iPad Pro Do I wanna do life with no iPad?

[Mainsail]

I have OCD/intrusive thoughts and it's probs just best to let it be. Your MBP doesn't have to get the most use just because you spent lots of money on it. If it's just for coding occasionally that's good enough and you don't have to upgrade as often and you would your iPad.

I think it helps to have a set purpose. My ipad for example has the casual browsing purpose while my Mac is for more powerful tasks.

I agree with this. A device does not have to be used proportionally more to justify its expense. You could only use the desktop 20% of the time, but the stuff it does adds 80% of the value to the final work product.

There are things I do with my Mac that would just be agony on an iPad. In particular, developing large and complex spreadsheets with data used from multiple documents. I rarely need to do this type of thing, but when I do, the Mac suddenly becomes extremely useful and valuable.

Most of what I do can easily be accomplished on an iPad, but I hate the feeling of complete frustration when I try to shoehorn the iPad into a fundamentally desktop task. On those occasions, I am really happy I have a Mac.

 

[subjonas]

I am so surprised to see so many people relate to this dilemma.

I too have always been someone that stresses out over the numbers of gadgets I own. I feel like it’s an extension of my OCD and not something people really actively think about.

I really wish I could just let go of the intrusive thoughts of wanting to have the “perfect” number of devices that served me most efficiently. It’s really not a money thing. I can afford basically any piece of tech I want but I still just feel like I don’t want to go crazy with it.

In the past, I have felt the iPad to be more of a time waster and less of a real productive tool and that’s why I’ve sold so many. I have kept my 10.5 despite almost selling it since it’s so much more useful than previous iPads. I will still probably sell it because my 15” MBP I just bought is getting very little use and I need to start coding more

I agree with others - put it away for an extended period of time and try living without it first before wasting time and money buying and reselling.

I think it’s quite sensible to want to reduce redundancy and waste as much as possible. That said, if adequately covering all your important tasks necessarily results in a lot of redundancy, then that’s just something one has to be ok with—because important tasks are important tasks. As needs and technology changes, perhaps there will be ways to consolidate in the future. Until then, one has to make do with what is available, and they should do it guilt-free.

I have many devices that have tons of overlap, but each brings something unique and important to me. Here is my setup (going from smallest to biggest):
- Apple Watch gives me alerts because I constantly missed calls/texts/etc on my phone.
- iPhone se is my small, one-handed, ‘always with me outside the house’, do-everything device.
- iPad mini is my larger phone-replacement at home which is much more ideal for short, light productivity and reading for hours.
- 12.9” iPad Pro is my digital sketchbook and ultraportable laptop-replacement that is easy to carry around in my bag—I use it for lighter work mainly, but also occasionally heavy work when I connect it to my MBP as a drawing screen on the go.
- 15” MacBook Pro is my heavy-duty portable work studio—it’s rarely updated as I only use it for a few heavy work applications.
- Mac mini is my 24/7 file and media hub—whether I am home or not, it always gathers my files and backs them up to Time Machine, and shares my media library with anyone at home.
- HomePods are because I enjoy good sounding music, and Siri is quite a bonus.
- PC desktop is solely my VR content creation machine and only gets powered up a couple times a week. (The software I use requires Windows and desktop performance.)
- TV and Apple TV are to enjoy movies and shows while reclining on my couch.

It’s a lot of devices, but I don’t see how I can get rid of or consolidate any without taking away something very important to me. So until circumstances change, I’m happy with my setup.

 

[nburwell]

If it were up to me, I would ditch the iMac, but that's just me. I haven't used/owned a desktop computer in years. My current setup (iPhone 11 Pro, 11" IPP, 12" MacBook) suits my needs. While I don't use my MacBook very often (mainly for photo editing), I use my iPhone and IPP each and every day.

I'm curious what the OP finds after not using her IPP for a week. I certainly could not go a week not using my iPad.

 

[nStyle]

I think it’s quite sensible to want to reduce redundancy and waste as much as possible. That said, if adequately covering all your important tasks necessarily results in a lot of redundancy, then that’s just something one has to be ok with—because important tasks are important tasks. As needs and technology changes, perhaps there will be ways to consolidate in the future. Until then, one has to make do with what is available, and they should do it guilt-free.

