Are iOS 13's rumored features compelling enough for you to give iPads another try?

[muzzy996]

Although I have a lot of gadgets, I take an old school approach with them. I'm the hub. I don't rely on my gadgets being interconnected. Different tools for different jobs with only a small subset of tasks being able to be done across multiple devices.

That allows me to have iPads for my tablets, Android smartphone, Windows/Linux/MacOS/ChromeOS notebooks, and iMac desktop.

I've tried diving in to Apple's ecosystem but I've always found limitations that prevented me from doing what I need to do and simply by swapping out one component for a non-Apple option, helped overcome that hurdle.

The lack of competition in the tablet space has allowed Apple to do their thing with the iPads. It was only because of serious competition from 7" Android tablets that Apple relented and produced the iPad Mini. In spite of the older external design, the Mini 5 has been a huge success for Apple and many happy customers.

The main reason why I want Chrome OS tablets to be wildly successful is because it will force Apple to respond... and I'd rather have an iPad (that can do the things that Chrome OS tablets can) than the alternatives.

Yeah, just another old guy here with a hybrid mix with sufficient inter-connectivity to do what I need. Not interested in buying into an ecosystem - takes half the fun out of screwing around with these things.

Pretty much in the same boat. I'd be somewhat ok with improvements to iPads and sticking with that ecosystem but I'm losing faith.

I'm just getting tired - here I am with a 2nd generation IPP 12.9 which for all intents and purposes should have the horsepower to last another couple years but it is in already in need of replacement 11 months after purchase because of touch sensitivity issues, and I've always babied the thing. I'm going to have to lose my investment on the skin I have on pack and I lost my investment on the screen protector I had on it (by removing it to determine if that was the cause), not to mention the time to get an exchange and backup/restore my data/apps. The Apple Smart Keyboard I have has intermittent smart connector connection issues . . . overall I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to Apple quality with this iPad experience. Add to all this the fact that some (sure, its a minority but still) 2018 IPP users also experience the touch screen issues and I'm left thinking that my next purchase is going to be a Surface Pro when MS decides to put USB-C into them. Especially given the cost increases of the IPP line this past generation. On the media consumption side a Surface Pro will be overkill for me but at least on my work side I'll no longer be hindered by iOS limitations and having to find workflow workarounds to accomplish my work.

 

[secretk]

It’s really inconvenient to download files with Safari on our iPad. For example, sometimes I have to download .rar files for work, and the iPad sucks.

True that. Quite often I have to download .rar files for work. Problem is that I have company iPhone so I am restricted by iOS anyway. As a result I cannot be fully productive when I am not close to my company laptop (I don't have access to work email from any other device but company laptop and company iPhone). So yeah iOS needs to find a way to deal with archive files.

When iPad does not qualify to be a primary device, this statement is always true. In my opinion, depending on how you use your primary device, iPad is becoming less complementary and more primary. But, for most of the people, it’s still a complementary but powerful device.

I agree with this. Of course if the iPad is close to your primary device or your primary device the price is worth it. Indeed the issue is that for me the iPad cannot be primary device.

Although the future trend is to use cloud drive for work, at this moment the conventional way of work is to use external storage. iPad should allow the support of external storage.

Agree with this. I also want to add though that iPad does not work good with cloud drives anyway. I use OneDrive at work. I try to use the Files app to access it but this app is quite often unresponsive. Not only the iOS does not have proper file management but their restricted app is unreliable. The app is unresponsive (OneDrive space is either greyed out and I can't use it or once I have chosen it the app is in reloading state and nothing happens). Killing the app does not help. I have to wait for 20/30 minutes for iOS to reload the app completely to be able to save files.

I am however specific user and it seems that I do stuff that require a lot of RAM. I can tell you that iOS RAM management does not work for me. I am huge multitasker - lots of open apps, lots of open tabs and iOS reloads them constantly. I believe that even the Files app gets unresponsive because of lack of RAM.

