All iPads Does anyone use only an iPad and iPhone and not a laptop or desktop?

[Sluchbox]

I have looked back over the last 2 years and there were only a few times that I used my desktop computer (Mac Mini 2018 with 27" monitor. I do not own a laptop.

I use my iPhone and iPad for everything, I only used the desktop when I was forced to because the mobile version of the website did not let me do something that the desktop version allows me to do.

Anyone else do this?

Second question, I use Chrome browser on my iPhone and iPad. Is there any way to force a desktop website? I know you can "request" it, but that rarely works, which means I have to go to the desktop in those instances.

 

[ericwn]

Have you had a read across the “iPad as laptop replacement” thread? That will provide you with plenty insight on what works and what might not.

 

[Sluchbox]

Have you had a read across the “iPad as laptop replacement” thread? That will provide you with plenty insight on what works and what might not.

No, I didn't know that exists, I just joined. I will search it out, thank you!

 

[3Rock]

Here you go…

iPad as a laptop replacement

I've have a MacBook Pro Retina for a year now, and quite frankly, it’s simply overkill for what I use the computer for on a daily basis. I would have been fine with a MacBook Air but elected to spend the extra cash for a nice screen. I use writing intensive programs (Final Draft, Pages, etc)...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Cashmonee]

I am moving this direction at home. I have a MacBook Pro that is currently collecting dust. It only get used when I need windowing or want to sit at my desk. Otherwise it is iPhone and iPad.

At work however, I cannot get by with iPad OS. The #1 issue for me is the lack of windowing. If the iPad had windowing (along with proper external monitor support), I could probably make it work, but even then many things would be harder.

 

[Sluchbox]

I read through that whole thread, lots of information. That goes back all the way to 2014 so a lot of things have changed.

I didn’t see anything about forcing a desktop site on the iPad or iPhone. That’s my main concern because that would completely relieve me of needing a desktop.

 

[Infinitewisdom]

I can *almost* do it, but there’s still about 5-10% that requires a Mac, or that would at least be less cumbersome with a Mac. For that I just RDP into a Mac at the moment which works well enough. I do wish I could just do everything on an iPad.

 

[sparksd]

I read through that whole thread, lots of information. That goes back all the way to 2014 so a lot of things have changed.

I didn’t see anything about forcing a desktop site on the iPad or iPhone. That’s my main concern because that would completely relieve me of needing a desktop.

There is a Request Desktop Website setting for Safari.

 

[Sluchbox]

There is a Request Desktop Website setting for Safari.

Did you read my original post?

 

[cupcakes2000]

Did you read my original post?

If you’re insisting on using chrome then there may not be an option, but safari on the iPad defaults to the desktop version and 99.5% of sites I visit work.

 

[sparksd]

Did you read my original post?

Missed the Chrome part. They (Google) removed the "Request desktop version by default" flag.

 

[Sluchbox]

If you’re insisting on using chrome then there may not be an option, but safari on the iPad defaults to the desktop version and 99.5% of sites I visit work.

I am used to using Chrome, but I could use Safari if desktop sites work when requested more than on Chrome (which I never noticed in the past, but I haven’t tried recently).

 

[Sluchbox]

Missed the Chrome part. They (Google) removed the "Request desktop version by default" flag.

Even when requesting desktop version manually, many sites don’t respect that and still give the mobile version.

For example, I just randomly chose CNN in Safari. I went there and they gave me the mobile version. I requested the desktop version and it reloaded and gave me the mobile version again.

 

[sparksd]

Even when requesting desktop version manually, many sites don’t respect that and still give the mobile version.

Yep. I quit using Chrome on the iPad for this and no bookmarks toolbar. Wonder why Apple and Google can't play together better ...

 

[rui no onna]

I am used to using Chrome, but I could use Safari if desktop sites work when requested more than on Chrome (which I never noticed in the past, but I haven’t tried recently).

Still depends on the website. Wells Fargo on iPadOS Safari more or less looks like the desktop site but the site available on iPad wouldn't allow me to update CC autopay settings.

Gmail forcibly reverts to mobile view on the iPad mini but desktop mode works OK on 9.7"+ iPads.

On government websites, some links/items don't work properly on the iPad.

Hence, I still need a computer. However, I can go with upgrading the computer less often (every 7-10 years).

 

[Sluchbox]

That is probably what I will do, just keep a computer around for the odd times that I need it. Maybe I’ll pick up one of those cheap $170 Chromebooks just to keep in the closet out of the way until it’s needed.

I just figured that there was some type of app to trick the website into thinking that we are using a desktop computer.

Oh, and speaking of Gmail, that’s another problem that I have. The search function in the Gmail iPhone and iPad app is terrible. It doesn’t go back that far. So I have to go to a computer to use the browser to search for old emails. It’s been like this for a decade, that’s terrible.

