Traditional Computers Feel Outdated Now

[Steve121178]

iOS is far to primitive & limited for a tablet. The Surface Pro makes the iPad look like a toy.

I blame Apple. The iPad Pro hardware is phenomenal but it's severely handicapped by software. The iPad will never be good enough until Apple takes the shackles off the OS and allows it to compete.

 

[JagdTiger]

iOS is far to primitive & limited for a tablet. The Surface Pro makes the iPad look like a toy.

I blame Apple. The iPad Pro hardware is phenomenal but it's severely handicapped by software. The iPad will never be good enough until Apple takes the shackles off the OS and allows it to compete.

It will, This is apples plan for the future of iPad or a similar device which is a combination of a Mac and iOS tablet.

 

[Steve121178]

It will, This is apples plan for the future of iPad or a similar device which is a combination of a Mac and iOS tablet.

Yes I know that. But it doesn't help those of use who have iPad's now does it? All an iPad is right now is a giant iPhone, thanks to the ludicrous software limitations.

The real kick in the teeth is when Apple do release a proper tablet version of iOS for the iPad, you can bet it won't support previous generations of iPad. It's just what Apple do.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I think the real question should be, how many tasks would improve productivity when using an iPad versus laptop or desktop?

I think it's like this:

If the task requires using 3 or fewer apps, and the task does not involve the manipulation of more than a single file, the iPad is a good tool.

If the task requires 3 or more apps (of OS functions), and the task requires manipulation of multiple related files, the iPad is a bad tool.

I know it's a horse that's been beaten mostly to death, but it all comes down to file management. Passing files back and forth between apps is tough, especially when the apps don't perfectly utilize iCloud.

 

[Juicy Box]

I think it's like this:

If the task requires using 3 or fewer apps, and the task does not involve the manipulation of more than a single file, the iPad is a good tool.

If the task requires 3 or more apps (of OS functions), and the task requires manipulation of multiple related files, the iPad is a bad tool.

I know it's a horse that's been beaten mostly to death, but it all comes down to file management. Passing files back and forth between apps is tough, especially when the apps don't perfectly utilize iCloud.

I agree with your post, but two things:

The question was what tasks, if any, would productivity be improved if the task was completed on an iPad versus a Mac?

If the task requires using 3 or fewer apps, and the task does not involve the manipulation of more than a single file, the iPad is a good tool.

You state that the iPad is a good tool, which in certain situations I would agree with you, but would you consider the iPad better or more productive than using a laptop or desktop at the same task?

I would answer this as "it depends".

If the user is in a situation that having a desktop or laptop would be inconvenient or not possible, then the answer would be yes. But, on the flip side, if I was sitting at a desk using one app to complete a task, and I had a choice between an iPad or a Mac, I personally think that the Mac would most likely be the most productive option.

 

[secretk]

If the user is in a situation that having a desktop or laptop would be inconvenient or not possible, then the answer would be yes. But, on the flip side, if I was sitting at a desk using one app to complete a task, and I had a choice between an iPad or a Mac, I personally think that the Mac would most likely be the most productive option.

Agree with this. That is true for me as well. If there is a task that I can do both on my iPad and my laptop and I am on a desk I choose my laptop every time.

There are specific pencil related tasks (like annotating pdf files and doing Notes in GoodNotes) that I can do only on the iPad so I do them. Everything else I do on the laptop if I am near laptop.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I agree with your post, but two things:

The question was what tasks, if any, would productivity be improved if the task was completed on an iPad versus a Mac?



You state that the iPad is a good tool, which in certain situations I would agree with you, but would you consider the iPad better or more productive than using a laptop or desktop at the same task?

I would answer this as "it depends".

If the user is in a situation that having a desktop or laptop would be inconvenient or not possible, then the answer would be yes. But, on the flip side, if I was sitting at a desk using one app to complete a task, and I had a choice between an iPad or a Mac, I personally think that the Mac would most likely be the most productive option.

This is a good point. I think it depends on the software available for that task. There are some tasks, where it is indisputable that the iPad app for said task is fantastic.

For example, as a POS using the Square app the iPad would be better than a regular computer.

On the flip side, all spreadsheet software is much better on a regular computer than on iPad.

As another example, there are fantastic PDF reading/markup apps for iPad, which makes reviewing and annotating documents super easy.

On the flip side, authoring documents is better on a regular computer.

As an another example, I know medical imaging has come a long way on iPad, where radiologists can review imaging remotely using beautiful and very intuitive apps. We might be at the point were reviewing medical imaging might be better on an iPad than on a regular computer.

All that said, I think traditional computers are still the way to go for generalists. All tasks that are better on an iPad can still be done a regular computer almost as well if not equally as well, but all tasks that are better on a computer are impossible or terribly inefficient on an iPad.

