I constantly think about trying to use my iPad as my full time computer. It’s a completely irrational thought, but I can’t shake it from my brain.
I’m not sure why. I think it’s because it’s cool and different, and probably also because I am particularly fortunate to even have it as an option. This feels like the future to me. Just a little device that does everything you need it to. Despite it needing to be very connected to the Internet to do anything valuable, it feels like a way to disconnect from technology.
I told you this is irrational.
I’m always looking up articles about it, and they all come to the same conclusion: I probably shouldn’t.
(Semi-related: There’s something about the changing seasons that make me want to make these kinds of changes. In about March, as the weather begins to turn and there’s more sunlight out, I seriously consider going full-time Linux.)
There’s no reason for any of this. My Macbook Pro does literally everything I would want my full-time iPad setup to do:
- iMessage, WhatsApp, Messenger
- Photos
- Gmail
- Google Docs
- Access to docs in the cloud
- Spotify
And in literally every aspect, my laptop does it better … and faster. But then I see a guy in the airport lounge doing everything from his iPad Pro, and I’m jealous for some reason.
When I’m at home or on vacation, I use my iPad as the only computer. This is primarily so I’m even less inclined to check in on work, but there’s also something nice about only having this little glas slab to keep up with. (Come to think of it, it’s usually vacations when I contemplate switching to an iPad full time.)
I can’t quantify what’s nice about it, because it’s irrational.
I know it’s possible to switch over to an iPad for non-work stuff: my wife replaced a MacBook Air with an iPad two years ago.
She has one complaint though: it’s harder to type on an iPad than it is on a computer. She doesn’t send long-winded emails to her friends (but who does anymore, anyways?). When she needs to send a big email, I hook a bluetooth keyboard up to her laptop – or just give her my laptop so she can log in to Gmail.
You could buy a keyboard, but then you need to carry that around. Two parts. Or you can buy one of those folio cases that includes a keyboard. But then at that point, aren’t you basically just carrying around an under-powered computer?
Not to mention, by the time you add it all up, you’re starting to knock on the door of the price of a new laptop.
In 2020, I promise to stop considering this. Until I see a guy at the airport “living the dream”.