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Can iPad Pro replace laptop?

sparksd said:
Probably better to think about it less as a term describing a physical device but more as a term describing a logical set of computing-based capabilities that a person can use to perform a set of desired activities. In that sense it means different things to different people, hence why an iPad - or Chromebook - may or may not be a "PC" replacement.
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PC was actually a specific product believe it or not and we do have clear criterias as to what makes a PC and not. get ready, its Story time. back in the day, computers from different manufacturers werent cross compatible. everyone had different CPU`s, different firmware, different connectors, etc. a program written for one wouldnt run on another. in 1981 IBM released a computer model named "the IBM PC" that mostly ran DOS, you could pick 3 different OS`s but 96% chose DOS. it was built using mostly commercially available components to get it to market quickly, notably the 8088 cpu from intel. it was repair friendly and encouraged 3rd parties to make accessories for it. it also introduced BIOS and MBR as means of booting. it soon became the dominant computer for personal use and grew a big software library. Compaq came up with the idea of instead of trying to compete with the IBM PC. it would become it. Compaq reverse engineered the architecture and built a computer that could run the same software as the IBM PC. IBM didnt have enough patents on their IBM PC to stop them. soon other manufacturers followed suit and the personal computer industry had a common platform, dubbed the as the PC platform, also called the IBM PC compatible market.

this is how MS and Intel gained their monopoly. those IBM PC clones needed DOS and Intel CPU`s to run that huge PC software library they wanted. being IBM PC compatible became a must to be relevant in the PC industry so they followed Microsoft and Intel`s lead. IBM eventually became irrelevant after they failed their attempt to gain control over the market with OS/2. the IBM PC platform was redubbed as the Wintel platform and thats essentially what PC is defined as to this day. i think this is important history to know about when we discuss about what is and is not a PC, and important tech history in general.

today, we can classify a PC as any computer system that is:

-compatible with Microsoft Windows
-Uses industry standards like, DDR, PCI-E, USB, HDMI,
-Has a BIOS or its successsor, EFI
-uses Intel`s X86 instruction set
-Designed to be operated by a single user(eg, is not a server)

So iPads and ARM based Chromebooks are not PC`s in this sense. i personally like to use the term General Purpose Computer(GPC) when describing devices that are used for the same purposes that we use PC`s for today
 
jonen560ti said:
PC was actually a specific product believe it or not and we do have clear criterias as to what makes a PC and not. get ready, its Story time. back in the day, computers from different manufacturers werent cross compatible. everyone had different CPU`s, different firmware, different connectors, etc. a program written for one wouldnt run on another. in 1981 IBM released a computer model named "the IBM PC" that mostly ran DOS, you could pick 3 different OS`s but 96% chose DOS. it was built using mostly commercially available components to get it to market quickly, notably the 8088 cpu from intel. it was repair friendly and encouraged 3rd parties to make accessories for it. it also introduced BIOS and MBR as means of booting. it soon became the dominant computer for personal use and grew a big software library. Compaq came up with the idea of instead of trying to compete with the IBM PC. it would become it. Compaq reverse engineered the architecture and built a computer that could run the same software as the IBM PC. IBM didnt have enough patents on their IBM PC to stop them. soon other manufacturers followed suit and the personal computer industry had a common platform, dubbed the as the PC platform, also called the IBM PC compatible market.

this is how MS and Intel gained their monopoly. those IBM PC clones needed DOS and Intel CPU`s to run that huge PC software library they wanted. being IBM PC compatible became a must to be relevant in the PC industry so they followed Microsoft and Intel`s lead. IBM eventually became irrelevant after they failed their attempt to gain control over the market with OS/2. the IBM PC platform was redubbed as the Wintel platform and thats essentially what PC is defined as to this day. i think this is important history to know about when we discuss about what is and is not a PC, and important tech history in general.

today, we can classify a PC as any computer system that is:

-compatible with Microsoft Windows
-Uses industry standards like, DDR, PCI-E, USB, HDMI,
-Has a BIOS or its successsor, EFI
-uses Intel`s X86 instruction set
-Designed to be operated by a single user(eg, is not a server)

