When will the iPad be our main computer?

[DoodleJinx]

Here's an example of how I use my rMini and my MBP 2010.

Browsing - rMini Always - Safari and Chrome
Music - rMini Always. My iTunes library is on Google Play Music. Pandora and other streaming apps for radio
Gaming - rMini + xbox 360
Video - rMini + Apple TV + Chromecast
Email - rMini with stock email app for work email + GMail app for personal email.
Productivity uses -
scanning and editing PDFs - rMini with docscanner pro, Goodreader, PDF Master Pro, Zipsign, and other apps like webex, Citrix receiver, etc.
Reading PDFs - rMini + Goodreader
File Management - rMini + file manager pro app by Zuhanden + Dropbox + WD Mycloud 3 tb
Document editing - rMini + MS Office 365
Ebooks + Magazines - rMini + iBooks, kindle, Zinio, Newsstand
Notes and Todos - rMini + notes app + ticktick

The only reason I might use my MBP is for some odd site with Flash or if I need to download a torrent file.

I have the 32gb version and don't think I'll run out of space. I currently have over 10gb of free space. Most of the space is taken up by games such as Asphalt. I understand that my setup is dependent on having a working internet connection. At home I'm on 150mbps cable and outside I'm on a 10gb lte data plan.

Hope this helps.

 

[Misskitty]

My air is already my main computer for during the week, mon to fri. Unless i need to, i dont even turn my computer on during the work week. Only weekends. Why?

Well its simple really. It mostly has to due with the fact that i dont want to be on my computer when i get home from work. I already spend 8 hours mon to fri sitting in front of a computer at a desk. The LAST, and i mean absolute last thing i want to do when i get home is sit in front of another computer.

I get home and just want to relax in bed and thr best way is using the ipad. Cause trust me, i would love to be able to sell my computer, but there are times where i know i still need it.

Anyone else in my shoes?

 

[masands]

My air is already my main computer for during the week, mon to fri. Unless i need to, i dont even turn my computer on during the work week. Only weekends. Why?

Well its simple really. It mostly has to due with the fact that i dont want to be on my computer when i get home from work. I already spend 8 hours mon to fri sitting in front of a computer at a desk. The LAST, and i mean absolute last thing i want to do when i get home is sit in front of another computer.

I get home and just want to relax in bed and thr best way is using the ipad. Cause trust me, i would love to be able to sell my computer, but there are times where i know i still need it.

Anyone else in my shoes?

Pretty much this. I don't want to look at another computer screen after staring at my office PC from 8-5 everyday.

It really pisses me off when Surface users go "is is better because it has Office". I am like "I don't want to look at Office again after work so **** off". I think Surface users must really like to keep working after office hours.

 

[s2mikey]

Pretty much this. I don't want to look at another computer screen after staring at my office PC from 8-5 everyday.

It really pisses me off when Surface users go "is is better because it has Office". I am like "I don't want to look at Office again after work so **** off". I think Surface users must really like to keep working after office hours.

Well ain't that the truth! I'm not a heavy office user but enough is enough. Dittos on the computer screens all day. I'm kind of there too. Just like a mechanic doesn't want to come home and work on his own cars.

But, as others have pointed out - we just aren't there yet and probably never will be. I don't want tablets to replace computers anyways. I just want them to be awesome at being tablets. That's it.

 

[hologram]

It will become my main computer when it comes with a 27" screen.

 

[oldhifi]

When I buy one?

 

[mcmul]

Personally, unless some hardware revolution allowed the iPad to be built in such a way, with enough power, to amazingly slip into the laptop form factor (laptop chassis accessory which slides the screen in??) and could swap between the mobile operating system and the desktop operating system, then it won't. But, that doesn't mean it won't take up a large chunk of the work I do on my laptop.

 

[trerep]

my ipad air is my main computer...

i sold my macbook air because i didn't use it....

ipad air can already be the main computer... as i wrote in another thread many people use their macbook air or retina pro for simple tasks that you can do even better with an ipad...

obviously if you use adobe literoom or Photoshop in heavy tasks you need a macbook

but for 99% of tasks is enough... especially browsing... music...

