It was 2 a.m., and it felt as though my heart had skipped a beat. I had heard the crashing sound, and knew it could be only one thing. My laptop had fallen. It wasn’t far, just from the height of my desk chair. But there’s a certain amount of anxiety when harm comes to an essential work tool. I immediately grabbed the laptop, opened it up, and turned it on. Things went fine for about 30 seconds, but then I realized that it was stuck for a suspiciously long time. Three minutes later and I’d given up all hope. My laptop was dead. It meant an early morning trip to the Apple Store, because when you work on the web a computer is kind of essential.
If the same thing were to happen to me tonight, I wouldn’t be in anything near that frenzy. I might set up a Genius Bar appointment to see if they can fix the laptop. If they couldn’t, I might not even buy a new one. That’s because for me, the laptop is a thing of the past. These days it’s all about the tablet.
Why I Ditched Laptop for Tablets and What You Can Gain from My True Life Story
The desktop + tablet combo
Last year it became evident that my regular old MacBook just wasn’t cutting it for web work. With multiple browser windows, each containing multiple tabs, a mail program, Skype, iTunes, a Twitter app, and more running constantly, it just didn’t have the power. Forget producing podcasts. GarageBand would frequently crash during recording, and would take nearly a half hour to mix down a half-hour podcast. More power was needed.
Once you’re on a Mac it’s hard to switch off, so my choices were few. It was either a 15-inch MacBook Pro, or a 21-inch iMac. While the MacBook Pro would provide me with portability, I already had a laptop. The iMac packed a bit more processing power, had a much larger screen, and was cheaper. And so that became the choice, with the laptop available for times when I needed mobility.
A few months later, Apple released the iPad 2. One of my companies had been eagerly awaiting the day. On the release date, the other two owners and I bought ourselves the shiny new devices. It was only a matter of weeks before I was completely addicted to it, as an entertainment device. I didn’t want to put it down at all. I’m sure many iPad users had the same experience.
Then a funny thing happened: I started using the tablet for more functions. What started as a video and reading device became something I’d use to work while at Starbucks or on the train. I started downloading business apps, including a documents suite. A few months later I realized something. I hadn’t used my laptop since I got the iPad.
Anything a laptop can do…
At that point it occurred to me that there was little I could do on my laptop that I couldn’t do on my iPad. At first I thought writing might be difficult, so I bought a Bluetooth keyboard. As it turns out, I hardly use the thing. The on-screen typing leaves little room to see what you’re typing, but the interface is great. I can’t tap out 120 words per minute or anything, but it’s not a real hindrance. Even if it were, the Bluetooth keyboard is small and easy to transport — it even folds in half.
Then we get to apps. Essentially, if there is a Mac app, there is an iPad equivalent. It might be the exact same app. For instance, there is a highly functional version of GarageBand for the iPad, and I’ve used it to record podcasts with better results than I realized on my MacBook. The mail app can handle multiple accounts and inboxes, so I can use both my personal and work email. Dozens of instant messenger apps connect me to various services. It’s all there, and it’s all easy to use.
Perhaps the best aspect of the iPad is the Safari browser. It’s quite powerful, much more powerful than I’d expect from a tablet. It can render essentially any site in its true web form. I’ve done it all from the browser: commented on blogs, descrambled my hand in Words With Friends, and even booked cheap tickets to CES 2012. The only thing you can’t do from an iPad is visit sites that use Flash. You can do that from an Android tablet, but the experience is pretty poor. The good news is that Flash is seemingly on its way out, to be replaced by HTML5. So tablets have an even brighter future.
The downsides
While the conversion from laptop to iPad went well for me, I’m not going to pretend that everyone will have the same experience. Here are a few drawbacks to making the switch.
- Flash. As mentioned above, this can be an issue if you visit a lot of Flash sites. Many of them, however, knowing of the issue, have free apps you can use instead of the website.
- USB drives. One thing I’ve gotten used to with my iPad is emailing myself files rather than using a USB flash drive. Of course, there are workarounds to this issue.
- Familiarity. We enjoy things that are familiar to us, and are repelled from things that change the status quo. It does take some time to get used to typing on a touchscreen, but it’s well worth it in the end.
- Compatibility. Using computers often involves sharing, so if someone else doesn’t have an iPad it can be more difficult to share experiences.
Despite the drawbacks, I’ve found the iPad to be just as effective as a laptop for basic computing functions. It’s not my main work machine — I absolutely need the power of a desktop, as do plenty of web workers. But as a secondary portable device, it beats the pants off my old MacBook. The portability and versatility give it distinct advantages. It’s good to know that tablets have a bright future, and will only get better with time.
I ditched laptop for tablets because of reasons above, anyone else could see that as an excuse, I’m not perfect though! I’d like to discuss and see what your views are? Let’s discuss them below!
More About Me
Outstanding write up. what a story. Loved it. thanks Joe.
Glad you love that story..it really rocks 🙂
I agree with this. Although I haven’t ditch my laptop yet, I found my tablet more useful because of its portability and speed (I have a transformer prime with a quad-core and my laptop is dual-core only). I don’t think that tablets will completely replace laptops though because typing on a touchscreen device is still hard. If they could somehow find a way to make typing easier, then a laptop could become a thing of the past.
Yeah, you have the right to ditch your laptop since you are getting something more from your tablet 🙂
It’s nice that you are finding your iPad so useful. I know that, as you bought it for your company, you may be able to use it as a business expense. However, please bear in mind that many people are not able to run out and buy an expensive new gadget.
