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ipad will replace notebook?

h00ligan said:
Perhaps you can correct me. But.

A) icab is the only browser that follows php download links

B) it cannot browse dropbox for uploads or to copy files locally. (this is a big issue for me, are there ways to move files into icab without drag and dropping to iTunes?) for example. If I am gettig ready to move a document to sharepoint after working on it in something like docs2go or pages, how can I move that file into an area icab can access? Opening a file from dropbox to icab (like a heavily formatted word doc) seems to covert it to text and blow out the formatting.

Thanks for the info, maybe I'm just missing a how to. That said. One would wind up with an awful lot of copies of files rather than a central location.

Any recommendations for an app that can decompress?

Btw, I have good reader, and I know that an decompress.. The issues I'm most curious about, is how one manages all that. It seems arduous with all the app opening.

One scenario: browsing a Webpage need to upload file, switch to dropbox app to move file to icab, icab opens file, but formatting is wrong, click to download file, back to original webpage, click upload link, upload file, delete file from icab.

That's a lot of steps to do something so basic, a central docs location would be much easier, as would compliant browser.

Again, I'm very open to hearing there are easier ways, but another thing I need to check is if files are getting mangled in the process of opening in so many apps that don't understand the formatting (probably not as they aren't saving).

Cheers.
Click to expand...

I've been using the iPad since launch, so I guess I picked up various habits as I went along. I have to say, the way I work and organize my files & projects has changed a lot since getting the iPad.

Honestly, I don't use iCab very often, but it's a great tool to have when you need to go beyond what Mobile Safari brings to the table.

I have my DropBox directory as a bookmark bar item in iCab. If I need to grab a file and upload it somewhere find it in DropBox (using iCab) and long-press on the name, then select download. That's how I get things into iCab. But like I said, I rarely need to do that - I just don't upload that many files.

I use DropBox or iWork.com to distribute files and projects. I'll share directly from the service rather than uploading the files someplace. (I don't bother with Zipping)

I try to keep nothing in the local file system if I can avoid it. Most apps I use can open and save files directly from DropBox or iWork.com.

On my iMac, I have the DropBox client setup to automatically sync/copy my whole account. The live documents live in the cloud, are easy to access from the iPad (or iMac) and get backed up with the iMac's TimeMachine service.

I don't use Documents-To-Go, or SharePoint, so I'm not much help there. (I use Numbers, Pages, Evernote, Goodreader, iSSH, Essay, Dropbox, iCab, and my Wiki app mostly.)

And I confess, I never used services like DropBox or iWork.com prior to getting an iPad. Moving my file-system off the device and into the cloud really changed my whole workflow. I can basically sit down at any system and get stuff done without having to think about which computer has which version of which file in which directory. I think iCloud will make that even better.
 
I think there are allot of people here that don't understand what Apple is trying to do in regards with the file system being gone and out of the way.

Many things have been availble to do but were a little clumsy to do.
Apple wants you to use apps to do most things and not one to do all.
With the API's coming out for iCloud things will get much easier because any app will be able to call on iCloud to download and upload files.

Right now I use iCab and Dropbox for most of these tasks like uploading pictures to websites like Amazon seller central or Craigslist or downloading files.
But there are other apps that will do specific tasks like Craigslist Pro or EBay selling and so on.

With iOS 5 some of those will change with being able to access iCloud and not just the photo app or just pages app etc. etc.
If you think of it that way then you won't need an old style file system anymore for many tasks.

Will this work for everybody? Probably not but for the majority it will work.
 
I don't know why people are always looking to "replace" their notebook rather than to just view the iPad as something that "compliments" our tech arsenal.

The iPad is my preferred device but for casual use and it's probably taken about 75% of my computer time, but I'm not into the idea of "choosing" to live with just one when I can live with both.
 
I suppose my difference in perspective comes from the fact that I view a notebook as a secondary device, and I view iPad as a secondary device.

For me, a desktop will always be my primary machine where I go to get work done, and a notebook has always been this secondary thing I use for simple tasks when I'm away from my primary device. This is what allows me to put a notebook and iPad on the same level.
 
The only problem I had with no file system was just that Apps could not see data.

It's not rocket science is it?

Any photo editing app should be able to access your photo's on the device
Any music editing program should be able to find any sound files
Any movie playing app should be able to find the movie files.

I had a situation where I had 4 movie playing apps, and potentially I would have to have the same video file stored four times on the device, as each player could not find any other video files apart from the ones stored directly with it.

It does not take a genius to understand this is rather silly.

As for not all video players can play all formats, well, that's a fault of the video player.
Apple's own built in video player should be better than any 3rd party player out there.
 
