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.

crodonline

macrumors member
Mar 19, 2018
50
35
Chicago, IL
I think adding mouse support doesn’t have to take away from the iPad being a tablet. We wouldn’t use it all the time, just for certain tasks. If anything, it’s freeing because we don’t have to have certain peripherals with us all the time (keyboard, mouse, etc.).

With a laptop, you are stuck with a keyboard and mouse. With them as options for the iPad, you get to pick and choose.

As for a filing system, they could do it. It doesn’t have to be like macOS but it could be easier to manage.

And certain apps just need better features for iPad but that’s up to the software developers, not Apple.
 

akash.nu

macrumors G4
May 26, 2016
10,870
16,998
I think adding mouse support doesn’t have to take away from the iPad being a tablet. We wouldn’t use it all the time, just for certain tasks. If anything, it’s freeing because we don’t have to have certain peripherals with us all the time (keyboard, mouse, etc.).

The problem is the minute Apple enables mouse support, developers will think about optimising their app UX to cater for mouse support and that’s going to kill the easy of “finger friendly” UX that the iPad is made for. The thing is, UX is a very subjective thing.

Apple clearly wants to keep mobile and desktop as 2 separate platforms. With such a huge user base, such decisions will need to be carefully considered and just not do it because they “can”.
 

crodonline

macrumors member
Mar 19, 2018
50
35
Chicago, IL
The problem is the minute Apple enables mouse support, developers will think about optimising their app UX to cater for mouse support and that’s going to kill the easy of “finger friendly” UX that the iPad is made for. The thing is, UX is a very subjective thing.

Apple clearly wants to keep mobile and desktop as 2 separate platforms. With such a huge user base, such decisions will need to be carefully considered and just not do it because they “can”.

Well yes, things do need to be considered. I don’t know what people think when they think adding mouse support, but Apple wouldn’t be able to plop in a mouse and it looks the way it does on a desktop. That’s unrealistic. On the home screen, yeah it could look like it does on a desktop, but in an app, a mouse pointer being visible at every point of the app isn’t UX friendly nor is it appropriate for every app. I think if they added it mainly so that you can get a mouse pointer where you write text or where you draw, that could be enough. It’s not as simple as that but this is not about adding mouse support all willy-nilly. This is about taking it into consideration and then finding how it will function in a tablet environment.

It can’t be in the same way as a desktop. If I use Remote Desktop apps and I have mouse support in there as I would a regular desktop that’s one thing. But if I get it on my iPad outside of that, I expect the experience to be optimized for that.

They could even make it so that when you don’t have a mouse connected, you won’t ever see a mouse pointer. There’s no option to bring it up outside of a mouse connection.

It would bring up productivity on the iPad tremendously. The number of people who use it outside of consumption is growing. It will continue to grow. And we should at least test out the possibility.
 

akash.nu

macrumors G4
May 26, 2016
10,870
16,998
Well yes, things do need to be considered. I don’t know what people think when they think adding mouse support, but Apple wouldn’t be able to plop in a mouse and it looks the way it does on a desktop. That’s unrealistic. On the home screen, yeah it could look like it does on a desktop, but in an app, a mouse pointer being visible at every point of the app isn’t UX friendly nor is it appropriate for every app. I think if they added it mainly so that you can get a mouse pointer where you write text or where you draw, that could be enough. It’s not as simple as that but this is not about adding mouse support all willy-nilly. This is about taking it into consideration and then finding how it will function in a tablet environment.

It can’t be in the same way as a desktop. If I use Remote Desktop apps and I have mouse support in there as I would a regular desktop that’s one thing. But if I get it on my iPad outside of that, I expect the experience to be optimized for that.

They could even make it so that when you don’t have a mouse connected, you won’t ever see a mouse pointer. There’s no option to bring it up outside of a mouse connection.

It would bring up productivity on the iPad tremendously. The number of people who use it outside of consumption is growing. It will continue to grow. And we should at least test out the possibility.

I can’t say for sure but I’d presume Apple have considered all of these basic use cases while designing the UX for iOS.
 

crodonline

macrumors member
Mar 19, 2018
50
35
Chicago, IL
I can’t say for sure but I’d presume Apple have considered all of these basic use cases while designing the UX for iOS.

I wouldn't. When they started iOS, they were starting something new. In the beginning, they probably thought about it, but then they didn't need to consider the 'what if' because they were trying to change how we use mobile technology. Now that technology has evolved and it functions way differently than it did in the beginning. It's easier to stick to certain things than to constantly design for increasing ways in how we use it. And it takes time to design features that will work in a way that doesn't compromise the system.

There are features we have now that they could have easily done before. But it would have been 150x more problematic than it was when they came out.

Mouse support is something we shouldn't count out and it's not something that we should think of in the traditional sense when wishing for this feature. I know many people do, but not everyone is tech-savy to think about if we did do this, how would it really be. They just want a feature they expect out of a device that is increasingly replacing their laptops and sometimes desktop computers.

