iPad Pro Do I wanna do life with no iPad?

[ssledoux]

I’m trying to pare down. In reality, I should probably ditch my iMac I bought last year because I probably don’t turn it on once/week, but there are a few things I do on there that I just cannot do on my iPad.

I use my iPP daily, mostly sitting at my dining room table with a keyboard, but what I do on my iPad I can easilly split between my phone and my iMac.

So - do I wanna keep my iPhone 11, iPP and iMac, OR do I wanna move to a iPhone pro max and iMac, and drop the iPad? The move to a pro max would just give me that slightly larger screen to enjoy when I’m using the phone in bed (which I ALWAYS do because the iPP is too big for me to comfortably use in bed (and I have the 11” pro).

I just don’t want to feel like I’m not getting my money’s worth with devices. I absolutely use my phone more than anything, without a doubt, but I feel like having the iPad and iMac, for me, is overkill.

What would you do?

 

[jbachandouris]

Ditch the iPad. I have a IPP 10.5" and I use it slightly more than you use your iMac. If my son is hogging the main TV, I watch my shows. But, you use it everyday....the choice is yours...

 

[sparksd]

I'd do a trial - put the iPP away for a while and don't use it, don't even pick it up. Getting rid of it and then finding you really wished you'd kept it would not be good, maybe expensive. You could still get the Pro Max and see how it without the iPP works out - if it does, then sell the iPP. I have an XS Max but far prefer using the 12.9 iPP over it, even in bed. Personal preferences rule the day for each of us.

 

[VineRider]

If I had your configuration and I had to give up one of the devices, I'd give up the iPad Pro. I have an iPhone 11 Pro, and iPad Pro 11, iPad mini 5, and a MacBook Pro. There are just some things I need the laptop for that my iPhone and iPad's cannot do. So, if I were you in your situation, I'd give up the iPad.

 

[Mainsail]

Actually, it seems like you have a pretty good setup. iMac for heavy lifting in the office/den. iPad for light mobile productivity. iPhone for everywhere pocket computing.

If you feel like it is overkill, you might consider downgrading with time. For example, when it gets to the end of useful life, replace the iPad Pro with a basic iPad. When the desktop gets too old, replace with inexpensive Mac Mini. You can have a basic iPad ($250 on sale) plus entry Mac Mini ($700 on sale) for less than a grand. Basically, the same price as the latest iPhone.

 

[macintoshmac]

I’m trying to pare down. In reality, I should probably ditch my iMac I bought last year because I probably don’t turn it on once/week, but there are a few things I do on there that I just cannot do on my iPad.

I use my iPP daily, mostly sitting at my dining room table with a keyboard, but what I do on my iPad I can easilly split between my phone and my iMac.

So - do I wanna keep my iPhone 11, iPP and iMac, OR do I wanna move to a iPhone pro max and iMac, and drop the iPad? The move to a pro max would just give me that slightly larger screen to enjoy when I’m using the phone in bed (which I ALWAYS do because the iPP is too big for me to comfortably use in bed (and I have the 11” pro).

I just don’t want to feel like I’m not getting my money’s worth with devices. I absolutely use my phone more than anything, without a doubt, but I feel like having the iPad and iMac, for me, is overkill.

What would you do?

I have been in this situation where I had an iPhone, an iPad and a Mac laptop.

For me, I realised that the iPad was an excellent device for content consumption especially watching videos, and then for the games I play. Other than that, it served me no purpose since everything I did, and continue to do, could be and is achieved in the best possible way between just two devices - the iPhone and the Mac laptop.

I sold off the Air 2 in 2017 and I am yet to miss it. As you mention yourself, your work can easily split between the iPhone and the Mac. The iPad, while being convenient, is not exactly a device you want - since there is simply too much redundancy creeping in - as it did for me. I had the exact same dilemma - the iPad could do 99% of what I use macOS for but it was no macOS for obvious reasons. In the end, I decided that my laptop and phone would remain, the iPad can be done without, quite comfortably.

One less device in life can have a substantial conscious/ subconscious effect on a lot of things in life. You do not need to maintain it - no need to charge the battery once a week even if you do not use it. No need to keep one more device updated. No sort of guilt feeling of having bought something and not using it. And sometimes, no need to pay for apps specific to that device that you are not even using that much. The benefits far outweigh the hassles in your case, as they did in mine.

