Can the iPad truly replace a "normal" computer yet?

I suppose it depends on the specifics of your use, but in my opinion, no, an iPad or any tablet is in no way a substitute for a true computer. An Ipad lacks true multitasking, it has very limited cpu computational power, limited system RAM (I routinely work with many files that simply cannot be opened on my iPad 4, and those that will open often cause the system to slow down to the point of being unusable - even a reasonably complex powerpoint slide deck will bring the iPad to its knees).

The constraints on any tablet in terms of size, weight and power consumption mean they simply cannot perform many of the routine work day tasks most people do on their main computers.

An iPad is an excellent mobile companion to your main computer however. It is superb for reading and marking up documents while away from your computer, taking notes, organizing and tracking projects and mettings, keeping up with email and any number of things you need to do when away from your office or desk. So, I do think for many people a laptop is no longer required or optimal - for myself, a much better scenario is a nice powerful desktop computer with large or multiple screens for the heavy work, and an iPad can meet all my needs when out of my office. At home, I will be retiring my MacBook Pro and replacing it with a 27" i7 iMac, since I really don't need my main computer to be portable any longer (that always was at least a bit of a compromise in itself - laptop over desktop).

Hi, while the iPad is really good for light computer use, you'll be missing some traditional features that common PCs still offer. I guess file transfer is the major problem. You can just transfer content from a PC or a cloud server. Unfortunately the iPad doesn't offer any sort of file manager and it doesn't accept external devices such as HD and SD. If you don't need a powerful notebook and you want a light device on the go, th iPad is the right choice... but keep the iMac G5 as your main computer to store and manage data.

Hope that helps,

Best

I have to agree with Michael in more than one count.

Th iPad or any tablet for that matter just isn't meant to replace an actual computer yet or in the near foreseable future. Tablets are still very limited in relation to a full feldged computer.

If you want real portability, but with all the features of a PC, get a MacBook Air instead of one of the iPads. This will give you full computer power, and and mobility in a lightweight package.

The iPads will not in any conceivable way replace a computer unless your uage is so light it stops and email, and internet browsing.

I also agree that a full fledged Desktop computer, and an iPad cover most usage bases these days.

Hi ddemuth78,

if you want to manage files on your iPad, just check out this app:

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/goodreader-for-ipad/id363448914?mt=8

With this app (I use it too on my iPad - it's fantastic) you can manage photos, files and much more.

If you don't have enough disk space of your iPad left, you can buy an external harddisk with network-functions for your home-network (for example this one: http://www.wdc.com/en/products/network/networkstorage/) and connect it to your iPad using GoodReader.

I hope, this will help you!

Daniel Fernau

I have several friends who have reduced the number of computers in their household by purchasing iPads instead of replacing older computers but totally cutting the computer cord? Not yet I think. Others have covered most of the problems, I'll simply add my own traveling experiences.

My wife and I travel a lot and always took a computer with us to stay in touch with email and transfer photos from our cameras. With the purchase of our first iPad (the original) and a card reader we went off on our first summer trip without a computer. It was a mostly successful experiment which resulted in the purchase of an external keyboard and later a keyboard case since both of us are fast touch typists and were irritated that we couldn't touch type on the screen. Mostly it was the lack of the key cues so our fingers drifted.

Not everything is in place yet for the iPad to replace a computer but I think the time is getting close.

I absolutely love my iPad, but I would never have it as my *only* computer. Whether it's enough for you depends on your usuage.

The iPad (alone) is the perfect if want to use the web (including a number of streaming music and video sources), read email, listen to music and watch movies purchased from iTunes, and read iBooks (from a number of sources), and play games.

If you want to do more than that, you hit a wall pretty quickly. Simple things become very complicated ("Oh here, I have it right here on this thumb drive..."). There are workarounds for a lot of shortcomings, but many involve at least having access to another computer.

Yes, I know some people have dedicated themselves to proving they can do absolutely everything with their iPad, but I knew people who had the same attitude about their Palm Pilots. (Personally, I try to solve way more problems with my Swiss Army Knife than I probably should).

You're correct that this is the direction things are going, but they're not there yet. I'll get flamed for saying it, but if you really want a tablet as your *only* computer, Win8 Pro machine is probably a better choice. Win8 is more of a "real" OS than iOS or Android (to the extent Windows is *ever* a real OS).

If you want to stay Apple (which I would), then as Phil0124 says, a MacBook Air is an excellent option.

Great discussion, but I don't think anyone has addressed the true question. ddemuth78 isn't asking is it feasible, he's asking if it is even possible. He has already stated the iPad does everything he and his wife do with their computers. The question is, "is it yet physically possible to have an iPad be a single stand alone computer?"

There are two basic uses for a computer, creating content, and consuming content. As a content creator, I find the iPad nearly useless. However, as a content consumer, I find the iPad (or any well designed tablet) to be the best device for consuming. Obviously, if you have multiple monitors or need in depth file management tools, the iPad isnt the right tool for the job. But what if the iPad IS the right tool for every job you want your computer to do? Is it physically possible to have just an iPad without another "real" computer to connect it to? Someone else already mentioned, by adding a simple case with integrated keyboard you have resolved the main issue with any content creation, the virtual keyboard reduces everyone to "hunt and peck" mode. Alternatively, you could connect a Bluetooth wireless full keyboard as well so you can type on your lap. First issue resolved.

