I was watching the TV adverts and they feature a lot of “on the spur“ creativity – people creating things quickly while outside the home (e.g. putting together videos for friends from snippets you’ve taken). I think this kinda makes sense, but it biases towards younger people who are outside the home more, and who maybe don’t have regular work patterns.
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iPad Givin’ up!
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I was watching the TV adverts and they feature a lot of “on the spur“ creativity – people creating things quickly while outside the home (e.g. putting together videos for friends from snippets you’ve taken). I think this kinda makes sense, but it biases towards younger people who are outside the home more, and who maybe don’t have regular work patterns.
My 11 inch iPad is my main computer these days. The only thing it doesn’t get a look at is programming. Writing this on it now…
Does it? Or just does it bring out an opposite opinion than yours, from the people perfectly entitled to mention how the iPad can work very well for them as a replacement or a great supplement, just as you have ‘told’ them it can’t.
I’m a 5’11” woman with big hands and have no pain at all using the 11” iPad Pro and keyboard folio several hours a day most days. I didn’t find the 9.7” iPP or 10.5” iPP painful to use, either. They are all a step up from the 8” Windows tablet I used except that the Win tablet could run regular Win software. It wasn’t my first choice of productivity devices but it worked for me under certain circumstances.
Your point about not wanting to give it another shot in the foreseeable future hits home for me. I also gave the iPad only route a good try, but I'm really hesitant to try it again in the future. I have an iMac 24-inch which is an absolute joy and calming experience to use at home. Whenever I use the iPad, I have to be conscious to work within the limitations of the apps and iPad OS. Consequently, I've made the iPad a supplementary device and am happy with its place in my tech set up.
Unlike you, my iPad isn't a consumption device for information and media, but fully a creation device. I do all my illustration work using Apple Pencil and use the iPad as a second screen for my iMac every day. Those workflows alone are enough to justify the price of an iPad Pro for me. But that's entirely subjective and I actually think for many people the iPad Pro price doesn't make sense with their needs.
I've ultimately made my iPad a supplementary tool in my workflows which I think is what Apple intended. Rather than thinking of it as a full laptop replacement, it replaced my drawing tablet and need for a second monitor. With the lovely drawing experience, high colour accuracy and speakers, I think I'd be spending the same or more money to get the same quality experience elsewhere.
As you said, the Mac does everything most people would want to do. Which is why I usually recommend people skip the step of trying to make iPad a full replacement and just go for the MacBook. MacBook Air is incredible value and cheaper than a 12.9 iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard set up.
I agree with the idea people should do their research. Actually go into the store and see these devices for yourself. Not just iPad, but any tech purchase you're going to make. However, I did find your tone quite aggressive. Some of us did our research and know what iPad is - as I've said it fits into my workflows rather than replacing everything - but some of us just want more functionality out of our iPads in the future. There's nothing wrong with voicing wanting more from our devices as long as people don't feel entitled to it. In fact, voicing our wants and feedback is a good thing because it gives Apple some direction of where to take the next OS and hardware updates.
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I may or may not be one of the fanboys who think of an iPad as a computer because it provides all my personal computing needs but from my point of view, the fact that it doesn't meet all of someone else's computing needs doesn't invalidate my view. And vice-versa...
if you are an average sized man why you bought the 11" then?! in 14 days you couldnt figure that is too small for you, keyboard and trackpad also to have the ability to return them!?
Why pay Apple for you to suffer?
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Yeah and most people forget that some apps have different layout on the 11” and 12.9”. For example, iWork is barely usable on the 11”, cause every menu is a popup menu (terrible experience). On the 12.9”, apps have the exact same layout of Mac apps, a huge difference. And multitasking is obviously better, apps don’t become big iPhone apps in 50/50 Split View on the 12.9”
I would actually say it does, unless I am completely flawed at communicating in English.
Do you anywhere in my post read that I state that my usage scenario is the only valid one and I'm trying to `tell´ someone else that they are wrong? Because that has never been my intent and if that's how my post is being read I have failed in my use of the English language.
