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>By 1994 almost all graphic designers and illustrators were using computers for work. The iPad is a great device but, it isn't essential to anything or anyone.

>By 1994 almost all graphic designers and illustrators were using computers for work. The iPad is a great device but, it isn't essential to anything or anyone. If tomorrow there where no iPads anymore, we would all just get on with our lives.

tonyedgecombe 7y ago
That's because it's a consumption device, despite the heroic efforts of some people to prove otherwise. If I want to reply to an email I'll walk upstairs to my real computer rather than attempt to do it on our iPad. As Joey Hess said[1] "If it doesn't have a keyboard, I feel that my thoughts are being forced out through a straw." [1] https://usesthis.com/interviews/joey.hess/ https://usesthis.com/interviews/joey.hess/
- stock_toaster 7y ago
  ipads have a non-insignificant footprint as point of sales systems these days too, so I wouldn't say ipads are _only_ a consumption device. They are also a pretty solid task specific unit for certain specific industries.
  - rusk 7y ago
    They make good head units too. I guess what OP was trying to say is that their application as creative tools (production vs consumption) is far more limited than the full fledged PC systems that we are used to.
    - rorykoehler 7y ago
      In my experience that has more to do with the artificial limitations devs put into ipad software. Take MPC drum machines for example. iMPC Pro 2 could replace all hardware MPCs if they wanted to but they would cannibalize their hardware if they did that so they made the ipad version a toy instead.
      - lostgame 7y ago
        In absolutely no way is this the case. The iPads screen will always be a toy compared to proper AKAI pads. It’s not even velocity-sensitive.
        rorykoehler 7y ago
        Fair point but it's much further hamstrung than it needs to be and it would be easy to add velocity after the performance.
        lostgame 7y ago
        >> it would be easy to add velocity after What? In no way, especially for drums.
        rorykoehler 7y ago
        Just draw it in. I've been doing it for years in daws
        lostgame 7y ago
        Yeah, okay, no, that does not equate to getting the natural response I am putting out while playing. :/
- tomgp 7y ago
  For illustration the iPad pro is my go-to production device.
  - readhn 7y ago
    agreed. graphic design - perfect niche for ipads.
    - pier25 7y ago
      Illustration is not graphic design though. For graphic design (typography work, layout, UI, etc) mouse and keyboard are still the best input devices. Much faster and precise than tapping on a touch screen or using an Apple Pencil.
- ghaff 7y ago
  The main exception is drawing. It essentially replaces touch sensitive Wacoms.
  - m4rtink 7y ago
    This is unfortunatelly very true - Ipads have the best oen latency from mobile tablet devices & good software ecosystem (Procreate, etc.), likely thanks to overall more $$$ in iOS software development. There are Android tablets with precise pen support, but especually the cheaper ones don't have that good pen precision (jitter, lag) and also the available drawing software is not as advanced as on the iPad & powerful ossdesktop drawig tools such as Krita or Mypaint are not yet ported to Android. So in the end I basically had to get the top of the line Android tablet (Galaxy Tab S6) to get something comparable, where the manufacturer dumped so much mone so that some got also to the pen support & it would be working correctly. And so far so good. :)
    - AgloeDreams 7y ago
      I always felt the problem for android drawing tablets was that it was a three horse race and the anti-Apple was not Android here but the Surface.
- adamsea 7y ago
  The iPad Pro keyboard is pretty slick for what it is.
  - dredmorbius 7y ago
    Pity it's missing esc and function keys.
    - adamsea 7y ago
      Function keys seem like a stretch for the use case it is designed for - being able to type online or in apps while also having a very compact form factor.
- scarface74 7y ago
  If that were the case, do you think Microsoft and Adobe spent money on development of Office and Photoshop foolishly? The iPad Pros are credited with stopping the slide of iPad revenues - along with all of the accessories.
  - mrweasel 7y ago
    Honestly I think companies are (mostly) wasting their money porting desktop software to iPads. There's going to be niches where it makes perfect sense, but Office for the iPad is going to be a waste of money. Home users don't need it, business have laptops and desktop for those things, and Word is a poor note taking app of field work. To be fair I believe that the iPad is a poor note taking platform in general. For specialized software, tailored to specific fields, with only the interaction elements for particular jobs the iPad can be a much better fit than a laptop. Those jobs however aren't generic enough that off shelf software make a ton of sense.
    - jeromegv 7y ago
