Has your iPad killed your laptop use?

[Krevnik]

I really think we might be ripe for a interface revolution though. There has got to be a better way than the Apple, Microsoft systems. Both have their individual limits and nuances. Maybe, like you mentioned, VR or AR will bring better capability to our mobile devices.

I actually wonder about this. It seems to be that every interface has some limitations that we just have to live with. Prior to tablets, a physical notebook was something I poured stuff into as a way to take notes. Honestly, without the tablet, I can't do handwritten notes, which is about the only way those notes remain useful to me down the road (and studies tend to show that they are better for retention as well). VR/AR doesn't really address that at all. And you can't really get away from a keyboard/mouse for some things either. VR/AR doesn't really address that either. VR/AR adds new ways to interface, which weren't possible before, but it doesn't really replace anything that currently exists. Apple, for as much as they'd like touch screens to be adequate replacements for a keyboard/mouse environment, it isn't really quite something that I think works.

I think what we really should be looking towards as the next revolution is something like Continuum. It isn't so much what the next interface will be, but rather how you can have a contextual interface for how you are working at that point in time. At a desk? Keyboard + Mouse. In a meeting? Virtual Keyboard + Pen. On the couch? TV (maybe?). Apple's approach seems to be Handoff, but that really depends on folks porting apps to the Mac to work, and doesn't support Apple TV yet at all. Microsoft's version of Continuum for Windows Phone seems the closest to actually getting you to a contextual interface.

I agree cloud is great, but I live in a big area in Northern California, where the only internet is cellular 4g that costs around 10$ a gb. The internet here has actually gotten worse, as att has pulled out of the Dsl business and there is no competition. It's been really hard on my business with the added Internet cellular costs. Without proper regulation, I'm afraid cloud computing will be limited only to big cities or people who can afford huge cellular Internet bills. I wish the government would regulate it like power and water. It's hard to do business without the internet these days. The free market has failed my area.

Good times indeed!

I hear you on this front. It's premature to really push the idea of an "always on" world. But the folks thinking on this tend to be in some the better places in terms of cellular coverage and the like because that's were the money is for ISPs. So it does bias their experience. I do wonder though, depending on what you are trying to do via the ISP, there may be some ways to adapt in the mean time.

I also think privacy is always going to be a concern, so I tend to use Transmit + a NAS to access my files remotely right now instead of relying on Dropbox/etc. Using SSH and keeping it updated keeps my risk manageable without it getting too out of hand.

 

[JawneeWin]

Haven't used my macbook since getting the iPad Pro. I do use my iMac when I'm home though.

 

[glxyjones]

I actually wonder about this. It seems to be that every interface has some limitations that we just have to live with. Prior to tablets, a physical notebook was something I poured stuff into as a way to take notes. Honestly, without the tablet, I can't do handwritten notes, which is about the only way those notes remain useful to me down the road (and studies tend to show that they are better for retention as well). VR/AR doesn't really address that at all. And you can't really get away from a keyboard/mouse for some things either. VR/AR doesn't really address that either. VR/AR adds new ways to interface, which weren't possible before, but it doesn't really replace anything that currently exists. Apple, for as much as they'd like touch screens to be adequate replacements for a keyboard/mouse environment, it isn't really quite something that I think works.

I think what we really should be looking towards as the next revolution is something like Continuum. It isn't so much what the next interface will be, but rather how you can have a contextual interface for how you are working at that point in time. At a desk? Keyboard + Mouse. In a meeting? Virtual Keyboard + Pen. On the couch? TV (maybe?). Apple's approach seems to be Handoff, but that really depends on folks porting apps to the Mac to work, and doesn't support Apple TV yet at all. Microsoft's version of Continuum for Windows Phone seems the closest to actually getting you to a contextual interface.



I hear you on this front. It's premature to really push the idea of an "always on" world. But the folks thinking on this tend to be in some the better places in terms of cellular coverage and the like because that's were the money is for ISPs. So it does bias their experience. I do wonder though, depending on what you are trying to do via the ISP, there may be some ways to adapt in the mean time.

I also think privacy is always going to be a concern, so I tend to use Transmit + a NAS to access my files remotely right now instead of relying on Dropbox/etc. Using SSH and keeping it updated keeps my risk manageable without it getting too out of hand.

I can't, and this is built off my own bias'/preferences, envision a time when VR would become the go-to computing interface. Obviously, there are severe limitations while in public, but even in my own home, I don't like the feeling of being disconnected from my surroundings for an extended period of time.

