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.
Opinion: Can an iPad replace a laptop?
- Thread starter markrox7
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Do you really want that though? If you need a keyboard badly enough, I would say to just go with the macbook air. iPad apps aren't made to use keyboards, and their use is often really clunky.
The keyboard would only really be used for long emails. Most iPad apps wouldn't require typing, and casual web browsing wouldn't require a physical keyboard. Remember the keyboard is wireless so you could leave it in your office, for example, and carry your iPad around and casually use it. Just a thought.
Yes!
The only reason I use my laptop or my desktop now is for video editing or when I need large amounts of storage.
I pray for the day a Thunderbolt port is added to the iPad so I can connect it to a large storage device when needed!!!!!!!!
----------
I use this exact setup at work! I have the iPad and a Zagg Portfolio keyboard case. No more notepads in meetings for me. I have gone paperless and love it!!!!
The only reason I use my laptop or my desktop now is for video editing or when I need large amounts of storage.
I pray for the day a Thunderbolt port is added to the iPad so I can connect it to a large storage device when needed!!!!!!!!
----------
I use this exact setup at work! I have the iPad and a Zagg Portfolio keyboard case. No more notepads in meetings for me. I have gone paperless and love it!!!!
That's your right, but I think you completely misunderstood it.
Yes, people might want it. However, the majority of people, regardless of their usage, don't. They couldn't care less. Trust me, I know a great number of those type of people. I'm the nerd, I use multi-tasking all the time on my computer. It's rare to find me without windows covering windows covering windows (well, or sorted out nicely into spaces, depending on what I'm doing). However, most people don't need that or care about it. Some percentage don't even want it, because it's simply too confusing. That's a small percentage, but the point is that even those who do need that aren't likely to be the majority. Not to suggest that no one needs it.
You seem to have a weird view of "full-featured". 100% of what probably 75% or more of people need to do with their computers, even when it comes to content creation, is possible on the iPad. Not even gimped. And remember, as I said, there are some things that are only on the iPad, or are better on the iPad. What if the content you're creating is art? Music? Sometimes, depending on the person, it's a vast improvement to use an iPad.
Also, remember that the debate here wasn't whether anyone needed more. It's whether it's enough for many people. And for many people, the iPad surpasses all their needs.
You need this. Most people don't care. They do what they need to do in the app they have for that, and they're good.
Just the mere fact that you point out that laptops are incredibly overpowered should be evidence of what we're talking about here. Most people will never need anything that can't be done on an iPad. Even if you think most is a stretch, surely half the population doesn't need anything more than an iPad?
and what do you do with the other 10-15%??
75+12.5+12.5 = 100 (taking the averages of the 10-15% range he gave). Note he said iPhone and Mac each.
jW
I sold my Macbook Pro and bought an iPad III. The only really annoying "feature" for me on the iPad is the lack of a more computer-like file system.
I use the iPad for word processing, email, browsing, et cetera. Any heavier duty stuff I do on my iMac.
Best feature of the iPad...the third-party ZAGG keyboard and cover. Types easily, decent keys, big enough.
I use the iPad for word processing, email, browsing, et cetera. Any heavier duty stuff I do on my iMac.
Best feature of the iPad...the third-party ZAGG keyboard and cover. Types easily, decent keys, big enough.
I wonder how many generations until they update that. At some point I expect there to be an ipad option that can do updates, backups, and everything else without another computer. If it becomes a truly sovereign unit, you may see it gain further popularity. Apple probably has some idea when this will happen, but I doubt they have it nailed down to an exact year. It may take advances in non mechanical storage. NAND specifically has a lot of predicted issues going forward.
For some people, yes (the kind of people who only use their computers for Facebook, music and basic work like word processing).
However for some, tablets will never be a viable replacement for computers and they don't need to be. I say this as a graphic designer, nothing will replace the mouse and full desktop OSes for me. It would be very much the same for other creative jobs such as film editing, I imagine.
We will not see 'the end of laptops and towers' as somebody previously said. That is not happening. I'm getting a little tired of hearing sensationalist quotes like that
They may not remain as dominant but they will not be going away.
However for some, tablets will never be a viable replacement for computers and they don't need to be. I say this as a graphic designer, nothing will replace the mouse and full desktop OSes for me. It would be very much the same for other creative jobs such as film editing, I imagine.
We will not see 'the end of laptops and towers' as somebody previously said. That is not happening. I'm getting a little tired of hearing sensationalist quotes like that
They may not remain as dominant but they will not be going away.
An iPad could never replace a laptop for me. On the other hand, if you use a desktop computer as your main machine then I can see the iPad being a feasible replacement for simple tasks purely for its mobility when leaving the house. But personally, if I'm going to be away from the house for a while (say, on vacation) then I'm going to want a real computer rather than a huge iPod touch.
The iPad to me is a fun toy and a useful road trip companion. You can easily pick it up and surf the web, check your email, Facebook, watch videos, listen to music, and play a few games in just a second without flipping a screen, turning the power button on, waiting for boot up, logging in, or anything. But when I'm settled down and have my laptop handy, it's my first choice. And as a student, it's just much easier to multitask and do research while writing a paper on a laptop with a real desktop OS and a physical keyboard. I just can't imagine the prospect of writing a 12+ page research paper on an iPad.
