iPad as a laptop replacement

[Ludatyk]

Just to let you know that my new iPad Air 11 M2 arrives Tuesday!
For now I'll be using a smart folio with a wireless keyboard + mouse. MK and Logitech CT feels too heavy and bulky. Let's see if this goes well...

What mouse are you using? I suggest trying out the Magic Mouse for a smooth scrolling experience OR MX Master 3S for the Mac, supposedly Logitech improved the iPad experience.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/1e9ge2y/ipad_with_mx_master_3s_is_supercool

I have the original MX Master 3... but I use it for both Windows and Mac (occasionally with Android too), but I'd probably end up switching to the 3S. Not anytime soon though.

 

[rletras]

What mouse are you using? I suggest trying out the Magic Mouse for a smooth scrolling experience OR MX Master 3S for the Mac, supposedly Logitech improved the iPad experience.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/1e9ge2y/ipad_with_mx_master_3s_is_supercool

I have the original MX Master 3... but I use it for both Windows and Mac (occasionally with Android too), but I'd probably end up switching to the 3S. Not anytime soon though.

It's a generic one from Amazon. Has side buttons like the MX Master 3S, don't know if I can customize too like in that post.

 

[bondr006]

It's a generic one from Amazon. Has side buttons like the MX Master 3S, don't know if I can customize too like in that post.

Congratulations on the new purchase! Below are a couple photos of my iPad setups. I have an MX Master 3s that I use with my Mac Mini and Windows desktops. I have never liked the Magic Mouse, so I got a Magic Trackpad that I love using with my iPad setup. It just feels natural to me to use a touch based device to control a touch based device. You don't even have to think about it. All the gestures are there that are available on the iPad. I would recommend trying one out. I could never use anything else now for my iPad, well...other than my finger and Apple Pencil.😎

 

[sparksd]

+1 on the 3S. Easy to switch among my iPad, laptop, & desktop.

 

[Abazigal]

I must admit the case has some weight to it. I suppose it's something to do with the magnets... but I do like the look of it. It feels premium. I don't really use my iPad in potrait orientation because predominantly it's docked the Magic Keyboard... but this case allows me the possibility to do so.

View attachment 2459144

View attachment 2459145

Enjoy. It is noticeably heavier than the Apple iPad folio cover, but I like the more variety in viewing angles, and somehow, it feels right in the hand.

 

[Ludatyk]

Enjoy. It is noticeably heavier than the Apple iPad folio cover, but I like the more variety in viewing angles, and somehow, it feels right in the hand.

How long have you had yours? I wish it came in more colors… like brown or beige.

And I’m surprised they don’t have the product listed on their website.

 

[Abazigal]

How long have you had yours? I wish it came in more colors… like brown or beige.

And I’m surprised they don’t have the product listed on their website.

I ordered mine on Amazon and it arrived on 26 Oct.

I am basically rotating my ipad between my Smart Folio (when I go work, since it protects the screen when closed), this tineeowl kickstand for home (sometimes), my Magic Keyboard when I want to do some typing, and no case (when I just want to enjoy the feel of my iPad at its thinnest and lightest). Feels a tad excessive at times, but magnets do make it very easy to swap them out

 

[rletras]

What about hubs? What do you recommend to use in a desk setup to connect my monitor (HDMI), mouse and other peripherals?

 

[Abazigal]

What about hubs? What do you recommend to use in a desk setup to connect my monitor (HDMI), mouse and other peripherals?

A normal adaptor should do. Though it won’t leave you room for external storage.

USB C to HDMI Multiport Adapter with Charging Port, HDMI to USB C Hub Adapter for Monitor to Laptop, USB-C to USB Adapter 10Gbps, USBC HDMI Adapter 4K Converter for Mac iPad pro MacBook Chromebook

USB C to HDMI Multiport Adapter with Charging Port, HDMI to USB C Hub Adapter for Monitor to Laptop, USB-C to USB Adapter 10Gbps, USBC HDMI Adapter 4K Converter for Mac iPad pro MacBook Chromebook

amzn.asia

I can’t recommend on stands because the one I am using at work for my school laptop doesn’t seem to work with my iPad, oddly enough.

 

[bondr006]

What about hubs? What do you recommend to use in a desk setup to connect my monitor (HDMI), mouse and other peripherals?

This is the one I have had for 2 1/2 years now. It has worked very well for me, along with many other Anker products over the years.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZVKTP53?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

 

[sjebleu]

+1 on the 3S. Easy to switch among my iPad, laptop, & desktop.