If there is something I need iOS to work on is RAM management. I cannot accept this behaviour for primary device. If I have been doing something and have left it for 30 minutes I expect to go back to this exact stage. I do not want the app to be reloaded or the file. I do this constantly on my computer and my Android phone and I do expect the same here.

And yeah true multitasking - not just the floating apps/windows and opening two windows of the same app, but also the system being able to support this. My computers get shut down once every 2 months. They have open 3/4 browsers with 24/30 tabs each. I open 5/6 word files, 3/4 excel files, numerous chat programs and few powerpoint files. Like I said I am huge multitasker and iPad and iOS need to support all of this for me to see the iPad as a primary device.

 

[Dave-Z]

I'm just getting tired - here I am with a 2nd generation IPP 12.9 which for all intents and purposes should have the horsepower to last another couple years but it is in already in need of replacement 11 months after purchase because of touch sensitivity issues, and I've always babied the thing. I'm going to have to lose my investment on the skin I have on pack and I lost my investment on the screen protector I had on it (by removing it to determine if that was the cause), not to mention the time to get an exchange and backup/restore my data/apps. The Apple Smart Keyboard I have has intermittent smart connector connection issues . . . overall I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to Apple quality with this iPad experience. Add to all this the fact that some (sure, its a minority but still) 2018 IPP users also experience the touch screen issues and I'm left thinking that my next purchase is going to be a Surface Pro when MS decides to put USB-C into them. Especially given the cost increases of the IPP line this past generation. On the media consumption side a Surface Pro will be overkill for me but at least on my work side I'll no longer be hindered by iOS limitations and having to find workflow workarounds to accomplish my work.

Pretty much in the same boat. I also have a 2nd gen. 12.9" iPad with the Smart Keyboard. The keyboard doesn't work anymore. I can fiddle with the connection and maybe get a few characters in, but then it disconnects or starts throwing "Accessory not compatible" errors. I've simply stopped using it and paired the iPad with a spare Bluetooth keyboard for now. But I don't need the keyboard much as my iPad has pretty serious touch issues. I'm mostly using it for reading a few articles throughout the day when I have a few minutes, etc. Otherwise it just sits on an end table. I'm out of warranty so I can't get it replaced at a reasonable cost. It also started getting light bleed issues a few months back.

It's really disappointing because I genuinely enjoyed using the iPad and iOS, even with their limitations. But, like you, I couldn't bring myself to upgrade because the cost of the new models just isn't worth it... especially if I don't know that these issues are resolved in the new models (which, based on posts in this forum, they are not).

I bought a Lenovo 2-in-1 laptop in November last year. Took me a few weeks to get used to Windows but it works really well (and the keyboard is simply awesome). Literally my only complaint is the weight in tablet-mode (with the keyboard folded behind the screen), but I use it as a tablet in my lap most of the time so I'm not holding it. One thing I genuinely appreciate is there are really no restrictions with this laptop. I can do anything I want, however I want to do it. Apple doesn't let apps run in the background so VoIP and SSH programs were always being quit on me; on my Lenovo in Windows they run all day without issue... and browser tabs don't reload when I switch back to them.

I have been an Apple-only user for over a decade but in the last year started moving away because of the quality issues I've experienced and because of the limitations Apple is imposing. I built a Linux desktop (running Debian) and now have a Windows laptop. Apple has great presentation skills--they wrap up their products quite nicely--but a lot of other companies have excellent products at competitive pricing. My Lenovo cost me less after taxes than upgrading my iPad would have (before taxes). In fact, I could almost buy two of these laptops for what I would have spent on a new iPad, keyboard, and pencil. In the end, Apple makes some great things, but if you can keep yourself untethered to their ecosystem you can enjoy some really great products others make as well.

 

[throAU]

I have no clue what the rumored features are, but I'm pretty much a die-hard iPad user (no computer in nearly 3 years). I can do pretty much anything I need to do with iOS, and anything useful that gets added will just be a bonus!

I'm not quite an ipad user to THAT degree, but for me, the ipad is ALMOST good enough for all of my non-desktop focused work.

A tablet is never going to run that workload (VM lab) but outside of that, email, basic word processing, etc - the ipad is fine.

