Using a Tablet As Your Primary Computer 627
harrymcc writes "Three months ago, I started using an iPad 2 (with a Zagg keyboard) as my primary computing device--the one I blog on, write articles for TIME magazine on, and use to prepare photos and other illustrations that go with my writing. I now use it about 80 percent of the time; my trusty MacBook Air has become a secondary machine."
...Good for you? (Score:5, Informative)
I'm sorry, this isn't a story. This is a blog entry, and a short one at that.
Re:Have done the same as a developer, sort of (Score:4, Informative)
I use the SVN client built into iOS and iSSH for my SSH sessions. Works great for me.
Re:Let me be the first to say (Score:5, Informative)
Conglomeration.
FTFY.
Since no one else reads the article, I'll have to explain: it has many incorrect/missing words. It's as if it was written on a phone keyboard, with word completion, or something. "unless I have specific reason to think I’ll never a full-blown computer" "most iPads cost only a few dollars" "Or at least I was at firs–at this point"
It sounds like what the author appreciates is decent battery life and an efficient small-screen-friendly window manager.
Re:Have done the same as a developer, sort of (Score:4, Informative)
I read the article... (Score:5, Informative)
Other than that, he states "This hasn’t been one of those experiments-for-the-sake-of-experimentation in which someone temporarily forsakes a PC for another device in order to write about the experience". Of course not. He had to justify his purchase (to himself, I suppose). Why else would he devote a blog post to "Hey look! I can write and take pictures with an iPad!"
He could just as easily written about blogging/taking pictures and emailing them to himself on a phone - because he bought an external keyboard.
I have an iPad with a Zagg keyboard (Score:5, Informative)
Just some background, I am an Oracle DBA who is oncall every second week. I used to carry around my laptop, power cable and iphone while I was on call. I managed to get my hands on an iPad and used it for light reading, email, etc. I tried to use it while on call but it was too painful. SSH on the thing is nice if your in a bind, but you don't want to be using it for an extended period of time. Just think about trying to use vi, yikes.
Anyways, I picked up a Zaggmate keyboard for it. I now carry it primarily while I am on call, much easier to tote around than my 17" laptop. Has a better battery life and 3g built in. I don't have to worry about draining my phone at the same time as my laptop.
However, if I am traveling I take both the laptop and ipad. While the ipad is good for short periods of work, it is still painful for long periods. And its also not suited for alot of tasks, which you don't realize until you actually try to do them.
So I would agree to a point that 80% of work can be done on an iPad but its that other 20% that kills you. I could also walk to work but that would take an extra 2 hours each way than using my car.
The macbook air is light, small, easy to carry around. I am not sure why you would use an iPad over it. I've heard quite a few people say the opposite as the guy in the article. Once they bought air's they barely used their ipads. Once you factor in the cost of the keyboard, ipad, your almost at an air anyways.
Re:Let me be the first to say (Score:4, Informative)
It really was kind of surprising for an author who claims to be writing for Time magazine.
Nope. Just an example of why writers need good editors (no, not the Slashdot kind...)
I've been using the Asus Transformer as my primary content generation tool for some time now. Of course the Asus has the benefit of a decent built-in keyboard, HDMI port, as well as full size USB ports (for mouse and external hard drive), but there's no reason you wouldn't be almost as productive with an iPad.
I still have a full desktop running Debian as my home machine, but I've often found it just more convenient to hook the Transformer up to mouse, hdd and screen to finish whatever I've been working on. I'll be making sure my next printer is Android compatible, then that desktop might get a bit rusty...
Re:Let me be the first to say (Score:5, Informative)
Since no one else reads the article, I'll have to explain: it has many incorrect/missing words. It's as if it was written on a phone keyboard, with word completion, or something.
You could also mention that he uses it in a docking thing with a keyboard so he's using it more like a laptop than a tablet.
Re:Not surprising (Score:1, Informative)
Tablets have there use for low impact computing. People that can get by without any real storage or power, like writers and executives can do this.
even a 128Gig iPad cant do what I need. I need it to store and process 24megapixel RAW images and have a full blown photoshop on it. as well as a full blown video editor.
It works great as a replacement for my clipboard and papers, and for RPG gaming it's the ultimate tool that makes it easy to carry everything with you and take up no space at the table.
For real computer work, nope, sorry. Call me when I can get 2TB of storage a 3.0ghz hex core processor, firewire input and a super fast SDHC reader as well as gigabit ethernet to get stuff off to the server at home.
Oh and comes in a 29" size so I can do After Effects and photoshop effectively.
Re:...Good for you? (Score:4, Informative)
I don't know any photographers with only one camera, or only one lens. Why would one computing device be enough?
A desktop PC with a large screen is great for photoshopping. But it's no use at all when you're out and about doing the photography itself.
Here's the ways another photographer uses an iPad in his workflow.
http://terrywhite.com/techblog/archives/7606 [terrywhite.com]
Re:...Good for you? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Let me be the first to say (Score:4, Informative)
I think "content generation" is a phrase used in a more all-encompassing manner, including writing, music, image manipulation, filmmaking, etc.
Re:iDevice walled garden = no creativity (Score:4, Informative)
Download Corona SDK. She can use the trial version to create iOS apps in just a few lines of code, and only needs to pay the $199 Corona fee and $99 Apple iOS Developer Program fee if she wishes to publish her iOS apps to Apple's App Store.
Re:iDevice walled garden = no creativity (Score:2, Informative)
If you've got a Mac already, you've can install XCode for free, which includes a simulator. You don't have to sign up for any developer accounts or pay any developer fees to get started start writing and testing apps - the fee only comes into play if you want to run the program on an actual iPhone/iPad/iPod, or want to submit it to the app store.
I just tried this out this morning for the first time, and was able to throw together "Hello World" in a minute, and a basic app with nested menus in about 5-10 minutes, with no previous experience with Objective C or iOS development. The GUI stuff is trivial - it's all drag-and-drop, with nice visual cues to how components interact. It really opens the door to a lot of easy programming projects.
iTunesU lists several free courses in iOS development; these might be enough for you and your daughter to be able to get started exploring this together. If it holds her interest, you can always sign up for the developer license once you've got something you want to test.
Re:Not surprising (Score:5, Informative)
None of the errors pointed out by xaxa actually exist. You got trolled.
They did when I posted, they have been corrected.
The author has posted in the comments [technologizer.com] admitting this.
Thanks for assuming I'm trolling, but I have better things to do with my time.