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Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

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Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#171

Post by makeitdouble »

jeroenhd wrote: post #44
perardi wrote: post #6

When the iPad first came out, people knocked it as "a big iPod touch". But…maybe that wasn't a bad thing? I feel like the iPad, despite alllll the efforts to seemingly make it a pro device, is an iPhone, but bigger. It's great for messages, browsing Facebook, and watching video, and that's just fine. Because that serves a lot of people's needs, and trying to add in a bunch more stuff just overloads the touch interfac…

I think "iPad is a big iPod" worked great, but then they brought out the iPad Pro. That thing was supposed to be for Professionals doing Professional Work Things. After that came the iPad Mini, which is an iPad but smaller (so it's an iPod but bigger but smaller?). Weirdly enough, I don't think the iPad Pro is more than just the iPad but faster and bigger. There are tons of model-based software restrictions between t…

The biggest issue with the iPad Pro is macos. It should either run macos, or get a compatibility layer that runs macos programs, but Apple's sitting on this fence for a decade neither pushing the mac to get touch, nor letting the iPad become desktop class.

> Too bad Qualcom/Samsung/Mediatek can't figure out how to compete with Apple

I'd argue Microsoft did, and they're at their 9th iteration of a decently good product. As do Dell, Huawei, ASUS and the other makers shipping windows tablets. They're definitely there on the "Pro" side.

Samsung also pushed some pretty good devices on the Chromebook side, which I'd argue is a more direct competitor to iPad if it comes to elderly or kids in school where you need a more constrained and touch first experience.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#172

Post by ja27 »

I used to grab my iPad Pro (a 2018 12.9") a lot more. Battery life used to be a factor but these days my M1 MBP probably gets better life. Since I got the Magic Keyboard for the iPad (which is awesome), it's not much lighter than the MBP either. I'd cry a lot less if it got a liquid spill, which would probably only take out the $300 keyboard.

It does pretty much force me to single-task, often either in a document or a terminal (Blink), which can be a real advantage at times. But so often I'll need to swap between a browser, Slack, Trello, a terminal, etc. that I'll end up with background apps getting killed due to memory pressure or the dreaded "respring" where the base UI completely reloads.

So the iPad now mostly makes a good reader (indoors only though), note-taker, and video watcher. It'd be good as a travel monitor if goddamn Sidecar could work more than 24% of the time.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#173

Post by thrashh »

gizajob wrote: post #96
madeofpalk wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like all things Apple, iPad is great if you only use it for the exact, limited use cases it was designed for. The moment you start to be beyond that slightly it completely falls apart. Contrast it to a more general computer running macOS or Windows, which does a poorer job at what iPad does best, but it has a much longer tail where the complexity ramps up linearly, compared to the hockey stick of iOS.

At the same time though, limited tools can lead to creativity. I know we're in the company of coders with complex workflows, but using and understanding a limited tool well to the point where you can max it out can be better than living with a "long tail" of untapped power and productivity. Strange though, how the iPad is ostensibly a much better device given the touchscreen and keyboard (and now pencil) and yet rema…

In this case, the limitation is more on developers of iPad apps than users. It’s making developers more creative but I don’t think it’s making users more creative.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#174

Post by Johnny555 »

jll29 wrote: post #149

The key sentence here is: > This is the fundamental difference between the Mac (a platform that basically lets developers and users do anything they want) and the iPad (where if Apple doesn’t specifically allow it, it can’t be done). Apple (since Lisa/Mac, after Apple II, which had an open architecture) likes appliances and to control the user experience, so the iPad is "more Apple" than Macs are. Whenever I am waiti…

>You'd think depending on the person, they'd travel with EITHER their phone OR their iPad OR their laptop

I don't want to pull out my iPad or laptop when I need to make a call, or while standing in line.

I don't want to do everything on my phone, I appreciate the larger screen of an tablet or laptop.

When I need to be reachable for work I carry a laptop too -- I'm not allowed to do work on my personal device, but even if I could, I wouldn't, that would mean giving my employer far more control over my personal device than I want to (the same reason I wouldn't use my work laptop for personal use)

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#175

Post by ja27 »

xwdv wrote: post #66

If all you need is to carry a computer for emergency work related tasks on vacation, you can do it straight from an iPhone thin client and Bluetooth keyboard. No MacBook or iPad required.

