I am trying to use it as the main. It's small and light. It does not need a lot of energy. The multitasking is still inferior to a desktop OS, but it forces me to be more efficient, focused on the opened app, and therefore waste less time. I cannot open dozens of useless webpages and run stupid YouTube videos in the same time. So it's good for me! Still sometimes I would like to be able to run shows while working on another app.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad as primary computer
- Thread starter celo48
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Since 70 percent of my MacBook air usage is Internet browsing, in theory my iPad 2 is secondary but in practice, has near usurped my MacBook air in actuality. In reality ever since I got my iPad 2, I only touch/use my MacBook like 2-3 times a week.
If I had ports of my work apps for iOS, it would be great, but until then, it is my main device outside of my work PC during the day, at night, I do encode films and tv shows for my ipad on my MBP, other than that, I am working mainly from my ipad.
I used it as my almost primary machine at my last workplace, as I could VPN, VNC and RDP into work networks/computers and was able to edit docs, email staff and check network issues in a heartbeat.
I used it as my almost primary machine at my last workplace, as I could VPN, VNC and RDP into work networks/computers and was able to edit docs, email staff and check network issues in a heartbeat.
Not impossible at all. It is my primary without a doubt as I stated above. It is possible, maybe not common yet but possible.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I think someone else put it well above. It can be a primary computer for someone who doesn't really need a computer.
If all one is doing with a computer is surfing the net, reading things, creating very basic text documents, watching videos, playing simple games, listening to music etc. Then the iPad can certainly replace a computer as they don't really need a computer and can get by with a netbook or tablet.
If you're doing real productivity work (complex documents, spread sheets, data base software, statistical analysis work), graphic design, need to rip or burn cds/dvds and so on, then you can't get by with any current tablets as your primary/only computer.
Just a matter of what one does with their computer, how many hoops they're willing to jump through to do some things on a tablet that are more easily done on a computer etc.
Last edited:
That's like saying a motorcycle can be a car if you don't haul cargo or passengers.
It can be your primary means of transportation ( aka my ipad is my most often used web browser device, or light gaming, or ebook reading) but it can't be your main automobile.
The iPad will depend on a computer for updates at the minimum, while a computer does not need an iPad. The iPad is the complementary mobile tool to the computer.
It can be your primary means of transportation ( aka my ipad is my most often used web browser device, or light gaming, or ebook reading) but it can't be your main automobile.
The iPad will depend on a computer for updates at the minimum, while a computer does not need an iPad. The iPad is the complementary mobile tool to the computer.
I dont think that's well put at it frankly, it comes across as arrogant and demeaning how actually do I check my email and surf the web without a computer? Dont tell me I dont really need a computer just becasue what I use/need it for doesnt meet some arbitrary standard of what a computer is really for .I agree that iPad cant do a lot of heavy (productivity) lifting, but no need to start/continue to use that fact to put down those who, given the tasks they need to do, find the iPad just as good, if not better for them, than a more traditional computer
At home I use my iPad for 75% of my computing needs. These days the only things I sit down at the desktop to do are:
-Video editing with iMovie or Premiere
-Photo editing with iPhoto, Photoshop, or Lightroom
-Media management with iTunes or Handbrake
-Backup management
It's very liberating to not be chained to a desktop or even laptop computer anymore at home, and I've been a "power user" for over 20 years. I don't have a choice at work. As a .NET developer I'm forced to spend my day on Windows 7.
-Video editing with iMovie or Premiere
-Photo editing with iPhoto, Photoshop, or Lightroom
-Media management with iTunes or Handbrake
-Backup management
It's very liberating to not be chained to a desktop or even laptop computer anymore at home, and I've been a "power user" for over 20 years. I don't have a choice at work. As a .NET developer I'm forced to spend my day on Windows 7.
I use the iPad a lot, charge every other day or so. It is my primary for email reading and sending, surfing the net, reading documents, etc. I still need the MBA for financial work, spreadsheets and complicated presentations. The iPad is my notebook, calendar, address book, and constant companion while the MBA is left behind when I am not certain that I will need it.
True I guess but my computing needs are more than what you say an iPad should be able to do and less than what you say it shouldn't.
It all comes down to the needs of the user. At least for right now.
