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Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

sixcolors.com

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Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#551

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> why would you expect a tablet to substitute for a general computing platform? it already is one, just with an OS that locks down its ability to function as one why would you expect the OS to do that when it could also give the user the option to use the general computing platform as a general computing platform?

Apple has never marketed iPad as a general computing platform. (Well, except that weird “what’s a computer” ad.) No version of iPad has ever been able to run any other OS than iOS/iPadOS and the device itself was introduced as a user-friendly alternative to the clunky and ugly “tablet PCs”. When a product reminds you of a different product, or has the same amount of hardware inside as the other product, it doesn’t ha…

maybe, maybe not, but that doesn't change the fact that it's already a general computing platform, just with an OS that locks down its ability to function as one

so, why would you expect the OS to do that when it could also give the user the option to use the general computing platform as a general computing platform? Just because of marketing? Just because that's what they've always done? Neither are good answers imho

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#552

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Only Apple iPads as far as I could see, but by no means only the most expensive or newest. Non-Apple tablet devices really are not often seen in the UK (some convertible PCs, the occasional Samsung tablet). If you spend a lot of time on public transport, an iPad isn't really that much of a luxury item. It's a really pragmatic choice, and at least in the UK an entry-level or recent secondhand iPad is not much more exp…

Thanks for expanding on your experience. Not commuting, and coming from a relatively poor small city, when I'm on trains I only ever see people on phones and occassionally laptops for people doing actual work.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#553

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I keep old Yoga 13 in a drawer. I think it happened still too early for its time - too heavy as tablet, fans, small screen vs form factor, font hinting quite bad in vertical mode, Windows8 clunky interface, battery... I think today's Macbook Air M2 with 360deg hinges, touch and some iPad like UI-mode would be a holy grail for the article author.

A 360 MX Macbook with all the benefits of an iPad (run iOS apps, cellular data, both cameras, excellent touch response, maybe even lidar) would absolutely kill iPad sales, but it would also be the best all-in-one device Apple ever made.

Your dream is an interesting thought experiment. Let's reflect on if Apple would provide all these experiences.

0. 360 MX. This is the least likely. I'm sure Apple has been testing flippable hinges for decades at this point, but even if they could make the best one, they need a marketing reason for users. What's the point in a flippable laptop if you can't use everything when it's flipped like Windows?

1. Running iOS apps. macOS with an ARM chip already runs iOS apps, the problem is that most developers are chickenshit and don't allow people to run their apps on macOS. Apple needs to reverse course and remove the ability to deny running on macOS.

2. Cellular data. By this point, Apple would have done it. There's a valid argument that Apple doesn't want to even entertain negotiations with Qualcomm about how much it would cost them to put modems in their laptops, so I believe our last hope is that the modems currently in development by Apple themselves are someday destined for Apple laptops.

3. Excellent touch response. Every Macbook already has the best touch response in any laptop. Their trackpad is best-in-class. I don't know how Apple could even fail at that.

4. Lidar. What? Why?

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#554

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would help but some of what I found annoying was the delay in transitioning between modes and software generally not designed with tablet mode in mind. Not sure if the situation has improved in the last few years on those points.

Not sure if that's changed over time or not but transition speed is more or less the same between the two in my experience. There's some software which does a decent enough job at tablet mode (enough that I don't feel the need for a separate tablet - basically media consumption type activities - ebook readers, Netflix, etc are covered well enough and web browsing works for me) and the surface pro form factor feels mu…

You can't even turn off the touch screen when in laptop mode, so every time you brush the screen when typing (it happens a lot, the device is tiny) you end up messing up something.

Microsoft, for all its qualities, truly does not care about the finer details.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#555

I suppose the writer will have to wait a few more years before apple 'reinvents' the touch screen and convinces everyone they invented the touchscreen laptop. Notice how just about every other manufacture has a touch screen offering. The same was true for DVD writers back when apple called it the super drive. Many devices on the market came with DVD writers. The ipad pro as great as it is, will not replace a Macbook.…

I hope Apple never releases a touch screen MacBook. MacOS is the only operating system that still has UI elements appropriately sized for mouse use. Everything else uses huge buttons to account for touch use-cases.

My (general purpose) Linux machines and Chromebook all have reasonably sized UI elements for mouse use.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#556

I suppose the writer will have to wait a few more years before apple 'reinvents' the touch screen and convinces everyone they invented the touchscreen laptop. Notice how just about every other manufacture has a touch screen offering. The same was true for DVD writers back when apple called it the super drive. Many devices on the market came with DVD writers. The ipad pro as great as it is, will not replace a Macbook.…

I hope Apple never releases a touch screen MacBook. MacOS is the only operating system that still has UI elements appropriately sized for mouse use. Everything else uses huge buttons to account for touch use-cases.

Have you seen the Ventura system settings update? It kinda looks like iOS.

Edit: I also think the touch screens have gotten more accurate so you'd probably have not that bad of an experience. Using windows with a finger or pen isn't that bad.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#557
post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's simple. A laptop is a keyboard-oriented device, packing a,lot of computing power. It has the shortest battery life, and requires a desk, or at least a seat, to operate comfortably. A phone is a handheld device, one which is always on you. It necessarily has a smaller screen, no separate keyboard, and only has a decent battery life because it sleeps most of the time. It can have serious peak performance, but has…

Having worked in many graphics roles for 20 years, I have never heard of a professional wanting to use an iPad for their work, yet this thread is full of people claiming the iPad is some artist dream tool. It is not even close to true.

There are lots of digital graphic artist who loves them. Another group of users are musicians.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#558

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

My 4 year old can operate every electronic device in our house but he is still "non-technical". We need to distinguish them unless we want chaos.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#559

Did anyone try this https://getutm.app , is it possible to install it on a non-jailbroken iPad Pro M2?

UTM works much better if you can install the Hypervisor version via TrollStore. Unfortunately you can't do that with M2 iPads since they came with iOS 16.1 from factory and TrollStore only works on iOS 15.0-15.4.1

Luckily I have an M1 iPad Pro with iOS 15.3.1. Managed to install Oracle Database 19c ARM on Oracle Linux Arm 8.8.

Re: Giving up the iPad-only travel dream

#560

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really. It’s instead a different device offering an experience that doesn’t require a keyboard or mouse at all.

Why would it become worse if they add support for keyboard and mouse on top of it?

It does offer support for a keyboard and a mouse but what you're proposing is adding features or programs that would only work (or at least only work well) with a keyboard and a mouse, which would be a pretty big departure from the current design of the device.
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