laptop substitute? - iPad with keyboard and stand

Question

Level 1

22 points

laptop substitute? - iPad with keyboard and stand

I don't want to spend the money on a laptop and I don't like laptop keyboards.

I want to do my Spanish homework reclined on the sofa or propped up with a pillow in bed.

I like a full sized keyboard, preferably a Spanish/international one or as long as the iPad has this as an option internally, I know the keys by heart that are different. I want to be able to type easily in Spanish

I want to be able to access the internet and use Skype.

I did an internet search and I saw keyboards with stands for iPads. Unfortunately, the international keyboard for iPad did not have a slot to prop the iPad up. Maybe I can find one or just change the keys on an English keyboard.

I need it to run Pages or some compatible document program. I have pages 09 for my mac mini. It is on a disk. Is there a way to get that into an iPad and would it work with the iPad operating system.

If this idea works, would it also work on iPad mini? I don't know if the screen is too small to be practical. Currently I look at a page document on my computer screen that is 9 inches wide.

Plus all of this would be lighter than a laptop. My husband has one and I don't really like the keyboard or the weight.

This would make it easy to do homework when I didn't want to sit up at my computer.

I am thankful for any tips you can give me.

Posted on Dec 21, 2014 1:08 PM

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Answer 1

Skydiver119

Level 9

53,501 points

Dec 21, 2014 2:11 PM in response to stpedler

Look for a zagg keyboard. It has a prop and you can have your iPad just like a tiny little laptop.

They are in enlish though

They sell Pages in the App Store, and if you buy a new iPad you will get a free copy of Pages

As to the mini screen, I'd suggest that you go to best buy or similar place and play on one and see how it works for you.

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Answer 2

tonefox

Level 6

9,374 points

Dec 21, 2014 2:45 PM in response to stpedler

Just to be sure, you should research and understand the differences between laptops and iPads. The keyboard is not the only difference.

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Answer 3

Skydiver119

Level 9

53,501 points

Dec 21, 2014 3:14 PM in response to tonefox

Very true. For example, without the internet or syncing to your computer, file transfer is all but impossible. You cannot just plug in a flash drive.

The only printers an iPad will print to natively are air print enabled ones (with third party apps you can print to wireless printers but there is zero support for plugin printing, as well as the aforementioned difficulty of file transfer)

For the perk of portability, you do sacrifice compatibility.

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Answer 4

stpedler Author

Level 1

22 points

Dec 21, 2014 3:18 PM in response to Skydiver119

I just looked that up. Looks real nice.

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Answer 5

stpedler Author

Level 1

22 points

Dec 21, 2014 3:19 PM in response to Skydiver119

Thanks. I just did a search and there are many articles on iPad vs laptop

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Answer 6

stpedler Author

Level 1

22 points

Dec 21, 2014 3:21 PM in response to Skydiver119

Basically I will want to move some page documents to my main computer, my mac mini. So I can't transfer by plugging in an external drive.

Do you know what is involved in syncing the iPad to the mac mini?

I guess if I have just a few documents I could email them to myself.

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Answer 7

Skydiver119

Level 9

53,501 points

Dec 21, 2014 3:23 PM in response to stpedler

You can use an iPad as a laptop, but you need to go into it with your eyes open and be willing to find and use the workarounds that many laptop users take for granted (lack of non-internet file transfer, ease of printing, compatibility of programs to name a few)

Functionality for the dollar, a small laptop will get you more bang for your buck. There are a lot of 10-12 inch laptops or tablet/laptop convertibles that can have the connections to make things easier while still having the portability of an ipad. (often also with much more storae)

That said if you prefer the apple environment with a keyboard case the willingness to use the workarounds, you can get by with an iPad.

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