I would say I'm a power user in many ways although I don't need to do statistical analysis work or data base software. Which is what a power user is I guess.
However I do use my iPad for everything from simple mail and web browsing to document creation, contract creation and editing, pdf approval and signing, IT support via Screens/LogMeIn, Notetaking via voice and stylus, managing our corporate finances, managing our system through the cloud etc. I also do all my personal portfolio and stock trading through it now and am very happy with that.
I would say that is more than simple tasks. It didn't require too many hoops at all, just a few apps and a system. I think getting portability and battery life made the hoops very worthwhile.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
By hoops I mean things like iWorks being limited compared to MS Office. It screwing up formatting when you go back and forth from the iWorks to Office on the PC when you have lots of tables and figures etc.
It's just easier to create documents on a PC or MAC. It can be done on the iPad--especially if you're just writing pure text, but it's a smoother experience on a computer. Especially if you need to move it to a computer.
It's just easier to create documents on a PC or MAC. It can be done on the iPad--especially if you're just writing pure text, but it's a smoother experience on a computer. Especially if you need to move it to a computer.
Last edited:
Perhaps yes. And in many cases you are absolutely correct. I guess I have just adjusted my work flow enough that these things are rarely, if ever, an issue.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Frankly, that's why I don't use iWorks. I've used Documents To Go for a year already and have had a fantastic experience. Granted, you might have certain formatting needs that I don't, but I haven't experienced any problems whatsoever in "round-tripping" my documents via Documents To Go (and the integrated sync with Dropbox/Sugarsync).
I've been experimenting with my iPad the past couple of days for document creation using Documents To Go and working remotely on my iMac through SplashTop Remote. Documents To Go works well, but is a little clumsy with things like tables (meaning it's tougher to create tables). SplashTop Remote makes it a lot easier for those same tasks that were clumsy in Documents To Go, but is annoying because there's no auto-correct since I'm working directly on my iMac. What we really need, as many posters above have mentioned, is a touch-based, full-featured version of Office. Give us that, a way to convert Word files to PDFs and I can literally do 99% of what I need to do for work.
Yeah, I do a TON of tables and figures as I'm primarily writing up research findings for scholarly journal articles.
From my colleagues' experiencess and playing around with it some myself myself, just none of the app options on the iPad are worth the headaches of trying to create those kind of documents on the iPad vs. just waiting until you have access to a pc.
There's also other more simple things like not having a USB port or accessory compatible with usb drives for more than photos--thus giving me no way to get my powerpoints off the iPad and onto a thumb drive to load on the pc in the conference presentation rooms without having a laptop with me etc.--that really limit the types of work I'd like to do on a tablet when traveling.
I really like the iPad as a consumption device, just wish it fit a bit better into my work flow. But I'm glad others can work it into their work flow more easily. I recognize that being a teacher and researcher that my work flow is more complex than a lot of people since I'm working with big data sets, need an array of statistical analysis software etc. to get real work done. And even light work when traveling needs and office suite that is easy to work with for tables and figures, usb drive support, ability to easily attach files to e-mail and so on that are things that probably just aren't a priority for Apple as they're just not focused on the corporate world. So it's a matter of waiting and seeing if MS or someone else steps up in that area of the tablet market, or see if laptop tech improves were we can get Macbook Air sized machines that have the power and storage to be a main computer as well as a thin and light travel computer etc.
From my colleagues' experiencess and playing around with it some myself myself, just none of the app options on the iPad are worth the headaches of trying to create those kind of documents on the iPad vs. just waiting until you have access to a pc.
There's also other more simple things like not having a USB port or accessory compatible with usb drives for more than photos--thus giving me no way to get my powerpoints off the iPad and onto a thumb drive to load on the pc in the conference presentation rooms without having a laptop with me etc.--that really limit the types of work I'd like to do on a tablet when traveling.