Do i state that the iPad doesn't work as a computer for anybody and that everybody who claims that it does are wrong and to be made fun of?
Because that's what is being thrown back at these posts (by those who I refer to as "militant fan-boys", and by me doing so, I'm adding fuel to the fire), and somewhat by you as well I would say.
I'm not trying to 'tell' anyone what they can and can't do with the iPad.
I'm expressing my opinion, my view and my usage scenario and for those, the iPad in its current shape doesn't replace a computer.
What comes back is more than often non-constructive or posts ‘telling’ that people who say their needs or use cases aren't met are wrong.
I'm open to different opinions and views.
Mahasamatam for example has an excellent way of putting it, as well as BhaveusUK.
They are of different opinions than me, yet they don't try and negate the experience I had, nor do I try to negate theirs and we can have a discussion even though we have opposing views and experiences.
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I picked the iPad Pro three years ago for its size (11”) and light weight. But if Apple had had a 12” MacBook on the lineup, I would have probably picked that instead. At least, at this moment.
But I wouldn’t sell my 11” iPad. Right now, it’s the most portable device I have (aside from my iPhone), and I use it for a very specific task which is very useful for.
However, when I bought this 11” iPad Pro in 2019, I was convinced that it could replace my old MacBook Pro. And for certain tasks, it does. But for many others, I still rely on a Mac mini.
The new features for iPadOS, including those that aren’t available for my 3 year old iPad Pro, aren’t a big deal for me. This is not about “Apple made my fresh iPad Pro obsolete because I’m not getting Stage Manager”, the problem here is that even with Stage Manager, I honestly don’t see how that feature changes drastically the use of the iPad. I still prefer the old style of window management, for me the new multi-window wastes some precious space on the 11” screen. So it’s not for me. I’m happy with the “old” UI layout.
The problem isn’t that. I need extreme portability, and the 11” iPad Pro with the keyboard is excellent for that. However, I find myself using the Mac more and more.
So right now I’m not sure what my next move will be: Wait for the next Mac mini and keep the Mac mini + iPad Pro combination? Or jump for a MacBook Air, which will be 80% of the time plugged in my home because I already use the iPad Pro outside?
As I said, if Apple had a 12” MacBook, that would be the answer.
But I wouldn’t sell my 11” iPad. Right now, it’s the most portable device I have (aside from my iPhone), and I use it for a very specific task which is very useful for.
However, when I bought this 11” iPad Pro in 2019, I was convinced that it could replace my old MacBook Pro. And for certain tasks, it does. But for many others, I still rely on a Mac mini.
The new features for iPadOS, including those that aren’t available for my 3 year old iPad Pro, aren’t a big deal for me. This is not about “Apple made my fresh iPad Pro obsolete because I’m not getting Stage Manager”, the problem here is that even with Stage Manager, I honestly don’t see how that feature changes drastically the use of the iPad. I still prefer the old style of window management, for me the new multi-window wastes some precious space on the 11” screen. So it’s not for me. I’m happy with the “old” UI layout.
The problem isn’t that. I need extreme portability, and the 11” iPad Pro with the keyboard is excellent for that. However, I find myself using the Mac more and more.
So right now I’m not sure what my next move will be: Wait for the next Mac mini and keep the Mac mini + iPad Pro combination? Or jump for a MacBook Air, which will be 80% of the time plugged in my home because I already use the iPad Pro outside?
As I said, if Apple had a 12” MacBook, that would be the answer.
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Well, of course. All of that is just imitation on iPad. Plenty of people can get away with imitation, and most of those people aren't going to buy a Mac anyway. But for work you need a Mac, period.
iPad is largely for watching video, always has been, and always will be. And that's not a bad thing. It's just unfortunate that some people have to learn this the hard way.
iPad is largely for watching video, always has been, and always will be. And that's not a bad thing. It's just unfortunate that some people have to learn this the hard way.
That makes alot of sense and I get that usage scenario, drawing on it must be great, as a wacom on steriods for those who do artistic work.
