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New iPad Air, powered by M4

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Re: New iPad Air, powered by M4

#541

Post by troad »

xattt wrote: post #443
jclardy wrote: post #343

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same. Plus with multi-user, I would own multiple size iPads since they instantly become more useful as shared family devices, rather than only being tied to one persons iCloud/messages/email. And more importantly for our old boy Tim - they would be larger storage sizes because they would be logged into multiple users.

Multiuser is already baked in iOS-adjacent operating systems. tvOS offers user profiles on power on.

Perhaps someone who's more versed in Apple tech can weigh in, but my limited understanding is that tvOS' users are mostly an illusion - the current user is just a flag exposed to running apps, and each app decides on its own what (if anything) they do with that information. There's no system-level separation of data or permissions for different users.

(In my experience, most non-Apple apps just seem to ignore user profiles on the Apple TV, and either behave as single-user apps, or have their own totally unrelated user profiles.)

Re: New iPad Air, powered by M4

#542

Post by theshackleford »

windowsrookie wrote: post #496
tomaskafka wrote: post #379

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would absolutely carry an iPad Pro with a dev environment with me on the holidays for emergencies instead of macbook. And I could add a cheap keyboard, mouse, and connect it to TV to get good enough work environment. Or connect it to dock at home, just like I do with the macbook.

But why? A 13" MacBook Air is smaller and lighter than carrying a tablet + keyboard + mouse. And iOS is always going to be more difficult to do real work on vs MacOS.

> But why? A 13" MacBook Air is smaller and lighter than carrying a tablet + keyboard + mouse.

Because portability isn’t just about weight?

There are plenty of situations where a tablet for many will be more usable than a laptop. Cramped spaces, on a plane, laying back on a couch, standing, quick pull-outs in public, or maybe when they want something that feels more personal rather than “I’m working now.” That last one is a big one. A LOT of IT people I know have moved to tablets for their personal machines because they want to be as far away as possible from anything their brain can connect to work.

Given OP specifically said “for emergencies” and “good enough,” that suggests to me they are looking for flexibility, not maximum capability, largely an area in which the modern tablet for a not insignificant number of people, excels.

> And iOS is always going to be more difficult to do real work on vs MacOS.

If your workflow depends on native macOS software, then sure, maybe. But for people whose work is browser based, cloud based, or remote (SSH, RDP, SaaS tools), iOS is perfectly viable. I know people running entire businesses from iPads and its not just viable, they prefer it, they don't even own computing devices outside of iOS/Android.

Personally, I don’t use an iPad for work, but realistically, I could. SSH exists, and most of what I use lives in a browser anyway.

Re: New iPad Air, powered by M4

#543

Post by theshackleford »

al_borland wrote: post #501
jonasdegendt wrote: post #426

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Didn’t Apple themselves at some point release an ad with a teenager using an iPad going “what’s a computer”? They’re pretty aware they’d be cannibalizing their lower-end laptop lineup.

That’s their goal (or it used to be). When the iPad was first released the idea was that the iPad would be all 80% of people needed. The metaphor of cars vs trucks was used. For heavy duty work, trucks (Macs) will always be around. For everyone else, a car (iPad) will do just fine. When the iPad nano was released they killed off the best selling iPad, the mini. Their statement on this was that they want to be the one…

> When the iPad nano was released they killed off the best selling iPad, the mini.

Did you mean the iPod? :)

Re: New iPad Air, powered by M4

#544

Post by neya »

moolcool wrote: post #214

The iPad would go from a never-buy to a buy-right-away for me, if they added user profiles. It'd be a nice thing to have on your coffee table, where anyone in the household can pick it up and be logged into all of their stuff. Windows XP had this feature. Chromebooks have this feature. It's inexcusable that such an expensive gadget can only have one user.

It's not just that. The "Pro" nomenclature is useless if you work in software. It can't run anything despite all that power. The OS is basically crippled. For a few years, I used to run the GitHub cloud environment to work on software, but the latency would just make it insufferable. Any other alternatives, you would need to pay (replit, for example).

It's also quite heavy and bulky, so often times I would have to choose between carrying it or my Macbook Pro. And over time, I realized the MBP still was irreplaceable. I switched back to my MBP and physical books after lying to myself reading book on an iPad Pro was somehow better for nearly 3 years. Sold it off at a loss, but feels better without the useless paper weight in my bag.

There's nothing Apple can tell me to make me buy another iPad ever in my lifetime...unless it runs OS X (non-crippled).

Re: New iPad Air, powered by M4

#545

Post by moolcool »

bsdetector wrote: post #309
moolcool wrote: post #214

The iPad would go from a never-buy to a buy-right-away for me, if they added user profiles. It'd be a nice thing to have on your coffee table, where anyone in the household can pick it up and be logged into all of their stuff. Windows XP had this feature. Chromebooks have this feature. It's inexcusable that such an expensive gadget can only have one user.

