You just described a laptop. Apple already makes a device for you.
The iPad Pro is for people who want something ELSE.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
what does ipad/ios need to make it a full computer replacement?
- Thread starter mrklaw
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
You just described a laptop. Apple already makes a device for you.
The iPad Pro is for people who want something ELSE.
I think mouse/trackpad support would be the number one thing they could to make it a computer replacement for me.
For my job I connect to many different computers for various tasks I need to do. I have once central computer where all I do is connect to those computers and answer emails. The iPad could easily replace that central computer if it had mouse support.
I originally thought my iPad 3 could be used for work to connect to my various computers. I bought a nice keyboard case but without mouse support it just wasn't efficient enough and I ended up buying a windows tablet instead.
For my job I connect to many different computers for various tasks I need to do. I have once central computer where all I do is connect to those computers and answer emails. The iPad could easily replace that central computer if it had mouse support.
I originally thought my iPad 3 could be used for work to connect to my various computers. I bought a nice keyboard case but without mouse support it just wasn't efficient enough and I ended up buying a windows tablet instead.
For everyone who wants mouse/trackpad support, how do you envision using that? Are you going to carry a mouse or trackpad along with your iPad? Or are you hoping that iPad keyboards will incorporate a trackpad?
[doublepost=1454782031][/doublepost]
What remote app are you using? Some remote apps have ways of emulating a mouse. Not sure how good they are, as I never use remote apps myself, but for instance my partner seems to prefer to remote into a PC from his iPad, even though he's in the same room with the PC.
[doublepost=1454782031][/doublepost]
What remote app are you using? Some remote apps have ways of emulating a mouse. Not sure how good they are, as I never use remote apps myself, but for instance my partner seems to prefer to remote into a PC from his iPad, even though he's in the same room with the PC.
For me, there are several things that are needed:
Customizable
One they need to allow for more options on user customization. Resolution for instance, I like the iPad pro resolution on my iPad Air 2. And the number of icons on the home screen of the iPad is just not optimal at all for productivity. Same with the multitasking/split view panel, I have to scroll through 30 apps, 4 at a time, to find what I need. They can easily fit a 3x10 set of icons in that pane without the waste of space.
Better multitasking
Also the ability to run more than one app at the same time. I found myself needing two instances of pages open. Of course they are workarounds, such as getting ms word and pages, but the fact that we need a workaround for something so simple is just too much of a compromise when I could just use a Mac. I would really love to see them implement a windowed system, allowing for multiple apps to be open side by side, and their sizes customizable.
Desktop class software
I would really appreciate a 3D CAD creating app on iOS, specifically solidworks. But solidworks still refuses to even port to the Mac... So hopefully catia or some other company makes that move for us engineers who do a lot of 3D CAD.
More accessibility to stock apps/files
Also, if they force us to keep stock apps, they could give us the option to "open in" those stock apps. Specifically "music" and "videos". The only way to get files in there is through iTunes purchase or iTunes sync. A full file system, where all the "music" and "video" files at accessible, and I can copy and paste the files into those directories, would be a huge plus.
Don't force the use of apps
And I'm a fan of YouTube inside safari, and I don't appreciate being peer pressured into opening a YouTube app that doesn't have split screen or pip when I could more effectively use it in safari.
Primary device vs auxiliary device
I'm still facing scenarios where I need to hook up my iPad to my MacBook to do things for my iPad (iTunes sync, backups, jailbreaks, bricked restore, etc.) where as on the Mac, I never have to connect it to anything to fix it. It's got it's recovery built in to the system. So I can never really get rid of my computer, because as long as I have the iPad, I'll need a device that can repair it.
Customizable
One they need to allow for more options on user customization. Resolution for instance, I like the iPad pro resolution on my iPad Air 2. And the number of icons on the home screen of the iPad is just not optimal at all for productivity. Same with the multitasking/split view panel, I have to scroll through 30 apps, 4 at a time, to find what I need. They can easily fit a 3x10 set of icons in that pane without the waste of space.
Better multitasking
Also the ability to run more than one app at the same time. I found myself needing two instances of pages open. Of course they are workarounds, such as getting ms word and pages, but the fact that we need a workaround for something so simple is just too much of a compromise when I could just use a Mac. I would really love to see them implement a windowed system, allowing for multiple apps to be open side by side, and their sizes customizable.
Desktop class software
I would really appreciate a 3D CAD creating app on iOS, specifically solidworks. But solidworks still refuses to even port to the Mac... So hopefully catia or some other company makes that move for us engineers who do a lot of 3D CAD.
More accessibility to stock apps/files
Also, if they force us to keep stock apps, they could give us the option to "open in" those stock apps. Specifically "music" and "videos". The only way to get files in there is through iTunes purchase or iTunes sync. A full file system, where all the "music" and "video" files at accessible, and I can copy and paste the files into those directories, would be a huge plus.
Don't force the use of apps
And I'm a fan of YouTube inside safari, and I don't appreciate being peer pressured into opening a YouTube app that doesn't have split screen or pip when I could more effectively use it in safari.
Primary device vs auxiliary device
I'm still facing scenarios where I need to hook up my iPad to my MacBook to do things for my iPad (iTunes sync, backups, jailbreaks, bricked restore, etc.) where as on the Mac, I never have to connect it to anything to fix it. It's got it's recovery built in to the system. So I can never really get rid of my computer, because as long as I have the iPad, I'll need a device that can repair it.
Last edited:
Well then, it's not a laptop replacement.
