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The article is spot on. Right now i notice that when I grab my iPad, i end up merely consuming, not getting any work done. Apple's decisions to - block certai

by Tepix 6y ago

The article is spot on. Right now i notice that when I grab my iPad, i end up merely consuming, not getting any work done. Apple's decisions to - block certain types of apps (development) and - to charge outrageous prices for their keyboards (175€-331€ in Germany) appear to be the biggest issues.

arethuza 6y ago
I use my iPad for work as a collaboration device - it works great for audio and video meetings. In fact, as I type this on PC my iPad is sitting next to the monitor. All of that is most definitely "getting work done" to me. I also find it useful if there is something I want to research or a document to read to go and sit away from my desk - I much prefer an iPad to a laptop for that kind of thing. Indeed, I find the combination of a full sized PC and an iPad to be preferable to a laptop - which is neither as powerful and ergonomic as a full sized PC or as portable as a iPad. edit: In fact I do have a work laptop, but I left it in the office in March and have never been back... I don't miss it!
deergomoo 6y ago
> to charge outrageous prices for their keyboards (175€-331€ in Germany) Those damn iPad keyboards are the thing I understand the least about anything Apple sells, pricing-wise. I accept that Apple charges higher than average prices for stuff, sometimes to an almost offensive degree. But why is the regular keyboard case so expensive? It's a regular keyboard that's attached to a bit of plastic and fabric. Yet it's more expensive than the Apple Pencil, more expensive than the HomePod Mini, I mean christ if you're buying the entry-level iPad the keyboard adds 48% to the cost! Ridiculous.
kayoone 6y ago
I use my iPad complementary to my Macbook. Reading documents and taking notes with the pencil mostly. Scribbling down thoughts and concepts that sync over Onenote to my other devices. I have no desire to use it as a Laptop replacement and am not sure why people would want that. I can acknowledge that some people use an iPad as their sole device to work which I think is fine for many, but Software Engineers have such complex usecases it's hard to make a device like the iPad be perfect for them without compromising it's main user base.
theshrike79 6y ago
I've simultaneously watched a Netflix show in picture-in-picture, while I had AWS console open in a browser and a terminal (Blink)in split-screen and debugged a production issue with the Apple keyboard. After the problem was managed, I just moved my Netflix show to fullscreen, flipped the keyboard back and kept enjoying my day. It's so much better than lugging around a 15-16" monster with you. Yes, you can't run 42 simultaneous virtual machines with databases and a kubernetes cluster on it. But most of us don't really need to - we just want to because it's cooler and it's what we've gotten used to.
- emsy 6y ago
  >It's so much better than lugging around a 15-16" monster with you. Exactly, but not everyone works on a remote machine. I would love to work on an iPad but can’t because Apple thinks those kind of apps don’t belong on an iPad. There’s no actual technical reason why I can’t compile code on an iPad. Imagine not being able to put groceries in a Porsche because the manufacturer doesn’t like the look of it.
  - theshrike79 6y ago
    Then the iPad isn't for you. Over the years it has picked up a bunch of new capabilities and fits a wider range of tasks, but it's definitely not a general computing device. Like the Porsche 911 is a great car, but it can't fit a family of four. That doesn't mean it's a crappy car, it's just not for me.
    - emsy 6y ago
      The Porsche not fitting a family of four is a technical restriction. The iPad not running arbitrary software (within the bounds of the sandbox) are a political restriction.
lucian1900 6y ago
I'm glad I managed to get a keyboard second-hand for half the price. They seem to be quite durable, mine looks new.
tgv 6y ago
You can pair a €15 bluetooth keyboard with it.
- dredmorbius 6y ago
  That might work on a desk or table. It's not lappable.

by Tepix 6y ago

arethuza 6y ago

I use my iPad for work as a collaboration device - it works great for audio and video meetings. In fact, as I type this on PC my iPad is sitting next to the monitor. All of that is most definitely "getting work done" to me. I also find it useful if there is something I want to research or a document to read to go and sit away from my desk - I much prefer an iPad to a laptop for that kind of thing. Indeed, I find the combination of a full sized PC and an iPad to be preferable to a laptop - which is neither as powerful and ergonomic as a full sized PC or as portable as a iPad. edit: In fact I do have a work laptop, but I left it in the office in March and have never been back... I don't miss it!

deergomoo 6y ago

> to charge outrageous prices for their keyboards (175€-331€ in Germany) Those damn iPad keyboards are the thing I understand the least about anything Apple sells, pricing-wise. I accept that Apple charges higher than average prices for stuff, sometimes to an almost offensive degree. But why is the regular keyboard case so expensive? It's a regular keyboard that's attached to a bit of plastic and fabric. Yet it's more expensive than the Apple Pencil, more expensive than the HomePod Mini, I mean christ if you're buying the entry-level iPad the keyboard adds 48% to the cost! Ridiculous.

kayoone 6y ago

I use my iPad complementary to my Macbook. Reading documents and taking notes with the pencil mostly. Scribbling down thoughts and concepts that sync over Onenote to my other devices. I have no desire to use it as a Laptop replacement and am not sure why people would want that. I can acknowledge that some people use an iPad as their sole device to work which I think is fine for many, but Software Engineers have such complex usecases it's hard to make a device like the iPad be perfect for them without compromising it's main user base.

theshrike79 6y ago

I've simultaneously watched a Netflix show in picture-in-picture, while I had AWS console open in a browser and a terminal (Blink)in split-screen and debugged a production issue with the Apple keyboard. After the problem was managed, I just moved my Netflix show to fullscreen, flipped the keyboard back and kept enjoying my day. It's so much better than lugging around a 15-16" monster with you. Yes, you can't run 42 simultaneous virtual machines with databases and a kubernetes cluster on it. But most of us don't really need to - we just want to because it's cooler and it's what we've gotten used to.

emsy 6y ago
>It's so much better than lugging around a 15-16" monster with you. Exactly, but not everyone works on a remote machine. I would love to work on an iPad but can’t because Apple thinks those kind of apps don’t belong on an iPad. There’s no actual technical reason why I can’t compile code on an iPad. Imagine not being able to put groceries in a Porsche because the manufacturer doesn’t like the look of it.
- theshrike79 6y ago
  Then the iPad isn't for you. Over the years it has picked up a bunch of new capabilities and fits a wider range of tasks, but it's definitely not a general computing device. Like the Porsche 911 is a great car, but it can't fit a family of four. That doesn't mean it's a crappy car, it's just not for me.
  - emsy 6y ago
    The Porsche not fitting a family of four is a technical restriction. The iPad not running arbitrary software (within the bounds of the sandbox) are a political restriction.

lucian1900 6y ago

I'm glad I managed to get a keyboard second-hand for half the price. They seem to be quite durable, mine looks new.

tgv 6y ago

You can pair a €15 bluetooth keyboard with it.

dredmorbius 6y ago
That might work on a desk or table. It's not lappable.