iPad Common laptop PC/Mac use cases where iPads just don't work...

[johnhackworth]

I've been trying to think of use cases where iPads simply have no capability to meet the needs of a use case - where the use case is some activity which an average user would typically undertake. I think that iPad cover most needs for most people - note, I'm not talking about whether iPad OS will some *specific* software or will meet some professional needs. But, in general, where might the gaps between what most people expect from a computer and what iPad OS provides.

The only two I can think of are:

1. Scanning - iPad's, I don't believe, can attach to scanners to scan photos - yes you could use the camera but the quality is too poor for archival vs a dedicated scanner

2. Ripping media discs - At present there is no way of ripping a CD (for instance) to your Apple music library without using iTunes on a Mac or PC. Yes you may be able to buy the music from the iTunes store or the music may be on Apple Music but these are not really solutions to the problem - many CDs are not available on Apple Music.

Any others spring to mind for anyone else?

 

[sparksd]

Digital Asset Management (DAM) - organization and management of large digital photo collection (about 75k in my case)

Ability to update s/w or f/w on attached external device (e.g., maps & s/w on GPS unit)

 

[0128672]

Inability to format or troubleshoot an external drive.

 

[johnhackworth]

Digital Asset Management (DAM) - organization and management of large digital photo collection (about 75k in my case)

Ooh, good one! I actually have a similar use case - 50K images to be managed. I use Lightroom on iPad for this - by directly attaching my camera via USB-C and then importing and uploading images to Adobe cloud. Being paranoid I also copy the camera's memory card contents to a NAS share via a PC or Mac.

 

[ascender]

Virtual machines? I know a lot of people (me included) who need to be able to run some Windows apps via something like Parallels.

 

[muzzy996]

Multiple monitor support. Full control over printer settings (custom paper sizes and margins etc.).

 

[sparksd]

Specify default application for all file types.

 

[rui no onna]

2. Ripping media discs - At present there is no way of ripping a CD (for instance) to your Apple music library without using iTunes on a Mac or PC. Yes you may be able to buy the music from the iTunes store or the music may be on Apple Music but these are not really solutions to the problem - many CDs are not available on Apple Music.

I think ripping CDs has gotten pretty niche nowadays. I expect most are content to use Spotify, etc.

1. Accessing websites that don’t play nice with iOS/iPadOS.
   
   Situation's a whole lot better than before. I used to need a PC just to pay using PayPal with 2FA since that would go on a bootloop on iOS before (tried Safari, Chrome, Firefox). PayPal eventually fixed their site but I still encounter some situations when I need to go on the desktop. For example, I couldn’t open the terms and agreements you need to accept when buying the $249/128GB iPhone SE from Walmart.
   
   Ironically, I occasionally encounter issues shopping on carrier sites as well. Given they primarily sell Android and iOS devices, you’d think they’d design their pages to work properly on those.
   
2. Non-cloud based backup.
   
   NAS handles this, too, but that’s pretty much just running customized Linux so still kinda PC-ish.
   
3. Reliable access of FAT32/exFAT external drives.
   
   I was just gonna copy a few MOBI/AZW3 files from Dropbox but the Files app just crashes when I tried accessing my Kindle (had a couple thousand files). It made the Kindle crash as well (rebooted twice) and almost corrupted the Kindle.

Granted, #2 and maybe #3 are kinda more niche. #1 is a problem though, and something that site developers should have fixed years before.

Due to the sandboxed design and power saving nature of iOS though, I don’t expect to see some of the software I use to ever make it to iOS, at least not in a practical way (e.g. virtual machines, HTTP/PHP server, Calibre for ebooks and ereader management, Blu-ray ripping, etc).

 

[sparksd]

I think ripping CDs has gotten pretty niche nowadays. I expect most are content to use Spotify, etc.

1. Accessing websites that don’t play nice with iOS/iPadOS.
   
   Situation's a whole lot better than before. I used to need a PC just to pay using PayPal with 2FA since that would go on a bootloop on iOS before (tried Safari, Chrome, Firefox). PayPal eventually fixed their site but I still encounter some situations when I need to go on the desktop. For example, I couldn’t open the terms and agreements you need to accept when buying the $249/128GB iPhone SE from Walmart.
   
   Ironically, I occasionally encounter issues shopping on carrier sites as well. Given they primarily sell Android and iOS devices, you’d think they’d design their pages to work properly on those.
2. Non-cloud based backup.
   
   NAS handles this, too, but that’s pretty much just running customized Linux so still kinda PC-ish.
3. Reliable access of FAT32/exFAT external drives.
   
   I was just gonna copy a few MOBI/AZW3 files from Dropbox but the Files app just crashes when I tried accessing my Kindle (had a couple thousand files). It made the Kindle crash as well (rebooted twice) and almost corrupted the Kindle.

Granted, #2 and maybe #3 are kinda more niche. #1 is a problem though, and something that site developers should have fixed years before.

