Never mix personal and work, even if your employer (verbally) says you can use a work device any way you want. Too many bad things can happen to a person when mixing the two.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad as a laptop replacement
- Thread starter Omar Comin' Yo
- WikiPost WikiPost
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
- Status
Same boat here - I am one of the people that does heavy lifting on my personal computer (a Mac Studio, not a laptop).
I’ve never had a personal laptop that I’ve used for work, always been issued a company laptop (in fact, right now I have 2 as I have one from my employer and one from a client that I’m working on). That being said, I can see someone having a need for a personal laptop if an iPad won’t suffice for personal use (for example, if someone does video / photo editing in their free time)
I meant why do you need anything other than an iPad then when you have a work issued laptop? Not use your laptop for personal use. Use laptop for work and iPad for personal. Laptop for personal is overkill. iPad is good enough.
Different people have different preferences. While I agree that for most an iPad could probably be sufficient for their personal use, some prefer the laptop form factor more. And for gaming, a lot of people either use a gaming laptop or a gaming desktop. The iPad has a great selection of games, but not as many as you have with a gaming PC. Of course, you could always use a console for gaming as well. I think it mostly depends on people’s preferences.
Interestingly, I worked at a secure government funded facility for years, and they had an incidental use policy that allowed some personal usage on government owned computers. This did not include running an outside business, day trading, or doing anything for profit, but it might include sending an email to your kid's soccer team or getting a grocery list from a spouse. Of course, all of the normal work use restrictions still applied (adult content etc..). At this facility, I basically assumed that every keystroke was monitored and tracked, which they had a perfect right to do on their computers and servers. So, if I ever did use my computer for personal, I thought of it like the cyber security department head was in my office looking over my shoulder. Never had a problem.
BTW - Eventually, the facility allowed folks to bring their own devices to the office. Mainly, folks brought personal iPhones and iPads, since they didn't plan on doing anything of a personal nature that was very time consuming or required a personal laptop whilst at work.
BTW - Eventually, the facility allowed folks to bring their own devices to the office. Mainly, folks brought personal iPhones and iPads, since they didn't plan on doing anything of a personal nature that was very time consuming or required a personal laptop whilst at work.
Exactly, even that creepy guy in IT is looking over your shoulder. I worked at a small company for a while with that guy. He stopped by a female co-worker's desk and inquired if she was planning on moving - using his admin privileges, he saw in her work machine's browsing history that she was perusing realty sites at lunchtime. I told her to report him to mgmt.
I agree. Organizations have every right to monitor computer usage on their equipment and servers, but that isn't a license to snoop on people's personal lives, especially for the creepy purpose of initiating a romance or whatever this dude was doing.
Yes, there are things I need a Mac for that the iPad just can't do or is too clunky to do. It all depends on your use case. I have very specific things I do on my iPad and others on my Mac.
Do you like using that MX Master 3 on the iPad? I have a MX mouse and the strolling is no-go for me... actually prefer using the Magic Mouse with the iPad.
I keep the MX mouse tied to the desk, I occasionally use it with the Galaxy Fold (maybe with DeX)... since some of the mouse buttons works unlike on iPadOS.
You might want to consider the Magic Trackpad 2. I can't stand using any mouse with my iPad Pro, but the MTP2 just feels so natural with the iPad. Using a touch device to control a touch device and have all the gestures available is by far the best option in my experience.
Last edited:
I have an MX Master 3 and REALLY wish they would add support for the buttons on it. That and give us a mouse cursor that isn't a circle.
I love my Logitech Combo Touch. Perfect case for on the go, and home. I use the trackpad on it when it's in the case, and the Magic Trackpad 2 when in desktop mode. I really like that lap desk. Do you know where your gf got it? There are a ton of them on Amazon....of course. I have the MX Anywhere 3S, and had a 2S before that that I use with my desktop pc. Been one of my favorites.
Last edited:
*shrug*
I onno... if I can grade, edit, audio sweet a 4K video using color wheels, a speed editor, a 2nd oled 16 inch monitor, a 4TB nvme drive, an mx master mouse and still be able to troll the internet on it at the same time to watch a video on how to add 3D shadows to 3d text because i forgot how, id say the ipad is preeeettyyyyyy clooosseeeeeeeeeeeee...... now i can use my macbook to watch cat videos and check email.. 🤓
by the by, i love the MX mouse with the ipad ( ive seen some of you here comment on it). i can slide right over to my macbook when i need to. dont have any issues with it. im an old PC guy at heart so some things are hard to give up ( plus i still have PCs too!).