 

[jmgregory1]

I just got my new 12.9”, 256gb space gray IPP and initial impressions are that it may be a good laptop alternative, although I will reserve judgment until after I get through with the next two weeks of travel I’ll do with it. It’s definitely fast and I love the laptop like screen size.

I’m not going to use it while sitting at my desk, given I have an iMac to use, but for travel it should be far easier than lugging around my rMBP 15”, which has just gotten to be too much to carry given the amount of product I’m already having to pack with me.

I do have to say it’s the one Apple product I’ve been excited about getting, more so than any of the recent iPhones, and right up there with the 2011 13” MBA I bought for work travel. It’s still plugging away at college for one of our kids, which is crazy given it’s age and the hard life it has lived.

 

[macgeek18]

I kind of feel you. I sit at a desk all day and when I get home I just want to stretch out in my chair and use my iPad or Chromebook. On the go and for teaching my iPad/Chromebook combo rule!

 

[MisterSavage]

On the go and for teaching my iPad/Chromebook combo rule!

Lol, that's my combo also on the go.

 

[tann]

The really poor input mechanisms on iPad are what's restricting it becoming a true productivity behemoth, in my opinion.

It's jarring and breaks productivity flows to constantly move your finger upwards to tap the screen.

 

[jmgregory1]

The really poor input mechanisms on iPad are what's restricting it becoming a true productivity behemoth, in my opinion.

It's jarring and breaks productivity flows to constantly move your finger upwards to tap the screen.

I agree with this. It’s what made touch screen PC’s such a bad idea. What Apple should do is add in trackpad support when the iPad is being used with an external keyboard, but go back to all touch screen when being used as a tablet.

 

[ssledoux]

Well I only use my iPP. I gave up my iMac a few years ago. Honestly, when I have to use this little laptop for my work-at-home job, or the Windows computer at my p/t job, I wanna lose my mind. I’m constantly trying to touch the screen to get things done.

I’m new to laptops anyway, having never owned one - just not my thing. Let me just say that I think using a trackpad is the worst thing ever. I am definitely a mouse person when using a computer/laptop.

 

[jmgregory1]

Well I only use my iPP. I gave up my iMac a few years ago. Honestly, when I have to use this little laptop for my work-at-home job, or the Windows computer at my p/t job, I wanna lose my mind. I’m constantly trying to touch the screen to get things done.

I’m new to laptops anyway, having never owned one - just not my thing. Let me just say that I think using a trackpad is the worst thing ever. I am definitely a mouse person when using a computer/laptop.

Trackpads, especially Apple's with multi-touch, is almost like having an extra screen that you can manipulate in the far more natural horizontal plane, without having your own fingers / hand get in the way of what you're looking at.

My wife used to hate trackpads, until she learned the various multi-touch gestures, and then the mouse got boxed up and packed away.

 

[fivetoedsloth]

I agree with this. It’s what made touch screen PC’s such a bad idea. What Apple should do is add in trackpad support when the iPad is being used with an external keyboard, but go back to all touch screen when being used as a tablet.

Touch screen PCs are not a bad idea. Touch screen devices with no input options other than touch are a bad idea. Every touch screen PC has the option to use trackpad or mouse, whereas iPads do not. I agree with you that I would like to see the iPad support mouse and trackpad, but I think that when used as a tablet, it should still have the ability to accept Bluetooth mouse/trackpad input.

In other words, I would like a Surface Pro with full Mac OS.

 

[Stella]

Tablets are the future of computers.

But they will evolve greatly, the iPad will look clunky and ancient, by the time tablets are true replacements for the laptop.

There are just too many limitations on the iPad today, software ( some artificial limitations ) and hardware for the iPad to be a universal replacement.

 

[PeterJP]

I'm using my iPP 11 as a replacement for my notebook, using GoodNotes. I basically have 5 or 10 notebooks with me in a package that's smaller than one paper one. So it sped up my process during meetings a lot: I used to write on paper and process afterwards on my laptop. I do it in one go now and I can switch to Trello and the like on the fly. It's also great for my long commutes. While it's not the most practical to tap out analysis and planning on a screen, it saves me from lugging around a laptop.

