> What is this silly ‘real work’ gate-keeping? I guess the author means their work.
This is about productivity. Real-work is usually about being about to do many different things with a single machine. This typically requires interoperability between applications, a file system (to access data thru a unified interface even outside of apps), and standard ways of storing data. The iPad can be very good for doing very specific tasks in one application, but everything else is lacking.
Of course, if your "work" depends only on a single application, then you will be happy with pretty much anything. If you need to work with a wealth of different applications, at the same time, on the same machine, then "real work" won't be possible on an iPad easily: probably do-able, but akin to painting with spaghetti instead of brushes.
> Because by 'real work' we mean creating stuff, not consuming stuff.
Why is creative work the only 'real work'?
Do you honestly think someone who does an exhausting 12 hour shift repairing trains, covered in grease, is not doing 'real work' because they aren't creating anything?
I didn't say that. I'm just explaining what the original article writer's phrase ('real work') means here in this context - the context of personal computer users. Think of it like this: by 'real work' he wants to say 'really using the personal computer to its complete potential as a force multiplier'.
Do you include a scanner and drawing tablet in your example of a ‘single machine’? What about a high-res mobile rear-facing camera? These are built into the iPad.
This is about productivity. Real-work is usually about being about to do many different things with a single machine. This typically requires interoperability between applications, a file system (to access data thru a unified interface even outside of apps), and standard ways of storing data. The iPad can be very good for doing very specific tasks in one application, but everything else is lacking.
Of course, if your "work" depends only on a single application, then you will be happy with pretty much anything. If you need to work with a wealth of different applications, at the same time, on the same machine, then "real work" won't be possible on an iPad easily: probably do-able, but akin to painting with spaghetti instead of brushes.