All iPads Do you use Sidecar with your iPad?

[Natzoo]

Is Sidecar useful in your daily tasks? I've been wanting to try it out but don't want to update to Catalina (heard it still got a lot of issues). But since Uni is starting soon, was wondering if it would be worth it and if people actually use it daily.

 

[AutomaticApple]

(heard it still got a lot of issues)

I don't notice any issues whatsoever on 10.15.6, but I definitely find sidecar useful whenever my MacBook Pro display simply isn't big enough for certain tasks.

 

[ejin222]

I use Sidecar whenever I can. I'm so used to dual screens on my work computer that to not have a secondary screen is awkward for me. I purchased a Setachi charger that has a 90w and 18w output for my MacBook Pro and iPad Pro so that I can charge both devices as needed.

 

[Shirasaki]

I don’t have a supported Mac so I don’t use it. Instead, I use duet.
As for sidecar itself, I have heard that it is rather limited, plus I am not too used to multi monitor workflow. So yeah, I don’t think sidecar will be particularly useful to me.

 

[Ungibbed]

All my gear is too old for Sidecar. 🥺

 

[cupcakes2000]

Sidecar is great- use it regularly. Used to use Luna which is very good but actually sidecar has replaced it for me.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Deleted. Wrong thread.

 

[Shanghaichica]

No because my Mac doesn’t support it.

 

[Apple_Robert]

No because my Mac doesn’t support it.

If you wanted to extend your ipad screen to say, your Mac or even your Apple TV, you could use an app called shift screen. Does a great job. Don’t know if that would be something your interested in. I realize it isn’t the same as extending your Mac screen but, it still may be of use.

 

[Wokis]

Yeah I use it occasionally and find it super useful. The compactness of the iPad makes it into an excellent extra screen to throw into the laptop bag. Activating the feature is seamless and easy too.

 

[scottrngr]

I use it with my MacBook Pro when using Final Cut Pro 10. Once you update your MBP to Catalina, you can't use Duet, and older iPad's don't support Sidecar. I'd say make sure your iPad supports Sidecar before updating to Catalina.

 

[paulmeyers42]

For the people that use it, what do you use it for? I have a 27” iMac and I’ve tried to use it with my 11” IPP when I’m at work, but nothing’s really stuck for me. It’s too small relative to the 27” screen to really be a “dual monitor” setup and I’ve tried keeping apps up there all the time like Slack but it doesn’t seem worth the hassle.

 

[EugW]

For the people that use it, what do you use it for? I have a 27” iMac and I’ve tried to use it with my 11” IPP when I’m at work, but nothing’s really stuck for me. It’s too small relative to the 27” screen to really be a “dual monitor” setup and I’ve tried keeping apps up there all the time like Slack but it doesn’t seem worth the hassle.

It came in very handy when I was giving a PowerPoint presentation over Zoom. Or it did initially.

Normally when I give a PowerPoint presentation, I make use of PowerPoint's dual screen functionality. In this scenario, the external screen is showing the current slide, but on my MacBook I have the next slide so I know in advance what's coming. On Zoom it doesn't work that way, as I would have the current slide on both my MacBook and projected over Zoom. With Sidecar, I was able to have the dual slide setup again, with only the current slide being projected over Zoom and the next slide showing on my laptop screen.

The main problem though is I was using iPadOS 14 on its first public beta, and Sidecar locked up in the middle of the presentation so I had to go back to using single-screen. The weird part is the Zoom participants could see what I was supposed to have on my Sidecar screen, but I myself could not see it. My Sidecar screen was locked up with an unchanging image. I attribute that to beta problems, esp. since that beta was still fairly buggy.

 

[Natzoo]

I don't notice any issues whatsoever on 10.15.6, but I definitely find sidecar useful whenever my MacBook Pro display simply isn't big enough for certain tasks.

An offtopic question, another reason I refuse to upgrade to Catalina is the removal of Itunes and how in every update, iCloud drive turns on. iCloud drive always causes a lot of trouble when turning off (losing all my desktop data). Does it do that on Catalina? If Icloud drive doesn't auto on, I will probably update.

