The "Laptop Replacement" Debate

[Synergie]

Found another reason why I still need a laptop in addition to my ipad. I need to download a firmware update for my camera to an sd card. Dont even tell me if I can do that with an ipad, that would require an additional purchase for the equipment. For these simple tasks that require additional purchase, more cost effective to keep a laptop, even if a cheap one.

Well it is possible. There are BT external drives that have SD slot.
I wish the Apple USB-C SD card reader worked both ways though for convenience. It only reads from and not writes to. But I know it's possible as I have a USB thumb drive which has lightning connector on one side and USB on the other and it works both ways with its own app. (Leaf iBridge) and it's not a hassle to use as anything can be saved to or loaded from via share menu.

 

[skaertus]

For me, the iPad would be able to replace a laptop if it had:

• a proper file system;
• mouse support;
• applications with more features;
• real multi-tasking; and
• Better window management.

I think I could even live without other things. But these are really essential. I cannot work properly with an iPad without those things.

 

[profets]

For me, the iPad would be able to replace a laptop if it had:

• a proper file system;
• mouse support;
• applications with more features;
• real multi-tasking; and
• Better window management.

I think I could even live without other things. But these are really essential. I cannot work properly with an iPad without those things.

Those requirements make it sound like you want a MacBook (I'm being sincere). Though I guess for many people, replacing a laptop would require a device that can do a lot of those specific things.

I get it though. I'd love to see some big improvements come to multitasking and even windowing of some sort on the larger screen.

Technically iPads are running APFS, so they do have a proper file system. But I guess what you mean is a better way to manage files? I'd like to see that too. Some form of drag and drop between apps on screen would be excellent too.

 

[Mercman1]

For once and for all, if you use Dropbox, the Dropbox.app is your file system, you can open word documents from word, spreadsheets from excel etc etc. Just like all the other cloud services.

Or you can open the files from Documents 5
What do you need a finder for if you can do everything with documents5? add a WebDAV, One drive, office 365, google drive, ftp, sftp, yandex or box link and hey presto, your file system is working. It can also manage local files on the iPad.

iOS isn't macOS, it's never was to be, and I hope it never is going to be.

So once and for all, if you don't know how, try google, try macrumors or dozens of other apple oriented websites. Ask, try, experiment.
But stop whining about a file explorer/finder/file system. It makes you look ignorant/stupid/trolling.

/rant

Readdle Documents 5 (now 6 out this week) is the file system. It connects to local storage, and auto sync's to dropbox, OneDrive etc. So the file system is there...and will stay up to date at all times.

I used my 12.9 iPad Pro for 6 months exclusively while waiting for the new MacBook Pro's to arrive last year. Finding new ways of doing the same things took a bit, but it was functional. For me however, using it as a full time machine all day at work ended up being exhausting, as you have to keep reaching up to the screen all the time. So ergonomically it was not good for long sessions. The other problem was software limitations. I use Excel a lot, and the iOS paid version is simply missing lots of things...and this just adds time and pain to the day of getting things done.

However, while I love the 13" MBP, I still have the iPad Pro and use it for many things as well.

 

[sracer]

Those requirements make it sound like you want a MacBook (I'm being sincere). Though I guess for many people, replacing a laptop would require a device that can do a lot of those specific things.

I get it though. I'd love to see some big improvements come to multitasking and even windowing of some sort on the larger screen.

Technically iPads are running APFS, so they do have a proper file system. But I guess what you mean is a better way to manage files? I'd like to see that too. Some form of drag and drop between apps on screen would be excellent too.

It is common to conclude that when a person wants mouse and file system support that they want a notebook. The difference is that providing support for those things would be OPTIONAL. there are certain scenarios where a mouse would be handy but don't want to be forced to always use it. Anyone who has used an android tablet for any moderate or advanced usage knows the value of having that flexibility.

 

[Centris 650]

iPad can be a laptop replacement for some, for some it can not.

Exactly. It's like back in the late 90's when laptops "just weren't there" and you couldn't use them for "any serious work". Running photoshop on a laptop?! FORGET IT! But it was good for some and then the laptops got more powerful.

I think if the iPad can weather slumping sales and if either the iOS can change some or the apps get more powerful I think we could see more people taking advantage of the iPad as a laptop because it'll service more people's needs.

