iPad Has lack of iPadOS innovation changed your future iPad buying decisions…

[spiderman0616]

I've gone full circle on this about a zillion times now. Up through about the original iPad Air, the problem seemed to always be that the software and hardware could not get in lock step. For example, the first iPad with Retina ran so hot and slow that it was replaced in less than a year by the iPad 4. It could get frustrating because the next year's software didn't always support last year's hardware due to power limitations.

These days it seems to be the reverse, where the software is stuck in about 2017 and the hardware just keeps progressing. It's hard to buy into it anymore when you have these M1 Macs running circles around it functionality wise.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I've gone full circle on this about a zillion times now. Up through about the original iPad Air, the problem seemed to always be that the software and hardware could not get in lock step. For example, the first iPad with Retina ran so hot and slow that it was replaced in less than a year by the iPad 4. It could get frustrating because the next year's software didn't always support last year's hardware due to power limitations.

These days it seems to be the reverse, where the software is stuck in about 2017 and the hardware just keeps progressing. It's hard to buy into it anymore when you have these M1 Macs running circles around it functionality wise.

Also running circles around them in the battery life department for the same price or cheaper *cough* MBA. I mean, how is every iPad rated for 10hrs regardless of size...

 

[GrumpyCoder]

iPadOS is a mess. It's stuck in the stone ages and not very intuitive at all. It's way too limited to do every day work, at least for me, so besides browsing websites or check some emails, my primary use is reading PDFs and taking notes (PDF Expert and LiquidText). I have an older 12.9" (and some other smaller ones) because I like the screen size for writing, LiquidText is becoming slow and I just can't get myself to invest in a M1 12.9", because with decent storage it becomes ridiculously expensive for what iPadOS can actually do. I can easily afford it, but I just don't want to, because it's so limited.

Maybe a future version of Capture One might change that, but I've seriously looked at Samsung Tab series and Surface devices as an alternative for reading/annotating PDFs and work with them. Seems like a much better deal and can do more than iPadOS. I'm not a fanboi sticking to a brand like a religion, I want my devices to make my work easier and for me iPads/iPadOS is not doing that right now.

And yes, I've used Apple products since the 80s, as primary drivers since G4 days, iPhone and iPad since day one. Right now, just disappointing. Let's see what next year brings to the table.

 

[jinnyman]

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.

You are entitled to your own opinion. I don't understand why giving my opinion of product gives me 'elitist' title, but iPad isn't what you think it is for me.

Why bother if whatever great app exists in field other than what I require? Good for artist and video editor, but iPad aren't RED camera like thingy and Apple is portraying it as general purpose so my opinion stands. It literally doesn't have viable solution in my field, and hence my conclusion.

And sadly, the old 'iPad has no file system' adage still stands. And no, it's not fully accessible, and using external storage through 'file' is still unreliable to say the least.

 

[jinnyman]

iPadOS is a mess. It's stuck in the stone ages and not very intuitive at all.

Well I really wish Apple to come up with an intuitive way to operate multi-tasking. I'm sick of them keep changing one of the most basic feature like UI this often. I gather their effort is limited by lack of true multitasking but still. come on Apple!

 

[rui no onna]

Also running circles around them in the battery life department for the same price or cheaper *cough* MBA. I mean, how is every iPad rated for 10hrs regardless of size...

Probably because the basic iPad and iPad Air with iPhone chipsets can have better battery life than the iPad Pro models with higher clock rates and extra CPU and GPU cores.

Also, if you calculate it, advertised battery life is pretty linear based on the Wh rating of the 13” iPad Pros and MacBooks. iPads have smaller batteries, MacBooks have bigger ones.

 

[Isengardtom]

I‘m probably in the minority here but I love iPadOS 15 and it’s multitasking features on my Pro.

What I’m missing most is more Pro features on apps such as The Microsoft Office apps (Excel mostly).

 

[HarperLCA2021]

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.

i use mind for gaming, am i crazy

 

[yabeweb]

Is the problem that there just isn't enough money to be made by developers to make iOS development worthwhile? Notability is moving to a subscription now and a lot of users say they won't buy in. People complain about $2 for an app; you have to sell a lot of those to make it worthwhile to develop and then maintain.

