iPad Why can’t people use iPad as iPad and Computer as computer

[Mahasamatman]

Can an iPad replace a laptop/pc for some people? Yes

Can it replace a laptop/pc for everyone? No

No idea why we need new threads about this every week.

Because everyone that falls into the second group has to tell everyone that falls into the first group that they're wrong...

 

[Nugget]

Because everyone that falls into the second group has to tell everyone that falls into the first group that they're wrong...

No, it's because everyone in the second group is terrified of their seemingly unavoidable Linux or Windows future.

 

[Booji]

I think people have individual needs and should do whatever suits them best. I have a MBA and an iPad Pro 10.5. Can’t even remember the last time I used my MBA but my iPad I use everyday day. An iPad is sufficient for me. I just like to keep a computer in the house for those rare occasions that I need to do something on there that I can’t do my iPad. My husband is more comfortable using a computer so it does get used.

I’m in exactly the same place. I no longer use my MBA when I travel - it stays at home with an external monitor - I use it as a desktop. My iPad Pro 10.5 is my main device now when I travel.

I do like where Apple is going. I see the mouse and keyboard as the last legacy bits to go. We are not there yet, but it is certainly in the future. Given Apple’s strength in user interface, the evolution/revolution will certainly come from Apple.

 

[Centris 650]

There was a time a laptop was considered to be too awkward and incapable of replacing a desktop. See how that went?

 

[Booji]

There was a time a laptop was considered to be too awkward and incapable of replacing a desktop. See how that went?

I can’t help but think that the standard laptop looks rather antique. When I see an iPad, it really does look like the future that I had imagined 20 years ago - a device with a minimal physical presence but gives you all the intelligence and access you could ever need.

 

[danny842003]

There was a time a laptop was considered to be too awkward and incapable of replacing a desktop. See how that went?

And for some it can’t just like an iPad can’t. It’s all dependant on people’s needs.
My MBP sits closed hooked up to two monitors with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
If the mini wasn’t so crap I wouldn’t have a laptop at all.

 

[Mahasamatman]

No, it's because everyone in the second group is terrified of their seemingly unavoidable Linux or Windows future.

I don't think you thought that through. Though smaller than the Mobile market, Macs of all kinds are still good business for Apple - many manufacturers would love to have the market and margins Apple have in that sector alone, never mind the rest of their portfolio.

On top of that, you need to have a stable platform for people to use to develop apps for iOS and that isn't Windows or a flavour of Linux so Macs are here to stay.

 

[Nugget]

Macs of all kinds are still good business for Apple

Could you please inform Tim Cook, because Apple sure as hell don’t act like this is true.

I just want to upgrade my ailing Mac Pro over here, and maybe buy a nice laptop with an entire keyboard.

 

[Mahasamatman]

Could you please inform Tim Cook, because Apple sure as hell don’t act like this is true.

I just want to upgrade my ailing Mac Pro over here, and maybe buy a nice laptop with an entire keyboard.

I don't disagree that they're not selling kit that people like you and I may want to buy but that's not to say they want to get out of the market.

 

[DNichter]

Macs will always be an option, but they will be an even smaller subset of users than they are today. As capabilities and apps get stronger on the iPad, more and more people will switch. Use what you like, but I think everyone will be covered either way. If you are a Mac user and aren't happy with the iMac Pro or upcoming Mac Pro, you likely never will be so switching now may make sense.

 

[Nugget]

I don't disagree that they're not selling kit that people like you and I may want to buy but that's not to say they want to get out of the market.

We can speculate all day on what Apple wants, but the harsh reality is that I will face a real challenge if my 2013 Mac Pro dies this year and I need to replace it. Apple don't offer any attractive upgrade path for me that doesn't involve a significant compromise. I'd be crazy not to consider the broader alternatives.

That's not my fault, that's just the situation on the ground brought to you by the "what's a computer?" and "animoji" executive team in Cupertino. I'm just judging them by their actions and not their words.

 

[s2mikey]

There was a time a laptop was considered to be too awkward and incapable of replacing a desktop. See how that went?

True - but thats not quite the same, IMO. A laptop is just a smaller, more portable versuion of a "real" computer. Still has a mouse interface or trackpad, still has a larger keyboard thats NOT on-screen, still has a hard drive, disk drives, etc, etc.

A tablet is mostly different. All touch interface, no disk drives, no disc readers, no physical keyboard, etc, etc.

Just not the same idea at all.

 

[Nugget]

If you are a Mac user and aren't happy with the iMac Pro or upcoming Mac Pro, you likely never will be so switching now may make sense.