So iPads and ARM based Chromebooks are not PC`s in this sense. i personally like to use the term General Purpose Computer(GPC) when describing devices that are used for the same purposes that we use PC`s for today
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I'm old enough to have lived through all of that. I'm a retired s/w engineer now (worked developing and architecting large mission systems), having written my first code in 1971. My definition was more for the purpose of this particular discussion regarding the replacement of one family type of product (the "PC") with another, a tablet.
 
e93to said:
I was talking about Android devices - a different approach to replacing laptops, and why Android has an edge. If I'm moving 10gb+ worth of files, I'm connecting USB to my Android device instead of waiting for these files to be uploaded to the cloud
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Lol Android has a edge in general in being a laptop replacement. It's just that Google and its many partners are so fragmented, they don't know that they have a winner on their hands. Android already has mouse support natively and a native file manager. If they only had more intuitive tablet optimized apps and a more streamlined updating process, it will be the OS to replace the PC.

Actually Samsung touchwiz has helped google in many ways over the years, Google has basically kept adding ideas that generated from touchwiz into android to make it what it is today. With the right multi-window support and the new direction of Android N, android should work its way up into the laptop replacement arena. Android also lets you transfer almost any file to it. It's simple and not painful as iOS.

The only reason I love iOS, yet I still have a couple android devices on hand including a phone and tablet due to VR support/file manager and mouse support, is the smoothness of the apps and the feeling that everything just works without much compromise.
 
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TrueBlou said:
That's pretty much my view with the Pencil (yes I'm a big ol Pencil fanboy, let's get that out of the way) it's so precise and just a pleasure to use. Hell, it's what I've wanted for decades ever since I got Deluxe Paint for my Amiga and thought, wouldn't it be awesome if I could just draw on the screen instead of using a mouse. :)
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For me, the Pencil has done what I swore it wouldn't do--made me want to explore sketching and drawing again. Yes, it's an expensive accessory, but when I think about all the tools, paints, pencils, etc. I have available to me in an app like Paper by 53, I have to wonder what all those supplies would cost me in the real world.
 
oldcelt said:
i will need to replace my Air soon. Will an iPad Pro do everything my air does? Could I be completely without a laptop?????
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It has for me, however I did keep a safety in place, I have my old Mac available via Screens remote access, so I can access OSX if I have to. I'd say it's rare that I need to, but it does come in handy occasionally. Otherwise the iPad Pro covers all of my needs for work and for personal use. I won't say it's perfect and there are definitely some points when I'm annoyed that I can't do something easily, but there's usually a workaround and as software continues to improve those things will go away. It's also really nice to only be using iOS for most of my interactions, when I do go back and use a Mac now it feels slow and clunky.
 
Here is a balanced take on the question.


Scenario`s where the iPad pro can fully replace a laptop:

drawing. with the pencil, there`s just no competition

browsing. the ipad pro doesnt support all web content, but its portability is unmatched by any laptop. you can browse in almsot any position anywhere without much issues. on the couch, in the car, on the bus. wherever, without much hazzle.

Note taking. good battery life, fairly light. an obvious win for the iPad


Scenario`s where the iPad pro can partially replace a laptop:

gaming. it has a worse game library and worse gpu than an equally priced gaming laptop, but with a controller, a good game and a an lighting-to-hdmi adapter or an Apple tv for mirroring. it can get the job done

media consumption. it has the apps sure. but to watch on the big screen, you need an adapter or an apple tv. much more expensive than buying one hdmi cable. its also harder to control an ipad from a distance than a laptop. in addition, playing stand alone video files and images on an ipad pro is much more cumbersome due to its limited storage and lack of effective file management.

media creation. this is a stretch. iOS has some media creation tools but they`re lacking compared to desktop OS`s. fine if you want something quick and dirty but otherwise useless.

document editing. with the keyboard, it does an ok job at document edting. but lacks some features. its also gonna be much less comfortable to use over time