Right now it's not for everyone but that doesn't mean it's not for anyone.

 

[Essaux]

Owning an iPad Pro I can wholeheartedly say that Tim Cook's laptop replacement statement is nonsensical. I have an original apple lightening to USB connector, any device I plug into it - card reader and others - gets a "usb device draws too much power, cannot be used" error.

Limited OS, limited functionality all around. Perhaps a good device for illustrators and casual browsing, video watching and music listening, but real professional usage. No way.

 

[profets]

Owning an iPad Pro I can wholeheartedly say that Tim Cook's laptop replacement statement is nonsensical. I have an original apple lightening to USB connector, any device I plug into it - card reader and others - gets a "usb device draws too much power, cannot be used" error.

Limited OS, limited functionality all around. Perhaps a good device for illustrators and casual browsing, video watching and music listening, but real professional usage. No way.

For yourself you mean, right?

 

[Chancha]

Of course each consumer is speaking on behalf of himself. If the iPad does not qualified as a laptop replacement for his use case, it's all that is needed to dismiss the iPad as a laptop replacement.

The problem is choice and direction from Apple. With the iPad (Pros), by eliminating or not having certain qualities that are already on current laptops, but at the same time taunting iPads as laptop replacements, the only logical result is to alienate users who need those features.

 

[profets]

The thing is, I don't think Apple is targeting users like us. We are definitely a niche set of users compared to the majority of consumers who could do their 'computing' on an iPad.

 

[Essaux]

For yourself you mean, right?

Obviously for myself and that is enough for me to determine an iPad cannot be a laptop replacement. I cannot fully and professionally use an iPad the way I use a laptop. A laptop gives me something much versatility and all peripherals just work as well. To me Tim Cook's absurd statement that the iPad replaces a laptop is an insult to us professionals and shows to me he doesn't fully respect the intelligence of his user base.

With an iPad Pro, nonetheless, I can't even use a card reader as apple decided to turn down 100ma to 20ma, making the iPad nothing but a glorified web browser, picture gallery and e-reader. The only professionals I can imagine having their money's worth are illustrators as these can use sweet apps and tools for their craft.

 

[sracer]

The thing is, I don't think Apple is targeting users like us. We are definitely a niche set of users compared to the majority of consumers who could do their 'computing' on an iPad.

Apple can view some of us as a niche at their own risk (which isn't much of a risk). At this point in the tablet timeline, Apple is "ahead" more because their competitors are stumbling and fumbling rather than as a result of forward thinking in pushing the envelope.

Given their competition, it's a good bet. But should they (eg. Microsoft) get a clue Apple could very well be caught flat footed. Even at that, it wouldn't really a problem for them as they are primarily a cellphone company.

 

[Vivian125]

The iPad is not a laptop replacement. It is a different thing. It cannot do all the things a laptop can, but it can do some things very well. And it has evolved over time.

I had two iPads. The first one was the new iPad (3rd gen), which I bought back in 2012. The second is the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which I bought in 2016. In four years, the tablet has evolved a lot. It is faster, the apps have evolved, and the pen and the keyboard provide much better interaction.

However, it still falls short of being a good laptop replacement. Here are some possible reasons for that:

• There is no file system. Each app has its own way to save documents in the iPad, and there is no file system to rely on.
• Poor apps. Apps tend to be cheap and, therefore, they are usually very simple and it seems like there is not much effort in developing them to become robust and fully featured.
• No mouse support. Yes, there is no point-and-click. The pen is very good, but a pointer is more precise for some tasks.

It is unlikely that Apple will modify these issues in the short term. However, they seem to me to be crucial to get the iPad to do some serious work. It has evolved, and it will continue evolving, but not in a very fast pace.

The way I see it, the iPad will either become a laptop replacement or die. The iPhone (and other top smartphones) are already very good at browsing the web, and doing simple tasks. And the iPhone Plus is big enough for comfortably browsing the web. People will not keep buying iPads just for that.

And people will probably not keep buying the iPad to be an in-between. People will not carry an iPad and a laptop. Even if the iPad is light, it is even lighter not to carry one, if a laptop is required anyway to do any complex task. Either the iPad will evolve or it will disappear, because it does not do things which are really necessary and which people cannot live without.

