Apple's future IS the iPad

[motoleo]

Not real multitasking. You can't even listen to a YouTube video while writing a paper. Or watch a video and do something at the same time. No multiple login. No customization.

Does it have full fledged photoshop?

What about the Rosetta Stone program? Flash?

YouTube to MP3 converter? WinZip?

What about a screen recording program- where you can record what happens on the screen?

Webcam to use online for chatroulette?

Uploading straight to Tinypic and other websites?

You can't browse the regular YouTube website.

You can't view the page source of any webpage.

You can't download Google Chrome onto it.

Schools and medical facilities around the country are buying iPads in bulk. The numbers might be high, but Apple's purpose was not to replace laptops. It can't.

There's no way an iPad can replace a Windows laptop, maybe a MacBook, but it doesn't even come close to replacing a Windows laptop.

 

[anthonymoody]

Not real multitasking. You can't even listen to a YouTube video while writing a paper. Or watch a video and do something at the same time. No multiple login. No customization. Does it have full fledged photoshop? What about the Rosetta Stone program? Flash? YouTube to MP3 converter? WinZip?

Schools and medical facilities around the country are buying iPads in bulk. The numbers might be high, but Apple's purpose was not to replace laptops.

There's no way an iPad can replace a Windows laptop, maybe a MacBook, but it doesn't even come close to replacing a Windows laptop.

Your vision is so narrow and misguided in so many places that it's simply time for me to check out of this thread, sit back, and watch as the iPad and its successors inexorably take over the world.

For 9x% of the people, 9x% of the time, an iPad is MORE than enough for what they are doing on their computers, and in fact is often (much) better at the given tasks than is a PC (Mac included). You can disagree, but if so you're not accepting reality, or facts. Either that or your perspective is simply way off the mark (or absent entirely).

Add in the similarly inexorable increase in capabilities of iOS, iPad hardware, and apps, and, well, again . . . If you don't see where this is all going, you're hopeless.

Edit: btw the rosetta stone app is wonderful on the iPad, and waaaaaaaay better and more fun to use than on a pc. I point this specific example out because a) you mistakenly have it on your list and b) it's a perfect case in point of what I'm talking about...the iPad is getting more capable over time, not less. That trend will continue and the ipad will continue to swallow up other functionality, AND provide a better user experience while doing so. (Not unlike smart phones which have all but put several other category devices out of business, or at least marginalized them to the point of overall market insignificance).

 

[motoleo]

Those watered down phone-type apps? Is that what you're talking about? Half the apps on the iPad aren't even scaled.

The iPad isn't even that fast. You can type about 20WPM on it.

I can write a book on everything the iPad can't do. It's a phone. The iPad is basically a phone.

I bought an iPad 2. I took it back.

 

[*LTD*]

Not real multitasking. You can't even listen to a YouTube video while writing a paper. Or watch a video and do something at the same time. No multiple login. No customization.

Does it have full fledged photoshop?

What about the Rosetta Stone program? Flash?

YouTube to MP3 converter? WinZip?

What about a screen recording program- where you can record what happens on the screen?

Webcam to use online for chatroulette?

Uploading straight to Tinypic and other websites?

You can't browse the regular YouTube website.

You can't view the page source of any webpage.

You can't download Google Chrome onto it.

Schools and medical facilities around the country are buying iPads in bulk. The numbers might be high, but Apple's purpose was not to replace laptops. It can't.

There's no way an iPad can replace a Windows laptop, maybe a MacBook, but it doesn't even come close to replacing a Windows laptop.

This must be a joke.

 

[motoleo]

Nope. And that's just a few things I named off the top of my head.

A tablet's a tablet. But the iPad runs the same applications as the iPhone and the iPod Touch.

Why call it a post-PC device is that some kind of marketing term? The iPad is a computer, a tablet PC..

A very simple one.

 

[Carouser]

That's funny, I didn't know the thread was "Can the iPad currently do literally everything a MacBook can"? Then again, if a special someone didn't read the thread it might explain their current posts.

 

[motoleo]

^ you're right. The question whether an iPad can replace PC's need not be discussed.

 

[blipmusic]

[...] So anybody who knows what DC al Coda and Coda means, already knows how potentially useful that is. [...]

*flip* *flip* *flip* *flip* *flip* *flip* *flip* *flip* *flip* "Where, damn it?!"(all while the pause is quickly nearing its end). Been there.

