I hope I can just choose the root documents folder and do the keep on iPad thing from that! That will be fantastic if true!
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iPad as a laptop replacement
- Thread starter Omar Comin' Yo
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Well, you have the option to choose where you want download files to go into... if you want to create a document folder then you can do that on the iPad. I can have Safari download files go to a whole separate app folder (File Browser).
I haven't downloaded the beta yet, but I was hoping that I could go to my iCloud Drive folder and then long press on the documents directory (the one that iCloud syncs across Mac, iPadOS, and iOS) and then choose keep files downloaded so that the entire document directory would stay on device.
In the beta? No idea, I don't have the beta.
In iPadOS 17 there is no "keep downloaded" button.
Well, I just verified you can do that with a folder.
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Couldn’t this be done by just saving files in the non-iCloud documents folder on your devices?
Sure but then they don't sync across all my devices, I don't want to manually have to manage my sync status, dropbox solved this problem like 15 years ago, it shouldn't be that hard for Apple.
The goal is to have the documents saved on device but simultaneously stay synced with the copy on iCloud, so that when you open the document on another device it will reflect any changes made. If you move it to a folder that is “non-iCloud” it won’t sync.
Edit: I was a second too slow.
No not in the beta, I mean prior to iPadOS18. I'm on 17, what is the difference between when I download a file now, and after I upgrade to 18?
In iPadOS17 your files (if saved in any iCloud Drive folder) can be removed from the device (reverted to cloud only) if iPadOS decides to free up some space. In iPadOS 18 you can now choose to keep them downloaded permanently so that iPadOS will never eject them into the cloud. This is something that is really nice to have because it means the files will always be accessible even if you haven't used them in a while.
I think there might be some confusion here. This feature is not directed at files you download from the internet that you save on device. I believe this feature change is directed at files that are kept on iCloud Drive. Currently, those files (for example, a file in Pages) are only downloaded to your iPad as needed, when you open the file. You can edit the file, close it, it will upload the new version of the file to the cloud, and it will keep the file on device for a short period of time, in case you want to reopen it again. However, eventually the iPad system will delete the copy on the iPad. The user has no control over when it does this, and if the file has been deleted, it will have to download from the cloud again the next time you open it. This feature change allows you to tell the system not to remove the iPad copy. For those files you mark to keep, it will work just like it does on the Mac for files kept on iCloud Drive—it keeps a local copy and keeps that copy synced in the cloud.
Edit: I definitely need to learn to type faster.
Sorry
I've got time to browse MacRumors today so I'm faster than I normally am.
Finally going to give this a try. Turning off my MacBook, putting it in it’s sleeve, and going to exclusively use my 11” iPad Pro M4 for my primary computing for a week. Not looking to completely remove my MacBook Pro from my computing, there are always going to be uses for it, but looking to learn to use this iPad a LOT more as a computer than I have, and learn to rely on it more than I have. This is going to be fun, and I’m so glad this is a full thread to read through and learn from.
Wish me luck!
Wish me luck!
Best of luck!
Reach out if you need some assistance... there are plenty of 3rd party apps out there to help you get more out of the iPad. You pick up a keyboard? Or using it as a tablet?
I have the Magic Keyboard, been playing with it on my Apple Studio display which is a better experience than I expected.
Also been using OneDrive for many files, iCloud for app backups, and just opened some new folders for the on my iPad which should make this much easier. I’m looking forward to giving Final Cut Pro a go on this. I’m also going to be reading through this thread as I’m sure there will be many ideas I haven’t thought of. This is going to be fun. I’m looking at this as similar to a degree of when I went from windows to Mac many years ago, except I got rid of Windows lol
I got my 11” iPad Pro 3 weeks ago and haven’t opened my MacBook Pro since.
The only things I’m still wondering about is torrents, intensive excel and filling up multiple PDF forms…lets see how it goes!
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Every time I try and do this I run into too many frustrations that lead me to abandon the effort - good luck to you!
A hint - if you struggle with the Files app look at FileBrowser Pro.
I started using it when Files was corrupting data & image files on copying to and from exFAT storage.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/file-corruption-on-copy-to-external-storage.2235171/
I like it for its synch functionality and it shows progress on file copies. It has also been completely dependable on copying from external sources, something the Files app fumbles at time. It has excellent support from the developer and great documentation -
https://www.stratospherix.com/produ...ional/filebrowser-professional-user-guide.php
It's easily one of my favorite apps on my iPads and iPhone.
Well, like @sparksd… I started initially for file transfers.
But then I stumbled upon all the features it has… from the amounts of ways to view files or images. The various customization it offers when it comes to theming, adding tabs and just a quicker way to manage files (imo).
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Best of luck to you! I switched to using an iPad Pro as my primary computer around 3-4 years ago, and I’ve never looked back! 👍🏻. The iPad is a better fit for my workflow than my MacBook was. Now I have my iPad as my primary computer I use 99.9% of the time for my graphic design work and other workflows such as 3D modeling/sculpting, and then I have a Mac Mini for occasional things I want to use a Mac for. I love this combination, and I’ll probably stick with it at this point. The iPad is the ideal tablet/laptop for my use case. I know this isn’t true for everyone, but I think iPadOS has improved a lot so that more people can do this now. 👍🏻
Also, to whoever it might be helpful, these shortcuts help to replicate the desktop functionality on macOS for pinning important folders and files to the Home Screen on iPadOS (also works on iOS as well). Prebuilt Shortcuts and instructions are included, as well as icons that match the ones in the Files app. 👍🏻
github.com
GitHub - KalCadle/iPadOS-Home-Screen-Folders-Files-Icons: Convert your iPadOS Home Screen into a desktop to rival MacOS.
Convert your iPadOS Home Screen into a desktop to rival MacOS. - KalCadle/iPadOS-Home-Screen-Folders-Files-Icons
github.com
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