Are you iPad only? Or going that way?

[MyopicPaideia]

I'm hoping with the 10.5 I just ordered that it will be my only mobile computer. I have a 2015 macbook but elected to keep it without upgrading to see if I can get away with just iPad for mobile computing. My iMac isn't going anywhere though, something you just need a big ass screen and desktop class processor.

This describes my exact situation currently. The 10.5" I ordered was purchased instead of a 2017 rMB to update my 2015. I will keep the rMB as a crutch for the first few months, but fully plan on going laptop free professionally as well as personally, with the iMac as the desktop workstation pretty much solely for video editing. (and being the home media hub of the house)

 

[appleish19]

I absolutely love using the iPad for more and more complex tasks. I already use it for notetaking in math and chemistry classes and my MacBook Pro for video editing and other things. But the problem is I love Macos. So I'm stuck using both because of my enjoyment of both. They complement each other well so iOS11 just adds to the enjoyment.

 

[Zaft]

I am already iPad only, but thats because I dont do much typing or work in general.
My Wife has a Macbook air that I can use if I really need to.

When im on the couch I prefer my Air 2, when im in bed my 7 Plus is more comfortable and the 5.5 inch screen is a good size.

 

[mmomega]

Completely gave up on iPads for personal use.

That is not a device for me and it took me trying to force 4 different versions at myself to find out, nope.
Wife has had literally every revision except for the Mini, currently on the 12.9 Pro 128. I've gone through the 3rd, 4th, Air and 1st gen Mini and it was just not for me. Definitely a laptop person through and through.

 

[drcharlie]

I have an iPad Air 2 and will probably get one of the new Pro models (10.5 or 12.9). I have been mapping out what things I need a computer to do. There are a wide variety, so I guess I will always need a desktop or laptop.

Of the many things that could help do more on the iPad, using a mouse or trackpad would help me very much. I just googled trackpad and iPad and now am aware that one can "sort of" turn the iPad keyboard into a trackpad by touching with two fingers. I haven't tried this out extensively. For those trying to do more tasks with the iPad, does the iPad trackpad trick help a lot or is it of very limited use?

 

[OneSon]

I've just read this whole thread and it's fascinating.

I currently do all my work (reading, typing, powerpoint, web browsing, audio analysis in Praat) on a Macbook Air and I cannot imagine for a minute switching over to an iPad for one minute.

Do you guys not miss the trackpad?

 

[Dave-Z]

For those trying to do more tasks with the iPad, does the iPad trackpad trick help a lot or is it of very limited use?

Obviously only useful when entering text. It works well if you're using the soft keyboard. A hardware keyboard is a different story, but then again you'd probably have arrow keys so it's not a big deal. I do use the feature a lot when typing with the on screen keyboard.

What's really needed is a way to use the touch part when paired with a physical keyboard. Moving the curser/insertion point, selecting toolbar icons, selecting apps from springboard, etc.
[doublepost=1496956805][/doublepost]I'm just about done moving to iOS only. Some of the coding stuff I do requires a desktop OS because the tools simply aren't available for iOS and having a ton of screen real estate makes a difference. But for everything else it works great. I do, however, cheat a bit by running a home NAS with a ton of applications and services to handle the stuff iOS cannot: Plex server, video encoding, web applications, etc.

 

[0989383]

I don't miss the trackpad. I miss the MacBook Trackpad in general, it was amazing. BUT, I don't have the choice of a Mac due to my budget. So my alternative is Windows. Do I miss Windows trackpads? No way.

I bought a Logitech K380 today and I'm typing on it via iPad Air 2 right now. This is brilliant to me! Arrow keys pick up the slack for scrolling.

See, a touch screen PC or laptop doesn't work because 12" plus leads to a taller, wider screen and lifting your arm constantly gives you a sore back! Whereas at leats this 9.7" iPad I find is small enough that from where my hardware keyboard sits it's only an occasional flick or tap and I can still type essay after essay!

