When will the iPad be our main computer?

[tdale]

All we need is for Apple to do what Samsung and Microsft are already doing and make their tablets chock full of RAM and storage and make them easy to add a keyboard and mouse to, as well as a docking station or at least video port so you can go out to a full size monitor when needed. Best of both worlds. Crazy portability and full desktop functionality (if not speed) when stationary.

Thats a laptop, and the portability wont be crazy once you add all that stuff, probably the new 12" MBA be smaller, or similar, and far more functional

 

[XmeX]

When will the iPad be our main computer?

Currently am using my IPad just to watch porn movies, previously used to made FACETIME video calls through it when i was abroad,.

 

[rillrill]

Thats a laptop, and the portability wont be crazy once you add all that stuff, probably the new 12" MBA be smaller, or similar, and far more functional

Well. Can't peeps do that with an android tablet? After reading the Steve jobs biography it's clear that apples strength is easy to use appliances. That's what these devices are. The iPhone and the iPad. They could do more but Apple purposely doesn't for accessibility.

 

[Traverse]

We are in a transitional period today because from 1984 until about 2010, pretty much everyone who used a computer did so based on the WIMP (windows icons mouse pointer) paradigm. We have a whole generation brought up to expect computers to work in a certain way, many of whom find they don't get on as well with the fingers poking a touch screen paradigm. There are kids today, however, who are growing up with the fingers poking a screen as their "natural" computer interface (I hear a lot of stories about kids being introduced to a laptop or desktop and getting confused by the lack of a touch screen). There are, of course, still use cases where the command line interface is the optimum way of using a computer.

I think the non-tablet computer will be a bit like a manual transmission on a car. There are cases where it is superior to an automatic, but most people who drive a manual never actually drive in those conditions. People's acceptance of the new paradigm is more to do with cultural factors than technical factors.

That is very well said.

 

[PSB136]

it is just a larger iPhone

Nope. The iPhone 6 Plus has at least four features that NO other iPhone has: true HD display (1920x1080), home screen rotation (like the iPad), a much longer battery life, and optical image stabilization for the camera. You won't find those on any other iPhone.

The bigger battery is the best part of it: I've gone almost two full working days with one battery charge (9am Monday to 3pm Tuesday).

 

[temna]

Nope. The iPhone 6 Plus has at least four features that NO other iPhone has: true HD display (1920x1080), home screen rotation (like the iPad), a much longer battery life, and optical image stabilization for the camera. You won't find those on any other iPhone.

The bigger battery is the best part of it: I've gone almost two full working days with one battery charge (9am Monday to 3pm Tuesday).

But the point is when the 6 Plus came out, all everyone was saying what "it's just a bigger iphone!" And that is what people will say if this iPad Pro comes out. Because it won't come with USB/video/expansion ports or expandable storage. The iPad is a single process product. All these people complaining about multitasking miss the point of iOS. They should just walk away and get a Modbook.

 

[nj-morris]

But the point is when the 6 Plus came out, all everyone was saying what "it's just a bigger iphone!" And that is what people will say if this iPad Pro comes out. Because it won't come with USB/video/expansion ports or expandable storage. The iPad is a single process product. All these people complaining about multitasking miss the point of iOS. They should just walk away and get a Modbook.

The thing is that the ModBook runs OS X. A lot of people won't want OS X running on a tablet. It just wouldn't work. Sure, they want all those advanced computer programs that OS X runs, which will come when the processors become advanced and Apple start introducing capability for full keyboard cases. I started a thread which has these sorts of ideas for the iPad pro, and I said that it was supposed to be a laptop replacement. It all depends on what people go to laptops for.

 

[kupkakez]

For the last month I've been using mine as my main computer. I had purchased a MacBook air but ended up returning it as I only turned it on once in a 2 week span to set it up.

My needs for a "computer" are web browsing, banking, bills, movies, listening to pandora/spotify and light gaming. That's it.

This arrangement has been working out great and now I'm not so sure I'll need to purchase an iMac or MacBook. If you have very basic needs as myself I think an iPad is going to work.

I currently have no personal computer. I do have my work provided laptop which is strictly only used for work.

 

[MikeCBR]

When will the iPad be our main computer?

For the last month I've been using mine as my main computer. I had purchased a MacBook air but ended up returning it as I only turned it on once in a 2 week span to set it up.

My needs for a "computer" are web browsing, banking, bills, movies, listening to pandora/spotify and light gaming. That's it.

