iPad as a laptop replacement

[Expos of 1969]

I frequent a local coffee shop that is primarily patronized by remote workers and students. This coffee shop is unique because it has a couple of large open work spaces for customers. Anyway, I see tons of folks working on laptops. I rarely see people working on iPads only. Of course, this is anecdotal. But, I wonder why people seem to be sticking with laptops when it is time to get stuff done.

Same here in Helsinki. Over the past 5 years visiting numerous coffee shops at all times of the day, I have probably seen less than 10 iPads. Hundreds and hundreds of laptops being used. I use neither as I browse on my Galaxy phone in these coffee shops but I am retired so no longer a slave to The Man.

 

[ian87w]

I frequent a local coffee shop that is primarily patronized by remote workers and students. This coffee shop is unique because it has a couple of large open work spaces for customers. Anyway, I see tons of folks working on laptops. I rarely see people working on iPads only. Of course, this is anecdotal. But, I wonder why people seem to be sticking with laptops when it is time to get stuff done.

Yes and no. Many people would’ve had a laptop for work so why use an iPad. actual use can vary. Many people in Starbucks I have seen are using their laptops to watch YouTube.

And when one compares the price of a 12.9” iPad Pro with the magic keyboard with the base MacBook Air, the iPad would remain a niche as it is priced as such.

 

[jjd]

I use my (3rd gen) 12.9” IPP for all of my mobile computing needs. I use the Smart Keyboard Folio (3rd gen not compatible with the Magic Keybaord) but I also carry a Magic Trackpad with me. It’s actuallly a great setup. The Smart Keyboard is less bulky than a Brydge or even the Magic KB and the Trackpad weighs nothings. Plus it’s nice be able to position the trackpad off to the right where I use it with my desktop. I will admit though that like others here, if I set up in a cafe I am usually the only person not on at laptop.

About the only thing I miss is a proper version of Excel. I have not figured out how to do any real work with it in iOS. For almost everything else I prefer the iPad. I mark up a lot of documents in PDF. The iPad plus the pencil is just so much more efficient than a MBP. And I find it easier to do photo and video editing on the iPad. For browsing, Word, emails, watching movies etc I think its a push - no real difference to MBP. (Although the Music app is really much better on iPadOS these days as the MacOS version has been neglected IMHO - won’t play bit perfect etc…)

When I’m at home, I have a 5k iMac that I use when I can - there is no substitute for a big screen and with that one I don‘t have to sacrifice retina PPI (still use the iPad to markup documents though). But, if IPadOS ever has proper external monitor support than I could see my next “desktop” being a high end monitor (if I can find with one with sufficient PPI (that costs less than an XDR)).

My #1 gripe about the iPad? They STILL have the FaceTime camera on the portrait side ?

 

[wondercrew]

Well, I watched a few videos on youtube, when people tried to replace mac with Ipad, and I can say that it is not worth it.

 

[sparksd]

Well, I watched a few videos on youtube, when people tried to replace mac with Ipad, and I can say that it is not worth it.

Frankly, I wouldn't view YouTube videos as an authority on anything. Click bait.

 

[ascender]

About the only thing I miss is a proper version of Excel. I have not figured out how to do any real work with it in iOS.

I struggle with Excel too although I can't quite put my finger on why.

 

[secretk]

I struggle with Excel too although I can't quite put my finger on why.

Same. I also can't explain it properly but there are few things that I can at least mention. First is the screen size itself. I just need 15 inch (and above) display to work with proper Excel tales. Otherwise I cannot see everything I need and this affects my productivity. Another thing is that IMO Excel UI is not for touch. Like using finger to point the cell I want to work with is PITA. Yes, we can use keyboard but iOS is not as accessible with keyboard as Windows in the sense that it is slower. I am used to navigate through UI with keyboard (as I hate touchpads on laptops as well) and on Windows things are really fast. On iOS I experience issues - not just with Excel, but also Safari, Notes and any other app where there is editable text view.

Lastly some simple things (for me) like text wrapping in cells, cells merging etc are more convoluted to be done on the iOS version than on the Windows version.

 

[saturnotaku]

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro has been the perfect laptop replacement for my (largely) tech-illiterate boomer parents. In their two-plus years of ownership, I've fielded less than five tech support phone calls. Even then only one was an actual problem that a reset promptly solved, the rest were more questions about functionality.

