iPad How come MacRumors hate the iPad?

[jclardy]

I haven’t read through the whole thread so I’m sorry if someone else brought this up already. I think people on the forums tend to be more receptive towards the cheaper iPads (maybe not so much the 10th gen iPad), especially as a companion device. It’s the Pro’s that draw most criticism.

I think the reason for this is the ‘Pro’ moniker creates different expectations, especially with a device that’s often marketed as a laptop replacement. For many here the iPad Pro doesn’t quite hit the spot just yet - almost entirely due to software.

100%. I have an iPad Pro and I think it's great, but in the end for what I end up using it for, I could have had the $299 iPad. And I think that is what everything boils down to, a $2000 fully kitted iPad Pro 12.9" is barely more capable then the $299 iPad. Yes, hardware is nicer, yes it has more RAM and is faster...but to what end? There are maybe 10 apps in the app store that can take advantage of M2/16GB of RAM. On a mac, the difference is much more clear from the low to high end. Want to edit 8K video? Go with a MBP.

The ultimate problem is just missing software support. I develop apps end to end (Design/devopment/distribution) on my $1000 M2 Macbook Air. Can I do it on an iPad Pro with an M2? Nope. I can play around with Swift Playgrounds, but anything complex falls apart real fast.

 

[antiprotest]

We have a love-hate relationship with everything here. OP's perception is selective, that's all.

 

[Digitalguy]

Yes, it it a confusion for some about the iPad Pro and the SoC. I fully understand the desire to have MacOS on the iPad but then it works like a modular Macbook Air rather than a iPad.The iPad is tied to touch rather than keyboard and pointers.

Semantic question: Is an Intel based Mac running Windows a Mac or a Windows machine?

I don't think an iPad which dual boot into MacOS (or has a sort of virtualized version à la Parallels) would be equivalent to a modular MacBook air. Or that the iPad could not be used with the Magic Keyboard for MacOS like a regular MacBook. It's just not in Apple's interest, but it would certainly be interesting for some users.
As for Intel Macs running Windows in my experience Bootcamp is so poorly implemented that it's not worth it compared to a regular Windows device.

 

[Ludatyk]

That is simply ridiculous. As other members have already posted, MacRumors members are typically more power users and thus, prefer the Mac over the iPad. I can appreciate the audience the iPad targets; it simply isn't me. I am not, however, afraid of it.

I don’t think it‘s fear literally… but maybe the word in that context should be envious of the attention iPad was getting over the Mac. Heck, Apple had to bring in reporters to inform them that the Mac is not an afterthought to them.

But there’s a huge thread discussing iPad as a laptop replacement and some users come into that thread to make generalized statements. And most of those users come majority from Mac. In addition to that, if someone creates a post criticizing the iPad it will generate more response than a post praising it.

 

[The point and shoot pro]

The way I look at all of this, is....use the tool that gets your work done the easiest and the quickest. If it's a mac, then good, if it's the iPad then good. I don't use mac (yet), but For my work, My PCs are my main tool. My iPad is a secondary device for jotting down notes, creating drawings, coming up with story boards, etc. My PCs then take those ideas and items from the iPad and I make images, graphics and videos. At the end of the day, they are all just tools to get the job done.

 

[eddjedi]

I like to use the best (or sometimes best all round value for money) device, I don't care who makes it. I use a Macbook Pro for my computer, an iPhone for my phone, BUT I use a Microsoft Surface as my tablet. In my opinion it is superior in every way to an iPad, I just installed a 1TB SSD in it for under £70 GBP, you can't even do that with a Mac these days let alone an iPad.

 

[h.gilbert]

The market prefers iPad over Mac’s, as the iPad outsells all Mac’s combined. So why is it the opposite on MacRumors?

That's probably not the correct interpretation of iPad sales being higher than Mac sales.

From a quick google search iPads hold 50% of the global market share for tablets. Macs hold a 10% share of global computer sales.

Those looking for a tablet are much more likely to buy and iPad than people looking for a computer are to buy a mac. It's not necessarily people choosing to buy an iPad over a mac, but rather more people are choosing an iPad over Android tablets than those choosing a mac over a PC.

 

[Night Spring]

Semantic question: Is an Intel based Mac running Windows a Mac or a Windows machine?

I used to run Windows on a Macbook Air, and thought it was the best Windows laptop I ever used. For me, it was indeed a Windows machine, just as much as a Dell or HP, and for bonus, I could boot into MacOS when I wanted.

 

[Juicy Box]

Semantic question: Is an Intel based Mac running Windows a Mac or a Windows machine?

It is a Mac that is natively running Windows.

Just like a PC that runs MacOS, it is still a PC.

 

[HDFan]

MacRumors members are typically more power users and thus, prefer the Mac over the iPad.

I would word it differently. Each is optimized for specific activities. I'm not going to read News with my MacStudio and monitor on my lab. I don't have any preference. There are things that I would only do on my Mac, other things only on my iPad.

 

[Brien]

I would loooove if the iPad would stop reloading apps. Drives me nuts.

