iPad as a laptop replacement

[sjebleu]

Been using the iPad only for a month now. And it has been quite painful really, especially with an external monitor. There's some bug regarding which window is at the front, meaning hotkeys applies to another window/app instead of the window/app I actually clicked and wanted that to apply to.

Noticed that ipadOS Safari =/= MacOS Safari. Which lack a lot of features and capabilities. Having access to other web engines would probably solve most of my annoyances.
Webpage dropdown menus are a pain, especially the long ones.
Other annoying things are browser content scaling. It doesn't really work well. Worst is the Goodle Drive web app. Everything scaled really big.

I'm still a bit confused on how Stage Manager works. Found out that learning "every" hot keys really help. But then again sometime hotkeys don't work due to previously mentioned issues.

However, I will still stick to the iPad Pro as my main computer. As there are features/capabilities that I can't get on a Macbook, or at least the iPad is doing it better:

- Pen
- iOS apps
- Weight
- Bank apps + FaceID
- Direct Cellular capability (!)
- Waterproof cases
- Back camera and lidar for scanning
- Etc.

 

[Kal Madda]

Been using the iPad only for a month now. And it has been quite painful really, especially with an external monitor. There's some bug regarding which window is at the front, meaning hotkeys applies to another window/app instead of the window/app I actually clicked and wanted that to apply to.

Noticed that ipadOS Safari =/= MacOS Safari. Which lack a lot of features and capabilities. Having access to other web engines would probably solve most of my annoyances.
Webpage dropdown menus are a pain, especially the long ones.
Other annoying things are browser content scaling. It doesn't really work well. Worst is the Goodle Drive web app. Everything scaled really big.

I'm still a bit confused on how Stage Manager works. Found out that learning "every" hot keys really help. But then again sometime hotkeys don't work due to previously mentioned issues.

However, I will still stick to the iPad Pro as my main computer. As there are features/capabilities that I can't get on a Macbook, or at least the iPad is doing it better:

- Pen
- iOS apps
- Weight
- Bank apps + FaceID
- Direct Cellular capability (!)
- Waterproof cases
- Back camera and lidar for scanning
- Etc.

Sorry to hear about the bug you’re experiencing. I haven’t run into that bug, so hopefully it will be resolved soon for you. 👍🏻

I’m thinking about writing a piece about using Stage Manager for my Substack. I haven’t really found a good comprehensive tutorial to share with people.

And I totally agree with that list of pros! 👍🏻. And beyond the iOS apps, there’s many iPadOS apps that I find much more efficient for my workflow than the Mac versions. 👍🏻

 

[Webcat86]

Sorry to hear about the bug you’re experiencing. I haven’t run into that bug, so hopefully it will be resolved soon for you. 👍🏻

I’m thinking about writing a piece about using Stage Manager for my Substack. I haven’t really found a good comprehensive tutorial to share with people.

And I totally agree with that list of pros! 👍🏻. And beyond the iOS apps, there’s many iPadOS apps that I find much more efficient for my workflow than the Mac versions. 👍🏻

I would love to read that tutorial. What’s your SS?

 

[Kal Madda]

I would love to read that tutorial. What’s your SS?

https://kalebcadle.substack.com/. Thank you, I haven’t written it yet, but that will probably be my next post. 👍🏻

 

[bondr006]

Been using the iPad only for a month now. And it has been quite painful really, especially with an external monitor. There's some bug regarding which window is at the front, meaning hotkeys applies to another window/app instead of the window/app I actually clicked and wanted that to apply to.

Noticed that ipadOS Safari =/= MacOS Safari. Which lack a lot of features and capabilities. Having access to other web engines would probably solve most of my annoyances.
Webpage dropdown menus are a pain, especially the long ones.
Other annoying things are browser content scaling. It doesn't really work well. Worst is the Goodle Drive web app. Everything scaled really big.

I'm still a bit confused on how Stage Manager works. Found out that learning "every" hot keys really help. But then again sometime hotkeys don't work due to previously mentioned issues.

