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I think I might do it...
- Thread starter Yumunum
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From experience...
I did this when the original iPad came out last year - sold my MacBook and got the iPad 64gb WiFi. I too have a "family" computer (Mac Mini) that I used for syncing or anything that might require a fully-fledged computer. Otherwise, I used the iPad exclusively for about 9 months. It worked a treat, and I never missed having a dedicated computer. I used it to work remotely (RDP and Logmein, ftw) as well as web browsing, music/movie consumption and as a companion to my camera.
That is, until I decided to revive my freelance web design business. At that point I went for a MacBook Air. But just as before, the Air is sitting at home right now while I am at work...and the iPad is sitting right next to me on my desk. I still use it the majority of the time, along with the Mac Mini for syncing as before (I leave the MacBook Air unsullied by anything "personal").
What I am stumbling through saying is, you can work well with an iPad-only setup, especially for the use case you detailed originally. It's a leap of faith, of sorts, but I was not let down by this setup, and I don't think you would be either.
Good luck with the decision!
I did this when the original iPad came out last year - sold my MacBook and got the iPad 64gb WiFi. I too have a "family" computer (Mac Mini) that I used for syncing or anything that might require a fully-fledged computer. Otherwise, I used the iPad exclusively for about 9 months. It worked a treat, and I never missed having a dedicated computer. I used it to work remotely (RDP and Logmein, ftw) as well as web browsing, music/movie consumption and as a companion to my camera.
That is, until I decided to revive my freelance web design business. At that point I went for a MacBook Air. But just as before, the Air is sitting at home right now while I am at work...and the iPad is sitting right next to me on my desk. I still use it the majority of the time, along with the Mac Mini for syncing as before (I leave the MacBook Air unsullied by anything "personal").
What I am stumbling through saying is, you can work well with an iPad-only setup, especially for the use case you detailed originally. It's a leap of faith, of sorts, but I was not let down by this setup, and I don't think you would be either.
Good luck with the decision!
dukeblue91
macrumors 65816
Things have changed a lot since the iPad came out last year.
There are many programs that let you do things you couldn't do before like browsers.
ICab is a great browser that let's you use tabs and also let's you download any file.
It also let's you upload attachments like pictures and files to forums if you downloaded them to iCab first.
Many of the browser out now will let you do all or most of that and like iCab will also integrate with dropbox fine.
Goodreader is another one of these essentials and must have apps.
I use my iPad for 90% of my work and pleasure and find new things it can do every day.
Although many things are workarounds and could be made easier but are doable by any means.
So yes for many people an iPad could work for most things they do in light usage.
Many people are not power users and use computers for basic means.
Having said all that, I don't think that what the OP wants to do is a good financial move as with cars a trade in will rarely give you the full worth of that item.
I would try to sell your laptop and then buy a iPad if that's what you want to do.
Good luck to the OP
There are many programs that let you do things you couldn't do before like browsers.
ICab is a great browser that let's you use tabs and also let's you download any file.
It also let's you upload attachments like pictures and files to forums if you downloaded them to iCab first.
Many of the browser out now will let you do all or most of that and like iCab will also integrate with dropbox fine.
Goodreader is another one of these essentials and must have apps.
I use my iPad for 90% of my work and pleasure and find new things it can do every day.
Although many things are workarounds and could be made easier but are doable by any means.
So yes for many people an iPad could work for most things they do in light usage.
Many people are not power users and use computers for basic means.
Having said all that, I don't think that what the OP wants to do is a good financial move as with cars a trade in will rarely give you the full worth of that item.
I would try to sell your laptop and then buy a iPad if that's what you want to do.
Good luck to the OP
Sounds like you've already made your decision, but to reiterate lots of the opinions that have been voiced here already, trading in your laptop for an iPad is a really terrible idea. While the iPad can replace many of the functions of a laptop, it doesn't get anywhere close to the functionality. And just to give you a frame of reference, I own a windows 7 desktop tower, a 2010 13" macbook air, and an iPad 2.
-Web browsing: the iPad overall is terrible when compared to a computer. It's much MUCH slower at rendering sites. Tabbed browsing is basically non-existent in safari (though as others have mentioned 3rd party browsers can help shore up that deficiency). Lack of memory means that even WITH the tabbed browsing functionality of one of the 3rd party browsers, you're limited to only a handful (around 5 for me while using atomic browser).
-Flash! This is a huge one. If you need to access anything flash at all, the iPad becomes a paperweight. You'd be surprised how many sites out there use flash. Sure, most of that is silly flash games and website animations, but you'll eventually have some class that requires you to complete either homework or even an exam online, and for that you'll want a real computer and web browser.
-Youtube: strange that I'd even put this in here, cause for most situations the iPad actually works great for watching youtube videos. But there are still many videos that don't "work on mobile" - NBA.com videos just to raise one example.
