The iPad May Kill Laptops and Save the Desktop

[not1lost]

IMO There is no way a laptop is ever going to replace a serious desktop computer for real computer work. That is why they build workstations like the Mac Pro and the iMac is real close in many ways. With everything in the world going to computer control the need for more and more engineers with grow as will the demands of their work with will require more and more powerful workstations. I do regret the authors choice of words in the title "kill" is a little strong right now "Greatly Reduce" would be better, Heck it's already doing that by leaps and bounds. If you look into the future though the generation that is coming up now is adapting to a tablet for computing needs much more than we did. For instance, when I try to type on my iPad keyboard it is extremely hard to be very fast although I have seen some younger people type on them with amazing proficiency because that is what they are used to. I bought an Apple bluetooth keyboard for mine to type on (using it now) because I just didnt want to take the time to learn it, I am used to a keyboard. There again if you take one of these kids that has grown up using a on screen keyboard and try to give them a keyboard or attach one to their tablet they would say "get that clunky thing outa here!" it's in my way and a waist of space!". as we see technology greatly increase and tablets getting much more powerful and versatile and even "Bigger" yes much bigger like a 17" diagonal with a mouse type pad, I could easily see them doing everything a laptop can do in a handier package without a clunky keyboard. It is hard for us to see that right now just like at one time it would have been hard for me to imagine everyone carrying around a phone in their pocket. Just my thoughts.

 

[A Hebrew]

I could see this happening one day when everything that makes up a laptop gets so small that it can fit into an iPad shell...until then...not a chance.

 

[malman89]

Can't even get a tablet with a decent file system or ability to be a (semi) productive tool without add-on(s). Nope.

A tablet is essentially a handicapped laptop any many laptops are essentially handicapped desktops. I see no end to laptops or desktops anytime soon.

 

[KnightWRX]

IMO There is no way a laptop is ever going to replace a serious desktop computer for real computer work.

Define "real computer work".

 

[LethalWolfe]

IMO There is no way a laptop is ever going to replace a serious desktop computer for real computer work.
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I could easily see them doing everything a laptop can do in a handier package without a clunky keyboard. It is hard for us to see that right now just like at one time it would have been hard for me to imagine everyone carrying around a phone in their pocket. Just my thoughts.

I feel like these two statements are at odds w/each other. Form factor is what enables desktops to pack more options and horsepower than laptops and I think it will also keep tablets from being able to do everything that laptops can do.

Like I said in my previous post, there are lots of people that don't need everything a laptop can do but need portability and up until 5 or so years ago a laptop was the only option. When netbooks came out people with 'low power' portable computing needs gravitated towards them and now they are gravitating towards tablets (if tablets are going to kill any market its going to be the netbook market). Laptop numbers will fall, just like desktop numbers fell when laptops became 'good enough', but I don't see either one going away completely.


Lethal