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Can iPad Pro replace laptop?
- Thread starter oldcelt
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My answer is that it depends on what do you use with a laptop. If you just browse websites, check e-mail, go on social media, with occasional MS Office usage, I don't see how an iPad cannot replace your laptop.
Well, I use the computer for a lot of things. Some the iPad can't do.
There is no way my iPP can replace my laptop, however it can replace it for a lot of functions. That being said I will probably be able to go a long time before having to update my laptop.
I'd say no. My laptop is a surface book. Until Apple opens the garden and allows normal file system operations, it cannot replace a laptop. There are several other factors, but file system manipulation is the top for me.
[doublepost=1459909360][/doublepost]Example real life usage situation: I needed to edit a video I received on an SD card and return it on that same card.
The video is 18gb. It was not named correctly for Apple, so I had to rename the file to conform to that standard. Once renamed, iPad recognized the file on the Lightning to SD adapter and allowed me to import it. I made the required edits in iMovie, and needed to save it back to the SD card. All Stop.
The workaround was to map to a network drive, transfer the 18gb file which took 12 minutes, and then scoop it off a pc.
[doublepost=1459909360][/doublepost]Example real life usage situation: I needed to edit a video I received on an SD card and return it on that same card.
The video is 18gb. It was not named correctly for Apple, so I had to rename the file to conform to that standard. Once renamed, iPad recognized the file on the Lightning to SD adapter and allowed me to import it. I made the required edits in iMovie, and needed to save it back to the SD card. All Stop.
The workaround was to map to a network drive, transfer the 18gb file which took 12 minutes, and then scoop it off a pc.
I didn't know about WPS office (thanks for that), and I do what you've suggested, but having to open one in Word, and another in, say, Pages, is the kind of workaround that I don't have to deal with on my MacBook Pro. I can have multiple Word documents open at the same time, with no problems or workarounds required.
Yep. Sucks for my harmony remote. Can't reprogram a damn thing on it with anything but a desktop!
[doublepost=1459917789][/doublepost]I've had an iPad replace my laptop since the air 2 launched a year and a half ago. With iCloud and all that other stuff, I actually prefer the iPad experience to my Mac now
I have the TomTom app on my iPhone and really like it. Plus I can update it via wifi
Edit: note, I'm aware this is not a standalone GPS device, but I personally find it much more convenient than one.
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The iPad can do a lot of things a laptop can do and imho it does a lot of the consumption based stuff better, however productivity stuff while you can do it, can often involve jumping through hoops to achieve simple things. It really depends on the sort of productivity stuff you do.
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This is the thing. A lot of things on the iPad require work arounds, hopefully Apple will improve the iPad so there are less needed It has gotten better, but there is still a ways to go.
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I didn't know about WPS office (thanks for that), and I do what you've suggested, but having to open one in Word, and another in, say, Pages, is the kind of workaround that I don't have to deal with on my MacBook Pro. I can have multiple Word documents open at the same time, with no problems or workarounds required.
This is the thing. A lot of things on the iPad require work arounds, hopefully Apple will improve the iPad so there are less needed
It has gotten better, but there is still a ways to go.I don't know if it is quite there for everyone, but it is getting dangerous;y close. I am happy to say that
I have seen some pretty good software releases as of late and am very hopeful that the future of the software in the app store and with iOS 10 will bring about some very meaningful additions.
As zboater mentioned, there are definitely instances where the ipad simply won't do. Upgrading firmware is one of them. Another use case, albeit a mildly obscure one, where a laptop works better is for 3d printing. As of right now most printers need to be connected either via usb or have an sd card inserted and since you cannot save files natively to an sd card, a laptop is still needed.
One thing I am very happy about is how powerful the ipad pro is (I use 12.9). It works wonderfully. The future for ipads are looking pretty bright.
I have seen some pretty good software releases as of late and am very hopeful that the future of the software in the app store and with iOS 10 will bring about some very meaningful additions.
As zboater mentioned, there are definitely instances where the ipad simply won't do. Upgrading firmware is one of them. Another use case, albeit a mildly obscure one, where a laptop works better is for 3d printing. As of right now most printers need to be connected either via usb or have an sd card inserted and since you cannot save files natively to an sd card, a laptop is still needed.
One thing I am very happy about is how powerful the ipad pro is (I use 12.9). It works wonderfully. The future for ipads are looking pretty bright.
The iPad can do a lot of things a laptop can do and imho it does a lot of the consumption based stuff better, however productivity stuff while you can do it, can often involve jumping through hoops to achieve simple things. It really depends on the sort of productivity stuff you do.
