iPad The iPad is not a computer replacement

[Fried Chicken]

Not by a long shot. My MBP’s logic board recently decided that catching on fire and not displaying video is vogue, and thus has been out of commission. It’s currently traveling with the USPS to some guy in Florida who thinks he can get its communist tendencies out of its head. Maybe a good spanking will do, more likely some soldering.

In the meantime I got an iPad that I will give to my mom for her Birthday that for now Im using it as my MBP replacement.

it’s great, and because it came with an Apple Pencil, my friends have enjoyed the benefit of personal messages sent in the form of my elementary school cursive.

But, what I can equivocally and without a doubt declare: this is no Desktop replacement. It’s not even a laptop replacement, not by a long shot. *Anyone* who thinks this can even come anywhere close doesnt understand computers. I’m serious. Whatever Tim Cook is smoking in Cupertino, it must be stronger than anything I’ve ever tried.

Dont buy the marketing hype. Stay rooted in reality.

that is all.

 

[The Game 161]

Don’t judge other people’s usage....I need my MacBook and like having my iPad for other tasks but not everybody needs it.

 

[Mainsail]

There are some people with simple computing needs:

• Mail & Messages
• Calendar
• Reminders
• Notes
• Safari
• Photos
• Books
• organize files and folders - Files
• streaming Video, Movies, & TV
• Simple Document Creation & Editing - iWork
• PDF markups
• Personal Finance and Banking
• etc..

For these folks, they can buy a basic iPad 7th gen on sale for $250 and maybe add an inexpensive BT keyboard, and they are good to go. They really don’t need to buy a full computer. Yes, they could do some of these things on their phone, but the larger iPad screen makes the experience much more enjoyable and practical.

The good news is that there are different devices for different needs. I agree that it is best not to judge other people’s usage.

 

[emembee]

Some people manage fine just with the iPad. I personally prefer it as a complement to the mac but tend to use it significantly more like 60 to 70%, the mac only 30% if that. Lots of bugs too in Mac software, Apple have not kept up with maintaining it as they do for iOs which also has bugs as do all o/s ;-) Troubleshooting and maintenance overall is far easier IMO. It is true that DT software has more capability but if you don’t need that then the iPad works fine.

 

[kamikazeeMC]

Whoa it’s like you know my needs so well, thanks for showing me the light!

I use to be a heavy gamer, 2D/3D modelling, a little coding, torrenting and sorting into folders, light photo/video editing.

Now I just want to digitally illustrate, lightly edit photos and copy them to a external ssd and cloud for backup. The rest is just consumption on the web and streaming, all can be done from an iPP.

 

[Richard8655]

Way more judgmental than necessary without understanding other's needs and uses. Just about everything I need to do can be done on my iPad. Mac desktop used only as occasionally required. No bulky laptop needed or wanted in this household.

 

[bsamcash]

I used iPad Airs and Pros almost exclusively for the past 5 years. Just finally bought the 2019 MacBook Air because Costco had it on sale for 799USD for a few days so I jumped on it. But if it never went on sale, I would still be perfectly happy with the iPad.

 

[ericwn]

Not by a long shot. My MBP’s logic board recently decided that catching on fire and not displaying video is vogue, and thus has been out of commission. It’s currently traveling with the USPS to some guy in Florida who thinks he can get its communist tendencies out of its head. Maybe a good spanking will do, more likely some soldering.

In the meantime I got an iPad that I will give to my mom for her Birthday that for now Im using it as my MBP replacement.

it’s great, and because it came with an Apple Pencil, my friends have enjoyed the benefit of personal messages sent in the form of my elementary school cursive.

But, what I can equivocally and without a doubt declare: this is no Desktop replacement. It’s not even a laptop replacement, not by a long shot. *Anyone* who thinks this can even come anywhere close doesnt understand computers. I’m serious. Whatever Tim Cook is smoking in Cupertino, it must be stronger than anything I’ve ever tried.

Dont buy the marketing hype. Stay rooted in reality.

that is all.

Not even some use cases provided that the device cannot perform, just some blanko statement.

 

[secretk]

I understand your point but for me personally even for some of those basic needs the iPad is not the best tool. This is not to say that I don't have other ideas on how to use my iPad but it definitely does not replace my laptop. See my comments below .

There are some people with simple computing needs:

• Mail & Messages

Typing experience in general is better on bigger keyboard. At least for me. I can type with hardware keyboard case for an iPad but I am far more efficient on the bigger laptop keyboard. This is why if I have to choose I choose the second.

• Calendar
• Reminders

Yep. It is great to be able to check your calendar on a portable device while you are out. As long as it can be synced with the calendar on my laptop it is all awesome.

• Notes

In a combination with the pencil this is one of my favourites use for the iPad.

• Safari

Not for me. The constants tab reloads is quite annoying. Browsing experience on the laptop is quite better for me. I can open a lot of tabs, I can go back and forth between them without losing data or reloading.

• Photos

I do not like the way the photos get organised. I want to put the photos in albums and to hide them from the Camera roll. It could be used of course, but I prefer to have the choice on how to organise my photos library properly. With iOS I cannot freely do this.

