iPad Pro Final things before going all ipad!

[spiderman0616]

I love how people are defending the Mac here even though the decision has already been made. I started a thread a long time ago about having ditched every iPad I had ever owned after 6 months, however as my usage changed I now find myself living the iPad-only life. 5 months and counting without owning a Mac! (Why does this feels like celebrating sobriety? ?)

There's a lot of tribalism when it comes to Mac vs. iPad. People feel the need to defend the thing they ended up spending their money on, or they get FOMO. The fact of the matter is there are a million ways to do everything. I personally can be fully productive on either an iPad Pro or a MacBook. Right now my preference is MacBook, but for the last several years it's been iPad. Apple is very good at continuing to make me want to buy into both pieces of the platform.

 

[linkgx1]

There's a lot of tribalism when it comes to Mac vs. iPad. People feel the need to defend the thing they ended up spending their money on, or they get FOMO. The fact of the matter is there are a million ways to do everything. I personally can be fully productive on either an iPad Pro or a MacBook. Right now my preference is MacBook, but for the last several years it's been iPad. Apple is very good at continuing to make me want to buy into both pieces of the platform.

This. TBH, I'm fine with either. The main thing holding the iPad back is its OS, but then again macOS has been with as for far longer. I feel like it is similar to when folks argue about PC vs Console. Different needs even though many parts overlap.

When it comes to editing docs, signing, view photos my iPad Pro is superior. But when I have complex workflow, I prefer my Mac.

I also thing age is a factor too. Many young folks grew up on iPads and never did the desktop---->mobile device transition.

 

[spiderman0616]

This. TBH, I'm fine with either. The main thing holding the iPad back is its OS, but then again macOS has been with as for far longer. I feel like it is similar to when folks argue about PC vs Console. Different needs even though many parts overlap.

When it comes to editing docs, signing, view photos my iPad Pro is superior. But when I have complex workflow, I prefer my Mac.

I also thing age is a factor too. Many young folks grew up on iPads and never did the desktop---->mobile device transition.

For sure. A lot of people my age (mid 40s) started out on beige Gateway 2000 Windows 95 PCs, moved over to tablets and smartphones later, and can usually make an informed decision on whether or not they need a phone, tablet, or traditional computer to do what they need to do. My own kids have gone opposite. Started out doing everything on LeapPads, then iPads/iPad Touches. Both got Chromebooks for school and couldn't care less about them. During the pandemic they each decided to use their own money to buy desktop machines. My teenager bought a gaming Windows PC and my 10 yr old bought an M1 Mac mini. (We have 2 of the 3 available Apple Silicon Macs in our house right now!)

Oddly enough, those computers are not what they consider their primary machines. Neither are the Chromebooks. My older son's main "computer" seems to be his iPhone and my younger one's is his base model iPad. Their desktop computers and Chromebooks are considered their auxiliary machines for specific tasks.

 

[rui no onna]

Oddly enough, those computers are not what they consider their primary machines. Neither are the Chromebooks. My older son's main "computer" seems to be his iPhone and my younger one's is his base model iPad. Their desktop computers and Chromebooks are considered their auxiliary machines for specific tasks.

I started out with generic/custom-built Windows PCs as well. I'm like your kids though in that for personal use, my primary computer is the iPad and the laptops/desktops are only used for specific tasks. I need and use a Windows PC for work (employer-provided). However, when I get home, I only use my PC once in a blue moon.

 

[Sciomar]

If you're a console gamer (if you even game at all) and are just looking for web browsing, occasional word document editing, and the app support for whatever things you're looking to do is there, the iPad is a decent machine to rely on. I used it for a stint of school as I primary, it worked ok. The lack of full disk access/control bugged me, although it wasn't really a deal breaker as the files app can do a lot just not power user support. The split screen functionality has been much better. Hopefully your dual screen solutions are solid.

 

[FMRWin10Boy]

It’s not the only limitation. I’ve found that my iPad freezes often. Certain apps will suddenly freeze. Just the other day I had to uninstall and reinstall Excel because it simply wouldn’t open. You also can’t save CSV files, which is the biggest limitation for me. However, I still use my iPad every day. I mostly use it on the couch when I want to continue working but not sit at my desk. I also use it outside when the weather is nice. I’m willing to stick with iPadOS because I think in the long run Apple will solve these problems. With some of the new features in iPadOS 15, you can clearly see the direction Apple is taking the iPad.

Also, highly recommend getting the LogiTech Combo keyboard. I like it much better than Apple’s keyboard.

 

[rui no onna]

It’s not the only limitation. I’ve found that my iPad freezes often. Certain apps will suddenly freeze. Just the other day I had to uninstall and reinstall Excel because it simply wouldn’t open. You also can’t save CSV files, which is the biggest limitation for me.

