iPad Pro Do you think IPadOS will eventually make the IPad Pros computer experience better?

[Jonathantuba]

The experience on the iPad Pro gets better with every software update with more facilities and new ways of using the device. I can’t see why that should not continue year after year until iPadOS can do all that MacOS can and more; and in a more modern and innovative way. May take several years, but that is the direction of travel.
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Two key things missing:

Floating window support - really difficult to do well for a traditional touch based iPad experience, but in the future maybe it could be something that is 'unlocked' when you connect a mouse or trackpad?

I do hope Apple don’t bring floating windows to the iPad - that is one of the things I hate about the Mac - it is so messy!

 

[Mr.Blacky]

No, not really. It's just that for a lot tasks a keyboard and a mouse or trackpad are more efficient or work better for some (or many) users.

What are those "lot of tasks"? Coding, writing really long texts and maybe spreadsheets? For me, most of the tasks feel more direct and quicker, when using the touchscreen. ONLY software (OS and apps) is holding back the full potential you could get with a touch-only (or 99,9% touch-only) device.

 

[ct2k7]

What are those "lot of tasks"? Coding, writing really long texts and maybe spreadsheets? For me, most of the tasks feel more direct and quicker, when using the touchscreen. ONLY software (OS and apps) is holding back the full potential you could get with a touch-only (or 99,9% touch-only) device.

I think that’s the crux of the problem... the software is the limiting factor not the hardware.

 

[sparksd]

What are those "lot of tasks"? Coding, writing really long texts and maybe spreadsheets? For me, most of the tasks feel more direct and quicker, when using the touchscreen. ONLY software (OS and apps) is holding back the full potential you could get with a touch-only (or 99,9% touch-only) device.

Writing long texts, working with spreadsheets, coding - yes. Great that it works for you but it's a matter of personal preference. And choice - don't use these accessories if you don't need or want to. And don't get worked up about those that do.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Writing long texts, working with spreadsheets, coding - yes. Great that it works for you but it's a matter of personal preference. And choice - don't use these accessories if you don't need or want to. And don't get worked up about those that do.

What if the iPad becomes like the Microsoft Surface?

 

[russell_314]

I think eventually the iPad pro will replace the Mac laptop line for non pro users. Most people who use a laptop could use an iPad today and be fine. As to "if apple will eventually start trying to make the experience even better than it is now"... I'm not sure what you mean by eventually start trying because Apple has been and is still making it better. It is better today than it was a year ago. I don't see a reason why they would stop making it better.

 

[sparksd]

What if the iPad becomes like the Microsoft Surface?

Why would it?

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Why would it?

Why would it not? I mean, if most people want to use it as a laptop most of the time because "they can't use a touch interface and a mouse/trackpad is much better anyway, then why shouldn't Apple say at some point:" You know what? **** it! Why should we try to create a interface for a great touch centred experience, if so many people don't really want to use it.

 

[sparksd]

Why would it not? I mean, if most people want to use it as a laptop most of the time because "they can't use a touch interface and a mouse/trackpad is much better anyway, then why shouldn't Apple say at some point:" You know what? **** it! Why should we try to create a interface for a great touch centred experience, if so many people don't really want to use it.

Whatever, so be it. The market will drive the product.

 

[secretk]

Writing long texts, working with spreadsheets, coding - yes. Great that it works for you but it's a matter of personal preference. And choice - don't use these accessories if you don't need or want to. And don't get worked up about those that do.

And to add that the moment you add another monitor to your setup (currently it is duplicating screen, let's hope that we will be able to also extend displays) you would not want to use the touch screen of the iPad to interact with the UI on the monitor that does not have touch screen. So even just for this you need the mouse/trackpad.

Also I do not like interacting with UI (via touch) for longer videos in iMovie. It is just not precise enough. Not sure how it works in LumaFusion (as I don't have it) but good luck working with 15 minutes video and go through the timeline with fingers in iMovie.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Whatever, so be it. The market will drive the product.