-multitasking: try having a google talk conversation while...doing pretty much anything else on the iPad. HUGE chore. I use IMO.im (fantastic app) for my google talk needs on the iPad. If someone sends me a message, a huge popup interrupts whatever it is i'm currently doing. Tap close to quickly finish what i was doing. Now, I have to double tap the home button, swipe around the quick bar to find IMO.im, and tap just to start typing out my response. If I want to get back to what I was doing before, I then have to double tap the home button to bring up the quick switch bar. And most IM conversations are conversations - this entire process would normally have to repeat a hundred times, but usually at that point it becomes way too tedious that I would just switch to my real computer.
-the ecosystem: this is extremely important because part of owning a computer is how interoperable it is. Part of the reason why the iPad is so successful is its OWN ecosystem of apps and accessories. When you own a computer, you can now seamlessly work with anyone or anything that is also in that ecosystem. For example, someone gives you a file on a usb drive. On your macbook, you just plug it in to your usb drive and you're set. On the iPad, you have to first load the drive into your home computer, convert the file into one the ipad likes, and then transfer it over before you can watch.
TL;dr: If you want portability, sell the MBP and get a MBA. If you really want the iPad, keep the mbp, save up for a bit, and get like a refurbished iPad 1.
-Web browsing: the iPad overall is terrible when compared to a computer. It's much MUCH slower at rendering sites. Tabbed browsing is basically non-existent in safari (though as others have mentioned 3rd party browsers can help shore up that deficiency). Lack of memory means that even WITH the tabbed browsing functionality of one of the 3rd party browsers, you're limited to only a handful (around 5 for me while using atomic browser).
-Flash! This is a huge one. If you need to access anything flash at all, the iPad becomes a paperweight. You'd be surprised how many sites out there use flash. Sure, most of that is silly flash games and website animations, but you'll eventually have some class that requires you to complete either homework or even an exam online, and for that you'll want a real computer and web browser.
-Youtube: strange that I'd even put this in here, cause for most situations the iPad actually works great for watching youtube videos. But there are still many videos that don't "work on mobile" - NBA.com videos just to raise one example.
-multitasking: try having a google talk conversation while...doing pretty much anything else on the iPad. HUGE chore. I use IMO.im (fantastic app) for my google talk needs on the iPad. If someone sends me a message, a huge popup interrupts whatever it is i'm currently doing. Tap close to quickly finish what i was doing. Now, I have to double tap the home button, swipe around the quick bar to find IMO.im, and tap just to start typing out my response. If I want to get back to what I was doing before, I then have to double tap the home button to bring up the quick switch bar. And most IM conversations are conversations - this entire process would normally have to repeat a hundred times, but usually at that point it becomes way too tedious that I would just switch to my real computer.
-the ecosystem: this is extremely important because part of owning a computer is how interoperable it is. Part of the reason why the iPad is so successful is its OWN ecosystem of apps and accessories. When you own a computer, you can now seamlessly work with anyone or anything that is also in that ecosystem. For example, someone gives you a file on a usb drive. On your macbook, you just plug it in to your usb drive and you're set. On the iPad, you have to first load the drive into your home computer, convert the file into one the ipad likes, and then transfer it over before you can watch.
TL;dr: If you want portability, sell the MBP and get a MBA. If you really want the iPad, keep the mbp, save up for a bit, and get like a refurbished iPad 1.
of course you aren't going to agree, you have a desktop, laptop, and an iPad. You have an item for every specific use.
Not sure how owning a desktop, laptop, and iPad invalidates any of my points though. I had a laptop as my sole device for the last 8 years or so, and only this year did I get the desktop and iPad 2.
If I had to move back to one device, I'd go back to my MacBook pro for sure!
s15119
macrumors 68000
I say go for it. I think it's a great experiment and you just might find your happy. I just got my iPad 2 a few days ago, and it's amazing how it replaces my laptop for so much of what I do. And, if you don't need to do things like rip cd's or munge video or do extensive word or excel, maybe you'll find the iPad is all you need. If you do go for it, please check back and let us know how it goes.
Thanks for your replies everyone. Seeing all of your ideas and thoughts helped me make an informed decision. This morning I sold my MacBook Pro. Remember that everyone's uses vary, what would be a bad decision for you could be a good one for me. And I feel that I made the right choice for myself.
I sold it on Craigslist for 80% of original cost. I got tons of offers, tons. With cash I now have the advantage of buying my iPad from anywhere! The Best Buy near me is supposed to get a huge shipment of iPads today or within the next few days. Can't wait!
EDIT: They're in and mine's reserved! I'll get to meet my iPad today 😉
vladtheimpaler
macrumors regular
Do what you want. Everyone has different preferences. Personally, I'd take an iPad 2 over a macbook in a heartbeat. (which is why I ordered one) I just love the look, portability, and how they work over a macbook. I have my mac at home that does everything. All I would need a portable computer to do is the internet, have the majority of my music on it, my photos and videos from iphoto on it, and a few other small things. All of which the ipad can do, in an even more portable and more unique way.