Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week • Hacker News Board

Re: Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week

#21

Post by ctdonath » Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 6:24 PM UTC

phaus wrote: post #14

ctdonath wrote: post #11

Well, considering it isn't designed as a primary content creation device, not a surprising result (which so many of us have tried despite knowing this). Next experiment: To consume content primarily on a non-tablet non-phone for a week. (It will fail a comparable way.) No matter how much you squeeze an apple, no matter how tasty the results, you won't get orange juice.

The convergence of the PC and the tablet is inevitable. The awkward solutions that have been presented thus far are simply prototypes. We will eventually get it right, and when we do, the resulting experience will seem like it should have been the obvious choice from the start. We already see the value in responsive web design, which is also in it's infancy. Eventually, we will have responsive operating systems, appl…

The convergence of the PC and tablets is inevitable.

Far from it. I've been watching major companies try to converge them for 20 years, all to abject failure (tiny niches aside). The iPad succeeded precisely because it avoided "convergence".

Re: Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week

#22

Post by larrik » Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 6:28 PM UTC

I've been using an iPhone (3 different generations) every day for 5 years, and I still type at maybe 30% of the speed I did on my Treo before them...

So, I tend to just not type.

Re: Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week

#23

Post by ananddass » Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 6:31 PM UTC

fragmede wrote: post #20

Half the problem stems from the apps used, and while it is about the apps, I feel that's an unfair test of the iPad itself, and more test of Google Docs and WebEx on the iPad.

It is true that app quality has a lot to do with the experiment. I was surprised by how many of the problems could be solved if the apps upped their game. Hardware limitations were secondary only to the software experience.

Re: Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week

#24

Post by _delirium » Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 6:34 PM UTC

ctdonath wrote: post #11

Well, considering it isn't designed as a primary content creation device, not a surprising result (which so many of us have tried despite knowing this). Next experiment: To consume content primarily on a non-tablet non-phone for a week. (It will fail a comparable way.) No matter how much you squeeze an apple, no matter how tasty the results, you won't get orange juice.

> Next experiment: To consume content primarily on a non-tablet non-phone for a week. (It will fail a comparable way.)

Isn't that what most people do? Browsing share of smartphones/tablets is still not very large compared to laptops and desktops. And about 30-40% of the internet-using population in the U.S., at least, doesn't even own a smartphone or tablet.

Re: Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week

#25

Post by VeryVito » Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 6:35 PM UTC

I don't understand the point of "experiments" such as these. The developers and promoters of the iPad have never suggested nor pretended that the iPad is a viable replacement for a laptop -- any more than it's a viable replacement for a smart phone. It's indeed a "third device" -- just as it was designed to be.

If you have a laptop and smartphone, chances are you don't "need" an iPad -- but once you figure out exactly what you CAN use it best for, it quickly becomes your "go to" device for certain tasks. I have all three within easy reach, but when I need ebooks, Facebook, Reddit or other leisurely entertainment, the iPad experience is far superior to that available on either of the other two devices. Meanwhile, my wife, who couldn't care less about Reddit or ebooks, finds it's the best platform for recipes, Pinterest, etc.

Re: Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week

#26

Post by jjindev » Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 6:39 PM UTC

The way I've interpreted Ubiquitous Computing is that you walk into a room, and there is a computer. You pick it up and use it as casually as you would a magazine or a pad of paper.

You've done a valid experiment, but I think it illustrates why "if I only had one" is a wrong interpretation of Ubiquity. You don't just have one. If you are like most tech people you have a few, and maybe a lot, of functioning and current hardware. You probably have desktops and notebooks you can use.

And so in that environment a tablet should be good for the things you want to do when you just grab a tablet, in a room or an environment which isn't intended for serious work. And part of grabbing a tablet should be good integration with the other elements of your ubiquitous computing network.

