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iPad Bye Bye laptop! Jailbroken iPad here I come!
- Thread starter waa1futs
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I'm VERY skeptical about that strategy. There's a reason why all those Windows "tablet" notebooks never caught on. It's because desktop GUI don't work well on a tablet format. What Microsoft is trying to do is bundle both the desktop GUI and a tablet-centric GUI into the same system and hope people would gradually wean themselves from desktop UI to tablet UI. But that's like trying to learn to swim while paddling in the shallow end. The best way to learn is to jump in the deep end, no matter how frightening that seems.
The reason they never took off was due to the following:
1) Glitchy input
2) Forced to use Windows desktop UI
3) Weight - tablet notebooks were just regular laptops with a touch-input screen that you rotated around to face outwards when closed
4) Battery life - same battery life as the regular laptops
4) Cost - they were very expensive
Windows 8 tablets address all 4 items above, throwing in the fact that you can switch in between Metro and the regular Windows 8 desktop interfaces. this is great for when you want tablet mode on the couch, but in a business meeting you need the full interface. watching a business executive stumble around iOS while being asked questions for supporting documentation during a presentation is hilarious. makes the ones using Thinkpads look like the smart ones, with all documentation minimized and ready to go
the only thing preventing Windows 8 tablets from blowing away iOS will be the lack of apps/ecosystem. this will be the killer. i am fully confident that Microsoft will make a very fluid experience on their Surface tablet, but where it will fall short is if it fails to get Developer support and attention. Microsoft has always been about Developers, but the money is in iOS at the moment
Okay, I give you expensive and weight. What I'm not covnicned about is this switching between desktop and tablet interface. Presumably, when you are using the tablet UI, points 1&2 would have been solved, but what happens when you switch to desktop mode? Would your hypothetical business executive be able to smoothly manipulate the desktop apps from his Win8 tablet, or would he first need to dock it to a keyboard and mouse? If the latter, the ones with the regular Thinkpad notebooks still might have the last laugh.
well, really only time will tell but my educational guess is based on the features of the Surface tablet as promoted during the presentation.
the hypothetical business executive would have the included keyboard case that came with the Surface which has a full keyboard and a trackpad. with him seated at the head of the conference tablet, he would set the tablet in landscape mode, sitting upright with the keyboard case unfolded, with the Windows 8 desktop on the screen and broadcast to the projector screen via HDMI or WIDI. he would use the trackpad in the case and the pointer in Windows to go about his presentation the way he would on a Thinkpad laptop
if he needs to be at the front of the conference room standing up presenting, he would use a bluetooth pointer/clicker/pointer to click through slides or control the cursor in Windows 8 desktop mode...as he would on a regular laptop.
i see it being very successful, but the success hinging on my last paragraph in my post above. i won't be an early adopter, but if i see the Surface tablet working very well for people early on i will probably ditch my iPad. i am not a Mac user yet, just an iOS user so the switch wouldn't be very drastic as i am familiar with Windows and have a Windows Home Server and 2 Acers running Windows 7, and an 8yr old Dell running XP (for engineering analysis programs that can't run on 7)
in the mean time though, i am going to buy this BTC Mouse app and a Logitech keyboard using some United air miles. that video looks really cool and this would allow me to leave my 5 lbs Dell Latitute work laptop at home on most business trips and just use my iPad
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I am still very confused about how Windows 8 will work with respect to applications, so maybe someone can shed some light.
It seems like it will run the Metro interface as the start screen, but most people don't spend much time on the home or start screen whist using a tablet. I spend most of my time fully engaged in the app I am using. Ipad apps are specifically designed for touch. So, will Windows 8 apps be designed for touch or desktop GUI? There is a big difference in the UI, and using desktop apps on a tablet sucks. Using touch apps on a desktop is also not very satisfying. Will people need to have two versions of each app? One optimized for touch and the other desktop?
Honestly, I am just confused about how it is supposed to work.
It seems like it will run the Metro interface as the start screen, but most people don't spend much time on the home or start screen whist using a tablet. I spend most of my time fully engaged in the app I am using. Ipad apps are specifically designed for touch. So, will Windows 8 apps be designed for touch or desktop GUI? There is a big difference in the UI, and using desktop apps on a tablet sucks. Using touch apps on a desktop is also not very satisfying. Will people need to have two versions of each app? One optimized for touch and the other desktop?