 

[EugW]

An offtopic question, another reason I refuse to upgrade to Catalina is the removal of Itunes and how in every update, iCloud drive turns on. iCloud drive always causes a lot of trouble when turning off (losing all my desktop data). Does it do that on Catalina? If Icloud drive doesn't auto on, I will probably update.

Why don't you just turn off desktop syncing for iCloud?

 

[Natzoo]

Why don't you just turn off desktop syncing for iCloud?

I guess I didn't see an option, so I thought I had to disable iCloud drive for the mac. Which resulted in all my files disappearing and it took me 30 minutes to get it back (do not want to relive that).

 

[spiderman0616]

I have used it with both my iPad Pro and the Apple TV I have hooked up in my office. It’s definitely cool, and I can definitely see it being useful at some point, but my MacBook Pro basically gets used as a desktop machine and is already hooked up to 2 monitors. I seldom have a need for a 3rd desktop space.

 

[EugW]

I guess I didn't see an option, so I thought I had to disable iCloud drive for the mac. Which resulted in all my files disappearing and it took me 30 minutes to get it back (do not want to relive that).

I liked it better in Mojave since there was a separate iCloud button, but the options are still there in Catalina.

System Preferences --> Apple ID --> iCloud Drive Options

As you can see, I have iCloud Drive turned on, but desktop and document folder syncing turned off.

 

[riverfreak]

In the Before Times, Sidecar was incredibly useful for turning your ipad into a second monitor when traveling. Some people might use it, say, for palette-heavy applications or for tail'ing your favorite log file or watching ntop.

I've heard that some people use it now for watching episodes of the Office while keeping a teleconference presentation on their main Mac screen.

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

I use it every day. For me, it is just a tiny bit of extra screen real estate for my Mac mini, beyond my monitor. I keep messages, email, and my calendar open down there on my iPad and Keep the various documents I'm using for work up on my monitor.

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi All,

Read about this Sidecar thing today - it sounds awesome.

How is it in real life though?

Does it work, or more trouble than what’s its worth?


Specifically:
Does it work well with a 13“ Macbook as a 2nd screen? I.e. So one can get the advantage of smaller sized gadgets for everyday use and portability, and then combining 2 of them to easily set up a workstation in a limited space?


Be great to hear your experiences


Regards
Martin


PS:
Wasn’t sure wether to post on ipad forum area, or the Macbook area!
I’ll post in both if thats ok, so cover people from both sides as it were.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Hi All,

Read about this Sidecar thing today - it sounds awesome.

How is it in real life though?

Does it work, or more trouble than what’s its worth?


Specifically:
Does it work well with a 13“ Macbook as a 2nd screen? I.e. So one can get the advantage of smaller sized gadgets for everyday use and portability, and then combining 2 of them to easily set up a workstation in a limited space?


Be great to hear your experiences


Regards
Martin


PS:
Wasn’t sure wether to post on ipad forum area, or the Macbook area!
I’ll post in both if thats ok, so cover people from both sides as it were.

MacRumors showed off Sidecar in a video back in November. I would highly recommend watching it.

 

[mk313]

I’ve used sidecar and duet display and air display before that. Overall it works ok but I prefer to use an actual external monitor. It’s good in a pinch or when traveling but I wouldn’t recommend it as an everyday thing.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I use my 4K Apple tv a lot of times as my second monitor for my iPad Pro (using the app “ShiftScreen).

 

[ejin222]

I’ve used sidecar and duet display and air display before that. Overall it works ok but I prefer to use an actual external monitor. It’s good in a pinch or when traveling but I wouldn’t recommend it as an everyday thing.

Same! I used Duet Display as well until I lost the dongle. I would say that Sidecar is as good, if not better, than Duet. It is really smooth and it's nice giving you that extra space to just glance on the side. And, it's free!

If this is going to be a long-term solution for the OP, definitely invest in a dongle that can charge both your MBP and iPad. My first mistake while using it was thinking that my iPad's battery was at 100% for the longest time, but then I realized that it was just reflecting what my MBP's battery level was.

The great thing about Sidecar is having the ability to just pop off the iPad and using it whenever you want while leaving the MBP behind. With an external monitor, you don't have that ability, BUT, you do get a bigger monitor choice and it won't kill your iPad's battery as well.