The "upcoming" Mac Pro is a year away. I might be happy with it (but who knows, with no details available) if I can last that long on this out-of-warranty and aging Mac Pro from 2013.

 

[DNichter]

We can speculate all day on what Apple wants, but the harsh reality is that I will face a real challenge if my 2013 Mac Pro dies this year and I need to replace it. Apple don't offer any attractive upgrade path for me that doesn't involve a significant compromise. I'd be crazy not to consider the broader alternatives.

That's not my fault, that's just the situation on the ground brought to you by the "what's a computer?" and "animoji" executive team in Cupertino. I'm just judging them by their actions and not their words.

I don't have the need for any high end computer so I just don't know, but would the top end MacBook Pro or iMac Pro simply not work in your line of work? I get that they aren't user upgrade-able so if that's the biggest reason, I get it, but wouldn't those options allow you to do your work?

 

[Nugget]

I don't have the need for any high end computer so I just don't know, but would the top end MacBook Pro or iMac Pro simply not work in your line of work? I get that they aren't user upgrade-able so if that's the biggest reason, I get it, but wouldn't those options allow you to do your work?

For my work it's all about RAM . I'm showing 48GB of my 64GB of RAM in use currently and I don't even have Slack open at the moment. The iMac Pro would work, but I'd have to discard my display and settle for the iMac's display which isn't as nice for me. I'm running a 32" display now in native 4K (not Retina scaled). I'd really miss it.

 

[redpandadev]

I am sorry to add yet other thread about iPad vs PC. This has been debated several times, but i still don’t get why. All these debate started with Apple’s famous statement that iPad can be PC replacement. But I think this is just flat out none sense.

I mean iPad is iPad, it is not designed to be PC replacement. In functionality wise, there are overlaps. There are things that both can be done. But there are also things PC can do things better and more efficient and there are other things iPad can do things better and more efficient.

iPad was never designed to be PC replacement. Steven pushed iPad out as middle ground of smartphone and PC. It never designed to replace PC, so why there is such debat that iPad can be full PC replacement?

Most of us who was born before 90s, were grew up with Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and so on. Some people were grew up with Mac. I still remember i was running DOS commends and loading Windows 95 from DOS. We grew up with PC interface, mouse and keyboard operations, transfers files back and forth, navigating files from different folders, downloading files to one location and open files from there, we are familiar with grab a USB drive and transfer files that way. PC until this day were still base on these operation and negviation logics.

iPad on other hand is totally different. It has different way to negaivate system UI, it has different way to store files, it has different way to get files transferred, it has different way to install software, it has different way to do almost everything. It is designed completely different way with PC. For lots of us, iPad requires lots of relearning and purchasing whole new set of accessories. And most of us unwilling to do that.

So what am I saying. iPad is different, it is not designed to be full PC replacement nor it serves purpose as full PC replacment. If one try to focus PC mentality to iPad, it will hit the wall hard. We should really draw a line between iPad and PC. Both have its reason to exist and both serves different purpose.

If someone foud that they can do everything on iPad, then good for him/her. But iPad will not be PC replacement nor it should be. Why can’t we just use iPad as iPad and use PC as PC. Why should we have to choose between one but not use both?

What is it that you do with your PC that cannot be done with iPad? By definition, if you can do everything you need to do on either one, then iPad is absolutely a PC replacement. All depends on the person and the use-case.

Example: On my PC, I check my e-mail, access many different websites, store and edit my photos, and occasionally edit/create videos. I also use it to file my taxes, and occasional assorted other random things. I also FaceTime with friends and Family. iPad can do all of these things, and it is therefore a PC replacement in this case (which BTW covers a large majority of users).

In fact, I'd bet that for a majority of average users, the iPad would do their day to day PC tasks more efficiently and is overall easier to use and more reliable.

 

[DNichter]

The "upcoming" Mac Pro is a year away. I might be happy with it (but who knows, with no details available) if I can last that long on this out-of-warranty and aging Mac Pro from 2013.

That's fair. Hopefully the next design sticks for a while and you can just upgrade components when needed.
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For my work it's all about RAM . I'm showing 48GB of my 64GB of RAM in use currently and I don't even have Slack open at the moment. The iMac Pro would work, but I'd have to discard my display and settle for the iMac's display which isn't as nice for me. I'm running a 32" display now in native 4K (not Retina scaled). I'd really miss it.

Ah got it, I wouldn't even know what to use all that RAM for.

