iPad as a laptop replacement

[iphonefreak450]

Just noticed that there is a separate thread on this.

I don’t do any development stuff just basically web browsing and emails.

Just tired of dealing with corrupt drivers and things like that. Plus, I would use an iPad because it’s secure. No antivirus to deal with. But who knows, that all might change in the coming future.

 

[rui no onna]

I don’t do any development stuff just basically web browsing and emails.

Just tired of dealing with corrupt drivers and things like that. Plus, I would use an iPad because it’s secure. No antivirus to deal with. But who knows, that all might change in the coming future.

Even simple stuff can be limited sometimes. For example, some websites don’t function properly on the iPad/Safari webkit (often government ones), you can’t format USB flash drives, you’re fully reliant on cloud services for backups, etc.

If you’re in the US (or some other country where returns are OK), you can buy the iPad Pro (preferably from Apple Store) and try it out during return period. You can always just keep your old laptop/desktop as a backup for tasks that are problematic on the iPad.

 

[iphonefreak450]

Oh yeah…The USB would be an issue. Especially if it’s formatted with a Windows file system. Well, I’ll think I’ll pass and stick with using my laptop and my iPhone at the moment.

Thanks.

 

[Slartibart]

Oh yeah…The USB would be an issue. Especially if it’s formatted with a Windows file system. Well, I’ll think I’ll pass and stick with using my laptop and my iPhone at the moment.

Thanks.

sounds like you should use ExFat and get FileBrowser (Professional) - and you’re set on the iPad (Air/Pro)

 

[Gherkin]

I just upgraded to an M1 12.9” and I’m finding that the extra RAM doesn’t really seem to keep stuff in memory that well. But maybe that’s still a system/OS limitation?

I was working on a Procreate drawing and stopped working on it around 11:30 AM. Opened it back up about an hour later and Procreate had gone out of memory and loaded back up on the welcome screen.

It seems like to me that the increased RAM will keep things temporarily in RAM to a greater degree, but it seems like there’s a limit and no matter how much RAM you have, iPadOS will eventually dump your apps after a certain amount of time?

I watched some RAM tests on YouTube before buying, and this one guy had like 30 apps open and nothing was being removed out of memory. But then again the video was only a few minutes long. Seems like after an hour or so apps still get dumped. Is this everyone else’s experience? I wonder if the virtual memory swap in iPadOS 16 will fix this?

edit… just read some impressions on 16 beta and people are saying it’s the same situation as is in the past (apps refreshing after a bit). Maybe there’s still hope as I would guess the individual apps would need to be updated to take advantage of swap?

 

[grmlin]

I have 8GB of ram and it’s fine but not revolutionary. No idea if the 16GB model would help. Sometimes it feels like iOS just does what it does and for example Civ 6 is still in memory after a day or gets closed just because I opened a message 🤷‍♂️

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

I have 8GB of ram and it’s fine but not revolutionary. No idea if the 16GB model would help. Sometimes it feels like iOS just does what it does and for example Civ 6 is still in memory after a day or gets closed just because I opened a message 🤷‍♂️

I appreciate this example because I’m a Civ 6 addict.

 

[Digitalguy]

I just upgraded to an M1 12.9” and I’m finding that the extra RAM doesn’t really seem to keep stuff in memory that well. But maybe that’s still a system/OS limitation?

I was working on a Procreate drawing and stopped working on it around 11:30 AM. Opened it back up about an hour later and Procreate had gone out of memory and loaded back up on the welcome screen.

It seems like to me that the increased RAM will keep things temporarily in RAM to a greater degree, but it seems like there’s a limit and no matter how much RAM you have, iPadOS will eventually dump your apps after a certain amount of time?

I watched some RAM tests on YouTube before buying, and this one guy had like 30 apps open and nothing was being removed out of memory. But then again the video was only a few minutes long. Seems like after an hour or so apps still get dumped. Is this everyone else’s experience? I wonder if the virtual memory swap in iPadOS 16 will fix this?

edit… just read some impressions on 16 beta and people are saying it’s the same situation as is in the past (apps refreshing after a bit). Maybe there’s still hope as I would guess the individual apps would need to be updated to take advantage of swap?

Actually ejecting apps from memory is not just done to free up RAM, but also to reduce power usage and therefore to reduce the impact on battery life. Also, every OS, desktop or mobile, tend to leak RAM over time if it's not shut down. So if you have 6GB in use, out of 8GB, it does not mean it will stay like that for days. After a while the RAM usage will increase and while desktops will use swap, mobiles OSs will kill open stuff. If and how much iPadOS 16 swap on M serires will change things is anybody's guess at this point....

 

[compwiz1202]

A tablet can't even do anything...I need my laptop for work. Real work.

Exactly. It's too big to do things I do on my phone. And I can't do things I can do on my laptop. And I can type much better on a real keyboard.

 

[compwiz1202]

I appreciate this example because I’m a Civ 6 addict.

That's me but for 5. I don't like how 6 forces you so wide to have a chance.

 

[mikemj23]

I’m currently thinking on replacing a standard laptop with an iPad Pro 12.9.

