Ditch your computer
Admittedly, this is a HUGE step, but honestly much easier than you’d expect! A few years ago, it would have been difficult–but now, almost everything you have on your computer can be found in some form in the iOS App Store, and (in my opinion) is even easier to use.
IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE you have acquired a keyboard case before you take this step, it makes a world of difference!
STEP 1: Convert to the iOS platform. These apps will take over everything you used your computer for (am I missing something? Shoot me a comment below!).
Word processing/spreadsheets/etc – Easily done by Apple’s Pages, Numbers, and Keynote apps, but if you’re a hardcore Microsoft fan, you can also get Word, Excel, and Powerpoint for iOS.
Music creation – Garageband & many others
Video composition – iMovie, Replay, etc.
Photo editing – Pixelmator, Aviary
Graphic design – iDraw (literally a direct replacement for Adobe Illustrator and similar design programs. LOVE) or Photoshop Touch (not quite as awesome, but offers more photo manipulation tools).
File management – Documents 5, Transmit, Google Drive, Dropbox
Writing/drawing – Notability, Penultimate, Paper, Sketchbook
Weather – Weatherbug, Yahoo Weather, The Weather Channel
Package tracking – Deliveries
Secure info storage (passwords, bank/credit info, etc) – 1Password
Flash website access – Puffin Web Browser. We even do homeschooling online via the iPad now using the Puffin Academy app (which is basically a kid-friendly version of Puffin Web Browser) in combination with Time4Learning (free 14-day trial, full PreK-12th curriculum! Mention me if you sign up :) Stephanie Jones / jornie @ me . com).
Book reading – iBooks, Kindle for iPad, Nook for iPad
Media viewing/listening – OPlayer
STEP 2: Thin out and back up all your existing computer files (converting as necessary). We have acquired a portable hard drive and a QGenie–this awesome little device that lets you wirelessly stream all your data to your iPad via FTP or WebDav. Sounds a lot more confusing than it is, but basically we’ve transferred all our important files to that hard drive, and can now see/work with them anytime from our iPads thanks to the QGenie and an app like Transmit.
If you have proprietary files that you’ll be accessing with different programs in the future, make sure you check them for compatibility before you get rid of your computer completely. For instance, if you have Microsoft Word files that you’ll be using with Pages for iOS in the future, make sure you check that you can open them on your iPad. You may also want to ensure any video files are in an iPad-compatible format, but this is not absolutely necessary as there are several video apps that can read multiple formats.
PLEASE do yourself a favor, though, and take this opportunity to get rid of all the random files you don’t really need anymore… Think of it as a spring cleaning for your data.
STEP 3: Set up iCloud backup on your iPad, so you’re not tied to the computer if you have to get a new device for any reason. When you’re sure you’ve got everything just the way you want it, reformat that computer and resell it! BE FREE. :)
Is there anything you have more questions about? Comment below and I’ll do my best get back to you ASAP! Like I said, we’ve been doing this for a year now and haven’t looked back, so I know you can do it, too! For even more ways to save money, read part two of our Extreme Saving series.
The Giveaway!
Because we LOVE you, and so does ClamCase, we coordinated with them to give one lucky reader a FREE ClamCase Pro for iPad Mini! Congrats to our winner (displayed below)!
This sounds perfect for our family and current situation. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve TOTALLY thought about doing this with my Mini. My problem is that I have to do a lot of work for school (I’m a teacher) such as entering grades/website/parent communication) and I am concerned about that as my district’s technology stinks. Definitely worth a try though. :)
It sounds very tempting! I just recently got an iPad and just love everything about it!
I would so love to do this, being on a very small set income. Just have to find a way to get an iPad first!
Sounds overwhelmingly simple. It’s about daring to believe and taking the leap of faith…
I used to used the google voice when I could not afford a cell phone. Now I am on a plan with Republic wireless and you have your choice of price and no contract. It uses Sprint Towers – which are ok. But I miss using an iPad for everything else, my kids used to love it as well. Mine was stolen not too long after I first got it. I didn’t have the heart to try and buy another one.
i don’t know if we could totally give up our computer. I would love to look into the idea more though.
