iPad 2: The end of the laptop era?

[dalor]

With no Flash support for the full blast 'web experience', a touch display to write documents in which the virtual keyboard takes half the space of the screen, No USB support to store and access external data - It's a winner (if it was 1995).

[ObiWonder]

They are both two different products and neither is replacing the other yet. The iPad is small and portable with a touch screen while laptops, also small and portable, have a different interaction to software. (Keyboard) Some people will prefer pressing keys over a touch screen. Some may prefer having a touch screen and reading information off of it.

It depends on your needs but no I don't believe an iPad will replace a laptop anytime soon.

[polaris20]

With no Flash support for the full blast 'web experience', a touch display to write documents in which the virtual keyboard takes half the space of the screen, No USB support to store and access external data - It's a winner (if it was 1995).

I don't miss Flash on my iPad or my laptop. Chrome + block plugins is a nice, safe way to surf the net. Faster too.

[NER]

hahahahahaha

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[IncarnateX]

no way is ipad a laptop replacement. Version 3 might, if they finally allow flash support and a usb port. Don;t get me wrong i love the thing, but it's not an all in one, yet.

These seem to be moderate wishes and should in principle be possible. But I agree that it is annoying that you can not transfer files easily and that there is no global file management system like in windows. Using pasteboard to transfer files between apps is indeed a pita but the only possible way so far appart from the annoying wi-fi procedure.

However, someone posted an article on page 1 in which states something about expanding the I/O possibilities:

There are accessories that utilize the dock connector to expand the iPad's input and output capabilities - such as the camera kit which adds a USB port and allows lower powered MIDI controllers to be connected directly.

Do not know if this means that the camera kit will be able to read usb disks though.

What I wonder about is why a general file management system is not available to the user? Everything is under the hood. As an experienced win-tweaker, this cause anxiety and loss of control. Should be possible to implement shouldn't it?

[Dogboy73]

I really liked the idea of an ipad 2 ..... for about a week. Then I decided it would be a big waste of money because it was something I wanted NOT something I needed. It's a great piece of technology but it's still a 'gadget' to me. I'd love to have one but I don't need one so I'm going to resist the temptation to buy one.

What I thought was going to be a fun & innovative device for music applications (above other things) turns out to be extremely limited compared to a laptop/desktop system with a decent MIDI controller. To add to this - no Flash support, no USB, dubious MIDI connectivity etc, etc. Not sold yet by any stretch of the imagination.

[vins]

ipad definitely has it pros, but i still find the good old fashioned keyboard unequalled in terms of ergonomics...

it is an old but genius invention. it can be considered "big" or a "waste of space", but is a given that our human hands simply are the size they are...

same goes in a way for the mouse. it is wireless now and more precise, or has more buttons... but its concept is still unsurpassed. (well i do use a trackpad as well).

i don't mean to be conservative, but in a way we already invented the wheel for a lot of stuff, ...

companies just need to create new stuff to keep selling... and sometimes it is really hard to say if they are meeting customer needs or creating new customer needs... i want it, cuz i need it! do you really need it?

but whatever...

[boimb]

Motorola Xoom ftw!

[Dogboy73]

ipad definitely has it pros, but i still find the good old fashioned keyboard unequalled in terms of ergonomics...

Same with MIDI controllers. Also one good reason why people like hardware instruments over software I guess - It's nice to be able to actually grab something as opposed to (in this context) sliding your finger tips over a flat touch screen!

I am slightly concerned that in the future we will control everything by touching a graphic/image of something on a flat panel instead of actually grabbing & moving something physical. Soon we'll forget how to actually do anything with our hands. We won't even be able to write with a pen/pencil anymore ......



The pen is mightier than the sword .... unless you've forgotten how to actually use a pen!!

[Triny D]

I was already using my laptop less and less after getting the iPhone. Now with iPad 2 it's over. I use it for most things and I use iMac 27inch for the heavy lifting

[b-pole]

If there are faster CPU's (perhaps in iPad 6?) it could be, but too less adapters as USB at the moment.

[djanthonyw]

The way I see it, laptops are the new desktops and tablets / phones are the new laptops...

[Triny D]

The pen is mightier than the sword .... unless you've forgotten how to actually use a pen!!

Actually pen input on tablets is getting better and better, another 18 months and it will be mainstream

[polaris20]

hahahahahaha

Do you find that new Flash zero day vulnerability funny too? Just curious. It effects Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris, and......Android.