Farewell, Laptop

Making the Switch to an iDevice

Since the iPad's release in 2010, laptop sales have been in flux—and for good reason! After all, the iPad is more compact, efficient, and in many cases, affordable. And now, the new phablet-sized iPhone 6 Plus threatens to in turn cut into iPad sales. As our device options continue to expand, the standard laptop is becoming an increasingly archaic option, particularly to the younger generation.

Personally, I enjoy using the 128 GB iPhone 6 Plus as my primary computer, and for me, leaving behind my laptop for an iOS device has been easier than you might imagine. For those ready to make the switch, here are a few preliminary considerations.

The Fine Print

If you have poor vision, it may seem daunting to make the switch to a smaller screen. However, the Accessibility features of the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPads mean you can take advantage of bold text, highlighted buttons, increased contrast, and Zoom and Speech features that are built into every iDevice. Regardless, the 5.5-inch display of the iPhone 6 Plus or the 7.9-inch screen of the iPad mini may be too small for some tasks, in which case the 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 or the anticipated 12.9-inch iPad Pro may be the way to go.

Portability & Comfort

If you do most of your computing at a table or desk, a larger iPad may be the best option. With accessories like the laptopstyle ClamCase Pro ($169) and the Stabile 2.0 ($64.99) desktop emulator, you can make using your iPad more comfortable and ergonomic.