Curious, what iPad do you have? I noticed Excel was laggy on a 2018 12.9 1TB (admittedly 100+ Safari tabs open) but was super smooth on a 2021 12.9 1TB even with Safari having just as many tabs.

That said, one of my issues is Excel for iOS wouldn't allow direct editing of *.xls files (need to return those in the same format that was sent to me).

 

[FMRWin10Boy]

Curious, what iPad do you have? I noticed Excel was laggy on a 2018 12.9 1TB (admittedly 100+ Safari tabs open) but was super smooth on a 2021 12.9 1TB even with Safari having just as many tabs.

That said, one of my issues is Excel for iOS wouldn't allow direct editing of *.xls files (need to return those in the same format that was sent to me).

I have the 2021 iPad Pro 11”. Quickly switching between apps like Excel and a PDF document or a browser causes Excel to refresh 6 out of 10 times. Same thing happens on Outlook. I find it incredibly frustrating, thus I haven’t been able to implement 100% of my workflow on the iPad. Again, I think within the next 3-5 years I will.

 

[rui no onna]

I have the 2021 iPad Pro 11”. Quickly switching between apps like Excel and a PDF document or a browser causes Excel to refresh 6 out of 10 times. Same thing happens on Outlook. I find it incredibly frustrating, thus I haven’t been able to implement 100% of my workflow on the iPad. Again, I think within the next 3-5 years I will.

Don't notice that behavior on mine (16GB RAM). In fact, I was pretty delighted it kept my Excel document open for an entire week. Granted, I tend to force close apps I don't need but on the 4GB RAM, even when I do that, most of the time, Excel still refreshes.

 

[Abazigal]

There's a lot of tribalism when it comes to Mac vs. iPad. People feel the need to defend the thing they ended up spending their money on, or they get FOMO. The fact of the matter is there are a million ways to do everything. I personally can be fully productive on either an iPad Pro or a MacBook. Right now my preference is MacBook, but for the last several years it's been iPad. Apple is very good at continuing to make me want to buy into both pieces of the platform.

It's not just tribalism. It seems that Mac users actually feel threatened by the idea that people could actually get meaningful work done on an iPad, as though Apple is going to suddenly just abandon the Mac overnight simply because I can edit a YouTube video on my iPad Pro.

 

[FMRWin10Boy]

It's not just tribalism. It seems that Mac users actually feel threatened by the idea that people could actually get meaningful work done on an iPad, as though Apple is going to suddenly just abandon the Mac overnight simply because I can edit a YouTube video on my iPad Pro.

I don’t believe Apple will ever abandon the Mac. Now, however, I can see a big set of users exclusively using the iPad to get work done. Having a desktop environment is hands down a better way to work and much more efficient, especially when multi-tasking between many apps. Thus I don’t think they will ever do away with Mac.

 

[leperry]

It's not just tribalism. It seems that Mac users actually feel threatened by the idea that people could actually get meaningful work done on an iPad, as though Apple is going to suddenly just abandon the Mac overnight simply because I can edit a YouTube video on my iPad Pro.

Agree 100%. I still have a Mac but I think everyday what I could do to go iPad-only. I no longer have an attachment to MacOS, but I only need it for a few things.

 

[WorldIRC]

Everything that I do that’s “personal” can be done on an iPad (except WhatsApp which is hopefully coming soon). In fact, I think I enjoy these things more on an iPad as they get me off the computer and out of the home office and into other rooms of the house. As well, the touch screen certainly adds a user experience improvement when doing personal things. I’m using my iPhone less now that I have the iPad.

Many things, but not all things, that are “work” can be done on an iPad, albeit, not as efficiently as on my Mac (or Windows via Parallels). I have two external monitors for multitasking as I deal with multiple spreadsheets, web browsers, work tools, and email at the same time. As well, accessing the Windows virtual environment remotely is a bit of a pain as iPad OS won’t allow the RDC app to remain open in the background for very long. All things considered, my workflow simply can’t be efficient on an iPad. My iPad can certainly open those spreadsheets, make some changes to those spreadsheets, access some of the work tools, and manage emails; but the experience will never be as efficient as on a Mac w/ multiple displays.

Nothing about tribalism. I would love if my iPad could give me a 100% remote experience, but iPad OS is just not ready for that at this stage. However, I still enjoy using the device and I do think it can be my full time “portable device”, while I switch to a proper Mac at home (vs. the MacBook Pro that I have now).

 

[ejin222]

Sometimes I love reading threads where the OP asks a question, but it gets hijacked so bad that the OP has no reason to check the thread because his/her question was never fully answered, like this thread haha.

Sorry for making it another iPad vs Mac thread when it didn't really start that way~

 

[Arctic Moose]

There's a lot of tribalism when it comes to Mac vs. iPad. People feel the need to defend the thing they ended up spending their money on, or they get FOMO.

