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Comment by sliverstorm | Hacker News Reader

What is it that makes the iPad a possible laptop replacement, but the Fire not?

I don't think the iPad is that much more a real laptop replacement than the Fire. I think people bill it as one to themselves to help justify paying for an iPad.

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The screen size is important. If you've tried to use the web on a nook its lucky to be an average experience, generally its actually pretty horrible as its so small. The iPad as a slightly better experience due to size alone, but even still I don't like using safari.

Anecdotally most people I know with iPads have stopped using laptops outright. Disclaimer here that the majority of owners are older.

The interesting thing to see is how the Silk browser addresses the issue of terrible web experience on small screens.

The Kindle Fire has nearly the same resolution as the iPad--1024x768 for the iPad and 1024x600 for the Fire. The Fire is higher res (because it's smaller) so text will appear sharper. There is simply no reason that the iPad is a laptop replacement but the Fire is not.

In fact, there is a good reason that it would be the other way around--the iPad requires a computer but the Fire does not. Open an iPad up new in box and you'll need to find a copy of iTunes to use it. The system requirements for the Fire? "None, because it's wireless and doesn't require a computer."

I also think the iPad requiring hooking up to a computer is an odd requirement, but a) any Apple Store will do that step for you and b) I expect it to go away now that iOS 5 has over-the-air patching.

Its not the resolution thats the issue, its the actual physical size thats the problem. The iPhone 4 is 960x640, not too far behind either device pixel wise. But the 3" screen or what ever it is where the problem is.

The tethering is a thing off the past as of next week, its a legacy thing that was left over due to the evolution of the product range.

> -the iPad requires a computer

may not be true for long

"... so text will appear sharper..."

It will also appear smaller. Much smaller. And the Fire requires Amazon. So instead of being tied to a computer you are tied to a website.

Why would it appear smaller unless Amazon wanted it to be? It will just appear sharper at smaller sizes. My iPhone is much smaller than either device and has much higher resolution (326ppi!). Text looks great and is sized just fine.

It's not so much a real laptop replacement as it is a "computing device while on the go". Whereas four years ago you'd get a netbook, now… you kind of need a good reason not to get an iPad/Fire.

It's a subset of computing. I have my main work laptop, which I'm not going to take camping or up to the cottage. In this space, a tablet is perfect but we used to settle for a "meh laptop".

What you say would be very astute, if the iPad price range was not $500-800, compared to the $380 I paid for a relatively high-end dual-core netbook with discrete graphics not 6 months ago, or the $300 I paid for a middle-of-the-road dual-core netbook for my parents.

I also really needed a keyboard, but that's not even the main issue.

<I also really needed a keyboard, but that's not even the main issue

Well, considering the iPad lacks a keyboard, I'd say that's a pretty big issue at least.

>for my parents.

PERSONALLY, I would happily pay the premium if it means I never have to field a support call ever again.

Tradeoffs! Also your parents might not appreciate playing games or watching movies on the couch as much as other people might, yadda yadda.

This line of thinking ("netbooks offer more capability for less money") makes sense to some customers, but not to many others: Apple is predicted to sell ~40 million iPads this year.

That does not imply that: 1) those same people would have bought a netbook had the iPad never come out and 2) those people view it as a laptop replacement.

I need a good reason to buy a netbook over an iPad? A proper SSH/NX client, full keyboard, full (and choice of) operating system, input/output ports, all for less money?

You're a small, if not tiny, segment of the market. Most of the market doesn't even know what SSH is, let alone require a SSH client in a portable device.

And most people don't produce content on their personal computers, yet this thread screams of people scrambling to justify the purchase of $500-$600 devices that are built to consume primarily and I suggest near exclusively (and dismiss the Kindle Fire because it makes no bones about being media-based). There is this auspice of them being used as "productivity tools" but I can only think of rare occasions where I would agree and they're very highly specialized apps where again, a cheap commodity ARM device could be produced, run Linux and run the application just as easily without major costs to the organizations that are paying Apple an arm and a leg to have a flashy device.

Most people don't produce content? Hello most people are emailing, writing things out on 'Pages' or other Word Processors, perhaps even Google Docs. I don't understand what you mean by most people don't produce content. Hell the iPad has two cameras which product content.

Most of the world doesn't need an ssh client, they hardly type much at all, don't care that they can put uber-linux 2.8.7.rockin-beta.rc18 on it, never hook anything more than a camera up to it and, well, yes, there is the money bit.

I'm a developer and the last thing I want when i'm relaxing on the couch, on a trip, etc. is a laptop that gets hot, has a tiny screen, and has a horrible form factor for consuming the tubes. The Fire is a credible alternative for most of that with the possible exception of casual gaming (which i love to do).

No, no, you misunderstand me. Tablets are absolutely superb at consuming content. I make no bones about that. I have an Android phone that is used almost exclusively for consuming content and I picked up a TouchPad to surf the web with on my balcony. I just don't get the people here trying to act as if they're productive with their iPad in a way that is impossible to do on the Fire.

Misunderstanding reconciled!

I think "laptop replacement" isn't talking about me and you, it's talking about my mom who spends all her time on facebook or email and casual games and doesn't do a whole lot of other things.

I can use google docs on my iPad, I can type emails, I can consume. That's about all 80% of home computer users need generally, so that's why it's a laptop replacement. Not sure you'll have a lot of luck making a presentation on a Fire or updating a spreadsheet, but those things are doable on an ipad even if they are a little cumbersome. (80% obviously made up!)

I have to disagree with you on form factor while sitting. I find a laptop better than or equal (larger screen + supports itself at a wide range of viewing angles)

It's all personal preference. I hate the laptop form factor in general, but once you add the heat they put off it's a deal breaker for me.

You can get SSH clients for iPad. If you need a keyboard, Apple sells one for the iPad and they and several other manufacturers make bluetooth keyboards that are perfectly adequate.

I chose not to go that route because I wanted more power and storage. But it was definitely under consideration.

That doesn't make any sense. If people had a hard time justifying purchasing an iPad, it wouldn't be the astounding success that it is.

Of the 10-or-so iPad users I know (all from different industries), about half of them use it as a replacement for a laptop, but not necessarily as a desktop replacement.

Anecdotal, yes, but compelling in that those it's a replacement solution for have been strongest in their iPad evangelism.

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