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This recent round of updates made me consider what I need from a "work" machine. For me, it comes down to three items: * Can I code on this machine? This means

This recent round of updates made me consider what I need from a "work" machine. For me, it comes down to three items: * Can I code on this machine? This means at minimum three tasks: write, deploy and test code. This also connotes a lot of things, including but not limited to access to a non-unobfucated file system. * Can I view all file formats easily and successfully? This includes formats like XML and json which are not typically meant to be viewed by a human. * Can I use and move freely between several web browsers? This also connotes a lot of things, including but not limited to access to browser extensions, console, etc. The answer to all these questions is "Yes" for Mac/Win/Linux and solidly "No" for iOS. Which, is too bad, because I'd love to use something like an iPad Pro for work. But Apple has placed several software based restrictions on iOS which, above and beyond other hardware restrictions (lack of multiple monitors, poor selection of input devices) add up to there being no reasonable way to get "work" done on the platform. I don't see myself as a power user, either: Apple seems completely stuck in a time where all users needed was access to a decent office suite and the ability to email and print in order to "do work". That's not an adequate description of "work" any more, but apparently no one has told Apple.

paulddraper 10y ago
Agreed on all counts, though if you are coding, reading XML and JSON, and switching between multiple web browsers, you are the creme de le creme "power user", no?
baby 10y ago
> XML and json which are not typically meant to be viewed by a human XML and json are meant to be viewed by a human. Those are visual encodings a contrario to binary encodings.
- paulddraper 10y ago
  Meant to be viewable by a human, but not viewed by most humans.
- landryraccoon 10y ago
  Agreed. When someone says "not meant to be viewed by a human" I think protobuf or png, not XML/JSON.
matt4077 10y ago
Nothing has changed here. You're just defining "work" differently than Apple. You're looking at programmers, they're looking at the whole. Programmers always needed access at a lower level. Others rarely did. 95%+ of the world's digital output can or at least could be done on an iPad with a keyboard. If anything the number is rising. I no longer need access to an (installed) office suite. A web browser will do. So in some way you can consider yourself an extreme power user, but please don't walk around telling doctors and lawyers and journalists that what they do isn't "work", because it doesn't involve a compiler and JSON.
- smsm42 10y ago
  Nobody says lawyers or journalists or road workers or electricians or barbers or Macdonalds cashiers don't work. However, Apple products in the past were well-tuned to work needs of many software developers, IT workers and other such professionals, for which there's a lot of evidence if you visit any suitable conference, for example. But, it looks like recently Apple has been de-emphasizing the importance of this use case, which would mean the above mentioned professionals may want to look for a platform better suited to their needs.
Exuma 10y ago
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/json-formatter/bcjindcccaagfpapjjmafapmmgkkhgoa https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/json-formatter/bcj...
smsm42 10y ago
As a software developer, the thought of using ipad or any iOS device as a work machine sounds utterly laughable to me. In fact, I don't even use it for play/reading device, because it's too restricted, for work - it's not even in the same galaxy (no pun intended :). I admit, I may not be a typical user - but come to any software conference and you'll see a lot of people like me. What worries me more is that it seems like the Apple laptop line - which has captured a lot of developer segment by having the right combination of polish, power and flexibility - now seems to begin the move away from the power user and towards the same segment iOS devices are serving. They start to remove features and restrict power and flexibility to add more polish. And that's where our ways will be parting. My last two work machines were Macbooks, but it looks like the next one won't be.
flashman 10y ago
> Apple seems completely stuck in a time where all users needed was access to a decent office suite and the ability to email and print in order to "do work". They're like a corporate IT department that refuses to allow its users to install the programs they need to get work done.

paulddraper 10y ago

Agreed on all counts, though if you are coding, reading XML and JSON, and switching between multiple web browsers, you are the creme de le creme "power user", no?

baby 10y ago

> XML and json which are not typically meant to be viewed by a human XML and json are meant to be viewed by a human. Those are visual encodings a contrario to binary encodings.

paulddraper 10y ago
Meant to be viewable by a human, but not viewed by most humans.
landryraccoon 10y ago
Agreed. When someone says "not meant to be viewed by a human" I think protobuf or png, not XML/JSON.

matt4077 10y ago

Nothing has changed here. You're just defining "work" differently than Apple. You're looking at programmers, they're looking at the whole. Programmers always needed access at a lower level. Others rarely did. 95%+ of the world's digital output can or at least could be done on an iPad with a keyboard. If anything the number is rising. I no longer need access to an (installed) office suite. A web browser will do. So in some way you can consider yourself an extreme power user, but please don't walk around telling doctors and lawyers and journalists that what they do isn't "work", because it doesn't involve a compiler and JSON.

smsm42 10y ago
Nobody says lawyers or journalists or road workers or electricians or barbers or Macdonalds cashiers don't work. However, Apple products in the past were well-tuned to work needs of many software developers, IT workers and other such professionals, for which there's a lot of evidence if you visit any suitable conference, for example. But, it looks like recently Apple has been de-emphasizing the importance of this use case, which would mean the above mentioned professionals may want to look for a platform better suited to their needs.

Exuma 10y ago

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/json-formatter/bcjindcccaagfpapjjmafapmmgkkhgoa https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/json-formatter/bcj...

smsm42 10y ago

As a software developer, the thought of using ipad or any iOS device as a work machine sounds utterly laughable to me. In fact, I don't even use it for play/reading device, because it's too restricted, for work - it's not even in the same galaxy (no pun intended :). I admit, I may not be a typical user - but come to any software conference and you'll see a lot of people like me. What worries me more is that it seems like the Apple laptop line - which has captured a lot of developer segment by having the right combination of polish, power and flexibility - now seems to begin the move away from the power user and towards the same segment iOS devices are serving. They start to remove features and restrict power and flexibility to add more polish. And that's where our ways will be parting. My last two work machines were Macbooks, but it looks like the next one won't be.

flashman 10y ago

> Apple seems completely stuck in a time where all users needed was access to a decent office suite and the ability to email and print in order to "do work". They're like a corporate IT department that refuses to allow its users to install the programs they need to get work done.