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exoticSpice

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So what? The Mac Mini doesn't come with a keyboard, mouse, or monitor but still sells very well. I love my Mac Mini. Besides, there are no lack of keyboards compatible with the iPad.
The MacBook Air sells more than Mac mini even though the mini is cheaper because it comes with everything.
 
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bondr006

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My 2 cents is that peolle want an iPad to be used as a computer, that's where 99% of the problem come from.

An iPad is a capable device, but if you try using it as you would a desktop computer it doesn't work that well.

People need to get into a new workflow, do things the iPad way, and they would encounter fever issues and it would make their experience better.

Sure there is a learning curve, and you feel you have to "adapt yourself" the thing is, it's like judging a fish from it's ability to climb trees.

It's an iPad, not a computer, if you want a computer get a MacBook Air / Pro, if you gab an iPad, you should know it's not a computer.

(What's a computer?)
"It's an iPad, not a computer, if you want a computer get a MacBook Air / Pro, if you gab an iPad, you should know it's not a computer."

I disagree. iPads are computers. Just not a "traditional" desktop/laptop computer, but a very capable "Tablet Computer" that can do a majority of the things a "traditional" computer can. Even able to replace a "traditional" laptop for many people.;)

The iPad can fulfill the computing needs and even replace the laptop for a large minority of people. Just like the laptop replaced the desktop for the majority of computer users, the tablet computer will replace the laptop in the near future for an increasing number of computer users. My M1 iPad Pro 11 replaced my MacBook Pro for my real estate businesses easily, and in the process reduced my workflow, reduced the number of devices I need in the field, and most importantly, made my work and personal computing use fun again. That is why I love my iPad Pro. For my needs I would rather have a tablet computer that can also be a laptop than a laptop that can't be a tablet any day.

The iPad is just as much a computer as the laptop or desktop. Just because it doesn't run MacOS or Windows does not change that fact. iPadOS may not be as advanced as its predecessors but it is a very capable OS developed for tablet computers just as it stands. Yes, it is still evolving as all computer OS's have, and still are, but has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Combined with the app store and the imagination and creativity of its users, the iPad has become so much more than even Steve Jobs could ever have predicted.

I do know quite a few people that don't want to, or have no interest in taking the time to find out what the iPad can really do. Some are intimidated at the thought of using a new operating system, some are happy with what they have always used and just don't want to learn a new OS, and some are just perfectly fine with the iPad being their media consumption device. These are all ok, but it doesn't change the fact that the iPad is a very capable device that has an OS that yes, has some more evolving to do but can already replace a laptop for many people as it stands.

Makes me wonder in the 21st century how there are still people, especially in a tech community like this, who can't or won't admit that tablets and even smartphones are computers when the overwhelming evidence plainly proves otherwise. I can appreciate old farts like me who are stubborn, stuck in the past, and intimidated by new technology and the way it is used, but the world and tech just keeps on progressing and moving on with or without us.

A.) From Techopedia.com

A computer like anything else consists of the components that makes it what it is. In the case of a modern computer the list consists of:

1. CPU
2. GPU
3. Motherboard
4. Memory(RAM)
5. Storage
6. Power Supply
7. I/O - USB, SD and Micro SD cards, external HD's and SSD's
8. The ability to use keyboard and mouse
9. Operating System

What is a Computer? - Definition from Techopedia

This definition explains the meaning of Computer and why it matters.
www.techopedia.com

B.) From Dictionary.com

Computer

1. a programmable electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. Mainframes, desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones are some of the different types of computers.

Definition of computer | Dictionary.com

Computer definition, a programmable electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. Mainframes, desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones are some of the different types of...
www.dictionary.com
www.dictionary.com

C.) From Wikipedia.org

Smartphones and tablets run on a variety of operating systems and recently became the dominant computing device on the market.

Computer - Wikipedia


en.wikipedia.org

D.) From Techtarget.com

From their list of computer types.

Smartphone - a cellular telephone designed with an integrated computer
Tablet Computer (tablet PC) - a wireless personal computer with a touch screen

What is computer? - Definition from WhatIs.com

The modern computer began as a machine the size of a room that used vacuum tubes, punched cards and magnetic drums to generate an output, and has since evolved into a collection of devices ranging from the tablet PC to the smartphone to the quantum computer.
www.techtarget.com

E.) From gcfglobal.org

Tablet computers—or tablets—are handheld computers that are even more portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use a touch-sensitive screen for typing and navigation. The iPad is an example of a tablet.