[...] On the other hand, I've been stacking some actual official hardware emulations of electronic musical instruments on the thing. Seriously. The music scene on the iPad is set to blow away the C64 and the Amiga music scene together. In some ways (in particular sound quality) it already does. [...] No studio, just a flat piece of electronics that doesn't even weight 2 pounds. [...]

I'm waiting (but not holding my breath) for Propellerheads to release a decent enough version (or some variant) of Reason for the thing. Tried Animoog, though since I currently only have an iPhone, the interface is a bit fiddly. Still, it's pretty amazing. Also, Auria is coming as well. Hopefully it'll hold up to its promises.

Will it take over? Don't see that happening across the fold. It can take the market for casual use and certain content creation functions said program on iPad does support. But then again, you can't do everything with a file or data made with the iPad (inherently) like a computer can. [...]

I'm at a point where I'm ready to actually try. Both due to my somewhat unhealthy obsession with mobility and for other practical reasons. This would mean no other computer at all (wifi-printer, some kind of NAS-setup, midi via camera kit etc) but it will take a Jailbroken device at the moment... I need latex as well and although I found a repository I'm not sure about the actual workflow (could I use Textastic to write on a JB iPad and then typeset more or less directly, for example? No idea, but probably not. Use of external fonts is another issue.)

Nope. And that's just a few things I named off the top of my head.

A tablet's a tablet. But the iPad runs the same applications as the iPhone and the iPod Touch.

Why call it a post-PC device is that some kind of marketing term? The iPad is a computer, a tablet PC..

A very simple one.

Aren't the problems you describe mostly software limitations Apple put there?

I'm not going to say that Apple will lift them and open up iOS, but it'd take very little to have the iPad or a similar device to become a full fledged computer for a lot of people (it can already be to some as mentioned by others), while still being true to its fundamental concept and the iOS environment.

I also find that there are quite a few "full-fledged" applications for iOS today. Some of what you describe seems to be problems only if a desktop OS lacked them (I believe some download managers take care of zip-files, by the way, although I agree that it's not a true solution).

Of course we all have different needs/wants. Laptops aren't sufficient for some, so it's no surprise a tablet computer isn't to others, either.

Just realize that the iPad was introduced only two (2!) years ago and the entire industry seems to be in turmoil on where to go with the concept (and the computer in general). We're in for more, not less.

 

[Night Spring]

It's a phone. The iPad is basically a phone.

This is funny, because when I first used an iPhone, as in really used it, not just played with it for a few minutes, I remember thinking, ”This isn't a phone, it's a computer!"

Yes, it is less powerful compared to modern day desktops/laptops, but compared to the earliest PCs I had in high school and college, well, it does a lot that those early computers couldn't do. And some of the stuff you listed as iPad can't do, like view the source code of a webpage, well, very few people want to do that, or even know what a source code of a webpage is. As AnthonyMoody keeps saying, the iPad does 9x% of the stuff 9x% of people want to do. And more and more apps are written every day to cover the niche usages, and iOS keeps getting more powerful and feature-rich with each new generation. I've seen HTML editing apps for the iPad, though I haven't tried them myself.

So today, the iPad may not be powerful enough to be your main computer, but it may very well become that in the near future. And it will outsell the PC long before that. I mean, I don't think of the iPad as my "main" computer today -- that is the iMac. But I use the iPad much more than my iMac. Indeed, I often spend the entire weekend without touching the iMac. The iPad is with me 24/7. I think more and more people are going to start having this kind of usage patterns, where their "main" computer is a desktop, but the "computer" they spend the most time on is their tablet and/ or smartphone. And I'm more than halfway sure I'll upgrade to the iPad 3 when it comes out, but I have no intention of upgrading my 2009 iMac -- it will do for a few more years. I believe in terms of revenue, iOS devices are already more profitable to Apple than the Mac. So is iOS Apple's future? I rather think it already is their now.

 

[motoleo]

If you can use your iPad as your main PC device, you might as well just use your phone. I don't see the difference between the two other than one is bigger in size.

And I have an iPad.

Think if you had iOS on your laptop. Then you can see that it's not a laptop replacement.

Switching back and forth through apps. Not even applications- apps.

 

[blipmusic]

If you can use your iPad as your main PC device, you might as well just use your phone. I don't see the difference between the two other than one is bigger in size.

Considering how you go on about how the iPad isn't as much computer as you (keyword: you) need it to be, that's quite an odd thing to say.

