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PsykX

macrumors 68030
Sep 16, 2006
2,745
3,922
The iPad had better software? Are you kidding?
I think he meant quality-wise, not feature-wise.

And iOS did evolve much, much, much more than macOS between 2007 and now. Every developer API, SF Symbols, etc. come on iOS first.
 
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MegaBlue

macrumors 6502
Sep 19, 2022
370
890
Tennessee, United States
One of the issues with the iPad is the filing system. This may go back to the Newton, which used a "soup" to store files, whatever that meant. On the Mac, files can be in folders within folders. On the iPad (and iPhone) God only knows how the files are stored. I've never managed to download a file on the iPad and get it back, though I suppose that's possible. At least they put the Files app on the iPad so one can get files from Dropbox and iCloud, but if you want to open one of those files on an app, you have to go through all sorts of gymnastics. I don't like Android, but at least it has a much more rational filing system.
File Management structure is the same on iOS/iPadOS and macOS.
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,916
13,261
One of the issues with the iPad is the filing system. This may go back to the Newton, which used a "soup" to store files, whatever that meant. On the Mac, files can be in folders within folders. On the iPad (and iPhone) God only knows how the files are stored. I've never managed to download a file on the iPad and get it back, though I suppose that's possible. At least they put the Files app on the iPad so one can get files from Dropbox and iCloud, but if you want to open one of those files on an app, you have to go through all sorts of gymnastics. I don't like Android, but at least it has a much more rational filing system.

While there are a lot of things that need to be fixed or improved on the iOS Files app, I don't get the complaint about downloads and folders (at least starting with iPadOS 13).

By default, iOS Safari stores downloads in the On My iPad/Downloads folder. You can also choose to redirect downloads to iCloud Drive/Downloads. I don't think that's much different from the way downloads are often handled on MacOS or Windows.

You can certainly create folders within folders in the iOS Files app. That's where I started redirecting my screenshots to reduce clutter in my Photo Library. I don't know up to what folder depth iOS allows but I have files that are 5 folders deep.

Now individual apps also have their own sandboxed storage and there's no root access by default so the system and app folders are inaccessible/hidden from the user. For the "productivity" apps I use (GoodReader, Excel, etc), I haven't found it to be an issue. I can access the files for those apps from either On My iPad/<AppName> or iCloud Drive/<AppName>. For other apps (e.g. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, etc), I don't much care what folder they store their data (apart from the gripe that you can't offload those to external storage).
 

Cole82

Cancelled
Sep 11, 2022
95
147
iPad Pro 12.9” overpriced for a reason: better and larger display with larger battery etc etc etc. Apple has been notorious for arbitrarily charge their products so they have unlimited profit margin, and this is certainly nothing new.

Also, why we need to make iPad Pro great again? Why people keep wanting to get one device to do EVERYTHING? We have specialists for a reason, or else GP just do everything. iPhone 6 plus (and subsequent larger iPhone) exist exactly because people demand their phone to do EVERYTHING for them, essentially making them kind of jack of all trade but master of none outside of photography and phone call. Bad Imo.
You can't possibly think that. You'd seriously like to carry around a bag of gadgets instead of one that does all well??? You do know your iPhone killed off the iPod right? Do you love spending 1k+ for an iPad and another 1K+ on a laptop? If so, you are the consumer Timmy loves. The rest of us would welcome one device.
 

sparksd

macrumors G3
Jun 7, 2015
9,994
34,283
Seattle WA
You can't possibly think that. You'd seriously like to carry around a bag of gadgets instead of one that does all well??? You do know your iPhone killed off the iPod right? Do you love spending 1k+ for an iPad and another 1K+ on a laptop? If so, you are the consumer Timmy loves. The rest of us would welcome one device.

I also like and use two devices, an M1 12.9 and a laptop. Different uses for each.
 

Shirasaki

macrumors P6
May 16, 2015
16,263
11,764
You can't possibly think that. You'd seriously like to carry around a bag of gadgets instead of one that does all well??? You do know your iPhone killed off the iPod right? Do you love spending 1k+ for an iPad and another 1K+ on a laptop? If so, you are the consumer Timmy loves. The rest of us would welcome one device.
One device does all is very Much what customer like to think, which is pretty natural and intuitive: if I can get away doing everything on this one device, I dont have to buy more, saving money.