The iPad to me is a fun toy and a useful road trip companion. You can easily pick it up and surf the web, check your email, Facebook, watch videos, listen to music, and play a few games in just a second without flipping a screen, turning the power button on, waiting for boot up, logging in, or anything. But when I'm settled down and have my laptop handy, it's my first choice. And as a student, it's just much easier to multitask and do research while writing a paper on a laptop with a real desktop OS and a physical keyboard. I just can't imagine the prospect of writing a 12+ page research paper on an iPad.
As things are I don't think an iPad could replace a laptop, but a few generations of iPads up they quite likely could replace a laptop in my opinion.
If someone is using a laptop just for browsing, email and other basic stuff, it can even now replace a laptop, but for a more creative person it is at the moment a bit too limited.
If someone is using a laptop just for browsing, email and other basic stuff, it can even now replace a laptop, but for a more creative person it is at the moment a bit too limited.
So I had a early 2011 MacBook Pro 13 inch I had it for six months and then the new iPad third GEN came out I bought it and realized I do everything on my iPad that I did on my MacBook Pro including basic video editing I have been using my iPad ever since I sold my MacBook Pro I have an old PC that allows me to sync with iTunes to put iOS 6 beta on it. If want to watch a movie or play video I just use digital services Netflix Hulu apple video store
I even have a Verizon hotspot to use online services anytime anywhere
So my answer is yes iPad can replace laptops
I even have a Verizon hotspot to use online services anytime anywhere
So my answer is yes iPad can replace laptops
I'd like to see an iPad with a tablet optimized OS X similar to what we're seeing with the upcoming Windows 8 tablets. (I know iOS is OS X-based, but to all intents and purposes it just isn't the same thing). I like the iPad fine the way it is now, but that's what it would take for me to even consider an iPad as a legitimate replacement for my laptop. People don't see the iPad as a Mac-tablet, they see them as bigger iPod's. Like samplane123 said, I'm sure tablets will become more commonplace in years to come and they certainly have what it takes to replace laptops for many consumers, but I doubt laptops will ever vanish in their place. It seems the way tablets are made now (with simple, smartphone-like operating systems) will only serve to differentiate tablets and laptops even more as two very different types of products. There will be tablets and there will be portable computers. Because so many people have smartphones now in days, I feel many people will still buy laptops for their mobile PC needs because their iPhone's/Android's can do nearly everything that their tablet counterparts can do.
iOS already kinda is a tablet optimized version of OSX. Having been built on top of the same Darwin core. Its current limitations only really exist because Apple purposely put them there.
Last edited:
I have a 2011 MBA. Great machine, but I rarely use it anymore. I have been pondering getting a 3g iPad. My biggest issue is that, while I buy music through iTunes, I also buy vinyl. Most new albums have a card inside with a download code to download the album as mp3. I obviously couldn't do this on an iPad. if I could I'd be selling the MBA.
I can get behind the different look and feel of iOS. The iPad doesn't have to be like the Modbook Pro or like the OS X-equivalent to a Windows 8 desktop-like tablet. But it would help (imho) if there weren't so many restrictions on iOS, and if there were at least some sort of file system. While an iPhone doesn't really need these luxuries, I feel the iPad could really benefit from them as a tablet (and would do more to differentiate it from smaller iOS devices). Unfortunately that will probably never happen, since a less restricted iOS would make it more open to piracy and crap on iTunes.
I can listen to music, watch movies, browser internet, listen to podcast, write documents, create keynotes, make vector images, edit photos, create music, type lines of program ... so yes.
Honestly, it just depends what your needs are. I actually just took my new iPad back and got a MacBook instead... I NEEDED a new computer though (replaced a 2006 Dell XPS) and I knew it didn't make sense for me to have an NEW iPad and a 6 year old computer ready for death. I like the ability of having WAY more options... Don't get me wrong, the iPad is an amazing machine. With a 4 month old and TONS of great pictures I can't afford to lose, I rely on photostream and iPhoto (not to mention TIME MACHINE) to save these memories. Everyone is different and all needs are not the same obviously...
Yes and no. But I guess that means no, because all together it can't replace a laptop. However, an iPad may eliminate the use of surfing the web on your laptop, used for traveling etc. But no ports, physical keyboard, Microsoft office software even prevents it from replacing a laptop. Even strenuous web searching could be frustrating
The uploaders block in on mobile. You would need to use the VEVO app for music videos.
The file system has never been a more than a marginally "solution" to the problem. As far as the user perspective goes. Add a group of people working together and we start needing to invest productive time in "Managing Stuff for the Computer" not for our own ends. So as much as better document handling is high on list. I wouldn't want Finder, that would be the worst of both worlds. I want investment in something better than Finder and current Document Handling.
I didn't say it had to be finder. I want more of an interconnect with other devices such as portable drives. I'd like to be able to take along a portable ssd (no moving parts, easier to make a durable one, this has nothing to do with speed) and access stuff from it. If it has a wireless option, even better. The point was to not require another computer to get things on it, and be able to just bring the ipad if you're traveling and your needs are not so great.