 

[snow755]

I love my iPad 10th generation planing on getting the iPad mini 6th generation has my bed side table and listening to voice memos this will replace my Samsung A53 phone

 

[iPadified]

Like many others (and despite my chosen name), I use the computer device best suited for a task and sometime it is an iPad but mostly a Mac and sometimes a PC. Why complain that they are different?

iPads strong points in a work situation is typically away from the desk like teaching, meetings and field/lab work where the main work is not with the computer but where the computer works as an assistant. Compare coding and teaching. Two different computing requirements where Macs excel for coding but really sucks for teaching and vice versa. Unfortunately, the there are many of the MR users that are applying the requirements of a computer for coding/video work on iPads. Round hole square peg situation.

 

[michaelscarn]

I had the iPad 2 and didn't find much use for it. At that time, websites loaded better on laptops/desktops, not to mention the lack of mobile optimization. Apple was not yet marketing the iPad as a do-it-all laptop substitute.

Years later, I purchased an Air 3, assuming things must have improved enough by then. I even added a keyboard case and Apple Pencil, intending to slowly transition away from Macs. While the experience was much improved since the iPad 2, and I'm still impressed how well it runs games and more intense apps, it is in no way a replacement for a traditional laptop/desktop. It very easily could be, the hardware is all there, but iOS is too constraining to work with any kind of speed or efficiency. There is simply no smooth way to multitask on iOS; this includes the major issue of background refreshes, something I've curiously never had an issue with on any iPhone.

For right now, I'm happy with the Air 3 as a media consumption and web browsing device. I deleted any work-related apps, and have accepted that iPads are best utilized as "fun" devices. It's kind of sad how the newer Silicon iPads have such great internals that go underutilized thanks to iOS. This also makes me wary to purchase any iPad Pro models in the future, although a larger screen would be nice. Barring any major improvements to iOS, when the time comes to replace the Air 3, I may consider the most base model iPad with additional storage. Would rather save on the iPad, and spend a little more on the Mac, now knowing how they're best used for my purposes.

 

[snow755]

I had the iPad 2 and didn't find much use for it. At that time, websites loaded better on laptops/desktops, not to mention the lack of mobile optimization. Apple was not yet marketing the iPad as a do-it-all laptop substitute.

Years later, I purchased an Air 3, assuming things must have improved enough by then. I even added a keyboard case and Apple Pencil, intending to slowly transition away from Macs. While the experience was much improved since the iPad 2, and I'm still impressed how well it runs games and more intense apps, it is in no way a replacement for a traditional laptop/desktop. It very easily could be, the hardware is all there, but iOS is too constraining to work with any kind of speed or efficiency. There is simply no smooth way to multitask on iOS; this includes the major issue of background refreshes, something I've curiously never had an issue with on any iPhone.

For right now, I'm happy with the Air 3 as a media consumption and web browsing device. I deleted any work-related apps, and have accepted that iPads are best utilized as "fun" devices. It's kind of sad how the newer Silicon iPads have such great internals that go underutilized thanks to iOS. This also makes me wary to purchase any iPad Pro models in the future, although a larger screen would be nice. Barring any major improvements to iOS, when the time comes to replace the Air 3, I may consider the most base model iPad with additional storage. Would rather save on the iPad, and spend a little more on the Mac, now knowing how they're best used for my purposes.

Keep in mind that at some point you will have to upgrade has the A12 won’t be supported for much longer I think if you want to continue getting iOS updates

 

[Digitalguy]

Keep in mind that at some point you will have to upgrade has the A12 won’t be supported for much longer I think if you want to continue getting iOS updates

Many people keep on using their iPads for several years after the last OS update without issues

 

[Night Spring]

Keep in mind that at some point you will have to upgrade has the A12 won’t be supported for much longer I think if you want to continue getting iOS updates

Apple is pretty good about issuing security updates to older operating systems. I have several iOS devices that can no longer be updated to the latest iOS, but every once in a while, a security update will pop up. Older devices may not get the latest features, but they do keep doing the same things they've been doing. If you are satisfied with that, there's no need for upgrades.

 

[BhaveshUK]

Hate is a strong word.

• I feel people on MacRumors want to love their iPads. What you’re sensing is dissatisfaction with the capabilities of the iPad from users who cannot achieve a certain function on the device. The usual comment is it has the same processor so desktop apps should be possible, etc. These people actually want iPad to improve and would love to see it develop.

• It’s MacRumors, not PadRumors so I assume most people come here because they’re Mac enthusiasts.

• iPad outsells Mac likely because of the cheaper entry point. However, revenue is another matter. They are usually neck-and-neck, and in Q4 2022, Macs documented a 4.8% higher revenue than iPads.

 

[not_anton]

Ipad is mindblowingly good in very narrow areas. I use mine for organizing thoughts, planning, and studying (besides Youtube). 95% non-Youtube use is handwriting in Notes. There is simply nothing else to replace it, and for some reason iPad Pro works great while iPad M1 was overheating and reducing screen brithness after 10 minutes of handwriting.

I would say an iPad is either the best or the worst device for a particular person, not a jack-of-all-trades like a laptop.

