Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Status
The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
Oh ok.
Yeah I prefer separate screens too. That’s why I love that Apple implemented Sidecar, can make good use of my 12.9” iPad. It’s just sad I had to switch to a Windows machine for my work. I might look into third party options.
Third party option are actually better than Sidecar, including for Windows (see my breakdown in recent thread about sidecar). To be honest I actually prefer Windows to MacOS, but I use both, and I use both my two 12.9 iPad pros (together with my 2 large Samsung tablets) as external monitors (with various apps, again most better than sidecar but not always free). Sadly I'm selling my old 2015 12.9, which I hoped to keep for life, even just for this feature, because it's developing a bright spot (the original 12.9 never had an issue but the one Apple swapped last year for the battery service is starting to show one, and I am afraid it will become like my 10.5). I am so mad at Apple for this, they oblige me to sell for cheap a device that is still very good, before it becomes impossible to sell / very annoying to use like the 10.5.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: bondr006
I was going to say the iPad is a toy then I realised my sister is md of a world famous animation company and does everything on an iPhone ( which is basically a small iPad ) maybe it’s just me being a boring out of touch old fart .

What use you extract from a computer depends on the user in plenty cases. Can it be a toy? Sure. Can it be super useful for others? Of course.
 
I am afraid it’s could be other way around: a Mac with touch capabilities. Why? Because Apple is actively bringing iPad apps to macOS and having same processor on the latest iPad Pro and Air probably helps to adapt software
iOS apps not focused specifically to iPadOS apps.

Don’t worry. I see Apple bringing FaceID + AR via LIDAR to the front camera assembly (or similar) for a motion tracking before macOS becomes fully touch screen.

ModBook was supported by Apple as a non-pad test bed. It failed.
Microsoft keeps pushing and fiddling around with Surface Pro and other iterations yet it still seems too similar to their WinCE Tablet days that stock traders used with a stylus.

Asus has twice now destroyed their Surface Pro with their one full windows tablet pC both in ports and power and full package at a cheaper price.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bondr006
Third party option are actually better than Sidecar, including for Windows (see my breakdown in recent thread about sidecar). To be honest I actually prefer Windows to MacOS, but I use both, and I use both my two 12.9 iPad pros (together with my 2 large Samsung tablets) as external monitors (with various apps, again most better than sidecar but not always free). Sadly I'm selling my old 2015 12.9, which I hoped to keep for life, even just for this feature, because it's developing a bright spot (the original 12.9 never had an issue but the one Apple swapped last year for the battery service is starting to show one, and I am afraid it will become like my 10.5). I am so mad at Apple for this, they oblige me to sell for cheap a device that is still very good, before it becomes impossible to sell / very annoying to use like the 10.5.
Do you have a link to the Sidecar thread? Sorry to hear about your iPad issues.
 
I wish we could use software like Exam4 on the iPad ?. I love my iPad Pro with the MK but in many instances for me its not practical. Thats why I am looking at getting a MacBook Air or Pro. Love sidecar and universal control but still its frustrating at times.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bondr006
The iPad’s external monitor support is depressing. Not only are you limited to the aspect ratio of the iPad and direct mirroring of what’s showing on the iPad screen, but you’re also limited to its resolution. I know there are other uses for a Thunderbolt port, and I rather have a Thunderbolt than not, but this still makes me think, “What’s the point of having a Thunderbolt port if I really can’t even use a 4K display with it?” I really hope Apple has significant improvements to this with iOS 16, even if it’s an option buried in settings. This would be a great solution to being able to give power users more functionality without making UI any more complicated for the more basic users.
 
The iPad’s external monitor support is depressing. Not only are you limited to the aspect ratio of the iPad and direct mirroring of what’s showing on the iPad screen, but you’re also limited to its resolution. I know there are other uses for a Thunderbolt port, and I rather have a Thunderbolt than not, but this still makes me think, “What’s the point of having a Thunderbolt port if I really can’t even use a 4K display with it?” I really hope Apple has significant improvements to this with iOS 16, even if it’s an option buried in settings. This would be a great solution to being able to give power users more functionality without making UI any more complicated for the more basic users.
Technically that’s not entirely true I think? My high dpi screen runs at a native resolution, but it’s indeed neither scaling the ui nor filling it.

I really hope they’ll improve iPadOS in that regard. The M1 could do it easily. It’s just the software holding it back ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: bondr006
The iPad’s external monitor support is depressing. Not only are you limited to the aspect ratio of the iPad and direct mirroring of what’s showing on the iPad screen, but you’re also limited to its resolution. I know there are other uses for a Thunderbolt port, and I rather have a Thunderbolt than not, but this still makes me think, “What’s the point of having a Thunderbolt port if I really can’t even use a 4K display with it?” I really hope Apple has significant improvements to this with iOS 16, even if it’s an option buried in settings. This would be a great solution to being able to give power users more functionality without making UI any more complicated for the more basic users.