Apple is probably aware of that. Apple is a USD 800 billion company whose revenues are about 70% represented by one single product (the iPhone). This is iPad's fault, as its business has been shrinking. The iPad used to represent more of Apple's business, but it is at only 7% now.

[doublepost=1496162421][/doublepost]

The iPad is not a laptop replacement. It is a different thing. It cannot do all the things a laptop can, but it can do some things very well. And it has evolved over time.

I had two iPads. The first one was the new iPad (3rd gen), which I bought back in 2012. The second is the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which I bought in 2016. In four years, the tablet has evolved a lot. It is faster, the apps have evolved, and the pen and the keyboard provide much better interaction.

However, it still falls short of being a good laptop replacement. Here are some possible reasons for that:

• There is no file system. Each app has its own way to save documents in the iPad, and there is no file system to rely on.
• Poor apps. Apps tend to be cheap and, therefore, they are usually very simple and it seems like there is not much effort in developing them to become robust and fully featured.
• No mouse support. Yes, there is no point-and-click. The pen is very good, but a pointer is more precise for some tasks.

It is unlikely that Apple will modify these issues in the short term. However, they seem to me to be crucial to get the iPad to do some serious work. It has evolved, and it will continue evolving, but not in a very fast pace.

The way I see it, the iPad will either become a laptop replacement or die. The iPhone (and other top smartphones) are already very good at browsing the web, and doing simple tasks. And the iPhone Plus is big enough for comfortably browsing the web. People will not keep buying iPads just for that.

And people will probably not keep buying the iPad to be an in-between. People will not carry an iPad and a laptop. Even if the iPad is light, it is even lighter not to carry one, if a laptop is required anyway to do any complex task. Either the iPad will evolve or it will disappear, because it does not do things which are really necessary and which people cannot live without.

Apple is probably aware of that. Apple is a USD 800 billion company whose revenues are about 70% represented by one single product (the iPhone). This is iPad's fault, as its business has been shrinking. The iPad used to represent more of Apple's business, but it is at only 7% now.

Truelaley sister, iPhone 6/7 Plus is Extremely Small.
It is also funny that even the BIGGEST iPhone which is 6/7 Plus is 2.5 Times SMALLER than iPad Mini even 2.4inch difference hahahahahaha LOL
Actually iPhone 6 Plus is Big enough, for Me because i have a GOOD Eyesight 20/20 Vision UNLIKE others or including you may needed to wear Eyeglasses is the solution.
Just like you, and majority of people ages from 12 - 39 prefer to use an iPad just for browsing as its 3 to 6 times bigger than iPhone.
If you have trouble, checking email on your phone. Its telling you need some GLASSES

 

[profets]

Obviously for myself and that is enough for me to determine an iPad cannot be a laptop replacement. I cannot fully and professionally use an iPad the way I use a laptop. A laptop gives me something much versatility and all peripherals just work as well. To me Tim Cook's absurd statement that the iPad replaces a laptop is an insult to us professionals and shows to me he doesn't fully respect the intelligence of his user base.

With an iPad Pro, nonetheless, I can't even use a card reader as apple decided to turn down 100ma to 20ma, making the iPad nothing but a glorified web browser, picture gallery and e-reader. The only professionals I can imagine having their money's worth are illustrators as these can use sweet apps and tools for their craft.

Again, that the iPad cannot be a laptop replacement for you. It fully can be a laptop replacement for the majority of consumers, which is the point that everyone seems to miss.

Apple can view some of us as a niche at their own risk (which isn't much of a risk). At this point in the tablet timeline, Apple is "ahead" more because their competitors are stumbling and fumbling rather than as a result of forward thinking in pushing the envelope.

Given their competition, it's a good bet. But should they (eg. Microsoft) get a clue Apple could very well be caught flat footed. Even at that, it wouldn't really a problem for them as they are primarily a cellphone company.

I don't think they're purposely trying to view us as niche, rather that they're targeting iPad as a computing device for most consumers. And with time as it expands or more features come to it the consumers and users that can move to it will slowly expand. But honestly, at this point, it already can be a computer for most consumers.

