Anyone Using iPad Pro as Main Device?

[DeepIn2U]

So it seems for the common user tha uses a computer for basic purposes only he iPad can for most intended and purposes acts like a laptop replacement and as Steve Jobs said himself at All Things D6, that software is the only limitation not the hardware.

Therein lies the restrictions for all users and creative professionals and those working in computing analytical and ration of software is

1. The IPad cannot restore its own OS without external software running on external hardware.

2. iOS has yet to evolve powerful enough to support #1 above while creating full fledged solutions created by developers for creative professionals outside of visual artistic drawings. Purcussionista, guitarists, bassist and audio engineers and professional video editors and photographers seem to have been left out or using multiple software solutions implementing new on the fly workflows that are so disparate from their macOS/OS X platforms that it's troublesome or tolerable as an experience.

So I have to ask .... #Apple #TimCook why the hell is Apple Employee #8 Chris Espinosa, you know the guy that created and worked and headed the team that brought us XCode working in iOS Family Sharing division?!!! Freak guy is a genius and you're wasting his talent!

I'd wager he knows a LOT more about coding or iOS than Craig Federigi, no offends but seriously he's been programming at Apple since 1976 at age 14!!

 

[Channan]

So it seems for the common user tha uses a computer for basic purposes only he iPad can for most intended and purposes acts like a laptop replacement and as Steve Jobs said himself at All Things D6, that software is the only limitation not the hardware.

Therein lies the restrictions for all users and creative professionals and those working in computing analytical and ration of software is

1. The IPad cannot restore its own OS without external software running on external hardware.

2. iOS has yet to evolve powerful enough to support #1 above while creating full fledged solutions created by developers for creative professionals outside of visual artistic drawings. Purcussionista, guitarists, bassist and audio engineers and professional video editors and photographers seem to have been left out or using multiple software solutions implementing new on the fly workflows that are so disparate from their macOS/OS X platforms that it's troublesome or tolerable as an experience.

So I have to ask .... #Apple #TimCook why the hell is Apple Employee #8 Chris Espinosa, you know the guy that created and worked and headed the team that brought us XCode working in iOS Family Sharing division?!!! Freak guy is a genius and you're wasting his talent!

I'd wager he knows a LOT more about coding or iOS than Craig Federigi, no offends but seriously he's been programming at Apple since 1976 at age 14!!

Who needs the ability to restore other devices from an iPad when you can send stickers in Messages or tell Siri to take a selfie? Those are the important things in an operating system.

 

[M. Gustave]

1. The IPad cannot restore its own OS without external software running on external hardware.

Unless you mean something different, you can "restore" an iPad or iPhone from iCloud:

https://support.apple.com/kb/ph12521?locale=en_US

...Purcussionista, guitarists, bassist and audio engineers and professional video editors and photographers seem to have been left out or using multiple software solutions implementing new on the fly workflows that are so disparate from their macOS/OS X platforms that it's troublesome or tolerable as an experience.

That's your (frankly uninformed) opinion only. Many musicians and photographers use iPad creatively. And being "disparate" from MacOS software is for many people a benefit, not a drawback. So you're unable or unwilling to work with iOS and iPad? Newsflash: not everyone shares your needs and preferences.
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Who needs the ability to restore other devices from an iPad when you can send stickers in Messages or tell Siri to take a selfie? Those are the important things in an operating system.

Wow, Channan turns iOS hater... what happened man, we used to be tight!

Psyching yourself up for an Android purchase, I bet.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Unless you mean something different, you can "restore" an iPad or iPhone from iCloud:

https://support.apple.com/kb/ph12521?locale=en_US


Yes I meant something different. I should've stated restoring the OS from DFU mode.

That's your (frankly uninformed) opinion only. Many musicians and photographers use iPad creatively. And being "disparate" from MacOS software is for many people a benefit, not a drawback. So you're unable or unwilling to work with iOS and iPad? Newsflash: not everyone shares your needs and preferences.

My surmise of opinion is based on 24 pages in this thread for iPad Pro. Not uninformed but please show me the posts of I.T., audio composing or video content creation editing or producers of pro content (the likes of arpeture, Final Cut Pro, or Logic Pro) have shown solutions within iOS?

My opinion is this is possible, check my previous posts on this very thread. For the novice audio content creator there are great apps since iOS 4 and new hardware in Apple Store but nothing good to logic. Again I'm more than open for you to show me such posts.

