Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

sixcolors.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

371–380 of 630 posts

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#371

Post by ImPostingOnHN »

bemusedthrow75 wrote: post #318
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 end up travelling with all three but (as a web developer) I could just about pull off travelling with just my iPad. But I do want to observe that there is really no such thing as a non-technical creative person, and if there were, they would likely have a laptop, because using an iPad to fully replace a specific workflow on a laptop is, as the article suggests, eventually a more complex challenge than using a lapto…

A "non-technical person" is someone who is not skilled in technology, usually IT, not someone who knows nothing about technology. The fact that there exists nobody who knows nothing about technology is a good clue that the term doesn't mean that, or else it'd be a useless term, as you pointed out

> people are just “technical” in ways that IT folk don’t recognise.

yes, perhaps they can work an abacus, or throw a javelin, or arrange Skittles by color. Those are all technical, but they aren't what IT folks mean when they say technical vs non-technical, and are mostly useless technical skills in that context (e.g. if FAANG was looking for "technical person", they likely do not need help arranging Skittles)

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#372

Post by Wowfunhappy »

TheHappyOddish wrote: post #362
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #356

Missing from this article: why is he traveling with his iPad at all? He loudly asserts "I’m not leaving my iPad at home" but does not explain why. From where I'm standing, the iPad is a crappy platform that has no reason to exist. It's a worse Mac. I can maybe see artists using an iPad for the touch screen, but that use case only exists because Apple refuses to give the Mac a touch screen.

I can't speak for him, but I find m iPad incredibly useful. I sign and review documents quickly, tap out emails on the go, watch movies or TV shows, use it as a reference screen if I'm in a rack and need diagrams, manuals etc. Like most modern computing devices (laptops, phones, smart watches, etc) it has crossover functionality with some devices but not in all cases, and in some it is the superior device for varying…

But you can do all of those things very well on a laptop.

Especially if you're trying to travel light, and you know you need a laptop, I don't understand why you'd pack the iPad as well.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#373

Post by yard2010 »

Steko wrote: post #288
zol wrote: post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re even forgetting the supercomputer they’re carrying on their wrists.

Yeah I also travel with a battery pack and, if I'm overseas, a pocket wifi. And my airpods, although lots of people like big headsets too. Apple also thinks their VR rig is great for air travel. So potentially 7-9 devices. I'm personally not as bothered by the number of devices as much as all the forced redundancy. Like the core devices could have 3 desktop quality processors, 13 microphones, 3 selfie cameras, 2 rear…

Why count devices, In a few decades this number could be x10

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#374

Post by kredd »

Shawnj2 wrote: post #328
ycombinete wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I travel with just an iPad and a Phone. The iPad is great for media consumption while traveling. e.g. playing some games or watching shows, and it's good enough to do some cramped work in a pinch (sales and business management). Also take notes/sketch with the pencil, read a book/article. Most of the things I would use the iPad for can be done better with a more dedicated, or more versatile, channel. Like a laptop, o…

I still don’t understand why a laptop wouldn’t work for most of those use cases if you already are carrying one. Sure it’s a bit tedious to use a huge laptop on a plane but a 13” laptop will fit on your lap and in your bag nearly as easily as a 10” tablet.

It’s not about “you can do everything on a laptop”, but more of a convenience thing. My iPad is basically a dedicated TV/Movie screen. On the day of the travel, I go on apps, download a ton of stuff for online viewing and go through it on my flight or train rides. Sure I can do the same on my laptop, but then I have to hassle with the keyboard, battery, bulkiness and etc.

Sounds pretty stupid, but I bought it 5 years ago thinking it was a useless purchase. But it significantly improved my travels.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#375

Post by freetanga »

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 forgot the e-reader!

Mine actually has Android on it and had allowed me to leave my iPad at home for some trips.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#376

Post by iraqmtpizza »

gizajob wrote: post #337
iraqmtpizza wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do remember breaking my ankle on my bicycle as a child; I don't recall having to jailbreak my bike, though. How does BitTorrent work via the app store by the way? Kappa.

I think you’re mixing apples and oranges.

Okay. How does BitTorrent work outside of the app store on iPhone?

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#377

Post by gherkinnn »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #356

Missing from this article: why is he traveling with his iPad at all? He loudly asserts "I’m not leaving my iPad at home" but does not explain why. From where I'm standing, the iPad is a crappy platform that has no reason to exist. It's a worse Mac. I can maybe see artists using an iPad for the touch screen, but that use case only exists because Apple refuses to give the Mac a touch screen.

Outside of work I use my iPad. I don’t work on holidays, I pack my iPad. I just prefer it. Why is a preference so hard to accept? Are we going to argue about favourite colours next?

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#378

Post by bemusedthrow75 »

ImPostingOnHN wrote: post #371
bemusedthrow75 wrote: post #318

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I end up travelling with all three but (as a web developer) I could just about pull off travelling with just my iPad. But I do want to observe that there is really no such thing as a non-technical creative person, and if there were, they would likely have a laptop, because using an iPad to fully replace a specific workflow on a laptop is, as the article suggests, eventually a more complex challenge than using a lapto…

A "non-technical person" is someone who is not skilled in technology, usually IT, not someone who knows nothing about technology. The fact that there exists nobody who knows nothing about technology is a good clue that the term doesn't mean that, or else it'd be a useless term, as you pointed out > people are just “technical” in ways that IT folk don’t recognise. yes, perhaps they can work an abacus, or throw a javel…

OK so you're making my point for me. "Non-technical" is just an IT trope that we should stop using if we're not talking about employees. And indeed, nobody specified that we were talking about employees, much less FAANG employees.

The bit about the abacus just underscores what I mean. It's derisive. Consider not using the word "non-technical" until you've grasped this.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#379

Post by ClumsyPilot »

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #341
bemusedthrow75 wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m in the UK. Yesterday I watched an eighty-plus year old woman settle her similarly elderly, physically-impaired husband into his seat on the train then get out her iPad to write an email. On my journey home in a more crowded train I saw half a dozen iPads just from where I was sitting. They are extremely useful devices for train journeys.

Only Apple iPads or are you using the term generically? I'm guessing you're in London or another major city? Similar to the parent I only ever see iPads in two places, the hands of rich kids in restaurants, and in primary schools.

Commute Chelmsford to London (27 minutes), annual ticket is $6,000.

So cost of an iPad isn't a huge concerns at that point

https://www.thetrainline.com/season-tickets/chelmsford-to-lo...

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#380

Post by biztos »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #356

Missing from this article: why is he traveling with his iPad at all? He loudly asserts "I’m not leaving my iPad at home" but does not explain why. From where I'm standing, the iPad is a crappy platform that has no reason to exist. It's a worse Mac. I can maybe see artists using an iPad for the touch screen, but that use case only exists because Apple refuses to give the Mac a touch screen.

For art of the digital drawing/painting sort, the iPad absolutely dominates the scene now and has for a while, mostly thanks to the Procreate app in combination with the Apple Pencil.

A Mac with a touch screen would be worse than useless for this, because it still wouldn’t be a tablet form factor, and you need that for the right feel.

So while I too would like to have a touch screen on my MacBook, there’s no way I’d ever use it for drawing the way I use my iPad.

Post reply on HN