How do you guys live with the terrible scrolling on the 3S? (Or has it been fixed somehow?)

 

[Kal Madda]

What about hubs? What do you recommend to use in a desk setup to connect my monitor (HDMI), mouse and other peripherals?

I have a Belkin hub set up at my desk that I’ve used for several years now. This one is similar to the one I have:

Belkin USB-C Hub, 7-in-1 MultiPort Docking Station for MacBook & Windows - 85W USB-C Power Delivery 3.0, 4K HDMI 1.4, 2x USB-A 3.0, SD 3.0, Micro SD 3.0, & 3.5mm Audio Jack

Belkin USB-C Hub, 7-in-1 MultiPort Docking Station for MacBook & Windows - 85W USB-C Power Delivery 3.0, 4K HDMI 1.4, 2x USB-A 3.0, SD 3.0, Micro SD 3.0, & 3.5mm Audio Jack

www.amazon.com

I also now have a compact hub that I carry in my iPad sleeve, and that one is an Anker. This is the one I keep in my bag:

Anker USB C Hub for USB-C iPad, 541 USB-C Hub (6-in-1) with 4K HDMI Port, Multi-Function USB-C Port, SD and microSD Card Slots, for iPad Pro 5th Gen / iPad Air 5th Gen / iPad Mini 6th and Later (Gray)

Model Number: A8363

www.amazon.com

The nice thing about the Anker hub is that it’s much lighter and more compact, and it connects directly to the side of the iPad, so it doesn’t dangle off the side.

 

[sparksd]

How do you guys live with the terrible scrolling on the 3S? (Or has it been fixed somehow?)

Don’t know if it’s been fixed/changed but it’s fine to me.

 

[Kal Madda]

This is one of my early setups from a couple of years back. I used an old walnut phone holder, the groove in it is the perfect size for the Belkin hub. This was my semi-portable setup at the time. I also had a bluetooth keyboard, but that just isn’t in the picture. I was still using a wired mouse at that point. Man, how things have changed in just a couple years. We went from iPadOS 15 with Split View and slideover, to iPadOS 18 now with Stage Manager, Apple Intelligence, pro apps, etc. Just in a couple of years, iPadOS has made massive strides! 👍🏻

 

[bondr006]

This is one of my early setups from a couple of years back. I used an old walnut phone holder, the groove in it is the perfect size for the Belkin hub. This was my semi-portable setup at the time. I also had a bluetooth keyboard, but that just isn’t in the picture. I was still using a wired mouse at that point. Man, how things have changed in just a couple years. We went from iPadOS 15 with Split View and slideover, to iPadOS 18 now with Stage Manager, Apple Intelligence, pro apps, etc. Just in a couple of years, iPadOS has made massive strides! 👍🏻View attachment 2459415View attachment 2459416

I tried one of the hubs that plugs directly into the iPad and hated it. Made the iPad unwieldy and just looked like something Steve Jobs would have hated to see hanging off the beautiful simplistic iPad. I like just the one usb c cord from the hub to the iPad. I only have the one hub for use at home for the desktop setup. I have no use for a hub on the go. Only thing I may want to plug into my iPad while out and about is a usb thumb drive, and I have a couple Samsung USB C thumb drives, so I'm good to go there.😉

 

[sparksd]

One area I found a hub useful for on the go (traveling), is using to backup photos from a camera card to an SSD - the hub has the necessary card slot and USB port and obviates the need to copy to the iPad as an intermediary.

 

[bondr006]

One area I found a hub useful for on the go (traveling), is using to backup photos from a camera card to an SSD - the hub has the necessary card slot and USB port and obviates the need to copy to the iPad as an intermediary.

I wouldn't call it a hub, but I have this I carry on the go if I need to access an SD card or usb a device. I also carry a Samsung T7 external SSD with me which has usb c.