As @sparksd suggested, before you cement your break-up with the iPad, you might want to do a mock run without it for some days.

 

[subjonas]

I know you recently got your iMac, but just throwing this out there—what about an iPhone Max and a MacBook Pro instead? Those two devices seem like they would cover all your needs very efficiently. And that way you have the capabilities of a Mac anywhere in your house or on the go. And you can connect it to a larger external monitor when needed.

If you don’t want a large phone, you could also get an iPad mini for use in bed. I think you said in another thread you tried out the mini and returned it, but before trying it with a pop socket. I almost can’t use my mini without a pop socket—it makes a big difference.

If getting rid of the iMac is not an option, I’d say try what someone above suggested and put away the iPP for awhile and see how that works out. If you find yourself over-frustrated with just the iMac and iPhone, you may just have to go with the lesser evil and have more redundancy in your devices than you want.

 

[ActionableMango]

If most of your computing is on the dining table with iPad, but there is critical computing to do on the iMac, it seems to me like the compromise would be to replace both of those with a MacBook. That can do whatever you're doing on the iMac, plus you can use it in place of your iPad+keyboard at the dining table.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Every time I've thought I could live without an iPad I kept going back to it - but mostly because I find reading on them to be the best way to do my reading (I read a lot). I've never been able to go without an iPad for that reason. The portability, amount of text on the screen vs my 11 Pro Max, and the battery life make it a must for me. It is my most used device outside of work.

I often have a bluetooth keyboard hooked up to my iPad (on a stand) and use it as I would a laptop. (Day One, talking with family, posting here on Macrumors, taking notes, I use the pencil a lot with OneNote (work) and Notability (personal)).

That said, I too want to badly reduce the number of devices that I have. Every time I've attempted to do this, I end up going back and getting X device again (X = desktop or iPad). There are use cases for both and not having one or the other can result in even worse problems than having all the devices and feeling like you need to slim down.

 

[macintoshmac]

I know you recently got your iMac, but just throwing this out there—what about an iPhone Max and a MacBook Pro instead? Those two devices seem like they would cover all your needs very efficiently. And that way you have the capabilities of a Mac anywhere in your house or on the go. And you can connect it to a larger external monitor when needed.

If you don’t want a large phone, you could also get an iPad mini for use in bed. I think you said in another thread you tried out the mini and returned it, but before trying it with a pop socket. I almost can’t use my mini without a pop socket—it makes a big difference.

If getting rid of the iMac is not an option, I’d say try what someone above suggested and put away the iPP for awhile and see how that works out. If you find yourself over-frustrated with just the iMac and iPhone, you may just have to go with the lesser evil and have more redundancy in your devices than you want.

If most of your computing is on the dining table with iPad, but there is critical computing to do on the iMac, it seems to me like the compromise would be to replace both of those with a MacBook. That can do whatever you're doing on the iMac, plus you can use it in place of your iPad+keyboard at the dining table.

It occurs to me that I might have found it easier to ditch the iPad since I already had on-the-move macOS in way of a Mac laptop, that could be taken and placed almost anywhere I could.

 

[retta283]

Is your iMac the 21.5 or 27 inch? If it's the 21.5, you could sell all three of your devices and buy a Pro Max and 27" iMac. This would still cost you a bit, but the sale of the older devices would make up for a large chunk of it.

27" will give you good screen real estate for working at home, and Pro Max will be a compromise between the smaller 11 and an iPad.

 

[*~Kim~*]

Sell the iPP and get one of the cheaper iPads, possibly. Would depend on how much cash that would free up.

Definitely put the iPP away first to see if you are likely to miss it. As someone else said, potentially expensive. Selling it then buying a refurb 3rd Gen when the 4th Gen comes out wouldn’t save anything, I’m guessing.

 

[macintoshmac]

Every time I've thought I could live without an iPad I kept going back to it - but mostly because I find reading on them to be the best way to do my reading (I read a lot). I've never been able to go without an iPad for that reason. The portability, amount of text on the screen vs my 11 Pro Max, and the battery life make it a must for me. It is my most used device outside of work.

I often have a bluetooth keyboard hooked up to my iPad (on a stand) and use it as I would a laptop. (Day One, talking with family, posting here on Macrumors, taking notes, I use the pencil a lot with OneNote (work) and Notability (personal).