• Books

Another favourite way to use the iPad in a combination with the pencil. In fact it is my preferable way for books over the computer.

• organize files and folders - Files

With iPadOs things are a bit better but organising files is still better on a laptop/desktop. IPadOS is still not good enough for files organization.

• streaming Video, Movies, & TV

Yep, definitely great when on a road. At home however I prefer bigger screen and better audio.

• Simple Document Creation & Editing - iWork

I try to not make myself do this as the typing experience is in general bad. Lack of meaning mouse support does not help either. Overall I find it complete chore to use iWork or Microsoft apps on an iPad for documents creation.

• PDF markups
• Personal Finance and Banking
• etc..

Agree on those 100 %.

For these folks, they can buy a basic iPad 7th gen on sale for $250 and maybe add an inexpensive BT keyboard, and they are good to go. They really don’t need to buy a full computer. Yes, they could do some of these things on their phone, but the larger iPad screen makes the experience much more enjoyable and practical.

The good news is that there are different devices for different needs. I agree that it is best not to judge other people’s usage.

Yep it all depends on one's preferences and expectations. I personally can do only with iPad for few days (while on a trip) but long term nope. I need my laptop. If I can do something both on my laptop and the iPad and both are near me I tend to choose the laptop every time.

 

[Hessel89]

You bought it for wrong reason.

 

[Plett]

4.5bn Internet users in the world, and you speak for us all. Thanks for that. How stupid of Apple to think some might be able to survive with only an iPad. Crazy

 

[Johnny365]

I just don't like how iPad handles multitasking. It's not quite as intuitive as opening and maintaining two apps side by side as it is on a PC. Everything else fits the bill though.

 

[sparksd]

The iPad does not work for you but it's clear from the posts in this and related forums that it does work quite well for others. And for many people it clearly is a laptop - or even a desktop - replacement because of their particular use cases. You cannot make a blanket statement on utility based on your poor experience.

 

[TiggrToo]

But, what I can equivocally and without a doubt declare: this is no Desktop replacement. It’s not even a laptop replacement, not by a long shot. *Anyone* who thinks this can even come anywhere close doesnt understand computers. I’m serious.

My bad. Really thought my 30+ years in IT working in multiple sectors, including retail, financial and military in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America meant I understood computers.

Thank you so much for correcting me.

I do feel so much better now I've realized that despite my extensive experience in computers, from 6502s to Risc based servers, Assembler/C/C++/VB/C#/Sql coding, Token Ring/IPX\SPX/TCP network experience and finding security holes in military grade operating systems, that I'm just a numbskull who doesn't understand computers.

Where would I be without you?

 

[sparksd]

My bad. Really thought my 30+ years in IT working in multiple sectors, including retail, financial and military in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America meant I understood computers.

Thank you so much for correcting me.

I do feel so much better now I've realized that despite my extensive experience in computers, from 6502s to Risc based servers, Assembler/C/C++/VB/C#/Sql coding, Token Ring/IPX\SPX/TCP network experience and finding security holes in military grade operating systems, that I'm just a numbskull who doesn't understand computers.

Where would I be without you?

You are kind of a junior guy. I'm a retired S/W Systems Engineer and did my first s/w 49 years ago.

 

[TiggrToo]

You are kind of a junior guy. I'm a retire S/W Systems Engineer and did my first s/w 49 years ago.

Gal, not guy 😃

Bet you don't understand computers either! 🤣

 

[Mainsail]

I understand your point but for me personally even for some of those basic needs the iPad is not the best tool. This is not to say that I don't have other ideas on how to use my iPad but it definitely does not replace my laptop. See my comments below .



Typing experience in general is better on bigger keyboard. At least for me. I can type with hardware keyboard case for an iPad but I am far more efficient on the bigger laptop keyboard. This is why if I have to choose I choose the second.



Yep. It is great to be able to check your calendar on a portable device while you are out. As long as it can be synced with the calendar on my laptop it is all awesome.



In a combination with the pencil this is one of my favourites use for the iPad.



Not for me. The constants tab reloads is quite annoying. Browsing experience on the laptop is quite better for me. I can open a lot of tabs, I can go back and forth between them without losing data or reloading.



I do not like the way the photos get organised. I want to put the photos in albums and to hide them from the Camera roll. It could be used of course, but I prefer to have the choice on how to organise my photos library properly. With iOS I cannot freely do this.



Another favourite way to use the iPad in a combination with the pencil. In fact it is my preferable way for books over the computer.



With iPadOs things are a bit better but organising files is still better on a laptop/desktop. IPadOS is still not good enough for files organization.



Yep, definitely great when on a road. At home however I prefer bigger screen and better audio.



I try to not make myself do this as the typing experience is in general bad. Lack of meaning mouse support does not help either. Overall I find it complete chore to use iWork or Microsoft apps on an iPad for documents creation.



Agree on those 100 %.



Yep it all depends on one's preferences and expectations. I personally can do only with iPad for few days (while on a trip) but long term nope. I need my laptop. If I can do something both on my laptop and the iPad and both are near me I tend to choose the laptop every time.