The larger screen size (apart from other benefits) is exactly what allows for the interface to transform into something else entirely for some apps. And interface is really where it's at nowadays.

So, I'll just interpret what you wrote as you being fine with a 3.5" screen for your main computer.

Switching back and forth through apps.

Isn't any open app just a swipe away on an iPad?

[EDIT] In all fairness, I should note that I usually have a pdf preview of a document visible next to the text editor for latex, split about half-half of the screen area. Then again, sometimes not even a desktop GUI is "enough", since I'd like a pdf article I use for reference to be visible as well. So there's still jumping between windows to be had, not necessarily more fluid and intuitive than iOS, to be honest. [/EDIT]

Not even applications- apps.

That's just silly.

 

[Night Spring]

If you can use your iPad as your main PC device, you might as well just use your phone. I don't see the difference between the two other than one is bigger in size.

And I have an iPad.

Think if you had iOS on your laptop. Then you can see that it's not a laptop replacement.

Switching back and forth through apps. Not even applications- apps.

Yes, iPad is the same as iPhone, other than the bigger screen. I happen to like the bigger screen, because it means larger keyboard and other UI elements, making it easier to use, not to mention that the larger screen can display more info at once. If you find that the smaller screen of the iPhone is sufficient for your needs, then great, but we aren't talking about what you or I need/prefer, but if enough people will use the iPad enough for it to be Apple's future.

As for needing multi-tasking, well, sure, today, if you need to have multiple windows open, you go for your laptop. But you are thinking that tablets need to have one-on-one feature parity with laptops in order to replace them. Well that's not how the world works. If the iPad has a feature that's important enough to me (in this case more portable and longer battery life than laptops), then I learn to do without the features the laptop has but the iPad doesn't. I'm finding that 9x% of the time, I'm fine without multiple open windows. So the question isn't whether we should make laptops without the capability of having multiple open windows, which I agree will be silly, but how many people actually need multiple open windows? The answer might be not as many as you think.

 

[NutsNGum]

Yes, iPad is the same as iPhone, other than the bigger screen.

Exactly! I've always found that to be the single stupidest argument made by people who "hate" iPads.

"What do you need that forklift truck for when there's a perfectly good pair of tweezers over there?!"

 

[motoleo]

But that's just the thing: It's not a forklift truck. It's tweezers but bigger, literally.

The iPad isn't a bad at all. I just don't like the fact that the UI is so simple and restrictive.

I will enjoy when Windows 8 tablets come around. The real tablet PC's.

 

[matt90036]

What do you do for a living? A majority of the workforce still requires traditional desktop/laptop environment with a keyboard/mouse. And in this world, change comes at a very slow pace. For example, alot of them still use Windows XP running on 3-7 year old laptop/desktop. An accountant or engineer is not going to do their work on the iPad, no matter how fast or good it is. And I'm only speaking about the workforce. I agree with you if you are talking about the population as a whole.

+1
you also need a full fledged computer for university. there is simply no way you gonna write a 20 page report in 1 night on a 10 inch screen and not go blind. iPad is great but unless I get an option to have a common file system and ability to connect it to a bigger screen - this thing will not replace my laptop.

 

[*LTD*]

I will enjoy when Windows 8 tablets come around. The real tablet PC's.

No such thing. THAT is (and always was) the problem. Foisting old, outmoded, "computer" paradigms onto a tablet.

----------

This is funny, because when I first used an iPhone, as in really used it, not just played with it for a few minutes, I remember thinking, ”This isn't a phone, it's a computer!"

Yes, it is less powerful compared to modern day desktops/laptops, but compared to the earliest PCs I had in high school and college, well, it does a lot that those early computers couldn't do. And some of the stuff you listed as iPad can't do, like view the source code of a webpage, well, very few people want to do that, or even know what a source code of a webpage is. As AnthonyMoody keeps saying, the iPad does 9x% of the stuff 9x% of people want to do. And more and more apps are written every day to cover the niche usages, and iOS keeps getting more powerful and feature-rich with each new generation. I've seen HTML editing apps for the iPad, though I haven't tried them myself.

It does more. A lot more.

For instance, I visited MacRumors on my iPad using iCab web browser. I hit the Evernote button in the modules menu, and it clipped the full page into Evernote. The Evernote app for the iPad, by the way, is brilliant.

Alternatively, you can select "download as PDF", and iCab will download the page as a PDF, and then you can do what you like with it.