That said, I too want to badly reduce the number of devices that I have. Every time I've attempted to do this, I end up going back and getting X device again (X = desktop or iPad). There are use cases for both and not having one or the other can result in even worse problems than having all the devices and feeling like you need to slim down.

Oh yes, the 9.7 inch size was great for reading and the battery life truly delightful. I am sure the 10.5 inch and then the 11 inch models have only bettered that experience.

 

[muzzy996]

Not sure I understand the regret. If you're ok financially and the devices are paid for why not just continue to enjoy them? They surely each serve a purpose. Change for the sake of change just seems like a waste to me.

 

[ssledoux]

Thanks for all the replies and input! The thing is, I really dislike laptops, so I haven’t given that any consideration. Were it not for a few things, I could use ONLY an iPad (and did for quite a while). However, I have the option to do some of my work from home for my p/t job, which requires the iMac. It also gives me photo storage and organizing options (as well as the ability to make photo books) that I just don’t have with the iPad.

What I do at the kitchen table on the iPad (reading forums, checking email, etc.) I could do at my desk on the iMac for sure. The only thing I can’t do on my iMac is play my one game I play daily. I can play it on my phone, and often do, although the bigger screen is definitely nicer for that. It’s a game I’ve played for around 5-6 years, so it’s not likely I’ll give it up anytime soon. And does one need a $1K device to play a game? Probably not.

I think the plan of putting the iPad away for a week and seeing how it goes makes a lot of sense. I’m gonna try that.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Definitely let us know how it goes in a week!

 

[ssledoux]

Not sure I understand the regret. If you're ok financially and the devices are paid for why not just continue to enjoy them? They surely each serve a purpose. Change for the sake of change just seems like a waste to me.

I’m just trying to minimize things that are unnecessary. I feel like the overkill of the devices makes little sense. Yeah they each have a place, but only because I have them all, and tend to use them for different things, even though the phone and pad are pretty redundant. Yeah I can type documents on the pad, but I can do that on the iMac. Yeah I can play games on the pad, but I can do that on the phone. I never watch movies or stream on my devices because our internet isn’t that good, so that’s a non-issue.

And I do pay for data on the iPad, so that’s a monthly expense that could go away (albeit a fairly small one).

 

[MisterSavage]

Unthinkable for me to give up my iPad. I do use my iMac a lot less than my iPad or iPhone but as your said there are things you can do on it that you can't do on the others.

 

[sracer]

I’m trying to pare down. In reality, I should probably ditch my iMac I bought last year because I probably don’t turn it on once/week, but there are a few things I do on there that I just cannot do on my iPad.

I use my iPP daily, mostly sitting at my dining room table with a keyboard, but what I do on my iPad I can easilly split between my phone and my iMac.

So - do I wanna keep my iPhone 11, iPP and iMac, OR do I wanna move to a iPhone pro max and iMac, and drop the iPad? The move to a pro max would just give me that slightly larger screen to enjoy when I’m using the phone in bed (which I ALWAYS do because the iPP is too big for me to comfortably use in bed (and I have the 11” pro).

I just don’t want to feel like I’m not getting my money’s worth with devices. I absolutely use my phone more than anything, without a doubt, but I feel like having the iPad and iMac, for me, is overkill.

What would you do?

I sense that you simply are looking for justification to buy yet another Apple device. 😂 🤪 (I say that in jest but there may be a thread of truth there)

I won't offer to say what I WOULD do but what I ACTUALLY did.

When I took a cold hard look at the state iPadOS and iPad Pros, I concluded that even with all of the changes over the years, the iPad (Pro or non) continues to remain little more than a large iPhone. I don't mean that in a pejorative sense, but a technical one.

Pushing the envelope with what I could do with an iPad Pro resulted in some benefits over using a Macbook Air and there were still many limitations for most of my workflows. Most things were less streamlined on the iPP than how I could accomplish them on the MBA. And to pre-empt any "you need to think different" responses, I've been a strong proponent of thinking different. No amount of thinking different can overcome many of the physical and technical limitations imposed on iOS/iPad.