Sure, there is a lot of that. However, there is also a lot of frustration from people like me who have spent, and continue to spend, lots of money on both. We want nothing more than to be productive on the excellent iPad hardware, only to be hampered by the limiting software. Using an iPad feels like working with one hand tied behind my back and a thick glove on the other for anything but basic media consumption.

 

[jazz1]

I really would like to see iOS 15 support separate user accounts. How hard can that be? I guess not being a programmer I don't know. Is storage an issue?

 

[Arctic Moose]

I know you can watch Netflix in full screen on a tv with hdmi cable - but I need a video app where I can add video files and subtile files and play in full screen on external monitor. Been googling for this but cant get a good answer. Anyone?

I have used Infuse on my Apple TV since it was first released. I mainly use it as a front end for media stored on a NAS, but the iPad/iPhone version allows you to add files locally as well.

I just tried it with an external monitor connected to my phone, and it works as expected.

Infuse will do all you ask and more, and is in my opinion a much more polished experience than VLC.

‎Infuse • Video Player

‎Ignite your video content with Infuse – the beautiful way to watch almost any video format on your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac. No need to convert files! Infuse is optimized for macOS 15, with powerful streaming options, Trakt sync, and unmatched AirPlay & subtitle support. Gorgeous...

apps.apple.com

 

[FMRWin10Boy]

The biggest thing I’d like to change is using CSV files. Seems to me that it could be an easy fix. If I could run a CSV file, I could use it as my daily driver. Right now it’s more used for banging out emails and consuming media.

I would also add the lack of 2nd monitor support is worrisome. It seems like such an obvious fix. I wonder if iPadOS 15 will fix it?

 

[spiderman0616]

Sure, there is a lot of that. However, there is also a lot of frustration from people like me who have spent, and continue to spend, lots of money on both. We want nothing more than to be productive on the excellent iPad hardware, only to be hampered by the limiting software. Using an iPad feels like working with one hand tied behind my back and a thick glove on the other for anything but basic media consumption.

I mean…..it sounds like you actually don’t think the iPad is excellent and might be happier on a Surface or something. I’m not saying that to start an argument at all, I’m just saying Apple doesn’t make a touch screen Mac and they’re never going to turn the iPad into a Mac.

 

[Arctic Moose]

I mean…..it sounds like you actually don’t think the iPad is excellent and might be happier on a Surface or something.

I would rather spend the rest of my life using iPadOS than being forced to use Windows. ?

Of course I understand the differences between an iPad and a Mac, and I will never be able to switch to iPad full time because it simply does not fit into many of my workflows.

I just wish some of the glaring omissions in iPadOS would have been fixed by now.

The iPad has been around for a decade, it should really be much more mature than it is.

 

[darthbane2k]

I hate to say it, I really do - but if you need a computer , get a Mac. The iPad experience as a daily driver is just clumsy and every solution to attempt to resemble a full desktop experience seems like a compromise. And im someone with a iPad Pro and magic keyboard, as well as having a MacBook Pro. For serious day to day work nothing compares to the Mac.

 

[mrLucas]

It’s not the only limitation. I’ve found that my iPad freezes often. Certain apps will suddenly freeze. Just the other day I had to uninstall and reinstall Excel because it simply wouldn’t open. You also can’t save CSV files, which is the biggest limitation for me. However, I still use my iPad every day. I mostly use it on the couch when I want to continue working but not sit at my desk. I also use it outside when the weather is nice. I’m willing to stick with iPadOS because I think in the long run Apple will solve these problems. With some of the new features in iPadOS 15, you can clearly see the direction Apple is taking the iPad.

Also, highly recommend getting the LogiTech Combo keyboard. I like it much better than Apple’s keyboard.

hey…. you can save CSV files…
also I wouldnt count on apple improving the ipad nearly fast enoguth for you to feel it. I like it, hope the ipados15 will be nice, but, truth be told, they are intentionaly keeping it limited. meaning - they really DONT WANT TO make it be - what you want it to be (us)

 

[mrLucas]

I really would like to see iOS 15 support separate user accounts. How hard can that be? I guess not being a programmer I don't know. Is storage an issue?

that will never happen

I hate to say it, I really do - but if you need a computer , get a Mac. The iPad experience as a daily driver is just clumsy and every solution to attempt to resemble a full desktop experience seems like a compromise. And im someone with a iPad Pro and magic keyboard, as well as having a MacBook Pro. For serious day to day work nothing compares to the Mac.

Yeah.. I like the ipad experience thou. I just dids omething weird, I connected ipad to the Mbro thry airplay and I am basically using ipad as a desktop. With an external iMac keyboard and an amazing logitech mouse. I guess, where iPad gets really ****** is when you try to use it as a desktop. Like I am doing now. Mouse is not precise, keyboard shortcuts are non existant… Also, you cant do enought with windows… Ok double window, but it seems it should be able to do more on a 15 inch MBPro screen. I have an iMac27 as well, wonder how ipad picture will look on a huge 27 inch imac screen… ?