iPad as a laptop replacement

[Jedimindtrick]

Yes, the iPad cannot do what a laptop can do.

But tell me what laptop you can buy for $329 that's worth a damn.

A chromebook? Maybe? But i'd WAY rather have an iPad than a chromebook.

 

[Shanghaichica]

In terms of what they can both do on paper my MBA can so a lot more than my 10.5 inch pro. However 99.9% of that stuff I don’t need to do. So for me my 10.5 inch pro is the better computer becasue it does the tasks that I need to do more efficiently and conveniently than my MBA does.

 

[maflynn]

But tell me what laptop you can buy for $329 that's worth a damn.

I don't know if using the pricing argument is applicable. If you need a laptop for tasks, it makes little sense to spend 329 on an iPad that doesn't do what I need.

I think iPad can and does replace laptops for many people and in that case the pricing argument does make sense, but for those who argue against the iPad as a replacement - its not a good argument.

For instance, I need mouse/keyboard and large screen to remote into servers. I don't care if I can buy the iPad for 329, its a tool that doesn't do what I need it too. I have to spend more money on a laptop.

 

[muzzy996]

And there’s a big difference between the iPad and iPad Pro. You’re point being...?

This exactly LOL. Just like how a MacBook Pro runs the same OS as a MacBook but gets the Pro monicker for having beefed up hardware and an additional feature or two. Having faster CPU, GPU, more storage capacity, and hardware connectivity for the Smart Keyboard gave the iPad Pro its monicker and that’s all it is.

Marketing is marketing...I don’t know why people are getting so bent out of shape over the pro designation or the possibility of the iPad replacing a computer for many people. It won’t replace one for me and I accept that without giving a rats arse about what it will do for others lol. I’m also a professional, so I know not to show up for a gunfight with a pocket knife (in reference to the shortcomings of an iPad for presentations which I assume it can certainly do if you limit the complexity of your presentation to what the device is capable of). These threads are entertaining though lol so do continue...

 

[spiderman0616]

I've used only an iPad Pro as my personal device for the last 2 years. I have a work issued Macbook Air that they require me to use for company things, but if I lost my job and had to give it back, I would not replace it with a personally owned Mac. A year or two ago I would not have been able to say that, but things have changed a lot. Back when I was doing a lot of podcasting, my iPad Pro even eventually replaced my Mac for that and was giving me much better results than I ever got on my Mac.

 

[jdaniel]

I currently have an old macbook pro from 2012.. with 16gb and 750GB... I am looking at replacing it...so my options are as follows:

A refurb mbp 13" with touchbar 8GB ram after vat refund would cost me something around 1369 Euros.

Or go with an ipad celluar 128GB after everything will be about 695 Euros which is essentially 1/2 the price of a mbp.. problem is IOS is not mac os... there are lots of programs I cannot run like acrobat XI pro etc... I do a lot of things like putting my signature on pdf documents.. how am I going to edit PDFs on an ipad?

I also run plex.. but i know I can run that on a NAS... so if I can truly get all the functionality out of an ipad for less than a mbp I would definitely go for it... is there a way to get the ipad screen on an external 27" screen? so I can do more easily? even

 

[Newtons Apple]

There are multiple threads on this subject, some agree and some do not. It really depends on what software you are needing your computer to run.

 

[max2]

If so how ? Thanks.

 

[mtneer]

Tim Cook, is that you?

However, the answer depends so much on what you do on your Mac or PC. Very rudimentary email, browsing activities - yeah sure. Once you start climbing up a ladder of needs and expectations, and especially if your livelihood is on the line, it becomes a trickier question.

 

[dogslobber]

Where do you plug in the USB mouse?

 

[rosyapple]

Everything? No. For me, you can't code with it.

You can't open more than 2 or 3 apps with it, side-by-side view is pretty clunky for me especially with small screens like 9.7 or 10.5.

Unless I miss something, you also can't open multiple windows on the iPad. I tend to have 2 - 3 open Chrome windows with multiple tabs (one window for coding reference, another for Youtube etc).

Of course having an iPad complements my workflow. I can do practice MCQs in iPad (scribble on PDF, check answers, delete and redo). I can read on the bus with my iPad (can't do that with my laptop, don't like to use iPhone because the screen is too small).

But I can't imagine giving up my laptop unless iPad turns into Surface or run a better version of iOS or even a MacOS with touch and pencil.

 

[CrazyForCashews]

Not until it gets mouse/trackpad support.

Come the flip on Apple, what's wrong with giving people options?

 

[slooksterPSV]

Well I can do most items I do on my pc, including:

Development, teleconferencing, gaming, music, school, etc.

The things I can’t do are:
Java development
Angular development

.... that’s really about it. Hmmm. Yeah most things I can do.

 

[Shirasaki]

iPad definitely cannot do everything computer can do. And I am sure a lot of engineering folks will second this. iPad is a nice complement device for sure but not the PC replacement.
Also you usage pattern matters.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

The question has been asked and debated on these forums thousands of times.