Yeah, as some people are finding hard to cope with their laptop, some are add up money to buy ipad and others. We’re not the same… 🙂
Hi Daniel,
I have both the MacBook and iPad. Whatever reasons you have given here for ditching your laptop may seem valid, but with the laptop I feel I can see lots of windows at a time. I can open several apps at one time in my laptop and shift from one to another with just a few clicks or keyboard buttons.
LOL! I really can’t think of ditching my laptop!
Yeah, you are right @Mani,
Laptop gives you more option than others. It even works more than iPad but for convenience, iPad works greater than Laptop. Why would you do that? Don’t ditch your laptop yet, better use the two together 🙂
So I thought about this for awhile last year when I was thinking about getting a new laptop. The problem I ran into was that I had no way to sync my iPhone with iTunes to keep my music up to date. thanks.
Interesting read! Maybe your story will make me think similar in your direction, Dan.
Thanks for this. 🙂
Wow! Who’s here?
Is that you Jay?
Nice seeing you around dude 🙂
Wow! Right decisions. i agree with you.
I think it is good probably for you but if you have a work where you need to do a lot of photo editing and creating presentation and analyze data there is no way you can ditch a laptop and choose a pad over it.
Hi Olawale,
Thanks for sharing the nice strategy. I have both and happy 🙂
Hello Olawale,
Such an interesting story. At first I wondered why you did that – “ditching your laptop for a tablet” and I understood the reason why. Write some more interesting story. 🙂
John Doe
Great story. Thank you So much..
You have good reason, frankly everyone tends to recent tablets!
THANK YOU FOR INFORMATION, may be useful for all of us?
Great and excellent story.
Thanks TONY! Glad to hear your view on my story…countless numbers of people experiences similar events…all they need is change of environment like I did. I guess 😉
Olawale Daniel describes his story but this time I describe myself. I bought a HP Pavilion g4 2235dx notebook about 3 month ago. After buying one week my notebook faces problems as like over heating. After some days it faces that its keyboard key(F1) all time pressing. I was very anxious that time for my laptop…..
Hahah, I am sad you ditched your laptop, poor chap was he. While neat tips and I will follow these to get my life in succession.
Thanks, keep writing!
Yeah, if it’s portability, nothing beats the tablets/phablets now. They’re so powerful now you can do almost anything with them you can previously only do on a laptop.
Wow great history ,thank you so much .Waiting for new history with full of information .
Great story. thanks for sharing with us.
THANK YOU FOR INFORMATION, may be useful for all of us?
Ha ha ha it sounds like my story lol you make my mood normal before that i was so irritated because of work stress this post make me laugh credit goes to you.
Whoooo!
I’m very much happy knowing my story inspires and touching you. If I must shock you now, I’m even thinking of ditching my tablets too these days because of the way it slows me down…maybe when I have time, I wight write about my experiences too.
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Thanks once again for coming around Anoush! 🙂
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I read an enjoyed your story. I am in between laptops desktops and tablets – peace
WOW!
That’s great Kevin 🙂
One can hardly live without these gadgets.
Nice seeing you around.
So I thought about this for awhile last year when I was thinking about getting a new laptop. The problem I ran into was that I had no way to sync my iPhone with iTunes to keep my music up to date. thanks.
I will give you a nice little advice,wirte a book mate, you have talent. And about the article, let’s dive more intro the problem. You’re right, ditching your laptop and using a tablet si far more comfortable , but the performance level goes down. This is the only minus that I can find to this problem
Thank you for a great helpful information.
One can hardly live without these gadgets.
Nice seeing you around.
I’m very much happy knowing my story inspires and touching you. If I must shock you now, I’m even thinking of ditching my tablets too these days because of the way it slows me down…maybe when I have time, I wight write about my experiences too.
I’d surely be glad to read your own story!
Hello, I to spend a big part of the day on computers and move from place to place, I have seen these tablets that can replace your laptop and they do sound very appealing for being mobile and going from office to office, I have been considering buying one for along time now. I think as you, when my laptop is no longer working or starts to stress me out I will make the switch to. Unlucky with your laptop being knocked on the floor though. That had to be painful, I know I would feel the same. Thanks for sharing your post.
I can view myself in your story. Now that i am fed up with my laptop and somewhat happy with my new tab, my story will be somewhat same as yours.
Hmmm! I know that would be worth reading. When are you going to tell your story Harsh?
I’m looking forward to reading it 😀
BTW, thanks for your time here.
I am struggling with the concept of a person being equally productive with a tablet as they are with a laptop. It would seem that a student or businessperson would go crazy with this. Producing, managing, and manipulating large data would also seem like a nightmare.
I personally switched to a tablet completely. So basically, I like to be portable and have a device that is straight to the point. No cables going every where no heavy boxes. No need to keep opening up a laptop and switching it on and waiting to load. I just press the power button and it’s there in an instant with a tablet. All I do is surf the web and watch youtube. And buying things from eBay on it is even better. I can sit any where and travel with my games on my fire tablet. Just love it. I have nothing against laptops or desktops. But when you only surf the web and watch youtube and play some games, it’s ideal for that and even when you want to bring your pc with you. I would buy the ps5 or the Xbox series. But with loving portability a fire tablet and a minute so switch is enough for me. Maybe im a mimilist?