Why the iPad Can’t Function as a Computer Replacement

Posted on 22 May 2010, Last updated on 22 May 2010 by

ipad ball and chain There’s been quite a bit of debate, since the release of the iPad [Product page][review], over whether or not it can function as a full computer replacement. I don’t believe that anyone can seriously say that the iPad could work as a full computer replacement for someone who would consider themselves a mobile professional — there are simply too many things that the iPad either doesn’t do, or doesn’t do well enough, for that. There has been, however, some reasonably logical arguments asserting that the iPad could replace a computer for those who don’t need more functionality than that provided by a netbook. Despite the number of ways that this point could be argued — varying usage scenarios, external media support (or lack there of), apps filling/not filling needs, etc. — there is one explicit fact that can’t be argued around: An x86 computer (be it OSX or Windows based) is required to set up, update, and otherwise support the iPad.

As simple as the iPad may be to use, someone can’t walk into an Apple store, walk out with an iPad, power it on, and just go. The iPad has to be plugged into a computer with an appropriate version of iTunes installed and synced first in order to function. I wonder if any adventurous non-computer owners have gone into an Apple store to purchase an iPad only to find out at home that they can’t actually use the device unless they own computer. It’s sort of weird to think that owning a Mac or PC is actually one of the minimum requirements for using an iPad.

It might sound far fetched to think that someone who doesn’t own a computer would go out an buy an iPad. But is it really? I know several people who own cell phones and don’t own a computer. Is a 3G equipped iPad really that much different? I can tell you that not one of the people I know who own cell phones (without owning a computer) expected to have to own a computer in order to operate their phone. With the iPad, that assumption would lead to some issues.

Even though one can create an iTunes store account directly on the iPad — enabling one to download media and apps — the iPad will always have to fall back on a good old fashioned computer in the long hall. At this point, besides the ability to update apps in a standalone fashion, the iPad cannot update over the air; it has to be plugged into a computer in order to update, if and when Apple releases new firmware.

There is nothing about the iPad itself that makes it impossible to be free of the clutches of a good old fashioned computer; Apple simply hasn’t set things up in that manner. Apple could rectify this issue by offering to activate the iPad in the store before the customer leaves, but they’d also have to do in-store updates for computerless customers, which seems a bit far fetched. Apple could change their update schema to allow for self-updating of the iPad so that it could update itself without the aid of a computer. While they’re at it, they could remove “ownership of a PC or Mac” from the iPad’s minimum requirement list so that users can pull it out of the box and start iPadding without an initial computer sync. Once these technical requirements are out of the way, people can go back to arguing whether or not the iPad is a computer replacement based on needs rather than having the iPad indisputably stuck with the proverbial ball and chain, that some people will tell you, an old fashioned computer is.

Then again, Apple has never quite positioned the iPad as a standalone computer replacement to begin with, which is an important consideration to make. They’ve compared the device to netbooks — saying that the iPad can do things much better — which may have been the reason we’ve seen so many arguments for or against that particular point. In the end, the iPad’s reliance on a full fledged computer is likely by-design: Apple doesn’t want people to buy the iPad instead of a computer, they want people to buy it in addition to a computer. They simply try to position the iPad as a better secondary computing device than a netbook, while still requiring a full computer for setup and updates, despite the fact that they could allow the iPad to function all by itself.

8 Comments For This Post

  1. Mike Cane says:

    >>>Apple could rectify this issue by offering to activate the iPad in the store before the customer leaves

    They do do that. But I don’t know the details. I think the customer has to set up an iTunes account at the store. Which then has a roadblock of requiring a credit/debit card. So, not only is there the requirement of a computer as a mothership, there’s the requirement of plastic of some sort for a financial mothership.

  2. olivier says:

    the question is more whether the iPad can be a netbook/laptop replacement, as a second computer.

  3. chippy says:

    Agree.

    I’m doing some analysis on this right now.
    I think up to 10% of the netbook market, mainly in EU and US, will be hit by the iPad as consumers make a choice over a secondary, gadget purchase. Netbooks vs PS3 Vs BluRay vs iPad for example.

    Am also doing some analysis on how the iPad could work as a full PC following my work with the Airlife. Apart from keyboard, it’s surprisingly close for casual users but is a long way away from a productive device.

  4. Benz145 says:

    You should try it with a Bluetooth keyboard. Is yours jailbroken yet? You can add multitasking with jailbreak which really bumpbs it up a notch in terms of productivity.

  5. AP says:

    Apple advertisement as to ipad is computer replacement may bite them back. Recent numbers show that ipad is eating into mac sales. Apple makes more profit ($) on mac than ipad and in the end if a consumer buys ipad thinking that it will be like buying a mac (which by the way is a real computer) and they won’t need another computer then they will be sorely disappointed. That person is more likely wanting to be a convert from pc to mac and with that bad experience with Apple has lost that consumer for ever.

    I don’t mean bad experience with ipad but if it is grandma buying an ipad thinking that it is computer then she would wonder how do I move these photos from my camera to ipad. Oh darn I need to buy another computer to move these photos. Those lying SOBs at Apple telling me that ipad is a computer replacement. I am never buying an apple product again.

  6. Tax Man says:

    I’m fairly sure you can activate your iPad in the Apple store if you don’t have a computer. You can probably go back to the store to install an update. People that must have an update on the day it is released probably have a computer.

  7. Ron says:

    I wholeheartedly agree with this comment.

    A friend of mine is in his 70’s and has never owned a computer.

    When I analysed what he would be doing with a computer/iPad, I realized that mostly he just wants to surf the Internet, and check his email from his kids.

    He also wants to use quite a few of the apps in the app store, which are mostly not available on a desktop, and if they are, they aren’t as user friendly as an iPad.

    I strongly believe the for young children and seniors, the iPad is the perfect “computer”.

    There’s always someone that can help them install updates if they don’t have access to an Apple Store (which by the way, will definitely activate it and help you to install updates if necessary).

  8. Justin says:

    I went in, bought my 3G iPad, walked out, turned it on, made an account (on AT&T’s and Apple’s respective services) and purchased a few apps without touching an x86 computer.

    It really isn’t a replacement for a laptop if you’re a professional, but don’t tell me you have to tether it to a computer to make full use of it. You can buy video and music right on the device.

    (Typed on my iPad which, although no machine to code on, is my preferred way of surfing the net and one heck of a fun unix-like toy for the inquisitive.)

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