In the short run: no. In the long run, yes. iPad will eventually be powerful enough to replace the MacBook.

iOS will need to evolve a lot more until that time comes, but it doesn't take much brains to figure out Mac OS X is the last stop for all Macs, there will only be iOS in the future.
 
thanks for the info!

That's basically what I was doing too however it doesn't always work properly.. again I will have to check out what happens to files it may not interpret correctly.

Fwiw good reader can sync folders with dropbox and most other services, so you can keep things offline if needed.. it's not an all or nothing either, it can be done on a per content basis with dropbox.

I have to agree with piggie though.. i find this arduous. For example, using filter storm pro... so i can import my raw and jpg files into the photo roll, cull, and then take them into filter storm..which then has to have its own library, and has to export a duplicate back out...

I do think that for some things the cloud can solve the issue, but that's also assuming one is not violating rules by using it... for example client financial data or health records would likely not conform to SOX or HIPPA standards when placed on unknown servers.

I think we are getting there, I just don't agree with apple's choice not to offer an area for all files. We have a camera roll, apps can access it.. why can't we have a 'document roll' they could make it a pretty icon of a filing cabinet and claim to have invented the file system ;)

Cheffy, that looks like a very interesting solution... but given they recently shipped for ipad 1, I am guessing it may be a while before they have one for ipad 2.. do you happen to know if they have it planned? Looks better than the zazggcase!!
 
Piggie said:
The only problem I had with no file system was just that Apps could not see data.

It's not rocket science is it?

Any photo editing app should be able to access your photo's on the device
Any music editing program should be able to find any sound files
Any movie playing app should be able to find the movie files.

I had a situation where I had 4 movie playing apps, and potentially I would have to have the same video file stored four times on the device, as each player could not find any other video files apart from the ones stored directly with it.

It does not take a genius to understand this is rather silly.

As for not all video players can play all formats, well, that's a fault of the video player.
Apple's own built in video player should be better than any 3rd party player out there.
Click to expand...

I agree with you that whole movie thing is one big cluster and pain in the you know what.

I actually have given up and am converting all my movies with iSquint to iTunes format so that I don't have to do what you did.
Apple does need to work this out a bit better.

This also brings up the question how movies are going to be handled with this PC Free thing as I have not seen anything in iOS 5 or iCloud.
This may be where this rumor about the Time Capsule will fit in ?
 
I would think it's going to take a lot more to get movies working like music in apple's version of the cloud. The movie studios are still fighting hard, while the music labels have just about figured out they need to roll with the times, at least enough to be considered playing ball.

Look at all the ridiculous hulu restrictions when getting a plus account.

You can have hulu plus on your xbox360!!!......

And watch about 20% of the content that way.
 
All my docs live in Dropbox. I have a 16GB ipad2 and I stream all my music from Slacker and I use Dropbox and Docs to go for light word processing. I traded in my HP 2740P Tablet PC for the ipad 2 and the HP dm3t, (13.3" 7 hour 3 lb laptop - http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/series/category/notebooks/dm3t_series/3/computer_store). So far it's a working solution and I prefer the lighter longer battery life solution for my workflow. And I could not survive without Flipboard, lol. I'm just now trying out different stylus and note taking apps. From what I've seen so far I'll definitely be able to come up with a workable note taking solution.
 
nicklelu said:
I wrote almost this entire column using an iPad which partially answered my biggest question about the device. Can it replace a laptop PC? So far, the answer is a qualified yes. (Scroll to end for my Sunday morning update on why that yes is "qualified.")

As a writer and radio commentator, I wanted to see if I could use this device for my work.

I knew that the screen would be big enough and that the processor would be adequate for word processing but I wasn't sure about the software or the ability to type on the device. Sure the onscreen keyboard is bigger than what you get with an iPhone or iPod touch, but it's still not adequate for touch typists who want to use it to write long documents.
Click to expand...

Not for me

Btw u mean will the iPad replace THE notebook
 
I WANTED to believe the iPad could replace my MBP. I'm a writer and LOVE the compact size of the iPad. The reality, however, is that my MBP still kicks ass for longer docs, apps such as Scrivener and loads of other things that make my iPad a GREAT ACCESSORY!

I love my iPad, just can't see it replacing the MBP in most situations.
 
the iPad replaced an old PowerBook G4 that no longer had a working battery. I do have an incredibly powerful desktop that I use for any heavy computer tasks that I need to accomplish. to me the iPad is an almost perfect media consumption device and that is primarily what my old laptop was once I built my desktop.
 
I think the iPad makes a perfect mac companion, if you just do casual web browsing and a little web processing then the iPad probably could replace your notebook. Especially thanks to the iOS5 update and cutting the cord...
 
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