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Goodbye MacBook, hello "new iPad". Tips, apps, accessories?

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Thanks whtrbt7, that's an awesome list and completely covers my needs for the iPad.

To all, I am excited to try out using an iPad as my only computer. Mostly
To find about the shortcomings and workarounds.

As a note, I am buying a laptop again in the future. My computer usage as of late could be done with an iPad though, hence the decision.

I did just get a keyboard for the iPad, gonna go with a smart cover and a sleeve for casing.

Any other favorite apps out there for productivity and for fun?
 
Wow... I am surprised no one has clarified this.

All iOS devices have a way to wipe the device to factory settings

Settings>General>Reset>Erase All Content & Settings

This WILL put your device back into it's state shipped from the factory. (Without warranty re-registration of course.)

As long as you are not jailbroken, this is absolutely "restoring back to factory."

If you jailbreak, you run the risk of corrupting system files. If that happened, then you would NEED a PC/Mac to restore in iTunes. This is essentially "reinstalling iOS to the device."
 
I have to admit a large percentage of my PC use is email and browsing. If that's all I ever needed, I'd be in bliss with the iPad.

But then I went and bought an Escort Radar detector. For my car. It comes with a camera database update. I need a PC to update it. Sigh. I guess I can do without that.

I then wanted to access XYZ website and mobile safari didn't like it. And it had flash to boot. I didn't really need to see that site, did I?

I then signed up for an account on another website and it wanted me to upload my picture or avatar to the site, but the upload button was greyed out. I guess they didn't get the memo to make it iPad user friendly.

I then got an email I needed to reply to with an attachment, and then noticed I can't do that. That's ok, I'll go into the app and email from there. Thankfully I rarely have to attach two different doc types. And if I do, I'll just send two emails. ePostage is free.

I then found some CDs I want to rip and listen, err, consume its content. Oops, can't do that anymore. That's ok. I'll just buy everything in iTunes. And my entire DVD collection too.

Yeah, I could make this work. :rolleyes:

Or I could just buy a real computer and be done with it... ;)
 
ZBoater said:
I have to admit a large percentage of my PC use is email and browsing. If that's all I ever needed, I'd be in bliss with the iPad.

But then I went and bought an Escort Radar detector. For my car. It comes with a camera database update. I need a PC to update it. Sigh. I guess I can do without that.

I then wanted to access XYZ website and mobile safari didn't like it. And it had flash to boot. I didn't really need to see that site, did I?

I then signed up for an account on another website and it wanted me to upload my picture or avatar to the site, but the upload button was greyed out. I guess they didn't get the memo to make it iPad user friendly.

I then got an email I needed to reply to with an attachment, and then noticed I can't do that. That's ok, I'll go into the app and email from there. Thankfully I rarely have to attach two different doc types. And if I do, I'll just send two emails. ePostage is free.

I then found some CDs I want to rip and listen, err, consume its content. Oops, can't do that anymore. That's ok. I'll just buy everything in iTunes. And my entire DVD collection too.

Yeah, I could make this work. :rolleyes:

Or I could just buy a real computer and be done with it... ;)
Click to expand...
Okay, really?

All he was asking for was tips for fully replacing his/her MBA with the iPad. He/she never asked if it would work for you. Just because it doesn't work for you does not mean it can't work for the OP. People have different levels of uses for their computers, and if the OP thinks that he/she replace the MBA with the iPad for what he/she uses it for, then the OP should go for it.
 
jakeryan9 said:
Okay, really?

All he was asking for was tips for fully replacing his/her MBA with the iPad. He/she never asked if it would work for you. Just because it doesn't work for you does not mean it can't work for the OP. People have different levels of uses for their computers, and if the OP thinks that he/she replace the MBA with the iPad for what he/she uses it for, then the OP should go for it.
Click to expand...

Listen, he is asking for opinions and I m giving him mine. Sure, I could blow sunshine up his... nose and tell him how wonderful life with an iPad and no other computer would be like. Of I could point out the problems he could face because the iPad and iOS 5 are NOT READY to completely replace the traditional computer. One day they could and most likely will, but not today.