Computer Basics: What is a Computer?

After reading this Computer Basics lesson, you will be able to answer the question, what is a computer?
edu.gcfglobal.org
 
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yabeweb

macrumors 6502a
Jun 25, 2021
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I disagree. iPads are computers. Just not a "traditional" desktop/laptop computer, but a very capable "Tablet Computer" that can do a majority of the things a "traditional" computer can. Even able to replace a "traditional" laptop for many people.;)

The iPad can fulfill the computing needs and even replace the laptop for a large minority of people. Just like the laptop replaced the desktop for the majority of computer users, the tablet computer will replace the laptop in the near future for an increasing number of computer users. My M1 iPad Pro 11 replaced my MacBook Pro for my real estate businesses easily, and in the process reduced my workflow, reduced the number of devices I need in the field, and most importantly, made my work and personal computing use fun again. That is why I love my iPad Pro. For my needs I would rather have a tablet computer that can also be a laptop than a laptop that can't be a tablet any day.

The iPad is just as much a computer as the laptop or desktop. Just because it doesn't run MacOS or Windows does not change that fact. iPadOS may not be as advanced as its predecessors but it is a very capable OS developed for tablet computers just as it stands. Yes, it is still evolving as all computer OS's have, and still are, but has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Combined with the app store and the imagination and creativity of its users, the iPad has become so much more than even Steve Jobs could ever have predicted.

Makes me wonder in the 21st century how there are still people, especially in a tech community like this, who can't or won't admit that tablets and even smartphones are computers when the overwhelming evidence plainly proves otherwise. I can appreciate old farts like me who are stubborn, stuck in the past, and intimidated by new technology and the way it is used, but the world and tech just keeps on progressing and moving on with or without us.

A.) From Techopedia.com

A computer like anything else consists of the components that makes it what it is. In the case of a modern computer the list consists of:

1. CPU
2. GPU
3. Motherboard
4. Memory(RAM)
5. Storage
6. Power Supply
7. I/O - USB, SD and Micro SD cards, external HD's and SSD's
8. The ability to use keyboard and mouse
9. Operating System

What is a Computer? - Definition from Techopedia

This definition explains the meaning of Computer and why it matters.
www.techopedia.com

B.) From Dictionary.com

Computer

1. a programmable electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. Mainframes, desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones are some of the different types of computers.

Definition of computer | Dictionary.com

Computer definition, a programmable electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. Mainframes, desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones are some of the different types of...
www.dictionary.com
www.dictionary.com

C.) From Wikipedia.org

Smartphones and tablets run on a variety of operating systems and recently became the dominant computing device on the market.

Computer - Wikipedia


en.wikipedia.org

D.) From Techtarget.com

From their list of computer types.

Smartphone - a cellular telephone designed with an integrated computer
Tablet Computer (tablet PC) - a wireless personal computer with a touch screen

What is computer? - Definition from WhatIs.com

The modern computer began as a machine the size of a room that used vacuum tubes, punched cards and magnetic drums to generate an output, and has since evolved into a collection of devices ranging from the tablet PC to the smartphone to the quantum computer.
www.techtarget.com

E.) From gcfglobal.org

Tablet computers—or tablets—are handheld computers that are even more portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use a touch-sensitive screen for typing and navigation. The iPad is an example of a tablet.

Computer Basics: What is a Computer?

After reading this Computer Basics lesson, you will be able to answer the question, what is a computer?
edu.gcfglobal.org
Seems like you do not disagree with me, I never said the iPad cannot do what a computer does, but the workflow is different.

What I said, stop pretending to use it AS (meaning with the same workflow) a computer and you will enjoy it a lot more.

The iPad Pro 2021 is my main device, I know it's capable of lots of things a "standard" computer can (many even a lot better).

The line the iPad is not a computer / what's a computer means that even Apple in their ads try to make you think outside of the box, stop thinking it is a computer (not as in functionality, the what's a computer is like saying why would i need one when the iPad does everything) but as in way to interact with it.

keep interacting with an iPad like you would on a computer and you'll grow frustrated.

Use an iPad as an iPad, you'll amaze yourself what it can do!
 

bondr006

macrumors 68030
Jun 8, 2010
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Cary, NC - My Name is Rob Bond
Seems like you do not disagree with me, I never said the iPad cannot do what a computer does, but the workflow is different.

