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iPad If you have a Macbook, iPhone, and an iPad ... what do you use the iPad for?
- Thread starter Skeptical.me
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I have all 3, and I actually don't use the MacBook much (or at all really, not even sure why I have it). The iPad is my go to for web browsing as I can do it while lounging...
I use the iPad for everything I don’t need a Mac for, which is everything at home.
It’s my favourite home computer and a pretty good companion to my professional work (Business - Accounting & Reporting), where it does have limitations.
It’s a also the best device to bring on holidays because it takes up less space than a Mac (especially the lighter Air) You can consume content (movies, shows, games) and still follow up on professional things via Teams, Office apps,…
It’s my favourite home computer and a pretty good companion to my professional work (Business - Accounting & Reporting), where it does have limitations.
It’s a also the best device to bring on holidays because it takes up less space than a Mac (especially the lighter Air) You can consume content (movies, shows, games) and still follow up on professional things via Teams, Office apps,…
I generally use my iPad way way more than my Mac and iPhone:
> for air travel I download streaming material on Netflix/Hulu apps that are simply not available to do as simply on Macbook.
> broadband speeds on the road are also highly variable and I use the Text Browser app to download only the HTML file portion of webpages when needed, much much easier to do on IOS due to that particular app. Reading content and adjusting text size within the app on slow speeds is fantastic. No can do on a Mac that easily.
> I do a lot of journal reading and research for projects and find the Apple Pencil indispensable in being able to highlight and color code sections of material for later organization. The AP works best for my style of aggregating information - - the Mac feels stilted and clunky to me in this regard, simply cannot do it!
> For primary writing and windowing the Mac can’t be beat (full size keyboard, file system), but again I have to say the additional portability of the iPad (Air4 w/ Magic Keyboard) wins most of the time with me . . . and since I use Scrivener I’m able to sync with both operating systems.
YMMV 😁
> for air travel I download streaming material on Netflix/Hulu apps that are simply not available to do as simply on Macbook.
> broadband speeds on the road are also highly variable and I use the Text Browser app to download only the HTML file portion of webpages when needed, much much easier to do on IOS due to that particular app. Reading content and adjusting text size within the app on slow speeds is fantastic. No can do on a Mac that easily.
> I do a lot of journal reading and research for projects and find the Apple Pencil indispensable in being able to highlight and color code sections of material for later organization. The AP works best for my style of aggregating information - - the Mac feels stilted and clunky to me in this regard, simply cannot do it!
> For primary writing and windowing the Mac can’t be beat (full size keyboard, file system), but again I have to say the additional portability of the iPad (Air4 w/ Magic Keyboard) wins most of the time with me . . . and since I use Scrivener I’m able to sync with both operating systems.
YMMV 😁
Exactly the same for me: 85% iPad, 10% iPhone, 5% MacBook Air.
I am about the say just pretty much swap the iPad percentage and the iPhone. Mainly because I use my phone more at work, but when I get home if I use any of the 3 devices it is pretty much the iPad. So maybe mine is a little more like 60% iPhone, 35% iPad, 5% MBP
I use my iPad Mini 5th gen and iPad 9th gen for those 3 purposes. Using a matte screen protector on them has enhanced my experience using them as ereaders. I just started using the "grayscale" accessibility toggle to further the experience when reading. Very pleasant, IMO.
I have the Apple Smart Keyboard cover for the 9th gen, and that enables me to use it as a netbook as well, but that's because I don't have a Macbook but an iMac.
I use my mini 6th gen as mainly as my digital notebook for work and it excels at that purpose. Being able to search my handwritten notes as if they were typed text is a revolution for me. The iPad also gives me easy access to my work email and apps while I am in meetings without me having to haul around the brick of a laptop they gave me. At home I use my iPad for web surfing, ebook reading, FaceTiming with family, and light texting and emailing.
My MacBook is for photo editing, graphic design, and anything that requires multitasking or longer typing. I’ve tried the iPad Pro route and, for me at least, hooking up a keyboard to an iPad pretty much defeats the purpose. At that point I’d rather have my MacBook. iPadOS can do pretty much everything macOS can. But it isn’t nearly as efficient at it. That’s also why I chose the mini. It can be held in tablet mode comfortably pretty much forever.