      Doesn't really matter what you personally think, what matters is what companies think, because they have the data to back it up. Is it a waste of money or not? Office for iPad came in 2014 and still being quite actively developed so I think we can conclude the opposite of what you are saying.
      - readhn 7y ago
        Many examples of companies out there wasting $$$$ money for years on dead end projects.
    - scarface74 7y ago
      So you think you know better than Microsoft and Adobe? Have you thought that they may know their customer base better than you do?
      - readhn 7y ago
- baroomba 7y ago
  Software developers continuing, after all these years, to dismiss any kind of creative work with a computer that isn’t typing, is crazy. I’d take an iPad over a laptop or desktop computer for lots of creative work, if I could only have one device.
tragic 7y ago
That's not quite true - iPads are a huge hit in electronic music for performance and production. Whether that counts as 'revolutionary' is another matter - there was the original Lemur which proved the multitouch MIDI use in principle - but it has created a new software niche market that genuinely is thriving and used for 'proper work'.
bronco21016 7y ago
If all of them disappeared into thin air one night then nearly the entire global aviation system would come to a screeching halt. It’s the device of choice among air carriers for navigation charts. Paper backup isn’t even carried anymore. We just carry extra iPads and batteries. I’m not sure any of the charting apps used by air carriers are even available on another OS at this point. I’ve never been aware of JeppFD Pro on Android and I believe they dumped Windows as well. There are other options of course but as far as I’m aware in the US it’s all iPads and JeppFD Pro. The feds are familiar with it and a regulatory framework is created around it so it’s the path of least resistance. And as a pilot, I’d say most of us are pretty satisfied with it.
- alopex_plenus 7y ago
  so the captain tells us to switch off all electronic devices and then proceeds to navigate the plane via iPad?
  - dewey 7y ago
    They tell you to switch off the device's broadcast functionality ("airplane mode"). Something they don't need for navigating with an iPad as it's just offline maps / apps).
    - darkerside 7y ago
      Besides, what if they did? You think you need to use your device just because the pilot is?
      - dewey 7y ago
        > You think you need to use your device [...] No I don't, I just brought that up because OP was confused why the pilot can use their device while "normal" passengers can't.
  - audunw 7y ago
    While it's good to avoid EM interference from electronic devices, I think the real reason they want you to switch of these devices is to make sure you're not totally distracted during take-off or landing, and that you're not using headphones, so you'll be aware in case of accidents/emergencies.
TomMarius 7y ago
That's not true. It's used as mapping and/or communications device in many trains and aircraft. Also many business representatives use it to do demos or just to keep the CRM updated. I am using it to sketch software architecture during meetings (on the projector).
iamacyborg 7y ago
The tattoo industry pretty much relies exclusively on iPad Pros and procreate. I'm sure there are plenty of other niche examples like this.
radimm 7y ago
As a daily user of iPad Pro 11” it would be very difficult to adjust back. Sure, the device does not provide me the comfort of doing 100% of my tasks at all times. The combination of portability (form factor, battery life, LTE modem), with the growing support for the apps. I’m yet to see device that would replace it for me. I have had to take my MBP with me for quite some time. iPad essentially fuels my remote-first work style.
yardie 7y ago
> The iPad is a great device but, it isn't essential to anything or anyone. This would only be said by someone who isn't a frontline worker no interacts with any. Unless you see the people who use tablets for work as not really working.
mrweasel 7y ago
I would agree that the iPad isn't essential for home users, other than as a YouTube player for kids and a gaming device for old ladies. It does however seem to have found it's way into various trades as an information device. For instance is has replaced laptop as the primary device in elder care in many cities in Denmark. It makes perfect sense to use an iPad, it's more portable, the limited interface forces developer to think hard about what input is really required, and it faster to"unlock" than a laptop. The iPad has develop very quickly from a consumer device to an "Enterprise" solution. You basically only need it, if you can afford to have custom applications developed. For almost everyone else, there's the large screen iPhones. Apple isn't going to tell us, but it would be interesting to learn how many iPads are going to customers, and how many to companies and governments.
irrational 7y ago
Now hang on, I use the ipad for creating artwork and it is much much better than any desktop/laptop computer with a wacom (or whatever brand) tablet. Also, they are tremendous for the elderly. My 97 year old grandmother really struggles with desktop/laptop computers, but has absolutely no trouble using her iPad. It's the main way she stays in touch with her family.