I go through a philosophical debate with myself in that I don’t want to own so much tech so that it ends up owning me. I guess the only way to be in control though is to not let that thought drive you crazy like it has me. There’s really no escaping tech in the first place...

I sold my gaming PC because I was worried I was spending too much time on it and I liked the idea of only having one real computer (my MBP) so that I would focus more on coding. Getting rid of it has not forced me to focus on coding like I thought it would and instead I only still obsess about wanting to play PC games again so don’t be me I guess lol.

The truth that I’ve learned is that it doesn’t matter what you own or don’t because there are infinite ways to waste time even if you just owned an iPhone. If you want to waste time, you will, and if you don’t, you’ll find ways to be productive.

Maybe I really do suffer from an internet/gaming addiction. I don’t know. Maybe that’s why I wanted to pare down to a few devices. It’s hard to do unless you’re truly ready to replace that time you were spending with something else though.

 

[The Game 161]

I think it’s quite sensible to want to reduce redundancy and waste as much as possible. That said, if adequately covering all your important tasks necessarily results in a lot of redundancy, then that’s just something one has to be ok with—because important tasks are important tasks. As needs and technology changes, perhaps there will be ways to consolidate in the future. Until then, one has to make do with what is available, and they should do it guilt-free.

I have many devices that have tons of overlap, but each brings something unique and important to me. Here is my setup (going from smallest to biggest):
- Apple Watch gives me alerts because I constantly missed calls/texts/etc on my phone.
- iPhone se is my small, one-handed, ‘always with me outside the house’, do-everything device.
- iPad mini is my larger phone-replacement at home which is much more ideal for short, light productivity and reading for hours.
- 12.9” iPad Pro is my digital sketchbook and ultraportable laptop-replacement that is easy to carry around in my bag—I use it for lighter work mainly, but also occasionally heavy work when I connect it to my MBP as a drawing screen on the go.
- 15” MacBook Pro is my heavy-duty portable work studio—it’s rarely updated as I only use it for a few heavy work applications.
- Mac mini is my 24/7 file and media hub—whether I am home or not, it always gathers my files and backs them up to Time Machine, and shares my media library with anyone at home.
- HomePods are because I enjoy good sounding music, and Siri is quite a bonus.
- PC desktop is solely my VR content creation machine and only gets powered up a couple times a week. (The software I use requires Windows and desktop performance.)
- TV and Apple TV are to enjoy movies and shows while reclining on my couch.

It’s a lot of devices, but I don’t see how I can get rid of or consolidate any without taking away something very important to me. So until circumstances change, I’m happy with my setup.

In a similar boat

Pro max
iPad mini 5- for on the go and work on my break
MacBook Air-mainly work
iPad Pro 11- for at home
Apple TV
HomePod

All have great use cases

 

[subjonas]

I go through a philosophical debate with myself in that I don’t want to own so much tech so that it ends up owning me. I guess the only way to be in control though is to not let that thought drive you crazy like it has me. There’s really no escaping tech in the first place...

I sold my gaming PC because I was worried I was spending too much time on it and I liked the idea of only having one real computer (my MBP) so that I would focus more on coding. Getting rid of it has not forced me to focus on coding like I thought it would and instead I only still obsess about wanting to play PC games again so don’t be me I guess lol.

The truth that I’ve learned is that it doesn’t matter what you own or don’t because there are infinite ways to waste time even if you just owned an iPhone. If you want to waste time, you will, and if you don’t, you’ll find ways to be productive.

Maybe I really do suffer from an internet/gaming addiction. I don’t know. Maybe that’s why I wanted to pare down to a few devices. It’s hard to do unless you’re truly ready to replace that time you were spending with something else though.

We all have our distractions/escapes/time-killers that sometimes get out of hand. It’s great that you’re aware of yours and take action. I think you’re right on with what you said about not just trying to remove those things, but filling that time with something else. We have voids that need to be filled one way or another, but preferably with the right thing. That part takes reflection and intentionality.

 

[Traverse]

Kind of odd, but my iPad is my most used Apple device, but would be the first in the lineup to go (unless we count accessory-like items like the  Watch).

My order of need is Mac > iPhone > iPad. While my Mac is in a distant third in terms of use, it's the one device I can count on to do any and anything I need whether I need to run I.E., manage files on a service, manage media, etc. Next I'd need my phone as a communication device. I could, of course, get by without it, but it made things much much harder.