AR on the other hand could very well be the solution in the very distant future. Being able to pull up your own complete computer interface on any surface is how I envision the future. I think the biggest hurdle for AR is the social stigma that would come from interacting with an interface in public that only you can see. Imagine walking down the street and some guy is swinging/swiping his hand out in front of him interacting with an interface only he can see to look up the nearest coffee shop on yelp. In my opinion, this is the same reason voice input like Siri and Google Voice hasn't taken off. People feel awkward talking to a device in public, especially if there's a chance they have to repeat a command because their phone/computer didn't make out what they said the first time. In our home, we control the Xbox with voice commands all the time. They are so convenient and useful when dealing with a toddler. However, I can probably count on 1 hand how many times I've used Siri around other people.

 

[mrklaw]

As a fellow enthusiast, it really is an exciting time for computers. I go back and forth on which company I think has a better vision of the future. On one hand you have Windows 10 and it's ability to run everywhere; desktop, tablet, phone, and xbox. In my opinion, if they can get x86 applications to run well on a phone (like the rumored "surface phone") it *could* be a game changer IF they can someone make up the app-gap between Windows Phone and iOS/Android (they really shouldn't have killed running android apps natively on windows phone initiative). The reason I think this is because of their continuum feature. Giving users a phone that they could plug in to any monitor/projector and it instantly because full-fledged PC and every x86 program could solve 90% of PC-users needs out there. Especially when you consider that most of enterprise and government still use Windows. Now, the previously mentioned app-gap would discourage most consumers from choosing it as their personal device, which is why x86 on a phone is only half the battle for MS.

On the other hand is Apple and, in my opinion, the continual march for iOS to replace OSX. For my use-cases, if developers added all of the functionality of the their desktop apps to the their iOS counterparts, I could seem myself being an iOS only pro-sumer in the future. The other huge advantage for Apple is the integration of hardware and software. In the past year I've edited 4k movies on Windows 10, OSX, and iOS and the Apple platforms just perform better with less hardware. Now, like I mentioned earlier, something like iMovie on iOS is a functional shell of what FCP offers on OSX, but for someone like me, give me 80% of the key features of FCP on iOS and I could see myself using my iPad Pro as my main video editing device. The two biggest obstacles I see with iOS "winning" are 1) replacing mouse input with touch and 2) the need for a bigger screen in certain situations. With both of these obstacles, I have a hard time determining if their really issues for the future or it's because I'm just stuck in my ways. Maybe if Apple release a full feature/touch friendly FCP it would be incredible and I would never miss a mouse again. Maybe if they allowed for seamless second-screen support to an Apple-TV while using this theoretical FCP, it would completely eliminate the need for a dedicated, desktop-PC-only monitor. I know true professionals will always need more than someone like me who only scratches the surface of what FCP and Photoshop can do, but it's not hard to envision a time when multi-touch interaction completely replaces the mouse (think Minority Report). I think the main thing holding such a revolution back are the software developers continuing to develop for mouse/keyboard input.

It's a great time to be a tech fan.

I'm almost certain that touch-only is not the best way for your 'only' computer. The mouse isn't just something you're stuck in your ways with, it is legitimately a better way to rapidly navigate and select precisely on a screen. For things like text editing, or spreadsheet use - where you need to be able to quickly and easily select to a specific character level, I just don't find touch anywhere near as usable - and that includes 3D touch on 6S and two finger tap on the keyboard on ipad, as well as the standard press and hold on the screen to move a cursor.

I also see no technical reason why you couldn't support a mouse/trackpad on ipad. I don't think it'd necessarily be a global thing but it would definitely be a step forward for productivity use. Just like the pencil was really needed in order to push ipad pro as a genuine design/illustration creation tool because fingers and standard capacitive stylii just weren't comparable.

This isn't a 'ipad should have a proper OS'. I just think it should have access to the input systems and accessories that would improve its use for certain classes of tasks. They gave it a pencil for artists. They gave it a keyboard for those that need to type a lot. IMO they should add mouse support for that second group and for those that need to do a lot of selection - spreadsheet and presentation creation/editing would be good examples I think.

 

[shoppy]

No I still have an iMac that I sue at home on the coffee tale I am using my 15" Retina my 12' retina come out on the train with my iPad pro and my pro is sat on my desk at work for intent radio. My 6s plus and 6s are used as phones and streaming music in my car. They all serve individual purposes.

 

[JoePa2624]

As much as I'm enjoying my iPP, I doubt it's going to be able to replace my laptop. Overall it's a great device, but it can't run multiple spreadsheets at a time, has no true file management system, and I still haven't figured out a way to hook up the iPP to a projector with a USB clicker/laser pointer.

If anyone has solutions to these shortcomings please let me know. I'm actually liking the Smart Keyboard a lot more than I thought I would, and overall this is a fantastic device!

