Today Marks the 10th Anniversary of Steve Jobs Unveiling the iPad

[szw-mapple fan]

I have a completely different experience. I regularly use my 2018 12.9 Pro when on the road. It is my meeting notebook; a great device for reviewing and updating documents; and can be used to run two windows at the same time in a usable way, especially when paired with a good physical keyboard.

It isn’t a full replacement for my laptop, but that is more due to limits the app developers apply rather than any fundamental limit within iPadOS or the hardware. If Microsoft made their iOS apps feature-matched to the desktop apps then I could ditch the laptop completely.

Now, I know that there will be people who are coders or have other needs that there is no app available to do what they do. That’s cool, the iPad isn’t going to replace their laptop or desktop. But for many people it will do everything they need.

Exactly this. Microsoft went down the wrong path imo when they slapped a desktop system onto a tablet with the Surface and I think they realized that somewhat and pivoted more towards notebooks. The touch UI is done much much better on iPad (and the tablet mode on Win8, but MS chickened out after people complained). The iPad's limitations also hits the sweet spot for a lot of users who don't use technology for all that much except photos, videos, music, and the internet.

 

[nylonsteel]

wow 10 years already...
R.I.P. mr jobs...

 

[theluggage]

However, without robust text-editing capabilities the iPad will remain a sidecar to the Mac.

...but if apps evolve to assume that iPads have a keyboard and pointing device then the iPad turns into a badly designed laptop that loses its extreme portability and presents the old 'gorilla arms' problem when you want to use touch or stylus. Better to look at improving touch-based test editing (which might be why Apple is limiting mouse support to an 'accessibility' feature).

How about cursor keys on the on-screen keyboard so you can use cursor+shift to select text?

 

[interessiert]

iPad:
It will never replace a Mac Book / Mac – never!

Nice to look some videos or news or mediatheks, a short view into websites – that's all.

No real computer work is done with it, anyway

 

[implementor]

How time passes on a speedy tempo ...

 

[MarkAtl]

This reminds me of Gary Dell'Abate's (aka "Gadget Gary") review on Geraldo's show, calling it "a bit of a stumble...." LOL

(warning: language at the end of the video....Gary was not pleased he was being made fun of).

BABA BOOEY!

Techno beaver!

 

[Darth Tulhu]

...but if apps evolve to assume that iPads have a keyboard and pointing device then the iPad turns into a badly designed laptop that loses its extreme portability and presents the old 'gorilla arms' problem when you want to use touch or stylus. Better to look at improving touch-based test editing (which might be why Apple is limiting mouse support to an 'accessibility' feature).

How about cursor keys on the on-screen keyboard so you can use cursor+shift to select text?

ANY iPad today that uses a physical keyboard is smack-dab in "gorilla arms" territory. It's actually WORSE than any 2in1 out there.

I don't think that Apple adding mouse support will turn an iPad into a Windows 10 machine. Apple controls development on its platform, so they can reject apps that don't conform to their regulations.

In addition, comparing iPads to Windows is an unfair comparison. Windows starts from a PC functionality standpoint, and then tries to add touch, which is why they STILL fail. Apple got it right the first time and took the opposite approach. They just haven't gotten far enough yet, but are REALLY close. It only took TEN frakking YEARS.

What I want is for Apple to implement something, even in limited form, that allows the kind of text editing that is sorely lacking on an iPad. They could even restrict mouse support to only apps that require text, like Word or Excel.

They don't have to reinvent the wheel. Hit boxes would be the same, I just want the precision of a mouse when appropriate.

And keyboard shortcuts like Cmd-C and Cmd-V.

 

[olduser007]

There’s always going to be that one person.

Yes someone has got to make sense with these people living in their bubble high on Apple's marketing.

 

[theluggage]

In addition, comparing iPads to Windows is an unfair comparison.

I think comparing high-end tablets, 2-in-ones and convertibles to iPad Pro is very valid - especially as Apple doesn't offer any sort of 2-in-1. The big contrast is that Apple have stuck to having quite separate touch-based and keyboard/pointer-based OSs and apps, while Windows has tried to be the best of both worlds - and probably suffered as a result.