So, everyone like me, who enjoys using the iPad as a tablet first and foremost, would be forced to a lesser experience, just because of a bunch of egos, who think everything should cater to them.
But whatever, coming WWDC we will probably see, where the journey is going.
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And to add that the moment you add another monitor to your setup (currently it is duplicating screen, let's hope that we will be able to also extend displays) you would not want to use the touch screen of the iPad to interact with the UI on the monitor that does not have touch screen. So even just for this you need the mouse/trackpad.

Also I do not like interacting with UI (via touch) for longer videos in iMovie. It is just not precise enough. Not sure how it works in LumaFusion (as I don't have it) but good luck working with 15 minutes video and go through the timeline with fingers in iMovie.

First of all, iMovie on iPad OS sucks a big one. Secondly, what has this to do with touch interface? There would be multiple ways to make this task much easier and faster.

 

[secretk]

So, everyone like me, who enjoys using the iPad as a tablet first and foremost, would be forced to a lesser experience, just because of a bunch of egos, who think everything should cater to them.
But whatever, coming WWDC we will probably see, where the journey is going.

I think that if most iPad users are like you and enjoy the tablet experience Apple won't kill it. For me market drives means that Apple would do whatever caters to the bigger percentage of usage you know. Apple as a company would be stupid to kill the pure tablet experience that most enjoy to cater to a smaller group of users. At least this is how I would operate if I was in their place.

Or to say it another words. Apple won't invest that much in making the iPad as a laptop like experience if it did not fit in their marketing plans. They won't do it just for few users. It does not add up and it does not make sense. Apple is the only tablet brand out there. Do not get me wrong. I do know that Android tablets exist and there is Surface but they are not tablets. iPads are THE tablets. Apple won't kill that cow that brings money. Definitely not just to cater to few people. If Apple kills it is because they believe that the other option will bring them more money.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

I think that if most iPad users are like you and enjoy the tablet experience Apple won't kill it. For me market drives means that Apple would do whatever caters to the bigger percentage of usage you know. Apple as a company would be stupid to kill the pure tablet experience that most enjoy to cater to a smaller group of users. At least this is how I would operate if I was in their place.

Or to say it another words. Apple won't invest that much in making the iPad as a laptop like experience if it did not fit in their marketing plans. They won't do it just for few users. It does not add up and it does not make sense. Apple is the only tablet brand out there. Do not get me wrong. I do know that Android tablets exist and there is Surface but they are not tablets. iPads are THE tablets. Apple won't kill that cow that brings money. Definitely not just to cater to few people. If Apple kills it is because they believe that the other option will bring them more money.

Yeah, people generally just don't like change. You show them new and different and even better ways to do things, but all they say is:" Meh, I don't want this." I know this, because that is exactly what is happening with many of my family members.

 

[secretk]

Yeah, people generally just don't like change. You show them new and different and even better ways to do things, but all they say is:" Meh, I don't want this." I know this, because that is exactly what is happening with many of my family members.

In general I agree with you. In this specific case I see things differently as I am rather an exception. I have never seen the need to have tablet. I don't need a tablet. I bought the iPad because of the pencil experience. My iPad usage is rather restricted as I don't play games, I don't watch videos on iPad (prefer to use the laptop for that), I cannot use software keyboard for typing (too slow and I am fast typer) so chatting and browsing/posting in forums is also out of the question for me. I try to not read too many books as I have eye issues and have to restrict activities that put additional strain on my eyes.

IMO the basic iPad is great as pure tablet experience and it is great for the money. However for the price of the pro I kind of expect more. Like considering my restricted table usage it is kind of difficult to justify the price you know. Especially when I paid the same price for my laptop that I will continue to use anyway because it allows me some neat stuff that I like and need:

1. Do programming
2. Using additional monitors for movies while doing something else on the laptop screen - or having the screen of the video call on one monitor and check work stuff for reference on the other screen; as a whole share my screen during work calls
3. Batch processing of RAW files
4. Background processing in general
5. Youtube continuous usage no matter if I am on the tab or not
6. Being able to work with a lot of open tabs in the same time and switching between them
7. Work with big log files
8. Work with big/complex spreadsheets

 

[rui no onna]

Yeah, people generally just don't like change. You show them new and different and even better ways to do things, but all they say is:" Meh, I don't want this." I know this, because that is exactly what is happening with many of my family members.