On the other hand, I'd definitely like to trade my laptop for a much bigger and more powerful machine. I'm doing a lot with virtual machines at the moment. An 8 core, 64GB machine would be great. The iPad can't replace a traditional machine for that

 

[TheRealAlex]

Now that I do the very large majority of my work and consumption on an iPad, traditional computers (laptops, desktops) have started feeling very outdated for me. Here’s my point of view:

iPads:

• Very lightweight and portable
• Keyboard is removable/optional
• Can use Apple Pencil to handwrite notes, sign documents, make art (drawing, painting, sketching), edit photos
• True all day battery life: even when doing intensive tasks like video editing, photo editing, music production, gaming, etc., iPads hold their charge much better than laptops
• Can take photos/videos and edit them straight on the device
• Feels more interactive and hands-on to me (because of touchscreen maybe?)
• Reaching level of MBP performance and has exceeded in some respects (ex: video editing and rendering speed)
• Much more affordable than laptops when it comes to hardware and software prices

Laptops:

• More powerful when it comes to more geeky stuff (programming, getting into other devices for jailbreaking, backing up, rooting, car infotainment systems, etc.)
• More powerful software generally
• Less restricted when it comes to customization and administration (files, connecting an external drive, controlling window sizes and number of windows on one screen)
• Much less portable, even the light ones
• Less efficient (power consumption, heat, performance)
• Less interactive: stuck with trackpad/mouse interaction unless it’s a touchscreen for which it’s probably not as smooth as a ProMotion display and the OS isn’t as optimized. There are Wacom tablet add-ons but still less interactive as an iPad imo.

Maybe it’s just because I’ve been able to do 95% of my work on iPads, but being stuck with a heavy, inefficient computer that I can only interact with using a mouse feels very outdated and limiting to me. I know some people need the power of traditional computer software (I’ll even be needing to keep a computer around until Excel for iOS is as powerful as the Mac/Windows versions), but the iPad just seems so much more versatile and enjoyable to use to me. I really can’t wait to see how it progresses over the next few years. I’d love to be able to go iOS only.

Has the iPad made anyone else feel the same way when it comes to traditional computers?

I feel the exact opposite.

iPads: are very superficial,full of limitations, a restricted and controlled experience.

Laptops: are unrestricted, full control of the OS, no limitations, can upgrade parts, keyboards feel nice. USB ports and more. Can do serious fun gaming.

 

[Mainsail]

There are a few things that a tablet can do significantly better than a laptop: drawing, note taking, and reading, and creatives benefit from the artistic advantages of an iPad. However, the lion share of workers spend time on documents and data bases. For this stuff, it is really hard to beat the smartphone + laptop (with workstation dock) combo for versatility and productivity.

I would have thought students could gravitate to the iPad for note taking and reading, but my college age kids say they rarely see tablets in the classroom. Primarily, they use and see other students with: text books, note binders, and laptops (mainly older MacBook Airs). Of course, just about every college student has a smartphone.

 

[DNichter]

I have been iPad only for a few years now and it has been a great experience. Very freeing. I feel the same way when I need to use a traditional PC for work on occasion (not by need) and I doubt I'll ever go back. The desktop experience is very antiquated to me, but obviously many still prefer it. What works for you may not for others. In the end, use what you prefer, but I agree with your assessment here.

 

[EugW]

I just ordered a Smart Keyboard for my 10.5" Pro. We'll see how that changes things. I do have a Bluetooth keyboard which is decent, but main issue that holds me back for real work is the lack of mouse support, and the fact it's a completely separate item, so I usually don't carry it with me. However, having a Smart Keyboard with me more often than I carry that Bluetooth keyboard around means I might use the iPad more for typing emails, etc. on the road rather than just using my iPhone and the on screen keyboard.

 

[ssledoux]

Trackpads, especially Apple's with multi-touch, is almost like having an extra screen that you can manipulate in the far more natural horizontal plane, without having your own fingers / hand get in the way of what you're looking at.

My wife used to hate trackpads, until she learned the various multi-touch gestures, and then the mouse got boxed up and packed away.

lol I must just be too old to learn this stuff. ;-p

 

[jmgregory1]

lol I must just be too old to learn this stuff. ;-p

Ha - my wife said the same thing...at first. In fact she stopped using the trackpad for a few weeks, until I set up her iMac to work correctly with multi-touch gestures. She then learned a few of the basics and there was no looking back from there.

I can't say I know all of the various gestures, but I'd never go back to dragging a dang mouse around my desk top.

And I'm old enough to admit I learned punch card computing in college, so I've been around since the days of computers taking up full rooms to do a tiny fraction of what our iPhones can do today.

 

[trillionaire]

I may be in the minority, but I love desktops. For me the only true computer is a desktop. I don't even like laptops and I don't think I would be able to get anything done on an iPad. The iMac is the only thing I use apart from my phone. My work doesn't involve anything that requires extra computing power either, it's just a preference of mine that I've pretty much always had.

I love being able to use a mouse and a standalone keyboard. I don't like using anything integrated, not even a touchpad. I guess I'm just old school.

 

[jeyf]

iPad is too restrictive.