My old Macbook Pro is getting really slow and I'm contemplating getting a 32GB iPad Air. I do have a desktop for games and more serious computer work, but I don't do much on my laptop other than watching videos and browsing. I would like a portable "computer" to play games on (Diablo 3 for example), but a laptop capable of that is a little out of my price range (32GB iPad Airs are currently $458.99 where I live). I could probably make due with the game that are available on iPad.

Is there anything I could use an iPad for to get more use out of it besides watching streams and playing Hearthstone, or is it just a glorified eReader?

Games, media consumption, drawing, that's about it at the moment.

Basically anything I would use a laptop for minus coding. So when the iPad first came out I was like "that is the dumbest fucking idea ever." I had a laptop and didn't see why anyone would really want anything else for portable computing. But then when I finished college I realized whenever I need a computer on the go I really only need to use the internet most of the time. I don't need something to do homework on anymore. I barely ever turned my laptop on and when I did I was getting annoyed with it. So I decided to get an iPad and I realized that holy shit, this is really all I need now.

So I still have a PC for work and programming and games but whenever I need that stuff I don't really have a reason to leave my house like I used to. I'm not going to the library or to the engineering building to do homework anymore. So on the go an iPad is WAY easier to lug around and gets me what I need. In all reality my phone also gives me the same thing, but there is something to be said about having a bigger screen sometimes. Not all websites are mobile friendly and that's where an iPad can sometimes surpass. If you need to do some word typing too you can attach a bluetooth keyboard and download a word processor app too.

I think I've yet to have that realization. That's why I'm so hesitant. I do have a Gen 1 Google Nexus 7 and I'm not really a fan. It's sluggish and I find Android to not be as responsive as iOS. I think getting a full-sized iPad would definitely change my mind.

As for games, I'd love to have something bring Diablo 3 around if I were to house sit or something, but that is such a rare occurance that I don't need to devote a machine to it. And it's not like the iPad DOESN'T have games to play.

I've yet to really fall into any iPad games. Mine gets used mostly as a sketch book and movie player

I've been using it mostly for Skritter recently, was even putting in 40 hour weeks for a while just on that app. Needed to improve my Japanese writing in a hurry and it works wonders for that.

The only game I've played on this thing is Crossy Roads because the guys mentioned it on the GOTY podcasts.

It's great for casual web browsing, social media, and streaming video. The browser on new ipads is really snappy and more useable compared to older ipads. A proper e-ink screen e-reader would be better on your eyes if you want to read books, and it's not built for drawing, but you can do some ok sketching. Any options for using it as another monitor have been terrible. Hearthstone and FTL are the only games that've really captivated me for any period of time.

Mostly I use it as a second screen on the couch or streaming video when I'm staying somewhere else, so it's mostly eliminated my need for a laptop.

Mostly surfing the net. I'm on my Ipad right now, in fact. I also use it to watch some videos, others I set up for my AppleTV through my Ipad such as playing premium Giant Bomb videos. And, my favorite use is for reading comic books and manga. I never liked reading digital comics on my PC for two reasons. One, the screen shape is different than that of your average book page. Monitor screens are horizontal while books are vertical. I also have a problem playing classic arcade games on my PC for the same reason. Two, I enjoy reading in bed and, well, my PC is a desktop so means I have to sit up when I'd rather be relaxing with a book.

I have collected a number of free games featured on Appsforfree, but except for Hearthstone, I've never really spent much time playing games on my Ipad. The lack of standard controls is one problem, but it's mostly because if I am going to spend some time playing a video game, I'd rather play on a console or my PC. If I am out, I have a 3DS for my gaming needs. And, yet I still find myself downloading all the games I barely, if ever actually play. It's like a mobile version of my Steam backlog. I've got problems.

Browsing the web, youtube, the occasional Hearthstone match.

Things I use mine for include;

• Scheduling
• Video Production notes with Evernote
• Capturing Mobile game footage
• Capturing and auto-tracing paper-based notes and sketches that I make with Adobe Shape
• Currency conversion
• Occasionally getting Siri to "wake me up in an hour" during long work stretches.
• Kindle
• Very occasional web-surfing if my main PC is rendering or something.
• I've even used it in the kitchen to have a recipe next to me while I was cooking (as well as a timer)

...so not much really.

All of my computing when I'm at home and out. I use my iPhone when I'm out and need to check something quick or send a text, but all internet browsing at this point is the iPad. I use my laptop almost exclusively for schoolwork, as I'm a comp sci student so I need a little more flexibility out of my school machine. When I was doing prereqs and just doing, like, English classes and math I actually just used an iPad for word processing and other school stuff. I even made a full powerpoint presentation on it, it's kind of awesome. My PC is for games and GB videos. But a lot of the time I stream stuff from my iPad to my AppleTV, as well. I FaceTime some friends in California with it as well, and sometimes play games. That's pretty rare though.

It's really great for general use computing. Much better than lugging a laptop around. And since it can receive phone calls through my iPhone, I really just use the iPad at home. I can't really think of a person whose general computing would be better served by any device other than an iPad. It's really great. When tablets first showed up I was really skeptical and was sure I would never buy one, but now I really prefer it for most uses.

I had a Nexus 7 tablet and it was pretty awesome when it worked well. I gave it to my Dad when I got a Galaxy Note 4, a phone with a frankly ridiculous screen size for such a portable device.

I'd like to buy the android equivalent, really. I don't like using iOS all that much.

I use mine for ease of use, easy to look up something when I am watching TV, a movie, or playing a game. Play a casual game while working (to keep me distracted/on my toes). Watch stuff/play small games/read comics while in bed. A tablet is not really a laptop replacement if you need something with power that can do everything. But if all you need is an extremely portable web browser then a tablet is great.

Portable pornography. That's really it. For me anyways.

: @urbansanta said:

yup

I only use it for work (taking pictures of wine and liquor displays I sell to accounts and ordering). Other than that I pull my buddy in Alaska up on skype when we play Monster Hunter 4

Reading, web browsing, email, a few games. Mostly reading though. They're great for that. I don't use mine much right now because I always have my laptop with me for school work but once I graduate I imagine I will go back to using the iPad way more.

The new Air 2s are really slick. We got one for my mom to replace her iPad 2. It's ridiculously smooth.