Due to the sandboxed design and power saving nature of iOS though, I don’t expect to see some of the software I use to ever make it to iOS, at least not in a practical way (e.g. virtual machines, HTTP/PHP server, Calibre for ebooks and ereader management, Blu-ray ripping, etc).

Because of #3, I have stopped using the Files app and moved its icon to an "Unused" folder. I use FileBrowser for Business instead as I've seen fewer problems with exFAT and large file transfers over WiFi in general.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Inability to format or troubleshoot an external drive.

iPadOS 15? Please? 😭

 

[jlc1978]

For me, the biggest thing is the lack of full fledged Office programs. Creating a PowerPoint is difficult and frustrating.

Of course, it's also a matter of the right tool for the job. My iPad is great for quickly checking emails or a site since it has cellular; unlike the Mac. It's also a lot easier to do a quick sketch or take nots with the pen.

 

[secretk]

1. Multitasking.
   1. By this I mean being able to run multiple processes in the background. What I mean is being able to export a video from Lumafusion (or iMovie) while browsing in Safari. This is something you cannot do. You have to wait for the export to finish.
      1. Kind of similar to this is say photos processing in batches
   2. As a whole on how many tabs/apps are open and not reloading
2. No proper multi display support. I need to be able to extend the display.
3. Office support is indeed lackluster.
4. Indeed I do not organize the photos the way iOS does it (or Android for that matter). I store my photos by places I have visited. In other words I need to be able to organize my photos better.
   1. On that matter iTunes for Windows is a joke. Backing up your device is PITA. And this is a major reason to not use iPads for something key/specific that is really important for me because I cannot have full access to what I need. The files I do, the videos I make etc.
5. Coding is not really possible. That is however niche and I don't need to be on an iPad. I am mentioning it for completeness.

 

[Dave-Z]

For me the biggest things (that do not included specific software) are virtual machines and a proper web inspector.

Outside of those, other things that I cannot do (in no particular order):

• Encrypted external media.
• A decent code editor. Textastic is the best I've found, but it's not in the same league as something like Sublime Text.
• The ability to properly run applications in the background.
• Proper external monitor support.

I'm using a Surface Pro 7 these days; I find it's really the best solution for me. The tablet experience is lacking, for sure, but I only use a web browser and Kindle app in tablet mode. For everything else I attach a keyboard and have a full computer. Still like iPadOS though.

 

[Secubia]

I'm a bit old fashioned, but these are the things that immediately come to mind:
- CD/DVD reading
- Tagging/editing MP3 files
- Managing iPod/iPhone (restore, sync music)
- Firmware updates of various devices
- Creating nonstop mixes of music that I own
- Making digital planners or other "handwriting sheets" in PowerPoint
- Creating operating system installer or recovery USB's for other computers (mostly for work)
- Active Directory management (work)
- Plex server

 

[jlc1978]

This an interesting thread that points out the importance of undersatnding a users needs, i.e. use case, to be able to select the proper tool. It's easy to become a champion of a tool taht works for you but may not work for someone else. Doesn't mean your favorite is somehow a lesser choice, it's just a different choice based on needs.

That's why the most important question to ask when someone seeks your advice is "How will you use it?" so yu can make a recommendation based on their needs and not yours.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Managing an iTunes library/media.

Updating the software of another device e.g my kindle

Managing my kindle library.

Making digital copies of DVDs to play back on tablets or phones.

 

[KittyKatta]

My opinion is coming from the other direction. I've happily been "iPad Only" for years but Quarantine happened and I bought my first "new" (used) MacBook in 8 years. I hate to say it but the iPad/Computer experience gap is much wider than I thought. So after adding (not replacing) a MacBook to our workflow then a few things stood out.


Schooling:
- Typing: Not only inferior keyboards, iPad software tends to be missing features
- Zoom/Meetings: Better iPad camera but I needed to use 2 iPads to conference and actually work
- Multitasking: It exists, but they feel more like hacks than properly implemented features
- Lite versions of software (Office, Google, Apple suites)

Family:
- Multiple Login. One iPad per person is silly. We all have one but nobody can share without giving up privacy.
- Remote Support for iPad is almost non-existent compared to the computer options.

Photos/Video
- File management really hurts the workflow here. Better than nothing but not at all good.
- Photos.app: Missing features. Even things like Smart Folders or some editing options aren't here
- Final Cut: LumaFusion is fine but at this point its clear that Final Cut for iPad needs to happen

Accessories
- USBC cross compatibility between Mac/iPad is amazing. One drive/hub all systems. iPhone needs this.
- Magic Keyboard: Its a good keyboard/trackpad for iPad, but a MacBook kb/tp is just amazing

Im still going to rely on the iPad for most things, but after using a "computer" again then I am seeing that the iPad isn't the computer replacement that I tried to make it and I'm very happy now having both products again.

 

[macsound1]

At my office I have a 27" iMac. Working from home, the first thing I'm annoyed by is looking at large spreadsheets on a 15" MacBook Pro. Sometimes even with a 27" iMac, I want another 27" display. Couldn't imagine looking or creating spreadsheets on an iPad.

