Personally I'm done with iPads and have owned all of them except the base iPad. Literally just sold my M1 IPP 12.9" with all the fancy Apple accessories. Now that MacBooks have miniLED and ProMotion they are by far the better purchase and hold their value extremely well over any iPad. So unless you're an Apple pencil user there's better options especially since Apple butchered the Mini 6 display...it's such a bad 60hz display and now it's over priced.
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iPad Has lack of iPadOS innovation changed your future iPad buying decisions…
- Thread starter James Godfrey
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Yes. I got my 2018 pro as a refurb in 2019, expecting it to largely replace my aging 2013 15” MBP. Instead I just doodle and watch videos on it occasionally due to the massive list of still missing features in iPadOS. Ones I need to make the iPad useful are easy font installation, multiple user accounts, and a full featured finder-style file system (files is close, but not quite useable full time). As it stands, I can’t see myself ever buying an iPad again, I’ll use this one until it dies and probably give up on tablets again after that.
Based on my usage, I'm not limited by the performance. (followings are my usage)
- email check & write
- memo & calendar
- while at work, I take notes using ipad pro (both hand writing & typing)
- during the commute, I read kindle books and news+ magazines.
- web surfing
- youtube, streaming video etc
All of above can be done in any of ipad models with satisfaction, only the screen difference.
The only reason I'm using 12.9 Pro is it's screens size and 120hz quality.
You know, I wouldn't care how much better performance its chip is offering.
When M1 12.9 came out, I seriously contemplated getting one, but decided not to as M1 itself and wonderful 16 gig of ram (I'd go more than 1tb as my 4th gen is 1tb) wouldn't really help me that much.
And no. iPadOS ecosystem is yet to offer a serious pro apps (a real IDE? function keys in magic keyboard?)
No file system, and inability to prevent certain apps from refreshing (for it to be a real alternative to mac or PC, I need 100% assurance) None of what I'd want to see is provided by iPadOS.
- email check & write
- memo & calendar
- while at work, I take notes using ipad pro (both hand writing & typing)
- during the commute, I read kindle books and news+ magazines.
- web surfing
- youtube, streaming video etc
All of above can be done in any of ipad models with satisfaction, only the screen difference.
The only reason I'm using 12.9 Pro is it's screens size and 120hz quality.
You know, I wouldn't care how much better performance its chip is offering.
When M1 12.9 came out, I seriously contemplated getting one, but decided not to as M1 itself and wonderful 16 gig of ram (I'd go more than 1tb as my 4th gen is 1tb) wouldn't really help me that much.
And no. iPadOS ecosystem is yet to offer a serious pro apps (a real IDE? function keys in magic keyboard?)
No file system, and inability to prevent certain apps from refreshing (for it to be a real alternative to mac or PC, I need 100% assurance) None of what I'd want to see is provided by iPadOS.
Nope, just went all out and bought a 12.9 Pro + MK + Pencil. I’ve been dreaming of this setup for a while now, and over the past year, my usage needs have changed a lot. I believe this setup can do everything for me that both a laptop and a tablet would. I’m loving it so far. I haven’t touched my MacBook Pro since I’ve gotten it. The iPad just feels so much more fun and futuristic to use. I actually am enjoying the process of finding new workflows/ways to get things done too, rather than just immediately going to my MBP to do it “the old way.”
Yeah don’t get me wrong the device on itself is awesome, but the exact thing you say ‘enjoying the process of finding new workflows/ways to get things done’ just shows the iPad isn’t currently headed in the right direction…
You shouldn’t as a user have to find new ways of getting stuff done you should be able to pick up the device and just get stuff done without having to find workarounds etc… and I think that’s why so many people are still to this day agreeing that the iPad is fantastic hardware but extremely poor on the software side of things.
I will buy an iPad again after Apple will allow floating windows with always visible dock and much better file management. Until then..
It’s not about workarounds though. It’s about being open-minded to new capabilities and workflows that the iPad and its software brings. For example, trying out music production on a touch screen device or with a stylus with software built around that, rather than being limited to a non-touch screen and mouse/pointer to do the same thing in the traditional computer way.
I get where you’re coming from where it would be frustrating to have reinvent the wheel to get things done how you normally do on a laptop. That’s perfectly valid. But I’d argue that you you’re set up to be disappointed if you’re just looking to do the same exact things in the same exact way on an iPad as you do on a laptop. It seems like you’re limiting the possibilities that the iPad brings. Again, it’s perfectly fine if you aren’t interested in exploring that, but that just supports the conclusion that you already came to that the iPad Pro isn’t the product for you that you hoped.