Re: Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week

#27

Post by ctdonath » Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 6:39 PM UTC

eCa wrote: post #18

ctdonath wrote: post #11

Well, considering it isn't designed as a primary content creation device, not a surprising result (which so many of us have tried despite knowing this). Next experiment: To consume content primarily on a non-tablet non-phone for a week. (It will fail a comparable way.) No matter how much you squeeze an apple, no matter how tasty the results, you won't get orange juice.

> Next experiment: To consume content primarily on a non-tablet non-phone for a week. (It will fail a comparable way.) Why? I broke my Iphone at the end of last year (dropped on floor, no visible damage, severely damaged touch sensor). I didn't repair it until March/April, and used an older regular cellphone. I did quite alright, and found that for me most of my Iphone usage is unnecessary. The old phone handled talk…

Uh...that's kinda missing the point of the discussion. Or proving my point exactly, depending on how you squint at it.

TFA lamented a tablet's shortcomings when used as a "computer": direct file manipulation, rapid voluminous text input, instant viewing of bulky data, vast local storage, raw CPU power, etc. My counter-challenge/observation as intended was that using a non-tablet (a "phone" in context being little different from a tiny tablet) would not perform particularly well at doing what a "mobile device" excels at: right-here right-now anytime anywhere calling, texting, emailing, photography, GPS, location-critical web-surfing, etc.

You proved my point by not even coming close to suggesting doing "real work" with a phone (no matter its IQ), other than to transition to a complementary (and decidedly stationary) computer when mobility-related capabilities are not needed.

The take-away from all this is there isn't a convergence point.

Re: Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week

#28

Post by rickyc091 » Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 6:40 PM UTC

On several occasions, I've used my iPad as the primary device, mainly since I had no other choice since I had forgotten my laptop at work, but what I realized was that the limitation wasn't the apps, but the lack of real multitasking.

I was watching Netflix and an iMessage comes in. Do I click on the iMessage to reply and interrupt my flow or do I ignore it. Hey, look an mail notification came in, looks semi-urgent, should I interrupt my movie to respond? I ended up using my phone as a mail / chat client and my iPad as solely a movie player. At the end of the day, I still love my iPad despite it's shortcomings.

Re: Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week

#29

Post by ctdonath » Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 6:49 PM UTC

_delirium wrote: post #24

ctdonath wrote: post #11

Well, considering it isn't designed as a primary content creation device, not a surprising result (which so many of us have tried despite knowing this). Next experiment: To consume content primarily on a non-tablet non-phone for a week. (It will fail a comparable way.) No matter how much you squeeze an apple, no matter how tasty the results, you won't get orange juice.

> Next experiment: To consume content primarily on a non-tablet non-phone for a week. (It will fail a comparable way.) Isn't that what most people do? Browsing share of smartphones/tablets is still not very large compared to laptops and desktops. And about 30-40% of the internet-using population in the U.S., at least, doesn't even own a smartphone or tablet.

They don't regularly consume content using a desktop/laptop while stuck in traffic, riding an elevator, eating lunch, etc. They don't much use a desktop/laptop to take impromptu pictures, make phone calls, do inventory, etc.

BTW: capturing 30-40% of the internet-using population in just 3.5 years is an amazing achievement.

Re: Experiment: To work primarily on an iPad for a week

#30

Post by ananddass » Mon, Aug 12, 2013, 6:51 PM UTC

VeryVito wrote: post #25

I don't understand the point of "experiments" such as these. The developers and promoters of the iPad have never suggested nor pretended that the iPad is a viable replacement for a laptop -- any more than it's a viable replacement for a smart phone. It's indeed a "third device" -- just as it was designed to be. If you have a laptop and smartphone, chances are you don't "need" an iPad -- but once you figure out exactl…

You may want to check out what Jobs had to say about this. See quote from 7:12PDT : http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-20006442-56.html

The goal was to understand, if we are there yet with respect to the readiness of iPad software. Bucketing iPads as a consumption and leisure device is short selling its potential.