No. It is crucial if you use Blackboard, which is a software application used by faculty at universities to manage classes. You cannot upload files. It brings the process to a screeching halt.
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What can a laptop do than an iPad can't?
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No. It is crucial if you use Blackboard, which is a software application used by faculty at universities to manage classes. You cannot upload files. It brings the process to a screeching halt.
That's definitely not seemless. Currently, I only use iCloud to hare between iOS devices, which is seemless between my iPad and 4s. The Gen3 Touch is a little wonky.
Am I doing something wrong? I don't know. iCloud is OK on iOS, but as soon as I try to cross between iOS and OSX the system breaks down. I am sure Apple is aware that their service doesn't even come close to measuring up to Dropbox in terms of functionality or integration. Why? Either I am missing something here, or they designed it not to integrate with OSX.
^ Well said.
Some of my uni friends take an iPad into lectures so they can view the online slides and make notes along the way. But thewy all have a laptop (Apple/non-Apple) back in their rooms for other tasks. Such as using Office, playing demanding games, torrenting... (That's taboo so forget I said the last bit
).
For those talking about running Office on the iPad, didn't you see this recent rumour?
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/05/31/microsoft-office-for-ipad-reportedly-launching-on-november-10/
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/05/31/microsoft-office-for-ipad-reportedly-launching-on-november-10/
I'd love office for iPad but I really can't see it being released shortly after the new Microsoft tablets, why would they as it would take away the one killer function over iPad
As I understand it, they do intend to integrate it with osx, it's just that they haven't quite finished building it yet. If you follow the news about Mountain Lion, you'll see that it's supposed to come with better icloud document syncing. We'll see when ML drops next month!
Thanks for mentioning that. Yes, I had heard rumors. I should have watched the keynote to see it in action. If it works well, that will be quite nice for my workflow
You could probably survive with only an iPad. You might have to get creative with some things. You should give it a try!
Yeah, right? I don't know, we'll have to see what Microsoft does. Their tablet looks interesting, but that interface is hideous.
I just don't know about Microsoft and hardware, bad track record. Their sidewinder 3d pro joystick back in the mid-90's was the best joystick ever, but they discontinued it and never improved on it. The Zune was a fine device, but the iPod had a better following and MUCH better support (and iTunes).
In fact, the only hardware I can say Microsoft has had any real success with has been their XBox family of consoles.
Even though I am definitely now a total Apple convert, given a new iPad or one of these 'Surfaces', I'd go with the iPad. It runs all my apps from previous gen iPod Touches and iPhones, looks great, has great support, and has a proven track record.
Oh, and the thing that killed any interest I had in the 'Surface' was the fact that, even though it is running Windows, it can't run software from previous Windows OS's (7/Vista/XP/ME/2000/98/NT/95/3.1). Deal breaker.
I made a similar decision for school purposes back when the first iPad was out and went with the Macbook Pro. There is no way I would of been able to write all those papers on an iPad. I think it would of drove me mad to be honest. Also, I recall many of my classes using the the web to turn in documents or take quizzes, and nearly all of these front ends required flash.
I believe the Surface Pro version runs desktop Windows software. While I'm not thrilled about running desktop programs on a 10 inch screen, it could be useful to have one super light "computer" that I can bring from home to work, with a full monitor/keyboard/mouse at both locations, and I can just plug in and start working from where I left off.
(1) External keyboard + keyboard shortcuts + Incase Origami Workstation + Pages works great for writing - I am working on a 100+ page research paper at the moment.
(2) Photon app / browser runs flash.
Personal preference, but I think trying to write such a long paper on a 10 inch screen would drive me nuts. With that setup, I assume you need to be sitting at a desk, correct? I feel like if I'm at a desk, I might as well work on a full size monitor. Could you perhaps share more details about your work environment, and what makes you prefer this setup over, say, a MacBook Air?
Tablets in general are more of a kind of BS device. They are fun to mess around with and for casual browsing but for actual work a computer is almost always vastly superior. I actually am dissapointed that tablets killed off netbooks. If you got a netbook with decent specs they were much better than a tablet imo and the ones with the 6 cell batteries have similar battery life as well.