However, I will still stick to the iPad Pro as my main computer. As there are features/capabilities that I can't get on a Macbook, or at least the iPad is doing it better:

- Pen
- iOS apps
- Weight
- Bank apps + FaceID
- Direct Cellular capability (!)
- Waterproof cases
- Back camera and lidar for scanning
- Etc.

Hi there, and welcome to MacRumors.😊More and more of us are using our iPads for more than just entertainment and consumption. I have been using my iPad Pro as a laptop replacement for 3 years next month, and have never looked back. You can read my story here on page 129 of this thread. I also started a thread a couple years ago listing all the things you can do with your iPad that you can read here. I prefer my iPad for many things I do in my real estate business much better than a laptop. I also like using Safari like I do on a laptop or desktop, better than using apps. I only use apps for stuff Safari can't do. I am in the iPad club as laptop replacement for the long run. You will find a lot of help along the way in your journey here. I look forward to hearing about your progress.

Edit: When I saw MacRumors newbie under your avatar, I assumed you were new here. I took a look at your profile and found you weren't new, but this is the first time we've crossed paths...so the "welcome" stands.

My iPad desktop setup and mobile setup, which is my main use case for out in the field for my real estate business.

@sjebleu

 

[sjebleu]

https://kalebcadle.substack.com/. Thank you, I haven’t written it yet, but that will probably be my next post. 👍🏻

Yeah, that would be hopefully really helpful.

 

[Ludatyk]

I’m thinking about writing a piece about using Stage Manager for my Substack. I haven’t really found a good comprehensive tutorial to share with people.

Well, there’s Christopher Lawley‘s YT video.

And Fernando Silva did a good thorough coverage on Stage Manager as well.

IMO, Stage Manager is not as tricky as it might appear… some likely call it clunky and that could have some truth to it. But Apple designed Stage Manager to be something straightforward… to be helpful to those who want to manage windows/apps in a more controlled environment.

 

[Kal Madda]

Well, there’s Christopher Lawley‘s YT video.

And Fernando Silva did a good thorough coverage on Stage Manager as well.

IMO, Stage Manager is not as tricky as it might appear… some likely call it clunky and that could have some truth to it. But Apple designed Stage Manager to be something straightforward… to be helpful to those who want to manage windows/apps in a more controlled environment.

Thanks, I’ll have to watch those! 👍🏻. I like Fernando’s work. 👍🏻

 

[sjebleu]

IMO, Stage Manager is not as tricky as it might appear… some likely call it clunky and that could have some truth to it. But Apple designed Stage Manager to be something straightforward… to be helpful to those who want to manage windows/apps in a more controlled environment.

Lawley‘s walkthrough is great and did clarify a few things for me.

As you said Stage Manager is rather straightforward when using the iPad alone.
For me, at least, thing gets confusing the using it with an external monitor.
But I'm not sure if in my cases that those behavior is a bug or intentional.

Sorry I'm a bit vague and not sure how to describe the issues.
But let me try: When using the ipad alone, theres only one active stage. With an external monitor, theres two.
Open a new Safari-window on a stage without any Safari-windows, I have to be careful not to click the Safari icon, or else it just move "a random" safari window from another stage, to this new stage. ("AAAARGH!")

Often, I can't find a spesific Safari-window again, and I know I have it opened.
And vice versa, some Safari windows pop ups again later on.
(Yes, I know about the functionality to show all Safari-windows.)

My workaround this issue for now, is trying to only have 1 window of each apps. Meaning, if I want to have mulitple browser windows, I'll open i.e. Chrome, Duckduckgo, etc.

 

[Ludatyk]

My workaround this issue for now, is trying to only have 1 window of each apps. Meaning, if I want to have mulitple browser windows, I'll open i.e. Chrome, Duckduckgo, etc.

Yes, this makes sense. But I tend to have Edge on my external monitor and Safari on the iPad.