All I did was express a different viewpoint (somewhat sarcastically I admit). OP, good luck with your experiment. Best of luck. You're gonna need it... ;)
 
I do most of my basic computing on my iPad just fine. I prefer to use my MB most of the time due to the keyboard and because my iPad's first gen and as such it lags and can't keep a browser in the background for long without refreshing everything when I open it, but I imagine if I had the new iPad the latter issue would disappear.

It all depends on your usage, and if the OP can use the iPad for their needs then let him/her be.
 
I'm glad that my suggestions helped. I run around with my iPad most of the time instead of a laptop. If you really want to get more out of the iPad without compromising with iCloud, I would suggest replacing iCloud Address Book, Calendar, Reminder, and E-mail with Exchange Server. It leads to a smoother experience with e-mail, contacts, and multiple devices than iCloud.
 
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It's quite alright. As condescending as ZBoater's post seemed, it actually brings up a really good point. While there are some big glaring differences between a full-fledged computer and an iPad (no DVD drive for instance) it generally isn't any one thing that makes the difference but a collective of all of the small things and workarounds required (not to mention screen real estate).

I have no doubt that I am going to miss having a computer and will certainly buy another one in the future. However, I am actually pretty excited to try using an iPad as a replacement for the time being.

What would Apple need to add to the iPad to make it more of a full-fledged computer while keeping the essence of the iPad as is (minimalist, but functional design, portable, great battery life, and more)?
 
When I travel with my iPad I'll take along the Apple Bluetooth keyboard, my Nokia BH503 Bluetooth headphones and the camera connection kit. Longs trips a power adapter & $2 charging cable.
 
OP, a friend of mine has been computer free for over a year. She is doing fine with just an iPad. As some others here have stated, it depends on the individual and their usage.
 
ZBoater said:
Listen, he is asking for opinions and I m giving him mine. Sure, I could blow sunshine up his... nose and tell him how wonderful life with an iPad and no other computer would be like. Of I could point out the problems he could face because the iPad and iOS 5 are NOT READY to completely replace the traditional computer. One day they could and most likely will, but not today.

All I did was express a different viewpoint (somewhat sarcastically I admit). OP, good luck with your experiment. Best of luck. You're gonna need it... ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah .. totally in the same z-boat with you ZBoater :D ... Some things just can't be done right on iOS alone. I'm sure that once in a while, even a casual computer user would find themselves in a "Oh damn, my iPad can't do that" situation.

Like in my situation I explained earlier, Software Update menu on iPad/iPhone didn't work and I ended up update it by download ipsw on my computer. Or in a situation when I can't really import my music/movies to my iPad unless I bought it from iTunes Store.

From the beginning, iOS is designed to be a pod system. Now iOS 5.x gives us a really really tight and conditional situation when we can be completely unplugged, no longer need initial itunes activation etc, but I dont think that's enough to make iOS device as the only computer. It's just too tight, and too conditional, too many IFs and ONLYs.

At least it needs a dedicated Finder that can freely organize files on iOS, or simply access and manipulate files on NAS/Time Machine via WiFi, and copy them to our device. Then it will be a properly full featured independent OS.

But as OP said, it would be an interim computer, then he planned to get a newly refreshed MBP later this year. So it's up to you OP if you feel you can handle iPad as your primary computer for a few months. However, if you ask me, I'd survive with current MBP until refresh. But yeah, I understand if it's so hard to us to resist a 9.7" Retina Display, right? Too much temptation :D
 
GrindedDown said:
What would Apple need to add to the iPad to make it more of a full-fledged computer while keeping the essence of the iPad as is (minimalist, but functional design, portable, great battery life, and more)?
Click to expand...

A docking station. A real one with external and optical drives.

And it was not my intent to seem condescending. If it came across that way, I apologize. I'm a sarcastic mothe... , errr, person and sometimes I rely on sarcasm a lot to get my point across.

:D
 
I personally couldn't go iPad only, but I can definitely appreciate that it can be happily done. My dad only has an iPad now. He uses it exclusively for content consumption, very light stuff. Its actually better for him since its always there, and on, whereas he often wouldn't be bothered to get his big/slow dell laptop out, wait for it to load up etc. He has a pc at work, and I'm around with my mbp, so he's ok if anything non-ipad friendly needs doing, but that situation hasn't really arisen yet.

