Different people have different needs. I don't need a big expensive powerful laptop so a base 13inch MBA works for me and the wife to share. We barely use it as we use ours ipad airs 90% of the time. We don't have a desktop either. It's a great combo. Since u don't understand it, it's not for u!
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iPad Why do people have an iPad and a laptop?
- Thread starter Andrew Ryan
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I have a 5-year old 24" iMac and also an iPad Air. But the iPad has been my most vital device for the last 3 years. Used to own the first iPad and followed by the iPad 2 as well.
The reason why I still do not own a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air is because I have made the iPad into my 'laptop'. Well, almost.
The iPad is not just a consuming device, I do my work with it on a daily basis. I have a Synology NAS drive that I can remotely access all my documents on both the iPad and iPhone, depending on what is most conveniently within reach at that point of time.
With so many apps in the market, it has made my iPad the centre of my workstation and also my main entertainment device.
These are some of the apps that I have been using for the last couple of years:
1) LogMeIn - remote access my iMac from my iPad when I am away from home.
2) Air Video - streaming movies from my iMac to my iPad and AirPlay to the AppleTV.
3) Evernote - syncs my notes across all my Mac devices (iMac, iPad and iPhone).
4) GPlayer and VLC Player - I am using these 2 apps together with the Synology NAS drive's apps, mainly DS File or DS Video. Movies are streamed and opened using either of the apps and AirPlay out to the Apple TV.
5) DS File - this is a Synology app that lets me access all my folders and documents when I am away from home. No problem even watching a movie from here.
6) DS Video - the name says it all; all my movies and series are easily accessed through here. It opens in any file format, as long as you have apps such as GPlayer or VLC Player.
7) DS Download - I can download torrent files right off Pirate Bay and it starts downloading right away. Once it is done, it stores directly into whichever folder I assigned it to. And this means it goes directly into my NAS drive, without the need to switch on my iMac.
8) DS Audio - my entire music collection is all in here. Whenever I add a new album, it indexes and goes right into DS Audio automatically. There is no need for re-arranging them. Plays albums streamed to my iPad or I can even download the album into my iPad and listen to it offline. I usually will play albums and send it out to my Airport Express that is hooked up to my speakers.
9) FTP Sprite+ - I am able to upload movies, series or music albums from this app directly into my FTP server.
10) Smart Office 2 - I can draft out contracts or do write-ups from this app, saves it and then transfers the saved document via Open In DS File. Recently, I have been using Pages more often though.
11) iZip - unzip folders and extracts it from this app. Once I am done, I can transfer the contents directly into the DS File app.
12) Viber - my alternative to Whatsapp when I am on the iPad. Works very well and I can even make a phonecall or two, provided I am on a very stable connection and the other party that I am calling needs to have a strong signal as well.
It really depends on how deeply-integrated you want the iPad to be. But with the help of devices such as the NAS drive and also with third-party apps, it is narrowing down the perception of the iPad being simply just a consuming device.
I think it's safe to say many underestimate the power of iOS. It will be funny to read threads 5 years from now.
The thing is, there are (in most situations) better devices than an iPad. Of course you could do a lot of things with an iPad, the question is, if it makes sense.
The form factor has a lot of disadvantages and advantages also. It creates unique usage scenarios, but is actually for conventional, traditional computing not that good. That doesn't mean I don't like iPads. I do, but I try to use them for what they are best to and nothing else.
Of course, different people, different needs, different views.
That's for you to determine. For some it is. For some it is not.
I do not just consume media on my iPad.
Yes it would be funny because I spent $800 of a slow as molasses today's iPad. Five years now it may be much more sophisticated and as fast as today's fastest gaming system.
Just like I find it silly when I spent all my savings for a mere upgrade to 8.4GB hard drive back in 1998
MacBook for video editing and graphic design work that I do for homework, my job, and for personal projects.
iPad mainly for academic purposes. Note taking and uh...getting on Tumblr during boring lectures.
I'd much rather put my iPad into my backpack and carry that around than my laptop.
It's not really meant to be understood, it's just a personal preference. Why do people have multiple pairs of shoes? Why do people have iPhones AND an iPod? Why white rice instead of brown rice?
iPad mainly for academic purposes. Note taking and uh...getting on Tumblr during boring lectures.
I'd much rather put my iPad into my backpack and carry that around than my laptop.
It's not really meant to be understood, it's just a personal preference. Why do people have multiple pairs of shoes? Why do people have iPhones AND an iPod? Why white rice instead of brown rice?
i agree the ipad is very limited but it is ultra portable and fun to use. I'm not sure if it really "devalues" a laptop though
I had the same attitude towards the iPad when it came out; I didn't see the point of it. While smaller than a laptop, it was still big and cumbersome enough that I felt if I'm going to bring one, why not bring a laptop instead?
Two things changed my mind. First I wanted an e-reader that could handle pdfs well. Sitting down at a desk with a laptop wasn't the way I enjoyed reading a book, and I was making hard copies of pdfs that were becoming disorganized and cumbersome to carry around. Second, the iPad mini came out, and I was floored. The device was just barely small enough to slip into my jacket pocket, yet still big enough to read pdfs (my main application). I'm not always carrying a briefcase big enough for a laptop around, but I always have my iPad mini with me. I use it for reading, navigating, impromptu taking notes, and as a repository for documents. I also use it for web surfing, but if that's all I did, I would just own a laptop.