Scenario`s where the iPad pro can not replace a laptop:

high end media creation. i`ve gone over this before, tools arent good enough

high end gaming. no mouse support, relatively weak hardware, 60fps maximum, mostly pay to win games. try to play sniper fury on a 27inch 144hz monitor with a mouse and keyboard and then try to play it on iPad with touch or a controller and you`l see why gaming PC`s arent going away.

system administration. my workflow is using an HP Zbook 15 docked to two 24 inch monitors. having a couple remote desktop tabs open, an esxi control center, some word documents, onenote, outlook, skype for business. yeah, an iPad pro isnt replacing that

cad. seriously, no cad designer will give up their workstations for iPads

long term desk work. i dont think it matters what workload they`re doing, no one is going to want to sit at a desk, stare down at (relatively) small screen, stretching their hands at an iPad screen for 8 hours a day. sure you can connect it to a monitor, but you still have to stretch your arms uncomfortably. this could have been easily solved if iOS had mouse support.

coding. for obvious reasons
 
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Dont laugh but its a lot easier to lay on the bed with your Macbook where you can adjust it on so many angles.... for the iPad there is no such stable case and without a trackpad browsing and multitasking is a lot slower... iOS doesnt even allow audio from 2 sources at same time.
 
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DJTaurus said:
Dont laugh but its a lot easier to lay on the bed with your Macbook where you can adjust it on so many angles.... for the iPad there is no such stable case and without a trackpad browsing and multitasking is a lot slower... iOS doesnt even allow audio from 2 sources at same time.
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Seriously?!? I find I am way more comfortable using my iPad in bed or on the sofa than my Macbook Air (or any laptop, for that matter).
 
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DJTaurus said:
Dont laugh but its a lot easier to lay on the bed with your Macbook where you can adjust it on so many angles.... for the iPad there is no such stable case and without a trackpad browsing and multitasking is a lot slower... iOS doesnt even allow audio from 2 sources at same time.
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Nah. I'm a side sleeper so iPad is better for me. As for a stable case, I find pillows work wonders for propping the iPad while in bed. :p

Mind, I've actually fallen asleep a number of times with the laptop sitting on my chest. It's an instant jolt when I turn to my side and have the laptop fall to the floor. Hard to go back to sleep after that. :oops:
 
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I'd say my interpretation of the issue is different from what you've written. To me, you aren't trying to replace a laptop, you are trying to substitute for a laptop. There is a difference. If you are trying to do everything the same way, with the same workflow, you are trying to substitute a tablet for a laptop, and you're going to have a bad day. I'm looking to replace a device and the associated workflow.

A tablet requires a collaborative workflow. You are going to recognize you will have companion devices, such as an Apple TV, Chromecast, or XBox for media and game consumption and streaming to large screens. You are going to leverage the capabilities of your tablet with the cloud, including using a cloud IDE if you want something more capable than is offered in the App Store.

It's also a more intimate workflow. You aren't going to mount your tablet like a monitor, so there is no discomfort reaching for it. It's just there. I currently have a two monitor setup at work. When I'm briefing in my office, and want to show someone what I'm talking about, I currently either get up so they can sit in my seat and view what I'm discussing, or I awkwardly whip around one of the monitors. With the iPad Pro I'm purchasing, I'll bring it up and hand it to them.

As for your scenarios where a tablet cannot replace a laptop, now you're talking workstations, which is a special category of PC.

jonen560ti said:
Here is a balanced take on the question.


Scenario`s where the iPad pro can fully replace a laptop:

drawing. with the pencil, there`s just no competition

browsing. the ipad pro doesnt support all web content, but its portability is unmatched by any laptop. you can browse in almsot any position anywhere without much issues. on the couch, in the car, on the bus. wherever, without much hazzle.