This arrangement has been working out great and now I'm not so sure I'll need to purchase an iMac or MacBook. If you have very basic needs as myself I think an iPad is going to work.

I currently have no personal computer. I do have my work provided laptop which is strictly only used for work.

ok but you need a pc or mac to use itunes to transfer files to your ipad right? while the air 2 is undoubtedly my main computer...i still find myself needing a pc or mac to use itunes to sync pics, videos, and other files to the ipad. But the computer is something that i will use every once in a great while to sync stuff, backup the ipad, or restore the ipad. its unfortunate that the ipad doesnt have usb and itunes built in so you transfer stuff straight to the ipad.

that is still the crutch of the ipad and apple products in general. its just a matter of time before the surface pro gets as light as an ipad but has all the functions a mid level pc can do. then the ipad will be in trouble.

 

[kupkakez]

When will the iPad be our main computer?

ok but you need a pc or mac to use itunes to transfer files to your ipad right? while the air 2 is undoubtedly my main computer...i still find myself needing a pc or mac to use itunes to sync pics, videos, and other files to the ipad. But the computer is something that i will use every once in a great while to sync stuff, backup the ipad, or restore the ipad. its unfortunate that the ipad doesnt have usb and itunes built in so you transfer stuff straight to the ipad.

that is still the crutch of the ipad and apple products in general. its just a matter of time before the surface pro gets as light as an ipad but has all the functions a mid level pc can do. then the ipad will be in trouble.

No I don't. I don't keep music in iTunes. I use spotify and pandora for music.

All of my videos and pictures automatically back up to Dropbox so there is no manual moving of pictures for me either or a need for a PC to sync. I also use Dropbox for any files I need which I rarely need anything document wise outside of work.

 

[arbogast777]

I only have an iPhone and iPad, no PC at all, and my computing life works just fine!

 

[Fly360]

The iPad was never made to be a replacement for desktops. It was made to give you a different option to work and play.

 

[Digital Skunk]

That is far from the truth, iPads are used all time time in professional environments.

True, but that's not what we're talking about.

I use my iPad more than my 27" iMac, but it'll never be my main computer. Not for years to come it seems.

But it is just a larger iPhone. I'm hoping the iPad Pro won't be just a larger iPad Air 2 but that would be expecting too much.

There are some aspects of it that need improvement, and since Apple dragged it's feet to the big phone game they won't be able to add necessary features without looking like a copycat, but it still has lots over an iPhone 6 or 5 or 4 and even some features over the iPad.

Another poster already mentioned the battery, OIS, screen rotation, and HD display; add to that dual panel apps, and depending on the developer (many of which are proving to be lazy in terms of 5.5" iOS devices) iPad type apps on the iPhone.

I don't think it'll ever get to the level of Galaxy Note type performance, but it's a darn sight better than anything Apple's put out.

I agree about the iPad Pro. The last thing we need is just a blown up iOS interface.

I seriously think the Devs will be the driving force behind that more than Apple. So far, it's been 4-5 months with the iPhone 6+ and the only thing 70% of the devs have done is scale their apps.

Almost no one has taken advantage of dual panels, and the full HD resolution.

 

[s2mikey]

Thats a laptop, and the portability wont be crazy once you add all that stuff, probably the new 12" MBA be smaller, or similar, and far more functional

Yeah it is a laptop and if you saddle the iPad with all that extra crap it ceases to be a tablet anymore. Completely ruins it.

No reason why we have to strive to make tablets more like laptops. Let them be separate and perform their tasks at a high level instead of trying to mold them into something they are not and were never intended to be.

 

[temna]

The thing is that the ModBook runs OS X. A lot of people won't want OS X running on a tablet. It just wouldn't work. Sure, they want all those advanced computer programs that OS X runs, which will come when the processors become advanced and Apple start introducing capability for full keyboard cases. I started a thread which has these sorts of ideas for the iPad pro, and I said that it was supposed to be a laptop replacement. It all depends on what people go to laptops for.

Except that is exactly what everyone is asking for from the iPad Pro. Full OSX. I don't think that people really understand that the iPad is the iPad and that Mac OSX is different and won't be on the iPad Pro. I think that a lot of people out there are going to be pissed if the iPad Pro (biggest mistake ever) is released with the standard iOS.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Yeah it is a laptop and if you saddle the iPad with all that extra crap it ceases to be a tablet anymore. Completely ruins it.

No reason why we have to strive to make tablets more like laptops. Let them be separate and perform their tasks at a high level instead of trying to mold them into something they are not and were never intended to be.

I say if it can be done and done right then do it.