 

[Night Spring]

Personally, unless some hardware revolution allowed the iPad to be built in such a way, with enough power, to amazingly slip into the laptop form factor (laptop chassis accessory which slides the screen in??) and could swap between the mobile operating system and the desktop operating system, then it won't. But, that doesn't mean it won't take up a large chunk of the work I do on my laptop.

Doesn't keyboard cases already turn the iPad into a laptop-like form factor? So the only thing missing from your "want list" is an OS that switches to desktop mode when the keyboard is attached.

 

[s2mikey]

Doesn't keyboard cases already turn the iPad into a laptop-like form factor? So the only thing missing from your "want list" is an OS that switches to desktop mode when the keyboard is attached.

I would think laptop users would want the capability to use a mouse as an input device. There are some things where a mouse is just better than touch screen.

 

[Dambuster43]

I think it's safe to say that the future of computing will be in tablets, and as we have seen since 2010, the iPad is getting more and more useful for everyday tasks. Whilst today, I wouldn't dare say it can take over mainstream computers for everyone, as it lacks power and functionality of a file system (and many other things..), I would go as far to say that it will * someday * be our main computers, doing all tasks from design, to databases, to hardcore gaming and everything in between..

My question to the forum is, when?

Obviously, no one knows, but with some discussion, could be conclude on a realistic and potential year?

Unless Apple incorporate either iPad functionality into a "laptop" or computing into an iPad.... then never. Computing as in doing what PCs and Macs do. Photoshop will be difficult to recode. AND commercial use, accounting, magazines, newspapers, graphics etc, need more than a 10 inch screen to work on.

 

[mcmul]

Doesn't keyboard cases already turn the iPad into a laptop-like form factor? So the only thing missing from your "want list" is an OS that switches to desktop mode when the keyboard is attached.

I would argue that they're simply cases with keyboards. Laptop form factor, in my view, would be: take the MacBook Air and rip out everything but the keyboard and I/O ports. Then, make some kind of "slide" for the iPad to slot into the former screen space. Voila.

 

[Night Spring]

I would argue that they're simply cases with keyboards. Laptop form factor, in my view, would be: take the MacBook Air and rip out everything but the keyboard and I/O ports. Then, make some kind of "slide" for the iPad to slot into the former screen space. Voila.

So you are saying that in addition to the keyboard, you want I/O ports? Anything else? Bigger storage? More RAM when it is in the "docked" configuration?

 

[mcmul]

So you are saying that in addition to the keyboard, you want I/O ports? Anything else? Bigger storage? More RAM when it is in the "docked" configuration?

Keyboard, trackpad and I/O, yes. Storage and RAM should be handled in the iPad. (Hence my "with enough power" comment.) Literally, take the MacBook Air and rip out the motherboard, RAM, disks... everything but the components needed to use the keyboard, trackpad and I/O with the "docked" iPad.

I reckon that covers most workloads but of course this is all hypothetical

 

[Night Spring]

Keyboard, trackpad and I/O, yes. Storage and RAM should be handled in the iPad. (Hence my "with enough power" comment.) Literally, take the MacBook Air and rip out the motherboard, RAM, disks... everything but the components needed to use the keyboard, trackpad and I/O with the "docked" iPad.

I reckon that covers most workloads but of course this is all hypothetical

I'm sure there's a Windows 8 convertible somewhere that fits that description, though I can't be bothered to go find one.

My point is what you are describing doesn't require a hardware revolution, just a good software solution. Unless I'm missing something?

 

[Sweet.Foot]

I agree that people will always need a "main" computer somewhere.

My home "main" machine is a Mac Mini Xserver (and media server) with no keyboard or mouse, have my work desktop, workshop desktop connected to 7 large format printers, two work Xservers (no keyboards or mice).

One piece of remote software (logmein or VNC) allow me to control any of them from my iPad, so am teleworking more than ever having to sit in front of them.

The iPad can be the window to any other cloud/internet connected service. It doesn't need to 'replace' anything.

Tony D.

 

[JoeG4]

I would argue that they're simply cases with keyboards. Laptop form factor, in my view, would be: take the MacBook Air and rip out everything but the keyboard and I/O ports. Then, make some kind of "slide" for the iPad to slot into the former screen space. Voila.

