iPad as a laptop replacement

[Synergie]

I use a lot of Office programs. If they functioned in iOS as well as they did in Windows, I would fully switch over to iOS. But they don’t.

And I grew up in the generation of the mouse.

Try Mobisystems OfficeSuite

 

[kristalsoldier]

If it is Apple's Surface then it falls far short. But as a tablet, it is a high quality option.

Yes, I agree with this. As a tablet though (with the Pencil) it is an amazing device. But for my work flow, it cant replace the Surface Pro 4 - it is a critical supplement though.

 

[Phil A.]

I wish they kept the two column widgets too and the date on the widget screen...

There’s a lot to like in iOS 11, but the loss of 2 columns on the widget screen isn’t one of them!

I can’t think of a reason why they thought it was a good idea to go to a single column and waste so much space: the widget screen looked better and worked better as 2 columns...

On the subject of whether iOS 11 makes the iPad a true laptop replacement, It doesn’t for me but it makes it a better iPad and (apart from the widget screen), I like all the refinements and changes they’ve added.

The files app was a bit oversold though, IMO, as it’s currently little more than a revamped iCloud Drive app and doesn’t add much new functionality. Hopefully it can support tighter integration with cloud providers if they update their apps but unless and until it does then it doesn’t really add much

 

[sonicrobby]

Unfortunately not yet. For me it is still missing:
1. A native recovery mode (similar to what macs have) to restore the iPad without a computer.
2. Being able to "open in" the native Music and TV app (seriously, why do I still need iTunes to sync them?)
3. Decent 3D-2D CAD software. Anything out there now is a major compromise, but on the same token, this is beyond iOS's control. It falls more on the developers.

Other than those simple things, the iPad is very capable at handling everyday tasks. I personally would still want a computer to jailbreak the iPad if they can manage to crack iOS11. So its very unlikely that iPad would completely eliminate my need for a computer due to this.

 

[sracer]

I mean... is it just me? I feel like I'm in a bizarro world.

So far the multitasking "improvements" are that unless you only use apps already in your dock, you have to exit your running app and do this multi-fingered drag and drop to launch one app over another, rather than just pull down a full list of available apps without leaving your primary app. What is the use case where the new method makes things easier or better?

At the introduction of iOS 10, that pulldown list was handy because there were only 4 or 5 apps that supported multiwindow. As time passed, more apps added that support. As of the release of iOS 11 yesterday, I had approximately 40+ apps in that pulldown. There was no apparent rhyme or reason for the order that the apps appeared in.

I suspect that it won't be too long before ALL apps have that support... making that pulldown even longer.

also the 'slide over' pane has become so finicky to position/dismiss, I almost always have to try multiple times to get it to register that gripper at the very top of the screen, the absolute furtherst place from where your hands are likely holding your device, I might add. I don't recall ever noticing any difficulty swiping it away in iOS 9 or 10.

I agree. I think that is a temporary software issue that will be corrected in a subsequent iOS update.

also by selecting your secondary app from the dock/homescreen means there is no indication whatsoever if it is actually multitasking compatible, so I guess you just have to trial and error see what works?

Only my guess, but as I mentioned above, I think the goal is that all iOS apps will support multiwindow.

 

[bensisko]

Just wondering do you guys believe the iPad pro is officially a laptop replacement yet. Would you still prefer some mouse support and how is the Files application since updating to iOS 11? I noticed there is a Chrome OS looking dock on iOS 11 now...is that working well?

Not any more or less so than it was with iOS 10.

 

[DNichter]

For me it has

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I am so glad that someone asked this question that never gets asked or debated. What would we do without this question being asked every day?

 

[sracer]

I am so glad that someone asked this question that never gets asked or debated. What would we do without this question being asked every day?

I don't know... and I don't want to find out!

 

[Brammy]

There isn't much more I can do on iOS 11 with the iPad as main computer that I couldn't do on iOS 10. That said, it's like the Excedrin of releases; it smoothed a lot of the pain points out and got rid of a lot of headaches.

Sending attachments for me is the biggest one. You really couldn't easily send multiple attachments in iOS 10. However, this week I opened up Mail and Files in split screen and dragged 3 attachments to a mail message. I do a lot of art, and saving reference images is now a lot easier. I don't like having reference art in my Photos library. Now, I can just press and hold on an image in Safari (or a Safari web control in Tweetbot), and drag the image to my reference art folder.