 

[Master123of]

..., and I still haven't figured out a way to hook up the iPP to a projector with a USB clicker/laser pointer.

You can use your iPhone/AppleWatch as a clicker for Keynote. As far as I know you can also draw on the presentation to show something.

 

[Krevnik]

I can't, and this is built off my own bias'/preferences, envision a time when VR would become the go-to computing interface. Obviously, there are severe limitations while in public, but even in my own home, I don't like the feeling of being disconnected from my surroundings for an extended period of time.

AR on the other hand could very well be the solution in the very distant future. Being able to pull up your own complete computer interface on any surface is how I envision the future. I think the biggest hurdle for AR is the social stigma that would come from interacting with an interface in public that only you can see.

This is actually the same argument I'm making, in a nutshell. But I can't see AR faring any better, to be honest. It's another interface, different enough from others that it fails to cover the whole spectrum of computer use.

 

[Commy1]

Over the years I've owned at least 1 device from all of Apples lines and since selling my iPad, I really really miss it. My MBP does everything I need and more, but I really miss the convenience of the iPad for traveling and just laying in bed with an iBook or Netflix.
The iPad hasn't cut into my laptop useable but I wish it would. Hoping that the next iPad Air/Pro 3 will be the one for me.

 

[djfirth]

Does anyone else feel like they no longer need a laptop?

Actually, yes.

It has been a nagging thought for a while. I travel a lot for business, and I've been using smaller and smaller devices. I've had two Macbook Air 11 units and last year bought a 2015 retina Macbook. I kept an iPad Mini 2 for extreme go-light trips. However, most of the things that I do are on both OS X and iOS, and -- in a lot of cases -- the iOS version feels crisper and smoother. While I can't do everything on iOS, I can do most everything. I'm going to try an experiment -- try to do everything on iOS and see what I can't do. I figure I'm weaned off my Mac by the end of the year (and I'm a 20-year Mac user).

I picked up a refurb Air 2 128G for this adventure. If I'm going to try and go iPad-only, I do need the bigger screen and storage.

 

[Channan]

Actually, yes.

It has been a nagging thought for a while. I travel a lot for business, and I've been using smaller and smaller devices. I've had two Macbook Air 11 units and last year bought a 2015 retina Macbook. I kept an iPad Mini 2 for extreme go-light trips. However, most of the things that I do are on both OS X and iOS, and -- in a lot of cases -- the iOS version feels crisper and smoother. While I can't do everything on iOS, I can do most everything. I'm going to try an experiment -- try to do everything on iOS and see what I can't do. I figure I'm weaned off my Mac by the end of the year (and I'm a 20-year Mac user).

I picked up a refurb Air 2 128G for this adventure. If I'm going to try and go iPad-only, I do need the bigger screen and storage.

I also feel like I can ditch my MacBook Pro and go iPad full time, but it would feel weird not having something to fall back on, so I won't be ditching my MacBook Pro anytime soon.

 

[AlexJoda]

I also feel like I can ditch my MacBook Pro and go iPad full time, but it would feel weird not having something to fall back on, so I won't be ditching my MacBook Pro anytime soon.

I too think that I could ditch my MacBook but I won't ditch my iMac. I think the combination of iPhone, iPP and iMac cover my needs perfectly without overlapping....

 

[chadcj7]

For those of you that have ditched your laptop in favor a iPad and desktop combination, what is it that you do for a living? Are you even using the iPad for work purposes? I ask because I am in sales and I want to become more efficient. It think the IPP takes me there but still a little nervous. I also have mac mini at home that ties in to work due to all the cloud based storage I use. I also know my applications will work on there as well. It is just the new process that makes me a little nervous

So curious what type of employment everyone has that is eliminating their laptop use

 

[Channan]

I too think that I could ditch my MacBook but I won't ditch my iMac. I think the combination of iPhone, iPP and iMac cover my needs perfectly without overlapping....

Oh, if I had a desktop, I could surely ditch my MacBook Pro. But I don't need the power of a desktop so I'll just stick with a laptop for portability.

 

[Night Spring]

For those of you that have ditched your laptop in favor a iPad and desktop combination, what is it that you do for a living? Are you even using the iPad for work purposes?

I'm a translator. On my iPad Pro, I use Pages to do my translations, Numbers to keep track of my jobs and billable hours, Dues to remind me of deadlines, and Dropbox to save and organize my files. I admit my work requirements are on the light side, but yes, since I got my iPP, I've been doing my job almost exclusively on it. I could do everything I need to do on any previous iPad, but the smaller screen made it easier to do my work on a MacBook. But the iPP screen is almost the same size as my MBA. And I prefer tapping our my translations while lying back on a sofa, rather than sitting at a desk. So iPP has become my main work machine.

