it all totally depends on what you want to do with it. i use my iPad Air for about 90-95% of the things I do at home. there are sometimes when I need a computer and would love to have an iPad Air as my only computer but it just can't be done. now if you just store photos and songs on ur ipad and only do email and web surfing and nothing else really...then yes, you could get by with an iPad only.
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iPad Does anyone use the iPad as their sole computer
- Thread starter Sandwich Jumper
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it all totally depends on what you want to do with it. i use my iPad Air for about 90-95% of the things I do at home. there are sometimes when I need a computer and would love to have an iPad Air as my only computer but it just can't be done. now if you just store photos and songs on ur ipad and only do email and web surfing and nothing else really...then yes, you could get by with an iPad only.
It will take you a LONG time to learn how to get by using an iPad alone because iOS is a totally different operating system from OSX and the apps for iPad are alot different too. So you have to ask yourself: do I have the time and energy to subject myself to many weeks of self inflicted electronic torture or should I simply get an 11" Macbook Air?
To me, iPad Air is a great "companion" device but definitely not my "main" device. It can execute 90 % of the stuff I do on my rmbp and it even outperforms it in some tasks. However, I would not replace my rmbp with my iPad Air because of these limitations, which are critical to me:
-Screen estate on the iPad Air is too small to work on detailed or complex documents.
-Lack of pointing device is a deterrent for productive tasks.
-The "silo" or "compartment" approach for apps, plus the lack of a common filesystem to access and "share" documents is an issue. Plus, multitasking is quite lacking on ios (for instance, switch between application windows easily, copy/paste content from one application to another, having two windows side by side to compare content, etc.).
-Many full fledged applications are not available on the iPad: MS Office, MS Project, etc.
-Lack of Java is an issue to me as I need sometimes to load Java applets, etc.
Regarding MS Project, I need to work on project plans and schedules on a regular basis. I've installed it on my Bootcamp partition, as there's currently no Mac version available. This is one "real life" example, but others could require to run some specific applications that are not available on ios.
-Screen estate on the iPad Air is too small to work on detailed or complex documents.
-Lack of pointing device is a deterrent for productive tasks.
-The "silo" or "compartment" approach for apps, plus the lack of a common filesystem to access and "share" documents is an issue. Plus, multitasking is quite lacking on ios (for instance, switch between application windows easily, copy/paste content from one application to another, having two windows side by side to compare content, etc.).
-Many full fledged applications are not available on the iPad: MS Office, MS Project, etc.
-Lack of Java is an issue to me as I need sometimes to load Java applets, etc.
Regarding MS Project, I need to work on project plans and schedules on a regular basis. I've installed it on my Bootcamp partition, as there's currently no Mac version available. This is one "real life" example, but others could require to run some specific applications that are not available on ios.
Not if you use your ipad to do actual work. It's great for everything else: media consumption, email, web tasks, note taking, etc.
Perfect example as to why tablets can be limiting. iPads more so than Android or Window tablet because of the lack of file system access and no ability to add a mouse.
If you really need to replace a PC or Mac with a small portable, the only viable options are a Surface Pro (or similar Windows 8 hybrid) or MacBook Air. At least for now.
Only if all you do is very, very limited, mostly linked to web browsing and boring, stupid little games. Otherwise, grt the laptop.
I use my ipad a lot more than my laptop, but for some things I need a proper computer. Things like word processing, creating presentations, ripping DVDs, organising my ebook collection.
I only have an iPhone 5 and an iPad Air. I do the normal stuff - internet, movies, music, word processing - plus a lot of photo editing. Works just great for me.
i love my full tower computers with 24 inch lcd monitors...my friend bought a ipad today....the ipad just not get my interest, but i can see some places they might be nice...but not me....i have a android s4 galaxy, and i read the bible on it,,it actually speaks it to me..if the ipad can do that, that would be nice....i doubt i will ever own one..
All ios devices can read selectable text. Turn it on in accessibility. Unfortunately, you cannot change that voice.
No. I use my 2013 MBA as my main computer (with a 27" ACD at home). My iPad Air DOES get a lot of use though...these two devices compliment each other very very well IMO. I LOVE my Airs...can't wait for the iPhone Air 
to be honest if you only use your computer for Facebook you could replace it with a tyre on a rope
I've been using my ipads as self standing computers since the first ipad.
I never sync except for updates.
There is some things the ipads cant do, but you can almost use them as your only computer.
I have friends who only have an ipad now for over two years.
I never sync except for updates.
There is some things the ipads cant do, but you can almost use them as your only computer.
I have friends who only have an ipad now for over two years.
That term in no way was meant to suggest that iOS devices would replace computers as our sole devices. It simply was meant that for more and more of our tasks, we end up using devices that aren't PCs in the traditional sense. But there will be instances where PCs will still be necessary. Thus Steve's famous cars and trucks analogy.
Yesterday I ordered a refurbished 13" rMBP from apple for $1099. Then I will sell my iPad Air. I have not liked the iPad and the iOS except for casual web browsing in bed. Composing emails is slow and tedious on the iPad. The iMovie app for iPad is very limited in what it can do. The 12" rMBA that is rumored to be coming out this summer sounds like a dream machine to me and I may get one if I find my 13" rMBP is a little too big and heavy.
