a machine and surf the web on the couch, so I had to get an iPad mini.

However, given the circumstances, like many others, I'd choose the laptop over the tablet. As stated before, the power difference is uncanny. Although the laptops are not as easy to use as tablets are for surfing, email, and working with pictures, it can do a lot more things in general. Apple has done an especially good job at making their laptops easier to use. They've decreased the sleep to wake time drastically, their larger, glass track pad has made touch gestures on the computer feel natural, and their new battery life focus approach for their laptops have made for compelling reasons to choose their laptops over tablets.

thelookingglass · Jul 26, 2013

Honestly, at this point tablets are just good content consumption devices. The hardware/software isn't at the point where they can seriously be used for much else. Now I know there will be people out there who claim they use their iPads for work purposes and creating content. But the fact is there DOES exist a rather large gulf between the capabilities of a laptop and a tablet. I have no doubt that this gulf will continue to decrease over the years, to the point where maybe we could use something in a tablet form factor as our primary computing device. But as of now, that's not happening. THat's why I'm typing this on my Mac and my iPad is lying on a table somewhere in the house.

srkmish · Jul 27, 2013

thelookingglass said:
Honestly, at this point tablets are just good content consumption devices. The hardware/software isn't at the point where they can seriously be used for much else. Now I know there will be people out there who claim they use their iPads for work purposes and creating content. But the fact is there DOES exist a rather large gulf between the capabilities of a laptop and a tablet. I have no doubt that this gulf will continue to decrease over the years, to the point where maybe we could use something in a tablet form factor as our primary computing device. But as of now, that's not happening. THat's why I'm typing this on my Mac and my iPad is lying on a table somewhere in the house.

That gulf has already been sealed by Windows hybrids. However, windows ecosystem needs to mature before it can be seriously considered as a tablet. However, in laptop mode, windows 8 is as good as it gets.

darngooddesign · Jul 27, 2013

racoonboy said:
its true there is distance between you and laptop screen due to keyboard but i wouldnt sacrifice my laptop for an ipad mini.

Ipad mini is only good for gaming or maybe taking picture imo. The screen is too small for web surfing and not even crisp enough to read for long period. I would say Ipad 4 would make people forget their laptop but not mini.

Here I am enjoying using my Mini for things it is, iyo, horrible for. My happiness is obviously misplaced.

I also wouldn't sacrifice my laptop for my Mini, I just use them both.

cats4jan · Jul 28, 2013

Laptop sits in a drawer - iPad is my constant companion. However, if I didn't have a desktop, I would want a laptop in order to work with word processing or photoshop. For casual surfing, simple game playing, and short email responses, one can't beat an iPad.

I don't think I could downsize to a mini, though. To me, a mini is an oversized phone and if one has a phone, why would one get an iPad mini? My favorite part of my full-size iPad, is the ability to see things in a larger size than a phone.

iPad mini iPad Mini has killed my love for laptops

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