 

[Ludatyk]

Yep. I quit using Chrome on the iPad for this and no bookmarks toolbar. Wonder why Apple and Google can't paly together better ...

Well, we both know the answer to that.. although Google and Apple tries to exist on each other platform, at the end of the day.. they want the user using their service on their hardware. But then again.. not sure if Chrome on Android has an option to force Desktop Sites.

 

[sparksd]

Well, we both know the answer to that.. although Google and Apple tries to exist on each other platform, at the end of the day.. they want the user using their service on their hardware. But then again.. not sure if Chrome on Android has an option to force Desktop Sites.

Don't know if it's still there on Android, but you could enable it via a global flag.

Edit: Just checked, it's still there on my Android tablet.

Google, Apple, Microsoft - they tolerate each other to a degree but are hobbled to some degree on each others platforms (though Google & MS have a more peaceful coexistence).

 

[rui no onna]

Oh, and speaking of Gmail, that’s another problem that I have. The search function in the Gmail iPhone and iPad app is terrible. It doesn’t go back that far. So I have to go to a computer to use the browser to search for old emails. It’s been like this for a decade, that’s terrible.

The app sucks but the desktop website Gmail works on the iPad ever since iPadOS 13. It's better on the 12.9" since 10-11" seems a bit too small to accommodate the layout (some of the menu UI gets cut off).

 

[Sluchbox]

The app sucks but the desktop website Gmail works on the iPad ever since iPadOS 13. It's better on the 12.9" since 10-11" seems a bit too small to accommodate the layout (some of the menu UI gets cut off).

Thanks for the info. I see that you are very well-versed on this, so I know you feel my pain. We shouldn’t have to spend so much of your time figuring out what will or will not work on each device.
They should make it so it just works universally.

 

[stinkhorn9]

That is probably what I will do, just keep a computer around for the odd times that I need it. Maybe I’ll pick up one of those cheap $170 Chromebooks just to keep in the closet out of the way until it’s needed.

I just figured that there was some type of app to trick the website into thinking that we are using a desktop computer.

Oh, and speaking of Gmail, that’s another problem that I have. The search function in the Gmail iPhone and iPad app is terrible. It doesn’t go back that far. So I have to go to a computer to use the browser to search for old emails. It’s been like this for a decade, that’s terrible.

Is it any different if you just use gmail in a browser on the iPad?

 

[sparksd]

Thanks for the info. I see that you are very well-versed on this, so I know you feel my pain. We shouldn’t have to spend so much of your time figuring out what will or will not work on each device.
They should make it so it just works universally.

It is frustrating. Take MS Office365 for example. You can track down features that are not supported in Word on the iPad -

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...latforms-5e00dfba-3d7c-4222-b850-a0527ff7b066

But there isn't a comparable comparison for Excel that I am aware of (I know macros don't work on the iPad).

 

[Sluchbox]

The thing that bothers me is that it is a choice that they’re making not to give us full functionality.

I could go on Amazon on my iPhone and do anything that I could do on the desktop. The layout for normal shopping is great, and I could also do all of the other things such as look through my past orders, dispute something, sell something, etc. Everything.

So clearly it’s possible to give full functionality.

But then there are big-name services such as YouTube. I can’t even look at my past comment history through the mobile browser or app. I have to go to a desktop if I want to refer to a conversation that I had in the comment section of a video.

They are making a choice not to give that functionality on a mobile device. And it’s really petty.

 

[rui no onna]

Thanks for the info. I see that you are very well-versed on this, so I know you feel my pain. We shouldn’t have to spend so much of your time figuring out what will or will not work on each device.
They should make it so it just works universally.

I started using iPads back in 2011 and the situation was much worse then. Apple A5 was much slower for web browsing than Intel/AMD, Safari not rendering pages properly, reloads galore, a lot of websites unusable due to Adobe Flash, no official Microsoft Office at all, no share sheets, etc. Things have already improved a lot compared to before.

Alas, the sad reality is iPads have a much smaller share of the browser market compared to iPhones, Androids and desktop OSes so plenty of web devs don't care about iPad compatibility. Then there are the big companies who intentionally put up roadblocks.

 

[marty1980]

Most of my personal computing is done on iPad and iPhone. However, PC gaming is not something either of those can replace for me. Cloud gaming doesn’t work well for me and I’m not much of a fan of the majority of iOS games.

Professionally, the iPad is too restricted to let me do my work. The experience of making those devices work for me would be extremely unpleasant, inconvenient, and - in some cases - impossible with the current state of iOS/iPadOS.

Seems to me that the majority of people no longer need a laptop or desktop because tablets and smartphones cover nearly all of their needs. However, government and other public services often don’t have the resources to keep up. So there are a LOT of public service websites that do not play well with mobile devices, even iPad’s desktop Safari. A Chromebook would probably be a good device to have handy for people needing to access online public services.