Sadly I'm not artistic enough or have artistic needs in my worklife.
I would like to claim that purchasing a product and testing it out for the intended use case is kind of the "ultimate" research. Really trying it out to see if it works and if not returning it or accepting that it doesn't work.
People come to conclusions in different ways, some scrap it already while it's just an idea while others try it out hands on.
That is also what I was giving a testimony to, the quite aggressive replys and comebacks that tend to come to those who voice their experience unless it's anything but stellar and adhering to the overall "everything Apple does is always perfect and excellent and should be worshiped by all of us" storyline.
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Wow. That‘s even worse. This means Apple is essentially admitting what I’ve said – that a screen size less than 13in isn’t realistic for work tasks.
It’s worth noting that the new release of iPadOS in the Fall/Autumn will support display scaling. This might fix the issue you mention with Pages, but it will mean everything is smaller. I already use the hack of setting Safari’s zoom size to 85% in order to get pages as the designer intended, without features cropped out (e.g. the lack of dates on videos when using YouTube). But text can be fatiguingly small to read – a bit like reading small print all the time.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. I’ve been able to transition completely from PC to iPad Air 2022 and love it - but I think we are uniquely different in our computing needs. My spreadsheets are simple enough that using Google Sheets has worked very well, and the small screen/keyboard has been a positive for me. For example, when researching the architectural history of a building (see link in my sig) it has been great to take the small-ish iPad to the site and do the research and then compose/post the article while at the building.
Reading through the forums, however, shows that the iPad can be a PC replacement for some, and not for others. Your post is refreshing in its detail.
Because it defeats the purpose of an all in one package that’s slim and highly portable - the post is about « is the iPad usable as a power device in its truly basic form » - not lugging around devices with it that are 7 times it’s thickness. Please tell me the logic of going with an iPad WITH a mouse and keyboard separate or just a laptop on its own that contains all that functionality in a slim lightweight package ?
That would be justifiable if Apple didn’t market it as a serious laptop replacement - which they do. Building keyboard and trackpad covers, multitasking, which functions not at all intuitively and showing Word, Excel and other productivity apps working on it (including Apple’s Pages, Numbers etc). The biggest overall question is does it live up to the hype of its own marketing and I think it’s pretty clear that it doesn’t. The iPad is its own device that isn’t a MBA or a MBP
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You might well have a point about your other comments, but this about image editor is plain nonsense.
If you need an app, just do some research.
Display Scaling is available to all M1 iPads, which includes the 5th generation 10.9" iPad Air and 3rd generation 11" iPad Pro. I believe you might be referring to reference mode... that is only available on the 12.9" iPad Pro.
This isn't quite accurate. LightRoom on iPad OS has led on features in some cases compared to the OSX Version, while Photoshop lags quite a way behind. Affinity Photo is a full-on editor and you have a whole host of other apps with a range of capabilities listed here: https://shotkit.com/ipad-photo-editing/
I use LightRoom because I know it well but YMMV.
- This is the reason why I moved from the 11 inch iPad Pro to the 12.9 inch. Although, I still miss the 11 inch compact size and overall lighter weight when paired with the Magic Keyboard. But that was a year ago. Nowadays it makes more sense, since your experience with Stage Manager, but I don't plan to use Stage Manager but when connected to an external monitor. You can still use the regular multitasking which works good on the 10.9 inch screen real state.
- That's why I didn't considered anything but the Magic Keyboard. It just work together perfectly.
- I don't expect mobile apps to work in the same fashion as desktop apps, although that might be changing in the future. Remember that once of the announcements in the WWDC is Desktop Class apps, so that's comming, but it'll take time. I do use Word and Excel quite extensively in my iPad, but for heavy formatting and formulas, I'll leave that to my desktop
That's my experience with the iPad. I'm very happy with the announcements, although I'll wait a bit to upgrade, since I use my iPad heavily, so I prefer to wait until the public beta is out. I did put it on my iPad mini, although I can't test Stage Manager there, but for everything else looks very stable.