Since I’m doing basic things like web browsing, emails, chats, would it be a very silly decision? Would I regret it?

I’m just sick and tired of all the blue screen errors, and other things that a Windows laptop has.

Also, I think the iPad OS is probably more secure from a security standpoint.

However, my other concern was about office apps?

What would be the best office app for an iPad? If MS Office would be the way to go, does that need to be activated on iOS devices as well?

As for keyboard and mouse, maybe I don’t need one.

What are your thoughts or advice on this decision?

All I’m really doing is just the basics and that’s about it.

I will just comment to this quickly as there is a ton of information out there.

I’ve been contemplating/wanting to use my 12.9 IPP as a laptop replacement for a little while. I have Thinkpad for work and work from my home office. I am not doing anything intensive on my Thinkpad for work and thus don’t need to do anything intensive on a iPad setup. I need Office 365 apps and web browsing. I tried a Surface, Surface Duo 2 and an Android tablet and I’m not quite sure why when I had the answer right in front of me. Office 365 support for iPad has worked flawlessly.

I bought the Magic Keyboard for the IPP and honestly, it’s been perfect. Leave the Thinkpad at my desk and take my iPad everywhere else. There are a few things I need to do on my Thinkpad (company drive access) but for the most part, the IPP can handle everything. It’s been awesome for me to travel with as I now don’t need to bring my TP and my IPP.

Again, I know my use case is very simple, but I’m pleasantly surprised with how much I can get done on my IPP.

 

[Zest28]

Even simple stuff can be limited sometimes. For example, some websites don’t function properly on the iPad/Safari webkit (often government ones), you can’t format USB flash drives, you’re fully reliant on cloud services for backups, etc.

If you’re in the US (or some other country where returns are OK), you can buy the iPad Pro (preferably from Apple Store) and try it out during return period. You can always just keep your old laptop/desktop as a backup for tasks that are problematic on the iPad.

But do you really need to do these things when you are outside. Obviously not.

While outside, the M1 12.9 iPad Pro is a legit M2 MacBook Air replacement. I can’t think of what the MacBook Air cando that I cannot do on the iPad outside (people are not going to format USB sticks outside).

I’m sure you can think of stuff like music production, coding, but who the hell is seriously doing this outside and why?

 

[sparksd]

But do you really need to do these things when you are outside. Obviously not.

While outside, the M1 12.9 iPad Pro is a legit M2 MacBook Air replacement. I can’t think of what the MacBook Air can that I cannot do on the iPad outside (I’m not going to format USB sticks when I am outside).

I’m sure you can think of stuff like music production, coding, but who the hell is seriously doing this outside and why?

Outside? What does that mean in this context? What about travel on extended trips? Or long commutes? Maybe not USB formatting (though possible), but those others are legit activities when traveling or commuting.

 

[rui no onna]

But do you really need to do these things when you are outside. Obviously not.

While outside, the M1 12.9 iPad Pro is a legit M2 MacBook Air replacement. I can’t think of what the MacBook Air cando that I cannot do on the iPad outside (people are not going to format USB sticks outside).

I’m sure you can think of stuff like music production, coding, but who the hell is seriously doing this outside and why?

I mentioned those since the poster seems to want to go iPad-only.

As for what you need when you are outside, that really depends. Daily commute, I just carry either iPad Air or mini (no physical keyboard). If I’m traveling for work, then I can’t go iPad-only and yes, I may need to format external storage.

Also, when we visit family overseas, we usually give away our older iPhones and iPads so I carry a laptop to do a final backup of the iPhones/iPads we’re giving away.

Mind, I once connected my Kindle to my iPad Pro to copy some DRM-free ebooks and iPadOS nearly corrupted my Kindle (froze then went into boot loop but thankfully recovered after disconnecting from the iPad). Indeed, I’ve had to fix the MBR and format a 1TB USB flash drive (exFAT) after it got corrupted by iPadOS. Thankfully, I have backups so no data was lost.

I love iPads. I use them like 90% of the time and I pretty much have all the sizes: small - mini 6, medium - Air 4 & M1 Pro 11, large - M1 Pro 12.9. That said, I’m not blind to iPadOS’s limitations.

 

[Zest28]

Outside? What does that mean in this context? What about travel on extended trips? Or long commutes? Maybe not USB formatting (though possible), but those others are legit activities when traveling or commuting.

If there are people who do this, it is really small minority. Most people work in the office or from home.

It is a use case that is not important at all.

The iPad is more like a “personal computer” for casual use. Something that you would also use a MacBook Air for.

 

[sparksd]

If there are people who do this, it is really small minority. Most people work in the office or from home.

It is a use case that is not important at all.

The iPad is more like a “personal computer” for casual use. Something that you would also use a MacBook Air for.

Not important to you but that doesn't mean you need to be so dismissive of others. And "small minority" is an unverifiable opinion.

 

[Zest28]

Not important to you but that doesn't mean you need to be so dismissive of others. And "small minority" is an unverifiable opinion.

So how many people have you seen doing music production outside?

And how many people have you seen coding in the park or on the beach?

