what does ipad/ios need to make it a full computer replacement?

[silverblack]

Actually I don't think it's very functional as a laptop, as it doesn't work well on ones lap

Indeed, the Surface is a laptop that doesn't work on your lap. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? But to be fair, how many people use the laptops on their laps routinely (when they do serious work, like spreadsheets)?

Surely people sit on couches or beds for the web, but that's when they prefer iPads. That is why we should appreciate iPad for what it is, and stop trying to turn it to a laptop.

 

[pika2000]

First, iOS needs to be completely PC/Mac independent.
Sure, there's iCloud, but realistically, everything from backing up, updating OS, restoring, and troubleshooting of iDevices still require it to be tethered to a computer for more reliable operation. I mean how many people here are recommending users with problems to "restore as new"? iOS really needs to be completely and reliably stand alone. You cannot be a PC replacement if you still require a PC for many things, especially troubleshooting.

 

[Ghost31]

First, iOS needs to be completely PC/Mac independent.
Sure, there's iCloud, but realistically, everything from backing up, updating OS, restoring, and troubleshooting of iDevices still require it to be tethered to a computer for more reliable operation. I mean how many people here are recommending users with problems to "restore as new"? iOS really needs to be completely and reliably stand alone. You cannot be a PC replacement if you still require a PC for many things, especially troubleshooting.

I haven't connected a single iOS device to a computer in at least 3 years. But ok

 

[pika2000]

I haven't connected a single iOS device to a computer in at least 3 years. But ok

I do, but ok.

 

[nightcap965]

Not every statement ending in an interrogative mark is a valid question. The iPad is a computer. The MacBook is a computer. The big honkin' water-cooled cluster the size of a city block is a computer.

Computers come in all shapes and sizes because they are designed to meet different needs. The computer that runs under the hood of your car is quite different from the computer in your pocket, which is diffent from the computer that runs Skyrim.

Welcome to the brave new world. I, for one, welcome our new cybernetic overlords...

 

[bpeeps]

You say "full computer replacement" as if there is an industry-standard definition. There's not. There's a spectrum of use cases that range from the capabilities of the iPad 1 all the way through to a Surface Pro.... and everything in between. For some, the iPad is already a full computer replacement.

The discussion is about how far along the spectrum should the iPad (Pro and non) go. How far can it move toward full computer replacements WITHOUT compromising the mobile/tablet nature of the device? It is fair to say that the Surface Pro has gone too far. Some believe that the iPad Pro has not gone far enough.

This is a fantastic comment and spot on.

 

[sparksd]

My Air 2 has replaced my laptop while travelling (for pleasure only now that I'm retired). I use it for browsing, email, writing notes, watching videos, reading ebooks, and transferring my pictures & video from my cameras' SD cards to a portable HDD for backup. I use the RAVPower FileHub for streaming videos stored on the HDD and doing the photo transfer. I used to do some photo processing on my laptop using Lightroom as I shoot RAW but now I'm content to wait til I get home to do it. I can review the RAW files on the HDD using FileBrowser and do some culling and also transfer any to my iPad if I want to do some processing using Filterstorm Neue. I use the Belkin QODE Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case to make typing quicker and easier plus it makes a nice stand for viewing videos. I use my desktops at home but I haven't taken my laptop out of its bag for months now as the Air 2 has replaced it on the road.

 

[spiderman0616]

I did our tax return on my iPad mini the other day. I have done this every year for the last 3 or 4 years, and the app gets better and easier every time I use it. It's pretty unbelievable that the same device I used every night to watch videos and read books and magazines can also do complex things like deal with the US tax code and file a return for you using a "swipe right" interface. The thought of ever doing my taxes again on a laptop sends shivers down my spine.

But what's also amazing is how far away that same device (or maybe more appropriately, it's larger siblings) is from being something that can supplant my rMBP in so many OTHER situations. People fixate on how great the iPad is in specific situations or how great the Mac is in specific situations to bolster their arguments, but honestly, I don't think there's ever going to be total overlap in functionality. They're two very different types of machine for two very different types of user.

I personally love having the option to use whichever one I feel is the best tool for the job, so I'm very happy with my decision to own both a Mac and an iPad.

 

[Abazigal]

That makes no business sense, i.e., by cannibalizing sales, they're not gaining any money, but they're spending more money. That is they made a laptop that you were going to buy but will not, and they spent money making a tablet that you will buy. Basically they're making two products but are only getting one stream of revenue (in the most simplistic terms - its more complicated then that I know).