tonyedgecombe 7y ago

That's because it's a consumption device, despite the heroic efforts of some people to prove otherwise. If I want to reply to an email I'll walk upstairs to my real computer rather than attempt to do it on our iPad. As Joey Hess said[1] "If it doesn't have a keyboard, I feel that my thoughts are being forced out through a straw." [1] https://usesthis.com/interviews/joey.hess/ https://usesthis.com/interviews/joey.hess/

stock_toaster 7y ago
ipads have a non-insignificant footprint as point of sales systems these days too, so I wouldn't say ipads are _only_ a consumption device. They are also a pretty solid task specific unit for certain specific industries.
- rusk 7y ago
  They make good head units too. I guess what OP was trying to say is that their application as creative tools (production vs consumption) is far more limited than the full fledged PC systems that we are used to.
  - rorykoehler 7y ago
    In my experience that has more to do with the artificial limitations devs put into ipad software. Take MPC drum machines for example. iMPC Pro 2 could replace all hardware MPCs if they wanted to but they would cannibalize their hardware if they did that so they made the ipad version a toy instead.
    - lostgame 7y ago
      In absolutely no way is this the case. The iPads screen will always be a toy compared to proper AKAI pads. It’s not even velocity-sensitive.
      - rorykoehler 7y ago
        Fair point but it's much further hamstrung than it needs to be and it would be easy to add velocity after the performance.
        lostgame 7y ago
        >> it would be easy to add velocity after What? In no way, especially for drums.
        rorykoehler 7y ago
        Just draw it in. I've been doing it for years in daws
        lostgame 7y ago
        Yeah, okay, no, that does not equate to getting the natural response I am putting out while playing. :/
tomgp 7y ago
For illustration the iPad pro is my go-to production device.
- readhn 7y ago
  agreed. graphic design - perfect niche for ipads.
  - pier25 7y ago
    Illustration is not graphic design though. For graphic design (typography work, layout, UI, etc) mouse and keyboard are still the best input devices. Much faster and precise than tapping on a touch screen or using an Apple Pencil.
ghaff 7y ago
The main exception is drawing. It essentially replaces touch sensitive Wacoms.
- m4rtink 7y ago
  This is unfortunatelly very true - Ipads have the best oen latency from mobile tablet devices & good software ecosystem (Procreate, etc.), likely thanks to overall more $$$ in iOS software development. There are Android tablets with precise pen support, but especually the cheaper ones don't have that good pen precision (jitter, lag) and also the available drawing software is not as advanced as on the iPad & powerful ossdesktop drawig tools such as Krita or Mypaint are not yet ported to Android. So in the end I basically had to get the top of the line Android tablet (Galaxy Tab S6) to get something comparable, where the manufacturer dumped so much mone so that some got also to the pen support & it would be working correctly. And so far so good. :)
  - AgloeDreams 7y ago
    I always felt the problem for android drawing tablets was that it was a three horse race and the anti-Apple was not Android here but the Surface.
adamsea 7y ago
The iPad Pro keyboard is pretty slick for what it is.
- dredmorbius 7y ago
  Pity it's missing esc and function keys.
  - adamsea 7y ago
    Function keys seem like a stretch for the use case it is designed for - being able to type online or in apps while also having a very compact form factor.
scarface74 7y ago
If that were the case, do you think Microsoft and Adobe spent money on development of Office and Photoshop foolishly? The iPad Pros are credited with stopping the slide of iPad revenues - along with all of the accessories.
- mrweasel 7y ago
  Honestly I think companies are (mostly) wasting their money porting desktop software to iPads. There's going to be niches where it makes perfect sense, but Office for the iPad is going to be a waste of money. Home users don't need it, business have laptops and desktop for those things, and Word is a poor note taking app of field work. To be fair I believe that the iPad is a poor note taking platform in general. For specialized software, tailored to specific fields, with only the interaction elements for particular jobs the iPad can be a much better fit than a laptop. Those jobs however aren't generic enough that off shelf software make a ton of sense.
  - jeromegv 7y ago
    Doesn't really matter what you personally think, what matters is what companies think, because they have the data to back it up. Is it a waste of money or not? Office for iPad came in 2014 and still being quite actively developed so I think we can conclude the opposite of what you are saying.
    - readhn 7y ago
      Many examples of companies out there wasting $$$$ money for years on dead end projects.
  - scarface74 7y ago
    So you think you know better than Microsoft and Adobe? Have you thought that they may know their customer base better than you do?
    - readhn 7y ago
baroomba 7y ago
Software developers continuing, after all these years, to dismiss any kind of creative work with a computer that isn’t typing, is crazy. I’d take an iPad over a laptop or desktop computer for lots of creative work, if I could only have one device.

