How to replace your office PC with an iPad (Hint: the Cloud helps)

This good article at itbusiness.ca has a run down of someone who is describing how to replace your office PC with an iPad.

Their conclusion is this:

It’s clear the iPad is not a perfect replacement for a laptop (or desktop PC). The connectivity issues create hassles that will slow workplace adoption, and the constrained data exchange and poor cloud-apps compatibility will restrict iPad business usage to basic office productivity work and, via thin clients or where specialty iOS apps exists, to niche field-force usage such as for hospital staff, construction foremen, and the like.

In my opinions, just like netbooks, the feasibility of this all depends on your use of the PC. I believe that if you use a device for accessing the Web and are good with using Cloud based apps like Google docs or Zoho, then you can go along way with an iPad as your main PC. The more you depend on installed software, the less likely this becomes as an option. For now.

2 thoughts on “How to replace your office PC with an iPad (Hint: the Cloud helps)”

  1. One aspect often neglected is the thin client aspect of it. I don’t use my iPad at work, but at home I rarely sit in front of my Mac or my Windows laptops now. Having remote access to them via Wi-Fi allows you to have a really lightweight device to carry around the house.

    I would like to have a tablet device where the screen is detachable and can operate as a “pod” for lightweight content production, and regular content consumption. If one of the Steves come up with that, I’ll be a happy camper.

    1. That is an excellent point, Aaron. The thinness, lightness, and other qualities all add up to making them more usable than a laptop or netbook. (I like my HP netbook, but it is awkward reading on the couch).

      I think those iPad features will become a standard set of qualities, and I hope to see tablets and other detachable screens that provide more capabilities.

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