Wouldn't just good screen sharing solve your coffee table problem? Just have the coffee table iPad be a display for your own iPad. You could even have a virtual iPad on your mac that you show on the coffee one if you don't have your own. MacOS has 'high-performance' screen sharing using hardware encoder/decoder now. Windows has had this for years and it's so fast it's like actually using the remote computer. It's not…

The point is that I only want one iPad.

Re: New iPad Air, powered by M4

#546

Post by moolcool »

waterproof wrote: post #357
moolcool wrote: post #214

The iPad would go from a never-buy to a buy-right-away for me, if they added user profiles. It'd be a nice thing to have on your coffee table, where anyone in the household can pick it up and be logged into all of their stuff. Windows XP had this feature. Chromebooks have this feature. It's inexcusable that such an expensive gadget can only have one user.

How would you handle user switching? Would users have to go through a password screen to use anything?

TouchID. I’d I tap, I get to see my stuff. If my wife does, her profile comes up.

Re: New iPad Air, powered by M4

#547

Post by p1necone »

post-it wrote: post #392
mrkpdl wrote: post #389

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds like the existing Magic Keyboard for the current iPad airs and pros, can you explain the difference a bit more?

I think they just don't know about the Magic Keyboard.

You would be correct. If the ipad let you use full osx it would be pretty attractive to me and I probably would have spent the 5 minutes needed to discover the magic keyboard, but unfortunately the idea of buying a computing device with such insanely powerful hardware but being locked into standard tablet UX really doesn't excite me.

Re: New iPad Air, powered by M4

#548

Post by cosmic_cheese »

eldaisfish wrote: post #430
coldtea wrote: post #332

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Which is really silly, because if someone needs to do actual work they are not going to do it on an iPad no matter how capable it is. The form factor simply does not work for getting work done.* Nonsens. The iPad is basically a 11 to 13 (Pro) monitor+computer with an amazing touch screen. Adding the official keyboard folio, or any bluetooth keyboard/mourse is trivial, and it makes for an excellent on-the-go machine.…

the form factor is a problem. Have you ACTUALLY tried using an ipad as a laptop for more than a few minutes? It is top-heavy and falls over all the time. Even if you solve that problem, you now have multiple devices that you must keep charged and with you at all time. At that point, an actual laptop is simpler.

Tablets will need to become a great deal lighter than they currently are before the awkwardness you describe will dissipate. Maybe after some kind of breakthrough in battery tech that allows for a much lighter and thinner battery?

Until then, I would agree that the old 12" MacBook still has a big leg up over an iPad + keyboard due to its clamshell form factor. It's so much less fussy for any use case where a keyboard matters.

Re: New iPad Air, powered by M4

#549

Post by godelski »

skybrian wrote: post #375
godelski wrote: post #368

I still don't get what they're for. Most people I know end up in the same situation as me, buying one thinking you'll use it mostly as a writing device but then either it ends up in a closet or just a web browser you use while sitting on the couch watching TV. In that case what does any of the improvements matter? With first party native apps it's not great for writing, editing pdfs, nor drawing. I mean the notes app…

The iPad mini is great for reading books (what I bought it for) and if you don't have an iPhone, any other iOS apps you want to run. I also use Chrome a lot for general web browsing. Also. I inherited an older, full size iPad that I plan to leave on my piano for sheet music.

For reading I've honestly found e-ink way better. Not just on the eyes (neither blinded at night nor makes me squint if I'm outside or by a window) but the UI. The iPad gets the job done but it just feels like Apple doesn't want people to be using it that way and god Fitbit if you do something the non-Apple way.

For browsing the web, yeah I think my comment reflects that experience. But I won't go to places like HN because typing is just a shitshow on iOS. Don't get me started on swipe... and how is it 2026 and there isn't a universal gesture for back?

Idk, anyone with a remarkable browse the web? How is it? I'd get one in a heartbeat but that price is outrageous

Re: New iPad Air, powered by M4

#550

Post by godelski »

or_am_i wrote: post #386
godelski wrote: post #368

I still don't get what they're for. Most people I know end up in the same situation as me, buying one thinking you'll use it mostly as a writing device but then either it ends up in a closet or just a web browser you use while sitting on the couch watching TV. In that case what does any of the improvements matter? With first party native apps it's not great for writing, editing pdfs, nor drawing. I mean the notes app…

Have owned a couple iPads starting ~2010 -- mainly for reading pdfs, and comics in electronic form. Occasionally drawing / jamming some tunes - almost all via 3rd party apps. There are still plenty of decent apps in the ecosystem, even though their eventual obsolescence is as good as built in, and a lot of stuff I previously loved the platform for has now been gone for years with no replacement. Native apps have neve…

I find the last part really surprising. That seems, and feels (I do have an iPad), standard to me. But markup is, to put it lightly, fucking terrible.

I lean towards the iPad's success mostly being brand name and advertising because I've never experienced the "just works". I understand that from the non techie people, but not when talking to nerds

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