While I enjoy my iPad, it doesn't have any function that can't be replicated on either one of my two other devices, even if they're not optimal for it. The iPad fits far better into many situations, but a MacBook + iPhone with the right accessories can replicate its functionality well enough.

Still wouldn't want to give it up though.

 

[millydog]

I am comfortable with owning a MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, iPhone XS Max, etc. The MacBook Pro is my most expensive item as it’s a decked out 2019 15”, but it replaced a 6 yo MacBook Pro and this one is here for the long haul too. So the fact that is is expensive is, in my mind, negated by the fact that I will keep it for years. It’s my least used device, but it has important use cases for me and I will have it for years to come.
My iPhone is pretty much always with me and gets the most use. I even use it while I work to listen to music or podcasts.
But when I’m on my work lunch break or at home relaxing, I reach for my iPad. It’s the device that I reach for first in such a situation since I love the screen size and portability. It’s not the device that I have the most ‘need’ for if I considered that I can do everything that it does on either my MacBook Pro or iPhone, but I’d say it’s my favourite.

I might be about to contradict myself somewhat though since I currently use 3 iPads and this is where I have a feeling that I should consolidate, but I can’t seem to make a decision on how to do that. I have the iPad Pro 12.9 3rd gen and love it for its big screen, the iPad Pro 10.5” and love it for the combination of its lightness, feel in my hands and portability, then I have the mini 5 and I like it for it’s ultra portability. However, I seem to have an OCD about wanting to consolidate to one iPad. I know that if I did, it wouldn’t be the mini 5 as I do like the larger screens more. I think in my head that the 10.5” provides the best combination of size and portability as I like to take an iPad everywhere, but then I feel that I’d miss the 12.9 screen size. I think up scenarios in my mind to consider if I’d prefer to keep the 12.9” and the mini 5 combination or to just have the 10.5 to consolidate, but I still can’t seem to decide. I take a different iPad to work with me each day and usually find that I pick up a different one once I’m home. I know I’m crazy. I think that the mini 5 will be like my MacBook Pro in that I will keep it for the long haul and not update it for some time, unless Apple brings out a mini Pro. So I guess that I’m really trying to consolidate the larger 2 iPads, but I can’t seem to pick.

 

[rui no onna]

I might be about to contradict myself somewhat though since I currently use 3 iPads and this is where I have a feeling that I should consolidate, but I can’t seem to make a decision on how to do that. I have the iPad Pro 12.9 3rd gen and love it for its big screen, the iPad Pro 10.5” and love it for the combination of its lightness, feel in my hands and portability, then I have the mini 5 and I like it for it’s ultra portability. However, I seem to have an OCD about wanting to consolidate to one iPad. I know that if I did, it wouldn’t be the mini 5 as I do like the larger screens more. I think in my head that the 10.5” provides the best combination of size and portability as I like to take an iPad everywhere, but then I feel that I’d miss the 12.9 screen size. I think up scenarios in my mind to consider if I’d prefer to keep the 12.9” and the mini 5 combination or to just have the 10.5 to consolidate, but I still can’t seem to decide. I take a different iPad to work with me each day and usually find that I pick up a different one once I’m home. I know I’m crazy. I think that the mini 5 will be like my MacBook Pro in that I will keep it for the long haul and not update it for some time, unless Apple brings out a mini Pro. So I guess that I’m really trying to consolidate the larger 2 iPads, but I can’t seem to pick.

I've got all 3 size classes as well (plus backups for the middle size). Of the three, the iPad mini 4 is the easiest to give up for me. The things I use iPads for are just nicer to do with larger screens. Portrait reading is easier on the mini but I tend to prefer the 100g lighter Kindle or Kobo for that. Videos, because of typical video AR, you pretty much get around the same size video on larger iPhones as on the letterboxed mini.

My usage for the 12.9 is pretty niche: 2-page comics in landscape particularly for spreads, note-taking and sharing PDFs during meetings and occasional 50/50 split view (w/tablet UI). However, won't get rid of it unless the 10.5"-11" iPads get bumped up to at least 326 ppi (so it's similar to 2 side by side retina iPad minis). It'll be a long, long, long time before I upgrade it though. That is, if I ever do.

 

[kristalsoldier]

So, basically, you have a phone, a tablet and a desktop (let’s include a capable laptop in that category).

