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iPad Ditching iPad Pro for M1 MBA

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Honza

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 22, 2011
93
24
SF Bay Area
Currently I have an 11” iPad Pro (2018) and a work laptop (PC). I use the iPad for watching shows (when spouse and I watch separate shows), safari, social media, news app, and some other random apps.

The M1 MacBooks have me rethinking my iPad usage - the MBA does everything my iPad does, with almost twice the battery life, stands up on its own with a keyboard, and I can use “full” MacOS versions of apps like Microsoft office and do photo/video editing. And it has a bigger screen and can play more games outside of the App Store.

I used to not like watching movies on a laptop, because they were heavy, hot, and the battery would drain. At this point with the fanless MBA, I can’t think of a task that would be better on an iPad, except drawing/handwriting, which I do not do.

Anybody else tempted to switch? It seems like they are trying to get laptop people to become iPad people…but with the improvements to MacBooks, it might be the other way around.
 
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rui no onna

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,920
13,269
All depends on what you use it for.

Reading ebooks and comics/manga is one of my primary usage. It's the reason I even bought the iPad 2 in the first place. At one point, I was even upgrading every 1-2 gen for features that will benefit that task (retina display, bigger storage capacities, larger display). For that, tablet form factor is ideal.

I got an M1 MBA last year but ended up not really using it. I just prefer a pure tablet form factor. Never been a fan of clamshells. They've always given me neck pain from looking down when I'm using the notebook on my lap (which used to be always).
 
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ejin222

macrumors 6502a
Oct 12, 2011
564
432
The MBA might do everything for YOU but not everything for everyone. I need a detachable screen with Pencil writing abilities. In this regard, the base iPad does everything I need that a MBP or Mac Pro does not.

I don't think Apple wants to get laptop people to become iPad people or else they would've made iPadOS more like MacOS, but they didn't. I think it's safe to say that they want to make iPad the very best tablet, period. Those who don't understand that still need to stop posting why the iPad isn't a MacBook. It's clearly not.
 
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PrettyWings

macrumors 6502a
Nov 3, 2016
505
616
Interesting, so you do have a laptop already and still choose the air.

The air is a pretty compelling device now with the M1. And to know you could get that power and PRO functionality in something for the same price or less than the iPad Pro, it really makes you question if the Pro is worth it.
 
H

Honza

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 22, 2011
93
24
SF Bay Area
PrettyWings said:
Interesting, so you do have a laptop already and still choose the air.

The air is a pretty compelling device now with the M1. And to know you could get that power and PRO functionality in something for the same price or less than the iPad Pro, it really makes you question if the Pro is worth it.
Click to expand...
My HP laptop (1 year old) lasts for 90 min on battery, sounds like a jet engine, and would probably burn me if I watched a movie.
 
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iPad Bro

iPad Bro

macrumors 6502
May 2, 2021
393
290
I used to be a laptop guy myself for a long time, but once I bought my first iPad Pro I was hooked. I tried buying Windows laptops after that and the image quality, sound quality, etc. were just complete garbage. You’d spend $1,000 on a Windows laptop and not get anything remotely worth that price tag. I’ve never had a MacBook, but I don’t need one either. The iPad Pro does everything I want it to do. I use it for browsing, near constant music listening, movie/tv consumption, graphic design, writing creatively, and soon I’ll be using it for xCloud game streaming too. I don’t have a use for a laptop anymore, especially not a Windows one. The only thing I did that I needed a laptop for in the last few years was graphic design and I’ve found apps on the iPad Pro that are superior to what I was working with on my Windows laptops. I don’t use the gimped Photoshop either. I don’t need that for my graphic design. I only just figured that out for myself this past February once I purchased an iPad Air 4 and now that I’ve upgraded to the M1 12.9” iPad Pro I am good to go for a LONG time. Good riddance, laptops.
 
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mobi-logic

macrumors member
May 6, 2014
49
33
Using MBP for my IT job for last 10 years. I ordered iPad M1 12.9 which will be shipped in 2-3 weeks and plan to use it for my personal studies, note taking, tutorial videos and casual surfing. So yeah both devices will be used for their abilities.
 
slplss

slplss

macrumors 6502a
Nov 2, 2011
946
1,010
EU
Isengardtom said:
For me best combo is iPad Pro + iMac

but the iPad Pro is my main device, not the iMac
Click to expand...
I'm thinking of getting Mac Mini to accompany my iPP. Anyone runs Win10 desktop along with Mac Mini? I have multimonitor setup, but it still sounds awkward in my head, unless I'd want to separate entertainment/productivity per OS.
 
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