What I said, stop pretending to use it AS (meaning with the same workflow) a computer and you will enjoy it a lot more.

The iPad Pro 2021 is my main device, I know it's capable of lots of things a "standard" computer can (many even a lot better).

The line the iPad is not a computer / what's a computer means that even Apple in their ads try to make you think outside of the box, stop thinking it is a computer (not as in functionality, the what's a computer is like saying why would i need one when the iPad does everything) but as in way to interact with it.

keep interacting with an iPad like you would on a computer and you'll grow frustrated.

Use an iPad as an iPad, you'll amaze yourself what it can do!
That is just it. The iPad is a very flexible tablet computer that can be used as a tablet or laptop type device depending on your needs. I am already amazed that my iPP could replace my MBP as easily as it did. I very well understand that iPadOS is not MacOS or Windows. iPadOS is made for tablet use and is still maturing like all OS's have had to do. Personally I like iPadOS better because it is lean and fast, not weighed down and bloated. I also like iPadOS for its ease of use and how intuitive it is. My Real Estate work flow is much slimmer with my iPP. I know my use case is not everyone's, but there are a lot out there like me that can and do use the iPP instead of a laptop.
 
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pdoherty

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Dec 30, 2014
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I think it's not a matter of greed. 6GB RAM is simply not enough for proper multitasking with an external display without the ability to swap to disk like MacOS can. The only greed is Apple giving too little RAM to iPad before the M1.
People say iPadOS needs less RAM than MacOS. The truth is that it does because it's much more limited, once you remove some of the limitations, then the RAM become necessary for a good experience.
I find this kind of humorous since we’ve had windowed multitasking in full-blown OSes like Windows and Mac when computers had 1GB of RAM or less. I know they had disk to swap to, but that’s something you can disable (at least in Windows) and multitasking and windowing still work.

In fact, I had both syntactical interface AND a GUI with full-blown windowing and pre-emptive multitasking on an Amiga 500 in 1988 with 512K of RAM.
 
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rui no onna

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Oct 25, 2013
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I find this kind of humorous since we’ve had windowed multitasking in full-blown OSes like Windows and Mac when computers had 1GB of RAM or less. I know they had disk to swap to, but that’s something you can disable (at least in Windows) and multitasking and windowing still work.

While this is true, Windows programs used to be lighter weight as well that you can fit them in 1.44MB floppy disks. Also, graphics tended to be minimal and I remember the resolution of my monitors back then were only 800x600 to 1024x768.

We still have some Pentium III/IV + 1GB RAM PCs running Windows 98 for ancient equipment and those are super slow. You can literally make coffee while waiting for them to boot. Even if compatible, you can forget about getting them to run modern programs.

If you disable swap in Windows, apps will crash if there’s not enough RAM. On one of my old Windows 7 PCs with 8GB RAM (circa Nehalem), I reduced the pagefile to 1GB and both Chrome and Firefox were crashing too much I had to increase the pagefile first to 2GB and then eventually to 4GB.
 

sparksd

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Seattle WA
While this is true, Windows programs used to be lighter weight as well that you can fit them in 1.44MB floppy disks. Also, graphics tended to be minimal and I remember the resolution of my monitors back then were only 800x600 to 1024x768.

We still have some Pentium III/IV + 1GB RAM PCs running Windows 98 for ancient equipment and those are super slow. You can literally make coffee while waiting for them to boot. Even if compatible, you can forget about getting them to run modern programs.

If you disable swap in Windows, apps will crash if there’s not enough RAM. On one of my old Windows 7 PCs with 8GB RAM (circa Nehalem), I reduced the pagefile to 1GB and both Chrome and Firefox were crashing too much I had to increase the pagefile first to 2GB and then eventually to 4GB.

On my 16GB i7 Surface Pro 7, I drastically reduced the pagefile size while experimenting and forgot to restore it - Lightroom gave me out-of-memory errors when trying to export large images. I restored the pagefile size to auto manage.
 