Developers should just do what they do on computers, make a V2 and charge again for it.

keep V1 updated to run with the current OS with no new features.

I purchased lots of apps, Affinity, for example, used it for years, I would gladly pay for say v2, but won't ever subscribe.

 

[secretk]

I think the biggest problem with the iPad is a lack of imagination.

1- A lack of imagination from app devs, which is starkly highlighted when you compare apps from devs who barely change anything between the phone and iPad version with devs who release iPad only professional level software which is on par or in some respects can surpass many similar desktop implementations.

Agree with this. I would add that it is not just apps, but also some sites. For example I frequently post in a forum which site is not tablet or touch friendly. Now yes I will admit that the forum needs to upgrade. We have tablets and phones for more than 10 years already. Fact but it does not depend on me. I have close relationships developed there and I would not stop posting there or interacting with those people just because it does not work on an iPad. I would just use my Windows laptop that I either way have.

2- A lack of imagination with the people that use them. So many think they can’t do something because they’re stuck in the traditional computer mindset. They can only use it for media consumption. Add a sprinkle of imagination with this machine and you can set yourself up with a beautiful modular type system. Mine works wonderfully and consists of a mac mini, synology server, iPad 12.9. Cost about 3k in total, and what I have is macos as an app when coupled with Remote Desktop software or sidecar and tied together with handoff, continuity, iCloud and airdrop. A Massive external storage pool and personal cloud.
I have my iPad to control it all, via touch or mouse or keyboard or stylus or voice, using graphical interfaces or screen sharing or ssh, which can be used as a more powerful than most laptop, or can be used as a best in class tablet and all of the benefits that entails. It’s a note taking machine, a scanner, a Graphics tablet, a portable media center.

I agree with this but I also have a counterpoint. Yes, not everyone has the imagination to use the iPad the way you mention. In fact most people do not have that kind of imagination. And that is not surprising. Genetically speaking the percentage of the creative and innovative mind is not big. We cannot expect people to change their DNA so that they can find better ways to use their iPads. Far more realistic is for Apple to find ways to guide people on how to use the iPad.

In the end it is about marketing and sales. People would either be imaginative as you said or they would just refuse trying and would either continue seeing the iPad as consumption device or would not buy it at all. It is about personal preferences.

The future of the iPad is ridiculously bright, regardless of the few things that are yet to be fully up to spec with the very young iPadOS.

I hope so. I have to be honest that I reached the limits of iPadOS. I am not the most imaginative person so I am at point where I have found few cases where I enjoy the iPad and prefer it over the laptop. However I am definitely not at a point where I can say I can get rid of my laptop. We will see what it will happen in the future. For now I have reached the limits of the device and as a result there is certain price that I am willing to pay and nothing above that (so say 12.9 inch iPad Pro is above that threshold of mine).

In the end to each their own.

 

[radow]

I would say no, but that’s because I never had high expectations.
Because of iOS (or iPadOS, as Apple markets it as) , All apps are self-contained, running in a virtual sandbox, and lack proper flexibility compared to desktop apps. This is by design and on purpose in my opinion, and I don’t expect the situation to be changed anytime soon. For example, iPad already has a quite good podcast recording workflow, but for post-production editing, desktop apps are the only good option.

Drawing is one of few things iPad really integrates well, and self-contained app problem has very little impact here, since all work are done in a single app. I use my iPad for drawing, and maybe other stuff when I really have time fighting with system limitations.

 

[Blisterpeanuts]

Real world user here. I have a 12.9" iPad Pro for musical performance. It is great. I don't care about multitasking or all the esoteric stuff people here are talking about. It displays my music, and lets me annotate it right on stage - fantastic!

I just got a (refurbished) iPad Mini 5 the other day, to have something nice and portable and larger than a phone. Also finally got a Pencil. Is all this technology perfect? No. But it's still fabulous. Now I can read, do a bit of writing, take notes (just got Notability, was impressed by my high school kid's use of it for class), scan my emails and it's not a monster to lug around like the Pro is.

