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

[spiderman0616]

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.

The kind of people who are into tech enough to post on forums like this one are going to disagree with you. The Mac diehards, the coders, etc. Those aren't the people iPad Pro is targeting right now. And that's ok. Some people are going to always say "I could never go anywhere or do anything without my Mac. It's the best computer ever." People like me say, "I can't believe I used to have to lug around that Mac. This iPad Pro is the best computer ever."

I used to read the "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" series over and over again as a kid. I always hoped that someday I would have a computer like that in real life. Some would say that has been fulfilled by the iPhone, and I love my iPhone to death, but the iPad has always been my favorite Apple product to use. I find it even more useful than the iPhone and more versatile than a laptop. In fact, I think of my iPhone more as a mini iPad rather than the other way around.

 

[pika2000]

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

More useful how?
If you want a desktop OS, you can just buy a laptop, with full desktop OS and mouse support. Why would you want mouse support on a Touch OS?

 

[richpjr]

More useful how?
If you want a desktop OS, you can just buy a laptop, with full desktop OS and mouse support. Why would you want mouse support on a Touch OS?

I already have a laptop to go along with my iPad. Why do I want mouse support? Easy - it would make my iPad much more useful to me, allowing me to leave my MBP home at times. Just because you don't think it's useful doesn't mean others don't. Just like file system support - people here rationalized how it wasn't needed in an iPad and now that it is coming it's suddenly a great feature that everyone is excited about. I don't know if Apple will ever add mouse support or not (could encroach on laptop sale if they do) but I'd welcome it as increasing my productivity on my iPad.

 

[pika2000]

I already have a laptop to go along with my iPad. Why do I want mouse support? Easy - it would make my iPad much more useful to me, allowing me to leave my MBP home at times. Just because you don't think it's useful doesn't mean others don't. Just like file system support - people here rationalized how it wasn't needed in an iPad and now that it is coming it's suddenly a great feature that everyone is excited about. I don't know if Apple will ever add mouse support or not (could encroach on laptop sale if they do) but I'd welcome it as increasing my productivity on my iPad.

if you want a tablet with mouse support, why didn't you just get an Android tablet? Why did you choose to make your own life difficult npby buying an iPad and then rant like Apple has to fill your demand?

And the "Files" app is not opening the file system. You are confused on what a file system support is.

 

[richpjr]

if you want a tablet with mouse support, why didn't you just get an Android tablet? Why did you choose to make your own life difficult npby buying an iPad and then rant like Apple has to fill your demand?

And the "Files" app is not opening the file system. You are confused on what a file system support is.

Not sure why this seems to be so confusing for you. I bought the iPad with the understanding of what it could and could not do, knowing full well mouse support was not included and not promised. If Apple decided to add mouse support, it would be even more useful to me than it currently is.

 

[TechnicallyTee]

I have actually sold my MacBook Air and have the 12.9" IPP on the way in a week or two. I literally only used my MacBook Air for editing my YouTube videos and all other tasks I was always able to do on my iPhone.

I plan to use the iPad Pro as my main device and that's part the reason I went with the 12.9". I plan to still edit my YouTube videos but will be using Luma Fusion since my videos doesn't require that much hardcore editing. I think I should be good to go using it as my main device and if I have to have a laptop I can just use my work laptop if it comes down to it.

 

[Wide opeN]

I'm very torn on this subject.

1. I want to get into making music.
2. I may be going back to school via online.
3. At some point I'd like to try my hand @ coding.

While obtaining the iPad short term would probably give me satisfaction, I don't know how it would be able to tackle all the above. I know it can't code, the iPad that is. Conversely, is making music with a trackpad and possibly a mouse more intuitive than my fingers!? A big complaint I had formerly with iPad was not all sites would come up on it.

I could get the iPad tomorrow if I wanted, but not all the accessories. The MacBook Pro, I'm going to need to save up for. Sigh...

 

[richpjr]

I'm very torn on this subject.

1. I want to get into making music.
2. I may be going back to school via online.
3. At some point I'd like to try my hand @ coding.

While obtaining the iPad short term would probably give me satisfaction, I don't know how it would be able to tackle all the above. I know it can't code, the iPad that is. Conversely, is making music with a trackpad and possibly a mouse more intuitive than my fingers!? A big complaint I had formerly with iPad was not all sites would come up on it.

I could get the iPad tomorrow if I wanted, but not all the accessories. The MacBook Pro, I'm going to need to save up for. Sigh...

It is a tough decision. There are some very nice iOS apps for music, but as with everything, how you use them and what you need them for will steer you one way or another. For myself, I greatly prefer desktop apps for music - but an iPad is a great way to quickly record an idea without firing up a full blown DAW and can be done anywhere. If coding is high on your list, you kind of don't have much choice but to go for a laptop at this point.

 

[DNichter]

Yes

 

[pika2000]

Not sure why this seems to be so confusing for you. I bought the iPad with the understanding of what it could and could not do, knowing full well mouse support was not included and not promised. If Apple decided to add mouse support, it would be even more useful to me than it currently is.

Me confused? I'm not the one wanting a mouse on a tablet with Touch OS. You said you can be more productive if the iPad had mouse support, so why didn't you buy Android tablet or a Windows 10 tablet? Instead you knowingly bought an iPad that is less productive/useful for you.

:shrug:

 

[Booji]

I think the OP put the proper wording in the question "your main mobile computer". I'm taking the leap and going to give it a try - going on a one week trip with my 9.7 Pro and if it goes OK, I'm trading up to the 10.5 and making it my main mobile device.

 

[richpjr]

Me confused? I'm not the one wanting a mouse on a tablet with Touch OS. You said you can be more productive if the iPad had mouse support, so why didn't you buy Android tablet or a Windows 10 tablet? Instead you knowingly bought an iPad that is less productive/useful for you.

:shrug:

No, I bought exactly what I wanted to buy. That doesn't mean it's perfect or couldn't be improved upon.

 

[rui no onna]

Depends on usage. It's good enough for 95% of my usage but for that other 5% (usually software-driven), I still need a laptop. If traveling internationally, I bring both.