I have a similar config though I operate with three OSs, namely, Android, Win 10, and iPadOS. For my use case, I have found that I need all three devices. For a brief moment I tried to use the Surface Pro to fill up the laptop and tablet roles, but I found that while it worked great as a laptop, my experience using it as a tablet was poor (mostly to do with the aspect ratio and quality of apps).

So, I reverted back to the three device set up, replacing the Surface Pro with a ThinkPad X1C6, and bringing my IPP 10.5 back, which I have had since 2017.

So, what is my use case? The phone is for watching videos, emails on the hop, Social media, banking, reading news on the hop; the iPad is for dedicated reading with notes (part of my job), and playing a game or two (rarely), surfing (sometimes), but mostly dedicated reading; the Thinkpad is for writing, mails, spreadsheets and other mainly work related stuff.

i don’t think I can do without any of these three devices and I consider them to be best-in-class for what I use them for. Moreover, while traveling (which for work and pleasure I do often), the weight of the iPad and Thinkpad is perfectly acceptable to me.

Perhaps a way to consider your issue is to consider your work flow and to see how things play out.

 

[millydog]

I've got all 3 size classes as well (plus backups for the middle size). Of the three, the iPad mini 4 is the easiest to give up for me. The things I use iPads for are just nicer to do with larger screens. Portrait reading is easier on the mini but I tend to prefer the 100g lighter Kindle or Kobo for that. Videos, because of typical video AR, you pretty much get around the same size video on larger iPhones as on the letterboxed mini.

My usage for the 12.9 is pretty niche: 2-page comics in landscape particularly for spreads, note-taking and sharing PDFs during meetings and occasional 50/50 split view (w/tablet UI). However, won't get rid of it unless the 10.5"-11" iPads get bumped up to at least 326 ppi (so it's similar to 2 side by side retina iPad minis). It'll be a long, long, long time before I upgrade it though. That is, if I ever do.

I think that our thoughts are similar. I also think that I’d give up the mini first and I also have a Kindle that I could use for reading. I have passed on my previous iPads to my husband and daughters and there are now a few that are sitting unused. I get them out sometimes when my daughters have friends over and they play multiplayer games together.
However, my use cases for my 10.5 and 12.9 are very similar. I have the same apps on both. I occasionally read comics or PDFs on the 12.9 though and the full sized keyboard is also great on it. I also like the side by side iPad apps on the 12.9, although I do rarely use side by side apps, I more often use a small video in the corner (picture in picture, I think it’s called?). If I found a brilliant scrapbooking app then my use case for the 12.9 would be cemented, but I’m yet to find one. So without that, the 10.5 offers greater portability. I don’t like the onscreen keyboard as much though, nor the condensed side by side apps if they are split 50/50. So, I agree, if the 11” had full iPad apps in side by side (50/50) mode, then I’d be happy. I’d also like the same onscreen keyboard as the 12.9 too. Perhaps I could pick the 10.5/11 over the 12.9 if it had those features, but until then, I’d feel like I’m missing out on something and probably couldn’t go without the 12.9.

 

[mikehalloran]

Although I can see the value of the Apple Watch in the mix—my children have them—I just can't muster up the feeling that it would benefit me at all.

 

[Mainsail]

When Jobs introduced the iPad almost 10 years ago, he described it as a third type of device that sits between a phone and a laptop. While tech has evolved considerably since then, Jobs’ description still holds pretty much true today.

Certainly, there are people that can get by without owning both an iPad and a Laptop. But, it is nice to have the right tools for different types of tasks. Just keep it simple:

iPad -> reading, editing, marking up, sketching, and note taking
iPhone -> calling, navigating, and photographing
Laptop/Desktop -> everything else

 

[Digitalguy]

When Jobs introduced the iPad almost 10 years ago, he described it as a third type of device that sits between a phone and a laptop. While tech has evolved considerably since then, Jobs’ description still holds pretty much true today.