Definitely shows you can be iPad only and happy.
 
ZBoater said:
I have to admit a large percentage of my PC use is email and browsing. If that's all I ever needed, I'd be in bliss with the iPad.

But then I went and bought an Escort Radar detector. For my car. It comes with a camera database update. I need a PC to update it. Sigh. I guess I can do without that.

I then wanted to access XYZ website and mobile safari didn't like it. And it had flash to boot. I didn't really need to see that site, did I?

I then signed up for an account on another website and it wanted me to upload my picture or avatar to the site, but the upload button was greyed out. I guess they didn't get the memo to make it iPad user friendly.

I then got an email I needed to reply to with an attachment, and then noticed I can't do that. That's ok, I'll go into the app and email from there. Thankfully I rarely have to attach two different doc types. And if I do, I'll just send two emails. ePostage is free.

I then found some CDs I want to rip and listen, err, consume its content. Oops, can't do that anymore. That's ok. I'll just buy everything in iTunes. And my entire DVD collection too.

Yeah, I could make this work. :rolleyes:

Or I could just buy a real computer and be done with it... ;)
Click to expand...

I know you are trying your best to make a point and trying to be funny but your not.
There are obviously lots of things you don't know like a restore and updating.
You can also add to that list with uploading a Avatar to a website, you can do that with iCab.
Same goes for emailing more than one document there are several apps that will let you do so.
Perhaps you should try to learn more before giving bad advice.
 
He he, I was telling my wife about this thread just as she's fighting with her Garmin Forerunner GPS update app on her MBA.... I'm ROFL and she's looking at me like WTF? :D

----------
dukeblue91 said:
I know you are trying your best to make a point and trying to be funny but your not.
There are obviously lots of things you don't know like a restore and updating.
You can also add to that list with uploading a Avatar to a website, you can do that with iCab.
Same goes for emailing more than one document there are several apps that will let you do so.
Perhaps you should try to learn more before giving bad advice.
Click to expand...

Really? Can you show me the app that will update the firmware on the umpteenth gadgets I have laying around the house? And could you be a bit more specific on how I take a Word doc fom Quickoffice and a picture from Camera roll and use a 3rd party email program to reply and attach these files? Can you show me how to restore iOS onto an iDevice without iTunes?

Perhaps you should rethink your approach.
 
Switching apps for a specific needs on iOS already quite a pain for me.

To upload an avatar I need an app called A.
To attach more than 1 files on my email I need an app called B.
To access and attach audio files on iPad I need app called C
To grab a YouTube video I need to switch from Safari, copy the link to app called D
On iPhone I can't even download a bloody thing on Safari, so I need to get another app called E for that.

While 2 or 3 of those tasks can be easily done ONLY by real Safari both in Windows or Mac.

Apple simply needs to enrich features on each of their default iOS apps that's for sure, just to make it closer to a full fuctioning computer, and make this "Post-PC" era more real :p
 
You got me on the firmware updates for your gadgets.
But yes I can tell you about some of the other stuff.
As I stated before you can attach avatars / Pics and docs to a website from iCab, you can also make use of GoodReader to do attachments and you can also make use of of your app switcher and copy and past as much as you like to.
Some of those apps will also let you download all types of files.
You can even zip and unzip files.
you can add as many files you like in a folder in some apps and zip them and then email that zipped folder out.
And if you like you can even download torrents, movies and mp3's.
Oh yes and then there is dropbox too.
Just because it doesn't work like a PC / Mac doesn't mean it can't be done at all.
 
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FWIW ZBoater, I actually thought it was a great post. I didn't really take it as a "f$&k you buddy, your dumb" post just making a good point that there are going to be a lot of small things that are natural on a computer that will take some work (if it's even possible) on the iPad.