It is actually easier to write on the iPad, because it focuses you on the writing (only one app open on the screen at a time) and the portrait mode means that you see more than you would on the 11" or 13" Air. I don't work at my desk much: I work everywhere -- coffee shops, libraries, planes, doctor's offices, etc. The ability to go without a charge for about 10 hours, the portability (fits comfortably in my man bag, so it goes everywhere), and it's ability to serve as the best e-reader ever made (retina screen) pretty much makes it perfect for writing. What's the point of having a 27" screen when all you need to do is write?
I do most of my work on it and I retired the netbook.
Even in portrait mode, iPad only shows one page at a time. I love writing on my 27" iMac with two pages showing at once. I think perhaps the iPad could work for getting rough drafts out, and being able to "jot down" ideas that come at you anywhere you happen to be is a definite plus for tablets. But once I start editing, I find I tend to fling lots of paragraphs around, so for that, the bigger the screen, the better.
Again, it's all personal preferences and working styles, and I always enjoy hearing about other users whose habits are different from mine. And I do think you are right that a Bluetooth keyboards makes it much more convenient to write on the iPad. I do have an Apple Bluetooth keyboard, which at first I thought I'd use with my iPad. But I found that for me, the hassle of carrying around the keyboard outweighed its usefulness. It's another piece of equipment to carry, and I was always second guessing myself whether I needed to bring it or not. I considered keyboard cases, but the keyboard is in my way when I don't need it -- which, for me, is about 90% of the time. I ended up getting an Air for when I need a keyboard, and am happy to use my iPad entirely without a physical keyboard.
maybe a transformer prime would be good for you. I find it really useful at University. It's got a proper keyboard and a USB port which overcomes a lot of the weaknesses of an ipad.
Android is also a lot more like a proper desktop OS than ios will ever be
Android is also a lot more like a proper desktop OS than ios will ever be
Yep. We all have our own workflows. The keyboard goes in my man bag, and is wrapped up well with the brilliantly conceived Incase Origami Workstation, so I don't have much to think about. I do all of my work on it, from start to finish now, and I am currently working on one publication with it. It isn't for everyone, of course, but I prefer it to a large screen.
As for the Android tablets, they just are not ready for the prime time yet (pun intended). I owned a Transformer TF201 for a while, and as much as I liked Ice Cream Sandwich on it, there were lots of areas where it fell flat on its face. This is totally separate from the atrocious wifi reception -- it couldn't even get full bars when placed directly on top of my wifi router. Now that the iPad has a retina screen, Pages has footnotes, and there are a plethora of excellent reading and writing apps, I see no benefit in the Transformer. It COULD be a real competitor, but Asus still has bugs and updates to work through before I will consider it again.
Oh, yes, bags. I do have bags that are big enough to hold the iPad + keyboard, and of course I have bags for carrying my Air, but I love it when I can just slip my iPad into one of my smaller and lighter bags and carry just that. It feels very liberating!
palpatine, how do you reference your papers on the iPad? Is there any kind of cite while you write functionality?
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I don't see it that way. I use my iPad for work several hours a day, and there are certain tasks that it's superior for, IMO, due to the combo of 3G access/ stylus input and long battery life. 90 per cent of the time, it serves as a tool for me rather than a toy.
I wouldn't write a paper on it, though. I like using Scrivener on a large screen, because that enables me to easily go back and forth between different documents and data sources as I write.
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I don't see it that way. I use my iPad for work several hours a day, and there are certain tasks that it's superior for, IMO, due to the combo of 3G access/ stylus input and long battery life. 90 per cent of the time, it serves as a tool for me rather than a toy.
I wouldn't write a paper on it, though. I like using Scrivener on a large screen, because that enables me to easily go back and forth between different documents and data sources as I write.
There are plenty of pc laptops that have built in 3g/4g and offer similar battery life.
They don't have stylus input. I would guess they are also not as light?
Also, I find the iPad much more comfortable for reading. I go through a lot of literature every day, so that's an important aspect for me.