Consider this: There are computing tasks for which a PC/Mac is insufficient. Therefore, there are going to be computing tasks for which a smartphone/tablet is unfit. Conversely, there are going to be uses/tasks that are perfect for iPad and absolutely stupid to do on a supercomputer. It's like saying a Porsche is inadequate because it can't do everything a pickup truck can.

The trick is to match the right computing task to the right computing tool, and to match the right computing tool to the right user.

The answers people give to this question often imply that computing is only for the favored few. Effectively, "I/my work is too important to be done on a toy." Personally, I think it's glorious that smartphones and tablets have made computer use so widespread. It's a science fiction dream come true.

 

[Abazigal]

If so how ? Thanks.

Depends on what those tasks are, and how far you are willing to go to master the intricacies of iOS.

 

[sunapple]

Just buy an iPad next to your Mac and see for yourself!

 

[Naaaaak]

Apple is going in the wrong direction.

The iPad needs to be positioned as an input device for things that are complimentary to traditional computing. With the closed nature of iOS devices, I can't use it as a particularly good replacement.

 

[IamDave]

I guess it depends on what you use your Mac/PC for.

I only used my MacBook for videos, browsing and for university assignments. I got the iPad Pro 10.5” with a view to taking notes, reading textbooks/PDFs and content consumption. The last couple of assignments were done solely on the iPad with the Smart Keyboard to no real detriment. I could replace my MacBook completely with the iPad if I wanted to but I can’t bring myself to do it. One of the reasons being that I can dock my MacBook to a larger screen (spends 95% of its time like this).

I do feel that having the 12” MacBook and a 10.5” iPad and keyboard means there is a ridiculous amount of overlap between the two and toyed with replacing the MacBook with an iMac. Instead I’ll keep the MacBook docked the majority of the time and use it as a desktop when needed.

 

[PKoz]

I currently have an old macbook pro from 2012.. with 16gb and 750GB... I am looking at replacing it...so my options are as follows:

A refurb mbp 13" with touchbar 8GB ram after vat refund would cost me something around 1369 Euros.

Or go with an ipad celluar 128GB after everything will be about 695 Euros which is essentially 1/2 the price of a mbp.. problem is IOS is not mac os... there are lots of programs I cannot run like acrobat XI pro etc... I do a lot of things like putting my signature on pdf documents.. how am I going to edit PDFs on an ipad?

I also run plex.. but i know I can run that on a NAS... so if I can truly get all the functionality out of an ipad for less than a mbp I would definitely go for it... is there a way to get the ipad screen on an external 27" screen? so I can do more easily? even

You're already pointing out the software differences. I have a MacBook and iPad Pro 10.5" that I use for personal. I tried to switch to the iPad Pro as my personal machine only and a few things tripped that up but I'd say I came close to doing it. A few things like getting files from the web, which often can be done via Dropbox, and a few other things had some issues. The MacBook is a similar weight and battery life if we're talking about including the weight of the keyboard + iPad Pro.

Things I like about the iPad Pro is that it is always on. You never have to turn it off and it always gets your messages and texts instantly. No computer does that. You have to turn them off. Both are fanless and I wanted that. I think it is still easier to use apps like PDF expert with a Mac than with an iPad. It's still easier, in my opinion, to use Numbers on the Mac than with the iPad. It's just such a difficult choice. The iPad Pro is such a great device. I have no regrets about buying it. I just want to carry one device, not two. And I want the lightest weight possible and a bag not full of junk to carry along with the device. In that regard, the iPad wins easily. The power supply is smaller and lighter. You will carry fewer accessories with it. You will have a smaller bag if you want it.

If I factor in a power supply, cable, mouse, and the MacBook, it's not much compared to the iPad Pro with keyboard and power adapter + cable. But once I carry a laptop, I want to carry a spare Samsung T5 for extra space, with cable. I want to carry the charge cable for the mouse. You get the idea. The computer accessories just add up a little more than the iPad accessories. In exchange for this, I get a great computer experience. I can run all the MacOS apps I want. Not a bad trade-off.

I would consider the MacBook if I were you. It's a good middle ground. Check one out at the Apple Store. Lift it and feel how light it is. You can easily multi-task. A full computer is still a very good choice.

 

[eicca]

My MacBook will forever be around to do audio engineering and more power-user tasks.

But, since I discovered macOS natively syncs the Documents folder to iCloud Drive, my iPad has become my main device. It browses web and types simple documents just as good, and the battery lasts five times longer than the MacBook. Perfect for school use.

 

[PKoz]

My MacBook will forever be around to do audio engineering and more power-user tasks.

But, since I discovered macOS natively syncs the Documents folder to iCloud Drive, my iPad has become my main device. It browses web and types simple documents just as good, and the battery lasts five times longer than the MacBook. Perfect for school use.

I actually like the on-screen keyboard. I'd love an option to give the MacBook a glass surface virtual keyboard over the physical keys. I write in two languages and don't like the keyboard having both letters on keys at the same time. Whereas when you use an iPhone or iPad with the on-screen keyboard you only have a dedicated language at a time. It's so much easier on the eyes.