You can download (and upload) virtually anything with the iPad, except use torrents. You can save the files anywhere after that (into say, a file manager like iFiles or Zen Viewer), open with any app that can open them, etc. You can even open compressed files. For instance, with the iDownloads app, anything downloadable at all on a webpage can be downloaded and saved. Videos, music, you name it.

 

[matt90036]

Your vision is so narrow and misguided in so many places that it's simply time for me to check out of this thread, sit back, and watch as the iPad and its successors inexorably take over the world.
).

nope, there is no true multitasking. you are blinded by apple. there is also no true file system so: a) you have to keep 7 copies of the same PDF, b) you need to update 7 copies one by one, c) often when there is no Internet connection you are screwed because you can't use Dropbox.
so until iPad has a common file system it will fail at doing a basic task that every laptop and desktop on this planet can do.

 

[APlotdevice]

+1
you also need a full fledged computer for university. there is simply no way you gonna write a 20 page report in 1 night on a 10 inch screen and not go blind. iPad is great but unless I get an option to have a common file system and ability to connect it to a bigger screen - this thing will not replace my laptop.

You technically can connect it to a bigger screen.

 

[motoleo]

I think the iPad has been overrated for far too long.

 

[zipur]

I think the iPad has been overrated for far too long.

And your thought would be in error. The iPad has changed the way the digital landscape.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.868875,-97.088793

 

[*LTD*]

This whole "it will never replace laptops" claim is interesting.

Apple sold 32 million iPads during their fiscal 2011 (not counting fiscal 2010.) Apple already sold around 15.4 million during the past quarter alone. If Apple can keep selling iPads into the double digits quarter-for-quarter (and they WILL), they'll be into over a hundred million sold within around 6 quarters.

Now I'm not sure if these will be replacing laptops, or simply supplementing them, but it sure as hell portends a major shakeup of some kind in the laptop/desktop segment. The iPad is not good news for laptops, not even for ultrabooks. And currently, it's *not* good news for ultrabooks, because they aren't taking off, unless you're Apple.

 

[motoleo]

The iPad maybe could take over laptops. But I haven't met a person who'd be happy about that.

Like, your school might just give you an iPad. But you'd be at a loss.

 

[motoleo]

Did someone thumb me down?

See. That's why I can't take Apple fans seriously. Here's the thing about those iPad fanatics, they don't care about anything. If it was up to them, they'd shove an iPad down your throat- everyone they could. No matter how much productivity you'd be losing.

They'll come to their senses eventually..

 

[*LTD*]

Did someone thumb me down?

It'll happen now and then. Take it in stride.

See. That's why I can't take Apple fans seriously.

I'm guessing the feeling's mutual.

It might be time to take *market realities* seriously, however.

Here's the thing about those iPad fanatics, they don't care about anything. If it was up to them, they'd shove an iPad down your throat- everyone they could. No matter how much productivity you'd be losing.

A lot of them seem to view it as a GAIN. It's good to use pleasant, well-designed tools. Can't really blame folks for trying to find excuses to adapt the iPad to new situations, whenever they can.

They'll come to their senses eventually..

After how many hundred million sold? Train's already left the station.

 

[DoFoT9]

This whole "it will never replace laptops" claim is interesting.

Apple sold 32 million iPads during their fiscal 2011 (not counting fiscal 2010.) Apple already sold around 15.4 million during the past quarter alone. If Apple can keep selling iPads into the double digits quarter-for-quarter (and they WILL), they'll be into over a hundred million sold within around 6 quarters.

Now I'm not sure if these will be replacing laptops, or simply supplementing them, but it sure as hell portends a major shakeup of some kind in the laptop/desktop segment. The iPad is not good news for laptops, not even for ultrabooks. And currently, it's *not* good news for ultrabooks, because they aren't taking off, unless you're Apple.

Interesting points. I work as an Mac admin in an environment where traveling and "road warriors" are quite common. At the beginning of last year, all had laptops and traveled around the country (Australia). We then implemented iPads to those traveling workers. They now all have iPads, as well as laptops. These people are not (completely) tech savvy, nor clued in about technology. They tend to take their iPads, and leave their laptops at home/work instead. They don't need the weight of a laptop, simply for responding to emails, checking websites, or playing a game at the end of a busy day.

That's what I have found, the iPad is great for traveling, or "during transport" - but when you are sitting still on a desk, or at home, the laptop wins handsdown. I never see an iPad in a dock being used with a wireless keyboard/etc (except by myself).

tl;dr - iPad is a companion to a laptop.