What i really want is:

1. side by side windows from the same app (e.g., 2 emails side by side so i can reference one while replying in another, or compare 2 spreadsheets, etc.)
2. a way to guarantee an app will run in the background (like a dumb terminal/serial console, so it doesn't disconnect from the device i am programming)

 

[Nhwhazup]

Pretty much in the same boat. I also have a 2nd gen. 12.9" iPad with the Smart Keyboard. The keyboard doesn't work anymore. I can fiddle with the connection and maybe get a few characters in, but then it disconnects or starts throwing "Accessory not compatible" errors. I've simply stopped using it and paired the iPad with a spare Bluetooth keyboard for now. But I don't need the keyboard much as my iPad has pretty serious touch issues. I'm mostly using it for reading a few articles throughout the day when I have a few minutes, etc. Otherwise it just sits on an end table. I'm out of warranty so I can't get it replaced at a reasonable cost. It also started getting light bleed issues a few months back.

It's really disappointing because I genuinely enjoyed using the iPad and iOS, even with their limitations. But, like you, I couldn't bring myself to upgrade because the cost of the new models just isn't worth it... especially if I don't know that these issues are resolved in the new models (which, based on posts in this forum, they are not).

I bought a Lenovo 2-in-1 laptop in November last year. Took me a few weeks to get used to Windows but it works really well (and the keyboard is simply awesome). Literally my only complaint is the weight in tablet-mode (with the keyboard folded behind the screen), but I use it as a tablet in my lap most of the time so I'm not holding it. One thing I genuinely appreciate is there are really no restrictions with this laptop. I can do anything I want, however I want to do it. Apple doesn't let apps run in the background so VoIP and SSH programs were always being quit on me; on my Lenovo in Windows they run all day without issue... and browser tabs don't reload when I switch back to them.

I have been an Apple-only user for over a decade but in the last year started moving away because of the quality issues I've experienced and because of the limitations Apple is imposing. I built a Linux desktop (running Debian) and now have a Windows laptop. Apple has great presentation skills--they wrap up their products quite nicely--but a lot of other companies have excellent products at competitive pricing. My Lenovo cost me less after taxes than upgrading my iPad would have (before taxes). In fact, I could almost buy two of these laptops for what I would have spent on a new iPad, keyboard, and pencil. In the end, Apple makes some great things, but if you can keep yourself untethered to their ecosystem you can enjoy some really great products others make as well.

What model Lenovo did you get?

 

[jmgregory1]

I’m currently using the latest IPP 12.9 and love it for what it is...for me. And that is primarily a laptop replacement for work travel. But I’ve also started to use it while at the office, instead of my iMac, just because I like being able to be untethered with it - that is I can grab it while in the middle of an email and walk to my sample room to get an answer on something, and finish the email right then and there.

And to answer the question about iOS 13 and the supposed improvements to make iPads more laptop like, I’m all for the fixes to allow trackpad support, as one example, or having multiple windows on the screen to make multitasking easier. I’m less concerned with having more access to files, which is clearly driven by some people’s workloads that just doesn’t impact me in the same way.

If I had to guess, based upon my few months of use of the IPP, I would say I’m not likely going back to my rMBP, or upgrading it in the future. I do think I’ll continue on with an iMac just for the screen real estate it provides, for when I am working at my desk, and given the improvements Apple continues to provide, it’s still a compelling desktop computer.

 

[cics]

Well the problem is that right now, a lot of sites just don’t allow you to view their desktop version. There are some significant productivity issues because of this. Ever tried to use Facebook ad manager on iPad?
Not to speak about any tool like wix.com, and I come across problems all the time with websites, just don’t remember them right now.

I feel you. I work in digital marketing field so Google ads, google analytics, facebook ad manager are my bread and butter, as well as Excel. Without mouse support, default desktop browsing and pivot in excel I couldn't do my job. The iPad Pro is a sexy device I have to say, but I am very happy with my MBP. What I really miss is iOS apps (Marzipan!), iCloud backup and battery life...