Multitasking, sliding windows, widgets... meh. To me, this is eye candy, gimmicks. What problems do they solve? I think aside from a rarified, select group of power users such as on macrumors, most people use iPads to display information, surf the web, write emails. For that, iPadOS works fine and it's hard to see how they can improve it without breaking its basic functionality and alienating the general user base.

 

[sparksd]

Real world user here. I have a 12.9" iPad Pro for musical performance. It is great. I don't care about multitasking or all the esoteric stuff people here are talking about. It displays my music, and lets me annotate it right on stage - fantastic!

I just got a (refurbished) iPad Mini 5 the other day, to have something nice and portable and larger than a phone. Also finally got a Pencil. Is all this technology perfect? No. But it's still fabulous. Now I can read, do a bit of writing, take notes (just got Notability, was impressed by my high school kid's use of it for class), scan my emails and it's not a monster to lug around like the Pro is.

Multitasking, sliding windows, widgets... meh. To me, this is eye candy, gimmicks. What problems do they solve? I think aside from a rarified, select group of power users such as on macrumors, most people use iPads to display information, surf the web, write emails. For that, iPadOS works fine and it's hard to see how they can improve it without breaking its basic functionality and alienating the general user base.

Interesting perspective and matches what I have observed in those I know who own iPads - their usage patterns are really quite simple, not all that different from their usage of "standard" computers, i.e. laptops and desktops. Even my engineer friends (I'm a retired s/w & h/w engineer) who are at the extremes of computer-use sophistication, tend to use their iPads in a very simple manner. I'm hard-pressed to think of any I know who I would describe as iPad power users.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

People aren’t just willing to pay for apps in general. Apps that mostly cost less than a cup of coffee on the high street.

Yes but a cup of coffee makes me considerably happier than trying to draw anything in Notability. This devaluation of apps on iOS is interesting. Since the iOS store has set the precedent of apps costing a couple dollars, and now consumers don't want to pay more than that, it's rare that developing large, pro apps for iOS is a worthwhile endeavor. I wonder how that precedent will translate to Mac OS, now that all software that will run on it has to be rewritten fresh for the new Mx chips. I can almost see Apples initial push to get Adobe on board followed by a plethora of cheap apps, while the rest of the industry has to make an unfavorable calculation. The transcripts of the meetings about this risk at Cupertino would be really interesting to read.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

iPad needs a full OS. It's evolution is at a dead end using a modified iOS. Microsoft does it with their Surface Pro8. Great way to kill off most laptops. Only need an iPad with a detachable keyboard. Keyboard attached, full OS; detached, iPad OS.
Simple, eh?

...that, and an option to just run Mac OS indefinitely. I've bought offices full of ipads for over a decade and am still waiting to be able to draw in CAD on screen with a stylus and on-screen pop-up keyboard with the efficiency that Windows Tablets running XP could do in 2002. I mean the entire last twenty years of Apple innovation fits within that time, and we still don't have a way to accurately draw in 2d or 3d on a tablet in a useful cad format with the ease of drawing on paper. Getting files on and off of them is considerably worse experience than a 20yr old iPod. There are basic bugs and halfarsed problems that never get fixed year after year. Multitasking has been a ui clusterbang since iOS 10. etc etc etc. I got tired of complaining about it a decade ago already, and just accepted that apparently no one at Apple actually uses an iPad for anything but toilet surfing. But with ARM, and if Microsoft pushes toward ARM too, we can finally throw out all the software that's ever been written, and everyone can dump all their computers in landfills and we can start over fresh and sell everyone new stuff. Now we just need someone to make a gigantic parametric solid modeling cad app for ARM that can work natively in standard interchange formats, and find its way to the app store with a 30% markup. no biggie lol. Yeah it's never going to happen.

The usual responses from people who don't design & engineer things is "Who makes things anyway? Most people just look at facebook so that's all it needs to do". And that's why am iPad Pro is still a large screen ipod touch.