Sorry I'm a bit vague and not sure how to describe the issues.
But let me try: When using the ipad alone, theres only one active stage. With an external monitor, theres two.
Open a new Safari-window on a stage without any Safari-windows, I have to be careful not to click the Safari icon, or else it just move "a random" safari window from another stage, to this new stage. ("

I think this is intentional by Apple… if I’m not mistaken, in this scenario you have the Safari window on the external monitor. And if you decide to click on the Safari window (from the dock) on the iPad… it will show up on it.

But if you click the Safari window on the external monitor… it will show up on it.

 

[sjebleu]

I think this is intentional by Apple… if I’m not mistaken, in this scenario you have the Safari window on the external monitor. And if you decide to click on the Safari window (from the dock) on the iPad… it will show up on it.

But if you click the Safari window on the external monitor… it will show up on it.

I guess my issues would been solved by easily adding a option to open a new window when longpress/right click the Safari icon.

Let me show how hideous it is to add a new safari window to a stage without messing up other stages:
- Find a stage with a safari window.
- Open new window.
- Fullscreen that window.
- Resize that window.
Now you finally have a safari window on a separate stage.

It get way worse if I want to add a new safari window to an existing stage with two or more windows:
- Find a stage with a safari window.
- Open new window.
- Fullscreen that window.
- Resize that window.
A:
- Find that stage
- Hold Shift and safari icon
- And hope it pulls up that newly created window and not another.
B:
- In the stage without the new safari window, Shift + open what ever app you had in the other stage.

 

[Webcat86]

I guess my issues would been solved by easily adding a option to open a new window when longpress/right click the Safari icon.

Let me show how hideous it is to add a new safari window to a stage without messing up other stages:
- Find a stage with a safari window.
- Open new window.
- Fullscreen that window.
- Resize that window.
Now you finally have a safari window on a separate stage.

It get way worse if I want to add a new safari window to an existing stage with two or more windows:
- Find a stage with a safari window.
- Open new window.
- Fullscreen that window.
- Resize that window.
A:
- Find that stage
- Hold Shift and safari icon
- And hope it pulls up that newly created window and not another.
B:
- In the stage without the new safari window, Shift + open what ever app you had in the other stage.

Does it not work with iPad that you can cmd+T to open a new tab, then just drag that tab out to a new window?

 

[Kal Madda]

I guess my issues would been solved by easily adding a option to open a new window when longpress/right click the Safari icon.

Let me show how hideous it is to add a new safari window to a stage without messing up other stages:
- Find a stage with a safari window.
- Open new window.
- Fullscreen that window.
- Resize that window.
Now you finally have a safari window on a separate stage.

It get way worse if I want to add a new safari window to an existing stage with two or more windows:
- Find a stage with a safari window.
- Open new window.
- Fullscreen that window.
- Resize that window.
A:
- Find that stage
- Hold Shift and safari icon
- And hope it pulls up that newly created window and not another.
B:
- In the stage without the new safari window, Shift + open what ever app you had in the other stage.

A quick way to add an additional app window to the stage is to click the app icon and drag it towards the middle of the screen. A new window for that app should appear in the stage. 👍🏻

 

[Mainsail]

Here is how I see it:

• Spend most of your time working with documents on trackpad and keyboard: Get an M3 MBA on sale for $849
• Occasionally want to take notes or markup docs or want a cheap travel computer for vacation: add a basic iPad with Apple Pencil for $349 + $70 =$419
• Spend most of your time doing artwork and drawing: Get a 13" iPad Pro (256GB) plus pencil plus MK = $1299 + $129 + $350 =$1,777

Just note that the MBA + basic iPad cost less than an iPad Pro alone without accessories. There are no right or wrong answers. Your requirements should drive your purchase.

 

[sjebleu]

A quick way to add an additional app window to the stage is to click the app icon and drag it towards the middle of the screen. A new window for that app should appear in the stage. 👍🏻

I mean I want a clean/empty safari windows.