I traded in my iPad Pro for a 2018 iPad. I narrowed my use of the iPad to general consumption, digital notebook/planner/journal, and as an auxiliary device to access my Google Docs and iCloud iWork files. I think it is a terrific value for that... and actually, if I were to go back to using the iPad to the same extent as I was using the iPad Pro, I'd still be able to do everything.

When I needed to upgrade my iPhone SE, I didn't stick with an iPhone. The newer iPhone models had too many deficiencies for me (especially factoring in the prices) so I moved on to a Galaxy A20. Although it isn't my ideal smartphone, it does surprising well. I received a very nice folding portable bluetooth keyboard for Christmas and have been using it with the A20 with great success. I added a bluetooth mouse to the mix, and because the A20 can screencast to my Chromecast devices in my office at the college and my living room, I get a poor-man's DEX experience.

But no matter how large my phone is, it is still not large enough to use instead of my iPad for some uses.

So in the end, I have a smartphone, iPad, and iMac. But the cost of my entire smartphone and iPad setup combined is far less than the cost of the entry level iPad Pro.

 

[MacRazySwe]

I think you will miss having a larger screen, yet portable device if you choose to get rid of your iPad. The step between a phone (Max or not) and an iPad is huge. Firing up the iMac and being locked down to a desk isn't always the solution. Personally I would avoid the iMac and iPhone (Max) based on this alone.

Sounds like a lightweight notebook like the MacBook Pro 13" together with a larger screen iPhone Max could be a nice minimal setup for you. You could even have a larger external display for your laptop where your iMac is sitting today. That's probably what I would go for.

Still, there are times when an iPad is priceless - e.g. while traveling. Netflix allows you to download movies for Offline-viewing. The iPad props right up on the Airline food tray or in your car and also stows away easily. You don't necessarily need to bring it out of your bag in security controls and losing the iPad would be much less of a problem than losing a laptop.

The iPad is also great for recipes while cooking, or while enjoying a cup of coffee and not having to worry about spilling it all over an expensive laptop.

I've had all sorts of setups during the last couple of years, such as:

- iMac, MacBook Pro, iPad and iPhone
- iMac, MacBook Pro and iPhone
- iMac, iPad and iPhone
- MacBook Air, iPad and iPhone

The combination that I have now is easily the best for me. I could probably get by with just my laptop and phone, but I've tried getting rid of my iPads in the past and usually bought a new one within a few weeks.

 

[ssledoux]

I sense that you simply are looking for justification to buy yet another Apple device. 😂 🤪 (I say that in jest but there may be a thread of truth there)

LOL you could be right. ;-p

Honestly, I was considering buying a bigger phone a month ago anyway, and decided against it, so IDK if that’s it. In fact, I would likely just keep my 11 for now and see how it goes with just that and the iMac.

There are definitely some practical uses for the iPad that aren’t so practical for the phone or iMac (I actually have used it for recipes in the kitchen multiple times in the last couple weeks, and I do use the digital planning, albeit not as much as I had hoped I would - still can’t fully ditch the paper). I guess I just feel like having so many devices is overkill, and I’m really wanting to minimize everything right now. I do tend to go through this after the first of the year every year - purging for the coming year I suppose. I guess I need to weigh it out.

If I was basing it on actual use, it would be a no brainer - the iMac would go. But I just can’t give it up - not right now anyway. I’d love to go back to life with no computer at all, but there are those COUPLE of things I just cannot do on any other device.

And in response to someone’s comment about the iMac size - I have the smaller 21.5, but that’s plenty big enough for someone who was using a 12.9 iPP with no computer at all for a couple years. I have no desire to have anything larger than that for my basic needs.

 

[TalkShowHost!]

I can relate because I constantly go back and forth about what I have and how I can consolidate the technology in my life. I think it's a mental thing for me where I like having the newest tech but then I feel like I don't get my money's worth, so I end up selling the thing only to re-buy it shortly thereafter.