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Switch? No. I see no point in something like an iPad Mini when I have an iPhone Pro Max. They're too close in size. The iPad mini looks awesome in person, but if I bought it I just don't know when I would use it. Doesn't even have an official Apple keyboard. Maybe one day I'll find a use case for it. But the 12.9 is a great device and I use it daily.
However, I do agree that iPadOS is still too limited. It always fails expectations during WWDC. I'm too heavy of a power user so I caved and ended up buying a MacBook Pro M1 Max (haven't had a MacBook in years). Going to switch my mobile workflow back to macOS.
Apple made its greatest piece of hardware ever in my opinion with the M1 5G Thunderbolt 3 Mini-LED Face ID iPad Pro 12.9. It checks every box hardware wise. But iPadOS, while the best tablet OS ever, simply sucks compared to macOS.
However, I do agree that iPadOS is still too limited. It always fails expectations during WWDC. I'm too heavy of a power user so I caved and ended up buying a MacBook Pro M1 Max (haven't had a MacBook in years). Going to switch my mobile workflow back to macOS.
Apple made its greatest piece of hardware ever in my opinion with the M1 5G Thunderbolt 3 Mini-LED Face ID iPad Pro 12.9. It checks every box hardware wise. But iPadOS, while the best tablet OS ever, simply sucks compared to macOS.
You can see how hard Apple wants you to buy both devices when they can not implement such a trivial feature as an optional always-on Dock. I like the Split view, but instead of Slide over they should just give us the damned floating windows. It's so clunky to use Slide over (moving them across the sides, closing and opening the windows, switching between them...).
I'm still not sure what problem iPad is trying to solve. I've never had a need for one. I've certainly been given iPads by employers over the years, but they mostly ended up just sitting in a drawer. What does it do that my Mac and iPhone can't? What does it do better than my Mac and iPhone? Nothing other than Apple Pencil, but I'm not good at drawing and I prefer typing over writing.
And multitasking in iPadOS is a joke. I've only ever gotten into split view or slide over by mistake. How do you do it on purpose? How do you get rid of it after accidentally enabling it? Don't ask me.
iPad is a neat device on paper. And I guess I can see its utility in some limited business scenarios (POS setups, healthcare charting, check-in kiosks). But for a regular user, it doesn't really do anything IMHO... ??♂️
And multitasking in iPadOS is a joke. I've only ever gotten into split view or slide over by mistake. How do you do it on purpose? How do you get rid of it after accidentally enabling it? Don't ask me.
iPad is a neat device on paper. And I guess I can see its utility in some limited business scenarios (POS setups, healthcare charting, check-in kiosks). But for a regular user, it doesn't really do anything IMHO... ??♂️
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For you that may be true but other people want the tablet form factor and drawing capabilities, etc. "It doesn't really do anything" is not true for them/me.
This topic has been brought up in different ways and in the end it all comes down to your use case for the iPad I can do 90% of what I want to do on my iPad and the other 10% I do on my Mac mini M1 2020 without any problems but I’ll never give up my 12.9 inch display some people may think it’s too big but I think it’s the perfect portable computer for me but that’s every buddy having their own used case it’s nice to hear peoples use case not everybody is going to be able to do everything on there iPad without an iMac or a MacBook or anything like that have a good day guys
I think it probably has influenced buying decisions (and future plans). Basically, my 2020 12.9 iPad Pro feels more than adequate for any tasks that I use it for. I’ll probably hang onto it longer than I expected to when I first bought it. Perhaps 3-4 years before upgrading.
The reason is that iPadOS doesn’t really push the A12Z and I don’t feel that stronger hardware would make much difference to my use anytime soon. For heavy tasks I have other devices (e.g. 16” M1 Max MBP, M1 mini).
The reason is that iPadOS doesn’t really push the A12Z and I don’t feel that stronger hardware would make much difference to my use anytime soon. For heavy tasks I have other devices (e.g. 16” M1 Max MBP, M1 mini).
Some thing I’ve heard so many times from reviewers on YouTube and people in the tech world is by the product now for what it has to offer now don’t buy it expecting future updates to make it better because you’ll be disappointed every time personally it’s a throwback to the Motorola zoom tablet they said six months later he would send it in to get an LTE chip and you get later software it did but it didn’t come as promised specifically
It's pretty easy to understand Split view, I'd go as far to say it's intuitive. Slide over only looked well in Apple's own presentation, I can't still wrap my head around it. Everything iOS can do, iPadOS does it better. People graduate with their iPads and for most it's all they'll ever need- a bigger iPhone, or cheaper alternative to laptops.