 

[sjebleu]

Hi there, and welcome to MacRumors.😊More and more of us are using our iPads for more than just entertainment and consumption. I have been using my iPad Pro as a laptop replacement for 3 years next month, and have never looked back. You can read my story here on page 129 of this thread. I also started a thread a couple years ago listing all the things you can do with your iPad that you can read here. I prefer my iPad for many things I do in my real estate business much better than a laptop. I also like using Safari like I do on a laptop or desktop, better than using apps. I only use apps for stuff Safari can't do. I am in the iPad club as laptop replacement for the long run. You will find a lot of help along the way in your journey here. I look forward to hearing about your progress.

Edit: When I saw MacRumors newbie under your avatar, I assumed you were new here. I took a look at your profile and found you weren't new, but this is the first time we've crossed paths...so the "welcome" stands. View attachment 2435542


My iPad desktop setup and mobile setup, which is my main use case for out in the field for my real estate business.

View attachment 2435478 View attachment 2435479

@sjebleu

Thanks, I’ll check those post out later!

 

[sjebleu]

Does it not work with iPad that you can cmd+T to open a new tab, then just drag that tab out to a new window?

Thing is I want that new safari window moved into another stage. So cmd+N is better, but moving it to another stage is a bit tricky.

 

[RLRabb]

eThing is I want that new safari window moved into another stage. So cmd+N is better, but moving it to another stage is a bit tricky.

If you are starting with a stage with Safari already open, right click (two-fingers on the trackpad, or press and hold with your finger) the + sign in the upper right and select New Window. Once that window is open, tap the three dots at the top of that window and select Minimize. That will place just that window in a separate, new stage. After that, you can drag that window from the stages sidebar into any other stage you want.

Edit: Option-Command-N will also create a separate new window in Safari, if you like to stick with keyboard commands as much as possible.

 

[Ultracyclist]

Here is how I see it:

• Spend most of your time working with documents on trackpad and keyboard: Get an M3 MBA on sale for $849
• Occasionally want to take notes or markup docs or want a cheap travel computer for vacation: add a basic iPad with Apple Pencil for $349 + $70 =$419
• Spend most of your time doing artwork and drawing: Get a 13" iPad Pro (256GB) plus pencil plus MK = $1299 + $129 + $350 =$1,777

Just note that the MBA + basic iPad cost less than an iPad Pro alone without accessories. There are no right or wrong answers. Your requirements should drive your purchase.

So you are telling me I should buy a MacBook? Yet i do all my document work on my iPad… Either in a keyboard case or docked at home with the apple keyboard en trackpad On my desk. Why would I need a MacBook for that? Since 2021 I’ve been using my iPad for law school reading document, drafting thesis and coining everything I did with my MacBook before. The only thing that should drive you to a specific device should be purpose and app availability and limitations. Price is just a minor factor. If the price is the issue, maybe go with a refurbished model or if you don’t mind it not being in a ecosystem an windows and or android combo.

 

[Webcat86]

So you are telling me I should buy a MacBook? Yet i do all my document work on my iPad… Either in a keyboard case or docked at home with the apple keyboard en trackpad On my desk. Why would I need a MacBook for that? Since 2021 I’ve been using my iPad for law school reading document, drafting thesis and coining everything I did with my MacBook before. The only thing that should drive you to a specific device should be purpose and app availability and limitations. Price is just a minor factor. If the price is the issue, maybe go with a refurbished model or if you don’t mind it not being in an ecosystem a windows and or android combo.

My work supplies an MBA and next month I’m getting an upgrade and can get my current one for a bargain price. The only thing I am really looking forward to with it is being able to continue my Photos clean up for my couch. Right now I’m using my iMac and I’ve created smart albums to help me do it. And for no good reason, I’m unable to view those smart albums on my iPad Pro.

 

[Mainsail]

So you are telling me I should buy a MacBook? Yet i do all my document work on my iPad… Either in a keyboard case or docked at home with the apple keyboard en trackpad On my desk. Why would I need a MacBook for that? Since 2021 I’ve been using my iPad for law school reading document, drafting thesis and coining everything I did with my MacBook before. The only thing that should drive you to a specific device should be purpose and app availability and limitations. Price is just a minor factor. If the price is the issue, maybe go with a refurbished model or if you don’t mind it not being in a ecosystem an windows and or android combo.

