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Can iPad Pro replace a laptop?
- Thread starter Samtb
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It all depends on what you use a laptop for and what you want the iPad to do. If you are talking about an iPad vs laptop-as-desktop-replacement then probably not, but if you are talking iPad vs laptop-as-meeting-and-travel-device then perhaps.
I use a desktop computer at work and an iPad for working away from my desk and for taking notes and accessing information in meetings. We are a Microsoft Office 365 shop, and there are apps for just about anything I need to do in Office 365. I can access and edit my cloud-based documents and spreadsheets, email, OneNote, tasks, Office 365 groups, etc. My employer offered to buy me a laptop (like the Surface Pro) this year, but I opted to upgrade to the 9.7 iPad Pro instead. I use iOS as a general productivity and communication platform, so the iPad just feels like it completes the system I have going with my iPhone and Apple Watch. My Windows 10 desktop computer is more of a specialty system for more intensive content creation and multi-tasking. That said I'm able to do more and more from the iPad all the time. My need for a full desktop OS is less now than it was a few years ago. I still wouldn't want to work from an iPad all the time, but when I'm not at my desk there is very little I can't accomplish when using it. And for those few things I can remote into my Windows desktop in a pinch.
You need to make a list of what you need to be able to do, and then for each item you need to ask yourself if 1) You can do it from the iPad, and 2) Will you enjoy doing it from the iPad or would it be easier from a Macbook or Windows laptop?
Sean
I use a desktop computer at work and an iPad for working away from my desk and for taking notes and accessing information in meetings. We are a Microsoft Office 365 shop, and there are apps for just about anything I need to do in Office 365. I can access and edit my cloud-based documents and spreadsheets, email, OneNote, tasks, Office 365 groups, etc. My employer offered to buy me a laptop (like the Surface Pro) this year, but I opted to upgrade to the 9.7 iPad Pro instead. I use iOS as a general productivity and communication platform, so the iPad just feels like it completes the system I have going with my iPhone and Apple Watch. My Windows 10 desktop computer is more of a specialty system for more intensive content creation and multi-tasking. That said I'm able to do more and more from the iPad all the time. My need for a full desktop OS is less now than it was a few years ago. I still wouldn't want to work from an iPad all the time, but when I'm not at my desk there is very little I can't accomplish when using it. And for those few things I can remote into my Windows desktop in a pinch.
You need to make a list of what you need to be able to do, and then for each item you need to ask yourself if 1) You can do it from the iPad, and 2) Will you enjoy doing it from the iPad or would it be easier from a Macbook or Windows laptop?
Sean
If all you do is browse the web and check email, yes
Honestly. This couldn't be more wrong. iPad is capable of so much more but some of you stubborn people refuse to see that.
For some it can, for others it can't. I do a lot of RAW photo image transfer and processing so for me it can't.
Oh it's capable of more, but is it better or more inconvenient then a laptop? Not even close
Personally, I find the iPad more convenient than a laptop when sitting on bed, on sofa, bus, train... The fact that it doesn't have keyboard means it takes a lot less space on my lap. Of course, if you do a lot of typing, you might prefer to have a physical keyboard. It all depends on what you value more.
Yes... it all depends on where, how, when and why you are using it. I use my iPad on my feet a lot. A laptop is very cumbersome to use while standing up.
I attend a lot of meetings and I like the iPad for meetings because I never have to worry about battery life. I just grab it and go. I may not crack it open at all during a meeting, or I might open it just to look up some information. Often I will take notes using the Microsoft OneNote app.
I will sometimes edit documents, spreadsheets and web pages (using a browser based content editor for Drupal) from my iPad. I frequenty read and responsd to email using the iPad. For big tasks I would rather use my desktop than either the iPad or a laptop.
If I'm on a sofa or sitting in a chair without a table I would much rather use the iPad rather than a laptop. I didn't actually get the smart keyboard yet for my 9.7 inch iPad Pro. I have a small Apple bluetooth keyboard that I have used in the past with my iPad 3. I will sometimes use that keyboard when I'm at a table, but for light use I don't mind using the touchscreen keyboard.
Sean
I would amend this to add that I find the iPad to be a lot more convenient than a laptop in a lot of situations. I am glad that I have both an iPad and a high-end laptop (XPS 13 with QHD display).
