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When will the iPad be our main computer?
- Thread starter ShaneBunting
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The iPad will never be your main computer. You are not thinking small enough. Think about a device the size of your iPhone that does ever thing your iPhone can do plus you can take it home hook it up to your TV, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It will have the processing power that your macbook air now has.
That day is less than 10 years away.
That day is less than 10 years away.
Microsoft is taking a serious swipe at this concept with the Surface Pro 3. Yes it's not a perfect device and it's too expensive but they're getting closer. Apple might want to look in the rear view mirror because the competition is getting closer.
Nope. Never. And quite honestly I don't want them to ever screw the iPad up trying to make it a hybrid or whatever. What's wrong with having separate products for separate use cases? STOP with this everything in one chassis stuff.
UGH!
Nope. Never. And quite honestly I don't want them to ever screw the iPad up trying to make it a hybrid or whatever. What's wrong with having separate products for separate use cases? STOP with this everything in one chassis stuff.
UGH!
This stop everything in one chassis argument doesn't sit well from me. People made the same argument about combining a GPS, Palm Pilot, and cell phone. Now we have an iPhone and nobody is making the claim we should separate the devices.
I agree that combining devices isn't inherently bad, but only if it makes sense. The primary reason I think iPads and MacBooks should remain separate for now is screen size. For me, the most comfortable screen size for a laptop is 13 inches, and for a tablet, the current iPad Air. So, something like the Surface Pro 3, with a 12 inch screen is likely to be too big as a tablet and too small for a laptop. Although, maybe that 3:2 aspect ratio might make it work for both purposes. So I am curious to see the Surface Pro 3 in person, to see if that screen size works. But I do know it weighs too much as a tablet, so even if that is the right screen size, I'd be waiting until the weight comes down more before considering getting one.
And if Apple stays true to form, by the time Surface 4 or 5 comes around that finally gets the balance right for a hybrid device, Apple will come out with its own hybrid device that is near perfect on day one, instead of having gone through multiple unsuccessful iterations. And I would buy the Apple device.
wow, I've never considered the iPad to be a households main computer but you're right! Everything is getting smaller and slimmer and it's portable?! Great idea.
Well, my work Dell is powered by a Core 2 Duo and has a geekbench 3 score of 2410.
My iPad Air is powered by an Apple A7 and has a geekbench 3 score of 2682. My iPad rMini is also powered by the A7 and has a geekbench score of 2521.
Also, the Dell is running on a 32 Bit OS (Windows 7) with 3.45 GB usable RAM. My iPads run on 64 Bit iOS 7.1.1 with 1 GB RAM.
I'm able to do all my work on the Dell which has less juice than both the iPads. I'd say we're already there my friend.
Obviously, there are those out there who need much more power than I do. And there will always be the need for various niche computers like Mac Pros and servers and supercomputers and such. But as far as the everyday personal computer? For many, the iPad is already there. Developers just need to catch up writing apps that can take advantage of the power at their disposal.
I don't think there's any app out there that uses the A7's full potential.
My iPad Air is powered by an Apple A7 and has a geekbench 3 score of 2682. My iPad rMini is also powered by the A7 and has a geekbench score of 2521.
Also, the Dell is running on a 32 Bit OS (Windows 7) with 3.45 GB usable RAM. My iPads run on 64 Bit iOS 7.1.1 with 1 GB RAM.
I'm able to do all my work on the Dell which has less juice than both the iPads. I'd say we're already there my friend.
Obviously, there are those out there who need much more power than I do. And there will always be the need for various niche computers like Mac Pros and servers and supercomputers and such. But as far as the everyday personal computer? For many, the iPad is already there. Developers just need to catch up writing apps that can take advantage of the power at their disposal.
I don't think there's any app out there that uses the A7's full potential.
I am a big ipad fan, but multitasking is still a problem. Caused by little ram , super slow storage and no paging to it.
Slow storage? You mean slow RAM?
According to geekbench, memory scores are far better on the iPad than my Dell I mentioned.....
Obviously, more RAM = better multitasking. But "multitasking" is, IMO, overrated.....unless you can hook the iPad up to multiple monitors or split screen.
Those are two place where an iPad would lose out to this Dell I'm on. Because this Dell is hooked up to two monitors and I have two windows up simultaneously.
The point of my post was, based on processor power - we're there. Its just a matter of writing software that takes advantage.
The storage is slow. Ssds in macbooks do about 700mb/s. The ipads NAND flash 20mb/s.