Lol, mom's reaction when I told her I'm upgrading her iPhone:

"It has a button right? It's not like your dad's phone (iPhone 11)? I tried using that one and I hated it."

 

[unchecked]

I agree! If there is something Apple has been really good at is reading the future market and pushing users to a different path than what others expect. Whether you take the example of removing the floppy disk from 1998's iMac to removal of the headphone jack.

So, if Apple is pushing to make iPads the new computer, it will do so with full conviction. And looking into the past market trends, all other manufactures will follow suit sooner or later.

Except when it comes to hardware. That's where the differences begin. The iPad will never get more than the one solitary input port. The iPad Pro has USB-C but already lost the 3.5mm jack. The non-Pro iPads still have it and are still stuck with Lightning. For how long more we don't know, but they're still there.

The first step has to be weaning the non-Pro iPads off Lightning. And as long as those iPads still retain Lightning, Apple's making it clear iPadOS stays on the tablet side.

The Mac is the machine that gets the multiple USB/3.5mm/whatnot ports. You get to plug in and use multiple monitors and other peripherals like drives at full bandwidth.

On one hand I'd like to see the iPad become something like a Switch. You can use it as it's own or slot it into a dock and you get two monitors working like an extended desktop. But as I'm looking at my Macbook Pro with power, an external monitor connected, headphones, and two SSD drives plugged in while working on multiple FCP projects at the same time, I don't see the iPad replacing that in the near future. Do I see a Mac running iPadOS? Nope. They tried to with LaunchPad but the windowed Finder experience is our default Mac setting to see all our information, drives, last modified, and all.

 

[secretk]

Lol, mom's reaction when I told her I'm upgrading her iPhone:

"It has a button right? It's not like your dad's phone (iPhone 11)? I tried using that one and I hated it."

You know with COVID now I started asking myself about this. Both of my phones have fingerprint sensor. This is all great when you do not wear gloves. However now with this situation I do wear both mask and gloves. I usually keep shopping list on my phone and I realized during shopping that I will have to enter the passcode every time I want to check it out. At first I was like Face ID would have helped and then I was "um actually not because of the mask".

I have now 11 inch 2018 iPP and FaceID just does not work for me. I have to enter the passcode far more often compared to what I had to do with my regular 2018 iPad. Part of the reason I think is that the device is rather big enough for my hands and I cannot hold it in the position I need to make FaceID works. The other reason is that I cannot even hold the device properly when registering my face. It is too heavy for my hands.

And ultimately this is why I prefer devices to have both fingerprint sensor and facial recognition.

 

[sparksd]

So, everyone like me, who enjoys using the iPad as a tablet first and foremost, would be forced to a lesser experience, just because of a bunch of egos, who think everything should cater to them.
But whatever, coming WWDC we will probably see, where the journey is going.
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First of all, iMovie on iPad OS sucks a big one. Secondly, what has this to do with touch interface? There would be multiple ways to make this task much easier and faster.

Egos? Cater? I have no clue as to what that means in this context. My point is that Apple will respond to market forces and that is not catering to a bunch of egos. And you can certainly retain the tablet experience with this recent spate of changes as they are all options - you are not forced for any reason to use a keyboard or pointing device. I don't believe in any way that Apple intends to discard the true tablet experience.

 

[sracer]

Egos? Cater? I have no clue as to what that means in this context. My point is that Apple will respond to market forces and that is not catering to a bunch of egos. And you can certainly retain the tablet experience with this recent spate of changes as they are all options - you are not forced for any reason to use a keyboard or pointing device. I don't believe in any way that Apple intends to discard the true tablet experience.