Windows has the hardware right with the SP3, and "some" of the software is right on point. The pen is top notch.

If Apple can up the performance and productivity of the iPad, merge the two spaces, and ACTUALLY usher in the post PC era (instead of just pontificate about it) then I say bring it on.

 

[Billy95Tech]

Ipad is already a main computer for lots of people(including business) even with IOS on it

The full size 9.7 inch Ipad needs split sceen(multi window) just like Samsung/Windows 8 tablets and i'm sure IOS 9 will have multi window for the full size Ipad.


I am still shocked that Ipad and IOS still does not support multi accounts as Android and Windows 8 already have multi account support.


And for the rumored " Ipad pro" i think it will have IOS and not OS X Because IOS is very good on a tablet and is very touch friendly and if IOS will bring Multi window support and more features like widgets to put on the home sceen like Android then there is no NEED/REASON Apple to put OS X on the Ipad Pro.

I don't want OS X on Ipad as i never used OS X in my life, i have used Windows and Android and i would definitely prefer IOS(I use IOS on my ipod) on the Ipad pro as long it has features like multi window support to take advantage of the 12 inch Ipad pro and

Anyway if it the Ipad pro does exist and comes out in the next 2 years well i am not interested in getting 12 inch Ipad pro because it is too BIG to be a tablet and it defeats the purpose(portability) of a tablet and i prefer the full size 9.7 inch Ipad and i will only buy the 9.7 inch Ipads in the future.

And if you want to have OS X on a tablet then there is Modbooks.

As for the specs it will have the sames specs and will have the same power of the full size 9.7 inch ipads.


And the Ipad is definitely capable of very heavy demanding tasks like video editing and on the benchmarks it says the Ipad Air 2 is as powerful as the 2013 Macbook Air and to me that is AMAZING

 

[Billy95Tech]

A 10 inch screen is enough for two or even four apps to be run on the same screen.

Definitely Agree!

Even the 8.4, 8.9 inch tablets there is still ENOUGH space for 2 apps running on the same sceen(split sceen/multi window).

I listen to music on Youtube and browse the internet at the same time in split sceen/multi window on my Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 sometimes.

 

[jrswizzle]

It has less to do with power and software and more to do with people's preferences and use cases.

Most often, the people who say "device x can't do this or that" really mean device x can't do this or that the way they are accustomed to doing it.

Sure sometimes the way to do something on an iPad less convenient. But not impossible.

It will take people changing the way they work for the iPad (or any other tablet) to work as a total computer replacement.

I can tell you, most of the people who came in to buy a computer from me when I worked at Best Buy would've been just fine on an iPad.

 

[Billy95Tech]

Until tablets get a lot more memory (4GB or more) and start having keyboards, external mice and outboard displays (all accessible via a dock perhaps) there will always be a need for a full-blown computer.

There are some Windows 8 tablets like Surface Pro 3, Dell Venue Pro 11, Acer Aspire Switch 11 lots more have 4GB of RAM and more and they come with keyboard docks as well..


With in 5 years i think high end/very powerful Android tablets and Ipads will have a least 4 GB of RAM.

 

[josephd]

I only own an iPad and my iPhone.
Love the iPad, one problem though.
Apple makes syncing with iTunes a nail biter unless you own a PC or Mac.

 

[tdale]

I only own an iPad and my iPhone.
Love the iPad, one problem though.
Apple makes syncing with iTunes a nail biter unless you own a PC or Mac.

???

If you dont own a computer you don't have an Itunes to sync to. So there is no problem. But you do lose the ability to backup and restore, which is a great feature

 

[josephd]

When will the iPad be our main computer?

???



If you dont own a computer you don't have an Itunes to sync to. So there is no problem. But you do lose the ability to backup and restore, which is a great feature

I have several songs on Amazon, and a handful on iTunes. Since I use my iPhone as an iPod on my car stereo.
I decided to use iTunes since it is very convenient.
Unless you have a pc. There is no way that I know of,to move the music from Amazon to my iTunes music without a PC.
The Amazon MP3 downloader does not install on the iPad.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

It already is for the Facebook Generation.

My grandchildren use it for everything.

If all they use it for is to chat, blog and email, then yes.

I use it a lot throughout the day, even when I'm home using my iMac.
I take it everywhere I go and use it for creating documents, filling up forms, providing tech support, videoconferencing, video editing , photo editing, etc., besides the normal use people give to it.

If Apple finally breaks the cord to iTunes completely, it would be a perfect device.

 

[bembol]

When they come out that runs OSX.