So I started last year with this for tech (italics for what I don't have anymore):
2018 iPad Pro
2017 Macbook Pro
iPhone XR
Apple Watch 4
Apple TV
PS4 Pro
Nintendo Switch
2DS XL

This is what I have now (bolded are new things):
2019 iPad Air
2017 Macbook Pro
2019 Macbook Air
iPhone XR
Apple Watch 5
Apple TV
Razer Blade Advanced gaming laptop
PS4 slim
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch Lite
3DS XL

So in trying to simplify my tech life I ended up with more. I sold my iPad Pro twice. I wasn't using my Macbook at all when I had both it and the iPad so I thought I could consolidate there. Turns out I really like using the iPad so I re-bought it. Then I felt bad again because I was still using a nearly $1000 device just for watching movies at work and as a substitute for my phone when I was at home, so I sold it again. Same for the Apple Watch. I sold it during the summer because I was sick of wearing it all the time but when the Series 5 was announced I felt like I missed it so I bought it again.

Anyways, I guess I'm trying to say if you like using the thing and you don't need to sell it for money reasons, you should consider just keeping it. I settled on the iPad Air this winter because I found a good open box deal at a Microcenter for $330, and in my head I could justify using a $330 iPad Air for movies and other random things around the house better than an iPad Pro. But with the money I wasted on reselling things a gazillion times I would've been better off just keeping the thing I had initially bought.

 

[Coolpher]

Just to throw my two cents in. In the past four years I got rid of my MacBook Pro 15” for a 12.9 inch iPad Pro first GEN and the second GEN now third GEN 11 inch w/ cellular. I’ve always had some sort of PC not Mac book pro or iMac, but I’ve had the iPhone X For two years then upgraded to iPhone 11. My VR/gaming pc has done the few things I haven’t been able to do on the IPP. If I had to say what device I am use more than the other for actual productivity it would be the IPP 11 for sure. I hate being locked down to one room. But as I always like to say “to each their own.” Everybody’s going to have different use cases and everybody’s going to have different set ups. As MacRazySwe Stated above “I could probably get by with just my laptop and phone, but I've tried getting rid of my iPads in the past and usually bought a new one within a few weeks” But for me myself I don’t think I can make it a couple of days without my iPad I rely on it to heavily I take it everywhere in my bag or under my Armpit but that’s just me.

 

[ericwn]

I'd do a trial - put the iPP away for a while and don't use it, don't even pick it up. Getting rid of it and then finding you really wished you'd kept it would not be good, maybe expensive. You could still get the Pro Max and see how it without the iPP works out - if it does, then sell the iPP. I have an XS Max but far prefer using the 12.9 iPP over it, even in bed. Personal preferences rule the day for each of us.

I think this is excellent advice.

 

[Coolpher]

I can relate because I constantly go back and forth about what I have and how I can consolidate the technology in my life. I think it's a mental thing for me where I like having the newest tech but then I feel like I don't get my money's worth, so I end up selling the thing only to re-buy it shortly thereafter.

So I started last year with this for tech (italics for what I don't have anymore):
2018 iPad Pro
2017 Macbook Pro
iPhone XR
Apple Watch 4
Apple TV
PS4 Pro
Nintendo Switch
2DS XL

This is what I have now (bolded are new things):
2019 iPad Air
2017 Macbook Pro
2019 Macbook Air
iPhone XR
Apple Watch 5
Apple TV
Razer Blade Advanced gaming laptop
PS4 slim
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch Lite
3DS XL

So in trying to simplify my tech life I ended up with more. I sold my iPad Pro twice. I wasn't using my Macbook at all when I had both it and the iPad so I thought I could consolidate there. Turns out I really like using the iPad so I re-bought it. Then I felt bad again because I was still using a nearly $1000 device just for watching movies at work and as a substitute for my phone when I was at home, so I sold it again. Same for the Apple Watch. I sold it during the summer because I was sick of wearing it all the time but when the Series 5 was announced I felt like I missed it so I bought it again.

Anyways, I guess I'm trying to say if you like using the thing and you don't need to sell it for money reasons, you should consider just keeping it. I settled on the iPad Air this winter because I found a good open box deal at a Microcenter for $330, and in my head I could justify using a $330 iPad Air for movies and other random things around the house better than an iPad Pro. But with the money I wasted on reselling things a gazillion times I would've been better off just keeping the thing I had initially bought.

That is so funny. I’m just like you, are used to consolidate down and then they gave in. it doesn’t make sense to continue to sell things to buy it later it just makes sense to for me at least buy them through device payment plans and upgrade through my Cellular carrier, when a new product comes out and if the new product comes out after I paid it off then I will sell it. I’m an early adopter myself It seems I can’t go without the latest technology and a product I don’t know if that will ever change for me