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Why Use a Laptop When a Tablet Will Do?

3 points by dcawrey 16y ago

makecheck 16y ago
I like the iPad, however it is a seriously passive device for anything that doesn't actually benefit from fingers (like drawing). You can only realistically interact with it for things that require touch interaction. If I want to read my E-mail, it's ideal. Same for reading news sites, etc. such as HN. If I begin typing an E-mail of any length, it's only a matter of time before I screw something up on the iPad. While some of this could be addressed by fixing Apple's asinine methods for text selection and cursor movement, a lot of it is just the (lack of) keyboard. Similarly, if I want to log in to any web site, or otherwise do lots of typing, it is a real pain. So I rarely do, except from a full-fledged computer. If you have to do any significant amount of typing remotely, you NEED a laptop. Though, I do agree that Windows is overkill, especially on batteries; something like Linux with VNC would be plenty to reach any session you have running and do real work (or a Mac). On the other hand, if you're drawing, or doing things that would require lots of mouse movements, the iPad is ideal, and a laptop would suck. So Steve Jobs is basically right...there is a market in between the computer and the laptop.
- slantyyz 16y ago
  Regarding the logins, have you tried 1Password? If you're using 1Password on a computer and sync with 1Password with your iPad, it will save you a -ton- of headaches trying to log into sites on an iPad.
billswift 16y ago
If you can do everything you need with a tablet, great. But many people need more capabilities than a tablet provides, at least some of the time, then it is either use a laptop when you could be using a tablet, or you have to buy and maintain and transport both.
AndrewDucker 16y ago
He complains about Windows 7 not being instant-on. My laptop resumes from sleep in less than 2 seconds. Which isn't quite as fast as my phone, but it's not what you might call "slow". He refuses Android on the grounds that it's "For Phones". It's not for phones any more than iOs is - it's an operating system with a simplified UX, I'm looking forward to the first pads that use it.

3 points by dcawrey 16y ago

I like the iPad, however it is a seriously passive device for anything that doesn't actually benefit from fingers (like drawing). You can only realistically interact with it for things that require touch interaction. If I want to read my E-mail, it's ideal. Same for reading news sites, etc. such as HN. If I begin typing an E-mail of any length, it's only a matter of time before I screw something up on the iPad. While some of this could be addressed by fixing Apple's asinine methods for text selection and cursor movement, a lot of it is just the (lack of) keyboard. Similarly, if I want to log in to any web site, or otherwise do lots of typing, it is a real pain. So I rarely do, except from a full-fledged computer. If you have to do any significant amount of typing remotely, you NEED a laptop. Though, I do agree that Windows is overkill, especially on batteries; something like Linux with VNC would be plenty to reach any session you have running and do real work (or a Mac). On the other hand, if you're drawing, or doing things that would require lots of mouse movements, the iPad is ideal, and a laptop would suck. So Steve Jobs is basically right...there is a market in between the computer and the laptop.

slantyyz 16y ago
Regarding the logins, have you tried 1Password? If you're using 1Password on a computer and sync with 1Password with your iPad, it will save you a -ton- of headaches trying to log into sites on an iPad.

billswift 16y ago

If you can do everything you need with a tablet, great. But many people need more capabilities than a tablet provides, at least some of the time, then it is either use a laptop when you could be using a tablet, or you have to buy and maintain and transport both.

AndrewDucker 16y ago

He complains about Windows 7 not being instant-on. My laptop resumes from sleep in less than 2 seconds. Which isn't quite as fast as my phone, but it's not what you might call "slow". He refuses Android on the grounds that it's "For Phones". It's not for phones any more than iOs is - it's an operating system with a simplified UX, I'm looking forward to the first pads that use it.