 

[Bbqthis]

My iPad 3rd gen replaced my laptop years ago. Anything I can't do on the iPad usually is a hardware constraint, not software, and I do it on my iMac. iPad Pro has only served to sweeten my desktop+tablet workflow.

 

[dumastudetto]

I own all the current generation iPads - mini, air and pro but I still have no intention of ditching my MPB. I still love the Mac as much as I love my iOS devices.

It's great that more people can get all their work done with iOS, but I know I'd miss my Mac if I gave it up. Some apps are better on each of the different platforms, and I love having the best of both worlds at my fingertips.

 

[arefbe]

"Killed"? No, of course not. Reduced, yes.

 

[neutrino23]

I use both. In fact, I often use them together. I set the iPad Pro up on a stand to read from while working with Xcode or other app on the MBP. I've tried a few business trips with just the iPad Pro. I'm almost there. I think in the next year I'll give the MBP to my wife and get an iMac. On the road I can VNC in to the iMac. The larger screen of the iPP makes that easier.

 

[snow755]

Ever since I got my iPad Air 2 I been using it more then my hp laptop that I this destroy so my iPad Air 2 will now be my main iPad for web browsing email and other stuff In tell I have saved enough $ for me too get then iPad pro then I will be using that for my main stuff But in tell tell then my air 2 Will bo just find

I no longer have a need for a laptop I find my my web browsing March improve on my iPad has my iPad is March faster then my window 10 hp laptop.

No more window computer for me

 

[eyeseeyou]

With the new IOS9 updates that added desktop like keyboard shortcuts to bluetooth connected keyboards my macbook usage has went down and used only for design work since there are no desktop class design apps and anything close requires too many workarounds to get a similar output.

iPad Air 2 + Belkin Qode Pro = Best in between/cost efficient option from iPhone to Macbook.

uhh IMO
[doublepost=1456609612][/doublepost]Oh and with the Duet app my ipad doubles as an additional monitor for my macbook!

 

[sparksd]

With the new IOS9 updates that added desktop like keyboard shortcuts to bluetooth connected keyboards my macbook usage has went down and used only for design work since there are no desktop class design apps and anything close requires too many workarounds to get a similar output.

iPad Air 2 + Belkin Qode Pro = Best in between/cost efficient option from iPhone to Macbook.

uhh IMO
[doublepost=1456609612][/doublepost]Oh and with the Duet app my ipad doubles as an additional monitor for my macbook!

I also have the iPad Air 2 + Belkin Qode Pro - a great combination. The battery life in the Belkin is absolutely amazing.

 

[eyeseeyou]

I also have the iPad Air 2 + Belkin Qode Pro - a great combination. The battery life in the Belkin is absolutely amazing.

Have you ever tried to pair the belkin keyboard with a macbook? My macbook never recognizes the belkin.
[doublepost=1456614419][/doublepost]If Apple implemented some form of mouse pointer in IOS I'd really use my macbook/desktop even less.

 

[JoePa2624]

For those of you that have ditched your laptop in favor a iPad and desktop combination, what is it that you do for a living? Are you even using the iPad for work purposes? I ask because I am in sales and I want to become more efficient. It think the IPP takes me there but still a little nervous. I also have mac mini at home that ties in to work due to all the cloud based storage I use. I also know my applications will work on there as well. It is just the new process that makes me a little nervous

So curious what type of employment everyone has that is eliminating their laptop use

I work in outside sales and picked up an iPP last week to use exclusively for work. Overall I like how productive it makes me, replacing my work-issued Dell, 5-pound laptop.

The iPP paired with the silicone case and Smart Keyboard seem like a great pairing for day-to-day uses. The only short-comings I've come across with the Pro compared to using a laptop is the lack of ports and inability to create pivot tables on Excel. Otherwise this thing is great.

I use Dropbox and Google Drive for document management and Spark/Outlook for email. With all of that being said, I'm still 50/50 on if I'm going to keep it. I find the size just a tad too big. With the new rumors that the 9.7" iPad is going to be the exact same package with the smaller screen, I might wait and go that route instead.

Message me if you had any more specific questions in regards to using the Pro for sales.

 

[Rideherhard]

I'm a very light user and the iPad and iPhone have replaced a desktop or laptop for me. iPad does pretty much everything I need, I have a cheap crappy windows laptop that I only use for running Anthems Room Correction software which needs windows and I only pull that out if I move or make changes to the room. Just wish Apple would make improvement to iOS, like letting you have photos on the icons when you group apps together instead of how it looks now, something to clean things up, when I label it learning, or games, or smart home or whatever I know what's in there.