My MacBook is for photo editing, graphic design, and anything that requires multitasking or longer typing. I’ve tried the iPad Pro route and, for me at least, hooking up a keyboard to an iPad pretty much defeats the purpose. At that point I’d rather have my MacBook. iPadOS can do pretty much everything macOS can. But it isn’t nearly as efficient at it. That’s also why I chose the mini. It can be held in tablet mode comfortably pretty much forever.
Same for me.
At work, I'm 80-90% Windows desktop.
At home, I'm like 99% iPad. Reading, web surfing, online banking, etc. I even answer cellphone calls on the iPad.
That said, I use the MacBook Air for:
- iTunes encrypted backup and restore
- troubleshooting/repairing iOS devices
- fixing iCloud Safari bookmarks after iOS 15.4/15.5 broke syncing
The Windows laptop gets more use:
- iTunes encrypted backup and restore
- troubleshooting/repairing iOS devices
- PC gaming
- telecommuting
- tax filing (with plenty of backups)
- techie stuff (e.g. Raspberry Pi 4 projects, Blu-ray ripping/Plex Media Server, Calibre ebook management, etc)
Kinda bought the M1 MBA on a whim because I really wanted a silent, cool-running, fanless laptop with great battery life. It delivers on all of the above. Alas, I didn't realize how much I would miss my ThinkPad keyboard with built-in numpad and how annoying RDP to my work Windows desktop would be when I'm used to Windows shortcut keys.
Also, 13" is darned small. Even 15.6-17" is barely tolerable for work when I'm used to multiple 24-27" displays.
Snap. The only reason I use my MBA is that work has some weird security policies which makes using an iPad a pain (can't even copy text from docs!!).
I have a M1 MBA and it's good, has a few quirks e.g sometimes opening an app takes ages. As a laptop it is great but the iPad is so much more versatile, granted, that too has a few quirks e.g saving files has a life of their own.
I keep spreadsheets, photos, zoom meetings, and email on my 2015 MBP. I use my 7th gen iPad for web surfing and some texting. It is definitely not a substitute for a real computer. I use my iPhone for phone calls, texting, maps, and when the iPad is not convenient web surfing.
I have many iPhones, MacBooks and iPads oof!
I like the iPads (especially the 5G one) for when I am traveling, or when I am at my kids' sports practice or similar. Easy way to catch up on a show, videos, while still doing emails etc.
I like the iPads (especially the 5G one) for when I am traveling, or when I am at my kids' sports practice or similar. Easy way to catch up on a show, videos, while still doing emails etc.
Mainly for reading magazines, some on Apple News+ and others that I subscribe to directly. I tried reading them on a desktop and laptop, but the iPad is just so much better at recreating the print experience.
The Mac is my coding machine, as in that's all it gets used for. The iPad is a personal computer, in that I do the rest of my computing on it (managing finances, editing video/photos, planning events, web surfing).
Well, it looks like the person that said that to me is very wrong. There are many good reasons for using an iPad. I'm glad I made the order and asked this question here. Thanks!
ipad= entertainment/ email-reading in easy chair. laptop for bill paying and light work duties, iphone text meesages-email-light internet usage while out and photos…i can’t stand trying to get something done on the iphone due to the tiny display… ipad would probably go with me on vacation, sometimes the ipad is more fun to use vs the laptop
I used an iPad as my primary device for several years (2018-2022). I read a LOT (books and news).
Early 2022 I decided I'd forgo an iPad and get a high end MBP. Turns out, I miss sitting on my reading chair curling up with an iPad and doing that with a 16' MBP isn't so nice. So I got an iPad Air 5 for $150 off during a sale recently.
I spend all day working at my desk. After work the last thing I want to do is ... sit at my desk.
Back when I got rid of my iPad, I went back to pen and paper for note taking during work/throughout the day. Wondering if I scanned in my paper notes or not got old - having pages strewn upstairs and downstairs also got old.
I use my iPad as a paper notebook - for calls, thoughts, etc. I read books on it. I use it as a big iPhone when at home (text, etc). Being able to search through my handwritten text is worth gold.
My MBP? I use for games, document processing, work, and usually for posting on Macrumors, photo management, etc.