Yes Citrix is a great solution and helper to work flows but still requires a cloud service to a traditional computing desktop is and or a personal computer at home or the office running with internet connection.[/QUOTE]

 

[jeremiah256]

It keeps getting mentioned that Apple is pushing the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement. I've rewatched both the latest iPad Pro ad on their website and the film they created. Apple is very careful. They only say PC, not laptop, not desktop. And in the demonstrated use cases they show in their videos, only about 10% are with a keyboard. They push the Pencil and touch and the keyboard is for added flexibility. The majority of the use cases shown are with the iPad Pro being held, not sitting on a table with a keyboard.

Personal computer replacement, not laptop replacement.

 

[Michael Goff]

It keeps getting mentioned that Apple is pushing the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement. I've rewatched both the latest iPad Pro ad on their website and the film they created. Apple is very careful. They only say PC, not laptop, not desktop. And in the demonstrated use cases they show in their videos, only about 10% are with a keyboard. They push the Pencil and touch and the keyboard is for added flexibility. The majority of the use cases shown are with the iPad Pro being held, not sitting on a table with a keyboard.

Personal computer replacement, not laptop replacement.

What do you think laptops and desktops are?

 

[DeepIn2U]

It keeps getting mentioned that Apple is pushing the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement. I've rewatched both the latest iPad Pro ad on their website and the film they created. Apple is very careful. They only say PC, not laptop, not desktop. And in the demonstrated use cases they show in their videos, only about 10% are with a keyboard. They push the Pencil and touch and the keyboard is for added flexibility. The majority of the use cases shown are with the iPad Pro being held, not sitting on a table with a keyboard.

Personal computer replacement, not laptop replacement.

You'll also notice the following used:
Architecture / FileMaker Pro type project management use cases
iMessage Video Chat (or very similar)
iLife apps on iOS used,
drawing, signature (great use case actually)

It was a very focused ad, and well done in my opinion.

Razer Core already does this. Chuck in any gpu you want and off you go.
No Mac support and is stupidly expensive. Though is a dedicated eGPU that's getting good reviews.

I hope these things get standardization and start pushing out to market.

I think Apple has always loved playing "PC" personal computer against "PC" Windows based computer whenever it was in their favour for years. I get the confusion but I'd say Jeremiah meant Windows PC as Phil Schiller on stage mentioned new comers to the iPad are from Windows users with some odd 5yr old computers wanting to upgrade.

 

[Channan]

Wow, Channan turns iOS hater... what happened man, we used to be tight!

Psyching yourself up for an Android purchase, I bet.

Nah. I was just making fun of the iOS 10 update. I still love my iOS devices.

 

[Brammy]

Purcussionista, guitarists, bassist and audio engineers and professional video editors and photographers seem to have been left out or using multiple software solutions implementing new on the fly workflows that are so disparate from their macOS/OS X platforms that it's troublesome or tolerable as an experience.

I'm a guitarist and I use my iPad Pro for music creation way more than my MacBook. I use JamUp, GarageBand, and Auria to make and record music.

 

[danpass]

Has this video been posted?

 

[DeepIn2U]

I'm a guitarist and I use my iPad Pro for music creation way more than my MacBook. I use JamUp, GarageBand, and Auria to make and record music.

Very cool. Can you update us on what each gives you? Any accessories such as stomp boxes that you're able to connect?

Btw thanks for adding in. I have an electric myself yet learning tab.

 

[mdbradigan]

At my desk, I am wedded to my multi-monitor setup - once you've had that much screen real estate, you'll never go back.

My best workflow "on the road" has been my macbook + iPad air 2 as second screen using Duet Display. I'd love to go iPad-only when on the road, but it's just too cumbersome for my workflow. Typically, I'll have a word doc, an inter-office chat application, a text editor, and a browser open at the same time, at bare minimum. If I could:

1.) easily "four-corner" apps on the iPad screen

and
2.) easily copy/paste from word doc to editor, both words and sentences and larger blocks of text

this might work. But the touch interface is just nowhere near as quick as trackpad or mouse. add in the power of keybindings and snippets in programs like Sublime Text that just can't be matched by iOS equivalents such as Texttastic and - the iPad is a content consumption device that can, in an emergency, just barely serve as a minimalistic machine when in dire circumstances. My work is not processor-intensive, mostly, so iPad would be a good fit. But, as it stands, input methods and search functions are just much faster in the MacOs environment at the moment. I can DEFINITELY see these devices getting better and better, and currently it's mostly a software limitation, not a hardware one. I look forward to tablets getting better, and see the Surface Book as a perfect stepping point - one that I wish Apple had made. A tablet that runs a simplified OS when undocked, and a full system when docked to larger peripherals that extend battery life / functionality? Yes please. Until then - "pro" is a bit of a misnomer in my mind.

