Can the iPad Pro be used effectively as your main mobile computer?

[zemaker]

To be blunt No.

I went from a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 to an iPad Pro 10.5 thinking it would be a good replacement. Well its 90% there but that last 10% is quiet significant. Biggest thing holding it back is the fact that desktop class apps are quiet more powerful and one huge hurdle for me is the lack of a mouse.

 

[44267547]

To be blunt No.

I went from a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 to an iPad Pro 10.5 thinking it would be a good replacement. Well its 90% there but that last 10% is quiet significant. Biggest thing holding it back is the fact that desktop class apps are quiet more powerful and one huge hurdle for me is the lack of a mouse.

You made two good valid points in your post. And you're somebody that has experience with the Surface Pro. I think the mobile applications will continue to expand and hopefully reach the architecture of the desktop applications, which there are some constraints that are still out there with desktop applications that iPad cannot reach quite as of yet. And the mouse point You made, is also another heavily discussed topic on the iPad forum. I don't have a need it for one, but I can see were others might.

 

[OKLY]

As for me, even when I use a computer, it's still mostly for web browsing and media consumption so yes it has become my main device.

 

[Analog Kid]

There's only one honest answer to this question: it depends.

 

[SDColorado]

I think one of the keywords in the title says a lot. Effectively in many cases it can, but maybe not efficiently. The iPad Pro is capable of performing the majority of tasks as a full OS computer, but much of it requires extra steps and jumping through a few hoops to achieve the same. Then as Zemaker states, there is that 10%...

I love the iPad Pro, but for me it has always been a good travel companion, media consumption device and occasional business tool. It can never become my main mobile computer in its present form.

 

[richpjr]

I think one of the keywords in the title says a lot. Effectively in many cases it can, but maybe not efficiently. The iPad Pro is capable of performing the majority of tasks as a full OS computer, but much of it requires extra steps and jumping through a few hoops to achieve the same. Then as Zemaker states, there is that 10%...

I love the iPad Pro, but for me it has always been a good travel companion, media consumption device and occasional business tool. It can never become my main mobile computer in its present form.

Agree. It's slowly narrowing the gap and obviously people have different requirements but for my needs it's still not close.

 

[Abazigal]

Apple thinks the iPad is the future

To be more precise, I believe Apple wants to position the iPad as the computer for the masses.

The Mac will still be around for niche uses such as app development, which not everyone needs.

 

[Abazigal]

There's only one honest answer to this question: it depends.

That's the honest answer to any question, IMO.

 

[tl01]

For my business, I will mostly use my iPad Pro when I am on the go. For my husband, he works heavily in excel and in power point etc...he would have a terrible time using and iPad when traveling. I think it really depends upon what you are doing.

 

[Essaux]

This is what Apple thinks of the iPad Pro...

Better than a computer? I find apple's assertion so ridiculous.

iPad apps have nowhere the depth, power and ability of desktop apps and that alone makes it worse than a computer.

 

[SDColorado]

Agree. It's slowly narrowing the gap and obviously people have different requirements but for my needs it's still not close.

IOS 11 tries to bridge the gap a little, but it’s still a fairly large chasm between a tablet device and something that could ever become my main computer. I can only speak for myself of course, but of all my Apple devices, the iPad Pro is the least used. It’s role is mostly for light travel, projecting a presentation I put together on my iMac or MBP and as a media consumption device while sitting out on the deck in the summer with a beer or two. I like it, but it it what it is. For me, it’s not enough to to be my main mobile device, but it’s an awfully nice tablet

 

[kasakka]

For me it still has a long way to go. I'm a web developer so I would need things like developer tools in browser, a terminal, the ability to run Node as well as a proper IDE. At the moment the Surface Pro can do all that, in fact I have colleagues who use it as their main machine without issue.

But if we ignore these rather industry-specific needs, then an iPad is fine for me. When traveling it is my main device but then it is mostly used for looking things up, maybe booking some tickets etc. It has been perfectly fine for those purposes and this is within the realm of how the average person uses a computer nowadays.

I would like to see the iPad Pro get closer to the Surface Pro in many ways. Support for mouse, ability to easily connect it to an external display and essentially use it like a desktop would be welcome. It still needs a lot of work on the UI and software support before I would call it something suited for work.

 

[nurotic]

For me it still has a long way to go. I'm a web developer so I would need things like developer tools in browser, a terminal, the ability to run Node as well as a proper IDE. At the moment the Surface Pro can do all that, in fact I have colleagues who use it as their main machine without issue.

As a web developer also, that has been my issue exactly. When using my iPad Air 2, I have had to change my mindset and view it as a nifty extension of my Mac mini when on the go.

Im not sure if any would agree, but looking at an iPad I don't think, can it replace a laptop? Because it could. If you have ever jailbroken a iOS device and seen its guts, there be a full fledged "UNIX-like" OS in it's there heart. And they can't stop gushing about the hardware capabilities!