Note taking. good battery life, fairly light. an obvious win for the iPad


Scenario`s where the iPad pro can partially replace a laptop:

gaming. it has a worse game library and worse gpu than an equally priced gaming laptop, but with a controller, a good game and a an lighting-to-hdmi adapter or an Apple tv for mirroring. it can get the job done

media consumption. it has the apps sure. but to watch on the big screen, you need an adapter or an apple tv. much more expensive than buying one hdmi cable. its also harder to control an ipad from a distance than a laptop. in addition, playing stand alone video files and images on an ipad pro is much more cumbersome due to its limited storage and lack of effective file management.

media creation. this is a stretch. iOS has some media creation tools but they`re lacking compared to desktop OS`s. fine if you want something quick and dirty but otherwise useless.

document editing. with the keyboard, it does an ok job at document edting. but lacks some features. its also gonna be much less comfortable to use over time


Scenario`s where the iPad pro can not replace a laptop:

high end media creation. i`ve gone over this before, tools arent good enough

high end gaming. no mouse support, relatively weak hardware, 60fps maximum, mostly pay to win games. try to play sniper fury on a 27inch 144hz monitor with a mouse and keyboard and then try to play it on iPad with touch or a controller and you`l see why gaming PC`s arent going away.

system administration. my workflow is using an HP Zbook 15 docked to two 24 inch monitors. having a couple remote desktop tabs open, an esxi control center, some word documents, onenote, outlook, skype for business. yeah, an iPad pro isnt replacing that

cad. seriously, no cad designer will give up their workstations for iPads

long term desk work. i dont think it matters what workload they`re doing, no one is going to want to sit at a desk, stare down at (relatively) small screen, stretching their hands at an iPad screen for 8 hours a day. sure you can connect it to a monitor, but you still have to stretch your arms uncomfortably. this could have been easily solved if iOS had mouse support.

coding. for obvious reasons
Click to expand...
 
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My iPad is doing just this for me. I'm hoping that the number of times I wish I had my MacBook back is kept to a minimum. Thus far however I am very impressed and pleased. I have everything important transferred over and I've still got 100gbs left to fill.
 
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jeremiah256 said:
I'd say my interpretation of the issue is different from what you've written. To me, you aren't trying to replace a laptop, you are trying to substitute for a laptop. There is a difference. If you are trying to do everything the same way, with the same workflow, you are trying to substitute a tablet for a laptop, and you're going to have a bad day. I'm looking to replace a device and the associated workflow.

A tablet requires a collaborative workflow. You are going to recognize you will have companion devices, such as an Apple TV, Chromecast, or XBox for media and game consumption and streaming to large screens. You are going to leverage the capabilities of your tablet with the cloud, including using a cloud IDE if you want something more capable than is offered in the App Store.

It's also a more intimate workflow. You aren't going to mount your tablet like a monitor, so there is no discomfort reaching for it. It's just there. I currently have a two monitor setup at work. When I'm briefing in my office, and want to show someone what I'm talking about, I currently either get up so they can sit in my seat and view what I'm discussing, or I awkwardly whip around one of the monitors. With the iPad Pro I'm purchasing, I'll bring it up and hand it to them.

As for your scenarios where a tablet cannot replace a laptop, now you're talking workstations, which is a special category of PC.
Click to expand...
Very well put together post. But...

Ya know what I would absolutely love that I'm not sure apple will ever do? Some kind of a dock type of dealio where you could drop it in there and boom. You're viewing all your content on a large computer monitor on the right aspect ratio with a nice keyboard in front of you. THIS is the only thing slowing me down from replacing my laptop completely. As much as I can replicate my workflow with documents and editing on my iPad, it's a pain sometimes to be restricted to JUST a 12 inch screen for work ya know. And if I AirPlay mirror it to my tv or projector, it's in this weird aspect ratio which is basically just a box on my screen. It needs to fill the entire screen for it to be useful.
 
Ghost31 said:
Very well put together post. But...

Ya know what I would absolutely love that I'm not sure apple will ever do? Some kind of a dock type of dealio where you could drop it in there and boom. You're viewing all your content on a large computer monitor on the right aspect ratio with a nice keyboard in front of you. THIS is the only thing slowing me down from replacing my laptop completely. As much as I can replicate my workflow with documents and editing on my iPad, it's a pain sometimes to be restricted to JUST a 12 inch screen for work ya know. And if I AirPlay mirror it to my tv or projector, it's in this weird aspect ratio which is basically just a box on my screen. It needs to fill the entire screen for it to be useful.
Click to expand...