Mac laptops may be popular, but their sales still pale in comparison to the number of iPads sold. My guess is that even the current laptop form factor as we know it is in a transitional state. The hybrid form factor might be the future of mobile computing, and Apple is manoeuvring towards that as well.

It's always better to have your products be cannibalised by another of your own offerings (ie: consumer buys an iPad pro instead of a MacBook) than by the competition (ie: consumer buys a surface pro instead of a MacBook).

 

[silverblack]

IPP: "I am fine the way it is. Stop trying to change me!"

 

[JonSarge3108]

iPad sales support iPhone sales.

I.e. If I went and bought an android tablet (Samsung) or a Windows tablet (Surface) then eventually I'd buy a Samsung or Windows phone to use only one OS and simplify my life.

If iPad sales ONLY prevent people leaving the ecosystem of Apple then iPad will keep being made - reducing sales or not.

Size options mean less people have to buy other choices as the size options exists with Aaple.

Anything to support the phone...

 

[gadgets1990]

Me being a computer technician and Remote Desktop kind of person, I needed a way to download .exe files on my iPad. I found goodreader. Has anyone tried it yet? It looks quite amazing since you can download .exe files, and other formats.

 

[Night Spring]

Me being a computer technician and Remote Desktop kind of person, I needed a way to download .exe files on my iPad. I found goodreader. Has anyone tried it yet? It looks quite amazing since you can download .exe files, and other formats.

I use GoodReader to download exe files all the time. It can also uncompressed zip, rar, and other compressed file formats. VERY handy.

 

[gadgets1990]

That's awesome, definitely have to get it now. Appreciate it.

 

[richpjr]

One thing to keep in mind for those dismissive of the need for a file system, trackpad/mouse or some of the other desktop type enhancements mentioned here: a lot of these things could easily be added to the iPP without ruining it's functionality as a portable tablet. And by doing so, would make it more of a computer replacement for a larger number of people.

 

[JonSarge3108]

One thing to keep in mind for those dismissive of the need for a file system, trackpad/mouse or some of the other desktop type enhancements mentioned here: a lot of these things could easily be added to the iPP without ruining it's functionality as a portable tablet. And by doing so, would make it more of a computer replacement for a larger number of people.

But as the Surface line shows - if mouse input is an option, developers are lazy and don't drive finger based UI and Layouts forward. The mouse is an easy option for developers not to consider non mouse users.

Hence why the Surface has very few/very poor app options

 

[sracer]

But as the Surface line shows - if mouse input is an option, developers are lazy and don't drive finger based UI and Layouts forward. The mouse is an easy option for developers not to consider non mouse users.

Hence why the Surface has very few/very poor app options

Nope, that is not the case at all. Developers either write for the desktop or they write for the Modern UI. They don't write for the Modern UI expecting mouse input as the primary pointing device.

There are many reasons why there continues to be a lack of touch-optimized Modern UI apps for Windows. The LEAST of which is the Surface's support for mice and trackpads. Microsoft's continuing to change the underlying APIs and lack of market penetration are the primary reasons.

 

[spiderman0616]

One thing to keep in mind for those dismissive of the need for a file system, trackpad/mouse or some of the other desktop type enhancements mentioned here: a lot of these things could easily be added to the iPP without ruining it's functionality as a portable tablet. And by doing so, would make it more of a computer replacement for a larger number of people.

I wouldn't say I'm dismissive of it necessarily--I don't do a lot of digging around in the file system on my Mac as it is. But I do think you're right--something like how they're currently doing iCloud Drive would probably suffice.

 

[sparksd]

One thing to keep in mind for those dismissive of the need for a file system, trackpad/mouse or some of the other desktop type enhancements mentioned here: a lot of these things could easily be added to the iPP without ruining it's functionality as a portable tablet. And by doing so, would make it more of a computer replacement for a larger number of people.

Agree. This support can be added without degrading other functionality and should matter only to those who want to use that new functionality.