The question I ask is, when will Apple be ready to allow users of all professions, to fully replace their laptops with a iPad?

For me the iPad only became more useful, when the apps required for my workflow became more open due to changes in the API.

It's looking like iOS 11 could help make the answer to original threads question become more of a yes it can.

 

[seadragon]

The iPad is slowly but surely becoming more of a computer replacement. Desktop type apps are now becoming a reality on iPad vs the watered down versions that were typical to now. Take for example Affinity Photo, Polarr and also this amazing video editor app, LumaFusion:

https://9to5mac.com/2017/06/25/lumafusion-best-video-editing-app-ipad-iphone-video

I'm going to be using my iPad for this kind of thing whereas I would have had to have a full desktop or MBP to even come close to these in the past.

 

[pika2000]

Can you use a web browser (Chromebooks) as your main computer? Many people do. So the general answer is yes.

But of course, you don't expect an iPad to be a PC. If you want a PC, buy a PC, not an iPad. Not sure why this is so difficult for many people. And Apple still sell MacBooks.

 

[seadragon]

Can you use a web browser (Chromebooks) as your main computer? Many people do. So the general answer is yes.

But of course, you don't expect an iPad to be a PC. If you want a PC, buy a PC, not an iPad. Not sure why this is so difficult for many people. And Apple still sell MacBooks.

Likewise, I'm not sure why it's difficult for many people to accept that the iPad is morphing into a capable production tool vs simply a consumption device. The writing is on the wall. Pro version of iPad, powerful processors, increased onboard storage, pencil, accessible file system (coming), desktop class apps as mentioned previously. Apple is clearly positioning the iPad as more than a fun toy to watch movies on and play games.

Yes, a computer is still better at many things currently. But, the time is coming where the iPad will give it a run for the money. No longer is the iPad a potential computer replacement for just word processing type work. Photo and video processing is fast becoming a reality on the tablet and will replace even more computers.

 

[spiderman0616]

Likewise, I'm not sure why it's difficult for many people to accept that the iPad is morphing into a capable production tool vs simply a consumption device. The writing is on the wall. Pro version of iPad, powerful processors, increased onboard storage, pencil, accessible file system (coming), desktop class apps as mentioned previously. Apple is clearly positioning the iPad as more than a fun toy to watch movies on and play games.

Yes, a computer is still better at many things currently. But, the time is coming where the iPad will give it a run for the money. No longer is the iPad a potential computer replacement for just word processing type work. Photo and video processing is fast becoming a reality on the tablet and will replace even more computers.

I'll tell you exactly why it's difficult--people who love their Macs are feeling insecure. Do they have anything to really feel insecure about? No. The Mac has a solid future. But the day is coming where a Mac or PC is no longer the go-to device for the average user. And the iPad will continue to cannibalize functionality from the traditional laptop/desktop. Laptops and desktops will become niche products for very specific needs. I think that is still probably about 5 years off, but it's coming whether people like it or not.

A lot of the people who comment on this topic are coders, and I'm surprised by how many of them have the attitude of "I can't use it as my computer, so neither should anyone else." Coders are not your average computer user. Your average computer user didn't do much more with their old laptops or desktop computers than they do with their iPads: email, browsing, maybe an occasional Word doc or something. That can all be done on an iPad. The cool thing now is that we're starting to be doing so much MORE on the iPad when you take into consideration the Apple Pencil and some of the capabilities that have been added through powerful apps. (My main examples of this are apps like Ferrite and Procreate.)

 

[richpjr]

I'll tell you exactly why it's difficult--people who love their Macs are feeling insecure. Do they have anything to really feel insecure about? No. The Mac has a solid future. But the day is coming where a Mac or PC is no longer the go-to device for the average user. And the iPad will continue to cannibalize functionality from the traditional laptop/desktop. Laptops and desktops will become niche products for very specific needs. I think that is still probably about 5 years off, but it's coming whether people like it or not.

A lot of the people who comment on this topic are coders, and I'm surprised by how many of them have the attitude of "I can't use it as my computer, so neither should anyone else." Coders are not your average computer user. Your average computer user didn't do much more with their old laptops or desktop computers than they do with their iPads: email, browsing, maybe an occasional Word doc or something. That can all be done on an iPad. The cool thing now is that we're starting to be doing so much MORE on the iPad when you take into consideration the Apple Pencil and some of the capabilities that have been added through powerful apps. (My main examples of this are apps like Ferrite and Procreate.)

I'm not sure that it's so difficult to accept. I'd say it's just not there yet, and for certain uses it's not that close. The coders are perfect examples. And there are lots of other professions where it's also true. I'm not sure many would disagree that for general purpose uses, it's getting much closer (though the lack of mouse or trackpad are a very sore subject for some).

 

[profets]

Better than a computer? I find apple's assertion so ridiculous.

iPad apps have nowhere the depth, power and ability of desktop apps and that alone makes it worse than a computer.

