All iPads Help: can’t decide which device to use going forward

[joshuahillyer]

Hi, macrumors community! Long time lurker, first time poster.

here are the 2 devices I have:
- MacBook Air (2017) - basically hate it for most things but it’s nice to have when something doesn’t work on iPad.
- Ipad 7th gen (2019) with pencil - love it for 90% of things. Especially note taking. I’m a minister and seminary student, so I do a lot of note taking. I also prefer editing video on the iPad because it doesn’t sound like it’s about to die and randomly crash while I’m using it (like the MacBook). I know this ipad is going to age quickly, though, due to the older chip, and I wish it had a laminated display - you start to notice the air gap more and more with time.

what I’m considering and need advice on:
Option 1:
- keep MacBook Air for the times I need a “regular” computer (/what’s a computer)
- Sell iPad 7th gen.
- Buy an iPad Air 3 so I then have the laminated siplay and a more future proof device without having to get a new pencil.

option 2:
- Sell MacBook air
- Sell iPad 7th gen
- Buy 11 inch iPad Pro and a keyboard and a pencil and hope to avoid the cases when I would wish I had a regular computer.

Option 3:
Some other idea I haven’t considered that you, the macrumors community, bless me with

 

[ericwn]

I would keep what I have until there is an urgent real need to update.

 

[mac.cali]

Keep the MacBook Air since it’s already paid for, no need to make another big purchase. As for iPad, go with what you feel is worth it. Might want to look into a refurbished model as it’ll be cheaper and practically brand new by Apple standards.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Hi, macrumors community! Long time lurker, first time poster.

here are the 2 devices I have:
- MacBook Air (2017) - basically hate it for most things but it’s nice to have when something doesn’t work on iPad.
- Ipad 7th gen (2019) with pencil - love it for 90% of things. Especially note taking. I’m a minister and seminary student, so I do a lot of note taking. I also prefer editing video on the iPad because it doesn’t sound like it’s about to die and randomly crash while I’m using it (like the MacBook). I know this ipad is going to age quickly, though, due to the older chip, and I wish it had a laminated display - you start to notice the air gap more and more with time.

what I’m considering and need advice on:
Option 1:
- keep MacBook Air for the times I need a “regular” computer (/what’s a computer)
- Sell iPad 7th gen.
- Buy an iPad Air 3 so I then have the laminated siplay and a more future proof device without having to get a new pencil.

option 2:
- Sell MacBook air
- Sell iPad 7th gen
- Buy 11 inch iPad Pro and a keyboard and a pencil and hope to avoid the cases when I would wish I had a regular computer.

Option 3:
Some other idea I haven’t considered that you, the macrumors community, bless me with

Keep the MacBook Air and get an iPad Air 3. You'll never know when you'll need a computer to complete a task.

 

[joshuahillyer]

Thanks for the replies so far!

 

[0128672]

I agree to keep what you have for a year and consider upgrading next year. It might help to know what things "don't work on the iPad" when considering making an iPad Pro recommendation. We have so many use cases on MR that I'm sure someone can chime in to help determine if it (whatever "it" is) can be done on an iPad.

 

[AdamNC]

We use our iPads for everything now. Online banking, games photos, have not really found any situation They can’t do. With a external SSD drive for files it’s pretty versatile.

 

[joshuahillyer]

I agree to keep what you have for a year and consider upgrading next year. It might help to know what things "don't work on the iPad" when considering making an iPad Pro recommendation. We have so many use cases on MR that I'm sure someone can chime in to help determine if it (whatever "it" is) can be done on an iPad.

Everything works on the iPad it’s more of an issue of it not working well on the iPad. For instance, I have found the Microsoft office suite to be a pain in iPad (and not because of the touchscreen - because of the design of the apps themselves being limited in comparison the macOS versions of the same apps). So I tend to use my MacBook Air when I’m writing a paper and have multiple docs open or doing stuff in spreadsheets.
I also edit video a couple of times a month, but my MacBook Air crashes periodically while doing this and takes forever to render/export. Thus I use lumafusion on iPad, but I would rather use final cut...

Issues like that

 

[Alex W.]

Keep the ip7, its perfectly fine speed wise and what you do really won't hit a limit with it. Its overpowered and you forget this is IOS, unless you're doing hardcore photo editing which an iPad is horrible for vs a real computer.

Sell the 2017 air and get a new unit with a fixed keyboard - 2020 MBP 13" or 16"

7th gen iPad is a great device, its 90% of what the air is for most people the airs price is too much for what it is, there isn't a single thing the air does that the 7th gen can't do.

Where you can see it like this, if your MacBook Air keyboard fails, you pay 700 bucks... and you're done.
Invest into the fixed MacBooks and keep the great device you already have.

 

[Moyapilot]

I feel your pain about the lack of laminated display. I found the double reflections on the original Ipad Air to be near headache inducing. I loved it when the Air2 came out with that nice laminated screen and AR coating.

I would however caution against the Air3 or the 10.5pro. They have an inherent flaw in which a white glow thumbprint or larger in size, 2” above the home button, starts to apear on anything with a white or lighter coloured background. I had it happen to me, and while it didn’t effect the function, it did annoy the daylights out of me to the point that I paid for the repair out of warranty ($$$). If you are a fanatic about your devices being pristene, I would avoid 10.5” models.

