iPad Anyone using their 12.9 without magic keyboard ?

[DeepSix]

I've been using the Surface Pros for the past 8 years and I literally took it with me everywhere. I had no issues with it's portability and I think many tend to exxeragate the weight of the 12.9 ipad. Maybe i just got used to it but it was king for the computer on the go. I see the ipad 12.9 being the same for the ultimate tablet on the go that's still very portable and it's still 0.2lb lighter than the Surface Pro 7 I have.

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

So you keeping popping up in my iPad searches (I am new to this forum). I previously saw you purchased the 11 and 12.9 both with MKB. I also own a 2020 M1 MBP. Which iPad did you end up settling on? I go back and forth and I might also get both for more testing. In the store, my thoughts are the 11 is too small and the 12.9 is too big. This will only be used for media consumption. Do you enjoy the 12.9 on the couch or bed by just holding it? Or do you find that more enjoyable with the 11?

I have both, as well as a Mac Mini. When I had the old version of a 12.9 (2017– so, pre-design change), I thought the 11 was the best thing since sliced bread. Now that I have the new design in both sizes, though (and now that I don’t travel as much, so don’t need to use two iPads in tandem for work while away from home), I really don’t need the 11 anymore. The only time I prefer 11 is if I am so under the weather that I want to use it completely lying down, and that is pretty rare.

Regarding Magic Keyboard, I probably use it 10% of the time on my 12.9. Love it, glad I have it, because I vastly prefer a real keyboard to any on-screen keyboard.

My use case:

Work— Mac mini for Zoom and viewing/screen share of pdfs on large monitor. 12.9 iPP in a stand for drawing on Zoom whiteboard for my students. 11 sitting nearby on magic keyboard for personal tasks.

Personal— 12.9 in folio for sitting on couch or sitting up in bed playing Civ VI or browsing or whatever. Also Cricut Design Space. 12.9 on MK for typing anything longer than a text message, including email and journal. I used to choose the 11 for out and about (where I think I will spend time in a waiting room, etc.), but I just upgraded to a 12.9 with LTE and switched the SIM card from my 11 to my 12.9, so I will probably carry the 12.9 unless I really want lighter and more compact— I have been known to ski with an ipad in my little ski backpack on solo days.

 

[ef519]

I have both, as well as a Mac Mini. When I had the old version of a 12.9 (2017– so, pre-design change), I thought the 11 was the best thing since sliced bread. Now that I have the new design in both sizes, though (and now that I don’t travel as much, so don’t need to use two iPads in tandem for work while away from home), I really don’t need the 11 anymore. The only time I prefer 11 is if I am so under the weather that I want to use it completely lying down, and that is pretty rare.

Regarding Magic Keyboard, I probably use it 10% of the time on my 12.9. Love it, glad I have it, because I vastly prefer a real keyboard to any on-screen keyboard.

My use case:

Work— Mac mini for Zoom and viewing/screen share of pdfs on large monitor. 12.9 iPP in a stand for drawing on Zoom whiteboard for my students. 11 sitting nearby on magic keyboard for personal tasks.

Personal— 12.9 in folio for sitting on couch or sitting up in bed playing Civ VI or browsing or whatever. Also Cricut Design Space. 12.9 on MK for typing anything longer than a text message, including email and journal. I used to choose the 11 for out and about (where I think I will spend time in a waiting room, etc.), but I just upgraded to a 12.9 with LTE and switched the SIM card from my 11 to my 12.9, so I will probably carry the 12.9 unless I really want lighter and more compact— I have been known to ski with an ipad in my little ski backpack on solo days.

This was super helpful! Thanks for the reply! I think I've decided to go 12.9 with the Magic Keyboard. I also plan to get the Apple smart folio case for around the house when not using the keyboard which like you, I don't think will be often. However, I want one just in case and I want the full iPad experience.

 

[iPad Bro]

It hasn’t been mentioned here, but the Zugu Case is an awesome case for the iPad Pro. I find it a LOT more versatile than any of the Apple Smart Folios. It has a bunch of viewing angles and works splendid alongside the Apple Pencil. I personally want the Magic Keyboard again too, but it’s pricey and I may skip it altogether since I could be avoiding long typing sessions these days. But anyone thinking about using a Smart Folio, give the Zugu Case a try. You won’t regret it. ?

 

[JRiggsIV]

Since recently purchasing a MacBook Pro 14, I use my ipad without the magic keyboard. Before the MacBook purchase, I only used my ipad with the magic keyboard.

 

[VaruLV]

Using my 12.9 iPP with rather lightweigth case from Xundd.
I have generic aluminum prop stand for when using it on the desk, Logi K380 kb and Pebble mouse for those rare desktop occasions.
Satisfied.

 

[spiderman0616]

When I had a 12.9" I had a love/hate relationship with that Magic Keyboard. As a keyboard/trackpad and iPad stand, it was fantastic. As a portable container to carry your iPad around in, it was thick and heavy and hard to open. What I eventually felt like I had was a MacBook Air that was thicker, bulkier, and heavier than a MacBook Pro.

If I were in the same situation again with the benefit of hindsight, I would have used the 12.9" Pro exactly how I use my Mini 6 now: Folio-only with a Bluetooth and/or USB-C connection to my workstation in my office if I want to do a bunch of typing.

 

[spiderman0616]

Just a question: do you use the iPad 12,9” along the MK instead of a Mac? I ask this because for about a year I had a 12.9" iPad along with the Magic Keyboard but I actually used the tablet without a keyboard 99% of the time since when I needed a physical keyboard I preferred to use the Mac. On the go the iPad + MK combination was too heavy so in the end I decided to sell both the 12.9” iPad and the MK to buy an 11" one to use only as a tablet and use the Mac as a desktop computer.

Similar to the journey I took, but I went WAY down in size to the iPad mini eventually, and I haven't regretted it yet. I love that thing and use it almost daily.