05-07-2013, 08:27 AM
There is something about that impulse to reach for a mouse or a trackpad.
I'm not suggesting the iPad's current format should adapt or change to satisfy this, but I admit, it's there. It limits what I'll do. I currently don't have a laptop. This is the first time since 1997 I've not had a laptop. I'm using my iPhone and iPad, to fill that gap, and though the iPad was never positioned as a laptop replacement, exactly, there are competitors who do produce a product that does both.
One thing that might pacify that, for me, is using voice commands. I have a gen-2 iPad. I realize one can use Dragon dictation, or whatever, but having just discovered the benefits of Siri on my new iPhone5, I can see how it might improve my iPad experience. I am not keen on using a bluetooth keyboard (I got one, synced it, works okay, not practical to use--might as well get a laptop) and I find the iPad's native screen touch keypad to be perfectly okay, but only for very minimal typing. And while Dragon dictation is quite good, it's not the same as an integrated all-purpose voice assistant.
My wife and I were just looking at an iPad mini, at DealNews, for a good price. I was tempted. With Siri built in, I'm one of those rare users that would use the crap out of Siri.
Perfect compromise, or solution? Probably not. But considering tablets are still in their relative infancy, it'll be interesting to see how these things will evolve over the next five years.
Remember the first iPhone? THAT was only about five years ago. And it was really just a prototype, barely ready for market. But the thirst was so great, for a promising Apple smartphone, that users were willing to stand in line and pay a premium. Five years later, it's finally a powerful, mature product.
I hope we can say the same for the iPad, as it matures.
I'm not suggesting the iPad's current format should adapt or change to satisfy this, but I admit, it's there. It limits what I'll do. I currently don't have a laptop. This is the first time since 1997 I've not had a laptop. I'm using my iPhone and iPad, to fill that gap, and though the iPad was never positioned as a laptop replacement, exactly, there are competitors who do produce a product that does both.
One thing that might pacify that, for me, is using voice commands. I have a gen-2 iPad. I realize one can use Dragon dictation, or whatever, but having just discovered the benefits of Siri on my new iPhone5, I can see how it might improve my iPad experience. I am not keen on using a bluetooth keyboard (I got one, synced it, works okay, not practical to use--might as well get a laptop) and I find the iPad's native screen touch keypad to be perfectly okay, but only for very minimal typing. And while Dragon dictation is quite good, it's not the same as an integrated all-purpose voice assistant.
My wife and I were just looking at an iPad mini, at DealNews, for a good price. I was tempted. With Siri built in, I'm one of those rare users that would use the crap out of Siri.
Perfect compromise, or solution? Probably not. But considering tablets are still in their relative infancy, it'll be interesting to see how these things will evolve over the next five years.
Remember the first iPhone? THAT was only about five years ago. And it was really just a prototype, barely ready for market. But the thirst was so great, for a promising Apple smartphone, that users were willing to stand in line and pay a premium. Five years later, it's finally a powerful, mature product.
I hope we can say the same for the iPad, as it matures.