Two things changed my mind. First I wanted an e-reader that could handle pdfs well. Sitting down at a desk with a laptop wasn't the way I enjoyed reading a book, and I was making hard copies of pdfs that were becoming disorganized and cumbersome to carry around. Second, the iPad mini came out, and I was floored. The device was just barely small enough to slip into my jacket pocket, yet still big enough to read pdfs (my main application). I'm not always carrying a briefcase big enough for a laptop around, but I always have my iPad mini with me. I use it for reading, navigating, impromptu taking notes, and as a repository for documents. I also use it for web surfing, but if that's all I did, I would just own a laptop.
i feel like the air has really made the ipad a lot more portable just making it slightly less wide really made a difference and it really feels small kinda like the ipad mini now.
The laptop and iPad have totally different uses and are totally different devices. My laptop is my primary computer at home, and rarely leaves the house (or my desk, for that matter). I use it for processing photos, blogging, and yes, a lot of things I can do on the iPad. If I'm doing work on a computer, it's usually on my MacBook. But there are plenty of things I can do on the more portable iPad, which goes with me pretty much everywhere every day. It has 3G when I'm not near wifi. I can use it as a consumption device, but I also use it for blogging or uploading photos when I'm traveling. I use it for a TON of things, especially when traveling. It's much easier to use on a plane or on the go than a laptop. I watch movies, play games, blog, use social media, upload photos... a ton of things on it. Not just a consumption device for me.
I have a MacBook Air for school. Much better for taking notes and I need access and other office utilities with no ipad equivalent. I can't run virtual machines on ipad. At least not local vms. I have an ipad for at home browsing reading novels and text books as well as vacations
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If you are a hardcore mac user you will not wonder at all why people have an ipad , macbook and desktop and smartphone.
I have 2 iPads:
- the ipad 1 for the larger screen, media consumption and light work on the couch or bed
- the ipad mini for the same things but its much more portable and fits in my pocket. I use it everywhere.
My macmini:
Managing my data, syncing my ipads. Media consumption and working with others on the same screen on my samsung 46"
My rmbp:
For serious but portable work (keynotes, prezzi, lightroom, photoshop, word editing, cloud management, video editing, spezialized software i need for work)
My lumia:
Second mobile internet i always have on me and Making phone calls?
I have a 5 hour commute every day and I need to be flexible but effective.
I can remember situations where my life might have changed to the worse if i wouldnt have had all these different devices at my disposal.
I also have countless other devices at home (ipad2, 2 acer laptops, desktop pcs, macbook air, iphone 5c, ...) but i very rarely use those because other family members use them or they are outdated. Someone not understanding people who own only one macbook and ipad is not really part of my reality.
I have 2 iPads:
- the ipad 1 for the larger screen, media consumption and light work on the couch or bed
- the ipad mini for the same things but its much more portable and fits in my pocket. I use it everywhere.
My macmini:
Managing my data, syncing my ipads. Media consumption and working with others on the same screen on my samsung 46"
My rmbp:
For serious but portable work (keynotes, prezzi, lightroom, photoshop, word editing, cloud management, video editing, spezialized software i need for work)
My lumia:
Second mobile internet i always have on me and Making phone calls?
I have a 5 hour commute every day and I need to be flexible but effective.
I can remember situations where my life might have changed to the worse if i wouldnt have had all these different devices at my disposal.
I also have countless other devices at home (ipad2, 2 acer laptops, desktop pcs, macbook air, iphone 5c, ...) but i very rarely use those because other family members use them or they are outdated. Someone not understanding people who own only one macbook and ipad is not really part of my reality.
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I find that there's quite a few apps on the ipad that are extremely useful across a range of areas that don't have equivalents on the mac. However I do find downloading wirelessly on a non-cellular ipad for large files to be extremely slow certainly much slower than the mac.
I agree. I went from the iPad 2 to the Air. It feels like a big difference.
I think the only people who need to worry about a laptop and pad overlapping are those who use a computer for nothing more than Facebook and email. Otherwise a laptop still provides a wealth of difference.
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If you are a hardcore mac user you will not wonder at all why people have an ipad , macbook and desktop and smartphone
Exactly. They all have their functions.
While I still prefer the mini form factor to the Air for its portability, the Air has narrowed that gap. I can certainly understand why some who formerly used the mini have gone back to a full sized iPad with the introduction of the Air.
You're looking at it wrong. Why do people have really nice laptops at all.
Seems expensive to just have a lap mounted porn viewer.
I don't know why people have iPads or Laptops in general I mean to use at home not on the go.
My GF uses laptop and iPad at home ... both are not as good as my PC. So I always tell her sell your iPad and just use laptop it won't kill you! no way she will sell either one thought ...
I mean to use at home not on the go.My GF uses laptop and iPad at home ... both are not as good as my PC. So I always tell her sell your iPad and just use laptop it won't kill you! no way she will sell either one thought ...
I have no idea.
It seems like a waste of money if you don't have extra cash.
I do love my iPad though, but again, its my choice.
It seems like a waste of money if you don't have extra cash.
I do love my iPad though, but again, its my choice.