Coworkers were always amazed when we'd be at lunch and I'd pull out my phone and make a code change or fix an issue right there. It's not that hard. Much easier with an external keyboard though.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#176

Post by nicbou »

jll29 wrote: post #149

The key sentence here is: > This is the fundamental difference between the Mac (a platform that basically lets developers and users do anything they want) and the iPad (where if Apple doesn’t specifically allow it, it can’t be done). Apple (since Lisa/Mac, after Apple II, which had an open architecture) likes appliances and to control the user experience, so the iPad is "more Apple" than Macs are. Whenever I am waiti…

I bring all three on a bicycle trip. My iPad replaces a book and a notebook, so I pack just as much as before. My laptop is an actual work machine that does a lot more.

I tried to combine both with a Windows tablet, but it was just the worst of both worlds: a slow and needy Windows PC, and a tablet with bad UX, bad apps and poor battery life.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#177

Post by makeitdouble »

oflannabhra wrote: post #167
TillE wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem with a convertible MacBook is that you'd have to move the battery to behind the display, at which point you're really just making an iPad that can be attached to a keyboard dock and run macOS. I think the latter is a plausible evolution of the iPad Pro.

Apple’s big philosophy is that the interaction paradigm should be distinct, from the hardware to the software, and that mixing the two is confusing and a bad experience. I happen to agree with them, but I would love to be able to switch between the two. macOS is powerful, but adding touch to it would actually be terrible. Switching between those modes and input paradigms, while maintaining some level of context would…

> Apple’s big philosophy is that the interaction paradigm should be distinct

They're allowing iPad and iOS apps on the macs, so it doesn't seem so clear cut. Feels more like they don't have a clear incentive to push further when people keep buying both products.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#178

Post by nicbou »

makeitdouble wrote: post #165
pavel_lishin wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You'd think depending on the person, they'd travel with EITHER their phone OR their iPad OR their laptop, depending on whether they are private people, non-technical "creatives" or IT/technical/dev folks, but instead, everybody appears to be travelling with ALL THREE devices instead I can't answer a call or text my family with my laptop while I'm on the go. I can't plug my macbook into a car to use maps or play mus…

Parent's point still stands as in a decent ecosystem you'd get down to at most two. For instance a phone and a Surface Pro covers 100% of the use cases, there's no gap for a 3rd device. For some this gets down to one device with a Galaxy Fold and DEX. People might have different preferences and/or be locked in the Apple ecosystem anyway, but we have working products showing things done differently ("think different"…

The iPad is a much better tablet than the Surface. The art and note apps are incomparably better. The ebook reader apps too.

iPad OS is limited, but it's fine for reading, writing and sketching. It's good to do that on a separate device that is not connected to work stuff. I can bring my iPad in the bedroom because it's just a fancy book.

Windows is also far too needy for this sort of device. I returned my Surface after a day because of updates, notifications, tracking and a complete lack of respect for the user. My iPad is such a calm device by comparison.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#179

Post by bdcravens »

gizajob wrote: post #90
oflannabhra wrote: post #18

I know Apple has a strong resistance to the two-in-one form factor, but an M-series MacBook Air with detachable screen that seamlessly transitions between macOS and iPadOS is basically my dream device.

I'm amazed the two haven't converged yet. I've no doubt apple have lurking in their labs a "double iPad" with a "screen" and a second screen where the keyboard now lives, running a version of iOS-like MacOS. Would love that device and think it'll emerge eventually.

Why would they willingly create a device where people can buy one instead of two?

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#180

Post by nicbou »

mos_6502 wrote: post #37
politelemon wrote: post #29

I'm also looking for a two in one, a tablet that can be a laptop. The best I've found is a surface, and I think dell has some two in ones too. The surface feels like the right call because it's just light enough to be a powerful tablet, but not so power hungry that it's stationary. I think they've hit the right balance here. It's a shame this form factor isn't so common, and what would be perfect for a vacation would…

I was about to comment something to the same effect. Like the author, as well as many who have commented, I've long been disappointed in the gap between macOS' support for advanced use cases (which I need), and the iPad's portability (which I like). I picked up a Surface Go 3. Having an actual desktop OS on a well-built, decently powerful (albeit hot at times) tablet struck the perfect balance for me. Wish I had done…

I tried that, but the Surface was a bad iPad and a bad laptop, at least for my needs.
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