 

[Vivian125]

Owning an iPad Pro I can wholeheartedly say that Tim Cook's laptop replacement statement is nonsensical. I have an original apple lightening to USB connector, any device I plug into it - card reader and others - gets a "usb device draws too much power, cannot be used" error.

Limited OS, limited functionality all around. Perhaps a good device for illustrators and casual browsing, video watching and music listening, but real professional usage. No way.

The iPad may not be for you for THIS Reasons:
1.Your a Programmer
2. If you are in College you are taking Information Technology, Computer engineering and Computer Science
3. If you play Heavy online games
4. You already have perfect eyesight to do the browsing in your iPhone

I have iPhone 7 Plus for basic sms, email checking
I have iPhone SE as an iPod Touch replacement
I have an iPad Mini 4 to travel with me always
I have iPad Pro 12.9 inch for bed, and when my macbook is dead
I have Macbook Pro 2015 15" model for basic editing and also bring at school When needed at presentation.
And i have Windows PC 23 inch with i7 for online gaming.

See?? I have no regrets owning this, because i use them equally.
You maybe true that iPad can replace laptops, and yeah my iPad Mini 4 replaces both my windows Pc and iMac
Because editing pdf, doing homework, browsing the web is my thing unlike in 2010 and 2011 the first two iPads is not a replacement for laptop. But now almost all of the apps, are also compatible with the iPad and iPhone.

iPad replaces about 75% of macbook and Desktop can do, the remaining 25% is for those who needed external mouse, printer, Powerful specs, true multitasking, programmer, and etc.
[doublepost=1496164414][/doublepost]

Well, a 12.9" screen is already enough for some work, as it has the same area as the screen in a 13.3" MacBook Pro (actually, it is 0.47% larger). The problems are really the lack of mouse/trackpad and the file system. But then, people may think that paying at least USD 968 for a 12.9" device with keyboard (the most basic one, that does not include the pen, nor additional storage, nor cellular) is too much for not being able to handle complex tasks, also having to bear the costs of a laptop.

TrueLaley very true and agree with u
iPad Pro 12.9 is just too ankward to use in Library lol! Ans its bigger than macbook 13.3" the only one who says that iPad cannot replace Laptops are mostly who works on office like IT specialist, computer engineering who requires a huge amount like 1GB ram of SDD storage.

Correct, btw they dont know that most students high school and college already replaces Desktop with an iPad. Just like in our school we already have iMacs in the library that is free to use. We dont need the lapop to bring anymore unless we are going to present microsoft presentation in front of class right??

Or maybe they are talking about iPad 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation iPad of course it is obsolete today and lacks so many features.

 

[alecgold]

Limited OS, limited functionality all around. Perhaps a good device for illustrators and casual browsing, video watching and music listening, but real professional usage. No way.

Please, define professional use.
My work as a consultant isn't professional?

 

[sracer]

Please, define professional use.
My work as a consultant isn't professional?

Professional = unable to perform their job with an iPad Pro.... duh!

 

[Essaux]

Please, define professional use.
My work as a consultant isn't professional?

For you it suffices. For me it doesn't, therefore it's not a laptop replacement.

You see a laptop would work for both of us. It offers full functionality. Therefore it is the most professional device of the two.
An iPad works for your profession. Not for mine.

Therefore to make a statement like: laptop replacement is a bit ridiculous at the very least.

I find it funny though, how so many on here try to defend Apple's ridiculous position on severely limiting functionality on the iPad by its use of iOS and forcing limitations to it that make really no sense.

I buy a dongle to connect a usb device to the iPad only to have 90% of USB devices rejected, because Apple turned down the ampere allowance. What is the point of having the USB dongle when one cannot use it. At 35 dollars for the dongle at that.

Professional = unable to perform their job with an iPad Pro.... duh!

It's hardly professional when one cannot do on an iPad the tasks needed to perform one's job well. As a programmer and a photographer an iPad at this stage is useless and thus not a professional device.

 

[profets]

For you it suffices. For me it doesn't, therefore it's not a laptop replacement.

You see a laptop would work for both of us. It offers full functionality. Therefore it is the most professional device of the two.
An iPad works for your profession. Not for mine.

