Replacing destop/laptop with an ipad

[Ed Cheung]

Here is the situation, my girlfriend's laptop died, at lease it is the mainboard, so data in the harddrive is ok and that HD had becomes an USD HD now. And she got a desktop from her brother that he doesn't use anymore, but the desktop is just bare to win xp only, no ms office nothing, even the display driver isn't right. She stay in my place once a while so I was thinking about getting her an iPad to carry around and just use it to replace her old laptop and forget about that desktop. The iPad seems to do the job well, as she use the computer to get on the net, email, fb, etc.

Both of us just an iphone, but never touch an iPad, so my question is on "file", how do I save and have access to files on iPad just like a normal computer, the other question is excel and words, but I am sure there are app that can do that on the iPads, so I am not too worry about that.


Setting up that destop is a pain in the ass, I am lazy and don't what to do that and also being cheap for not getting a full laptop for her.

 

[p m]

setting up the desktop is a piece of cake, usually. It'll take you about a glass' worth of scotch.

 

[az_max]

First off: cheap ass. buy her a laptop

If you trust the cloud, you can use box.net, Google docs or apple's share site for getting files on/off the ipad.

 

[Ed Cheung]

That destop...his brother use it in a store as a cashier reg. type of computer, that's why the display driver wasn't right when he wipe the os clean, and that moniter do not have alignment switch on it and half the "start button" hides behind the left side of the display.
I don't have a wire router/hub at home,Just a wireless modem(from the ISP) plug in to the USB in my computer for the serivces, so a pain in the ass to get this destop hookup to the net to updates all drivers........

I was thinking about a Laptop, but 1/2 the money and gets 90% of the all the needs for her. Just down to the file parts...

Besides, being a cheap ass, I am also being lazy.....

 

[az_max]

You can do yourself a great favor by going to the computer maker's site and getting all the right drivers. there's probably stuff besides the video missing or not acting right. I'm not sure if Driver Detective is still free, but it can help too. Get a usb wireless device for the desktop. They're cheap.

I'm using the HP Touchpad for a lot of stuff around the house, but for IRC and sites requiring a lot of typing (here, for example) I still use my laptop. I have my pics on flickr and set up a box.net account for moving files. I had to d/l some utils for the TP to help with file mgt (it doesn't recognize zip files in emails! wtf?). I hope the ipad does better in those respects.

 

[Ed Cheung]

Yeah, the first thing is trying to get the computer to have connection, I got a USB Wifi thing but the the computer don't seem to sees it, so I guess I had to find a tradition hub for cat 5 cable to get it to connected and gets all the driver it needed.

So, sounds like the pad things can't really replace the laptop, I guess I may need to get her a laptop during Christmas.

 

[kennith]

There are countless cheap laptops out there.

Right now, AMD is shaking up the game with their new APUs. They are cheap, they cut down on additional expense, and they will power the average user just fine. With these on the scene, cheap no longer means completely shitty.

So, things are easy right now. There will be no problem sourcing a functional laptop. You don't even need to wait for some silly sale.

You can walk out of a store with a laptop for $250.00 today, if you want. It may not be anything to brag about, but it's a proper computer.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[ptschram]

You're in HK and can't find a cheap laptop? Can't you just cross the bridge and pick one up at a factory? :laughing:

 

[adriatic04]

ipad will use icloud to share your "number" (excel) files between all your ios devices.

the files thing can be solved with an excellent app I found called "files connect"

I can get on my windows home server and view/share/copy files between. I have also enabled vpn on the ipad and am able to get to both my home network and business network while on the road.

 

[kennith]

Call it "cloud" all you want. I'm not storing critical information on a drive I do not control. In the end, it's just a array of hard drives in a cold room you'll never see.

Worse still is "cloud" computing. What a load of crap. That entire industry is bullshit, as far as I am concerned. I don't even like the term "cloud". It's a pleasant, modern word for fucking yourself.

People worry about our knuckle-headed government prying into their lives... Meanwhile, they are already giving it all away to clever entities that are actually capable of using that information.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[Ed Cheung]

Because she does have a computer at home, I don't want her to carry a big laptop from her place to mine, that's why I prefer the ipad in the first place. And I hardly had the space to fit another desktop in my place. Plus she is out of a job recently and she can access to site for sending out resume any she goes. Actually laptop are cheap but I try to stay away from the Win base platform .....so not much choice left....but Kennith and PT kind of wakes me up a little, I am paying for it and she is using it, as long as she is comfortable with the Win Platform and I am comfortable with my wallet.

But I still want to know what the ipad can do on the file things, i.e. uploading your resume from your computer is clicking the path / directory of the file saved in your computer, but with the ipad, does it work the same way or it will not work at all.

PT, buying things across the bridge is kind of scary, even cheap stuff like soy sauces, rice noodles have fake stuff over there and we have no idea what those fake stuff are made from.

Edited: I was still typing before I read the other post from Kennith, and the cloud thing, I totally agreed. Not using it.

 

[kennith]

Those netbooks are getting pretty slick, if you want something small and light. There are a lot of APU fitted models being released, as well. It's a big step up. Still, I'd grab a small laptop instead, to get an internal drive and added conveniences. The market is flat-out saturated with choices at the moment.

I personally prefer Windows, DOS, Linux, or straight-up Unix for screwing around. I am not an Apple person. I liked Vista a lot more than I like 7, though. I may be the only one...

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[Ed Cheung]

I am not too sure about the netbook, properly need more looking into it, but lease that desktop from her brother seems to be working properly. Pete and az max are right, got it hook up to the net and now got the screen right after downloading the PCI VGA drivers. Took me some time to get the window update to act on his own. At lease this one is work, so it can buy me some time to think about the pad, netbook or laptop.

 

[p m]

I liked Vista a lot more than I like 7, though. I may be the only one...

That is a true measure of uniqueness...

I don't think there was a version of Windows that I hated more than Vista.

 

[varova87]

There are apps for managing files on the ipad. I can't recall the one I use off the top of my head - the ipad is sitting at home at the moment.

Remote access is also good with the ipad. I can access my entire HD at work and save any file from my 1TB at work onto my ipad, then work on it if it's an iwork file or view it if it's media.

I haven't missed my macbook yet. 27" imac is my workhorse, ipad is my access to it on the go.

 

[knewsom]

Netbook hackintosh, or go for Linux if you must avoid Windows.

Varova, I love the shit outta my 27" iMac too. Incredible computer and very affordable.

 

[Ed Cheung]

So there is remote access as well.

PM, I didn't go for the scotch, I had coke and beef jerky for the passed 2 hours while install all those stuff, now my temples hurts...........

 

[Timmy!!!!!!!]

There are apps for managing files on the ipad. I can't recall the one I use off the top of my head - the ipad is sitting at home at the moment.

Remote access is also good with the ipad. I can access my entire HD at work and save any file from my 1TB at work onto my ipad, then work on it if it's an iwork file or view it if it's media.

I haven't missed my macbook yet. 27" imac is my workhorse, ipad is my access to it on the go.

You sound about like me except I am never at home so my computer desktop at home is a mac mini and my on the go computer is an 11inch macbook air. I did enjoy having a iPad and plan on getting one again but for now I don't have one because I kept playing games on it when I should have been productive.

 

[adriatic04]

I've gone on my last couple trips sans my laptop but it made me anxious. It is a 14 inch light as shit thinkpad so packing it isn't a huge deal but at the same time if I can go without its less to carry. I avoid checking bags at all cost now.