I also use my ipads as extentions of my computers and I multitask all the time.
if ios could swap and they would put ssds in them i would benefit greatly.
Fair enough. We can disagree on this. I just feel that in order to try and make a device be everything to everyone will force it to have shortcomings that it wouldn't have if it was used for just it's intended purpose. The phone, GPS, palm pilot thing is a little different than trying to make a full blown computer and a tablet be the same thing. MUCH more complicated doing the computer thing, IMO.
That classic saying "jack of all trades, master of none" keeps coming to mind.
iPad is already the "main computer" for light usage.
Modern tablets are sidekicks for PCs, not full-blown PC replacements.
Modern tablets are sidekicks for PCs, not full-blown PC replacements.
For me to have computer /laptop is OK, to have a tablet that OK too.It's like asking a ford Escort to be a corvet.
An iPad/Tablet running smooth Mac OS or an optimised software that has full Mac/PC capabilities.
Maybe I'm taking this too far. I think for iPad's to keep being relevant Apple needs to keep adding features. Thinner and faster is dandy for a few generations but I would like to eventually see more functionality.
Apple has been adding more functionality, just not in the way we expect. For instance, people keep asking for a file system. Apple's answer is iCloud syncing and AirDrop. Neither works perfectly yet, but that's how Apple intends to solve the problem of people needing to share files.
The thing is, Apple has been adding a lot of functionality to iOS devices through software updates. Pick up an iOS device on older iOS versions, and it's amazing how many things we've come to take for granted can't be done.
I'm I with ya here. I always want more and more cool features. Most of those will come from the software though.
Thinner and faster reaches a maximum point. Heck, they certainly don't need to make it any thinner or lighter..... Geesh!
If "downloading torrents" is all someone can come up with when asked if the iPad can be a main computer, I'd say it already is.
Oh....btw....
http://www.maketecheasier.com/download-torrents-without-jailbreaking/
Thanks... how do i add subs too?
Just joking mate...
My iPad story is: every year i buy the newest ipad or mini and usually after 3-5 months i usually sell it.... because it becomes my go to go toilet device.... and then i think why the h not use my iphone on the toilet
- Safari autorefresh is frustrating when i open lots of tabs and i am about to post sth on forums.
- I even prefer in bed my MBA which i think is more stable while laying down and watching a movie.
- Copy and paste still has not reached "natural levels" of usability.
- Swipe in MBA between apps is a lot more natural and quicker than "multitasking" on ipad.
- MBA is light enough to use it everywhere in the house... if i want to check sth like tweetbot or an email i will do it on my iphone...
- if i go on a trip whats the point of carrying an ipad and a MBA and an iphone...
The problem is that after some months of owning an iPad i try to find ways in order to use it and i feel like i need "more life" and stop spending my time between more and more devices... and honestly i dont need it when i have the perfect combo for me which is MBA and iPhone.... i even read ibooks on my iphone without any problem. I hope Apple will give us a retina and even lighter MBA.
Thanks... how do i add subs too?
Just joking mate...
My iPad story is: every year i buy the newest ipad or mini and usually after 3-5 months i usually sell it.... because it is my go to go toilet device.
- Safari autorefresh is frustrating when i open lots of tabs and i am about to post sth on forums.
- I even prefer in bed my MBA which i think is more stable while laying down and watching a movie.
- Copy and paste still has not reached "natural levels" of usability.
- Swipe in MBA between apps is a lot more natural and quicker than "multitasking" on ipad.
- MBA is light enough to use it everywhere in the house... if i want to check sth like tweetbot or an email i will do it on my iphone...
The problem is that after some months of owning an iPad i try to find ways in order to use it... and honestly i dont need it when i have the perfect combo for me which is MBA and iPhone.... i even read ibooks on my iphone without any problem. I hope Apple will give us a retina and even lighter MBA.
Copy and paste on an iPad is far easier than copy and paste on Android.....I also find it pretty simple compared to a computer. Just long press a word, cut, tap where you want to paste, paste. Easy.
Also, you can swipe through apps on an iPad using a 4-finger swipe. Similar to the way OS X does it - the multitasking behind the scenes is different, I'll grant you that.
I love my MBA - its a great machine. But I wouldn't have it if not for specific data add-ins for excel that are required by my Masters program. I still do most everything on my iPad. Perhaps I've gotten used to the alternatives so I don't notice the differences in use.
But I'd be lost without my iPad rMini - my MBA? Not so much.