Given the added portability and instantaneous standby button on the iPad and its light weight it's so much more useful in my opinion as using it is so less involved than a laptop so any of the small times you do miss the trackpad it's made up for in that regard.

So basically, you get used to the iPad way and you don't tend to miss it in my opinion!

 

[Zaft]

I've just read this whole thread and it's fascinating.

I currently do all my work (reading, typing, powerpoint, web browsing, audio analysis in Praat) on a Macbook Air and I cannot imagine for a minute switching over to an iPad for one minute.

Do you guys not miss the trackpad?

I do but an iPad to me is more comfortable since there is no keyboard.

 

[eyeseeyou]

I can deal with the workaround for not having a usb port but the appstore still doesn't have the mobile counterparts to the desktop apps I use which is in most part the Adobe Suite.

At this point I can probably get 60-70% of my design work done on an ipad if I really tried.

Once Affinity comes out with Designer(illustrator) then that percentage might go up.

 

[tkmcguire1]

How many people here now solely use an iPad as their main device and iPhone alongside it .. or how many of you are now selling things to actually do this. I'm doing this now, and want to know how many of you are doing the same and why.

Have been using iPad only for over 2 yrs now,I use the 12.9 pro which I just upgraded and bought the newest one which will be here next week. I've been really happy and don't miss a Pc at all.

 

[gigaguy]

No. For me, iPad is for entertainment, web, and email. I never even owned laptops. I use a Mac Mini to a large TV from the sofa for internet, video (I edit in FCP), basically everything is better when comfortable and on a big screen with good audio. Sitting at a desk on a small screen, or using a laptop is dreary. iPad is for portable convenience.

 

[spiderman0616]

I've been iPad only for my personal stuff for a little over a year. I use a MacBook Air for work, but only because the require me to. When I'm not on the clock I'm iPad 100%. I use it for everything.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

I'm just about done moving to iOS only. Some of the coding stuff I do requires a desktop OS because the tools simply aren't available for iOS and having a ton of screen real estate makes a difference. But for everything else it works great. I do, however, cheat a bit by running a home NAS with a ton of applications and services to handle the stuff iOS cannot: Plex server, video encoding, web applications, etc.

No. For me, iPad is for entertainment, web, and email. I never even owned laptops. I use a Mac Mini to a large TV from the sofa for internet, video (I edit in FCP), basically everything is better when comfortable and on a big screen with good audio. Sitting at a desk on a small screen, or using a laptop is dreary. iPad is for portable convenience.

I think the point to make here is that we are not talking about replacing stationary desktops that act as media and data hubs, or professional video editing workstations. I have those too and they are not going nowhere.

This is about mobile computing and the iPad being able to displace a laptop in office work, studies, and mobile personal use cases.

 

[spiderman0616]

I think the point to make here is that we are not talking about replacing stationary desktops that act as media and data hubs, or professional video editing workstations. I have those too and they are not going nowhere.

This is about mobile computing and the iPad being able to displace a laptop in office work, studies, and mobile personal use cases.

Yep--I was not all the way there yet in iOS 10, but with iOS 11 it's a different story. If I suddenly lost my job and my company took my MacBook Air away, I would not buy a personal one to replace it. iPad Pro and iPhone are all I need.

 

[Saturn1217]

I couldn't do it. I feel like I will always want the flexibility and power of a full desktop OS.

BUT I am still very excited for iOS 11. If I could get to the point where I could comfortably bring just my iPad 12.9" with me when I travel (right now I always bring both) this would be a huge improvement.

I may even revisit having a keyboard case. Previously (on an iPad Air) I found using the iPad with a keyboard to be a bad experience but hopefully that is better now.