Yeah. My point wasn’t that an iPad is better than a laptop for each of these uses. It was only that an iPad is more than capable of doing these things. As for iWork and document creation, I agree that iPad is not as good as a laptop, but for writing documents in Pages it is more than adequate. For spreadsheets, I would generally limit it to simple stuff where Numbers offers a predefined template. That said, a lot of people don’t need to create complex documents and spreadsheets, so they don’t need to layout the cash for an expensive MacBook. You can also pair a full sized BT keyboard with your iPad if desired.

As you point out, the iPad is actually better than a laptop for some things: Taking notes, reading books, drawing diagrams, etc...

 

[secretk]

Yeah. My point wasn’t that an iPad is better than a laptop for each of these uses. It was only that an iPad is more than capable of doing these things. As for iWork and document creation, I agree that iPad is not as good as a laptop, but for writing documents in Pages it is more than adequate. For spreadsheets, I would generally limit it to simple stuff where Numbers offers a predefined template. That said, a lot of people don’t need to create complex documents and spreadsheets, so they don’t need to layout the cash for an expensive MacBook. You can also pair a full sized BT keyboard with your iPad if desired.

True all that . I can indeed pair the iPad with any BT keyboard but this for me denotes the portability of the device.

As you point out, the iPad is actually better than a laptop for some things: Taking notes, reading books, drawing diagrams, etc...

For me yes, it is better for those things. The iPad is my preferable device for those things. I also like to use it to create short videos with photos I have taken. I find that iMovie is more capable than the free Windows programs I can install on my laptop. There are some powerful applications for Windows but they are less user friendly than iMovie.

For everything else however I prefer my laptop. This is why for me the iPad is a complementary device. I like having it and I would not sell it, but I also would not decide to replace my laptop with it.

 

[urkel]

This post feels like it was made in 2015.

Kinda sad that anyone could feel so stongly about peoples computer uses in 2020. Especially when you consider that BOTH mobile and traditional computers have reached a maturity level where neither side seems to be doing anything interesting. I could live my “computer life” off my phone if I really wanted to. But why would I when I have the choice to use any or all of what’s available?

 

[muzzy996]

This post feels like it was made in 2015.

Kinda sad that anyone could feel so stongly about peoples computer uses in 2020. Especially when you consider that BOTH mobile and traditional computers have reached a maturity level where neither side seems to be doing anything interesting. I could live my “computer life” off my phone if I really wanted to. But why would I when I have the choice to use any or all of what’s available?

Not really. It was intended to stir up a hornets nest and OP succeeded.

 

[urkel]

Not really. It was intended to stir up a hornets nest and OP succeeded.

I dont know. I feel like even the most die-hard platform activists have come to accept that 90% of their mundane daily tasks (Email, Messaging, Social, Photos) are easily accomplished on their phone. Thats why I’m saying how his trolling feels so outdated because in the end then nobody really slamS each other for their choice of glowing screen.

 

[Plutonius]

Not by a long shot. My MBP’s logic board recently decided that catching on fire and not displaying video is vogue, and thus has been out of commission. It’s currently traveling with the USPS to some guy in Florida who thinks he can get its communist tendencies out of its head. Maybe a good spanking will do, more likely some soldering.

In the meantime I got an iPad that I will give to my mom for her Birthday that for now Im using it as my MBP replacement.

it’s great, and because it came with an Apple Pencil, my friends have enjoyed the benefit of personal messages sent in the form of my elementary school cursive.

But, what I can equivocally and without a doubt declare: this is no Desktop replacement. It’s not even a laptop replacement, not by a long shot. *Anyone* who thinks this can even come anywhere close doesnt understand computers. I’m serious. Whatever Tim Cook is smoking in Cupertino, it must be stronger than anything I’ve ever tried.

Dont buy the marketing hype. Stay rooted in reality.

that is all.

People have different uses for their computer.

I would agree that the iPad is not a computer replacement for most people.

There are some people though where the iPad would be an acceptable replacement.

 

[Jethro!]

iPads / tablets are primarily 'consumption' devices. Laptops, 'production' devices.
If you're using your laptop for production, then yes, you'll be disappointed with the iPad as a replacement; if you're using your laptop for consumption, then you'll be pleased with the iPad's performance. Sounds like the OP is the former.
I have desktops (Mac Pro, iMac), a Macbook Pro, and an iPad, and quickly realized the iPad has its own place alongside the other machines, but not as their placement.

 

[VertPin]

It’s not, but it sure has its uses that a computer would not do well for me (IMO).

 

[Viamusic10000]

iPads / tablets are primarily 'consumption' devices. Laptops, 'production' devices.
If you're using your laptop for production, then yes, you'll be disappointed with the iPad as a replacement; if you're using your laptop for consumption, then you'll be pleased with the iPad's performance. Sounds like the OP is the former.
I have desktops (Mac Pro, iMac), a Macbook Pro, and an iPad, and quickly realized the iPad has its own place alongside the other machines, but not as their placement.

I don’t think this is true. I’m in a music program and two people in my year use iPad pros as their main laptop for taking notes. One does all the arranging and charts that he’s wanted to do in forscore and you can find plenty of people doing production on the iPad.