iPad as only computer.. Is it possible

[ixodes]

For those who don't need a computer, an iPad is fine.

For those who do need a computer, an iPad isn't even close.

That's not being critical of the iPad, it's just being realistic.

Apples past mouthpiece, heartily proclaimed the Post PC ERA is here. It was one of his typically CONvincing spiels cleverly designed to benefit Apple Inc.

With a profit margin so fat it's nearly obscene, Apple would be silly to promote computers. iToyz were Apples true stroke of genius. With its full price brilliantly concealed by AT&Ts subsidies, it made iPhones seem reasonably priced to the customer. $199 being the sweet spot, and exactly the same price as other top smartphones, Apple pulled off another coup.

Next up, the "Magical & Revolutionary" iPad 1, then 2, then "Retina" another display of Apples skill as a wordsmith.

If not for a cult like following, a brilliant foreign born designer, and the worlds best salesman & part time magician, they launched the magic cash cow.

Now with a new CEO groomed in the Apple tradition, it's order more Brinks trucks to pickup the cash

 

[Monsoonmalabard]

A friend of mine was wondering this. How do you get music into the music app apart from the iTunes Store? If you have some mp3s in Dropbox, you can't "open in Music" can you? Any solutions?

Unlike DropBox, SugarSync lets you play music on iOS or in any web browser. Just store the files in there.

For those who don't need a computer, an iPad is fine.

For those who do need a computer, an iPad isn't even close.

You're wrong. The iPad is a computer, by definition.

(1) If it has hardware, software and an operating system, it's a computer.
(2) The iPad has hardware, software and an operating system.
Therefore
(3) The iPad is a computer.

QED

 

[Fruit Cake]

Unlike DropBox, SugarSync lets you play music on iOS or in any web browser. Just store the files in there.



You're wrong. The iPad is a computer, by definition.

(1) If it has hardware, software and an operating system, it's a computer.
(2) The iPad has hardware, software and an operating system.
Therefore
(3) The iPad is a computer.

QED

Yes, but the iPad cannot be used as a conventional computer, hence while it may follow the narrow definition of a computer, it cannot be used as one, and many do not consider it to be one due to its difference in size and form. Therefore, loosely speaking, it is not considered a computer in the traditional sense.

 

[Booji]

If it was just pure consumption, plus an occasional email, I'd say yes.

For me, I work a lot on the road, with highly formatted MS Word documents, and PowerPoint are part of my everyday work flow. I use QuickOffice Pro HD with Dropbox for editing work when I'm at the airport, cafe or stuck in economy class. Its easy to pick up and start working right away. But no way could I do a full production with an iPad. Plus, I use spreadsheets a lot and thats pretty much read only.

What Microsoft promises with the Surface machines will probably address those issues and will be popular with business users - but given the cost I'd rather go with an 11" Air.

 

[MBPnoob]

I would LOVE to have my iPad be my only computer.... but ergonomically, it's impossible right now. I can sit at my computer, type on a word processor, but as soon as I need to select something in a menu, I instinctively reach for a mouse... every time. Instead, I have to take both hands off my keyboard, use my left hand to steady the iPad and my right hand to go through the menu. Rinse, repeat 20 more times in a given work day.

As soon as I can use a mouse with my keyboard, I will sell every laptop and tower I own.

 

[Sanderdsz]

If your Ipad is jailbroken, you can use an wireless mouse, I use magic mouse + apple wireless keyboard on my iPad.
Also with the app called CloudOn I have everything that I need to do office works, word, excel and powerpoint...

Simple my iPad with this combo, is milion times better than my mother's netbook, a acer terrible slow and painful to work.

 

[MBPnoob]

If your Ipad is jailbroken, you can use an wireless mouse, I use magic mouse + apple wireless keyboard on my iPad.
Also with the app called CloudOn I have everything that I need to do office works, word, excel and powerpoint...

Simple my iPad with this combo, is milion times better than my mother's netbook, a acer terrible slow and painful to work.

Tell me more about this mouse app... If it's not allowed here, then don't worry about it.

 

[Night Spring]

Tell me more about this mouse app... If it's not allowed here, then don't worry about it.

Oh, talking about JB apps is fine. Helping people pirate apps is not allowed on this forum, but JB doesn't equal pirating.

 

[appleofmy"i"]

My iPad is my only computer. I sold my MacBook Pro this year when the iPad 3 came out. It's working well for me but it really comes down to what you do on a daily business. If you're edditing together video for Pixar iPad only won't work for you.

 

[micrors4racer]

If you only do a little bit of everything on a computer then the ipad will be fine. i had to make do with this setup

for a month and it worked fine. Ergonomics was my only issue and not having a mouse. I also hated how on most programs when I hit enter it doesnt actually send but goes to a new line.

The iPad is pretty capable even down to simple video editing and photos but if you require specific capabilities then it might not be for you.

 

[takezo808]

iPad as only computer.. Is it possible.
I can see there are keyboards available for the iPad.
Guess Apple hasn't come out with a Lenovo Yoga or MS Surface type iPad ..yet.
My biggest quandry would be using spreadsheets, Word files, scanning in documents, etc. and printing.
Pardon my stupidity on this but can you print from an iPad, and/or scan docs to a scanner, print to .pdf files, etc??
Thx.
Frank

Yes and No. Yes you can print though the Wifi enabled printer must support printing from mobile devices.

Any bluetooth keyboard will work, however lugging around a physical keyboard around kind of defeats the purpose of ipad which is why keybard equiped tablets are kind of an oxy-moron. It's like haveing rotary dial on a touch tone phone. The software keyboard is actualy quite effective for small tasks such as email and notes. If you had something like a smart cover place ipad in the horizontal wedge format. ensure software key is docked and merged if not already so. (you can split the soft keys for it to be easier to type with thumbs while holding it.) typing on it feells preaty good. but iff you need to do write somthing longer than a couple of paragraphs. a computer would be better.

scanning files with ou a computer would be tricky, you would need to scan directly to your email address in PDF format which you can edit and share using your favorite pdf app, not all printers can do these but fortunately the ones that support printing from mobile devices may alll have that feature. Apple's iWorks series of productivity apps can make it easy to use ipad for basic computer like work loads.

iphoto and imovie are very easy to use and you can import your iphone pics and vids via icloud, blu-tooth, or wifi. Standalone cameras such as DSLR camera can be easly imprted using the camera connection adapters (sold seperately). Iphoto and imovie are better on ipad than on mac because the touch and gesture controls make it easier and more intuitive.

Major drw back is space. even the 60GB ipad is no match for most computers comming with 500GB to a whopping 3TB drives (1TB = 1000GB "a ***** load of space")

for a basic of the basic computer user, (Web, email, face book, twitter, and occasional game or entertainment app)

ipad as only computing solution is a possibility.