I use Screens app though they have gone to subscription model now or a one time payment. Like connecting to any remote setup requires a stable internet connection. Also need to have your mac always plugged in and switched on. if it were to reboot for example because of a software update then it may mean you cannot get access. In saying this, I do not use it much but offers a lot of flexibility and you can have more than one machine connected. I have two macs and can connect to one at a time. Worth giving it a try if there is a free trial.
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iPad as a laptop replacement
- Thread starter Omar Comin' Yo
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Here we go again... just because it doesn't work for you, does not apply to everyone.
We have now gone from "oh, it's not a laptop replacement to it's not a proper desktop experience"... however you slice it, stay on macOS... great. But don't speak for everyone... especially those who are iPad enthusiasts, because you clearly not one.
I use Screens 4. So far macOS updates haven't been a problem, but I'm aware that's a possibility.
I'm considering a Screens 5 perpetual license if I can get the headless desktop resolution sorted out. Not because it requires it, rather because if I can make the remote screen experience better I'll use it more and have good reason to put money towards a newer version of Screens.
Stage manager isn't even any good on a 24" iMac, would hate to have to use it only on a iPad and monitor.
It's useless on a iPad only lol
Here we go again... just because the iPad is lacking in certain areas, doesn't mean the problem lies with the user pointing it out.
The iPad can be a laptop replacement to many people. I don't think you could call it a proper desktop experience for many people though. The iPad has come a long way in this regard, and it has a long way to go. But mate, there has to be room for discussion.
People who are purely saying it sucks, and people who cheerlead it as if it's already perfect, neither are leaving any room for discussion. There are certain people in this thread who read posts and filter them into "iPad good" and "iPad bad" and that is all they see, and any attempt to discuss the nuances gets cut off.
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I would love to be able to replace my work MacBook with an iPad. When urgent work situations come up and I'm out in the field, here is the workflow difference between my iPad and MacBook:
MacBook: Spend 10 seconds trying to get it to unlock. Spend 15 seconds trying to make it connect to my hotspot. Wait 15 seconds for the hotspot connection to actually start working. Spend 40 seconds logging into the work VPN (including MFA). Wait 20 seconds for Parallels to pick up the VPN connection. Person is waiting on the other end of the phone while this is happening. Finally be able to do the urgent piece of work, can take anywhere between 1 to 2 minutes.
iPad: iPad unlocks instantly, it's already on its own cellular network, it's already connected to the work VPN because the VPN stays connected all day without ever timing out unlike on the Mac. I RDP into a server that's already got my tools loaded and ready to go. I am doing the urgent piece of work within 10 seconds.
But then of course when I get into the office, my dock requires DisplayLink so the iPad doesn't work with it. And even if I put a thunderbolt dock there I wouldn't be able to get dual monitors going, which I really need for my job. I can't even just leave the work laptop at work either because I have multiple sites I have to go between. And even if I did downgrade to a single external monitor setup, I would then run into the trials and tribulations of having to do a lot of complicated work with stage manager.
It really is death by a thousand cuts - for example I need to be able to easily and rapidly copy/paste things from Slack in my job. Can't do that with the iPad version. That's not even Apple's fault, but these little things just add up. And these things are hard to discuss when we're confined to only being able to say 'iPad good' or 'iPad bad'.
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There's no problem having a discussion about it... but appearing to speak for every iPad user is the wrong strategy.
Of course, it has room for improvement... external monitor support only came out about 2 years ago, before that iPad users had no support for it.
Apple finally fixed where we can switch audio output and it took them awhile to get Stage Manager fixed to the point we can place windows anywhere, but I wouldn't call those experiences a dealbreaker to use it as a desktop.
Completely understand your issues with the whole iPad as a laptop (or desktop) replacement. And I really do hope Apple and 3rd party devs address your concerns, but some iPad users are capable of utilizing an external monitor.