Certainly, there are people that can get by without owning both an iPad and a Laptop. But, it is nice to have the right tools for different types of tasks. Just keep it simple:

iPad -> reading, editing, marking up, sketching, and note taking
iPhone -> calling, navigating, and photographing
Laptop/Desktop -> everything else

Even this classification is quite subjective. For me for instance a phone is just for notifications, calls and taking photos/videos. I never write on a phone. I hate it. That's why I always bring an ipad with a keyboard with me everywhere, even if I go to the grocery shop... And I never browse on my phone. I only do it on an ipad/laptop/desktop, as I want a larger screen and the desktop version of sites. And never watch videos on my phone as I don't want to hold my device while watching a video.... But I am certainly in the minority when it comes to phones (as well as when it comes to having a lot of devices and using them all...)

 

[nStyle]

^ I don’t understand how people watch movies/shows on a phone. I have a friend who does this EXCLUSIVELY (doesn’t even watch on a TV) and it just seems incredibly pointless. At least buy a $300 iPad, sheesh...

 

[Digitalguy]

^ I don’t understand how people watch movies/shows on a phone. I have a friend who does this and it just seems incredibly pointless. At least buy a $300 iPad, sheesh...

not only that, but it seems that most of youtube videos are watched on a phone, personally unless it's just for listening to music, my minimum is a 9.7 ipad....

 

[Mainsail]

I have watched the news on an iPhone XR, and the experience was fine. But, with the news, your are primarily listening to the reporting. I would not enjoy watching a game on my phone.

 

[subjonas]

I don’t understand it either. Unless the phone is the only device available of course, which would be the case if you’re doing a lot of consuming while out and about without a bag. Personally, (like others) the only major consuming I do on my phone is audio. I do my main screen consumption at home where I have bigger, more ideal screens. The bulk of my reading, casual browsing, photo viewing, and short video watching is done on my iPad mini (with pop socket for easy one-handed holding). And then for longer video (shows and movies), I only want to watch on my tv while I’m free to relax on the couch, unrestrained by holding or propping anything up. Also happens to have much better audio. Unless I’m watching it more as a secondary activity, while I’m eating in the dining room for example, then I’ll use my mini.
But more than a minute or two of screen consumption on a phone? Very rarely.

 

[muzzy996]

That's the entire reason so many devices exist, so that people can choose to work with what they want how they want. There's no need for me to understand why my son prefers to watch more content on his phone than on our TV, PC or his macbook. He just does . . sometimes he chooses the TV or PC, but a lot of times if he is watching something he's in bed with his phone. To each his own.

Then there are those who simply can't afford as many devices as some of us can, or those who just don't want to deal with multiple devices and choose the form factor that is convenient for them for the majority of their uses.

 

[subjonas]

That's the entire reason so many devices exist, so that people can choose to work with what they want how they want. There's no need for me to understand why my son prefers to watch more content on his phone than on our TV, PC or his macbook. He just does . . sometimes he chooses the TV or PC, but a lot of times if he is watching something he's in bed with his phone. To each his own.

Then there are those who simply can't afford as many devices as some of us can, or those who just don't want to deal with multiple devices and choose the form factor that is convenient for them for the majority of their uses.

All true. I don’t think most of us are saying otherwise. Just stating our preferences.

 

[akash.nu]

^ I don’t understand how people watch movies/shows on a phone. I have a friend who does this EXCLUSIVELY (doesn’t even watch on a TV) and it just seems incredibly pointless. At least buy a $300 iPad, sheesh...

not only that, but it seems that most of youtube videos are watched on a phone, personally unless it's just for listening to music, my minimum is a 9.7 ipad....

Yes I’ve been baffled about this for years.

 

[Makayla]

Darn I have 6 tablets. I shall go sit in the corner.

 

[TheRealAlex]

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?

My iPad Pro 11” is a must have it’s my MOST use PC, I can go a week without turning on my high end PC why should I sit at a desk browsing and shopping when laying down is so much better for my back and comfy. Lastly my iPad Pro has literally Saved me Money by allowing me to catch flash deals, buy quickly. And more.

 

[Digitalguy]

Darn I have 6 tablets. I shall go sit in the corner.

Well, there is worse, I have 7 ipads (4 pros, 3 minis), 2 (old) android tablets, 4 windows tablets/detachables (well technically 6, but 2 are so old and half broken that are not used anymore...) and a windows convertible...

 

[ericwn]

Well, there is worse, I have 7 ipads (4 pros, 3 minis), 2 (old) android tablets, 4 windows tablets/detachables (well technically 6, but 2 are so old and half broken that are not used anymore...) and a windows convertible...

That is worse for sure