That said - awesome to see so many people willing to experiment with using these tools and changing their workflows accordingly. I see a future where all devices are simply terminals, and you can choose the input device for the situation and preferences at hand. While this convergence is on the horizon... rock on iPad warriors... rock on.

 

[atlas_0]

So it seems for the common user tha uses a computer for basic purposes only he iPad can for most intended and purposes acts like a laptop replacement and as Steve Jobs said himself at All Things D6, that software is the only limitation not the hardware.

Therein lies the restrictions for all users and creative professionals and those working in computing analytical and ration of software is

1. The IPad cannot restore its own OS without external software running on external hardware.

2. iOS has yet to evolve powerful enough to support #1 above while creating full fledged solutions created by developers for creative professionals outside of visual artistic drawings. Purcussionista, guitarists, bassist and audio engineers and professional video editors and photographers seem to have been left out or using multiple software solutions implementing new on the fly workflows that are so disparate from their macOS/OS X platforms that it's troublesome or tolerable as an experience.

So I have to ask .... #Apple #TimCook why the hell is Apple Employee #8 Chris Espinosa, you know the guy that created and worked and headed the team that brought us XCode working in iOS Family Sharing division?!!! Freak guy is a genius and you're wasting his talent!

I'd wager he knows a LOT more about coding or iOS than Craig Federigi, no offends but seriously he's been programming at Apple since 1976 at age 14!!

1. Yes it can. In fact, it can back up to the cloud, and then fully restore itself without ever needing another device. Point one, incorrect.

2. As a professional in the music industry, as in, someone who actually makes money in the field, I've had zero issues with my iPad Pro in that realm. Further, I prefer it whenever possible, including over my former 27" iMac. This includes usage with over a dozen instruments, recording, mixing, exporting, remixing, and even composing with digital instruments. Further, it's included distribution as well.

Taking this point further, I occasionally do freelance photography and videography. And my iPad Pro serves as my total workstation for both, covering the needs of both fully. Again, that's professional work that I get paid from.

I don't know where you got this idea, but you're, quite simply, wrong. Point 2, incorrect.

3. Despite you giving up on numbering your points after two, I aim higher than a participation award.

It's all well and good for YOU to demand who works where in Apple, but the reality is that someone with that kind of seniority gets to pick and choose their projects. Deal with it. Point 3, not relevant.

I'm not sure if you decided to essentially fabricate your post, or you're simply entirely misinformed. But either way, you didn't make your point.

 

[Tech198]

i use my 12.9 and my main device (not including my pc's at work, which are works, not mine).
for home use i have no computer other than an ipad. because my personal life isnt specialised or 'different' there's no reason why the Pro cant do all. consumerism, email, tv, music, admin etc etc, what cant it do?

Restore an iPad using iTunes ?

I'm trying a Pro, but getting away from using MBA requires a re-train as a primary use case... I still think an iPad Pro is always a secondary use case, but i'm also not sure why I think that either.

I wrote a long post about this earlier in the week. The short version, for mobile use, yes. There are a few things that keep me on a desktop OS, but those are dwindling.

Its ok for people who travel allot, or mix-use case, that's a no brainer which primary device should it be, but when your have the decision of choosing in any comfortable settings... Now it starts to get tough.

 

[DeepIn2U]

1. Yes it can. In fact, it can back up to the cloud, and then fully restore itself without ever needing another device. Point one, incorrect.

Actually on point one I'm completely correct. I didn't say it couldn't backup and restore data, I specifically stated iOS cannot backup and restore its OWN OS that is iOS on its own. You must have Windows/MacOS/OSX with ITunes to fully restore its OS not restore user data. Needed to fully read each word I stated not skim read BTW I clarified this just a few post later before your quote.

2. As a professional in the music industry, as in, someone who actually makes money in the field, I've had zero issues with my iPad Pro in that realm. Further, I prefer it whenever possible, including over my former 27" iMac. This includes usage with over a dozen instruments, recording, mixing, exporting, remixing, and even composing with digital instruments. Further, it's included distribution as well.

Taking this point further, I occasionally do freelance photography and videography. And my iPad Pro serves as my total workstation for both, covering the needs of both fully. Again, that's professional work that I get paid from.

I don't know where you got this idea, but you're, quite simply, wrong. Point 2, incorrect.

Really? So which particular iOS software are you using that is capable of 215+ voices within composition in the fly at the same time? How many unique voices can iOS and your software of choice use simultaneously? Surely not 1000 which was available in Logic From emagic prior to Apple purchasing them when the G5 powerMac was released.

