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No, as a Computer Science major, this would be impossible. Need a Mac to code.
 
I did it for about a year, but it was not ideal. I could get by with most basic things such as surfing, emails, etc., but there were still times when I needed a "real" computer. Luckily I could use GoToMyPC and remote into my desktop at work when necessary.

I bought a MacBook Pro a few months ago and could not be happier. I don't use my iPad very much these days, and honestly if the iPhone 6 has a bigger screen as is rumored, I will probably sell the iPad. My iPhone can do everything it can do, with the only advantage of the iPad being the larger screen.
 
99% of the time I just use an iPad. I still have a Mac for the occasional project but yeah, the iPad has almost replaced it.

That's not a sign of the iPad becoming a more powerful device, it's a sign that my needs in a computer have severely shrank over the years. If it weren't for the night classes I take, I would probably be content getting all my internet stuff done on my phone.
 
99% of the time I just use an iPad. I still have a Mac for the occasional project but yeah, the iPad has almost replaced it.

That's not a sign of the iPad becoming a more powerful device, it's a sign that my needs in a computer have severely shrank over the years. If it weren't for the night classes I take, I would probably be content getting all my internet stuff done on my phone.

Interesting perspective on it. I suppose many of us have fewer or easier to obtain needs from our PCs. We can get them from a super portable device that's fun to use. Very cool take on it.

As for me, my laptops have been relegated to the basement but we still go to tem on occasion. There are some games and a few things you just ain't doing on your iPad. Period.
 
Interesting perspective on it. I suppose many of us have fewer or easier to obtain needs from our PCs. We can get them from a super portable device that's fun to use. Very cool take on it.

As for me, my laptops have been relegated to the basement but we still go to tem on occasion. There are some games and a few things you just ain't doing on your iPad. Period.

It has a lot to do with apps too. Now a days, there is an app for literally everything I do that needs an internet connection. And in many cases (but not all) using an app is quicker/more enjoyable than using a website or PC program. Again, this is my own personal needs that have really diminished the past couple years, but it's really kind of nice to not have to sit at a desk all that much anymore. I am going to buy a new Mac next fall and there is a pretty good chance that is the last, or at least one of the last few PC's I ever buy. You're totally right though- the tablet/phone has yet to even come close to PC gaming. Not even just in terms of graphics, but for a lot of the games I used to play, the translation to touchscreens is very clumsy and annoying.
 
Before...no.

After the 128G iPad Air?

What's a desktop? What's a laptop? I've forgotten. ;-)
 
iPad by itself? No. But my current combination of a Surface 2 and the iPad Air takes care of around 95% of my needs. I may change that slightly by opting for the Surface Pro 2 (more likely, Pro 3 later this year). But that's I. Of course, at home I have a desktop with a dual monitor set up, but I use that only when I have a lot of reference-work to do or I need a lot of screen space.
 
My main one, but not my sole one. The iPad is great, but it cannot do everything. My laptop can.
 
It has a lot to do with apps too. Now a days, there is an app for literally everything I do that needs an internet connection. And in many cases (but not all) using an app is quicker/more enjoyable than using a website or PC program. Again, this is my own personal needs that have really diminished the past couple years, but it's really kind of nice to not have to sit at a desk all that much anymore. I am going to buy a new Mac next fall and there is a pretty good chance that is the last, or at least one of the last few PC's I ever buy. You're totally right though- the tablet/phone has yet to even come close to PC gaming. Not even just in terms of graphics, but for a lot of the games I used to play, the translation to touchscreens is very clumsy and annoying.

Totally with ya here. I'd rather use the iPad and I always try to use it for just about every task. There are times however that the trusty old toshiba laptops have to be deployed. I still play Age of Empires and there isn't anything like it available for the iPad and even of there was I love the PC game too much to stop playing it.

Overall, we are 80% there as far as iPads being our main computers per say.
 
Before...no.

After the 128G iPad Air?

What's a desktop? What's a laptop? I've forgotten. ;-)

And what's with 128GB iPad? I can have a 1TB iPad but then what? I want tons of ripped movie collection, how can I copy it IN my iPad?