We can't presume anything unless we work for Apple. We are only consumers. Apple can pull out any trick it wants despite what we have heard in the past or what makes sense to us. All we know is that they know how to keep us talking and obsessing over their products.
 

borgranta

macrumors 6502
May 9, 2018
304
96
Because using a mouse cursor is a superior and more accurate form of input then touching. There are times when you really need to use a mouse/trackpad to get work done. If Apple wants the iPad to replace the traditional computer, then it needs to have the best thing about the traditional computers and that's mouse support.

The Apple Pencil isn't a suitable replacement for a mouse/trackpad. Using the Apple Pencil still has the same issue with constantly raising your arm and hand to interact with the screen. If the iPad had mouse/trackpad support, then it would allow the user to put in the least amount of energy and effort to get work done efficiently.
It is good for what it
Just wondering do you guys believe the iPad pro is officially a laptop replacement yet. Would you still prefer some mouse support and how is the Files application since updating to iOS 11? I noticed there is a Chrome OS looking dock on iOS 11 now...is that working well?
I suspect that Apple does not want to turn this into a mac killer but instead make it better for more professional work when mobility is a priority and that being said bringing a mouse might kill e vibe of ultra-portability and trying to find a place to cram the mouse could be an adventure in itself. The pencil is sleeker and therefore is a better fit for pairing with the iPad.
 

UBS28

macrumors 68030
Oct 2, 2012
2,893
2,340
The iPad Pro is not a laptop replacement. It’s just a big iPod with pencil support.

And you are also stuck with paid apps that are worse than free software you find on computers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Future-Proof

Frankfurt

macrumors 6502a
Dec 4, 2016
740
889
USA
The IPP with ASK is replacing my MBP 15" on business trips where portability beats any other argument.

When working at office or at home I am using the MBP.

I can do almost everything on the IPP. However, not always as efficient as on the MBP.

Hence, I use both.
 

Mahasamatman

macrumors member
Sep 26, 2017
99
82
The IPP with ASK is replacing my MBP 15" on business trips where portability beats any other argument.
I did an overnight trip last week and was tempted to leave my work MBA at the office but took it anyway. As it was, I could have done it all on my IPP.
 

scottrods

macrumors regular
Jul 30, 2017
122
83
Garland, TX
I’d love the option to use my iPhone screen as a trackpad when iPad is connected to a keyboard.

This would be an acceptable form of input to deal with the need for a Mouse interface as well. One of the more interesting ideas I've seen, but wondering if it would really work out well, unless when turned to track pad it stays alert but with a dark screen so it uses a lot less power.
 

Matz

macrumors 65816
Apr 25, 2015
1,161
1,690
Rural Southern Virginia
Just wondering do you guys believe the iPad pro is officially a laptop replacement yet. Would you still prefer some mouse support and how is the Files application since updating to iOS 11? I noticed there is a Chrome OS looking dock on iOS 11 now...is that working well?

As many have said, it entirely depends upon what you want and need to do with a portable computing platform.
I use my 2014 MacBook Pro and my iPad Air 2 mostly for personal stuff. I also have a 2010 27” iMac. Work is mostly on a Windows 10 laptop with a docking station and dual monitors, provided by my employer.

I say mostly because occasionally on a lengthy project I’d rather work in Excel in MacOS. Likewise with Word.

But lately I’ve come to the realization that I rarely use my MBP, at least for the past year, but use my iPad daily. My iMac takes care of the rest.

So in the interest of simplifying, yesterday I sent my MBP off to a company that purchases used Apple stuff. I could probably get a few bucks more by selling it myself, but the transaction costs (mostly the time and effort) given where I live would likely eat up those few bucks.

My intent is to see what new IPP models are announced at WWDC, or whenever Apple gets around to announcing them, then decide what to buy. My iPad Air 2 works just fine, but the IPP is appealing to me for a couple of reasons. The anticipated payment for my MBP will cover nearly all of the 10.5” IPP, including Smart Keyboard, case, pencil, and AppleCare. Then again, I’ll spend some time trying out the larger IPP before deciding.

The heavy lifting for my needs will be performed by my iMac, at home. But it’s a desktop, and your question was about being a laptop replacement.

Clearly, my expectation is that the IPP will replace the MBP for my purposes. My current IPA2 is, in my opinion, a stellar device for what I use it for. Buying an IPP may be strictly unnecessary, but as much as I use that platform, I believe it will be worth it.

Forgot to respond to the question of mouse support and file management. I don’t recall ever wishing my IP had a mouse. Files go to Dropbox.

Again, as for you or anyone else, it entirely depends on what you want and need to do with a portable computing platform.
 

pedregosa

macrumors regular
Mar 31, 2010
246
221
I've had a MacBook Pro Retina for a year now, and quite frankly, its simply overkill for what I used the computer for on a daily basis. I would have been fine with a MacBook Air, but elected to spend the extra cash for a nice screen.