Oh and btw iSayuSay, yeah I absolutely can't resist the retina display. When the iPad originally came out, I told myself I would wait til the third one. Now that it's here, I want it. But after having used the retina display on iPhone for quite some time and knowing the iPad will have it, that was the deal sealer for me. In other words, I didn't really have any other choice than to sell the MacBook for the new iPad.......
 
dukeblue91 said:
You got me on the firmware updates for your gadgets.
But yes I can tell you about some of the other stuff.
As I stated before you can attach avatars / Pics and docs to a website from iCab, you can also make use of GoodReader to do attachments and you can also make use of of your app switcher and copy and past as much as you like to.
Some of those apps will also let you download all types of files.
You can even zip and unzip files.
you can add as many files you like in a folder in some apps and zip them and then email that zipped folder out.
And if you like you can even download torrents, movies and mp3's.
Oh yes and then there is dropbox too.
Just because it doesn't work like a PC / Mac doesn't mean it can't be done at all.
Click to expand...

Yes, I know. If I get an email request for some files, I can:

1. Go to my iPad, collect the files onto Goodreader and zip them (this takes several steps). I still can't attach that file to the reply, I have to create a new email. And if the reply was going to multiple recipients I have to write all those down and re-enter them in the outgoing email from Goodreader.

2. I can upload all the files individually from each app onto a Dropbox folder, share it, copy the link, and paste it onto my reply, and hit send. I'll cross my fingers that no recipients are behind a firewall that blocks Dropbox.

3. I can reply from my PC, click the attach button, attach files from all over my hard drive, an hit send.

Did I miss anything?

----------
GrindedDown said:
FWIW ZBoater, I actually thought it was a great post. I didn't really take it as a "f$&k you buddy, your dumb" post just making a good point that there are going to be a lot of small things that are natural on a computer that will take some work (if it's even possible) on the iPad. .
Click to expand...

Great! I'm glad you took it as it was intended. :D
 
ZBoater said:
Yes, I know. If I get an email request for some files, I can:

1. Go to my iPad, collect the files onto Goodreader and zip them (this takes several steps). I still can't attach that file to the reply, I have to create a new email. And if the reply was going to multiple recipients I have to write all those down and re-enter them in the outgoing email from Goodreader.

2. I can upload all the files individually from each app onto a Dropbox folder, share it, copy the link, and paste it onto my reply, and hit send. I'll cross my fingers that no recipients are behind a firewall that blocks Dropbox.

3. I can reply from my PC, click the attach button, attach files from all over my hard drive, an hit send.

Did I miss anything?

----------



Great! I'm glad you took it as it was intended. :D
Click to expand...

Hey you're the one that said it could not be done.
Glad you now see that it can be done although a bit slower then a PC or / Mac
in GoodReader you can add multiple email addresses without having to go back and adding them one by one.
You can also add all files you want and email the whole folder.
 
The iPad is just missing more advanced Apps in order to replace a traditional laptop. It's getting there but I think they are still about 3 years off. Compared to ICS and where Android is heading, Apple seems to be making a lot of headway. If Apple bought up Adobe, AutoDesk, and VMWare, they would corner the market. With some additional peripherals such as desk mounts, thunderbolt ports, and capacitive pen, the iPad could really replace most computers on the market.
 
dukeblue91 said:
Hey you're the one that said it could not be done.
Glad you now see that it can be done although a bit slower then a PC or / Mac
in GoodReader you can add multiple email addresses without having to go back and adding them one by one.
You can also add all files you want and email the whole folder.
Click to expand...

Yes, I can also change the oil in my car using a syringe. Doesn't mean I should do it... ;)
 
ZBoater said:
A docking station. A real one with external and optical drives.

And it was not my intent to seem condescending. If it came across that way, I apologize. I'm a sarcastic mothe... , errr, person and sometimes I rely on sarcasm a lot to get my point across.

:D
Click to expand...

Same can be said for someone using only a MacBook Air as a desktop replacement. It all comes down to what you use your computer for. Most people do not even know what firmware is let alone know how to update it. Lol.

I say use the Ipad as a replacement if you need more your only a trip to Apple store from fixing that problem.

Everyone said I was nuts to replace my laptop for the first iPad but I did it. Most of those people that doubted me I had to help do the same. I still kept my work desktop which could not be replaced with even a MacPro.
 
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