Tablet comes a long way since first iPad. The most current like iPad Air is a real capable tablet. It can do many jobs with available apps. However, I found that not all websites handle tablet well. Not yet at least. I will say 80%. To me, laptop is still required. You might be able to get by with really cheap sub $300 just handles thing that tablet just won't cut it. That is my opinion. In any event, you can try with just tablet and see how it goes? It might just work well for you. If not, get cheap laptop to go along with it.
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iPad Use iPad Air as replacement for laptop?
- Thread starter Retired Cat
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Sorry, I shouldve been specific. In email hit reply then press in the input area and hold your finger there for a second or two an a modal comes up and says insert photo or video along with some other options.
Bank transactions are cvs or excel files which are compatible with iwork. Most banks give you the option and some even give you the pdf option.
Ok, fair enough. Let's discuss exactly where we disconnect.
Let's say I'm having an email exchange with seven people. I need to reply to all with a copy of a document. I can't. I can only send them a picture or a video, but nothing else. That's not terribly useful. I'd have to go into Pages and create a new email from there, losing the email string and having to re enter all the email addresses.
On the bank thing, how do I get the cvs or excel file into iWork? I need a computer. A real one. I can't download the file from the bank with the iPad and use it on Numbers. iOS won't let me do that. It's called sand boxing. You should know that.
On a computer I could download using a browser, save to my hard drive, and import into Numbers. Not on the iPad.
What I am looking for is the functionality of SEE Financial (Mac) or Quicken (Windows). You hit a button, and the app connects to your bank and downloads all your transactions into the app directly. I can then reconcile them within the app. If I want that, I need a computer. There isn't an app for that (yet).
The iPad is a very powerful and capable device, but still has a ways to go to catch up with a laptop or a desktop.
That is well known. However, it's rare in a business situation that I want to attach a photo or video. There's no way to attach a document or spreadsheet or PDF or any other document or file type. That's why you need a computer.
As ZBoater pointed out, there's no way to download such files to your iPad, so it doesn't matter if they're compatible with iWork if you can't get the file on your iPad to begin with.
I tried a Win 8 laptop and I did not care for the OS. I really do not need an Apple laptop nor would I want to spend the money regardless.
Being able to dock the Air now into the old Logitech Keyboard I had by adding a rear shell and it being perfectly compatible to type with, I feel I now have a small laptop.
I plan on using my Air exclusively this way for awhile with it docked. I don't feel the rMini would be as worthwhile with this scenario so another plus for keeping the Air over the rMini.
I even got a good deal on a leather shoulder bag today as well.
Being able to dock the Air now into the old Logitech Keyboard I had by adding a rear shell and it being perfectly compatible to type with, I feel I now have a small laptop.
I plan on using my Air exclusively this way for awhile with it docked. I don't feel the rMini would be as worthwhile with this scenario so another plus for keeping the Air over the rMini.
I even got a good deal on a leather shoulder bag today as well.
...
An iPad is good for about 90% of what I do.
Others have mentioned file sharing issues and burning content onto the computer (I am moving away from the latter.)
My only other concern is the Blackboard app used for school is utter crap on an iPad.
I can write with several excellent apps now, but that Blackboard app and no file sharing are the only real snags for me unless I need to use MS Word.
I look forward to seeing what the eventual iPad Pro will bring to the table.
I just picked up an iPad Air (hurray the WiFi works), so I might snag a keyboard case on Black Friday. I am definitely going to pay attention to my computer usage or lack there of now that I have this.
An iPad is good for about 90% of what I do.
Others have mentioned file sharing issues and burning content onto the computer (I am moving away from the latter.)
My only other concern is the Blackboard app used for school is utter crap on an iPad.
I can write with several excellent apps now, but that Blackboard app and no file sharing are the only real snags for me unless I need to use MS Word.
I look forward to seeing what the eventual iPad Pro will bring to the table.
I just picked up an iPad Air (hurray the WiFi works), so I might snag a keyboard case on Black Friday. I am definitely going to pay attention to my computer usage or lack there of now that I have this.
No filesystem = no computer replacement.
However, if you are jailbroken you can get iFile and solve a lot of this (aside from replying to an email thread and attaching files).
However, if you are jailbroken you can get iFile and solve a lot of this (aside from replying to an email thread and attaching files).
I have, I use my ipad for Uni work, nursing work, sermon writing and bible research (able to dig even into languages and history via accordance). Apart from printing everything else runs without a problem (too cheap to buy another printer till current one is done!).
I haven't owned a Laptop for 2 years... I bought a Macbook Air 2.5 years ago because I wanted one... but after a while I realized it's a waste of money to have both an iPad and a Macbook... especially now that Apps and in system integration/sharing of files is getting MUCH better compared to the first iPad.
Why would you want to download bank transactions? These days everything's available online and more often than not banks provide an app to log on to your account and manage your transactions (at least over here in Europe).
I've been doing fine without a laptop for two years now, it all depends on your usage. The notion the ipad is not fit for "serious" (whatever that is) is BS.
I am also an IT Pro and of course an iPad can't replace a proper desktop OS for tasks like this. The OP asked though a very specific question and I believe, that yes, for the tasks that the OP mentioned, that an iPad could replace a laptop. Is it better though than a laptop? Definitely not. Is it more mobile and easy to use? Yes.