I have the 11Pro now, and its nice and no issues 9 mounts into ownership. For your scenario though, could you buy a cheap Windows desktop for your Office needs and still get an 11Pro? I have that, and also a nice Chromebook, which is absolutely fantastic and miles better than the Ipad for Office suite work. I do use and prefer Google Office suite though for that. Chromebooks come in all shapes and sizes, and are very affordable.

 

[ian87w]

Depends on your budget.

Easiest is probably upgrade to iPad Air 3 and keep the Macbook for now. You'll get the enjoyment 90% of the time with the new iPad, and you still have your Macbook Air as needed. As time goes and after saving up your money, then try upgrading your Macbook Air to the latest version for the fixed keyboard. By this time, you should be able to get the new Macbook Air with scissor keyboard in the refurbished section of Apple store.

 

[joshuahillyer]

Leaning toward keeping the MacBook Air (haven’t had any problems with the keyboard) and selling the iPad so I can get the laminated screen and better processor on the iPad Air 3. Though the white dot/glow thing worries me...

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Do you NEED a portable Mac? If not, what about getting an iMac someday? Big display, enough power and you could use the keyboard and mouse/trackpad with your iPad, if needed.

 

[marty1980]

I agree with others who say to keep the MacBook. At least for a while longer.

The bigger question is whether or not to upgrade the iPad and which model you could choose.

I know there’s the worries about iPad Air 3 malfunctions, but personally I wouldn’t keep that from making a purchase. It’s a great choice for a lot of needs. There’s even some decent keyboards for it as a step towards what the Pros can do, but at a much lower cost. You can even find adapters for hook up a mouse. The Air works with both the first gen and second gen pencil so you can save money if you want to go for the older pencil.

An iPad Pro ups the game a lot for multitasking - editing multiple word documents and such. Especially the 12.9”. You get more RAM than an Air which will help when you’re working on videos and documents at once. The Magic Keyboard has the mouse built in and the floating stand is nice to have. The downsides are the high cost of the tablet and the keyboard compared to the Air. Plus you lose support for the 1st gen Apple Pencil, but then you’re only losing $30 to get the 2nd gen compared to the 1st (if you don’t already have one).

My advice is to keep the MacBook, decide and buy a new iPad. Then try to do all your work on the iPad. Find the bumps in the road and see how often you feel the need to use your laptop. If you find yourself leaving the laptop to dust, then you can feel more comfortable selling it off.

If you want an iPad Pro and keyboard, selling the MacBook might help cover that cost quite a bit combined with selling your current iPad. So maybe selling both is important. In that case, maybe you have a friend or family member who will allow you to borrow their PC/laptop if/when you find the iPad not able to do something.

 

[Torty]

Keep your Mac AND keep your iPad. Save your money. Electronic stuff always age very fast and loses its value. Pay only for what you really need. Get e.g. some apple stocks instead.

 

[ssledoux]

I was iPad only for a few years before I picked up an iMac early last year so I could do work from home for my (then) employer. The only reason I have kept it is because I didn't think I could make customized photo books on an iPad. There is nothing else I do on this iMac I couldn't do on an iPad, and I prefer iOS, as well as the portability of an iPad (due to military family, we often have extra houseguests for lengthy periods which requires my relocating my entire desk/computer setup to a more inconvenient location in the house). Since I've never really had any desire for a laptop, a bigger iPad would be my choice.

Maybe try putting up the laptop for a few weeks and see if you need to pull it out for anything. If not, it may make the decision to part with it a bit easier.

IMO, if you realize you can part with the laptop, I'd do that and either get an Air 3 with Smart Keyboard or an iPP with either keyboard option. Then you have the versatility of using it on the keyboard or pulling it off to use in your lap.

FWIW, I have purchased two iPad Air 3s over the last year for two of my grandkids and we've had no white spot issues (but I DID make my daughter do the monthly AppleCare for them both just in case), but if it's gonna be your only device, a 2018 refurbished pro might be a better choice for several reasons.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Not sure how relevant this is to you, but I use a Maci Mini coupled with an iPad Pro.

They are both 2018 models, The ipad was about a thousand, the mini about 1200. That has given me a kick ass iPad Pro as a front end for doing most things, with a quite well spec’ced Mac Mini (6 core i7, 32 gb ram) for back end grunt when I need it.

I’m a photographer, and I edit a lot of video too. When the ipad cant do a job, I mainly use the Mini headless with it, and can vnc into it via the ipad when away. It’s a lot like macOS as an app how I have things set up.

It’s revolutionised my computing life actually, which is why I can’t stop harping on about it on these forums. I’m away from my mac, over two months on lock down and I have not even slightly had to suffer with only my iPad, other than looking for a few different workflow methods.

 

[duanepatrick]

I know that this is an all apple site but Surface Pro 3 may fit your need. It is a tablet/computer in which you can do note taking and editing. Its not as elegant as the iPad pro tho. Well it lacks a "good" camera. But cheaper for US$699.95