You can't insert your own content unless you have iTunes, or FTP in which case you'll still need a computer.

You can't manage your content offline, not neatly anyway. I can't afford to download GBs of files off the cloud. Not to mention iOS is horrible at managing files, it doesn't have filesystem, remember?

You can't do complete restore on iPad without computer. In extreme cases, iOS device will brick to the point it needs to be plugged into iTunes. In which case .. KABOOM!

iPad as the only computer in home = BS. It's a companion device, period :eek:
 
And what's with 128GB iPad? I can have a 1TB iPad but then what? I want tons of ripped movie collection, how can I copy it IN my iPad?

I don't know since I stream all my movies from my iTrunes, Amazon, and Netflix accounts.

You can't insert your own content unless you have iTunes, or FTP in which case you'll still need a computer.

Interesting. I use an FTP client on my iPad all the time. I also repurposed my time machine as an offline storage device. I know, shocking!

You can't manage your content offline, not neatly anyway. I can't afford to download GBs of files off the cloud. Not to mention iOS is horrible at managing files, it doesn't have filesystem, remember?

Well, I do it successfully every day. Not sure what your problem is. You should cut down on your porn collection. You can save a lot of space that way.

You can't do complete restore on iPad without computer. In extreme cases, iOS device will brick to the point it needs to be plugged into iTunes. In which case .. KABOOM!

Yes you can. That hasn't been a requirement since the iPad 2. /boggle

iPad as the only computer in home = BS. It's a companion device, period :

Well good thing my "companion" device does everything I used a desktop for these days. The thought of lugging a laptop or desktop to the top of a mountain to take photos, edit them, and send them (wirelessly) off to the printing service would suck.

Some of us want a computing device to do things wherever we want. I'd rather not be tied to a desk, thank you.
 
For web-surfing, email, and photo viewing I use my iPad 3. If I need to play games, write stories, or create graphics though, I use my Compaq laptop.
 
For a year now, the ipad has been my sole computer, no problem, and I write quite a lot. First the 4, which I upgraded to air in dec
 
i'll give you a simple and sure answer. im sure i can represent everybody when i say this.

if your work life or personal life doesn't require you to have high computing system ipad could potentially replace a computer.

if your life requires this, then no you cannot. its that simple.

for me though, my work nor personal life i don't work with high powered computers so yes my ipad is my main functional computer. i browse, youtube, google, email, netflix, etc. etc.

i do have a windows laptop '08 practially a brick now just as my hard drive for my itune things and media files.
 
i use my ipad as my sole computer along with a logitech ultrathin keyboard cover. II do my school work on it using iWork, i browse the web, Netflix,Facebook, twitter, and Asphalt8 my favorite game to play.
 
If I didn't play computer games I could easily use an iPad as my main computer. Since my college days are behind me I have no need for a computer.

Although I would be giving up the luxury of working from home on occasion without a computer.
 
No. Absolutely not. I couldn't do it. I need a laptop minimum. Touch screens without a keyboard and mouse are too cumbersome to use and iOS is far too limited. I use my iPad for email on the go, news, netflix and maybe a few games but when it comes down to getting actual work done I gravitate towards an actual computer.
 
When deciding between a Mac Air and iPad, can the iPad be used as a laptop?

While Windows 8 and even RT tablets can be used as full PCs (as they're still full Windows, or almost full windows in the case of RT), an iPad can't. Maybe for some people with extremely meager needs it's okay, but even web browsing and email and responding on a forum like this is much faster an easier on a real PC. Plus there's no great office suite for iOS, no real file system, etc. It's nice for some things, like as an ebook/comic/magazine reader, but lame to try to actually use as a full blown PC as it (and Android) really aren't.

IMO you should just get a Mac or Windows PC if you want a PC, and get an iPad if you want something to do light web browsing in bed or to consume books or the like (although eInk is nicer where possible, but an iPad can basically use every book format/store and handle magazines and comics). If you actually want a tablet that can be used as a PC, get something running Windows 8.1, or possible RT if your needs are met by RT. Otherwise, get both.
 
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