I really like the iPad as a consumption device, just wish it fit a bit better into my work flow. But I'm glad others can work it into their work flow more easily. I recognize that being a teacher and researcher that my work flow is more complex than a lot of people since I'm working with big data sets, need an array of statistical analysis software etc. to get real work done. And even light work when traveling needs and office suite that is easy to work with for tables and figures, usb drive support, ability to easily attach files to e-mail and so on that are things that probably just aren't a priority for Apple as they're just not focused on the corporate world. So it's a matter of waiting and seeing if MS or someone else steps up in that area of the tablet market, or see if laptop tech improves were we can get Macbook Air sized machines that have the power and storage to be a main computer as well as a thin and light travel computer etc.
Last edited:
I agree with you.that's exactly how I use my iPad 2. Also have a netbook, notebook and desktop on a home market with network printer and hard drives.
It's not demeaning.
Just saying that people who only use a computer for simple tasks don't need a full powered computer. They often waste money buying a lot more computer power than they need for their tasks when they could do all the stuff they do just as well on a low end laptop or desktop or even a netbook or tablet.
There's nothing demeaning there. Just a simple statement that a lot of people don't need huge hard drives, top of the line processing power and all that kind of stuff.
For my primary computer I need a ton of hard drive space for my datasets, a lot of processing power (but not top of the line) to do analyses on it, a full office suite to create complex documents and so on. I can't get by with a netbook or tablet as my primary computer and never will be able to most likely. I'd like some day for tablets to be robust enough that I could at least get by with them for working on the road when at conferences etc. though.
People who don't do that stuff, or other heavy tasks like graphic design etc., don't really need a full-on computer--and definitely don't need a high-end computer--and thus can get buy with an iPad, netbook or very low end laptop to do their simple documents, e-mail, photos, web surfing etc.
So I don't see where any arrogance comes other than maybe the clear statement that some people are ignorant to technology and get suckered into buying more computer than they need. Apple is a master of that since they don't make any low-end computers or laptops and a lot people are paying WAY too much for top line specs they don't need since they don't do anything on their Macbook Pros but e-mail, internet, photos, iTunes, write essays for school etc. and could have spent a third or less on a lower end PC that would do everything they need just as well.
His point is correct; you've put traditional computers and iPads in a hierarchy, placing traditional computers at the top and saying they are for 'real' work (as opposed to fake work, I suppose). However, they are simply disparate devices.
What you've done is treated the iPad as a diminutive version of a traditional computer, when it is simply a different thing. A pony is not a low-end horse; a sitcom is not a low-end film; and an iPad is not a 'low-end' computer, it's a different thing entirely.
Given two products, X and Y, it is clear that for people who need product X, that product X is best. The same for Y. It's meaningless to say 'those people who need X don't really need Y' unless you presume one is an enhanced version of the other. You say the iPad is for 'getting by', it's not 'full on' (half-on, then), etc.
I don't care either way, but you missed his point entirely - your description is evaluative, not just factual.
I suppose. But the hierarchy says nothing demeaning about the user and their needs--which was the point I was trying to make in my reply. It's evaluating the machines, not putting down individual users.
It's simply ranking machines by functionality level, computing power etc.
I (others) need higher functionality and computing power to do work, so no tablet or netbook or low end laptop/desktop can every be our primary computer. Others have more basic computing needs and can get by with a netbook or tablet as their primarily computing device.
As you note, the iPad really isn't a computer. Thus the statement that I and others have made they iPad can be a primary computing device for people who don't really need a full blown computer as it does light computing tasks and is more on par with a netbook than a full computer, and is even blow that since it doesn't have full office software or a file system etc. And don't blame me for equating PCs and the iPad--the original poster did that by starting this thread and asking whether people use their iPad as their primary PC.
Again, there's no value judgement about people in m statement, so I don't get why he got offended. It is a value ranking of the iPad/tablets more generally based on my usage. I like them, but they're MUCH less useful to me than a full blown computer and I could never use any tablet as my primary device.
But they're a great, and more economical option (as are netbooks and low end laptops/desktops) for people who don't need a lot of power, storage space, software packages etc. So again, no value judgment about the end user, just rating the hardware based on how useful it is to me. I could not do my career at all without a powerful desktop and a powerful laptop. The iPad is a neat toy, but only very mildly useful for my work stuff (reading pdfs, synching with my google calendar, taking simple notes in meetings etc.).
People just have too thin of skin and get their panties in a bunch to easily these days, and Apple fans are way to defensive over any criticism of their beloved gadgets.