Multi-screen setup - Macbook, iMac, iPad and iPhone
In a prior post, we addressed the similarities and differences between a laptop computer and an iPad, and whether could replace one with the other. While there are people who have gone to one device, most of us use multiple devices and jump back and forth between them.
Recent research from Google has discovered that “90% of people move between devices to accomplish a goal.” So not only are we using different computing devices, but using them in conjunction. That means it’s not really a question of either or, but rather what do I want to do and which tools do I use to do it.
Mobile app analytics company, Flurry, has released a report saying that iOS and Android mobile devices are being adopted:
10X faster than PCs in the 80s
2X faster than the Internet Boom of the 90s
3X faster than the recent adoption of social media
As we look and this explosive rate of adoption, Extension needs to be looking at how to connect with all these people using mobile devices by designing our websites with responsive design and mobile in mind, creating mobile apps and making sure our content is optimized for a smaller format (information is smaller chunks, etc.).
If you are not yet a mobile user, now is the time to find out what all the hoopla is all about!
The jury in the Apple vs. Samsung has found Samsung guilty of willfully infringing on multiple Apple patents, awards over 1 billion in damages. You can read more on Mashable.com.
Now this is what I call mobile video – a remotely controlled roaming robot consisting of an iPad on a stick attached to what looks like a mini Segway. The technologist in me loves the ingenuity behind this mobile video robot, but something about it just feels a little weird. What do you think?
The robotics technology boom is just getting started and we’ll be see lots more of this soon. I could definitely think of tons of different ways to use this, especially remote support. Think about it, being virtually there…but not. Strange and interesting indeed.
If you like to walk around when using a tablet, you might want to obtain a hand strap. Using a hand strap will allow you hold your tablet with one hand and not worry about dropping it.
The Padlette is basically a big rubberband which attaches to your tablet by stretching over opposite corners, put your hand or fingers through the loops and… viola!
Encourage the effective use of mobile technology for Extension teaching, learning and communication.
Demonstrate tools and methods for the production and delivery of educational materials using mobile devices.
Provide an opportunity for attendees to share their experiences, tools and uses of mobile devices in personal productivity, communication, teaching and learning.
Encourage and incorporate the use of emerging mobile presentation and delivery tools.
Work in a collaborative, sharing mode, rather than as a “sage on the stage.”
Connect our discoveries to our jobs, products and passions.
..And have fun doing it.
Please feel free to add your thoughts to this list.
Ok, so many of you out there might be thinking the iPad would be a great replacement for your laptop. After all, it’s lightweight, has great battery life and does everything a laptop does, right? Well…kinda, sorta, maybe…but not exactly. Let me explain.
I too prefer carrying an iPad instead of an arm busting laptop but it has some limitations which are worth considering.
Internal Storage Space
Depending on the version, iPads have 16GB – 64GB of total storage capacity. That might sound like a lot, unless you work with many high resolution photographs and/or video files which can quickly eat up drive space. In comparison, laptops typically come with a 250GB – 500GB internal hard drive and are able to hold thousands of files.
Keyboard
The iPad comes with a touchscreen keyboard to enter text, which may or may not work for you. It’s usually ok for note taking and short paragraphs, but if you do a lot of typing, you might want to stick with a laptop or get an external bluetooth keyboard compatible with the iPad, at which point you lose some of the portability factor of the iPad, but it’s an option.
Transferring Files
With a laptop, it’s fairly easy to transfer files. For small files, you can transfer files via email or WiFi and larger files can be sent over an Ethernet connection, burned on a CD/DVD disk, USB flash drive or card.
On an iPad, transfers can be a little bit more complicated, especially since it doesn’t have on board Ethernet connectivity or a CD/DVD burner. You can use email to send small files, but for bigger files your options are limited to WiFi transfers, via USB (using the dock connector and iTunes) or using Apple’s IPad Camera Connection Kit which lets you transfer photos and videos from a USB drive or SD Flash card.
Software Applications
Another limitation you need to consider is what types of files you use and which software you need to create, read and edit them. Today’s laptops are powerful computers which allow you to use equally powerful programs to create complex content.
iPads, on the other hand, have limited processing power and many of the programs that run on a laptop, such as Microsoft Office, are not available for the iPad, although there are 3rd part apps which allow you to view and edit the files, but are still limited in functionality.
Conclusion
So, should you replace your laptop with an iPad? If you can live with the limitations, go for it, but for most people, a laptop should probably still be your main computer. Of course, having both a laptop AND an iPad would give you the best of both worlds – a powerful computer for your heavy duty computing needs and a lightweight tablet computer for emailing and web surfing wirelessly from your couch!
Thinking of buying and Apple iPhone or iPad? Well, you just might want to hold off for just a little bit more.
There are indications a new iPhone and a possible new iPad Mini will be announced soon. Apple will be rolling out iOS 6 on Sept. 12, 2012, so the chances of these rumors being true are fairly high.
As an owner of iPhone 3GS, I’m looking forward to a new updated phone. As for the iPad Mini, I’ll have to wait and see. I’m not sure a smaller iPad would work for me. But then again, a lower price point might entice me.