The solution is just to buy a $800 M1 MBA if you don't need an Apple pencil. It is a far superior device if you don't need the Apple pencil and it is cheaper too.

A smartphone replaces the iPad if you don't need the Apple pencil basically.
 
Last edited:
How so? I mean, from my setup, I have an iPhone and I just connect via HotSpot automatically and have internet. Why is it a PITA for you?

Same thoughts here. I guess the amount of people wanting built in cellular capability is even lower with Macs than iPads.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bondr006
Yeah. I use my laptop every day with a hotspot. Its a royal PITA. Not like having an iPad with cellular.
How so? I mean, from my setup, I have an iPhone and I just connect via HotSpot automatically and have internet. Why is it a PITA for you?
Same thoughts here. I guess the amount of people wanting built in cellular capability is even lower with Macs than iPads.
Same. I use my iPad Pro for my Real Estate businesses and have it out in the field with me constantly. I did not buy the cellular model because I have two iPhones with T-Mobile and both have the hotspot feature. Poo on $200.00 extra for iPad Pro with cellular, plus an extra plan charge every month. Definitely not worth it. The hot spot may not be as convenient as built in cellular, but I certainly don't feel it is a PITA. The PITA is paying again for something you have already paid for.;)
 
Last edited:
How so? I mean, from my setup, I have an iPhone and I just connect via HotSpot automatically and have internet. Why is it a PITA for you?
Its the lack of an auto-connection that makes it so frustrating for me. I’m opening and closing the macbook all day at work and I always have to go to the wifi icon, find my hotspot, sometimes its not there, go to the setting on the iphone, then it shows up, PITA.

My current solution is a travel router that i plug into my iphone and my MacBook connects automatically to that, but then sometimes the wifi speed is randomly slow. So, i have to restart my phone and then the speeds improve. PITA.

A 5G always on connection would solve this for me, or better ipados software.
 
Its the lack of an auto-connection that makes it so frustrating for me. I’m opening and closing the macbook all day at work and I always have to go to the wifi icon, find my hotspot, sometimes its not there, go to the setting on the iphone, then it shows up, PITA.

My current solution is a travel router that i plug into my iphone and my MacBook connects automatically to that, but then sometimes the wifi speed is randomly slow. So, i have to restart my phone and then the speeds improve. PITA.

A 5G always on connection would solve this for me, or better ipados software.
What do you mean by auto connect? I leave the hotspot turned on on both my phones and if I am out where there is no WiFi, my iPad automatically connects to one of the hotspots every time. I don't even have to think about it. I just open my iPad and it is already connected to one of the hotspots and ready to go.
why.gif
 
Its the lack of an auto-connection that makes it so frustrating for me. I’m opening and closing the macbook all day at work and I always have to go to the wifi icon, find my hotspot, sometimes its not there, go to the setting on the iphone, then it shows up, PITA.

My current solution is a travel router that i plug into my iphone and my MacBook connects automatically to that, but then sometimes the wifi speed is randomly slow. So, i have to restart my phone and then the speeds improve. PITA.

A 5G always on connection would solve this for me, or better ipados software.
My Mac auto-connects to my iPhone automatically when there is no Wi-Fi. Also, it takes like 5 seconds to do the process manually. I would assume that PITA is a process that is painstakingly necessary but not worth it and aggravating. That process I described is far from it. So not sure how you can complain on a simple 3-step process.
 
Same. I use my iPad Pro for my Real Estate businesses and have it out in the field with me constantly. I did not buy the cellular model because I have two iPhones with T-Mobile and both have the hotspot feature. Poo on $200.00 extra for iPad Pro with cellular, plus an extra plan charge every month. Definitely not worth it. The hot spot may not be as convenient as built in cellular, but I certainly don't feel it is a PITA. The PITA is paying again for something you have already paid for.;)
Yup, any repaying of games is PITA... or when you missed a deal in a sale of said game originally, like me when I bought AEO2 DE
 
  • Like
Reactions: bondr006
Its the lack of an auto-connection that makes it so frustrating for me. I’m opening and closing the macbook all day at work and I always have to go to the wifi icon, find my hotspot, sometimes its not there, go to the setting on the iphone, then it shows up, PITA.

My current solution is a travel router that i plug into my iphone and my MacBook connects automatically to that, but then sometimes the wifi speed is randomly slow. So, i have to restart my phone and then the speeds improve. PITA.

A 5G always on connection would solve this for me, or better ipados software.

PITA, really?!? You must’ve never experienced days OG gprs data cards or Bluetooth 2.0 with phone as modem era!

My Mac auto-connects to my iPhone automatically when there is no Wi-Fi. Also, it takes like 5 seconds to do the process manually. I would assume that PITA is a process that is painstakingly necessary but not worth it and aggravating. That process I described is far from it. So not sure how you can complain on a simple 3-step process.

3 steps? 5 seconds?
I’m seeing 1 step (1button tap), and 1-1.5seconds max even with 1bar signal strength & that was with my iPhone 8, it’s been under 1 second since the 12/13.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bondr006
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.