tragic 7y ago

That's not quite true - iPads are a huge hit in electronic music for performance and production. Whether that counts as 'revolutionary' is another matter - there was the original Lemur which proved the multitouch MIDI use in principle - but it has created a new software niche market that genuinely is thriving and used for 'proper work'.

bronco21016 7y ago

If all of them disappeared into thin air one night then nearly the entire global aviation system would come to a screeching halt. It’s the device of choice among air carriers for navigation charts. Paper backup isn’t even carried anymore. We just carry extra iPads and batteries. I’m not sure any of the charting apps used by air carriers are even available on another OS at this point. I’ve never been aware of JeppFD Pro on Android and I believe they dumped Windows as well. There are other options of course but as far as I’m aware in the US it’s all iPads and JeppFD Pro. The feds are familiar with it and a regulatory framework is created around it so it’s the path of least resistance. And as a pilot, I’d say most of us are pretty satisfied with it.

alopex_plenus 7y ago
so the captain tells us to switch off all electronic devices and then proceeds to navigate the plane via iPad?
- dewey 7y ago
  They tell you to switch off the device's broadcast functionality ("airplane mode"). Something they don't need for navigating with an iPad as it's just offline maps / apps).
  - darkerside 7y ago
    Besides, what if they did? You think you need to use your device just because the pilot is?
    - dewey 7y ago
      > You think you need to use your device [...] No I don't, I just brought that up because OP was confused why the pilot can use their device while "normal" passengers can't.
- audunw 7y ago
  While it's good to avoid EM interference from electronic devices, I think the real reason they want you to switch of these devices is to make sure you're not totally distracted during take-off or landing, and that you're not using headphones, so you'll be aware in case of accidents/emergencies.

TomMarius 7y ago

That's not true. It's used as mapping and/or communications device in many trains and aircraft. Also many business representatives use it to do demos or just to keep the CRM updated. I am using it to sketch software architecture during meetings (on the projector).

iamacyborg 7y ago

The tattoo industry pretty much relies exclusively on iPad Pros and procreate. I'm sure there are plenty of other niche examples like this.

radimm 7y ago

As a daily user of iPad Pro 11” it would be very difficult to adjust back. Sure, the device does not provide me the comfort of doing 100% of my tasks at all times. The combination of portability (form factor, battery life, LTE modem), with the growing support for the apps. I’m yet to see device that would replace it for me. I have had to take my MBP with me for quite some time. iPad essentially fuels my remote-first work style.

yardie 7y ago

> The iPad is a great device but, it isn't essential to anything or anyone. This would only be said by someone who isn't a frontline worker no interacts with any. Unless you see the people who use tablets for work as not really working.

mrweasel 7y ago

I would agree that the iPad isn't essential for home users, other than as a YouTube player for kids and a gaming device for old ladies. It does however seem to have found it's way into various trades as an information device. For instance is has replaced laptop as the primary device in elder care in many cities in Denmark. It makes perfect sense to use an iPad, it's more portable, the limited interface forces developer to think hard about what input is really required, and it faster to"unlock" than a laptop. The iPad has develop very quickly from a consumer device to an "Enterprise" solution. You basically only need it, if you can afford to have custom applications developed. For almost everyone else, there's the large screen iPhones. Apple isn't going to tell us, but it would be interesting to learn how many iPads are going to customers, and how many to companies and governments.

irrational 7y ago

Now hang on, I use the ipad for creating artwork and it is much much better than any desktop/laptop computer with a wacom (or whatever brand) tablet. Also, they are tremendous for the elderly. My 97 year old grandmother really struggles with desktop/laptop computers, but has absolutely no trouble using her iPad. It's the main way she stays in touch with her family.