The iPad Pro with a pencil is also now at a point where developers have all the capabilities they need to make learning a new language much easier.

Imagine a book where you can play words and sentences over and over again until you can repeat them. Where you can record your pronunciation of the word and compare it to the book's pronunciation. Highlight the word and get a definition of the word and other examples of usage. Use the pencil to trace the letters in the words, teaching you how to write natively in that language. The iPad Pro with a pencil can be an amazing learning tool in ways the computer can not. A touchscreen and better still, a touch screen you can write on open the education possibilities beyond what we have had up until this point.

I can see the computer as a tool for getting work done. However, I can see the tablet for being an amazing educational device which also allows the owner to get a lot of work done. It just depends on the type of work. I would think anything that requires writing could be done well on the iPad Pro. And the pencil is still new. Give developers time to adapt to it. It took a while until the mouse was really great. I think the iPad has the potential to be comfortable and powerful. It just needs to evolve into it.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Apple is going in the wrong direction.

The iPad needs to be positioned as an input device for things that are complimentary to traditional computing. With the closed nature of iOS devices, I can't use it as a particularly good replacement.

Let's agree to disagree. "Traditional computing" is a slowly declining market. There are now far more non-traditional computing devices out there than traditional PCs. Why would Apple limit its horizons by turning iPad into a PC input device?

iPad is a dandy, business-class input device. However, the backend is not on PC, it's in the cloud - large scale corporate databases/database-driven apps that would swamp any desktop computer.

The world of PC-centric computing long ago reached its practical limits. Any desk worker that had use for one has had one for decades. Meanwhile, the growth of mobile devices continues in the workplace, as all those workers who are not desk-bound can now easily connect to business systems without walking halfway across a warehouse, restaurant, or retail store to interact with a desktop-bound PC/terminal.

iPad may not be what you need in a business computing device, but that doesn't mean your personal needs are sufficient to drive an entire market.

 

[akash.nu]

Let's agree to disagree. "Traditional computing" is a slowly declining market. There are now far more non-traditional computing devices out there than traditional PCs. Why would Apple limit its horizons by turning iPad into a PC input device?

iPad is a dandy, business-class input device. However, the backend is not on PC, it's in the cloud - large scale corporate databases/database-driven apps that would swamp any desktop computer.

The world of PC-centric computing long ago reached its practical limits. Any desk worker that had use for one has had one for decades. Meanwhile, the growth of mobile devices continues in the workplace, as all those workers who are not desk-bound can now easily connect to business systems without walking halfway across a warehouse, restaurant, or retail store to interact with a desktop-bound PC/terminal.

iPad may not be what you need in a business computing device, but that doesn't mean your personal needs are sufficient to drive an entire market.

It’s always dependent on individuals. I think internet is the factor that brings both traditional PCs and iPads together. If a user uses internet based workflow in their day to day life on a traditional PC then they’ll be able to use an iPad for over 90% of their daily needs.

It’ll also heavily depend on which part of the world the user is. Internet is not really as ubiquitous as we’d like to believe.

 

[Naaaaak]

Let's agree to disagree. "Traditional computing" is a slowly declining market. There are now far more non-traditional computing devices out there than traditional PCs. Why would Apple limit its horizons by turning iPad into a PC input device?

iPad is a dandy, business-class input device. However, the backend is not on PC, it's in the cloud - large scale corporate databases/database-driven apps that would swamp any desktop computer.

The world of PC-centric computing long ago reached its practical limits. Any desk worker that had use for one has had one for decades. Meanwhile, the growth of mobile devices continues in the workplace, as all those workers who are not desk-bound can now easily connect to business systems without walking halfway across a warehouse, restaurant, or retail store to interact with a desktop-bound PC/terminal.

iPad may not be what you need in a business computing device, but that doesn't mean your personal needs are sufficient to drive an entire market.

Great points. All of them true.

I think about markets where the iPad is going to be squeezed from both the low-end and the high-end and resign it to a second-class device.

Google Chromebooks will soon run Linux apps. This is the Netbook 2.0 assault that threatens Apple in education (early comp sci, especially) and the low-end.

At the high-end you have Microsoft and its Surface. There are lots of cases where it would be nice to have direct drawing input and run traditional laptop apps. Eventually, they will get touch input to a point that’s good enough to siphon away more users.

In both cases you have devices that are better suited for typing which is critical for a lot of users. A laptop with a built-keyboard is more portable and natural and productive to me than a detachable keyboard/case that sometimes offsets the space savings and simplicity of a tablet.

I get far more productivity out of a traditional laptop than from an iPad, but I get far better free-form inputs / diagraming out of an iPad with pencil than anything else. For me, the iPad is an input accessory to my Mac and is more convenient for viewing certain content, not a laptop-replacement. I recognize there are other markets and use cases where iPad is a better-than-laptop replacement (if most of your computing revolves around websites and light text input, certain creative uses, etc.) but can see these cases being encroached upon by competition.

I’d like to see Tim Cook’s iPad workflow and setup.