Hacker News Reader

Comment by gregjor | Hacker News Reader

I can’t speak about the entire thread, but I didn’t intend to compare iOS to other operating systems. I just wrote that I can “work normally” on an iPad. The kind of work I do allows that.

If I want to “branch out” I have the Chromebook Pixel, and I can get another laptop if I need to. I can run a Mac or Windows system in the cloud — I’ve done that when I need to use tools not available on iOS, from POEdit to Eclipse. I didn’t mean to imply that I would force myself to use an iPad for everything and just throw up my arms if I couldn’t get something to work on it.

View on HN

I would say "great"... but also, "Why bother?" You did compare iPad Pro and iOS to alternatives, no? Main computer and all that?

The point is "main computer" means main... not secondary or ancillary to my main computer. Your average person does not have a need for several thousands of dollars worth of screens, and would be much better off with a laptop vs. iPad pro. Furthermore, the premise of this "experiment" is extreme navel gazing.

"Hey look at me everybody! I bought a device for almost a thousand dollars then spent a lot more on apps, then wasted a shit pile of time for a gimped UX that sort-of works! You can do it too! Just get your check book out and be prepared to buy another laptop and/or VPS space because you'll need it!"

You can put whatever spin on it you want, I suppose. The iPad has more uses than as my main development machine. I would have bought it anyway for all the reasons people buy tablets. I don’t see it as a waste of money since I use it all the time, for work and non-work.

The few apps I paid for did not cost “a lot more.” A VPS costs $5/month, I already used a VPS anyway, and mostly I work on client systems already in the cloud. I don’t need to buy another laptop, I already have one that has worked fine for more than three years.

I didn’t suggest everyone try this, nor did I intend to evangelize iPads. Lots of people already have iPads or will buy one, and lots of people have expressed interest, for years, in using tablets as laptop replacements.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com