Let's go one further what iPad Hardware are you able to use to record digital drum kit, a guitar, two mics from vocalists and a Bass player simultaneously or individually without the need to disconnect one from the others? I've looked maybe not exhaustively but haven't readily found anything on apples store so maybe kissing something.

With your iOS software of choice is there any latency for live recordings or experiences when playing back and editing 8-12 tracks at a time?
GarageBand, Akai MPC and others I've seen don't handle all this.

These 2 listings where summarized based on the amount of posts and was generalized. Stating you make money in the industry and stating you can do such isn't dry helpful to others in this thread. I'm not trying to instigate an arguing match but I'm trying to get feedback of those that can accomplish what they need and hopefully they can mention the software and workflow that they've found useful and as a solution so that others can learn and maybe try out themselves.

That is the point of common user groups within the forums - at least that's what I learned from BBS days and a few years ago on macrumors. Seems too many are far too sensitive and then immediately attack without actually being helpful.

And you're right yes I'll need to deal with a senior rep choosing. Their projects. But I do have a right to voice my opinion within reason and hope iOS evolves into something more powerful. I'm not asking iOS to be MacOS like others oh no I want them separate. I don't need a file system but I need to understand how iOS works as I've recently seen some changes that are aimilar to MacOS Sierra.

 

[bensisko]

At my desk, I am wedded to my multi-monitor setup - once you've had that much screen real estate, you'll never go back.

My best workflow "on the road" has been my macbook + iPad air 2 as second screen using Duet Display. I'd love to go iPad-only when on the road, but it's just too cumbersome for my workflow. Typically, I'll have a word doc, an inter-office chat application, a text editor, and a browser open at the same time, at bare minimum.

Are you really using all four at the same time all the time? Just curious.

Once established, a personal workflow that works well is hard to break. Often, from a productivity standpoint, not worth breaking - at least while things are "current". After a time, though, trying to simplify a workflow can lead to productivity enhancements - even if you still need a traditional laptop.

The key is to be constantly thinking about how to get the same amount of work done simpler, opening yourself to use simpler tools or to take on more complex tasks.

I can DEFINITELY see these devices getting better and better, and currently it's mostly a software limitation, not a hardware one. I look forward to tablets getting better, and see the Surface Book as a perfect stepping point - one that I wish Apple had made. A tablet that runs a simplified OS when undocked, and a full system when docked to larger peripherals that extend battery life / functionality? Yes please. Until then - "pro" is a bit of a misnomer in my mind.

Windows 10 doesn't run a "simpler" OS, it's full windows (on the phone or up through a desktop) - it's just the UI that tries (emphasis on tries) to be "simpler".

My thoughts on Continuum is that it's an awesome concept that Microsoft has done better than anybody so far... but Apple is still wise to keep Mobile and Desktop separate.

From a concept perspective, I love the idea of Continuum. i've often thought about how cool it would be to go on a business trip with just a Windows phone, foldable keyboard, arc touch mouse, and charger - to be able to use it as a phone, then connect to any monitor (or hotel TV) through miracast and have a full desktop computer available to me.

In practice? It's a mess and doesn't succeed on any level. As a phone, it's too complex and has all the complications of Windows. Miracast is too slow and buggy, so you have to carry an adaptor box (or dock) with you. As a desktop it's not nearly powerful enough and ends up being useful for Office apps and not much else. The fantasy is wireless, the reality is lots and lots of wires.

Add to that, I have big problems with their "tablet mode" on Windows 10 - it's not very touch friendly (Windows 8 was better) - they're still expecting you to use a pointing device (stylus or mouse).

Again, I give Microsoft a lot of credit - they're trying some great stuff and Windows 10 is their best OS yet - but it does show, painfully, that the better Avenue is Apple's separation of mobile and desktop. Someday Microsoft will realize that their strategy of one OS can work, but the UI needs to change in order to do it - and they will get there. Eventually.

Apple knows something Microsoft refuses to learn: you can't make everybody happy - you have to tick off your closest followers and change the way you do things to make real change. But, until they learn that lesson, we have the Start menu back again.

 

[Night Spring]

My thoughts on Continuum is that it's an awesome concept that Microsoft has done better than anybody so far... but Apple is still wise to keep Mobile and Desktop separate.