My iPhone? I've tried and tried and tried to read books/news on this but it's just too small and not comfortable to use for long periods of time. But this device is the best to bring out when I'm birding with my wife or on a long trip.
Why I like my iPad:
I can easily read for 6 hours straight on the iPad on a weekend. I love reading. Learning about new things is a huge hobby of mine and reading books is one of the best ways to do that imo. The iPad is the BEST WAY to consume content imo. Get seated in a chair that you really like, bring something up almost eye level (I use a body pillow to prop it up) and read away for hours and hours. Being able to take digital notes and have it available on ALL my devices instantly is priceless. When I'm out and about I can check my work notes on my iPhone if I get a call and/or bring it up on my Mac. (Notability).
Also, when I'm going places that I would like to have something - bringing an iPad is far more pleasant than my 16' MBP.
It's a tool and it does its job well. IMO.
Also I highly recommend matte screen protectors. iCarez. Makes reading and writing a LOT more pleasant.
I've tried. The iPad makes the best ebook reader out of the MBP/iPhone/iPad lineup. As someone who has read 56 books in a year (I'm very proud of that) - all were done on an iPad Pro 11 format. I now have an Air 5 (same build as a Pro 11) and can't imagine life without it.
Some people I know prefer having a MBP on their lap. If that works for them great, but I don't know anyone who does this for 5-6 hours reading books. IMO, much easier to do with an iPad.
Couldn't have said it better. The wide screen of a laptop or desktop simply isn't as conducive to reading a magazine as the iPad is.
Here is how it breaks down for me:
In terms of usage, it is about evenly distributed 1/3 each. If I had to drop one, it would be the iPad, since I can pretty much do everything on my MBA that I do on my iPad. Of course, I might end up using my library card more for hard copy books. So, living without an iPad would be inconvenient, but not a show stopper.
- iPhone: communication, navigation, and photography
- iPad: reading and content consumption. Also, a nice mobile secondary screen with Universal Control
- MacBook Air: productivity apps (iWork/MS Office) and multi-tasking
In terms of usage, it is about evenly distributed 1/3 each. If I had to drop one, it would be the iPad, since I can pretty much do everything on my MBA that I do on my iPad. Of course, I might end up using my library card more for hard copy books. So, living without an iPad would be inconvenient, but not a show stopper.
Some people I know prefer having a MBP on their lap. If that works for them great, but I don't know anyone who does this for 5-6 hours reading books. IMO, much easier to do with an iPad.
I used to do this circa 1998-2007. No good alternatives particularly since I was a poor student for most of that time and couldn't afford a PDA or e-ink reader (still $300+).
OG iPhone + Stanza was my first turning point to ditching the laptop as ebook reader. When I got my 3GS, I kept my old iPhone 2G as backup reader and when I upgraded to the iPhone 4 (retina was a game changer), I got an iPod touch 4th gen to use as backup reader.
The next turning point was iPad 3 (retina) + Marvin/iBooks. Since then, I've pretty much done all my reading on the iPad (and now have multiple iPad sizes for different types of reading content).
MacBook Air M2 for the 8-5 life.
iPhone and iPad for all else. In other words, when I retire, I will no longer use a MacBook.
I wonder if you'd get the same lopsided response in any of the non-iPad discussion groups ...
iPhone and iPad for all else. In other words, when I retire, I will no longer use a MacBook.
I wonder if you'd get the same lopsided response in any of the non-iPad discussion groups ...
Screentime says that in the past ten days I used the iPhone twice as much (6.5 hrs/day) as the MacBook (3.5 hrs/day), and the iPad just 6 min/day. That's probably skewed toward the iPhone and away from the Mac since I took a couple of days off this week, and the Mac would ordinarily get more use. I'd say that it's probably more usual to be about evenly distributed between the two. The iPad is not terribly far from usual.
I only use the iPad for specific things:
- with a Pencil as a very accurate on-screen method of burning and dodging photographs
- sharing images and layouts with clients
- as an "extended battery" for the iphone on extended travel
I only use the iPad for specific things:
- with a Pencil as a very accurate on-screen method of burning and dodging photographs
- sharing images and layouts with clients
- as an "extended battery" for the iphone on extended travel
My main use case for iPad these days is mixing live sound. It’s the perfect device for that.