 

[subjonas]

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro has been the perfect laptop replacement for my (largely) tech-illiterate boomer parents. In their two-plus years of ownership, I've fielded less than five tech support phone calls. Even then only one was an actual problem that a reset promptly solved, the rest were more questions about functionality.

When people ask why Apple is so slow to expand the iPad’s capabilities so that it can ultimately be their only device, I’d say it’s probably because for the people for whom Apple expects the iPad to be their only device (such as your parents), it's already more than capable enough. That’s why the iPad’s evolution has been more about refinement than expansion (though it has had a couple spurts of expansion).

For those who need a device more focused on the functionality side of the functionality-simplicity spectrum, Apple’s answer continues to be the Mac. It has a functionality-focused OS, and Apple believes that for heavy functionality, mouse+keyboard is generally the more effective input.

People should keep in mind three things:
1. Robust functionality and simplicity/ease are on opposite ends of a spectrum. There is no one device that can do both perfectly. And how much compromise one believes is worth it, is subjective.
2. No matter how much Mac functionality Apple adds to the iPad, or iPad functionality/ease to the Mac, unless Apple makes them exactly 1:1 (which I don’t think is even truly possible otherwise they’d be the exact same device), there is always going to be a fringe group that is caught on the line, wanting just one or two more features from the other device in order to have all their needs (and wants) met from one device.
3. The market has ultimate say. Apple has thus far made their views on these matters pretty clear by their choices, but of course if a large enough market demands something contrary, Apple would have to respond, as was the case with large phones. That’s why I think frustration with Apple or any company in a free market is misplaced (unless they’re lying or doing something illegal). They are who they are, it’s the market that chooses what succeeds. Blame your family/friends/colleagues, or even yourself. ?

 

[subjonas]

Totally valid point I think you raise here, however I don’t think we can expect this to change anytime soon. Apple has an interest to tie you to as much of iCloud as possible- hence they offer iCloud backups and restore options for those who don’t want to use iTunes or the Mac’s Finder.

They however have no benefit from porting the functionality of the old iTunes over to iPad.

iTunes as the center of our digital homes was the key when Apple sold iPods. Now with services around they prefer if we just subscribe to them. I wonder how many more years the Mac and Windows versions will continue to offer ways of dealing with “legacy “ files that users store locally.

The big push to the cloud has been incredibly aggravating. Every company is trying to find ways to charge subscriptions and some kind of cloud service is their go-to. In some cases it adds a lot of value and makes complete sense, but in many others, it doesn’t. For instance, device data syncing could pretty much all be done locally. There is no reason my new journal entry needs to travel hundreds of miles from my device to a server in some company just to travel all the back to my other device 2 feet away. Not to mention now it’s stored permanently in some company’s server which is vulnerable to Lord knows what. It’s ludicrous.
Anyway, I hope and I don’t think Apple will retire local file syncing and management any time soon. For one reason, though they are pushing iCloud, it seems to be the glaringly weak link in an otherwise pretty secure ecosystem, so if Apple intends to continue touting security and privacy as a top selling point for their products, then they need to keep iCloud services optional.

 

[servenvolley]

I love iPads but I can't use one day to day until Apple allows for more than one user account on the device. I have a personal account with apple/iCloud as well as three business accounts that all have to be kept separate from each other. I can do this on any Mac; I can't on an iPad. When (if) in the future Apple allowed for this I would be buying an iPad just a few minutes later.

 

[Digitalguy]

I love iPads but I can't use one day to day until Apple allows for more than one user account on the device. I have a personal account with apple/iCloud as well as three business accounts that all have to be kept separate from each other. I can do this on any Mac; I can't on an iPad. When (if) in the future Apple allowed for this I would be buying an iPad just a few minutes later.

doubt it will ever happen... this means selling less iPads for Apple overall, so not good for profits

 

[servenvolley]

doubt it will ever happen... this means selling less iPads for Apple overall, so not good for profits

Sadly, I agree.

 

[taxi_driver]

I have a 2015 13" rMBP (i5/16gb/512gb) that runs mostly well, does 95% of what I want/need it to do, has usable legacy ports. there should be a few years of life/usage left on it but have been itching for something new which brought me to the iPad.

I'm a grad student so the touch screen is appealing for a lotta reasons, figured iOS ports of Office apps are available. I don't do much "pro" work per se but do wanna start dabbling with Procreate.

what machine/min specs should I be considering if I want my next iPad to potentially replace my MBP? getting the magic keyboard + pencil are musts for me

is there a significant diff in performance/usage btwn a 2020 A12z and 2021 M1? in the 11" or 12.9"? I know the increase in RAM is a big help but am wondering how practical/obvious it'll be in day-to-day use.