 

[darngooddesign]

View attachment 2190856

Hate is a strong word.

• I feel people on MacRumors want to love their iPads. What you’re sensing is dissatisfaction with the capabilities of the iPad from users who cannot achieve a certain function on the device. The usual comment is it has the same processor so desktop apps should be possible, etc. These people actually want iPad to improve and would love to see it develop.

The only things preventing desktop apps on the iPad are the companies unwilling to port them. At a bear minimum, the Menu-bar functionality needs to be integrated into the app itself.

 

[iPadified]

View attachment 2190856

Hate is a strong word.

• I feel people on MacRumors want to love their iPads. What you’re sensing is dissatisfaction with the capabilities of the iPad from users who cannot achieve a certain function on the device. The usual comment is it has the same processor so desktop apps should be possible, etc. These people actually want iPad to improve and would love to see it develop.

• It’s MacRumors, not PadRumors so I assume most people come here because they’re Mac enthusiasts.

• iPad outsells Mac likely because of the cheaper entry point. However, revenue is another matter. They are usually neck-and-neck, and in Q4 2022, Macs documented a 4.8% higher revenue than iPads.

Who says non desktop apps are not CPU/GPU demanding? Desktop apps are optimised to keyboard and pointer not touch. That has nothing to do with the demand on compute. As mentioned, more competent apps are needed but there are no HW stops for that so it is in the willingness to port that is the issue.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Conflating “selling a lot of them” to “everyone must love everything about them” is a leap I’ve only seen Apple’s executives make.

It’s a device that looks like it’s 1, going to replace a fully functional computer with something small, light & intuitive to use + 2, do it more affordably than a Mac. It’s advertised that way. So you buy it, and then discover it has a hobbled phone operating system on it and only runs mobile apps, and there’s a ton of $#!+ it can’t do well or at all. But maybe an update will make it better. Or maybe a high res display will make it better. Or maybe the pencil model will make it better. Or a new big size will make it better. Maybe a more powerful chip will make it better. Nope, still just an oversized cellphone.

 

[Marswarrior462]

It's been exactly two years since Apple started transitioning its iPads to the same M-series chips as the Macs, but they failed to take advantage of the hardware. iPadOS 16 was your best attempt at an apology to iPad Pro users? LOL. Stage Manager is a half-assed solution to a problem that was very flawed, misguided and bad on so many levels. If I had both an M2 iPad Pro and a 2019 Intel-based 16" MacBook Pro, I'd still have disowned my iPad Pro. Right now I have a 2020 iPad Pro which I barely use anymore and I'm sharing dad's 2019 Intel-based 16" MacBook Pro, which I use as much as possible as I'm saving up my own money to buy my own MacBook Pro. I don't think very many people SHOULD buy an iPad Pro anymore simply because of the crappy software. Does spending $2000-4500 ON A TABLET THAT RUNS BUGGY BLOWN UP IPHONE SOFTWARE SOUND REASONABLE?!?! Let that sink in. If you're spending that much, just get a MacBook Pro at that point instead. A refurbished M1 Max MacBook Pro with the same configuration as an iPad Pro would probably not be much different in price

 

[iPadified]

Conflating “selling a lot of them” to “everyone must love everything about them” is a leap I’ve only seen Apple’s executives make.

It’s a device that looks like it’s 1, going to replace a fully functional computer with something small, light & intuitive to use + 2, do it more affordably than a Mac. It’s advertised that way. So you buy it, and then discover it has a hobbled phone operating system on it and only runs mobile apps, and there’s a ton of $#!+ it can’t do well or at all. But maybe an update will make it better. Or maybe a high res display will make it better. Or maybe the pencil model will make it better. Or a new big size will make it better. Maybe a more powerful chip will make it better. Nope, still just an oversized cellphone.

It's been exactly two years since Apple started transitioning its iPads to the same M-series chips as the Macs, but they failed to take advantage of the hardware. iPadOS 16 was your best attempt at an apology to iPad Pro users? LOL. Stage Manager is a half-assed solution to a problem that was very flawed, misguided and bad on so many levels. If I had both an M2 iPad Pro and a 2019 Intel-based 16" MacBook Pro, I'd still have disowned my iPad Pro. Right now I have a 2020 iPad Pro which I barely use anymore and I'm sharing dad's 2019 Intel-based 16" MacBook Pro, which I use as much as possible as I'm saving up my own money to buy my own MacBook Pro. I don't think very many people SHOULD buy an iPad Pro anymore simply because of the crappy software. Does spending $2000-4500 ON A TABLET THAT RUNS BUGGY BLOWN UP IPHONE SOFTWARE SOUND REASONABLE?!?! Let that sink in. If you're spending that much, just get a MacBook Pro at that point instead. A refurbished M1 Max MacBook Pro with the same configuration as an iPad Pro would probably not be much different in price

There are people who actually buys iPad for what it is a not what they want them to be. We just shake our heads regarding these arguments. If you confuse an iPad (Pro) with a Mac you really need to do some research...

 

[Marswarrior462]

At this point, I think jailbreaking, especially for iPad Pros, should become a trend again