[doublepost=1459920282][/doublepost]
This is the thing. A lot of things on the iPad require work arounds, hopefully Apple will improve the iPad so there are less needed
Yup. Just now I got an email with multiple attachments that all needed to be saved to Dropbox, and having to save them one by one was a pain. But it's still faster than getting out my laptop and waiting for the thing to boot up. And I get to work sitting on my sofa rather than at a desk -- I never felt comfortable working with a laptop on my lap, always needed a desk to use them, even though they are called laptops. So for me, despite the various shortcomings of iOS, iPads are overall more pleasant to work with than laptops. But obviously, not everyone will feel the same.
i assume when people say my ipad has replaced my laptop, there's an asterisk that they still have that said laptop should the need arises.
i'd be surprised anybody can only live with an ipad in their lives as an everyday working american.
i'd be surprised anybody can only live with an ipad in their lives as an everyday working american.
Until my iPad will allow me to upload full Photo Shop and AutoCad, it would never replace my laptop of desktops.
I feel like behind the scenes Apple has this giant checklist of capabilities they want to slowly add to the iPad. Every year they check a couple off the list and get to working on what's next. I wouldn't be surprised if in the next few years, you actually COULD do all that on an iPad. iOS 10 in June will be interesting to see. I feel like after everything that's happened with all the talk about iPad replacing your laptop and whatnot, it's going to be a BIG update functionality wise
I don't think it's that hard, it just depends on their needs. I work in a hospital and cannot take any of my work home for confidentially reasons. I don't need access to a computer at home for work.
I do have a MacBook Air but to honest I could do without it and use my iPads. I only use it to manage my iTunes library and manually update my kindle voyage. However my kindle can be updated OTA but I always do it manually because I'm too impatient to wait for updates to be pushed out and I don't like leaving it connected to wifi as I can get longer battery life inn aeroplane mode.
As for my iTunes library that issue could also be solved if I subscribed to iTunes Match or was willing to rely on another cloud based solution like google music.
I just like to keep a computer in the house just in case something comes up. When I do use my MacBook other than to complete the tasks above its more for convenience than need. I don't have to limit myself to one ot the other so I have a MacBook and iPads.
I think Apple will always limit what the iPad "could do" to preserve it's laptop sales.
dude...do I really need to whip out that link to Tim's comment about not being afraid to cannibalize themselves. Don't make me do it. Please. I've done it too much and I'm tired of clicking on it
There's literally no-one can answer that question for anyone. It's down to each individual's use case. For some, yes it can be your only source of computing, lots of people I know manage this. For others, we still need a full blown OS for apps that just aren't available on iOS.
I can now use my iPad Pro as my only mobile device. Though I had to get a Kingston MobileLite Wireless G3 to make that happen so I can transfer files of any type from any source at a decent enough speed (its wireless ac so about as good as we can expect just now.) And use Remote Desktop software occasionally to tap into my Mac for Xcode.
But while I can do almost everything on the Pro. I still need to plonk my butt down in front of my Mac to use Xcode properly. I still use a bit of Photoshop and Illustator on the Mac too but I'm edging closer to just using Graphic and Procreate on the iPad.
I can now use my iPad Pro as my only mobile device. Though I had to get a Kingston MobileLite Wireless G3 to make that happen so I can transfer files of any type from any source at a decent enough speed (its wireless ac so about as good as we can expect just now.) And use Remote Desktop software occasionally to tap into my Mac for Xcode.
But while I can do almost everything on the Pro. I still need to plonk my butt down in front of my Mac to use Xcode properly. I still use a bit of Photoshop and Illustator on the Mac too but I'm edging closer to just using Graphic and Procreate on the iPad.
What have you possibly seen that makes you think that A) Apple won't cannibalize their own products (which they have said repeatedly they will and people like to selectively forget and not take it seriously) and B) that they even care about the Mac that much when iOS is clearly their bread and butter. iOS products bring in more money, more interest, more developer support and by apple's own admission is "the future of computing".
But...these guys are just going to be dicks and not release features that would help them remain competitive, to protect a business that isn't that big for them...because...it's just...there? I don't know man. I might be a little high and very drunk, but....what was I saying again
Apple could have allowed the Pro series to do WAY MORE and when you sober up and come back down you may just realize that!
There's nothing, literally nothing, to prevent developers such as Adobe from releasing feature parity versions of their apps on iOS.
That they don't is a business decision, not a technical one.
I'd sooner that happen than get desktop software on my iPad. I've used OS X on a tablet, it sucks, severely.
well I'm not gonna be sober for awhile so I'm not realizing anything right now Mr!
So the lack of features is indicative of them purposefully holding things back to cater to other product lines. Ok. So the lack of copy and paste and MMS in the first iPhone was because they cared about...something else? Ha. I said that out loud and it sounded funny. F
\\Apple always lacks features that you would swear should be there by now. But that's their method. They're like a snapping turtle that stays hidden behind a rock before attacking. They might be slow as hell but when they come out snapping, you better watch out cause you gon' get snapped good! Haha oh god I'm laughing for no reason I can barley type. Maybe I should take a break. Let's just both agree I'm right and that snapping turtles are cool