 

[James Godfrey]

I think the biggest problem with the iPad at the moment is how close iPadOS is to iOS, unlike a Mac which has its own dedicated OS the iPad just piggy backs off iOS and has done since its inception.

Personally I think Apple really need to create a brand new OS which is unique to the iPad, even if it is just for the Pro iPads, just to give the device its own place in Apples line up, until then the iPad will continue to fall short of what it could be.

 

[iDento]

MacOS, iPadOS, iOS, and let’s not mention tvOS are all “missing features we want”.

 

[rappr]

I think the biggest problem with the iPad at the moment is how close iPadOS is to iOS, unlike a Mac which has its own dedicated OS the iPad just piggy backs off iOS and has done since its inception.

Personally I think Apple really need to create a brand new OS which is unique to the iPad, even if it is just for the Pro iPads, just to give the device its own place in Apples line up, until then the iPad will continue to fall short of what it could be.

I don’t think iPadOS and iOS being close is a bad thing. iPhones and iPads are touch screen computers, and iOS/iPadOS is a touch first operating system. Makes sense they’d follow similar paradigms.

 

[Devvy]

Actually, when it comes down to multitasking: at some point I discovered that I could drag an url from safari directly to a NAS location in FE Explorer, and it would save the file on the NAS. I didn't expect that to work, but it did.
In general though I agree that multitasking is not the iPad's strongest point. It has a positive side-effect though: focus. I usually get done more if I need to type a paper when I am behind the iPad, because switching to another app is just that little bit more cumbersome. Which is good if you in fact should not switch apps but focus on typing instead.

 

[Ubele]

Don’t know if it’s just me, but I have had a Pro 12.9” but being too big I am now rocking a Pro 11”… now I am contemplating selling it again and just going for the new mini, my reasoning is just how limiting iPadOS currently is and how Apple just never seem to give it much love every time WWDC comes round…

Personally I feel that the PRO iPads just don’t seem to be cutting it as a Pro device, and likely won’t in the foreseeable future mainly down to the OS and apples lack of innovation with it, let’s be honest the Pro iPad has barely changed at all since 2018 (both in hardware and software), and likely is not going to get any better until late 2022 (that’s if it does at all), that’s 4 years minimum of stagnation for the Pro line of iPads.

Does anyone else feel like it really makes no sense to go for the higher end iPad line up anymore?

As with the question, "Can an iPad Pro replace a Mac?," it depends on your needs and wants. I've owned Macs since the Mac II. Due to my work needs, hobby needs, and ingrained habits, I never will be without a Mac. When the iPad came out, I considered it a frivolous toy. Several people, though, told me, "You need to try it to really understand what it can do!" When the iPad 2 came out and dealers started dumping their iPad 1 inventory at low prices, I bought an iPad 1. Within three days, I knew I'd never be without an iPad. I used it every day for web browsing, reading email, reading e-books, looking at photos, watching videos, etc. I upgraded to an iPad 4 when it came out. When it started getting too slow, I considered getting a 12.9" iPad Pro. I couldn't justify the price, though, so I settled for an iPad 5 and was very happy with it. I started using it for more than just consumption: thanks to apps becoming more powerful and sophisticated, I edit photos and use music-creation apps. My main computer is a 2019 27" iMac, which I need for Microsoft Office and Adobe CC for my job. I also have a 2015 13" MacBook Pro, which is still remarkably useful and which I use when I'm not at my home-office desk. I also have an iPhone XR, which I use only for making phone calls, taking photos, and checking things when I'm out and about. (My wife uses her iPhone for almost everything and rarely uses her iPad or MacBook Air. I find the iPhone's screen too small.)

This year, my iPad 5 became too slow. My first thought was to get the latest entry-level iPad and replace my MacBook Pro with an M1 MacBook Air in a year or two. But the more I read about the extra features of the iPad Air, and then the iPad Pro, the more intrigued I became. I started to consider replacing my iPad 5 and MBP with an iPad, keyboard, mouse, and pencil. Moving forward, I'd only need to upgrade one device rather than two. Since my MBP is a secondary device to my iMac, whatever replaces it doesn't need to do everything a Mac does. I agree that iPadOS has a lot of room for improvement. I hate how folders still only allow a 4x4 grid of apps. Switching between apps isn't as smooth as it it is in macOS. However, the addition of the Files app and, more recently, mouse support was huge for me.