Possibly after my hubby gets back to the states.
I am going to give this a try ! Sounds PERFECT !
wbat a great cost savings idea. I really need to ditch the cell phones.
I could totally do this but would miss being able to just stick a phone in my pocket.
Sounds interesting. I’m definitely tired of the outrage I us cell phone bills as well as internet, cable, and home phone. Seems pointless when you do it this way. Will for sure be telling and talking to the hubby about this. Thanks!
Sounds like it might work for our Family!
Thanks a bunch, really useful info. I ‘d never though about all these possible uses. I only used it for Internet surfing mostly. But now I know there’s more to that. Thanks !!!
I love this idea!!! I have been looking for a case that would work (the one that I found by Logitech didn’t work well). I would love to replace my laptop…not sure about replacing my phone, but I will give it a whirl!
I am definitely pinning this for the future. My husband just got a keyboard case for his iPad and I’m looking at one for the mini I got for Christmas.love the idea! Would love to begin to move this way for when our Mac kicks the bucket!
Wow interesting thought to switch over. I’m sure we use waaay too much data to do it though. The list of apps is a great compilation
Love this idea. I would love to ditch all of my carriers. However, I am not sure I can get rid of my computer. Love your tips!
Do you have a favorite stylus for use with apps like Noteability? I read a lot of pdf articles for school and just haven’t found a good stylus for highlighting or underlining. Thanks!
I do, Kay! :) LOVE the Jot Script–I’ve tried several styli and it is by far my favorite.
I would love to try this with my iPad mini. I’m all for saving any money I possibly can!
This is such a great idea!!
I don’t know if I am brave enough, but I am certainly willing to disconnect and save!!just found your site and love the idea of extreme Saving.I’ll head over to that post series, next!
Your so AWESOME, I love “HACKS” in general. Your article just goes to show that you have done your research. Thank you so much for sharing and helping everyone save some $$$
-Mary
Great ideas. Not sure i can do it lol. But some great tips to do with my kids ipads!
No way! I could never be that brave. :)
kindof excited to try this out!
You make this sound so easy! Thank you!
Wow, such a great idea! This would save me so much $!!
I think I could do this.
I’m not convinced my husband could.
This is interesting. There are websites that are not mobile friendly and special programs that can only operate on windows that I use. Great idea for the casual computer user.
Very cool idea. Going to check into some of these ideas with our iPad mini. Thanks!
Since Microsoft now has a Office App I could do it
I’m not sure I could go iPad all the way. I love my iMac with the huge screen where I can have multiple things going on side-by-side and the comfortable full keyboard. I am pretty slow to adapt to new technology generally, so maybe it’s just me – lol! I do love the iPad for portability when traveling.
It sounds like quite a leap but one that would be worth making the adjustment for.
Can’t remember the last time I used my desk top computer except at work. Already use my iPad for everything else so I don’t think it would be too difficult a transition.
We just got our ipad for Christmas and are slowly trying to work towards going computerless! These tips are great!!
Thanks sooooo much, received the clamcase and I’m loving it. Thanks for the giveaway, I still can’t believe I won.
i enjoyed your post and plan to use some of your ideas. Just one question. How do you print from the iPad without a wi-Fi enabled printer?
Unfortunately, you can’t, unless you email the document to someone who is connected to a printer. :( Sorry!
I have a question about the google hangout app. Can you get a number to give people? And can you use both the voice and text options?
Yes, you can, to both! :) Sorry it took me a bit to respond, our whole fam has been cycling through the cold&flu bugs going around. :( If you have any other questions, let me know!
Easiest way to set up the voice/text stuff is to go online to your “Google Account” first, set up Google Voice, and tell it to route everything to Hangouts (you’ll need a Google+ profile connected to your account, but don’t have to use it for anything else). Hope that helps!
So how do you do OUTGOING calls? I saw that Google hangouts was for incoming calls and texts, but what about the other direction?