[spideymans]

>Wow, iPad revenue up 31% YoY after being down ~10% in the last few quarters. Similar numbers to a Q1 (holiday season). I guess it makes sense that the tablet form factor is popular when so many people are indoors.

I wonder how much this has to do with the release of iPadOS 13, which has made the iPad a significantly more capable "computer" than previous versions of the operating system. For the majority of users (you don't fall into this category, fellow Hacker News reader), the capabilities of iPadOS are quickly approaching that of macOS.

[wwright]

Personally I regret the new OS features; I find them clumsy and bothersome. I love the iPad overall though. (I’ve been all in on Apple since ‘08 for context.)

[read_if_gay_]

iPadOS 13, the new keyboard with trackpad and a cloud VPS mean even for typical HNers the capabilities of iPadOS are quickly approaching that of macOS. For me, it’s totally replaced my laptop. I still need a desktop because a fair number of very specific things are a PITA on the iPad but in general it offers a much nicer UX than my previous ThinkPad.

[flatiron]

I dunno man. I spend my life in the command line. I don’t think anything could replace a Linux laptop right now for sheer flexibility and power.

[shmoogy]

With Blink you've got an amazing terminal that supports Mosh. Rarely use my MacBook anymore.

[danielheath]

You get considerably more power per dollar out of a VPS (at the cost of needing an internet connection to use it)

[read_if_gay_]

Me too, that's what the VPS is for.

[wutbrodo]

> For the majority of users (you don't fall into this category, fellow Hacker News reader), the capabilities of iPadOS are quickly approaching that of macOS.

Huh wow, I haven't thought about iPads for a while, but apparently they even added multiple windows (predictably, 5 years late). That's probably the biggest blocker I considered that made tablets a toy even for laymen users (you hardly need to be a leet haxorz to use multiple windows)

[mrpippy]

On iPadOS you pretty much do need to be a leet haxor to use multiple windows, it’s a complicated mess involving swipes that’s totally undiscoverable

[wutbrodo]

Ah, thanks for the info. An unintuitive UI is also entirely predictable for Apple, but I was actually saying that you don't need to be a leet haxor to use multiple windows on a desktop; ie even laymen wouldn't find a window-less mobile/tablet OS to be a replacement without that feature.

[alwillis]

Not so much any more, especially if you get a keyboard and mouse.