Digitalguy

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I find this kind of humorous since we’ve had windowed multitasking in full-blown OSes like Windows and Mac when computers had 1GB of RAM or less. I know they had disk to swap to, but that’s something you can disable (at least in Windows) and multitasking and windowing still work.
I don't think I need to add much to what rui no onna already said. Comparing computers from 20 years ago to current devices makes little sense, even when not considering swap. RAM requirements from apps and from web pages have increased a lot since. The average apps and tabs require several hundreds MB of RAM and larger apps like games generally require over 1 GB of RAM. Add to that the well over 1GB RAM that iPadOS itself requires to work and you will see why apps reloads like crazy even on 4GB devices and with the current limited multitasking. And this is without considering some pro apps that can now access up to 12GB of RAM by themselves in 16GB RAM iPads.
 

yabeweb

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Jun 25, 2021
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That is just it. The iPad is a very flexible tablet computer that can be used as a tablet or laptop type device depending on your needs. I am already amazed that my iPP could replace my MBP as easily as it did. I very well understand that iPadOS is not MacOS or Windows. iPadOS is made for tablet use and is still maturing like all OS's have had to do. Personally I like iPadOS better because it is lean and fast, not weighed down and bloated. I also like iPadOS for its ease of use and how intuitive it is. My Real Estate work flow is much slimmer with my iPP. I know my use case is not everyone's, but there are a lot out there like me that can and do use the iPP instead of a laptop.
I agree, there are work that are simply done better on iPads, I also like the iPadOS for what it is, and it will get better with each iteration.

I do not have a Keyboard and mouse to go with it, it made easier to adapt to the new workflow for me, run-in affinity in it is a breeze and a marker to do design with (not just drawings).

Only real wish is for a real desktop experience in browsing, some site even in desktop mode are still weird.

Hope for a nice iPad OS 16 update :D
 
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rui no onna

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Oct 25, 2013
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Only real wish is for a real desktop experience in browsing, some site even in desktop mode are still weird.

My main wish is to allow other browser engines and not force alternative web browsers to use webkit. Some sites (often government) just don’t play nice with Safari whether on iOS or MacOS.
 
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rui no onna

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Oct 25, 2013
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Yeah, my first IBM pc in 1992 (30 years ago, man time flies...) had 1MB RAM and that was not too bad considering that some only had 640kb

Do those support GUI though?

I remember using 386 4MB RAM PCs (IBM clones) and I distinctly recall booting DOS from (easily corrupted) floppy disks.
 
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cupcakes2000

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The MacBook Air sells more than Mac mini even though the mini is cheaper because it comes with everything.
You think a MacBook Air outsells a Mac mini because it comes with everything? Are you sure that's why? Or is it that it's a laptop?

I'm gonna go with that.. as they really aren't the same type of machine or for the same type of user.

Some people want a desktop, some people want a laptop, some people want an iPad, some people get by with a phone. Some people want it all. And actually, having it all is exactly where Apple excels.
 
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Digitalguy

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Do those support GUI though?

I remember using 386 4MB RAM PCs (IBM clones) and I distinctly recall booting DOS from (easily corrupted) floppy disks.
Well, it couldn't run Windows 3.0 (I needed to upgrade to a 386, mine was a 286, don't remember if I needed more RAM, but I couldn't not afford that, I chose the upgraded 1MB RAM over 640kb and 40MB HHD, but that's as much as I could afford and it was still somewhere between 2000 and 3000 bucks).
However IBM had made a very nice GUI. You can see a picture of a similar system here https://www.reddit.com/r/vintagecomputing/comments/3ctb6o
It was simple but very easy to use, easier than Windows. The crazy thing is that this PC still works, while the others I bought in the 90s (a 486DX2 with 8MB RAM running Windows 3.11 in 1994 and a Pentium 3 with 64MB RAM with Windows 98 bought in 1999 to finally connect to the Internet) are all dead.... (IBM made high quality stuff).

PS I remember my cousin saying, why do you need a GUI? Command prompt /DOS is what the pros use.....
 

Bug-Creator

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Do those support GUI though?

I remember using 386 4MB RAM PCs (IBM clones) and I distinctly recall booting DOS from (easily corrupted) floppy disks.

Windows3.0/3.1 was a thing with 1MB and there even was a way to make it run on 640k.

But really Mac, Atari and Amiga ran useable GUIs on 128-256k for their respective 1st generation. Once I upped my A500 to 1MB and a 2nd floppy multitasking became useable in real life.

Point is, lack of RAM shouldn't be a problem today. Sloppy coding for sure is.....
 
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Digitalguy

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Windows3.0/3.1 was a thing with 1MB and there even was a way to make it run on 640k.

But really Mac, Atari and Amiga ran useable GUIs on 128-256k for their respective 1st generation. Once I upped my A500 to 1MB and a 2nd floppy multitasking became useable in real life.