And when I discuss the issues you have with it... you end up coming up with something else entirely, because initially you were disappointed with dev support for external monitor support. But when I tested those apps out... three were actually supported.
I don't mind having discussions on where the iPad is lacking... trying to come up with solutions, but you don't even care to have that kind of dialog.
I don't claim to speak for anyone.
And that's great for them, truly.
If you want to go into the weeds with Microsoft's RD Client, yeah I just tested that out and full screen support is finally in the app. Great, although it took them long enough. Good old Microsoft. But I did notice that as soon as I resized it to the same size I'd have it when using my Mac, the scaling of the Windows computer I was connected to went super tiny. If I made it any bigger, or any smaller, it fixed it, but the size I wanted, nope. And this is the kind of thing that annoys me. On a Mac I can just increase/decrease the size of the Window all day long and nothing weird happens.
It's only annoying because it's a so close yet so far thing. If using an iPad this way wasn't so appealing in the first place I wouldn't even care. But because it's good enough to try using, it's extra frustrating when you run into these niggles.
For me, while you certainly can work around a lot of these things, you get to a critical point where it's just not worth coming up with a thousand workarounds when you could just use something else.
But you did... specifically the "most devout iPad-as-main-device evangelists."
I'm confused... now the goal post has moved. Full screen support has been fixed, but the scaling of the Windows computer is now an issue. And this happens with other remote desktop apps?
Tbf, I think you'll find anything to discredit the use of it being a laptop replacement for you and don't take this the wrong way.... but maybe it's one of those situations it's never been for you to begin with.
And yeah, I get the appeal of it... I co-sign with you on that. But some of the limitations... I'm able to overcome (maybe find a solution), if not... pick up a different device to work on that task. But it's never a point where I'd abandoned the use of it being a laptop replacement even with the limitations.
But then again, it's not my only device. I think the folks that use it as a laptop replacement... have a traditional desktop or laptop, for cases where they run into a roadblock.
They speak for themselves. Even those who make a career out of making 'iPad as a main device content' admit that Stage Manager on an external display isn't quite there yet. Even you admitted that.
You're the one who wanted to focus in on a specific app. You created the goalposts. I told you my experience with an app, and I just went to test it again since you told me it updated, and you're annoyed with me that I found another issue with it? That's blaming the user. I'm not going to go test out other remote desktop apps for you.
The point isn't that specific issues can't be overcome, the point is that there are so many issues to overcome that it becomes not worth the time or effort.
And here is your typical reaction when you read a post that doesn't cheerlead for the iPad. You blame the user, shift the goalposts, and decide that anyone not perfectly happy with using it as a laptop replacement is not a real iPad user to begin with anyway.
When did I mention I was annoyed? Not once have I mentioned being annoyed... but you have.
Hence... the device is not for you.
Huh? You are the one who is having issues with the iPad, I'm not speaking to anyone... but you.
Nice dodge.
You're the one who wanted to focus in on a specific app. You created the goalposts. I told you my experience with an app, and I just went to test it again since you told me it updated, and you're telling me I'm moving the goalposts because I found another issue with it? That's blaming the user. I'm not going to go test out other remote desktop apps for you.
And this is what I mean about people filtering any post they read into "he said iPad good" or "he said iPad bad". Not sure why the need for such tribalism, but people who react the way you do stifle discussion. And it means people can't make a single negative point about the iPad as a laptop replacement in this thread, because even something relatively minor is turned into a long, painful, drawn out effort by you and a couple others here.
Instead of there being a proper discussion that goes somewhere, it ends up becoming ad hominem and pointless like this.
So, let me get this right... you want to make a negative point about the iPad as a laptop replacement and not receive any pushback. Then what's the purpose of this thread? To speak negatively about the iPad.... nothing else? Seriously.
But it is what is what it is. No point in this discussion going further... because as soon as I mention the device is not for you, immediately you decided to lash out.