Most people I see outside using laptops such as in Starbucks, are just doing basic Word documents. I have yet to see someone in Starbucks doing music production or coding.

It’s nice talking about all these theoretical limitations, but realistically most people don’t run into them. Especially formating USB sticks. Do you really see people doing this type of stuff in Starbucks?

 

[sparksd]

So how many people have you seen doing music production outside?

And how many people have you seen coding in the park or on the beach?

Most people I see outside using laptops such as in Starbucks, are just doing basic Word documents. I have yet to see someone in Starbucks doing music production or coding.

Read what I wrote. I was talking about "outside" including traveling & commuting. If you are restricting this to just leisurely outside activities, then the iPad can be enough.

 

[Zest28]

Read what I wrote. I was talking about "outside" including traveling & commuting. If you are restricting this to just leisurely outside activities, then the iPad can be enough.

I also have yet to see in commuting (plain, train, bus, …) someone coding or doing music production. Do you really see people do this on a daily basis?

Most of the time it’s either watching videos. And in rare cases, someone is doing word or excel on their laptop during commuting.

I honestly believe you guys are making a big deal out of something that affects a very small group of people.

 

[rui no onna]

Most people I see outside using laptops such as in Starbucks, are just doing basic Word documents. I have yet to see someone in Starbucks doing music production or coding.

I actually have seen a few folks with IDEs open at Starbucks. Mind, even email, Word, Excel and Powerpoint can be easier to use on a laptop versus an iPad Pro. Iirc, stylesheets, conditional formatting, pivot tables, etc. are not available on the iOS version of MS Office apps.

I honestly believe you guys are making a big deal out of something that affects a very small group of people.

Everyone’s needs are different. Whether the iPad can be a laptop replacement depends on use case and what other devices an individual owns or has access to.

If someone doesn’t have a desktop at all, would you recommend they buy a laptop or an iPad?

For someone like my mom and dad, sure, they can get by with the iPad only. For others, the limitations of iPadOS may mean they need a laptop (or maybe a Surface instead of an iPad).

 

[sparksd]

...

For someone like my mom and dad, sure, they can get by with the iPad only. For others, the limitations of iPadOS may mean they need a laptop (or maybe a Surface instead of an iPad).

Yeah, the limitation/fault within iPadOS that causes corruption of exFAT storage means that I always take my Surface Pro 7 on travel - I won't trust the iPad for copying & backing up from my cameras' storage card.

 

[Zest28]

I actually have seen a few folks with IDEs open at Starbucks. Mind, even email, Word, Excel and Powerpoint can be easier to use on a laptop versus an iPad Pro. Iirc, stylesheets, conditional formatting, pivot tables, etc. are not available on the iOS version of MS Office apps.




Everyone’s needs are different. Whether the iPad can be a laptop replacement depends on use case and what other devices an individual owns or has access to.

If someone doesn’t have a desktop at all, would you recommend they buy a laptop or an iPad?

For someone like my mom and dad, sure, they can get by with the iPad only. For others, the limitations of iPadOS may mean they need a laptop (or maybe a Surface instead of an iPad).

I’m sure you will find someone doing coding in Starbucks, but it’s very rare.

Well, there are different types of laptops. The iPad Pro is not a 16” M1 Max MacBook Pro replacement, which is a workstation class laptop.

It’s more like a M2 MacBook Air replacement for personal use.

 

[rui no onna]

Well, there are different types of laptops. The iPad Pro is not a 16” M1 Max MacBook Pro replacement.

It’s more like a M2 MacBook Air replacement for personal use.

Pretty much all the same software you run on the 16” MBP will run on the 13” MBA, just slower and with less screen real estate.

Also, this thread is called “iPad as a laptop replacement” not “iPad as a M2 MacBook Air replacement for personal/casual/light use”.

 

[Zest28]

Pretty much all the same software you run on the 16” MBP will run on the 13” MBA, just slower and with less screen real estate.

Also, this thread is called “iPad as a laptop replacement” not “iPad as a M2 MacBook Air replacement for personal/casual/light use”.

Well, the M2 MacBook Air is not intended for these type of things.

I can write Python code and produce music on my iPhone, but it is not really intended for that too.

I don’t care what the thread of the title is, because it is wrong. Just compare Logic Pro with all the 3rd party plugins you have available on PC and Mac to all the mobile apps you have on the iPad and you will laugh.

And something free like VScode is far superior then pretty much all the paid apps on the iPad too.

So really, if you just view and treat the iPad as a personal device, it’s a great device. And for most people, it is fine.

 

[sparksd]

Well, the M2 MacBook Air is not intended for these type of things.

I can write Python code and produce music on my iPhone, but it is not really intended for that too.

I don’t care what the thread of the title is, because it is wrong. Just compare Logic Pro with all the 3rd party plugins you have available on PC and Mac to all the mobile apps you have on the iPad and you will laugh.

And something free like VScode is far superior then pretty much all the paid apps on the iPad too.

So really, if you just view and treat the iPad as a personal device, it’s a great device. And for most people, it is fine.

I guess that closes the discussion.