Therefore to make a statement like: laptop replacement is a bit ridiculous at the very least.

I find it funny though, how so many on here try to defend Apple's ridiculous position on severely limiting functionality on the iPad by its use of iOS and forcing limitations to it that make really no sense.

I buy a dongle to connect a usb device to the iPad only to have 90% of USB devices rejected, because Apple turned down the ampere allowance. What is the point of having the USB dongle when one cannot use it. At 35 dollars for the dongle at that.


It's hardly professional when one cannot do on an iPad the tasks needed to perform one's job well. As a programmer and a photographer an iPad at this stage is useless and thus not a professional device.

It is because you fail to understand the context in which the iPad can replace a laptop. And as a result, you claim that the iPad being a laptop replacement is "a bit ridiculous at the very least."

 

[Essaux]

It is because you fail to understand the context in which the iPad can replace a laptop. And as a result, you claim that the iPad being a laptop replacement is "a bit ridiculous at the very least."

I understand the context I just don't think it warrants such an extreme claim. It is, no matter how you look at it, a very limited "professional" device.

 

[SportsPhan8]

http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-ipad-pro-is-one-feature-away-from-being-a-true-pc-replacement/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/do-you-agree-with-this-authors-opinion.2047711/

I disagree with the user that said it needs a trackpad --I think touch screens are way way better.

A few things, some of which what was briefly mentioned in the second link:

-Needs a USB port -- for external hard drives
-Needs an updated iOS upgrade that not only fixes bugs, but adds new components
-Needs adding a true task bar

Forgetting some others as well

 

[sracer]

It's hardly professional when one cannot do on an iPad the tasks needed to perform one's job well. As a programmer and a photographer an iPad at this stage is useless and thus not a professional device.

You statement implies that there is a generally accepted definition of "professional". There isn't. Any statement claiming that the iPad Pro is for professionals or isn't is too broad as to be meaningless.

 

[Essaux]

You statement implies that there is a generally accepted definition of "professional". There isn't. Any statement claiming that the iPad Pro is for professionals or isn't is too broad as to be meaningless.

Alright then.

Let's leave "professional" aside then. Based on all the arguments given one should be able to conclude that an iPad is not a replacement for a laptop, since a laptop offers full functionality, whereas an iPad is very limited and its limitations are wholly artificial, since Apple dumbed down a device for whatever reason.

iOS on an iPad is a severe limitation to the device's potential. The lack of support for peripherals, where one buys an Apple USB dongle and cannot use most of the USB devices, because it "draws too much power and cannot be used" and the iPad refuses to read the external device. This is also artificially dumbing down the device, where Apple changed the ampere allowance from 100 to 20 through a software update.

I simply think Tim Cook insults its user base, whether the majority of the user base understand they are being insulted is another story, I do and so do others with me, since Cook's assertion that the iPad is a laptop replacement is just nonsensical.

Almost everything is done faster on a laptop than on an iPad. If your profession values time and money, then a MacBook would probably be a better investment than an iPad which is severely handicapped.

If you read my signature you can see I own an iPad Pro and I like the device, but I use it mainly for web browsing, reading, playing the odd game and showing my work when at a meeting.

Doing actual work is all done on a MacBook Pro. Writing articles, editing articles, retouching photos, editing videos, multitasking, having multiple apps open at the same time and seamless integrated with the OS and each other. All on a MacBook. None on an iPad.

 

[Eric5273]

I think when Tim Cook mentioned that an iPad Pro could replace a computer for most people, he meant for personal use, not for professional/job use. That said, for some people it can probably work for professional use too, depending on what your needs are.

I think it's safe to say that most people who participate in the macrumors forum are those who use their devices for professional use. But the majority of people out there do NOT use their personal devices for professional use.

 

[jeremiah256]

It is strange to live in a time where there could be an abundance of evidence of something, easily accessible to the masses via vetted internet sources, and yet people still deny it's existence.

There are plenty of testimonials here and elsewhere of people from all walks of life who have replaced their laptops with iPads. Yet, too many here ignore these examples, bringing up requirements that the average Jane or Joe doesn't need and sometimes doesn't want.

And many of these people are the same ones claiming Apple is the one who has lost touch with what the public wants.