My Favorite Computer Is Not a Computer
The three main computing devices in my life are my MacBook Pro, my iPhone, and my iPad. If you asked me which one I’d give up if I could only keep two there’s no question which one I would live without: my iPad. On the flip side if you asked me which one I enjoy using the most the answer would be the same: my iPad.
I’m a software developer by trade (or engineer… or architect… these titles are fluid) so I need a full no-compromises computer to do my job. My MacBook Pro is a prerequisite for my chosen (and beloved) profession. iPadOS is optimized to run one app at a time and even if you master the platform’s multitasking features you can only use two apps at a time effectively. When I’m in full dev mode I’m using two or three monitors simultaneously to employ my IDE, terminal, browser, chat client, email app, etc. This can only realistically be accomplished with a desktop operating system like macOS or Windows (or Linux if you enjoy that sort of pain).
Outside of work a smartphone has an extraordinary amount of utility that I’ve come to depend on. Everywhere I go I have the ability to communicate with anyone in the world via text, voice, or video; take a photo or video; navigate the world; summon transportation or food; or simply entertain myself. Here’s a thought exercise: how far away from your house would you have to be to realize that you didn’t have your phone to not turn back for it?
For better or for worse, you’ll have to pry my iPhone from my cold, dead hand.
So why do I enjoy using my iPad more than my more powerful Mac and more ever-present iPhone? Because it is far more fun to actually use.
A desktop computer is a lean-forward device where activity is best performed at a desk with my undivided attention. It is a productivity powerhouse that isn’t a comfortable leisure device. I can bring my laptop to the couch, but still doesn’t feel like recreation to use it.
A phone is more fun to use than a laptop, but it is optimized for quick tasks. A tablet is held further from my face than a phone making it more suitable for long-form reading. If I need to type anything more than a couple of sentences I reach for the keyboard cover to distribute the load to all ten fingers instead of abusing my thumbs.
But do I need an iPad in my life? No, it’s not a necessity like a laptop is for work and a phone is for life (I know how that sounds and I acknowledge that I live in a middle class bubble, please don’t flame me). A tablet is merely a luxury, but among the various possessions of your life which do you have more affection for, the necessities or the luxuries?