 

[Digitalguy]

is there a significant diff in performance/usage btwn a 2020 A12z and 2021 M1?

I have a 2015 rMBP that runs mostly well, have no real issue with it but was hoping that my next iPad purchase could potentially do everything I need it to do.

No, not a performance difference that matters... Not now, nor in the foreseeable future. The 2GB RAM means less reloads, but it's not night and day... Maybe it could matter more a few years from now...
If the price difference is enough it's probably worth to spend less now and maybe upgrade in 4-5 years, rather than getting a more expensive one now and trying to do everything with it for an unreasonable amount of years...with an expired warranty and a degraded battery

 

[taxi_driver]

No, not a performance difference that matters... Not now, nor in the foreseeable future. The 2GB RAM means less reloads, but it's not night and day... Maybe it could matter more a few years from now...
If the price difference is enough it's probably worth to spend less now and maybe upgrade in 4-5 years, rather than getting a more expensive one now and trying to do everything with it for an unreasonable amount of years...with an expired warranty and a degraded battery

fwiw, I did hang onto an iPad Air 2 for years without any real need to upgrade til now. I guess spending wisely now would allow for another unit in a few years instead of 8-10.

 

[grmlin]

The fastest iPad will also almost never be the baseline for app developers. Apps will be optimized for the slower machines anyway if the developer does a good job. The M1 is total overkill right now, but apps like Capture One could change that in the future

 

[Digitalguy]

fwiw, I did hang onto an iPad Air 2 for years without any real need to upgrade til now. I guess spending wisely now would allow for another unit in a few years instead of 8-10.

good luck "doing everything" on an Air 2... I find it unbearably slow (same with the mini 4, which is not that different with the same single core speed, I sold my air 2 but still have the mini 4, which I can't sell because the battery is almost dead) even compared to a first gen pro, and it's only good for very basic stuff IMO... not for doing everything... unless you have the patience of a Saint.... Anyway if you have this level of tolerance, the A12Z will definitely last at least as much as the air 2 and be much, much faster at the end of its life....

 

[Arctic Moose]

I see tons of folks working on laptops. I rarely see people working on iPads only. Of course, this is anecdotal. But, I wonder why people seem to be sticking with laptops when it is time to get stuff done.

A 12” iPad with a Magic Keyboard has a smaller screen, weighs more, costs more and is bulkier than a MacBook Air.

Unless you need pencil support or prefer an iPadOS workflow I fail to see why anyone would choose the iPad.

 

[Digitalguy]

A 12” iPad with a Magic Keyboard has a smaller screen, weighs more, costs more and is bulkier than a MacBook Air.

Unless you need pencil support or prefer an iPadOS workflow I fail to see why anyone would choose the iPad.

Not a smaller screen (12.9 iPad is actually slightly larger than the MacBook Air despite the what the inches make people believe), but the rest is true.

 

[Arctic Moose]

Not a smaller screen (12.9 iPad is actually slightly larger than the MacBook Air despite the what the inches make people believe), but the rest is true.

I can't find the height and width of the M1 MacBook Air display anywhere. Sure, the iPad has some 30% more pixels, but is the screen actually larger? (I'm thinking the typical user cannot see a significant difference between 264 and 227 ppi anyhow.) I could do the math based on the specs I do have, but it's late and I want to go to bed.

 

[Digitalguy]

I can't find the height and width of the M1 MacBook Air display anywhere. Sure, the iPad has some 30% more pixels, but is the screen actually larger? (I'm thinking the typical user cannot see a significant difference between 264 and 227 ppi anyhow.) I could do the math based on the specs I do have, but it's late and I want to go to bed.

yes, it's 79.88 square inches vs 79.50

 

[Arctic Moose]

yes, it's 79.88 square inches vs 79.50

Then I take back the "smaller screen" part.

Do you happen to have the height and width?

 

[Digitalguy]

Then I take back the "smaller screen" part.

Do you happen to have the height and width?

yes, you can check all the infos here http://www.displaywars.com/12,9-inch-4x3-vs-13,3-inch-16x10

 

[WorldIRC]

After a few weeks, I’ve decided that my iPad could never be my sole device. I do require Mac OS (and Parallels) along with a proper dual monitor setup for productivity purposes. But in a bind, my iPad Pro can definitely be my go-to device when I am not at home (vs. carrying a laptop). As well, my iPad is a great after-hours device.