 

[Kal Madda]

I tried one of the hubs that plugs directly into the iPad and hated it. Made the iPad unwieldy and just looked like something Steve Jobs would have hated to see hanging off the beautiful simplistic iPad. I like just the one usb c cord from the hub to the iPad. I only have the one hub for use at home for the desktop setup. I have no use for a hub on the go. Only thing I may want to plug into my iPad while out and about is a usb thumb drive, and I have a couple Samsung USB C thumb drives, so I'm good to go there.😉

I agree that it isn’t necessarily the most aesthetically appealing, but it’s very useful for situations where you don’t have a table or flat surface to set the iPad on. And I don’t think it looks that bad. I don’t need a hub very often, because most of my accessories I use regularly are USB-C, but sometimes it’s helpful to have a hub on the go. I’ve used it occasionally for other people’s flash drives and such, so it’s handy to have one with me. And if I do want it away from my iPad, I can use a USB-C extension cable. 👍🏻

 

[Kal Madda]

I wouldn't call it a hub, but I have this I carry on the go if I need to access an SD card. I also carry a Samsung T7 external SSD with me which has usb c.

That looks nice! I also really like this Micro SD card adapter! It works great for me, I don’t think I have a single full-sized SD card anymore, so I use this a lot. I don’t have my 3D printer hooked up to OctoPrint yet, so after I create my models and import them into AstroPad to slice and convert to gcode for the printer, I use this adapter to load the gcode onto an SD card I can insert into my printer and print from. It’s worked out really well for me so far. It’s also very useful for managing my camera’s SD cards, though I find myself using my iPhone as my camera a lot more often, and not using a dedicated camera as much. I do occasionally use one though, so it’s handy to have available! I love the build quality on the adapter, and it’s extremely compact, I think it’s ever so slightly smaller than the Samsung Flash Drive, which is incredibly small itself. 👍🏻

UGREEN USB C Micro SD Card Reader, Type C to Micro SD Card Adapter with Zinc Alloy External, Portable SD Card Reader USB C for TF Micro SDHC SDXC, Compatible with Samsung/Mac/iPad Pro/iPhone 15 16

Sharing On the Go: Easy to share your memorable photos with friends by connecting to USB C OTG-enabled device anytime and anywhere; Also, compact body and keychain design make it more convenient to carry out 5Gbps Data Transfer: USB C Micro SD card reader delivers data transfer rates up to 104M/s...

www.amazon.com

 

[Ludatyk]

I don’t need a hub very often, because most of my accessories I use regularly are USB-C, but sometimes it’s helpful to have a hub on the go. I’ve used it occasionally for other people’s flash drives and such, so it’s handy to have one with me. And if I do want it away from my iPad, I can use a USB-C extension cable. 👍🏻

I have a hub, but I don’t necessarily use it much… now that I bought a USB-C dock. I’ve collected many USB-C products from Ethernet adapters to a USB-C 2-1 (for USB-A) over these past years owning an iPad.

And I have a few USB-C extension cables… it’s interesting because we as iPad users discover new ways to use an iPad with it only having one port.

 

[rletras]

That's all great options for hubs, but I was looking for something that was AC powered like the surface dock. Also, it would be nice if it has a longer USB C cable so it isn't hanging

 

[sparksd]

That's all great options for hubs, but I was looking for something that was AC powered like the surface dock. Also, it would be nice if it has a longer USB C cable so it isn't hanging

For the hanging issue, I use a 90-degree USB-C adapter - no hanging when using with my MKB.

 

[Kal Madda]

That's all great options for hubs, but I was looking for something that was AC powered like the surface dock. Also, it would be nice if it has a longer USB C cable so it isn't hanging

Oh, I think I know what you’re talking about! I’m thinking about eventually getting one of those as well. 👍🏻. I currently only own smaller hubs like the ones I discussed, so unfortunately I can’t offer much in the way of recommendations. Though I can recommend some good brands that might make a good hub for what you’re wanting. I’d recommend Anker, Belkin, and OWC, all make fantastic hubs. 👍🏻

 

[Beefbowl]

What about hubs? What do you recommend to use in a desk setup to connect my monitor (HDMI), mouse and other peripherals?

I like the Microsoft Audio Dock. It was like $200 when it came out but is regularly in the < $50 range on Amazon now, and gives you HDMI and several USB ports in addition to a (pretty decent!) speaker and microphone and I think 65W charging.

Fair warning, I've never actually used the microphone with the iPad, but I assume it works.

 

[sparksd]

I must admit the case has some weight to it. I suppose it's something to do with the magnets... but I do like the look of it. It feels premium. I don't really use my iPad in potrait orientation because predominantly it's docked the Magic Keyboard... but this case allows me the possibility to do so.

View attachment 2459144

View attachment 2459145

Got mine today and I like it - a keeper. It is somewhat heavy but not bad at all and functionally is great. It also seems very well made. Nice find.