Honestly, I am just confused about how it is supposed to work.
my guess is that applications will be written to automatically do both, detecting which mode you are in.
don't expect all apps to be done this way - starting out you might not have the optimized interface for both. Microsoft will work with developers aggressively to get this nailed down though, i assure you that. this is Microsoft's last push into mobile - if it fails they are screwed
Ah, yes, the Surface keyboard cover, I'd forgotten about that! Yes if that keyboard did work, then that would solve the UI switching problem quite nicely. We'll just have to wait and see until we get our hands on a working model.
Actually, last I heard, Win8 came with two versions of Internet Explorer, one for desktop and one for touch.
I agree. If this ends up being some kind of Frankenstein's monster, Microsoft will be hurting.
So far, Apple has focused on making their tablet a great touch experience with a buttery smooth interface. Competitors have tried to differentiate by mixing the UI of a desktop and tablet, and so far it has not caught on.
In addition to the UI problem, I am still unsure how many folks want their tablet and desktop to be merged. If the ipad doesn't meet all of your needs, you can buy a cheap laptop/desktop for $500. The combined cost (iPad plus cheap PC) will probably be less expensive than these windows 8 ultra book hybrids. Plus, two devices, each with a UI that is compatible with their OS, might be more attractive to some folks. If you keep most of your stuff in the cloud, two devices can still offer a pretty seamless experience.
I agree. Letting go of that isn't something I'm prepared to do at this point in time though which is why I missed that part off. I just don't trust th cloud enough as permanent base for my digital life.
People like the idea of converging devices. Otherwise, we'd all be carrying iPods, flip-phones, Garmins, etc. that might still be less than the cost of an iPhone like your example.
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Why are these mutually exclusive? I use Dropbox almost exclusively but I still have the need to manage my files, merge content between files, attach them to emails, and manipulate them at will.
These are necessary functions of an OS and should be available whether my files are local or in the cloud.
iOS is lacking here and needs to catch up to Android. Obviously, the functionality is there (iFile with JB) so Apple has decided to not make this capability available by choice.
For those carrying both an iPad and a MacBook Air, wouldn't you love something like this that would run Mac OSX with an iOS shell?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009F1IHZK?tag=vglnk-c2098-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009F1IHZK?tag=vglnk-c2098-20
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
People probably don't want to leave to chance that their digital life is safe in the cloud.
Updated the OP since I'm going to return the iPad. Both BTC Mouse doesnt work as its supposed to yet and need to restore because jailbreak apps stopped working so without these two huge incentives to go ipad only I just couldn't make it work
Updated the OP since I'm going to return the iPad. Both BTC Mouse doesnt work as its supposed to yet and need to restore because jailbreak apps stopped working so without these two huge incentives to go ipad only I just couldn't make it work
That's to bad do you have another computer kicking around? I have found that when I'm at school al I really need is the iPad and when I need to do lots of writing I use the school computers or the one I have at home.
Updated the OP since I'm going to return the iPad. Both BTC Mouse doesnt work as its supposed to yet and need to restore because jailbreak apps stopped working so without these two huge incentives to go ipad only I just couldn't make it work
waa1futs, can you describe the issues you were having with BTC Mouse? I was hoping to use this myself for the same solution.
Basically that sometimes when you click on something that gives search suggestions as you type, say the safari search bar or the app store search, then you start to get additional key presses for keys you've only pressed once.
For example, if I am in safari and want to search for "iPad Mini" then sometimes it would come out like this : iiiPpaaaaaad Miiiinniii
Certain browsers (such as Atomic Web) have the option to disable search suggestions which I used to minimizes this issue.
The bluetooth keyboard would sometimes get disconnected when both it and mouse were connected. Once I disconnected the mouse then the keyboard stayed connected without any issues.
I'm sure that over time Mr. Ringwald will fix the issue and improve it further, he's a great developer, I just don't know how long that will take (+ my jailbreak apps all stopped working so I need to restore and will lose jailbreak) and I am running out on my 2-week return period so the iPad has to go back
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UPDATE 10/15: I couldn't make it work
Jailbreak apps stopped working and I have to restore :welp: Since any restore will upgrade it to iOS 6.0 I'd rather just return it than have a handicapped experience.
Also the BTC Mouse application has a few major bugs that need to be worked out before its ready for prime time. I emailed the developer who said he isn't sure what is causing the trouble.
If BTC Mouse and jailbreak worked perfect then I would keep the iPad... but they don't so it's going back. Using the iPad as your only computer is hard enough and without these two things there just isn't enough of an incentive for me to keep fighting for it. I'll just end up either keeping my laptop and waiting for 6.0 to be jailbroken + BTC Mouse fixed or Ill go with the Microsoft Surface.