The reality is, certain devices just do things better than others. Ever since I switch my usage from iPhone to iPad, large screen offers such tremendous advantage, I don’t even use my iPhone that much if at all, outside of phone call and sms. Still, I carry both iPhone and iPad. Why? Because they have their own “specialty”. Using the best tool for the job makes much more sense than trying to use an ok jack-of-all-trade tool to complete a task slower.

This mindset really has nothing to do with Timmy loving us customers buying multiple stuff. I buy windows PC as well. Microsoft would love me somehow? No. Just Admit it. iPhone CANNOT do everything “well”. At most “well enough”, And exactly why iPad can never replace laptop for everyone.
 
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Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,643
4,469
You can't possibly think that. You'd seriously like to carry around a bag of gadgets instead of one that does all well??? You do know your iPhone killed off the iPod right? Do you love spending 1k+ for an iPad and another 1K+ on a laptop? If so, you are the consumer Timmy loves. The rest of us would welcome one device.
I don't think spending is the issue. I think many are ok with spending more and have the best device for the job... at home.
But I do agree that on the go many would love to carry one (possibly light) device instead of 2. And if you want cellular you are out of lack with a Mac. Personally after years with a cellular iPad pro, I went with a cellular Thinkpad Nano for use on the go and I am much happier.
 

neinjohn

macrumors regular
Nov 9, 2020
107
70
Mac sales are killing Dell, expensive HPs and Thinkpads. Not the iPad.

The iPad basically dominates the >300$ market that actually makes any money. The >999$ laptop space still has space to be taken by Apple.
 

sparksd

macrumors G3
Jun 7, 2015
9,994
34,283
Seattle WA
Mac sales are killing Dell, expensive HPs and Thinkpads. Not the iPad.

The iPad basically dominates the >300$ market that actually makes any money. The >999$ laptop space still has space to be taken by Apple.

Where do you see hard data showing the Mac killing those others?
 

HackMacDaddy

Cancelled
Dec 17, 2019
378
1,114
For me, whether it be production or consumption, I prefer a larger screen, particularly if I'm doing image editing (Lightroom) or video processing (LumaFusion).
Sure, I can understand if someone needs a drawing tablet. I just can‘t come up with another scenario where this might be the case. I imagine if you use it for video production it‘s paired with a keyboard and trackpad/mouse?
 
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Frankfurt

macrumors 6502a
Dec 4, 2016
740
889
USA
To the 12,9“ owners: what‘s your use case for such a huge tablet? I‘m really curious.
I use it for business and personal email, video conferencing and “light “ MS Office work in lieu of my office PC. Further, as travel device (i/o work laptop) and as personal consumption device. With iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos I have access to all relevant personal data as well. Love the 12.9 format!
 

sparksd

macrumors G3
Jun 7, 2015
9,994
34,283
Seattle WA
I use it for business and personal email, video conferencing and “light “ MS Office work in lieu of my office PC. Further, as travel device (i/o work laptop) and as personal consumption device. With iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos I have access to all relevant personal data as well. Love the 12.9 format!

I should have mentioned in my reply above - I like the large size so much that I'll never get another smaller iPad again (my Mini 6 is a different use case but I also had the Air 2 & 10.5).
 
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spiderman0616

Suspended
Aug 1, 2010
5,670
7,499
OP, I disagree with a good deal of what you're saying as far as the iPad Pro being "killed". Boring update in 2022 does not mean the iPad Pro is dead. iPads and Macs are different tools for different kinds of use cases and can/do coexist.

Where I think Apple Silicon in the MacBook changed the equation is people who had abandoned Mac portables in the past either to Windows laptops or possibly even a 12.9" iPad Pro. I fall into the second category--I got fed up with the heat and noise and bad battery life and just decided to have no Macs or PCs anymore.

But I'm a Mac person again full time because Macs have so clearly gotten a long awaited rocket boost. I hope iPad Pro leap frogs the Mac someday and makes switching a no brainer like switching back to the Mac was for me this time around. I think we're a few years off from that, but that is not taking away from my enjoyment of the iPad mini for now. ;)
 
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rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,916
13,261
To the 12,9“ owners: what‘s your use case for such a huge tablet? I‘m really curious.