 

[strawberryshortcake]

There are 1.8 billion gamers in the world, and PC gaming dominates the market
https://mygaming.co.za/news/feature...world-and-pc-gaming-dominates-the-market.html

 

[DNichter]

There are 1.8 billion gamers in the world, and PC gaming dominates the market
https://mygaming.co.za/news/feature...world-and-pc-gaming-dominates-the-market.html

That's a fair point, but the mobile gaming market is a very lucrative market as well. It is expected to account for 50% of the gaming market by 2020. PC or Browser games only accounted for 27% in 2017.

 

[Brammy]

No idea why we need new threads about this every week.

This is my biggest complaint about these threads. I don't mind the spirited discussion about the pros and cons of using iPads. But, it seems like every week we either get a "Holy cow guyz, did you know you can do WORK on these things?" or some kind of hot take on this. I wish all the threads just merged together and stickied.

 

[ericwn]

This is my biggest complaint about these threads. I don't mind the spirited discussion about the pros and cons of using iPads. But, it seems like every week we either get a "Holy cow guyz, did you know you can do WORK on these things?" or some kind of hot take on this. I wish all the threads just merged together and stickied.

Excellent idea!

 

[Centris 650]

True - but thats not quite the same, IMO. A laptop is just a smaller, more portable versuion of a "real" computer. Still has a mouse interface or trackpad, still has a larger keyboard thats NOT on-screen, still has a hard drive, disk drives, etc, etc.

A tablet is mostly different. All touch interface, no disk drives, no disc readers, no physical keyboard, etc, etc.

Just not the same idea at all.

My 2017 iMac doesn’t have a disk drive.
My iPad Pro has a physical keyboard.
Touch interface doesn’t disqualify it from being a “real computer” anymore than a mouse on a 1984 Apple computer made it less of a computer compared to PCs at the time that didn’t have it. It’s just a DIFERENT type of interface.

The iPad is definitely a real computer. You can do real computer things with it. It just needs more development for some areas of business.
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And for some it can’t just like an iPad can’t. It’s all dependant on people’s needs.
My MBP sits closed hooked up to two monitors with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
If the mini wasn’t so crap I wouldn’t have a laptop at all.

I agree. There are some people who need a desktop. There are some who can use a laptop. And there’s some of us who can use an iPad. To each their own.
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I can’t help but think that the standard laptop looks rather antique. When I see an iPad, it really does look like the future that I had imagined 20 years ago - a device with a minimal physical presence but gives you all the intelligence and access you could ever need.

I agree. It’s a great device. I’ve been iPad only since the iPad 4 and its worked great for me. I love the portability and power of it.

 

[strawberryshortcake]

That's a fair point, but the mobile gaming market is a very lucrative market as well. It is expected to account for 50% of the gaming market by 2020. PC or Browser games only accounted for 27% in 2017.

How many actual PC ported or PC quality games are there in the app store?
How many junk games are there in the app store that’s honestly straight up terrible? (hint; most)
How many app games are flooded with microtransaction that could very well push the overall lifetime cost of the game several times to hundreds over?
How many free games have in-app purchases in addition to the constant barrage of ads?
How many games require constant internet connection?


Give me one time purchase priced games that offers absolutely no possibility of microtrasactions. Anf fully playable offline. Sure no one has to actually touch microtransactions, I know I don’t, never have, and never will. Just don’t like that it’s always there. Yes, in-app purchases are how these free (and sometimes paid) games make their money.

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

How many actual PC ported or PC quality games are there in the app store?
How many junk games are there in the app store that’s honestly straight up terrible? (hint; most)
How many app games are flooded with microtransaction that could very well push the overall lifetime cost of the game several times to hundreds over?
How many free games have in-app purchases in addition to the constant barrage of ads?
How many games require constant internet connection?


Give me one time purchase priced games that offers absolutely no possibility of microtrasactions. Sure no one has to actually touch microtransactions, I know I don’t, never have, and never will. Just don’t like that it’s always there. Yes, in-app purchases are how these free (and sometimes paid) games make their money.

Civ 6? It does have expansion packs, but I think it’s the same as the PC/Mac.

 

[DNichter]

How many actual PC ported or PC quality games are there in the app store?
How many junk games are there in the app store that’s honestly straight up terrible? (hint; most)
How many app games are flooded with microtransaction that could very well push the overall lifetime cost of the game several times to hundreds over?
How many free games have in-app purchases in addition to the constant barrage of ads?
How many games require constant internet connection?


Give me one time purchase priced games that offers absolutely no possibility of microtrasactions. Anf fully playable offline. Sure no one has to actually touch microtransactions, I know I don’t, never have, and never will. Just don’t like that it’s always there. Yes, in-app purchases are how these free (and sometimes paid) games make their money.

Totally fine if you don't like the games on there, just giving you facts. I actually agree with you, but mobile is and likely always will be more lucrative for developers.