I thin macOS and iOS for iPad will "merge" in the coming years and Marzipan was the beginning of that... I believe buying and iPad or a MacBook will be only a matter of choosing a different form factor.

Also, my iPhone has become my primary personal computing device since I started using Plus/Max versions. When I'm not working, I rarely use my MBP... I realise I just use it for online shopping with my girlfriend cause we need a bigger screen (e.g. holiday planning). Other than that... no drawing, no reading, no watching movies... I just use my iPhone XS Max (or Apple TV for movies).

So at the end, I don't really care about the form factor, I just need a device that allows me to work efficiently. What I just envy from the iPad are iOS apps (better to use than web apps), iCloud backup (I hope it's coming) and battery life.

 

[Hofstede]

True that. Quite often I have to download .rar files for work. Problem is that I have company iPhone so I am restricted by iOS anyway. As a result I cannot be fully productive when I am not close to my company laptop (I don't have access to work email from any other device but company laptop and company iPhone). So yeah iOS needs to find a way to deal with archive files.



I agree with this. Of course if the iPad is close to your primary device or your primary device the price is worth it. Indeed the issue is that for me the iPad cannot be primary device.



Agree with this. I also want to add though that iPad does not work good with cloud drives anyway. I use OneDrive at work. I try to use the Files app to access it but this app is quite often unresponsive. Not only the iOS does not have proper file management but their restricted app is unreliable. The app is unresponsive (OneDrive space is either greyed out and I can't use it or once I have chosen it the app is in reloading state and nothing happens). Killing the app does not help. I have to wait for 20/30 minutes for iOS to reload the app completely to be able to save files.

I am however specific user and it seems that I do stuff that require a lot of RAM. I can tell you that iOS RAM management does not work for me. I am huge multitasker - lots of open apps, lots of open tabs and iOS reloads them constantly. I believe that even the Files app gets unresponsive because of lack of RAM.

If there is something I need iOS to work on is RAM management. I cannot accept this behaviour for primary device. If I have been doing something and have left it for 30 minutes I expect to go back to this exact stage. I do not want the app to be reloaded or the file. I do this constantly on my computer and my Android phone and I do expect the same here.

And yeah true multitasking - not just the floating apps/windows and opening two windows of the same app, but also the system being able to support this. My computers get shut down once every 2 months. They have open 3/4 browsers with 24/30 tabs each. I open 5/6 word files, 3/4 excel files, numerous chat programs and few powerpoint files. Like I said I am huge multitasker and iPad and iOS need to support all of this for me to see the iPad as a primary device.

Excellent sharing on shortcomings of using an iPad.

 

[Dave-Z]

What model Lenovo did you get?

ThinkPad L380 Yoga. Though since then the 390 has been released.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

The ability to set default apps.

 

[The Samurai]

I went on a one day business trip to Hong Kong this week (2 hour flight) each way. Left early in the morning, no checked luggage apart from my 'laptop' carry on bag. I decided not to take the Macbook Pro (2016 touch bar) knowing that I wouldn't really need that much power for a few hours in Hong Kong.

What I loved:
- next to no weight (i dont have a keyboard attached)
- amazing battery life (it was 100% by the time i left the house and about 25% when i returned - browsed, netflix, music, read a newspaper)
- always on, my entertainment was literally a touch away at a moments notice
- ability to continue to use my iPad whilst taking off and landing (airlplane mode)

What I hated:
- at one point during my meeting i had to open a website and log into their portal which worked but there was one specific feature in the portal that required me to use a "desktop version" and 'requesting the desktop version' didn't help. In the end, I was just verbally told how to do it when I got back home so it was a huge mistake not brining the Mac.

All in all, if I were to do the trip again, id take the Macbook instead of the iPad.

I have a feeling that Apple is going to give us everything we've been asking for but in baby steps. Desktop versions might be there or a simple toggle in settings under safari but not give us the true versions that we really need.

 

[kis]

One thing I’ve also seen rumored: the possibility to launch several instances of an app. So I can have two MS word windows open with two separate documents, with full copy paste etc working. Without this, iPad will never to be my mobile computer.