After playing with all the different iPad models at Costco, I decided that, for something I use every single day and that I keep for several years, it was worth spending the money for the 12.9" iPad Pro. It isn't a strain on my budget, which it would have been when I got the iPad 5. Yesterday, I snagged an open-box Gen 5 12.9" iPad Pro 256GB unit at my local Best Buy for $1,000. I also bought an Apple Pencil 2, and I put in an order for a Magic Keyboard, which Amazon currently has on sale for $242, although it's out of stock at the moment. I plan to sell my MBP and iPad 5, which will defray some of the cost.

So far, I love my iPad Pro! It's blazingly fast, and the screen is gorgeous. One thing I didn't know beforehand, and which is a major advantage, is that it has a standard, full-size onscreen keyboard. One of the most annoying things about the smaller iPads was having to press a second key to get to numbers and a third key to get to special characters. The swipe-to-shift feature never worked well for me. Typing on the 12.9" model is exponentially easier for me.

So, for me, it made sense to go for the higher-end iPad line up. I watch videos when I'm on my treadmill and before bedtime, and I like the biggest, best screen that's available. The same goes for viewing and editing photos. I used to paint and sketch, so I'm looking forward to playing with the Apple Pencil and Procreate. I don't care about the lack of innovation. Tablets are mature products now, and I only expect incremental upgrades. Besides, I'd rather not be tempted to upgrade every year or two.

 

[Tagbert]

Well I really wish Apple to come up with an intuitive way to operate multi-tasking. I'm sick of them keep changing one of the most basic feature like UI this often. I gather their effort is limited by lack of true multitasking but still. come on Apple!

The recent changes to multi-tasking in iPAD OS 15 are a big improvement. They finally have clear and explicit controls for doing multi-tasking instead of the older, secret gesture method.

 

[Isengardtom]

I agree. the current 15.2 beta adds a few more small features to the multitasking.

apple continues to improve iPadOS in small ways but I think most people are expecting a desktop experience from it. I think apple will always consider iPadOS a touch interface first and will probably not introduce desktop like features that will diminish that touch experience. Possibly this is also why we haven’t seen an external display extension option so far on the iPad

I think what we’re seeing in terms of floating windows with Quicknotes though for example is a preview of what apple has in mind there in terms of additional multitasking

 

[dave72]

This is the challenge I have.

I have a MBA M1 2020 which is ideal for portability.

I am considering a MB Pro M1 14inch, then use the MBA as a portable device.

 

[James Godfrey]

I don’t think iPadOS and iOS being close is a bad thing. iPhones and iPads are touch screen computers, and iOS/iPadOS is a touch first operating system. Makes sense they’d follow similar paradigms.

Yeah I understand that but iOS is a touch first OS for a handheld mobile device, whereas the iPad has manifested into larger and larger sizes, but the OS has remained largely unchanged since its inception…

It just feels like the software is about 5 years behind the hardware… and this unfortunately will always be the case as the iPad mini is sharing the same software as the 12.9” pro so iPadOS has to work well on a device as small as the mini but still be ok for the 12.9, this is why I think Apple really need to develop a new OS which is dedicated to the pro line up of iPads, iPadOS Pro would be great, utilises more functional multi tasking, takes advantage of the RAM, has optimised Pro apps etc…

 

[bluecoast]

Yes. I’ve never owned an iPad and I won’t until Apple itself stops holding it back.

Conspicuously MIA is:

- Proper monitor support
- Multiuser login
- substandard Files app

Apple keep on marketing the iPad as a new sort of computer, but it’s not there yet.

I mean unix had multiuser support in the early 70s. I’m sure an iPad in 2021 could too.

I don’t know why Apple is holding the iPad back. I can only assume it’s because of the (very welcome) reinvestment in the Mac, not because of technical reasons ie preventing cannibalisation.

So until Apple’s iPad marketing matches with the product reality, count me out.