I think the next big hurdle is for iOS to actually understand that people deal with flash drives, portable media, and file servers.

 

[sparksd]

For some people, yes; for others, no. For me - no, not until a mouse is supported.

 

[Count Blah]

Oh wait, you're serious

 

[maflynn]

Just wondering do you guys believe the iPad pro is officially a laptop replacement yet.

Not yet, iOS does not have the same level of apps that I need to run.

Excel is limited compared to the desktop, lack of a mouse, restricts my ability to use certain apps, like gotomypc and other remote access apps I need.

 

[KohPhiPhi]

Other than the lack of full blown desktop software, real file management (no, Files isnt), etc... for me the real problem is the ergonomics of the UI interaction: as much as we all like touch interfaces, when it comes to productivity (large excell sheets, video editing, coding, etc) nothing beats mouse + keyboard shortcuts

 

[TravisPNW]

That's why I bought mine... I have a desktop gaming PC and my phone.

Thought about a laptop... but upgraded from an Air 2 to a Pro instead.

 

[bruinsrme]

For porn, at least

 

[KarmaRocket]

I still need my laptop for Xcode and programming. The lack of Xcode is really puzzling since they are really trying to push Swift. Playgrounds is fun but not having much programming options on iOS makes it harder for me to be a true laptop replacement. For writing, surfing the web, YouTube etc I prefer my 12.9 iPad Pro. But sometimes I wish I could also fire up Xcode and work on some projects.

 

[Ghost31]

I’ve been iPad only since the Air 2 so really, iOS 11 was just the cherry on top. I’ve seen these multi page threads go on and on and on for 7 years debating whether the iPad can replace a laptop and really, at this point I’m all debated out.

Simply put: for most people and casual non specific use: hell to the yeah man.

For professionals that need specific software: hell to the no.

It may change over time but right now you should know where you stand on this issue after all this time. I can see why people say no though. Some places haven’t caught up. I was just looking at Logitech remotes a few minutes ago for example and despite a lot of people not having a real “computer” computer anymore, they still require a pc or Mac to set it up. Which makes no sense to me considering where things are going.

 

[youknome]

Is this a serious post?

Of course a shoddy update like iOS 11 can not help the iPad Pro become a laptop replacement.

For people in the real world, it's much quicker doing tasks on a laptop/desktop than it is on an iPad.

 

[Ghost31]

Is this a serious post?

Of course a shoddy update like iOS 11 can not help the iPad Pro become a laptop replacement.

For people in the real world, it's much quicker doing tasks on a laptop/desktop than it is on an iPad.

TIL all of us iPad users don’t live in the real world

 

[kasakka]

For me, no. I can’t do my work on it because it can’t run NodeJS and other software I need as a web developer.

 

[576316]

Literally the only two things it's missing are mouse support and some sort of actual filesystem for file creation and organisation. I can't understand why Apple can't see that. It's their way or no one's way and that's always been their problem.

 

[The Game 161]

Is this a serious post?

Of course a shoddy update like iOS 11 can not help the iPad Pro become a laptop replacement.

For people in the real world, it's much quicker doing tasks on a laptop/desktop than it is on an iPad.

I live in a real world and have replaced my macbook with the 12.9 ipad pro. For many it has and for many it doesn't.

 

[Count Blah]

I live in a real world and have replaced my macbook with the 12.9 ipad pro. For many it has and for many it doesn't.

100% correct. Which is why a generic question like this can do NOTHING but "anger the blood"

 

[Horizon Man]

I’ve always had a desktop, and never felt the compelling need for a laptop.
Having the touch interface and pencil brings so much to the table for me as to make it worth the trade offs, since I can always use my desktop as well.

So for my use, this is absolutely a laptop alternative. In practice, I find I use them both about equallly and often simultaneously.

iOS 11 is still pretty new, I can’t say it’s made that much of a differnence, and was suprisingly happy with the multitasking on iOS 10. It’s multitasking that made the iPad a useful device compared to the earlier versions that really were virtually useless for perfoming any kind of work on. That and for designers or folks that think with a pencil the step to the Pro versions.