Reading (bigger) American comics (6.5"x10"). 😅

Mind, my primary use case for the iPad 2 - iPad Pro 9.7" was to read manga/Japanese comics (4.5"x6.75" - 5"x7.5"). 😂

It just so happened performance and capabilities of the iPad have significantly improved that I now use it for most of the other stuff I used to use my personal laptop for (web browsing, desktop version Gmail, personal finance, online shopping, etc).

For work-related tasks, the iPad + Apple Pencil (now Logitech Crayon) + GoodReader has allowed me to skip printing a ream (~500 sheets) of paper every month.
 
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darngooddesign

macrumors P6
Jul 4, 2007
18,366
10,122
Atlanta, GA
You can't possibly think that. You'd seriously like to carry around a bag of gadgets instead of one that does all well??? You do know your iPhone killed off the iPod right? Do you love spending 1k+ for an iPad and another 1K+ on a laptop? If so, you are the consumer Timmy loves. The rest of us would welcome one device.
Instead of 1k+ and 1k+, you get to pay 2k+ for one device with good enough specs to match that laptop.
 
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HackMacDaddy

Cancelled
Dec 17, 2019
378
1,114
Reading (bigger) American comics (6.5"x10"). 😅

Mind, my primary use case for the iPad 2 - iPad Pro 9.7" was to read manga/Japanese comics (4.5"x6.75" - 5"x7.5"). 😂

It just so happened performance and capabilities of the iPad have significantly improved that I now use it for most of the other stuff I used to use my personal laptop for (web browsing, desktop version Gmail, personal finance, online shopping, etc).

For work-related tasks, the iPad + Apple Pencil (now Logitech Crayon) + GoodReader has allowed me to skip printing a ream (~500 sheets) of paper every month.
Very interesting, thanks!
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,916
13,261
You can't possibly think that. You'd seriously like to carry around a bag of gadgets instead of one that does all well??? You do know your iPhone killed off the iPod right? Do you love spending 1k+ for an iPad and another 1K+ on a laptop? If so, you are the consumer Timmy loves. The rest of us would welcome one device.

"Well" depends on the task at hand. Which to carry also depends on one's needs. A week-long or shorter trip and I'm not on call for work? The iPad readily suffices.

I can buy a $2500+ 16" MacBook Pro but frankly, an iPad Pro and $700 15.6" ThinkPad (with aftermarket 1TB SSD upgrade) suits my needs/usage a whole lot better.

What's better for you isn't necessarily better for everyone else.
 

Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,643
4,469
To the 12,9“ owners: what‘s your use case for such a huge tablet? I‘m really curious.
- Streaming (better experience than a smaller iPad),
- Reading (and annotating) PDF presentations, Word files and sheet music (you can barely see in smaller iPads and I stopped printing years ago)
- Remote desktop (even the 12.9 can be small for that),
- Browsing (would you rather browse on a 13in laptop or on a 10-11in one if you had the choice?),
- Second monitor (again even the 12.9in can be small for that, but still better than the others)

Most of the time I use it without the magic keyboard or any cover, but when I need it the 12.9 magic keyboard is much better than the 11in one (which I also have) for typing.
I would love a 14in or even 16in iPad pro.

The only use I have for my 10.5 and 11 iPads is for my on the go activities, mainly to replace pen and paper.
And the mini is only used in bed.

Other than for portability on the go or in bed, I don't see the point of a smaller iPads when you can have a larger one (and I am not going to buy another mini or 11in one until they totally break)

The weight argument is not enough for me (it's still very light without covers) to offset the added benefit of a larger screen, especially as
- watching stuff is mainly done on a stand (I have at least one in each room) and I only only hold it when I move from one room to another...
- sheet music is on a music rest
- remote desktop is on the MK
- browsing is mainly done on the MK as I like to be able to write if necessary and I hate software keyboards
- second monitor is on a stand
Only reading Word files and PDF is done while holding in portrait most of the time and for that I use the lighter 2018 12.9 (again any smaller iPad would be a strain for the eyes unless it's an ebook, which would more than offset the comfort of something lighter in the hand)
 
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