Buying Advice MacBook Air or iPad

[ejwjohn]

My wife and I have been avid Apple users for some considerable time and now in our later years, our requirements are different, and we need to replace our Macs and iPads or both? and we would really appreciate some advice on our next purchase.

Our general use of the systems at present can be classified as Regular Internet users for forums and shopping and alike, Video calling (Zoom ), scanning photos and other docs to store online Photo editing. ( we do not use the equipment for gaming!)

Question1: Is it possible to connect a display and a storage device to the newer iPads at the same time via a hub of some description?
Question2: if we have an external disk already populated with photos that are connected to our Macs, can we reconnect that Disk to the iPad and access the contents(photos) on that disk from the iPad?
Question3: If you have no additional local storage on the iPad does the system automatically use your iCloud storage?
Question4: using our local network can we have shared local storage to use between Macs and iPads?
Question5: Are Windows Word and Excel useful apps on the iPad? or would we be better off on a Mac?

I really appreciate your advice on this topic.

Thank You

JohnW

 

[jeyf]

Local storage
Apple much would rather you use their iCloud. you will have a small monthly fee but that is where it wants to go. Also best if you choose a cloud service that has effective encryption. Your cloud service will handle your backup. Local storage you can go to direct connect or a network NAS situaiton. The direct connect usally leads to a hodge podge of an unmanaged mess. Difficult to backup the hodge podge. The network situation you will need the expense of buying a NAS box from a company like Synology. I use a NAS box tied to my home network. All my devices can access the files on the nas box with out fiddlling with external connectors.

If i have to type out a quick hard copy memo I am likely not going to use Word to do it. The Notes app from apple will do. You can setup notes to work seamless between your desk top and your iPhone via iCloud. Instead of Microsoft Word, Open Office is free. Excel, do you really need this? The apple equivalent Numbers is ok but kinda odd so if you need a spread sheet microsoft Excell is it.

macOS has Finder to to mamage files and connect external storeage devices. ios has the app Files. Another difference is ios applicateions are more in charge of file access. Each app does it different.
-The thinking is you can use Files to "save" a file from that NAS box into an iPhone ios application.
-the ios Files app is functional but a 3rd party app File Explorer is better
-for macOS or ios you have to log into or mount an external device like a NAS box. The macOS Finder is slow cluncky, even the ios Files app is faster,

i am really losing interest in Apple products as they are expensive un reliable for what you get. My son's employer gave him a reasonable microsoft portable, 3 display monitors and keyboard and all this is less expensive and it works. It seems able to connect better to a real world.

 

[ejwjohn]

Hello,

Thank you for your interesting response and noted thank you.

Does anyone have expierence of connecting USB C hub to an iPad? to enable extra display and or disks or Mouse ?

Thank you

JohnW