Ipad=goodbye laptop

[G4R2]

If you want to do more than web browsing or gaming you need to seat down and put the computer on a flat surface. I don't see how it's possible for people to easily work while holding the device or leaning it on something.

If you're talking about the iPad and not a laptop, from what I've seen it's actually preferable to hold it in one hand for a number of work related tasks.

I encounter this scenario almost daily at work I'm away from my office, need to collect data for later transfer to a spreadsheet or a database, and would never consider using a laptop to do this.

In addition to lugging the laptop around, waiting for it to boot up or resume from standby, navigating and launching the correct program, I'd also have to do this while balancing the thing in one hand. Entering data into a spreadsheet while balancing a laptop in one hand is not the ideal situation.

So what I do instead is use a notepad for this task, which I can in fact use with one hand holding it. An iPad would be similar to this- Better in fact for two reasons. First, the keyboard is context sensitive. And second because I don't have to transcribe the data in my office back into the computer. It's also better then a laptop for this task because, as has been previously observed, it''s an instant on device that is easy to navigate with a touch interface and rapidly launches compact applications.

I can envision other work related tasks where the iPad will likely prove superior to a laptop, based primarily on the advantage of the form factor in mobile situations over laptops.

 

[anthonymoody]

The iPad essentially combines the worst features of a smartphone and a laptop. It's too big to be carried in your pocket, yet it doesn't provide any advantage over a netbook of a similar size. Basically you'll end up with an expensive device that has the capabilities of a smartphone and the portability of a mini-laptop.

Yee-haw.

Having used a netbook, I can say categorically and definitively that your post is one big pile of FAIL.

 

[dwd3885]

Having used a netbook, I can say categorically and definitively that your post is one big pile of FAIL.

i will never buy another netbook again. Now, Asus and Acer make some really nice small laptops in between netbook and laptop. If you are someone not sure about the iPad and were possibly going to get the 64gb version, these laptops make a lot of sense.

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Timeline...TF8&coliid=I1MLWV01PC0O3R&colid=2QL708HWY5HTY

 

[chriskzoo]

I am in the boat of "goodbye laptop" - but I think this only applies to those of us who aren't tethered to our work laptop at home. Right now our family setups includes:

27" iMac
12" HP laptop (old, runs hot as hell, just waiting for it to die)
My work laptop, which I almost never bring out at home.

Our home laptop we just use as an internet hub and my wife uses it to stream some radio from Chicago, where she is from (WLS AM, which also has an iPhone app that will run on the iPad). I can't see the value of keeping the Laptop around when we can use the iPad, throw it on the keyboard doc for longer emails, etc. and then can pick it up and sit comfortably on the couch to surf.

The two things I'm waiting for solid reviews on are the reading (eye strain) experience and believe it or not, the speakers - I want to be able to hear a radio station or movie easily without headphones.

 

[bubbagumpshrimp]

And what's porentially more amazing is that the 10 hour battery life that Apple refer to is for video playback. What will we be able to get out of it just surfing, emailing, iWorking or listening to music?

From apples website:

"Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music."

I have a feeling the "up to" part is saying "if your lucky."

 

[GaresTaylan]

I recently sold my laptop on Ebay actually. I have had it for about 3 years so it was a little outdated anyway.

It was a 15" and was built by ibuypower. The screen was beutiful and it still performed well... but I the thing was incredibly heavy. Since it was geared as more of a gaming laptop, it was bulky and had a huge extended life battery coming off the back (which didnt even provide much extra life).

While the iPad may not be a replacement for a laptop, it will do what I need it to do. If I have a more intensive task that I need to perform, I will get on my Desktop PC or my iMac.

 

[FSUSem1noles]

the iPad could never replace my MBP, unless of course future iPads get their own independent OS which would sever the tie of having to have another computer to sync the iPad to... right now it's simply running a jacked up iPhone/iPod OS..

And at this point I can't see replacing my iPhone with it, because other than a bigger screen, it has no camera and I have to pay extra just to get the 3g version.. although the "optional" data plan is niiiiiiice!

 

[jonnyb]

From apples website:

"Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music."

I have a feeling the "up to" part is saying "if your lucky."

Hmm..that's a bit odd. The iPhone 3GS is touted as having 10 hours of video or 30 hours of audio playback. it doesn't make sense that the iPad would only manage 10 hours of audio.