Exactly. But the "how I use my device is how everyone else should" mindset continues to live on. We see it with every advance made on the iPad. Somebody would like the OPTION to use a keyboard, the response, "get a laptop!". Want the OPTION of using a mouse, the response, "get a laptop!". And so on.

Apple has made advancements to iOS/iPadOS in such a way as to not compromise the tablet experience. So any resistance to the idea of enhancing the functionality is based on emotions, not on any interference to the user experience by making those options available.

And because Apple has doggedly protected the iOS ethos, there will never be a time when iPads properly replace Macbooks. That would require Apple to put a door in the walled garden of their ecosystem and open up the filesystem to dispense with sandboxing and make it universally accessible by apps.

 

[Jonathantuba]

I think the genius of Apple so far is that they’ve been able to make the iPad nearer a laptop experience while not detracting at all from the original tablet experience. It can still be used on the sofa as Steve Jobs originally demonstrated. As long as they keep on that track, the majority of users will be happy. No way do I want floating windows like on a Mac, or an open system. The security of only approved software uploading is what makes the iPad so much more secure than a regular computer. I can lend my iPad to my kid without worrying they will upload virus infected software for example.

I will never say that iPadOS could not be better (i would like multiuser support), but I find it more than adaquate for a regular person’s computer needs, and better suited than a Mac. Obviously there will be a lot of tech people on this forum who want more, but for me as a company director it does everything I want, as well as providing an enjoyable and satisfying experience.

 

[rui no onna]

You know with COVID now I started asking myself about this. Both of my phones have fingerprint sensor. This is all great when you do not wear gloves. However now with this situation I do wear both mask and gloves. I usually keep shopping list on my phone and I realized during shopping that I will have to enter the passcode every time I want to check it out. At first I was like Face ID would have helped and then I was "um actually not because of the mask".

I was using smooth, thin, powder-free, white vinyl gloves and surprisingly, TouchID worked through the gloves.

 

[secretk]

I was using smooth, thin, powder-free, white vinyl gloves and surprisingly, TouchID worked through the gloves.

Interesting. I am surprised that it worked!

 

[Grohowiak]

With the mouse support, my iPad Pro is finally what I want it to be.
Full computer replacement? Not gonna happen anytime soon. For whatever daily chores? Absolutely.

 

[rui no onna]

Interesting. I am surprised that it worked!

I was, too. I had a rubber tipped stylus with me and only pressed on the home button with my thumb to get to the passcode screen. Instead, it went all the way to unlock.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

So, everyone like me, who enjoys using the iPad as a tablet first and foremost, would be forced to a lesser experience, just because of a bunch of egos, who think everything should cater to them.
But whatever, coming WWDC we will probably see, where the journey is going.
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First of all, iMovie on iPad OS sucks a big one. Secondly, what has this to do with touch interface? There would be multiple ways to make this task much easier and faster.

Agreed... and... why not just pinch out on the timeline? Works great!?
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5. Youtube continuous usage no matter if I am on the tab or not

Works great in Safari? Do it all the time.

6. Being able to work with a lot of open tabs in the same time and switching between them

I have had to change my web workflow slightly but I have found that separating out my tabs between different Safari windows has helped tremendously. Can you do 40 tabs at a time with no reloads? No... but my 1TB 11” with 6GB RAM allows for enough that I rarely notice a reload. And I do most of my work inside a browser.

7. Work with big log files

Elaborate - are we talking search and source error logs or where are we going here?

8. Work with big/complex spreadsheets

How big and complex? Are we talking thousands of rows of data that are continuously updated in real time from multiple external sources using scripting, API’s, pivot tables, and in-sheet forecasting algorithms? Oh wait, yes, I do that every day.

At the end of the day, it is not there yet, but it seems like a lot of people just repeat what they heard 2 years years ago and haven’t taken the time to look around and try for themselves.

I gotta start a Youtube channel on this stuff...