 

[cwosigns]

I *could* get by with just an iPad. But my favorite component of my computing arsenal is my 2016 MacBook. To me it's the perfect combination of power and portability. I do also love my iPad, for watching TV in bed and using on planes. I have an Air 2 and a 12.9" iPad Pro. The IPP with the keyboard cover feels clunkier and less portable than my MacBook. The Air 2 goes anywhere and is good for media consumption. But I really love my MacBook. It's probably the best computer I've owned.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

I *could* get by with just an iPad. But my favorite component of my computing arsenal is my 2016 MacBook. To me it's the perfect combination of power and portability. I do also love my iPad, for watching TV in bed and using on planes. I have an Air 2 and a 12.9" iPad Pro. The IPP with the keyboard cover feels clunkier and less portable than my MacBook. The Air 2 goes anywhere and is good for media consumption. But I really love my MacBook. It's probably the best computer I've owned.

Totally with you! When I had the 12.9" Pro it was completely meaningless to me, what's the point if it is bigger and heavier than the rMB (which was by far my favourite Mac ever) with the Smart Keyboard?

This new 10.5" though, combined with iOS 11, is going to be hopefully exactly the combination I've been waiting for...

 

[Dave-Z]

This is about mobile computing and the iPad being able to displace a laptop in office work, studies, and mobile personal use cases.

And for a lot of people the iPad is a solid replacement. This forum is probably not a fair representation as it probably skews to the more technically inclined. I know outside of a few tasks the iPad can be my only device (and indeed is for 85-90% of what I do). For people like my parents, they don't even need a computer; the iPad is perfect and since they replaced their laptop with an iPad I have to provide virtually no technical support. (That makes me happy.)

At the end of the day, there are more people like my parents than there are people like me. Most people just want a device that does what they need with the least possible friction.

 

[Asmoday]

Two things that worry me;

- Will touching the screen really work better than a mouse/trackpad?
- Will I be able to open multiple word documents and switch between them?

 

[Closingracer]

I actually sold my iPad Air 2 to get a Macbook Pro last year for school. For me I hate the keyboard using an external one even and needed it for typing up papers.

 

[IPadNParadise]

And for a lot of people the iPad is a solid replacement. This forum is probably not a fair representation as it probably skews to the more technically inclined. I know outside of a few tasks the iPad can be my only device (and indeed is for 85-90% of what I do). For people like my parents, they don't even need a computer; the iPad is perfect and since they replaced their laptop with an iPad I have to provide virtually no technical support. (That makes me happy.)

At the end of the day, there are more people like my parents than there are people like me. Most people just want a device that does what they need with the least possible friction.

I am 70 y.o. And far from technical but I cannot totally replace my 2015 mbp with an ipad (currently an ipp 9.7"). Occassionally I am sent a pdf file by email that I want to download to save and I also need the mbp to tether to my camera and then transfer those raw files to my icloud drive for editing with Affinity Photo for iPad. I sure hope that by the time I have to replace my mbp (hopefully due to age) Apple has upgraded the ipad to really replace the laptop.

 

[kenz1980]

Two things that worry me;

- Will touching the screen really work better than a mouse/trackpad?
- Will I be able to open multiple word documents and switch between them?

Absolutely this, often for work I need two instances of word open. Hopefully this will be added at some point, I wonder if it has to do with ram as to why it hasn't been added.

 

[elf69]

My fiancee is solely ipad user.

she had an air/air2 and now has a 9.7 pro.

she just web browse/email/youtube/etc

she has a macbook air but it does not get used.

I have an ipad but do not use it much.
my imac and macbook air is what i use.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

I am 70 y.o. And far from technical but I cannot totally replace my 2015 mbp with an ipad (currently an ipp 9.7"). Occassionally I am sent a pdf file by email that I want to download to save and I also need the mbp to tether to my camera and then transfer those raw files to my icloud drive for editing with Affinity Photo for iPad. I sure hope that by the time I have to replace my mbp (hopefully due to age) Apple has upgraded the ipad to really replace the laptop.

You an already easily do both of those things on an iPad. You can use the share sheet on the PDF to add to iCloud or save to DropBox, for example. You can use the camera connector adapter to transfer your photos over to iPad as well.