***************
Original Post
The iPad has a lot of benefits over a laptop:
- Retina display
- 10 hour battery life
- Very light and thin
- No viruses to worry about
- Voice dictation
- Can watch videos on the treadmill at the gym
- Apple store customer service
- Low price compared to ultrabooks
- Thousands of apps
***************************************
Common complaints which can be fixed:
1. How do I get music/videos on my iPad without a computer?
Bridge**
2. What is the best bluetooth keyboard with a built in iPad stand?
Logitech ultrathin keyboard
3. How do I use a bluetooth mouse?
BTC Mouse**
4. How do I manage my files?
Dropbox
5. How do I play real games on an emulator with a physical controller?
Snes9x EX**
6. How do I watch flash videos?
iSwifter browser
7. How do I download files?
Atomic web browser
8. How do I download youtube videos for offline viewing?
iCab
9. How do I create/edit Office documents?
Pages
In the past even one of these problems might have made me hesitant to go 100% pc-free but no longer. I can't think of a single reason though why I would use a laptop over an iPad anymore.
** requires jailbreak
Hold on!!! DO NOT UPDATE OR RESTORE YET!! Use the new Redsn0w!!! It'll allow you to re-restore your iPad to 5.1.1 if you have your SHSH Blobs (Cydia has them on it's server)
Link: http://blog.iphone-dev.org/
Thank you so much for taking the time to read the thread and give me this good information. Downloading redsnow and an ipsw as we speak. Hopefully a restore to 5.1.1 will be able to fix any issues and I wont have to take back the iPad.
Thank you again for your reply that was really nice of you
Edit: SON OF A %#$&!
Forgot that I got the iPad just a week ago (Apple had already stopped signing 5.1.1) so there doesn't seem to be a way for me to get my SHSH blobs to use for a RedSnow 5.1.1 restore. Oh well
It might just be an isolated incident, the developer Mr. Ringwald got back to me asap and said he got only a few complaints of this happening and that he was already trying to recreate the event himself so he can fix it. I fully trust him to get this working but my mouse and keyboard is the Logitech ultrathin keybooard + Macally bluetooth mouse (Model: mMouseBT).
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you were jailbroken, so there's a chance you might've had cydia save the SHSH for you? have you tried running tinyumbrella to see if cydia servers have a copy of your device's SHSH for 5.1.1?Thank you so much for taking the time to read the thread and give me this good information. Downloading redsnow and an ipsw as we speak. Hopefully a restore to 5.1.1 will be able to fix any issues and I wont have to take back the iPad.
Thank you again for your reply that was really nice of you
Edit: SON OF A %#$&!
Forgot that I got the iPad just a week ago (Apple had already stopped signing 5.1.1) so there doesn't seem to be a way for me to get my SHSH blobs to use for a RedSnow 5.1.1 restore. Oh well
It might just be an isolated incident, the developer Mr. Ringwald got back to me asap and said he got only a few complaints of this happening and that he was already trying to recreate the event himself so he can fix it. I fully trust him to get this working but my mouse and keyboard is the Logitech ultrathin keybooard + Macally bluetooth mouse (Model: mMouseBT).
Thats the thing that makes the surface so interesting and unique from the perspective of Mac users. On this side of the fence its either Tablet -OR- Computer and we claim to prefer it that way. But with what the Surface is supposed to be then you get BOTH the tablet and computer in one.UPDATE 10/15: I couldn't make it work
I'll just end up either keeping my laptop and waiting for 6.0 to be jailbroken + BTC Mouse fixed or Ill go with the Microsoft Surface.
Personally, I switch back and forth between iOS and OSX constantly because viewing/consuming on a tablet is amazing but typing/minor photo editing just feels compromised so I have to pull out the MacBook. So a hybrid is something that many people out here tend to shoot down but in the end we would probably love it if Apple gave us some sort of Surface-type device (Touchscreen MacBook Air with detachable keyboard).
(Surface Commercial. Despite the cheesiness of the commercial, I definitely am a bit jealous of their kickstand and keyboard solution rather than my smart cover and a BT keyboard)
Instead of not replacement.
This is true. In order to replace the laptop with an iPad you must first change how you interact with the device. Adding a keyboard and mouse is slightly missing the point. It would be equally true if you added a larger screen, only be changing how you use displays/inputs can it be successful. We will see a move away from typewriter style inputting into something more inline with modern mobile devices, this is why srir is important to Apple's future.
This is true. In order to replace the laptop with an iPad you must first change how you interact with the device. Adding a keyboard and mouse is slightly missing the point. It would be equally true if you added a larger screen, only be changing how you use displays/inputs can it be successful. We will see a move away from typewriter style inputting into something more inline with modern mobile devices, this is why srir is important to Apple's future.