I agree and also would like a dock. Our only difference is I actually believe that the Smart Connector is Apple's step in that direction. They (Apple) are vulnerable to a PR attack from Microsoft on how the iPad is not ready to replace a PC. That Microsoft's advertising has been so bad for so long leads me to believe that their PR chief must have naked photos of Bill Gates not to have been fired.
 
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I just replaced my iMac with a Mini and a Dell Ultrawide. I did it because now I can multipurpose the screen for my Mini which is always running as an iTunes server for Apple TV and AirPlay, but it can also connect to my work laptop or my wife's work laptop.

Because I use my Mini and previously my iMac as a media server, I will always need that machine for content. I'm not a iTunes Match subscriber. And I have a lot of content and an extensive Photos library as well as a host of other apps I use frequently. I also have a 2012 13" MacBook Air. I prefer that machine to my iPad which gets less and less use. I absolutely love the angled chicklet Apple Wireless and Wired Keyboards (the new Magic Keyboard is a fail). Those keyboards have an excellent typing angle. The Microsoft Surface Pro Type Cover replicates the feel and angle of the Apple keyboards. The Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pros does not.

Add to that that the iPad Pros don't run OS X. iOS style app springboard is not an adequate productivity tool and touch screens get somewhat old when doing certain tasks. Unlike a Surface Pro, the iPad offers no mouse or external display connectivity either. Apple missed the boat on giving their Pro iPad docking functionality and better I/O.

Can it do more of what an iPad can already do, yes. But that is a shrinking market. If anything 13" MacBook Pro Retina sales probably outpace 13" MacBook Air and 12" MacBook sales, meaning that people still desire the power of the Pro laptops and the desktop class OS.

I would love an iPad Pro to replace my laptop. It just needs some RAM and OS X.
 
i've tried to get used to my Air 2 fully with 90% of stuff can be done, but for some reason i find myself going back to my Mac..

The same would probably be true for the iPad Pro if I get one.. I'm still deciding.
 
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jeremiah256 said:
You aren't going to mount your tablet like a monitor, so there is no discomfort reaching for it. It's just there.
Click to expand...

if you`re gonna work on it, you`re likely gonna use the keyboard which means its gonna sit a certain distance away from you on the desk. you can lean your back forward to mitigate the issue a bit but that will get uncomfortable for your back. if you recline, you will have to stretch your arms further whenever you need to touch the screen. i cant imagine a way to comfortably use the thing for long periods
 
jonen560ti said:
if you`re gonna work on it, you`re likely gonna use the keyboard which means its gonna sit a certain distance away from you on the desk. you can lean your back forward to mitigate the issue a bit but that will get uncomfortable for your back. if you recline, you will have to stretch your arms further whenever you need to touch the screen. i cant imagine a way to comfortably use the thing for long periods
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The keyboard is closer to you than a regular laptop's keyboard (no trackpad).
 
I can think of a lot of reason an Ipad Pro does not replace a workstation/laptop but why the file system? Especially with the fact you can sync your files to the cloud, like Google Apps.

Burnsey said:
The iPad OS does not have a file system, for that simple reason, it cannot replace your laptop.
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My Air 2 actually replaced my laptop - but it did not replace my desktop. I used my laptop primarily for pleasure travel where I used it for web browsing, email, ebook reading, stored movie watching, and photo review and backup. I now use my Air 2 in conjunction with a wireless filehub to backup my photos to a USB HDD. Review is a little time consuming because I shoot RAW and 20MB+ files take a bit of time to transfer wirelessly through FileBrowser from the HDD for review but it works. Movie streaming from the HDD with the filehub works great on the Air 2. I now rarely even touch the laptop.

At home, I still use my desktop machines for photo processing, sorting, and storage. I also prefer the large screens for most of my web browsing and email. I also use the USB connections for updating and transferring data to other protable devices. I also like the use of a mouse - for me, it's more efficient. But at home I use the Air 2 for some web browsing, some email (reading, mainly), all my ebook reading, some movie watching, and games - primarily for consumption. The Air 2 is a supplement, not a replacement, in the home environment.
 
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