Point is, lack of RAM shouldn't be a problem today. Sloppy coding for sure is.....
That's why I had when people complain that M1 iPad does not let apps access more than 5GB RAM. That was a good thing. And increasing the threshold to 6GB sends a bad message to developers. Having said that, "lack of RAM shouldn't be a problem today. Sloppy coding for sure is....." is clearly an exaggeration. You cannot expect apps and software to become more and more sophisticated and not use more RAM over time, just because back in the day it a whole computer ran on a tiny fraction of today's RAM. It's easy to say it's just poor coding... Apple has been putting too little RAM on iPads and this has been their main bottleneck. In 2022 8GB should be the starting point for general purpose computing devices, no less. It's already for Macs, it's should be for Windows and it should be for iPads, unless you buy it with some specific use case (I still use my mini 2 with 1GB RAM for a couple of 32bits apps and it's great for that).
 

rui no onna

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In 2022 8GB should be the starting point for general purpose computing devices, no less. It's already for Macs, it's should be for Windows and it should be for iPads, unless you buy it with some specific use case (I still use my mini 2 with 1GB RAM for a couple of 32bits apps and it's great for that).

To be honest, I wouldn’t buy a Windows laptop with less than 16GB RAM at this point in time. Modern web browsing is a major memory hog.

As for iPads with 4GB or less, yeah, unless there’s a specific use case with relatively light performance requirements or a need for a certain form factor, I wouldn’t get those either.
 

Bug-Creator

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You cannot expect apps and software to become more and more sophisticated and not use more RAM over time, just because back in the day it a whole computer ran on a tiny fraction of today's RAM. It's easy to say it's just poor coding...

Actually I can and I will do.

"Malloc will never fail" is a line of thought that became so common once everything started being based on *nix supporting swap that today noone really cares about giving back resources (that happens when you quit the app anyways, so why bother) buffers are just allocated again and again, "lets the OS find out what is really used" and so on.


Sure modern languages do have smart garbage collection (a mere bandaid for the underlying issue) and some things do use more then the used 30 years ago, but why must every website run 1000 badly coded scripts? Why does any mediaencoding >1GB per CPU core when it is really streaming data in and out while the CPU isn't looking at just a few MB in any given moment of the code?

-> sloppy coding....
 
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Digitalguy

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To be honest, I wouldn’t buy a Windows laptop with less than 16GB RAM at this point in time. Modern web browsing is a major memory hog.

As for iPads with 4GB or less, yeah, unless there’s a specific use case with relatively light performance requirements or a need for a certain form factor, I wouldn’t get those either.
Absolutely, I have been avoiding 8GB RAM laptops for years, unless I got them at a very low price and needed them for some reason (in 2018 I bought a 8GB 11in MacBook air for $400, as I wanted to try MacOS with a very light but still reliable device). But I can understand that many people have simpler usage and can get by with 8. 16 GB RAM is the minimum for me and 32 is preferred. Last week I finally got a Thinkpad Nano with 16GB because I was tired of waiting for the second gen with 32GB (which is still not even out after 5 months and the models available have absurd prices). It should get me by for the next 10 years as an on the go laptop (with cellular, it has replaced my 11in pro with MK and 4G, which was my on the go device and now sits unused most of the time, as I prefer the 12.9in) and my main device is a 32GB RAM desktop with a powerful GPU (I don't game, I need it to run multiple high res monitors).
 
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Digitalguy

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Actually I can and I will do.

"Malloc will never fail" is a line of thought that became so common once everything started being based on *nix supporting swap that today noone really cares about giving back resources (that happens when you quit the app anyways, so why bother) buffers are just allocated again and again, "lets the OS find out what is really used" and so on.


Sure modern languages do have smart garbage collection (a mere bandaid for the underlying issue) and some things do use more then the used 30 years ago, but why must every website run 1000 badly coded scripts? Why does any mediaencoding >1GB per CPU core when it is really streaming data in and out while the CPU isn't looking at just a few MB in any given moment of the code?

-> sloppy coding....
Because people don't code anymore. Back in 2005-08 I made my own websites in HTML 4. Today it's too complex, and nobody wants to code, they use website making platforms. When I updated one of my website in 2015 I asked the webmaster if he could make a custom made website for me. He said, are you nuts, that would cost a fortune, only big corporations have their side coded from scratch and they pay a fortune for that...
 
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