What Apple has done is have Macs and iOS devices run separate operating systems, but sharing many features. So you have iMessage and FaceTime on the Mac and on iOS. iWork for Mac and iOS. Safari for Mac and iOS. I can work on a document in Pages on my Mac, and pick up my iPad and it opens right where I left it on the Mac. I can be having an iMessage conversation on my iPhone and continue the same conversation seamlessly from my Mac. Safari's iCloud tab lets me open any tab I have open on any device from any other device. I don't need my iPad to run MacOS, as long as the data are interchangeable and easily accessible like this.

 

[xaqt93]

So this is my update. I was using the iPad Pro as my main device for a few months and it was awesome, the only problem is, I just could not do it. I missed my Mac too much. I went and traded in my iPad Pro for a new 13 inch MacBook Pro without the touch bar. I love it a lot more then my old Mac and it is way better then the iPad in my mind.

 

[trifid]

macOS for life.

Apple has lost the narrative with iPads, too little too late, not enough evolution.

 

[rui no onna]

1. The IPad cannot restore its own OS without external software running on external hardware.

With 16GB base storage, free space is already a precious commodity. I don't think they can afford to use even more space on a recovery partition.

Also, the recovery partition will likely need to be static to reduce chances of failure so it would likely feature whatever iOS version was installed at factory. That would actually be quite nice. Got an iPad 3 on iOS 9 that would be nice to downgrade back to iOS 5.

 

[ericwn]

macOS for life.

Apple has lost the narrative with iPads, too little too late, not enough evolution.

Oh thanks for stopping by. Sorry you took the wrong door and ended in this part of the forum.

 

[M. Gustave]

...the iPad is a content consumption device that can, in an emergency, just barely serve as a minimalistic machine when in dire circumstances.

I'm sorry, I can't take anything you have to say seriously after a silly ignorant comment like that.

 

[bensisko]

So this is my update. I was using the iPad Pro as my main device for a few months and it was awesome, the only problem is, I just could not do it. I missed my Mac too much. I went and traded in my iPad Pro for a new 13 inch MacBook Pro without the touch bar. I love it a lot more then my old Mac and it is way better then the iPad in my mind.

Whoa!! You traded an iPad Pro for a brand new MacBook Pro? That's a great deal!

 

[Brammy]

Very cool. Can you update us on what each gives you? Any accessories such as stomp boxes that you're able to connect?

Btw thanks for adding in. I have an electric myself yet learning tab.

I have two setups: a traditional setup with my tube amp and a massive pedalboard. My stage rig (if I were in a band) so to speak.

For digital, I use a bunch of JamUp presets. They mimic most of the sounds I need to noodle with. There is also a decent sharing community for presets. I use AudioBus to feed that into either GarageBand or Auria. I record there.

It's a crap shoot which one I practice through more. If I want volume, I use the amp. If I'm learning something and want to play along, I use the iPad.

Edit: re a point you made earlier. There are multi-input devices for iOS. Apogee's Quartet is a 4-input device that has an iOS connector.

 

[mdbradigan]

Are you really using all four at the same time all the time? Just curious.

Three of them, yes. I am using a source doc (usually word) to compare to current code (text editor) and in-browser output (web browser). I could do without work-chat on same screen, going back and forth, certainly. But until I can split the screen as I wish and quickly and easily copy and paste text from one to another, iPad is still much much slower - for me. Not a deal breaker, in any way. But - for me, if I am going to head out with a lightweight device - it's going to be my 12" MB, as it is vastly faster to operate with. Interestingly, if I could just use a bluetooth mouse on my iPad - probably pretty close to similar workflows, other than screen issue. I think they're pretty close, and look forward to seeing what comes next.
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I'm sorry, I can't take anything you have to say seriously after a silly ignorant comment like that.

You're welcome to dislike my opinion. Would be nice if you weren't kind of a dick about it. But that's ok. For me - the workflow on an iPad is simply slower. More app switching, more screen changes, more difficult to cut/copy/paste, more difficult to select multiple items, etc. Does it work? Sure. Is it inferior to a mouse-based workflow? For me - yes. As I stated - they're pretty close. Port something like BetterTouchTool to allow me to rearrange windows however I wish to the iPad, and add mouse support, and now there's not much difference other than some preferred software which hasn't yet hit iOS (and that's just a matter of time). But, for me, at this time, the iPad is not a realistic replacement for my work. I look forward to when it is, especially if dockable to a larger system when at home/office/in need of intensive graphics/processing power, etc. I'm also glad that you're making it work for you, and happy that you're happy. Please - a little less snark would be nice if you're actually looking for a dialogue, rather than just forum-jollies. Though, you ARE living up to your excellent avatar - so perhaps I'm being unrealistic. Either way - good information here in this thread. Thanks. This continues to be a space I'm interested in and will monitor.