You should take your MacBook to service. It should be less than 3 seconds
Something wrong with your mobile phone, or your cellular device.
That, of course, has nothing to do with Apple. VPN, usually slows down any device. Parallels? Well...
You need to get that phone checked at a service. And, that MacBook too.
My 5 years older (or younger) MBP starts on the way from beginning to open the lid, that is just from few mms. And, as soon as I touch the TouchID key, it is in my user space. If hotspot is the only connection available, it is already connected.
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Nah, there is a bug with the touch ID button where it sometimes unlocks the MacBook but doesn't wake up the screen, and then you get in a situation where pressing it again then locks the device. It happens to many people, and happens on both my 14" M1 Pro MBP and my 16" M3 Pro MBP.
No, has happened to me on the 13PM, 14PM and now 15PM.
Never said it had to do with Apple. I'm describing my user experience and why I prefer the iPad in some situations.
Nope. Just because you don't experience bugs, doesn't mean other people have to get their devices serviced.
You just agreed that you need to take your MacBooks to service. Better not wait until it'd become an unsolvable problem.
Nope. Just because you don't experience bugs, doesn't mean other people have to get their devices serviced.
Alright. They are your devices. You can do whatever you want with them. If I were you, I'd consult a service person.
Like I said, mine is 5 years old, running Sonoma 14.5 and no such bugs.
You can try shutting down your MacBook, wait a while, and reboot it. Most times, a simple reboot clears up all kinds of quirks. The TouchID key should react to feather touch of your finger. You can also delete all fingers, and reinstall them. And, if hotspot is the only connection available, it should be already connected. (I'm not arguing with you at all.)
@Surfsalot You crack me up....You really do!
Been here for 14 years....If you don't know me by now...
Been here for 14 years....If you don't know me by now...
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I've been following this thread carefully for a long time, and I find it quite interesting.
Obviously, it all depends on the type of tasks you do to be able to have an iPad as a single and main computer. In my personal case, I work with large excel pages that undoubtedly office for iPad cannot manage (I have an M2 11 Pro, although it is undoubtedly not a hardware problem, but a software problem). I also feel more comfortable editing images and video on my MacBook Pro. Besides, the management of several applications at the same time is very tedious for me.
I also have to say, that when I use it at the university for studies, as an ebook, for notes, consumption of content, quick annotations, taking demonstrations to show in a cafe etc... it is the best ally.
For me, they are not exclusive, they make a very good team separately. (Althout I must admit that I would like an iPad with OSX... that would be the bomb).
Regards.
Obviously, it all depends on the type of tasks you do to be able to have an iPad as a single and main computer. In my personal case, I work with large excel pages that undoubtedly office for iPad cannot manage (I have an M2 11 Pro, although it is undoubtedly not a hardware problem, but a software problem). I also feel more comfortable editing images and video on my MacBook Pro. Besides, the management of several applications at the same time is very tedious for me.
I also have to say, that when I use it at the university for studies, as an ebook, for notes, consumption of content, quick annotations, taking demonstrations to show in a cafe etc... it is the best ally.
For me, they are not exclusive, they make a very good team separately. (Althout I must admit that I would like an iPad with OSX... that would be the bomb).
Regards.
I use it for having a banking app open and working in other apps, if I have the banking app full screen and switch apps the banking app will auto logout.
And the banking app is not fully featured in a browser i.e. you are unable to pay cheques in. Plus, to log into it via a browser you need either a security device (pin code 2fa) or to approve via… the iPad/iPhone app!!
So it is very useful for me and not useless.
Well just hang on to that thought for a minute, and let's be real honest here....the statement "It's useless on a iPad only lol", is in and of itself totally useless.
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I keep playing with the idea of a computing environment that is iPad + Synology NAS, with the NAS being used for stuff like serving video to TVs and running server kinds of tasks that aren’t suited to the iPad. I can get FRUSTRATINGLY close to everything I want to do but there are always pain points.