You have to remember who they are targeting with these ads - which is mainly regular consumers (not necessarily pros or developers who will likely need a Mac for many years to come).

And with that, one could make the argument that an iPad is better than a Mac in several ways:
-highly portable, thin and light
-touch screen and pencil use
-can be held in any orientation (can you pick up a Mac and hold it in portrait for reading documents?)
-simplicity in the OS

It's not meant to be a knock against the Mac, rather that for most consumers the iPad can be and likely is an ideal computer for their needs. I think most of us on MR wouldn't fall into that category however.

 

[nurotic]

A lot of the people who comment on this topic are coders, and I'm surprised by how many of them have the attitude of "I can't use it as my computer, so neither should anyone else." Coders are not your average computer user.

As a coder, at least from my view, I think it’s great that people can use their iPad as their sole device. And I totally wish I could enjoy a better development workflow from my iPad. I love my Mac, but I also enjoy being able to chuck my iPad in my bag and go.

As you have said, the iPad now allows the “Average computer user” to do a lot more. But the iPad pros are being aimed at more than the “Average computer user”. Film 4K AND edit it on my IPad, if I was a professional filmographier I’d be considering introducing the iPad into my workflow.

Perhaps coders like me are feeling a little neglected we are not allowed pro iOS dev tools.

 

[spiderman0616]

As a coder, at least from my view, I think it’s great that people can use their iPad as their sole device. And I totally wish I could enjoy a better development workflow from my iPad. I love my Mac, but I also enjoy being able to chuck my iPad in my bag and go.

As you have said, the iPad now allows the “Average computer user” to do a lot more. But the iPad pros are being aimed at more than the “Average computer user”. Film 4K AND edit it on my IPad, if I was a professional filmographier I’d be considering introducing the iPad into my workflow.

Perhaps coders like me are feeling a little neglected we are not allowed pro iOS dev tools.

Yes--and I think Apple would have another huge surge of iPad Pro users if they could get this done for you. I can't imagine it's not coming though. Swift Playgrounds hints at that future. I'm surprised it's taking this long.

 

[Dave245]

Better than a computer? I find apple's assertion so ridiculous.

iPad apps have nowhere the depth, power and ability of desktop apps and that alone makes it worse than a computer.

There are desktop class apps like Affinity Photo it's very impressive on the iPad Pro.
[doublepost=1498486503][/doublepost]

You have to remember who they are targeting with these ads - which is mainly regular consumers (not necessarily pros or developers who will likely need a Mac for many years to come).

And with that, one could make the argument that an iPad is better than a Mac in several ways:
-highly portable, thin and light
-touch screen and pencil use
-can be held in any orientation (can you pick up a Mac and hold it in portrait for reading documents?)
-simplicity in the OS

It's not meant to be a knock against the Mac, rather that for most consumers the iPad can be and likely is an ideal computer for their needs. I think most of us on MR wouldn't fall into that category however.

This is a great point! The iPad being able to replace a laptop isn't meant for the heavy user it's aimed at the general consumer who checks their emails, Web browsing, Netflix and so on. However it can do some impressive things like the Affinity app that's a desktop class. People should also look at the context of the ads that Apple have made, most of them feature people acting as students and using things like Word, Note ability and so on.

 

[pika2000]

Likewise, I'm not sure why it's difficult for many people to accept that the iPad is morphing into a capable production tool vs simply a consumption device. The writing is on the wall. Pro version of iPad, powerful processors, increased onboard storage, pencil, accessible file system (coming), desktop class apps as mentioned previously. Apple is clearly positioning the iPad as more than a fun toy to watch movies on and play games.

Yes, a computer is still better at many things currently. But, the time is coming where the iPad will give it a run for the money. No longer is the iPad a potential computer replacement for just word processing type work. Photo and video processing is fast becoming a reality on the tablet and will replace even more computers.

Forget it buddy, people will keep bashing the iPad because they want their torrent and mouse. Basically they want a laptop, but for some reason they made themselves thought they had to buy iPads. :shrug:

 

[gobikerider]

Forget it buddy, people will keep bashing the iPad because they want their torrent and mouse. Basically they want a laptop, but for some reason they made themselves thought they had to buy iPads. :shrug:

Maybe im weird but I prefer my iPad Pro over a MacBook, some will disagree but I feel the flow of things on iOS is much cleaner and simpler then MacOS. It's easier for me to be productive then on a Mac. Yah my iPad misses out on a few programs I could use on a MacBook but they aren't crucial. Also iPad Pro vs MacBook in terms of price and perfromance, the iPad wins, so for my needs the iPad screams amazing value while a MacBook would be needlessly extravagent for my needs.

 

[richpjr]

Forget it buddy, people will keep bashing the iPad because they want their torrent and mouse. Basically they want a laptop, but for some reason they made themselves thought they had to buy iPads. :shrug:

How about - with a few more features that would be trivial to implement (like mouse support), our iPads would be much more useful.