The biggest issue I see with having the iPad as your only computer is that it simply wasn't designed to be so. It was designed to be managed by syncing it to the main computer using a USB cable and iTunes as the management software. However, the reason the main question can even be asked is because eventually, once you've got the iPad set up the way you want it, and you've transferred your music (which largely lives on iCloud now for free with the advent of iTunes Match), and photos from the main computer (especially if you now use the iPad as your camera so no more transferring required), once you get to this point, you really don't need to connect to you computer any more. Or do you?

For the email, music, pictures, games, and video chat crowd, once you've got the iPad set up the way you want it, do you ever NEED to connect it to a computer again? THATS the question. Plus, is the question (or the answer) different for the owners of different generations of iPads (or other tablets).

My mother plays games, does email, browses, takes pics on a camera (iPad 0, no camera) and uploads them to various sites. Her Wintel machine is 15 YEARS OLD!!!!! She is an artistic person and hates the machine and all the boxes and wires.she loves the wireless iPad. Clearly, if she is going to continue to own a computer it's time to get a new one. It would be a MUCH more pleasant experience on a new computer, but she will still need to got to the computer to use it, and still have to look at the modem, router, and accompanying wires. Question, can she use the iPad wirelessly in the living room, using the HD flat screen TV as the monitor, the virtual keyboard or Bluetooth keyboard and the iPads touch screen for the mouse and NOT buy a new computer? The question isn't "is this the right thing for her?" It absolutely is. The question is, can the iPod successfully survive without being synced to a main computer ever again?"

The only reason this is even a question is because the iPad was never designed to do this. It may have been envisioned as being able to do this one day, that may well be its ultimate function, but as yet, it has not been designed to survive without the occasional syncing to a main computer. Keeping in mind the iPad is really just an iPhone without the phone. Even iPhone, until the current release of iPhone 5 was meant to sync to a computer. My understanding is that the new 5 can in fact live successfully without syncing to a computer - the market wanted it so Apple delivered. So, can the iPad currently do the same or is there still a generation or two to go before it gets there? Especially the iPad 0. Are there things that it simply needs to be synced to the computer for that would hamper its function as a stand alone device? I don't know. What I do know is that it was designed as a side car, as a piggyback unit, as an extension of your main computer to give you a consumption option other than sitting at that desk in that folded up shape.

My mother is asking, and I am investigating. It seems like it should be able to survive to on its own, without another computer, but it wasn't designed for that so I am loathe to tell her yet that it is OK.

Anyone got any absolute knowledge one way or another, or resources that can be used to get a definitive answer?

Thanks.

1. an iCloud backup may very well not be a substitute for an iTunes backup on your computer. iCloud only provides 5GB of backup/sync storage space for free, and if you need extra, it will cost you. iCloud can only be used to restore things when you have an internet connection - without a data connection, your backup is inaccessible.

2. If your iPad (or iPhone) develops an issue, your only recourse to restore it and re-gain function may be to plug it into a computer and restore through iTunes.

So, if you really need your mobile devices on a regular basis (e.g. for me, my iPhone is my only phone), and if you do keep a lot of content on your devices that needs to be backed up, then no, I would not want to own either an iPhone nor an iPad without a computer available for recovery/restore is needed. Since I use my iPad for work related use as well as personal, I also do not want my content on any cloud-based service and keep my backups on my own computer under my own control (and thus I also have my iOS device backups backed up on my computer's backup drives).

No.

First, it does and I think always lack the computing power to do everything a person may need.

Second, it's lack of storage is a massive issue. And using iCLoud is not a viable option. That's built on the idea that everyone always has good internet access, which simply is not possible in a good 95% of the world, not to mention a good 90% of the US. iCloud is not a viable, long term and secure storage option. (THis is from a person that lives in a rural state where my cell phone cuts out in certain parts, not to mention me being 30+ miles from the nearest wifi hotspot at any given time.)

Third, having it tied to a single store will perpetually limit what can be done on it because, ultimately, users can only do what Apple decides they can do (operating under the idea that Apple can refuse any app access to the App Store, thus denying any app from access to devices without them being jail broken...and they do because they have very strict rules about what an app can/can't do and how much access it has to the device as a whole.)

It is wonderful for consuming data. Cause that's what it was made for. A single device with all the convenience to consume data, all of which would be administered through the App Store or iTunes (where apple receives a percentage of the purchase price) It's the same premise as the cell companies 'giving you a phone so you pay the monthly fee for access', except users aren't given iPads, they buy them, but in buying them they gain access to a massive content library. And, theoretically, everything that you watch, listen to and read comes from a singular store.

People can do limited tweaks and use some apps to expand its usefulness....for example blue tooth keyboards and word processing programs, however, at the end of the day, people that use the iPad to create data are always 'bucking the system' and using a device outside its intended parameters.

I don't think an iPad will ever be a full fledged data creation device. Other tablets may eventually get there, as memory gets cheaper, processors get better and they generally evolve, but for the iPad to make that massive leap, Apple would need to seriously rethink their 'ultimate device' and turn a total 180 from how they've operated for years.

By the way, this is a great free app to transfer, read and manage files: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/documents-by-readdle/id364901807?mt=8