You should get whatever works best for you. Personally, I find the MBA to be far superior to the iPad for creating and modifying documents because MacOS is just smoother for having multiple documents and apps open. The typing experience is better on the Mac. The trackpad is better. File management is better. I have tried spreadsheets on an iPad, and it was very frustrating for me. So, if you spend most of your time with your iPad connected to the MK or the vast majority of work is with Office type documents, I would recommend the MBA over the iPad. Obviously, I would make a different recommendation if your workload was focused on artwork or drawing.

 

[bondr006]

You should get whatever works best for you. Personally, I find the MBA to be far superior to the iPad for creating and modifying documents because MacOS is just smoother for having multiple documents and apps open. The typing experience is better on the Mac. The trackpad is better. File management is better. I have tried spreadsheets on an iPad, and it was very frustrating for me. So, if you spend most of your time with your iPad connected to the MK or the vast majority of work is with Office type documents, I would recommend the MBA over the iPad. Obviously, I would make a different recommendation if your workload was focused on artwork or drawing.

As you probably know, I've been using my M1 iPad Pro 11 exclusively for my mobile real estate work for almost 3 years now. I make a lot of documents, contracts, spread sheets, and pdfs in my work...and personally, I like the work flow of the iPad a lot better than I did with my MacBook. For me, the iPad does more of what I need in the field than my MBP did. I know needs are different for different people, but for me...I like the iPad better for my mobile office needs.

 

[Ultracyclist]

You should get whatever works best for you. Personally, I find the MBA to be far superior to the iPad for creating and modifying documents because MacOS is just smoother for having multiple documents and apps open. The typing experience is better on the Mac. The trackpad is better. File management is better. I have tried spreadsheets on an iPad, and it was very frustrating for me. So, if you spend most of your time with your iPad connected to the MK or the vast majority of work is with Office type documents, I would recommend the MBA over the iPad. Obviously, I would make a different recommendation if your workload was focused on artwork or drawing.

Yet I don’t ever draw…. I work with spreatsheets and text based documents. Stage manager on iPad is not very different to stage manager on Mac. So it doesn’t really matter that much. The typing ”experience“ is subjective. And the Magic Keyboard is the same across a loose keyboard, a MK or a MacBook. They have the same construction. Same on the trackpad side of things. The file management is a bit different, but not that much. When everything is based in the iCloud they are in the same place on MacBook and on iPad. It’s all just prefs. And with that being said, the iPad is more versatile. And that is not subjective or a preference.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

Hey so I currently have an M3 MBP 14". But I've been thinking for a long time about using an iPad exclusively. There really isn't anything I do on the Mac that I cannot do on an iPad. Just in a bit different way. But I would want to know about things like wired printing, backing up to an external drive and even ripping CDs (yes I still do this). Can any of these be done with an iPad?

 

[Mainsail]

Yet I don’t ever draw…. I work with spreatsheets and text based documents. Stage manager on iPad is not very different to stage manager on Mac. So it doesn’t really matter that much. The typing ”experience“ is subjective. And the Magic Keyboard is the same across a loose keyboard, a MK or a MacBook. They have the same construction. Same on the trackpad side of things. The file management is a bit different, but not that much. When everything is based in the iCloud they are in the same place on MacBook and on iPad. It’s all just prefs. And with that being said, the iPad is more versatile. And that is not subjective or a preference.

For multitasking, I would not compare Stage Manager on an iPad to Stage Manager on a Mac. I find Stage Manager on a Mac completely useless and turned it off after the first day. In MacOS, Stage Manager is a poor substitute for the functionality of the basic MacOS floating windows environment that makes working on multiple documents and spreadsheets so easy.

To be clear, all of the above is caveated by "for me" or "in my experience". YMMV.