I don't think that Apple adding mouse support will turn an iPad into a Windows 10 machine. Apple controls development on its platform, so they can reject apps that don't conform to their regulations.

It would be a major move towards a Windows-style "best of both worlds" approach. Meanwhile, Apple only approve third party apps on a fairly course set of rules - they don't micro-manage the design. They can say 'must support both touch and mouse' - it's harder to say 'must focus on providing a good touch experience when entering text'.

They don't have to reinvent the wheel. Hit boxes would be the same, I just want the precision of a mouse when appropriate.

That's what the Pencil should be for.

And keyboard shortcuts like Cmd-C and Cmd-V.

...which, as far as I know, are already supported - along with cursor keys - on an external keyboard. One of my suggestions was to add them to the on-screen keyboard (OK, small matter of how you fit them in).

My approach to extensive text editing on an iPad is the same as my approach to undoing cross-head screws with a flat blade screwdriver - you can do it as a last resort, but its better to use the right tool.

 

[audioaudio]

I remember back then seeing posts like, "Why don't you just get an Etch-a-Sketch? And it doesn't have to be recharged several times a day!"

I have to admit, I did wonder if there was a market for this thing when it first came out. I thought notebooks/netbooks would still be a lot more popular than the iPad would be. But after all these years, it has proven to be a very popular item still. Heck, I got a 3rd generation one and I still use it!

And in a way, I kinda feel bad for Microsoft. They had been trying for years to get a tablet that ran Windows that people would buy. And then the iPad came out and Apple hit a home run with it. And the Windows platform is still playing catch up.

User Experience. People want some thing that just works and simple because a lot of thought and hours goes behind a great UX. Windows lagged behind. Too much features at once.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I think comparing high-end tablets, 2-in-ones and convertibles to iPad Pro is very valid - especially as Apple doesn't offer any sort of 2-in-1. The big contrast is that Apple have stuck to having quite separate touch-based and keyboard/pointer-based OSs and apps, while Windows has tried to be the best of both worlds - and probably suffered as a result.

Fair enough, but my comment meant to be more focused on the concept behind the design of the OS, not it's use case. Windows started with the wrong approach, but is starting to get closer to the middle. The iPad NAILED it from the outset. And it HAS been moving to the middle as well. Just too damn slowly for my taste.

It would be a major move towards a Windows-style "best of both worlds" approach. Meanwhile, Apple only approve third party apps on a fairly course set of rules - they don't micro-manage the design. They can say 'must support both touch and mouse' - it's harder to say 'must focus on providing a good touch experience when entering text'.

I don't think that this has to be done at the app-level at all. I just want a tappable pointer at the OS-level when a trackpad or mouse is present, so I don't have to gorilla-arm it. Apple seems to me like it's already three-quarters of the way there with the accessibility feature. The fact that iPadOS got split from iOS points to Apple setting it up to where the iPad is a legitimate standalone platform that can truly be an alternative to a computer for heavy lifting.

That's what the Pencil should be for.

The pencil would SUCK for this. I'm typing, then reach for the pencil, pick it up, tap or select what I need, put it back down, go back to the keyboard...every time. No. HELL no.

...which, as far as I know, are already supported - along with cursor keys - on an external keyboard. One of my suggestions was to add them to the on-screen keyboard (OK, small matter of how you fit them in).

I did look this up and you're right. I think the keyboard shortcuts are more than fine today. Not sure if they're for all keyboards (besides the Apple ones).

My approach to extensive text editing on an iPad is the same as my approach to undoing cross-head screws with a flat blade screwdriver - you can do it as a last resort, but its better to use the right tool.

Which goes to the point of the iPad not being a real computer yet (as much as I'd like it to be). Steve said it in it's introduction: a device that sits between a smartphone and a laptop, in it's own category.

Even Apple's own marketing supports the assertion: iPad. Like a computer. Unlike any computer.