It's hard to explain why, but I have a shiny new 2013 macbook air, and a surface pro that I got just a few months ago. The surface pro has some seriously cool things you can do with it, and it can run 20 year old windows programs with no mods to the programs at all.

In a way I think that's pretty cool. Still, these "replace the computer" cases almost always involve docking it at a desk or plugging into peripherals, or attachments, or dongles, or some other annoying crap. With portables you're always compromising something; heat, battery life, peripheral interfaces perhaps.

With a desktop at home I can have multiple hard drives or whatever, I can hoard all of my files on it and not worry. I don't want some of that stuff on the cloud anyway, it's just not worth the trouble. I can leave the machine sitting in my closet for a decade if I want, and the data will probably still be there (granted, that's not the best way to store data.) I don't have to pay a monthly fee for that.

And there's a somewhat bothersome use of "I" up in there.

The surface pro rocks for writing and drawing, and playing around with programs that work better on a touch screen. It works great for laying in bed reading reddit too.

The Macbook Air works best whenever I want a good keyboard and mouse and I'm not at home.

I don't know why some people want everyone to use iPads for everything. Take your iPad and shove it! I don't want one giant full screen program taking up my entire screen.

 

[Saturn1217]

Well I am unintentionally putting this to the test. Had to leave my Macbook air at the apple store for a repair so it is the (old) iMac at work and the ipad at home. And i'm a graduate student in the midst of thesis writing so i need to work (basically everywhere and all the time).

So far the biggest frustration has been having no way to access files on my external hard drive when i have just the ipad. I always need to make sure that what i need is synced in the proper cloud for the app that needs to access it before i shut down the work computer and go home. I'm not really interested in an expensive server solution. I just want some dongle + a good app like documents to let me grab my files!

Also i am trying word on the iPad as a trial since i needed to be able to edit word docs. I am surprised at how limited the arguably most important of Microsoft's applications is. I know it is new but all the glowing praise had me expecting at least a custom keyboard so i could indent paragraphs! (Yes you can tab but it won't let you indent).

Still it is working ok so far. I've at least been able to pay all my bills from the ipad and get some limited outlining done. I'll be happy when my macbook air is back though

 

[Sweet.Foot]

Not being an Apple evangelist but you could try Pages, it has been free for new iPads, it can automatically backup to the cloud and you can get to your document (and edit it) on any web browser. You could use it for the writing donkey work then get back to formatting it finally in Word later.
(...and Pages has Indent)

Also i am trying word on the iPad as a trial since i needed to be able to edit word docs. I am surprised at how limited the arguably most important of Microsoft's applications is. I know it is new but all the glowing praise had me expecting at least a custom keyboard so i could indent paragraphs! (Yes you can tab but it won't let you indent).

 

[Skylitfly]

Since I bought the iPad Air I've been using it for most of my casual tasks. I browse web, watch videos, take notes, play few games and do minor school work with it.

I use my rMBP only for more advanced tasks like working on Photoshop or Illustrator. Also... watching movies is more pleasant on rMBP, and I can hook it up to my TV with HDMI cable.

But generally iPad Air is capable of doing like 70% of my computing.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I'm surprised at just how good the iPad is for editing work. I've done a few bits using google drive before using my iPad mini during my commute and found it fine. This weekend I've been helping a friend with a collage paper. I've been doing some heavy editing and in the first instance I grabbed my chromebook. However I was feeling too lazy to get up and get it so I started using my iPad Air and using pages. I've found it really easy, not cumbersome at all. Despite not using a physical keyboard. I could never write a whole essay/paper on it without a keyboard but for editing it's just fine.

 

[Night Spring]

So far the biggest frustration has been having no way to access files on my external hard drive when i have just the ipad. I always need to make sure that what i need is synced in the proper cloud for the app that needs to access it before i shut down the work computer and go home. I'm not really interested in an expensive server solution. I just want some dongle + a good app like documents to let me grab my files!

I've just started keeping all my files in Dropbox. It helps that I managed to get nearly 7 GB free storage through various Dropbox promotions, and that's plenty for keeping all my work-related documents. Once in Dropbox, files can be passed to other apps through "Open In..." So when at a computer, I always work on files from within my Dropbox folder, and I don't have to think about having files in the right place before I shut down. When I work on my iPad, I open Dropbox and send the document to Pages (not paying for Word subscription), work on it, and either send it back to Dropbox using the "Open In..." again, or go to the iCloud.com website from my computer web browser and download it from there.

