bobr1952
macrumors 68020
That is my thinking as well. I was looking at the 13 inch MBA the other day and was really impressed with how light it was--I could see that becoming my primary computer real easy. 🙂
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Would you replace your computer with a ipad?
- Thread starter Pinnoks
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That is my thinking as well. I was looking at the 13 inch MBA the other day and was really impressed with how light it was--I could see that becoming my primary computer real easy. 🙂
anthonymoody
macrumors 68040
Thanks for your take Night Spring. I am fortunate in that within my little bubble I don't have to worry about things like the niceties of formatting documents, etc. but can totally see how that would render the experience on the ipad as incomplete.
I am fairly confident that over time the lines will continue to blur between iwork apps/iWork.com/iWork for Mac (and Office...), not to mention iOS and OSX, etc. but I recognize that at the moment the handoffs aren't perfect.
I'll have to check out filebrowser. Hadn't heard about it previously. Is searching within the app fast? Goodreader works well in that regard...and since I have > 20GB worth of documents on my iPad, fast functional searching is important to me! Airsharing used to choke hard on searches.
I am fairly confident that over time the lines will continue to blur between iwork apps/iWork.com/iWork for Mac (and Office...), not to mention iOS and OSX, etc. but I recognize that at the moment the handoffs aren't perfect.
I'll have to check out filebrowser. Hadn't heard about it previously. Is searching within the app fast? Goodreader works well in that regard...and since I have > 20GB worth of documents on my iPad, fast functional searching is important to me! Airsharing used to choke hard on searches.
Night Spring
macrumors P6
Totally agree with you that the desktop and tablets will eventually converge. I'm still using Windows for my desktops/laptops, but I expect to move over to the Mac once their OS becomes more like iOS. I'm looking forward to the full screen mode on Lion, and hope every app gets full screen mode, as I just hate how some apps refuse to go full screen in the current Mac OS.
As for filebrowser, I don't think there's a search function. While you can keep files in filebrowser, and make folders and move files around from folder to folder to keep them organized, I mainly use FileBrowser to move files between my iPad and other computers on my network. Like, I'm browsing on my iPad, find a rec for a Mac or Windows app I want to try. I hit the download link, Safari downloads the file, and gives me a choice to open in FileBrowser. I do so, and if I'm on the network, I can immediately save the file to the Mac or Windows computer where I intend to run the app. If I'm outside the network, I save it into FileBrowser's folder, and transfer the file when I get back. And I can transfer files wirelessly, no need to hook up to iTunes.
It's almost like having a file system on the iPad. 😀
No, the iPad just can't do certain things that computers can do, so it can never be a replacement for a computer unless you only have basic requirements for your computing. Even then, you still would need to back it up to another computer so you don't lose your data in the case the iPad has to be fixed. So, even if you only have basic requirements for a computer, an iPad cannot fulfill them and keep your data backed up at the same time. Apple needs to address this fundamental problem if they want to sell iPads as suitable for basic computing. As for now, it is just an oversized iPod touch with a usually available internet connection.
I would like to see a list of things you cannot do with iPad for a REGULAR user.
Regular user is someone who checks email, surf the net, Facebook, Flickr, etc.
I am no different than a regular user except I do not have an active Facebook and Flickr account 🙂
I am curious to see since I am planing to buy the iPad2 and use it with my Apple Wireless keyboard at work.
Maybe not a good idea????
Regular user is someone who checks email, surf the net, Facebook, Flickr, etc.
I am no different than a regular user except I do not have an active Facebook and Flickr account 🙂
I am curious to see since I am planing to buy the iPad2 and use it with my Apple Wireless keyboard at work.
Maybe not a good idea????
Night Spring
macrumors P6
The most obvious thing you cannot do with an iPad is, it doesn't work with flash. So if any of the sites you visit regularly uses flash, they won't work on the iPad.
You also can't upload files from the iPad to websites. Like if I had a picture on my iPad that I wanted to include in this post here, there's no way to do that. I'd have to upload the picture to a photo-sharing site on the web first, then include a link to that site in my post.
Other than that, I can't think of anything the iPad can't do -- oh, printing is still not implemented fully, but that should be coming in a firmware update at some point down the line.
Mostly, an iPad can do most things a computer can do, but often not as easily. For instance, you can type up a document in Pages or one of the other Office-compatible word processing apps, but if you need specific formatting, it's a pain, and in any case, it might not convert properly when you transfer the file to a computer. Getting files into and out of the iPad isn't as straightforward as doing it with a laptop. I have to juggle two or three apps to accomplish this, and I don't think a "regular" user could remember all the steps.
Upshot is, I ended up getting a MacBook Air for the office. The iPad is great for entertainment (reading, videos, games), and for getting the odd work done while on the go. But if I'm doing enough typing to need the bluetooth keyboard, then what I really need is a "real" laptop, not the iPad.
MrWillie
macrumors 65816
Adobe has half a dozen or so apps on the app store, so yes, you can run Adobe software on it. 😛
The real issue (at least the one that I have) is with cell merge. I don't know why they won't allow it. All the Excel files I get open perfectly in Open Office (Mac, Windows, or Linux). They just don't work correctly in Numbers for the iPad. I haven't tried the latest OSX version, but a few years ago, that didn't work either. Come on Steve, we live in a Microsoft world, let's play nice. (Except Flash, screw Adobe)