It all depends what you want to do with an iPad. People with basic computing needs certainly do not need a laptop. Everybody else can use an iPad as a consumer device.
Well, if you do modeling or any type of planning and want direct control over the transactions, you need them locally. Mint.com is nice, but it doesn't offer anywhere near the flexibility of Quicken for Windows. I've tried Mint and it looks pretty, but no. Not to mention years of transaction history is lost.
I don't want to sacrifice functionality to force myself into a limited iPad centric model. I'll keep lugging around my MBA for that.
Well, sometimes it's a challenge but that's part of the fun trying to figure out how far you can push it.
Some of us just live the post pc dream
Well, sometimes it's a challenge but that's part of the fun trying to figure out how far you can push it.
Some of us just live the post pc dream
I've been able to do some limited website maintenance with the Gusto app. Ditching the laptop whenever possible is very nice...
Yes, my iPad mini has replaced my laptop. I haven't touched my laptop in 6+ months since getting my mini. I can do 98% of the work I need to do on my iPad mini.
My wife just started online classes and uses Blackboard on her MacBook. She wanted an iPad Air with keyboard case...is this not a good idea?
I'm retired now but I was in IT project management. I could never have done my job with just an iPad. As others have stated the lack of a file system is a deal breaker. I mean, the need to attach multiple files to an email (by files I mean documents, spreadsheets, etc.) is pretty much a requirement in the business world. Not to mention the need for specific software (MS Project, OneNote, etc). And being able to organize files (in my case by project) was also a requirement.
However, I can see how some folks could get by with no other computer. It all depends on what you need to do in your life. Some occupations will probably always require a full blown OS.
Since I retired I hardly ever boot my laptop. The only cases are when the iOS app isn't a full function app (Skype, looking at you). And some sites still require Flash. While Photon does handle Flash my laptop does a much better job. But those sites are slowly disappearing. Most of the ones I run into are government sites.
However, I can see how some folks could get by with no other computer. It all depends on what you need to do in your life. Some occupations will probably always require a full blown OS.
Since I retired I hardly ever boot my laptop. The only cases are when the iOS app isn't a full function app (Skype, looking at you). And some sites still require Flash. While Photon does handle Flash my laptop does a much better job. But those sites are slowly disappearing. Most of the ones I run into are government sites.
the Blackboard app is awful
No it is not, sadly. The Blackboard app has not been updated in over a year and it's very hard to go through threads/messages in class using the mobile app.
I wish this was not the case.
No it is not, sadly. The Blackboard app has not been updated in over a year and it's very hard to go through threads/messages in class using the mobile app.
I wish this was not the case.
And the funny thing is that part of the deal is that after she completes her first class she gets an iPad Air...I'm sure we're paying for it one way or the other as part of tuition...
My only problem is some of my homework for classes requires flash.
I admit this is because of the sites, not apple, but because of this my iPad is not quite able to replace a laptop.
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Just use the website...
I admit this is because of the sites, not apple, but because of this my iPad is not quite able to replace a laptop.
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Just use the website...
Which I said in my first repsonse in this thread. :
Ah sorry. Just making sure that was said. Didn't read every post.
I currently own...
...a MacBook Pro 13" with retina and I recently purchased and ipad air. I used to use my MacBook for everything, but find the ipad much more convenient. The only use case where I get frustrated with the ipad is for work. I frequently need several PDF documents on-screen side by side as well as a word processor. The ipad, being a one-app-at-time machine just can't do that.
That said, for 90% of what I do(Facebook, email, reading the news/general websurfing, and netflix/hulu) the ipad is much more convenient than a laptop. Also, I've found that many web apps have better offerings as standalone iOS apps. I use iWorks to write stuff up all of the time. It has become a device that I wouldn't want to give up if I had the choice between this and my MacBook Pro.
I've rarely have website problems with the ipad and that's because more and more websites are ditching older protocols. If you're not going to use your computer for more than one app a time, the ipad is superior to a laptop. However, it is fundamentally incapable on an OS level of multitask workflows...
My advice is to buy one from the Apple Store and try it out for two weeks. If you find that it works for your computing needs, keep it. If not, bring it back for a no-questions-asked refund.
Good luck!
...a MacBook Pro 13" with retina and I recently purchased and ipad air. I used to use my MacBook for everything, but find the ipad much more convenient. The only use case where I get frustrated with the ipad is for work. I frequently need several PDF documents on-screen side by side as well as a word processor. The ipad, being a one-app-at-time machine just can't do that.
That said, for 90% of what I do(Facebook, email, reading the news/general websurfing, and netflix/hulu) the ipad is much more convenient than a laptop. Also, I've found that many web apps have better offerings as standalone iOS apps. I use iWorks to write stuff up all of the time. It has become a device that I wouldn't want to give up if I had the choice between this and my MacBook Pro.
I've rarely have website problems with the ipad and that's because more and more websites are ditching older protocols. If you're not going to use your computer for more than one app a time, the ipad is superior to a laptop. However, it is fundamentally incapable on an OS level of multitask workflows...
My advice is to buy one from the Apple Store and try it out for two weeks. If you find that it works for your computing needs, keep it. If not, bring it back for a no-questions-asked refund.
Good luck!