This has worked great for me when I'm out and feel like doing a little writing / editing from the iPad. I like having the option of using a full computer, but the iPad will do in a pinch, as with your situation of having the MBA in for repairs. Or if I go away for a weekend vacation, I could get away with just taking the iPad. When I want to finalize my documents for passing to clients, however, I work from Word on a computer, to make sure all the formatting comes out properly.

 

[Amplelink]

I've just started keeping all my files in Dropbox. It helps that I managed to get nearly 7 GB free storage through various Dropbox promotions, and that's plenty for keeping all my work-related documents. Once in Dropbox, files can be passed to other apps through "Open In..." So when at a computer, I always work on files from within my Dropbox folder, and I don't have to think about having files in the right place before I shut down. When I work on my iPad, I open Dropbox and send the document to Pages (not paying for Word subscription), work on it, and either send it back to Dropbox using the "Open In..." again, or go to the iCloud.com website from my computer web browser and download it from there.

This has worked great for me when I'm out and feel like doing a little writing / editing from the iPad. I like having the option of using a full computer, but the iPad will do in a pinch, as with your situation of having the MBA in for repairs. Or if I go away for a weekend vacation, I could get away with just taking the iPad. When I want to finalize my documents for passing to clients, however, I work from Word on a computer, to make sure all the formatting comes out properly.

Word for ipad finally makes it feasible to do all document processing on an ipad. That tied in with the gobs of space onedrive gives you (you can get 100GB free if you play the bing rewards game) is truly an excellent package. I've been impressed.

 

[Night Spring]

Word for ipad finally makes it feasible to do all document processing on an ipad. That tied in with the gobs of space onedrive gives you (you can get 100GB free if you play the bing rewards game) is truly an excellent package. I've been impressed.

If you need all the features of Word, then it probably is a good deal. For me, Pages works fine, and it's free.

 

[Saturn1217]

Not being an Apple evangelist but you could try Pages, it has been free for new iPads, it can automatically backup to the cloud and you can get to your document (and edit it) on any web browser. You could use it for the writing donkey work then get back to formatting it finally in Word later.
(...and Pages has Indent)

I also have pages. And yes it does work nicely which is why I was surprised by the lack of such features in word. But pages only plays nicely with icloud storage so getting things into and out of it has been an issue and it doesn't preserve formatting for things I've created in word (i have to use the doc/docx format for work because my boss will need to edit everything I write and she is a PC person)

But yes yours is a good suggestion and i'll probably try it later

----------

I've just started keeping all my files in Dropbox. It helps that I managed to get nearly 7 GB free storage through various Dropbox promotions, and that's plenty for keeping all my work-related documents. Once in Dropbox, files can be passed to other apps through "Open In..." So when at a computer, I always work on files from within my Dropbox folder, and I don't have to think about having files in the right place before I shut down. When I work on my iPad, I open Dropbox and send the document to Pages (not paying for Word subscription), work on it, and either send it back to Dropbox using the "Open In..." again, or go to the iCloud.com website from my computer web browser and download it from there.

This has worked great for me when I'm out and feel like doing a little writing / editing from the iPad. I like having the option of using a full computer, but the iPad will do in a pinch, as with your situation of having the MBA in for repairs. Or if I go away for a weekend vacation, I could get away with just taking the iPad. When I want to finalize my documents for passing to clients, however, I work from Word on a computer, to make sure all the formatting comes out properly.

Dropbox is I agree the best for cloud storage. But my work folder is 50+gb and i only have ~3.5GB of dropbox storage. I also have google drive (25gb) and onedrive (10gb) and box (50gb) BUT each of these services is not supported by all the apps that I use (or has a terrible desktop client) and moving things from one cloud service to another on the ipad isn't as simple as it should be. I have just discovered the app documents and perhaps this will help. Also you should NEVER trust your important files to something that is syncing (to be fair I've never had an issue with Dropbox). I have already had issues of files becoming corrupted by a bad sync. So I prefer most of the time to have a local copy of my work unless I need access to it everywhere.