I second finicky websites. We use a product at work that causes more issues for PC users. If their laptop has a touchscreen, they have to use firefox. Non-touchscreen, Chrome is ok. Mac, only Safari works, not firefox or chrome.

Biggest issue - large files. I work in design and Photoshop files can be 10GB or sometimes more, because we're working at actual size at 300dpi. A 2019 iMac with 32GB of ram have issues dealing with them, never going to possible to even open those on an iPad, much less edit them.

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

Virtual machines? I know a lot of people (me included) who need to be able to run some Windows apps via something like Parallels.

The way around that is to use a remote desktop app on the iPad. There may be ways to share files with a virtual or physical PC too.

Anyway the most glaring missing use case on the iPad for me is the inability to create simple programs in Swift. I'm not talking about professional apps or software. With an iPad you can't even create an executable or run small snippets of code.

Swift Playgrounds teaches some coding basics but all of that is purely academic if you can't use the iPad to actually write and compile code that does something.

The Pythonista app is great but that's for Python obviously. If Apple really wants to get children interested in coding then their most accessible device needs to be able to write and execute simple Swift programs. Otherwise real Swift coding is forever hidden behind an expensive Mac hardware paywall.

 

[rui no onna]

The way around that is to use a remote desktop app on the iPad. There may be ways to share files with a virtual or physical PC too.

But that still necessitates having hardware running Mac/Linux/Windows (whether owned or rented).

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

But that still necessitates having hardware running Mac/Linux/Windows (whether owned or rented).

That's true but it doesn't have to be expensive hardware. A small mini-PC will usually suffice depending on the use case. It can even run headless without a monitor.

 

[rui no onna]

That's true but it doesn't have to be expensive hardware. A small mini-PC will usually suffice depending on the use case. It can even run headless without a monitor.

Apart from file servers, I’ve never really bought expensive PCs. The 512GB LTE iPad Pro 12.9 2nd gen was more expensive than any PC I’ve ever owned.

Mini PCs have been standard in our household for a long while. Custom M-ITX PCs a few years back, Intel NUCs more recently to replaced aged hardware. Those cost more than uATX and are less powerful but I appreciate how tiny and easy to set up they are.

We never really do anything that require gobs of processing power. Software, peripherals, etc. are why we need Windows PCs. Windows 10 is actually a requirement for our telecommuting software.

 

[Shirasaki]

I know this is kinda joking but even after iOS 14, file management on iPad is still frustrating, and certainly nowhere near the level of some desktop file managers. Files app sort of becomes the middle man of transferring files between supported apps but it’s still a multi-step process to transfer files from one app to another. Third party apps support wireless transfer using browser but the access to so-called “iTunes files” is not there, where files app stores files across multiple apps. I personally do not have any hope that Apple will improve on this regard at all.

Onto multitasking. This is what I love about iPad over iPhone. iPhone simply cant multitask at all (browsing the web while listening to music is not the same multitasking). However, I still need to have a dominant app at the front on full screen and the behaviour of slide over for lots of apps is pretty random, especially the keyboard behaviour and the poor support of multiple Windows with text input capabilities. Microsoft Windows and macOS just does this better hands down. iPad multitasking is still primitive and needs to match desktop OS level to be truly impressive.

No virtual machine support and severe lacking of external device (not just USB hard drive) support means iPad will not be able to be used as a laptop replacement on the field. One of my jobs occasionally requires me to connect to fire panel, something that “modern support” is certainly not the top priority. iPad cant install third party drivers, cant install fire panel programs, and certainly cant recognise those RS232 adapters. Having only a single port certainly won’t help either. I know this case is very niche, but this is something iPad can’t and maybe never will be able to do.

 

[KittyKatta]

I know this is kinda joking but even after iOS 14, file management on iPad is still frustrating, and certainly nowhere near the level of some desktop file managers.

Every year you hear rumors of how the iPad is going to get reinvented but in the end it just feels like new features glued on top of a phone OS. This is one of the biggest reasons I had to buy a MacBook. File Management is so important to the "Pro" workflow but, sadly, its really just not designed for "Pro" use.

 

[Dave-Z]

Every year you hear rumors of how the iPad is going to get reinvented but in the end it just feels like new features glued on top of a phone OS. This is one of the biggest reasons I had to buy a MacBook. File Management is so important to the "Pro" workflow but, sadly, its really just not designed for "Pro" use.

Yeah... Even to this day I like iPads; they're my favourite device and operating system. Or at least, I want to feel that way.. At the end of the day, they are a joy to use but doing some type of work is like working with one hand tied behind your back. Usually when I'm trying to get stuff done on an iPad and I finally switch over to Linux or Windows I say to myself, "Wow.. This is so much faster."

For all of the A-series performance, iPadOS (and iOS) is still hampered by UI-blocking animations and an operating system that was never intended for applications to be anything other than an island to themselves.