I use writing intensive programs (Final Draft, Pages, etc), but outside from that, just do regular web browsing, music, and etc.

I was curious of if anyone on here had replaced their laptop with an iPad, because I am considering doing that. I'm just curious about how the keyboards work with the iPad.

I use my MacBook only as a desktop these days, attached to an external monitor. My iPad Pro is effectively my only mobile device aside from my iPhone X. I do serious, high-dollar lawyer work on it. Have come to much prefer it to a mobile Mac, even if there are a few compromises. In some ways, the compromises are good — the less advanced multitasking equates to better focus. I’ll likely buy a new 27-inch iMac when they next update them and then go to an iMac/iPad model.
 

t.portis

macrumors member
Jul 2, 2013
85
82
Annapolis, MD
The iPad Pro is not a laptop replacement. It’s just a big iPod with pencil support.

And you are also stuck with paid apps that are worse than free software you find on computers.

Have you actually used an iPad Pro? Have you seen the speed and specs of the processor? The iPad Pro is my main computing device away from my office. I approve contracts, develop complex presentations, and present from it using video and drawing graphs and symbols. The main apps I used, Keynote, Pages and Numbers are free, I didn't pay for them. I get Office 365 for free as well. The only app I paid for to use specifically for the iPad Pro is Good Notes, and it's well worth it, especially for extended note taking.
 

eltoslightfoot

macrumors 68030
Feb 25, 2011
2,545
3,094
Have you actually used an iPad Pro? Have you seen the speed and specs of the processor? The iPad Pro is my main computing device away from my office. I approve contracts, develop complex presentations, and present from it using video and drawing graphs and symbols. The main apps I used, Keynote, Pages and Numbers are free, I didn't pay for them. I get Office 365 for free as well. The only app I paid for to use specifically for the iPad Pro is Good Notes, and it's well worth it, especially for extended note taking.

Agree with all of this. Plus most desktop apps such as Scrivener and Aeon Timeline have iOS companion apps that work brilliantly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eVolcre

DJTaurus

macrumors 68000
Jan 31, 2012
1,772
1,384
With Synology Nas i am one step closer to ditching my laptop....but first i need 2 things.

1) iOS12 to support multi-sound sources playing at the same time.

2) An elegant keyboard case that holds ipad in various positions so that i can use it like a laptop when i want to...
 

George Dawes

Suspended
Jul 17, 2014
2,980
4,332
=VH=
Last week my mac mini suddenly packed up and I had to get some spreadsheets done in a hurry , the only option I had was to use my iPad . I was dreading the experience

Fortunately things didn't go as badly as I had thought , iOS11 has improved the usefulness of the iOS devices dramatically with split screen etc etc

In the future In can see the iPad taking over completely from conventional computers. Apple seem to agree.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJTaurus

HandsomeDanNZ

macrumors 65816
Jan 29, 2008
1,192
1,486
Auckland NZ
The iPad Pro is not a laptop replacement. It’s just a big iPod with pencil support.

And you are also stuck with paid apps that are worse than free software you find on computers.
Next you’ll be telling us that the iPhone is a wast of money as it’s just an iPod with cellular connection.

Move on from 2012 and you’ll see there’s a great deal more to the iPad Pro than you believe...if you are using it as intended.
 

Nahaz

macrumors 6502
Jun 2, 2010
313
35
Australia
I think Apple will eventually head down this road one way or another.

I could see an iPad Pro with a Brydge Blu-tooth Keyboard having a mouse track pad for any text based work like Office 365 or similar. Apple would also need to introduce a way to access a proper file system either via cloud or internal etc.

It wouldn't replace Desktop Machines, but as long as files can easily be transferred from one to the other then we are heading down the right path.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eVolcre

Future-Proof

macrumors regular
Apr 29, 2018
133
109
Have you actually used an iPad Pro? Have you seen the speed and specs of the processor? The iPad Pro is my main computing device away from my office. I approve contracts, develop complex presentations, and present from it using video and drawing graphs and symbols. The main apps I used, Keynote, Pages and Numbers are free, I didn't pay for them. I get Office 365 for free as well. The only app I paid for to use specifically for the iPad Pro is Good Notes, and it's well worth it, especially for extended note taking.

How on Earth do you make presentations ie connect your iPad to a projector, from it???
 

/V\acpower

macrumors 6502a
Jul 31, 2007
631
500
How on Earth do you make presentations ie connect your iPad to a projector, from it???

Oh man, ok you are just ignorant.

I made keynote presentations in class on my iPad 1 (yes, the one that Steve Jobs held in his hand on stage). It was 8 years ago.

Same apply today (even better, obviously). Any iOS device can be used to make a presentation if you have the right adapter.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.