 

[Yebubbleman]

1. A native File system (that isn't just iCloud Drive)

2. Substantially better multitasking (the split screen multitasking is adequate, if not elegant, for something like the iPad mini 4, but it's still a joke for the iPad Air 2 and would be more laughable on the iPad Pro were it not just as good as any other non-Windows based tablet)

3. Support for Apps that don't automatically enter suspend state when you switch apps or return to the home screen

4. Support for external storage devices (be they wireless or wired) OR support for quickly moving files/data to and from the tablet

5. A dedicated tablet GUI that wasn't very clearly an overglorified version of the GUI of iOS on iPhone (again, iOS's current GUI is fine for consumption-geared devices like the iPad mini, the iPhones, and the iPod touch, but it becomes lacking in things bigger than that pretty quickly).

6. The ability to downgrade OSes as easily as one can on a Mac (I can downgrade my Mac to as low as the version it was introduced with via clean installations; with iOS, this is never an option).

7. Multiple user account support (iOS is based off of OS X and OS X runs on UNIX, this shouldn't be difficult to do natively)

8. Native Terminal app (see above)

I think if they can swing at least this much, then they won't be off to too poor of a start.

 

[Night Spring]

6. The ability to downgrade OSes as easily as one can on a Mac (I can downgrade my Mac to as low as the version it was introduced with via clean installations; with iOS, this is never an option).

Apple is never going to allow this, because they consider this a security issue. This used to be possible on earlier versions of iOS. Apple actually went to a lot of trouble to make this not possible, and for a while, with each generation of iOS, Apple and the jailbreakers were doing a cat-and-mouse game where each gen, Apple made it harder to downgrade, and the jailbreakers kept finding way to circumvent the anti-downgrade protection. Finally, around iPhone 4s, Apple got the better of jailbreakers, and no one has figured out a publicly releasable way to downgrade the OS in a while.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Apple is never going to allow this, because they consider this a security issue. This used to be possible on earlier versions of iOS. Apple actually went to a lot of trouble to make this not possible, and for a while, with each generation of iOS, Apple and the jailbreakers were doing a cat-and-mouse game where each gen, Apple made it harder to downgrade, and the jailbreakers kept finding way to circumvent the anti-downgrade protection. Finally, around iPhone 4s, Apple got the better of jailbreakers, and no one has figured out a publicly releasable way to downgrade the OS in a while.

Granted. However, I don't think many will see iOS for iPad to be a full replacement OS/platform for laptop/desktop systems until that is reverted/remedied, which is to say that it likely never will be considered as such.

 

[JonSarge3108]

Granted. However, I don't think many will see iOS for iPad to be a full replacement OS/platform for laptop/desktop systems until that is reverted/remedied, which is to say that it likely never will be considered as such.

I've never downgraded a Windows or OS X system from one OS to another. I think we need to consider what most people 'do' - in my head most people want a simple, easy to handle, safe and secure OS that allows them to get done what they want to get done quickly and without hassle.

Then the 'power users' want the ability to play/fiddle - and are more likely to be found reading an Internet forum for Mac devices.

 

[Eric5273]

Then the 'power users' want the ability to play/fiddle - and are more likely to be found reading an Internet forum for Mac devices.

It has occurred to me that a large portion of the people posting in these forums are IT people or the like. For someone who programs for a living, or manages computers or computer systems, or course an iPad is never going to be a replacement for a Mac or PC.

But for many of us who use a computer to do our job, but our entire job does not revolve around the computer (the majority of computer users), and for many who just use a computer for personal (non-business) use, the iPad Pro can replace a Mac or PC.

 

[Night Spring]

Granted. However, I don't think many will see iOS for iPad to be a full replacement OS/platform for laptop/desktop systems until that is reverted/remedied, which is to say that it likely never will be considered as such.

Yes, but while OS X machines can be downgraded in theory, in practice, it's a lot complicated. I have a MBA that has gotten slow on El Capitan, so I sometimes think about rolling it back to Yosemite or Mavericks, but then I think of all the hoops I have to jump through to do that, including reinstalling all my software, and I just decide "no, I'll live with the slowness." It's not just when rolling back the OS, but when moving to a new machine, iOS is just so simple, you just restore a saved backup to a new iOS device, and everything is exactly the way it was on your old device. With OS X and Windows, each time I buy a new computer, or have to wipe the system hard drive, I end up starting from scratch. Time Machine backups and migration assistants don't really restore everything, and keeping up-to-date backups of your stuff is a nightmare. As another poster said, computer enthusiasts might feel that being able to roll back the OS is a must have feature, but regular users aren't going to bother with that kind of thing.