It's fun to create on it - not only drawing. Made a pretty decent movie about my trip in Scandinavia in LumaFusion, I'd probably never dare to start with editing software elsewhere. But Files has corrupted some of my videos when moving them from mSD to external SSD, and LumaFusion has only left me to thrive for more. MBP 14" is arriving in November for me, can't wait to try Final Cut Pro ?. Back to MBP after 10 years ?.
I quit using Files for external storage because of corruption issues; I use FileBrowser Pro and haven't had any issues with it.
This is exactly my opinion on it at the moment, I have an iPhone, Mac and Apple TV…
If I want to make a few quick notes I use my iPhone.
If I want to type up a big document I use the Mac.
If I want to watch a movie, I got my Apple TV for that.
I think overall, it all comes down to use case, I can understand if you want a decent sized screen for on the go to watch a movie, I can see how the iPad comes in handy, or if you want to draw something, or make some hand written notes, yeah the iPad covers that… but other than that everything else you can do more easily and effectively with an iPhone, Mac, Apple TV combo… I just seems at this point to fill a void which isn’t really there…
There is a reason why iPads do not hold value and only equated to about 9.9% of Apples revenue in Q4 and is actually the lowest revenue out of all their product categories, this must be screaming at Apple that they need to focus more attention on the iPad, but yet year after year iPadOS always seems like an after thought, or that they just put a few features on there just to have something to tell us at WWDC.
Even the most recent iPad mini, the biggest refresh to the mini in years… yet they didn’t even optimise the software for it whatsoever.
Feature wise. PersonalLy I’ve switched to an iPhone 13 ProMAX and a 14” base M1 Pro. And ditched or sold my 2018 iPad Pro. The iPad Pro just doesn’t have the Features or Power Period.
it’s redundant unless you absolutely need an Apple Pencil.
with a iPhone 13 ProMAX + a 14” new M1 Pro. That’s all I personally need.
with that said I look forward to an 120hz ProMotion OLED device.
It has not altered my decision. Since the release of iPad, I've owned one for or another of the models. I've never understood the popularity of the iPad Pro and even the Pro MacBooks for that matter, as very few require what Apple considers pro-needs. (Audio, video, and photographers mainly)
On the iPad, an app developed for the entry education model has to run the same app as for the pro version. This limits the pro ability. Having said that, there are probably many pros using and loving the experience. They are just not forum inclined to talk about it.
The MacBook has hardware limitations that the iPad doesn't have and vice versa. If you're a tech geek you'll likely own both to fill the gaps. Consolidation in the hardware space is not the goal of Apple, it is of it's users, and some can get away with it.
On the iPad, an app developed for the entry education model has to run the same app as for the pro version. This limits the pro ability. Having said that, there are probably many pros using and loving the experience. They are just not forum inclined to talk about it.
The MacBook has hardware limitations that the iPad doesn't have and vice versa. If you're a tech geek you'll likely own both to fill the gaps. Consolidation in the hardware space is not the goal of Apple, it is of it's users, and some can get away with it.
I own a laptop for writing documents, using spreadsheets, managing my to-do list, and the like. I use my 12.9 iPad as a virtual whiteboard when I'm teaching, to mark up exams, make diagrams, and the like.
I have wondered if I would be better off with a device that could both, perhaps a Microsoft Surface device. But GoodNotes works really well for me on the iPad. It would take time to research other solutions, and there would be no guarantee I'd find something better in the end.
I have wondered if I would be better off with a device that could both, perhaps a Microsoft Surface device. But GoodNotes works really well for me on the iPad. It would take time to research other solutions, and there would be no guarantee I'd find something better in the end.
The ‘and no’ prefix to this statement is very elitist. There are many other applications that an iPad is useful for professionals aside from the professions which are obviously better suited to a traditional computer, such as those that require full terminal type access. There are many excellent pro apps for the iPad outside of your usecase. Aside anything else - don’t buy a Magic Keyboard if you need f keys. Buy a keyboard with them?
This coupled with the old ‘iPad has no file system’ adage. It obviously does have a file system. You know that surely. How accessible it is is what you mean. For general use of a file system- the answer is, it’s fully accessible.
‘Workaround’ is a misnomer. It’s not a workaround from an iPad prospective. It’s how you do it on the iPad. If I were to reverse this adage then there are also many workarounds I need to utilise to get the mac to work as an iPad.
It’s not a mac. It’s an iPad.