I onno... if I can grade, edit, audio sweet a 4K video using color wheels, a speed editor, a 2nd oled 16 inch monitor, a 4TB nvme drive, an mx master mouse and still be able to troll the internet on it at the same time to watch a video on how to add 3D shadows to 3d text because i forgot how, id say the ipad is preeeettyyyyyy clooosseeeeeeeeeeeee...... now i can use my macbook to watch cat videos and check email.. 🤓
by the by, i love the MX mouse with the ipad ( ive seen some of you here comment on it). i can slide right over to my macbook when i need to. dont have any issues with it. im an old PC guy at heart so some things are hard to give up ( plus i still have PCs too!).
I also like using the MX Master 3. Works well and so easy to switch among the 3 devices I use it with.
Umm... I had the Magic Trackpad 2, but with the bigger trackpad on the latest Magic Keyboards. Decided to sell it off.You might want to try the Magic Trackpad 2. I can't stand using any mouse with my iPad Pro, but the MTP2 just feels so natural with the iPad. Using a touch device to control a touch device and have all the gestures available is by far the best option in my experience.
I really don't quite understand the need to change the mouse cursor... if it's not a circle, Apple will still have that same highlight functionality when clicking on a target on iPadOS.
But on Android the buttons are in the settings... Logitech and Apple have a good relationship, not sure why they haven't come together to get better support for the MX mouse series.
I like the mx3 because i use it for my iPad, pc, and macbook. The ability to switch between easy three is fab. Scrolling is good but not annoying to the extent that I get frustrated. The reason why I use the mx is for ergonomic. Extended use of a track or other mice cause discomfort in my hand or wrist.
Are all the Magic Mouse features supported on the iPad?
Almost forgot to reply to your message. Sometimes I alternate between the track pad and mouse without thinking. Hahaha
I don’t know where the bought it from but I think it’s this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desire2-Computer-Cushions-Ergonomic-Accessory/dp/B0C59NL67S/
I thought it was going to be one of those accessories that are either flimsy or a novelty that you only use for a week and forget. However, I’m using it every day for over 7 months. I also use my 13 inch MacBook with it.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I can have a Windows and/or a MacOS (13/14/15/16“ Air/Pro/Max 16+GB 1+TB) laptop from work. You have to find out what you need/fit. Additionaly an iPad (10th/Air/Pro). I have now given my Intel laptop back (like a starting jet fighter) and I use only my M1 iPad Pro 12.9“ with Magic Keyboard. They have also given me a 34“ monitor for home as an iPad can only use one. I do no privat work on it. No iCloud.
And the iPhone Pro 15 is privat, exept for 2FA.
Seriously? I don't think consistency is important when it comes to a mouse symbol. I'm more confused why having an "arrow" is so important to you. You still get a text field mouse pointer when hovering over words.
I keep the MX3 on my desk... use it with the Macbook, along with the iPad via Universal Control. But I don't have it paired to the iPad. The MX is paired to Android, PC and Mac... since it's better supported on those operating systems.
But now that you mentioned... comfort, then I can understand the move.
Not really, only gesture that's supported is Swipe between pages. But it's one of those cases where... being accustomed to that kind of scrolling experience, especially when using the trackpad on the Magic Keyboard.
I'd like the ability to change the cursor symbol - my preference is an arrow. And it's just a preference, nothing special about it. Again, make it selectable like you can in Windows - if you like the ball, you can keep it that way.
After experiencing issues with my last two MacBooks, I switched to using iPad Pros. Although they don’t offer the same functionality as a traditional laptop, I’ve managed to maximize their utility. I anticipate that Apple will eventually merge iOS with macOS, similar to Microsoft’s approach. 😐
Completely understand that it would be nice to change the cursor symbol... I'm not against the idea of having options because as you mention it's all about preferences.
But what I'm trying to understand... what will that gain? Since folks come in here repeatedly asking let's have a "real" mouse symbol. As if the circle is not a mouse symbol.