Last edited:
It is already a laptop replacement every time someone uses it for whatever they need to do, instead of going to their laptops. Like at this very moment, I'm post this sitting on my couch with my iPP instead my laptop. There, laptop replacement.
A laptop replacement is when I don't need to own a laptop anymore.
Last edited:
On the iPad Pro, you can choose between two resolutions, Zoomed and Standard.
How many apps do you have on your iPad, anyway? Currently I have around 70-75, and I have them all in one page, thanks to folders. The trick is to add your most used folders to the icon dock. All of a sudden, you have lots of app immediately accessible, even if you have apps across multiple pages.
The split view panel really does need fixing. Hopefully Apple will get to it in iOS 10.
I think Apple might be working on iCloud app to access local file management. We'll wait and see. Apple is taking one step a time.
I think people are failing to realize that for many laptop users that simply check email, browse the web, maybe play a couple games, watch movies, or type an occasional document, the iPad has been a "full computer replacement" for several years. The iPad Pro extended this with a bigger screen and better keyboard support, but IMO the iPad has been there for a while. That said, I've been using the iPad Pro as my main computer for a couple months. The two things that I'd welcome with open arms are trackpad support and a real file system. Even bringing the two fingers on the digital keyboard functionality to the smart keyboard would be very helpful. I've found there's nothing I can't do on my iPad Pro that I did on my MacBook, but editing documents across several apps can be tedious without a real file system.
I carry a Bluetooth mouse in the bag containing my windows tablet. I would expect to be able to use this mouse with the iPad the same way I do with my windows tablet. I turn it on, it automatically connects, and I get to work immediately.
As far as remote apps I tried several. I don't remember all of the ones I tried but I remember trying at least one that could emulate a mouse. To me it isn't nearly as efficient to use a touch screen to emulate a mouse as it is to use an actual mouse. It was enough to take a look at things but not enough to be productive. My windows tablet supports a stylus and that isn't as efficient as a mouse either. So the Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro wouldn't be good enough for me. I even jail broke my iPad so I could use an app that added mouse support. Unfortunately it was a pain to get my mouse to connect (it didn't automatically connect when I turned it on) so it was not worth it.
I'm well aware, but my choice there is for my icons to be big or bigger; I'm looking for smaller.
I'm actually not a fan of the folders for some reason. It's weird, I like to be able to see all my icons at a glance from the home screen, and not have to remember what I have and which folders they're in.
I hope iOS 10 brings some big improvements!
http://tinypic.com/r/10z0aqh/9
Here is a screenshot of my jail broken air 2; with the iPad pro resolution and a 6 x 6 icon layout. It's perfect for me! I wish I could get this on my mini as well, but so far no jailbreak for 9.2
Last edited:
Just curious, what more do you think it needs? Personally for me, the new iCloud Drive and the Document Provider (Dropbox, Box, and local apps like Documents) work pretty well, and I can browse files and do basic file system management in the standalone iCloud Drive app and dedicated Dropbox/Box apps.
You're screwed when you don't Internet access or you need/want to keep files local on your device.
I agree with you. I think this type of file system is more flexible than the standard one people are used to. I really enjoy the freedom it gives you to update documents across many different devices anywhere. People are just so used to working one way that when another way of working is presented it takes longer for them to get used to it.
[doublepost=1454789493][/doublepost]
Your also screwed when that device fails and you lose everything,especially when most people don't back up. This way the IOS filing system is more robust in some respects and from a work/commercial purpose offers better sharing functionality.
No you're not.
Try it - turn on airplane mode, create a document in Word, save in iCloud Drive, you can open it from other apps like Pages or PDF Expert.
Files are cached on local storage as well, so you still have access to them later.
I do wish there was an option to keep ALL your iCloud Drive files locally. Box has an option to keep entire folders offline, for example.
Agree on the failure problem but I just did a couple of week+ trips where I didn't have Internet access and will shortly have a month-long trip without access. I have been using a RAVPower FileHub for saving files (yes - a backup) to/from a USB HDD - this works as long as I can get the files to/from the FileBrowser app which can see that attached HDD. Cloud-based file systems are great when you have access and bandwidth, but there are times when you don't and there are some things that you may not want in the cloud.
I am looking at a secure good way to back up everything have locally. Have everything backed up to Dropbox as it is. Transferring large files over 4GB via wifi seems a block though. Not sure what RAVPower is like that for that though I see it gets great reviews. Think I may end up getting apple's time capsule/machine.
Sure, but a trackpad would still be more convenient. Like I said, the iPad Pro is working for me as a laptop replacement already, but I still think there are improvements that could make my work faster.
[doublepost=1454791829][/doublepost]
It works well enough, but I've still run into issues when bouncing between apps, an example being Word and PDF Expert 5. It can be a pain to move files between iCloud and OneDrive and I find myself doing unnecessary steps sometimes to move documents back and forth. It's very possible I just haven't found a quicker way to do things and they exist though. I'm still adapting to storing most of my files in the cloud.
what does ipad/ios need to make it a full computer replacement?
iOS name change and functionality to OS X
iOS name change and functionality to OS X
Then you will never find one. Because when you make a device that could do everything a laptop does, you just made another laptop.
Think Surface pro 4. Call it whatever, it is just a laptop.
Then, in the spirit of this thread, the iPad will never be a "full computer replacement" IMO. And I would love to have an Apple version of the Surface Pro, which is definitely not the current iPad Pro.
I'd get a Surface Pro, but I prefer OS-X and am too heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem to switch.
Last edited: