iPad as a laptop replacement

[bondr006]

I am currently bringing both my 2018 11" iPad Pro and 2020 M1 MBA to University. So far, I haven't really had a chance to use my laptop as we are still have lectures (tutorials start next week), so I am using my iPad Pro for note taking (usually notability and notes in split-screen, and occasionally switching to other apps / websites like blackboard or mail).

The notes app is weird. Initially starts out fine, but then I start getting a split-second lag between me writing on the screen and the annotation appearing. I don't seem to get this in Notability, so maybe I will switch over tomorrow. I also note that my handwriting is horrendous.

I use GoodNotes but also have Notability. If you would like to try a good free notes app that is on par with both those two and also ad free, I use CollaNote. It has quite the following, and the developer does a great job keeping it updated and adding new features. Might be a good replacement for the Notes app for you. It gets 4.9 stars with over 9,000 ratings.

 

[secretk]

I am currently bringing both my 2018 11" iPad Pro and 2020 M1 MBA to University. So far, I haven't really had a chance to use my laptop as we are still have lectures (tutorials start next week), so I am using my iPad Pro for note taking (usually notability and notes in split-screen, and occasionally switching to other apps / websites like blackboard or mail).

The notes app is weird. Initially starts out fine, but then I start getting a split-second lag between me writing on the screen and the annotation appearing. I don't seem to get this in Notability, so maybe I will switch over tomorrow. I also note that my handwriting is horrendous.

So for today, my iPad was down to around 60% by the time we broke for lunch at 12, but I was able to get a power outlet and left it charging back to 100% (yay for my 3-port anker charger which I shared with two other group mates, both also using iPads). Then from 1.30 to 4.30 pm, it went down to 65%? I am not sure if leaving VPN on the whole time made much of a difference; their wifi was blocking telegram and iCloud from working. It would have lasted the day, but then I also did some light gaming and YouTube after dinner at home at it's now at about 30%, so I would have had to charge it at some point either way.

My iPad is old, but I don't really feel compelled to upgrade at this point. The iPad Air feels like a step down, and the M2 iPad Pro seems too pricey for no real benefit. Let's see what Apple offers this year.

Good night all! It's definitely different going back to studying after so many years away from school.

Have you checked the Brightness setting? Higher display brightness could definitely contribute to more power consumption and thus drains battery.

Indeed I do use Notability for taking notes. I am not in school anymore but I do some online courses from time to time around my work and I prefer to take notes in my iPad.

If you do not mind me asking why do you use Notes and Notability in split screen? Can't you for example open two Notability windows in split screen?

 

[Abazigal]

Have you checked the Brightness setting? Higher display brightness could definitely contribute to more power consumption and thus drains battery.

Indeed I do use Notability for taking notes. I am not in school anymore but I do some online courses from time to time around my work and I prefer to take notes in my iPad.

If you do not mind me asking why do you use Notes and Notability in split screen? Can't you for example open two Notability windows in split screen?

The embarrassing explanation is that I simply didn't think of it at the time. When teaching in school, I have become so used to notability storing all my teaching material that I view Notability as more of a pdf manager than a note-taking app. So when lectures started, I just instinctively reached for the notes app.

Today, I tried Freeform and I find I am liking it very much. Rather than taking a new set of notes every day, I am going to pen them all down on the same canvas (since the topics covered this week pretty much resolve around the same theme) and see if there is value in linking them together like some kind of giant mind map.

Looking around me, I see roughly half the lecture hall using a tablet for note taking, with the rest split between laptops and physical notebooks.

Now I wish there was some way of quickly taking partial screenshots on my iPad (like the Mac's cmd+shift+4). Currently, I take the entire screen, then crop out all the unwanted parts, which starts to get cumbersome after a while. Unless there is some shortcut I am not aware of? 😛

 

[secretk]

The embarrassing explanation is that I simply didn't think of it at the time. When teaching in school, I have become so used to notability storing all my teaching material that I view Notability as more of a pdf manager than a note-taking app. So when lectures started, I just instinctively reached for the notes app.

I see. I use Notability for both note taking and PDF sort of manager. I do sometimes use Notability in split screen because I have my digital planner there and when I do daily planning I want to reference the weekly planning layout.

Today, I tried Freeform and I find I am liking it very much. Rather than taking a new set of notes every day, I am going to pen them all down on the same canvas (since the topics covered this week pretty much resolve around the same theme) and see if there is value in linking them together like some kind of giant mind map.

Interesting! I had not thought of using Freeform like that. I played a bit with Freeform but so far my idea was to use it as a brainstorming tool. Basically have one big canvas where I add links, images, sticky notes around specific idea. Then based on that brainstorming I can do more structured stuff.

In terms of notes I am more the classical person. The idea of having dividers for each subject in Notability and then add note for each separate topic works better for me. It kind of helps me to structure info in my head better.

Looking around me, I see roughly half the lecture hall using a tablet for note taking, with the rest split between laptops and physical notebooks.

Interesting that there are people using laptop. I guess it depends on the topic but I would not have used laptop for my lectures in university- it was mostly math, programming, engineering stuff. Plus I process info better if I write it down.

Now I wish there was some way of quickly taking partial screenshots on my iPad (like the Mac's cmd+shift+4). Currently, I take the entire screen, then crop out all the unwanted parts, which starts to get cumbersome after a while. Unless there is some shortcut I am not aware of? 😛

I am not aware of any shortcut for that. Let's see if others can help .

 

[flobach]

Now I wish there was some way of quickly taking partial screenshots on my iPad (like the Mac's cmd+shift+4). Currently, I take the entire screen, then crop out all the unwanted parts, which starts to get cumbersome after a while. Unless there is some shortcut I am not aware of? 😛

Matthew Cassinelli has an amazing collection of shortcuts, and apparently something you’re looking for as well - but you’d need to be a member (I’m not): https://matthewcassinelli.com/shortcuts/take-custom-screenshot/
but it’s possible

Edit: play around with the „crop“ function in shortcuts, that should be useful.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I see. I use Notability for both note taking and PDF sort of manager. I do sometimes use Notability in split screen because I have my digital planner there and when I do daily planning I want to reference the weekly planning layout.

Interesting! I had not thought of using Freeform like that. I played a bit with Freeform but so far my idea was to use it as a brainstorming tool. Basically have one big canvas where I add links, images, sticky notes around specific idea. Then based on that brainstorming I can do more structured stuff.

In terms of notes I am more the classical person. The idea of having dividers for each subject in Notability and then add note for each separate topic works better for me. It kind of helps me to structure info in my head better.

Interesting that there are people using laptop. I guess it depends on the topic but I would not have used laptop for my lectures in university- it was mostly math, programming, engineering stuff. Plus I process info better if I write it down.

I am not aware of any shortcut for that. Let's see if others can help .

It’s been a long time since I was at university🙈 First time was many many eons ago 2003-2006. Nobody used anything but pen and paper to write notes. We didn’t even have smartphones back then. The second time was between 2011-2014. Then about 30% of students were using a laptop or ipad to make notes. I used to use my Chromebook and iPad mini 1st gen and later on my first gen ipad air.

 

[secretk]

It’s been a long time since I was at university🙈 First time was many many eons ago 2003-2006. Nobody used anything but pen and paper to write notes. We didn’t even have smartphones back then.

Similar experience here - was in university 2005-2009. Indeed most of us were pen/paper. Maybe 2-3 people had laptops, no tablet obviously. And yeah no smartphones, just the old mobile phones.

The second time was between 2011-2014. Then about 30% of students were using a laptop or ipad to make notes. I used to use my Chromebook and iPad mini 1st gen and later on my first gen ipad air.

I still think that when it comes to math stuff, laptop is tricky to use for notes. For other type of subjects I tend to agree it works but I studied computer science and there was lots of math.

 

[sparksd]

Similar experience here - was in university 2005-2009. Indeed most of us were pen/paper. Maybe 2-3 people had laptops, no tablet obviously. And yeah no smartphones, just the old mobile phones.

I still think that when it comes to math stuff, laptop is tricky to use for notes. For other type of subjects I tend to agree it works but I studied computer science and there was lots of math.

My undergrad degree was in math and though it predates availability of laptops or tablets (or even anything other than the most rudimentary - and expensive - calculators), I couldn't see taking notes with a keyboard device of any kind.

 

[secretk]

My undergrad degree was in math and though it predates availability of laptops or tablets (or even anything other than the most rudimentary - and expensive - calculators), I couldn't see taking notes with a keyboard device of any kind.

Exactly! Even if you can write now math equations in say OneNote it is so much slower than doing it by hand. And no one would wait for you during the lecture. I cannot imagine students using only laptop to take notes for my degree. Yes we had labs where we wrote code and for those we did bring our laptops. However huge part of our studies was solving some sort of math problems that really can work either with pen/paper or with iPad and pencil now.

 

[Abazigal]

Interesting that there are people using laptop. I guess it depends on the topic but I would not have used laptop for my lectures in university- it was mostly math, programming, engineering stuff. Plus I process info better if I write it down.

I believe the laptops are the work devices assigned to them by their schools (I recognise at least a few of the models) so for these teachers, it may well represent the only computing device they own (outside of their smartphone). Or they simply don’t wish to use their personal gadgets for something they deem to be work (some do draw such a line).

Mostly typing notes into Google docs, but I spy one or two using onenote.

But overall, it’s been cool going back to school again and getting to learn in a manner that wasn’t available some 12 years ago. Let’s see how this initial enthusiasm holds up over the next 16 weeks.

 

[Populus]

Hello! Excuse me if I haven’t read the last few pages, it’s been a while since I was here for the last time.

This holidays I’ve been using both, an M2 MBA and an M2 iPad Pro (11”), and I have a couple of things to say: 1) the iPad Pro isn’t a laptop replacement -for me anyways-, and 2) I absolutely love the iPad Pro, I’m keeping it, and I’m returning the MBA.

This may seem contradictory and I’m sure this 100% depends on the workflow of each person. I think a 12” MBA would fit better on the way I use it, but still, I prefer the iPad Pro as a product.

And as I said, no, I don’t consider the iPad Pro a replacement for a Mac because, if I want to install open source software, I can’t. If I want to “get off the road” and install software that isn’t on the App Store, I can’t. If I plug an external drive and I can’t eject it (there’s no button) I can corrupt the content. If I want to read a PDF text-book that’s thousands of pages long, on the Files App, it will break the app if I try to search any word, and restart it. There are limitations and glitches in iPadOS 16 (the external display management is buggy even in iPadOS 16.2), that I simply don’t have on a much more versatile and reliable machine like the MacBook Air.

But, as I said, I’m keeping the M2 iPad Pro and I really hope they finally fix many of the bugs, and refine the external display experience. I want to think that, being this the first version with external display support, it’s expectable that this isn’t the most clean experience and they will keep improving it.

But all in all, an 11” screen with a detachable keyboard fits better my needs today. Also, I want to keep this iPad Pro for a long time, because the next model will probably have OLED and I cannot stand that technology.

Will I need a Mac? Yes. So I’m probably going back to the iPad Pro + Mac mini configuration. A single MacBook Air hasn’t been able to replace the convenience of an iPad + Mac combination. Right now my 2014 Mac mini doesn’t support sidecar, so in the future I’ll try to get a Mac mini that has a better integration with my iPad while at home. A Mac mini that allows me to do everything I cannot do on my iPad Pro (desktop tasks).

 

[Mainsail]

I have pretty much lost track of which threads I have posted on this subject, so I might be repeating myself somewhat. Anyway, I haven’t been in college since grad school in the 90s, when everything was pen, paper, and hard copy. However, my “kids” (all young adults) have been fully ensconced in academia for the last decade, and they use different combinations of devices:

• Eldest child recently finished Master in Public Health: MBA + iPad mini (no Pencil) + iPhone.
• Middle child recently started PhD in Economics: MBP + iPad Air (with Pencil) + iPhone
• Youngest child recently finished Bachelors in Business Administration: MBA + iPhone

The middle child had a strong need for an iPad and Pencil to work on the huge number of math problems required for his PhD program. Interestingly, his undergrad was a double major in Econ and Math, and he never expressed a need for an iPad. But, he was essentially the only person in his Phd program not using an iPad, so I sent him my iPad Air + Pencil. He says it has been a tremendous help.

BTW - the youngest finished his bachelors degree a semester early with an excellent GPA, so it isn’t like using an iPad is absolute essential to be successful in college. He did just fine with pen and paper for notes etc..

 

[Abazigal]

On a tangent, I sometimes wonder if Apple marketed themselves into a corner with the iPad Pro. It was pricey (all the more when you threw in the smart keyboard and pencil), and Apple found themselves having to keep giving the iPad additional productivity features to justify this hefty, MacBook-level price tag. When maybe all it should have been was this giant iPod touch that excelled at media consumption and some light productivity.

I know it's ironic of me to say this, even as I attend lectures with 2 apps running side-by-side, taking notes with the Apple Pencil, connecting Samsung T5 drives to the usb-c port, but I was also using the iPad in the classroom all the way back with the iPad 3, without all these bells and whistles, and I got by just fine.

 

[secretk]

On a tangent, I sometimes wonder if Apple marketed themselves into a corner with the iPad Pro. It was pricey (all the more when you threw in the smart keyboard and pencil), and Apple found themselves having to keep giving the iPad additional productivity features to justify this hefty, MacBook-level price tag. When maybe all it should have been was this giant iPod touch that excelled at media consumption and some light productivity.

I know it's ironic of me to say this, even as I attend lectures with 2 apps running side-by-side, taking notes with the Apple Pencil, connecting Samsung T5 drives to the usb-c port, but I was also using the iPad in the classroom all the way back with the iPad 3, without all these bells and whistles, and I got by just fine.

I see what you mean and I am a bit in between. For me as a consumer there are iPad Pro features that I would never use so knowing that they increase the price without bringing value to me does not sound good. On the other side I must admit that there are certain features that I prefer to have that the basic iPad is lacking. iPad Air would be a good compromise if it had at least 512 GB storage.

Currently the iPad tiers are rather a bit weird (for us as consumers, Apple cashes in on it) and sometimes to get just 1 thing you want, you need to consider a significantly higher priced model.

For example I would not have bought an iPad if there is no pencil. I was never into the tablet usage and I can do fine with my laptop in bed so that was never what I was looking for. However pencil with non-laminated screen and 60 HZ, not the experience I am after. Then if I would use the iPad with pencil it would be for books and notes. I do need storage for that. Once I have the tablet I would obviously also want to use it to watch movies, hence even more storage.

And lastly if I use tablet in bed it would involve browsing. For opening more than 10 tabs (which for me is rather every day thing) 4 GB RAM is just not enough. iPadOS/iOS just does not handle well memory management in general. I was never impressed with this.

So now it seems that even for my super regular, non-professional at all use cases I can't use the basic iPad ... I mean technically I can but it is not an enjoyable experience.

I do agree with you that they are struggling to make the Pro, pro though and to differentiate it from the Air. Like currently there are not enough differences between the Air and the Pro. Not enough to warrant this Pro title. And because of this sometimes they have to really work hard to come up with something to call the next pro feature.

 

[Ludatyk]

I do agree with you that they are struggling to make the Pro, pro though and to differentiate it from the Air. Like currently there are not enough differences between the Air and the Pro. Not enough to warrant this Pro title. And because of this sometimes they have to really work hard to come up with something to call the next pro feature.

The problem is... we all get stuck on this "pro" moniker and expect it "it's only meant for professionals" when in essence it's more about offering consumers premium option.

Can I get the Air in a 12.9 screen size format? How about Mini-LED? ProMotion? How about 2 TB? I'm all for Apple pushing the iPad to great lengths... I'm an iPad enthusiast, I wouldn't recommend them sitting idle by and keeping the iPad as is.

I know it's a struggle for Apple trying to strike that balance... keeping the iPad for the traditionalist who favor it being "more tablet" and those who want more functionality. But as it stands now... Stage Manager is off by default, accessories are optional. I don't think Apple will venture off to the point where it will alienate iPad users that like it as a tablet.

 

[secretk]

The problem is... we all get stuck on this "pro" moniker and expect it "it's only meant for professionals" when in essence it's more about offering consumers premium option.

Yep, currently this is the case and maybe this is Apple vision as well .

Can I get the Air in a 12.9 screen size format? How about Mini-LED? ProMotion? How about 2 TB? I'm all for Apple pushing the iPad to great lengths... I'm an iPad enthusiast, I wouldn't recommend them sitting idle by and keeping the iPad as is.

This is also very true! And smart for a company that you know does business and wants to survive. You can't sit idle. The mini-led story kind of annoys me a bit because I am not into the 12.9 inch iPad life. Like too big for me so I go for the 11 inch. This one still does not have min-led despite it being Pro. So I hope that they will manage to make the 11 inch mini-led as well next time.

I know it's a struggle for Apple trying to strike that balance... keeping the iPad for the traditionalist who favor it being "more tablet" and those who want more functionality. But as it stands now... Stage Manager is off by default, accessories are optional. I don't think Apple will venture off to the point where it will alienate iPad users that like it as a tablet.

Same. I think either way most people buy the basic iPad. And the basic iPad is a great tablet and they do use it for this. There are some enthusiasts like us in this forum that go for Pro and we kind of always want the iPP to do something more . I still have not used Stage Manager btw. Mostly because I do not see its value if you do not hook up the iPad to an external screen and as it is, this is not my workflow. I hook up my laptop to the external display I have.

 

[Ludatyk]

I still have not used Stage Manager btw. Mostly because I do not see its value if you do not hook up the iPad to an external screen and as it is, this is not my workflow. I hook up my laptop to the external display I have.

I use Stage Manager daily, I absolutely enjoy it.

I understand... it's not for everyone. But I like the ability to have multiple windows on screen (when needed) and lately I've been using recent windows (stages) on the right side. Before I thought that particular feature took up too much space... but I like it when I need it for quick access.

And I agree with you Stage Manager is much better on an external display, but I do find it useful on the iPad as well... I think it's more so trying to determine how Stage Manager can be useful to that individual. Because there's no right way to interact with Stage Manager.

Some might take it to the extreme and have 4 windows on the screen while turning both recent windows/dock off, whereas some might want to have one centered window and keeping both recent windows/dock on.

 

[jm31828]

On a tangent, I sometimes wonder if Apple marketed themselves into a corner with the iPad Pro. It was pricey (all the more when you threw in the smart keyboard and pencil), and Apple found themselves having to keep giving the iPad additional productivity features to justify this hefty, MacBook-level price tag. When maybe all it should have been was this giant iPod touch that excelled at media consumption and some light productivity.

I know it's ironic of me to say this, even as I attend lectures with 2 apps running side-by-side, taking notes with the Apple Pencil, connecting Samsung T5 drives to the usb-c port, but I was also using the iPad in the classroom all the way back with the iPad 3, without all these bells and whistles, and I got by just fine.

Great points- it does seem they have boxed themselves in a corner, because the "regular" iPad can do 95% or perhaps 99% of what an iPad Pro can do, you just don't have as fancy of a screen, or the fancy 4 speaker setup that are "nice to haves". So how will they continue to justify the Pro when it still isn't truly a MacBook replacement, and really doesn't do much more than an iPad that costs half as much?

 

[secretk]

I use Stage Manager daily, I absolutely enjoy it.

I understand... it's not for everyone. But I like the ability to have multiple windows on screen (when needed) and lately I've been using recent windows (stages) on the right side. Before I thought that particular feature took up too much space... but I like it when I need it for quick access.

And I agree with you Stage Manager is much better on an external display, but I do find it useful on the iPad as well... I think it's more so trying to determine how Stage Manager can be useful to that individual. Because there's no right way to interact with Stage Manager.

Some might take it to the extreme and have 4 windows on the screen while turning both recent windows/dock off, whereas some might want to have one centered window and keeping both recent windows/dock on.

Do you own 11 or 12.9 inch iPad? I use 11 inch and if I put State Manager with the stage windows, plus two windows, it is already too cramped. I can remove the stages but then I am left with two apps and I would prefer to use the split screen for that to be honest. It is faster and snappier.

Btw I have consistently used Windows laptops but I started recently new job and there I have a MacBook. And I must say now I know why iPads do not have good windows management and multitasking. I mean MacOS is lacklustre in this regard, no surprise that iPad suffers from it as well. It most probably is not Apple’s strongest point.

I guess they try to address this with State Manager but IMO it would be better to think about windows snapping to be honest. Can’t say how possible is on iPadOS but it should be on MacOS.

 

[Shanghaichica]

On a tangent, I sometimes wonder if Apple marketed themselves into a corner with the iPad Pro. It was pricey (all the more when you threw in the smart keyboard and pencil), and Apple found themselves having to keep giving the iPad additional productivity features to justify this hefty, MacBook-level price tag. When maybe all it should have been was this giant iPod touch that excelled at media consumption and some light productivity.

I know it's ironic of me to say this, even as I attend lectures with 2 apps running side-by-side, taking notes with the Apple Pencil, connecting Samsung T5 drives to the usb-c port, but I was also using the iPad in the classroom all the way back with the iPad 3, without all these bells and whistles, and I got by just fine.

I think the price of everything when you add in the keyboard and the Apple Pencil makes it a difficult buy for some. Paid £700 for my current iPad Pro. The when you add in the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil it comes to just over £1,100. Now I’d have to pay close to £1,000 just to get the same storage on the latest iPad Pro 11 which is crazy. If you don’t have a Magic Keyboard or Apple Pencil then that would be another £400. So that’s like £1,500. You could get a macbook pro for that price. I guess if you have a preference or use case for an ipad over a Mac or choose to have both then it‘s an easy price to stomach. However, if you only want one device then it could be a though decision.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Do you own 11 or 12.9 inch iPad? I use 11 inch and if I put State Manager with the stage windows, plus two windows, it is already too cramped. I can remove the stages but then I am left with two apps and I would prefer to use the split screen for that to be honest. It is faster and snappier.

Btw I have consistently used Windows laptops but I started recently new job and there I have a MacBook. And I must say now I know why iPads do not have good windows management and multitasking. I mean MacOS is lacklustre in this regard, no surprise that iPad suffers from it as well. It most probably is not Apple’s strongest point.

I guess they try to address this with State Manager but IMO it would be better to think about windows snapping to be honest. Can’t say how possible is on iPadOS but it should be on MacOS.

I’ve tried stage manager on my 11 inch pro and haven’t been using it. I did find it a bit cramped. I wonder if I had the 12.9 inch I might find it useful. However, I think the main reason I don’t use it is because I just don’t use my ipad for anything productive. It’s used mostly for consumption and I may use it reply to emails or maybe read a document or update my CV but those things work perfectly fine using one app at a time. I have a work issued laptop and I can’t use my own devices as I work with sensitive information.

 

[Ludatyk]

Do you own 11 or 12.9 inch iPad? I use 11 inch and if I put State Manager with the stage windows, plus two windows, it is already too cramped. I can remove the stages but then I am left with two apps and I would prefer to use the split screen for that to be honest. It is faster and snappier.

Yeah, I own the 12.9 inch. And perhaps, my experience with Stage Manager is more tolerable compared to yours since you own the 11 inch model.

Btw I have consistently used Windows laptops but I started recently new job and there I have a MacBook. And I must say now I know why iPads do not have good windows management and multitasking. I mean MacOS is lacklustre in this regard, no surprise that iPad suffers from it as well. It most probably is not Apple’s strongest point.

I agree... Windows 11 new snapping feature is nicely done. But I recently received a MBP and I use Stage Manager on it as well... I know I could download Magnet utility and call it a day, but I like having the consistency of using Stage Manager on both the Mac and iPad.

 

[cwosigns]

Yeah, I own the 12.9 inch. And perhaps, my experience with Stage Manager is more tolerable compared to yours since you own the 11 inch model.


I agree... Windows 11 new snapping feature is nicely done. But I recently received a MBP and I use Stage Manager on it as well... I know I could download Magnet utility and call it a day, but I like having the consistency of using Stage Manager on both the Mac and iPad.

I like Stage Manager on my iPad Pro 12.9 very much, but not necessarily on the MacBook Pro. I had it enabled earlier today, and in a Teams meeting I was moving between windows and sharing application windows, and they complained that if I was sharing a screen that got moved to the sidebar, it was extremely pixelated. When I moved it to the active window, the pixelation resolved. It just seems messy to use in a meeting, requiring me to remember to turn it off when presenting.

 

[Ludatyk]

I like Stage Manager on my iPad Pro 12.9 very much, but not necessarily on the MacBook Pro. I had it enabled earlier today, and in a Teams meeting I was moving between windows and sharing application windows, and they complained that if I was sharing a screen that got moved to the sidebar, it was extremely pixelated. When I moved it to the active window, the pixelation resolved. It just seems messy to use in a meeting, requiring me to remember to turn it off when presenting.

That seems odd. Not sure why Stage Manager would cause pixelation, but do you use any windows utility to help with managing windows on Mac? Better Snap Tool? Magnet?

 

[Abazigal]

I see what you mean and I am a bit in between. For me as a consumer there are iPad Pro features that I would never use so knowing that they increase the price without bringing value to me does not sound good. On the other side I must admit that there are certain features that I prefer to have that the basic iPad is lacking. iPad Air would be a good compromise if it had at least 512 GB storage.

I get that feeling, when I am contemplating what the next logical upgrade from my 2018 iPad Pro would be (similar to my 5k iMac). An iPad Air would primarily be for the M1 chip, but is otherwise a downgrade in every other aspect (screen, speakers, camera). The Pro is pricey, and the M2 chip doesn't seem any better than the M1 (it might eventually?).

BTW - the youngest finished his bachelors degree a semester early with an excellent GPA, so it isn’t like using an iPad is absolute essential to be successful in college. He did just fine with pen and paper for notes etc..

Yep, I don't mean to imply that one has to have the latest gadgets in order to study, much less to do well (they can just as easily be a distraction). Though for someone who has been out of school for well over a decade, I will admit that perhaps a little bit of novelty can help make the studying process fresh and novel again, which in turn helps ease me in better.

It's a bit like how, many years ago when I had a number of overlapping events to organise, I turned to Todoist to help organise my tasks. In addition to helping me map out my various timelines, the novelty of a task manager also made me excited to take on those additional responsibilities (not that I wasn't happy doing those jobs, but every little bit helps).

Same with exercising with my Apple Watch and closing rings and hitting milestones (courtesy of my Lumihealth app).

Can I get the Air in a 12.9 screen size format? How about Mini-LED? ProMotion? How about 2 TB? I'm all for Apple pushing the iPad to great lengths... I'm an iPad enthusiast, I wouldn't recommend them sitting idle by and keeping the iPad as is.

True that. We have the iPhone 14 plus? Maybe a 12.9" iPad Air plus down the road? 🤔