I recommend to read through this forum in your own time. The questions itself has already been answered, iPads can replace notebooks for many people.
Once you read further you will also figure out who actually has experience with using the device in a productivity setting and who is just a troll on here.
You might also start to simply check what software and tasks you do daily and if there are apps on iOS that would do the same.
Not much to go on. Too many unknowns. Do you have another system like a Mac Mini, Mac Pro, or iMac? If not, then I'd say it would be a challenge for an iPP to be a flat-up replacement for a notebook.
For my purposes, yes, the 12.9 iPP has replaced my Macbook Air.... BUT... that's because I have remote access to my iMac for those times when I need access to OSX. With my iPP + Jump Desktop + Citrix X1 mouse, I can do some heavy lifting on the iPP.
When I remotely connect to my iMac using my iPP, the combination of the larger screen size, Smart keyboard, and Citrix X1 mouse, I have a very usable, familiar, and comfortable setup that gives me a very notebook-like experience. Close or switch away from Jump Desktop and I'm working with the iPP like any tablet.
I agree with @sracer, OP you're a little light on describing what you do.
If what you create is mostly prose, a little web/Python code, 2D art, photos, video then yes the you can get by with an iPad. That covers a lot of scope. iPads are very capable devices.
A better question perhaps is 'can get used to creating with the workflow iOS imposes on me?' CPU, memory and IO is not the iPad's greatest hurdle to overcome; rather its the transition to a mobile OS in which everything is sandboxed.
If what you create is mostly prose, a little web/Python code, 2D art, photos, video then yes the you can get by with an iPad. That covers a lot of scope. iPads are very capable devices.
A better question perhaps is 'can get used to creating with the workflow iOS imposes on me?' CPU, memory and IO is not the iPad's greatest hurdle to overcome; rather its the transition to a mobile OS in which everything is sandboxed.
Thread #10000001 of 10000001 on this subject 
I really wish a moderator would just sticky one of these threads and consolidate the conversation there.
At the very least, it would allow easy reference to techniques and apps that make the transition to an iOS flow simpler without requiring so many of these threads.
I really wish a moderator would just sticky one of these threads and consolidate the conversation there.
At the very least, it would allow easy reference to techniques and apps that make the transition to an iOS flow simpler without requiring so many of these threads.
All depends what you need it for. Search around the web, only you can decide if an iPad is enough to do everything you need to do.
Mine has replaced my iMac for everything except heavily edited Shutterfly/photo books (which I will make on dd's iMac when I need to make them). My iMac is going to its new home in a couple days.
I'm considering switching from existing mcb13" to my iPad Air.
Is internet banking safe via iPad, If it is I'll swap to iPad no probs.
Is internet banking safe via iPad, If it is I'll swap to iPad no probs.
We would really need to know about what content you are creating. For instance, I create content, but I don't create video. As I said in another post: I love my iPad Pro (in a Logi Create keyboard case). It has definitely replaced my Macbook Pro. I use it for everything from movies, music, blog posts, web coding (not XCode), art, writing (Scrivener--in the beta), etc.
However, I also have a Win10/Mac desktop capable of Photoshop, gaming, and hosting my appleTV movie library, etc.
In other words, it has replaced my laptop, but not my desktop. I like ergonomics and an iPad isn't the best for that. I can't have a ginormous moniter, etc. My laptop? Don't have one, and don't need one.
However, I also have a Win10/Mac desktop capable of Photoshop, gaming, and hosting my appleTV movie library, etc.
In other words, it has replaced my laptop, but not my desktop. I like ergonomics and an iPad isn't the best for that.
I can't have a ginormous moniter, etc. My laptop? Don't have one, and don't need one.
Do people go to banks still? I've used my phone and iPad for years now. The CapitalOne app is great, and I even deposit checks with it.
Excellent reply, thanks.
I recently commented I can almost run my home from my iPhone.
Only recently purchased I pad air haven't yet installed rbs digi banking app.
Time to think of selling my mcbpro2013 me thinks. If I can find a reputable online site (u.k.)
The only reason the iPad can't is because of lack of software and software features, not because the hardware is not fast enough. It is a software issue.
Its all subjective. All of it. Can ipad replace a laptop? For some, yes. For others, no.
My IPP can handle about 90% of my computing needs. For the rest I need to use my Mac Mini.