Anybody Using iPad as a Laptop Replacement?

JimR 1 wrote:
WHY WHY WHY ???? did you post this?? I am now looking at iPads :S

JimR

Apple announced the spring event is april 20th. Most likely new iPads. Which means current ones will be reduced in price....

Well, now I have a complete “laptop”. I received my adaptor from Amazon today and can use thumb drives and wired mouse if for some reason I cant use the wireless one. Because my left hand is paralyzed (stroke) I need to use only my right hand to insert peripheral devices into the USB-A socket. It’s a little difficult but it gets done. I even tried running an external hard drive, but didn’t expect it to work (too much power draw even with power provided to the iPad), and sure enough it didn’t, although it seemed to try. So now, I’m a happy camper. If my trusty Toshiba gives up I’m covered. :) Ed

mr. ed wrote:

JimR 1 wrote:
WHY WHY WHY ???? did you post this?? I am now looking at iPads :S

JimR

Take it easy, Jim. Everything is gonna be alright. :B

I might suggest you get the lowest priced device if you’re buying new. That should be sufficient for most people. The 8th generations are available now, but from what I’ve read, it doesn’t offer a lot over the 7th gen (that’s what I have), but your needs may be unique and require the pro series of iPad. Do some investigating online. :)

I got mine off of ebay :) It arrives Thursday, and I hate you'all too :)

JimR 1 wrote:
WHY WHY WHY ???? did you post this?? I am now looking at iPads :S

JimR

Take it easy, Jim. Everything is gonna be alright. :B

I might suggest you get the lowest priced device if you’re buying new. That should be sufficient for most people. The 8th generations are available now, but from what I’ve read, it doesn’t offer a lot over the 7th gen (that’s what I have), but your needs may be unique and require the pro series of iPad. Do some investigating online. :)

My Bluetooth mouse arrived yesterday (Microsoft brand) and is working well with my iPad (7th generation, 10.2). Just waiting for adaptor to arrive from Amazon so I can plug in peripherals, such as a USB thumb drive or wired mouse if my wireless one gives trouble. The adaptor I ordered also has a lightning port so I can charge my iPad at the same time.

FlatBroke wrote:
Recently I’ve have been power of attorney for my 97 year dad with dementia. He inherited a large quantity of stocks from grandparents. Little did I know he had it in a major mess and hadn’t paid taxes for 2 years.

Dementia is an awful disease, 3 of my parents had it, last was father in law, and he died from dementia.

I will say this, power of attorney is not enough. We learned that lesson with my mom. With father in law, once wife had to take over his care, after him freaking out his house was going to be sold for missed taxes, we went straight to court for guardianship. It was strange walking into court with THREE attorneys. Everybody was on the same page, so it went well. As he got worse, I was so happy we had the guardianship. At one point he threatened to revoke the POA, and wife reminded him, POA was no longer active, his only choice was to schedule a court hearing... then like a little kid, he said, "then I have to do what you tell me to do?"

WHY WHY WHY ???? did you post this?? I am now looking at iPads :S

JimR

Well, Bluetooth mouse & lightning to USB-A adaptor are on their way from Amazon. I already have a Bluetooth keyboard, so I’ll be all set with my iPad laptop. :C

I’ve been using iPad for everything for years. Recently I’ve have been power of attorney for my 97 year dad with dementia. He inherited a large quantity of stocks from grandparents. Little did I know he had it in a major mess and hadn’t paid taxes for 2 years. Found the iPad was a little cumbersome for dealing for all the searches, numbers and letters I was doing. I bought one of those mini computers and wireless keyboards and hooked all up a 22” flat screen I had. Wow that thing is super fast and I’m enjoying using it. Problem I forgot how difficult windows can be but I’m getting use to it. Caution! Make sure your Windows isn’t syncing with your iPad and iPhone, going to take long time to get my iPad back to where I like it.

mr. ed wrote:
Thanks for the replies. My trustyToshiba laptop is still going strong, although it’s 11+ years old, but I want to be proactive and have a device ready if it dies on me suddenly.. I’m online quite a bit and, being somewhat of an experimenter, I’d like to try working with IOS. I don't do anything intensive, just web surfing, emailing, banking, etc.

I was recently going to try a Chromebook, but now my interest has turned to the iPad since I already own one.

You'll be fine. Wife does all that and more on her phone.