iPad as a laptop replacement

[Momof9]

I am seriously thinking about doing this. I am a long time Windows PC power user. I use Photoshop in my Graphic Design. A few years ago, I bought a ipad Air 2 with only 16gb for my daughter’s schooling. But I was not happy with it - I know, not enough storage. A few years ago after a long line of issues with the Surface Pro 3 (and pen) - I came over to the iPad Pro... I LOVE the 12.9!!! I have somewhat used it over the past few years, but not as much as I should.

But then this past year, I got an Apple Watch and ended up with an iPhone X. Now - no longer looking back. I was a Samsung Note phone user - until the exploding 7s (I had 2) and in between the 7 and 8 I went with a Pixel. Loved the updates - hated when I went back to Samsung and their lack of fixing issues. But seeing the big problem on iPhones last year and how quickly Apple took care of the issue, I was really impressed. I can’t wait for the new iPhone to have Pen support!!!

So back to using this as a laptop. My Windows 10 PC is a nightmare right now (prob since April update). It is constantly crashing. It has ALL the bells in whisteles - Ram, HDD, i7. SO it is not that. I even have software that is supposed to be fixing it.... but it is still crashing multiple times a day. So today, I found some articles how someone used the iPad to do PS and other things that I would do every day. SO I am thinking why not try it? I have a logitech bluetooth keyboard that I am typing on right now. I have been using the pencil while I have been reading on the internet.... I even have my dad’s old Apple TV connected to one of my Monitors. I will have to change my desk setup if I am using the pencil to browse the internet...

So questions, I have 2 monitors, I will have to try the HP out. But the Samsung 21” was not as nice as a display as the iPad Pro. Is that how it’s going to be, even if I upgrade to a better monitor? I need to be able to QC my work on Affinity Photo after I make it, and I make it quite large to look for stray pixels etc. I also like to see things bigger on the monitor screen because of that. Since I will technically be down to 1 screen that is mirrored, I am thinking about just gettting a larger screen 27”??? Could I use 4K?

I can’t wait also for the new iPad pro - sounds like they will be making quite a leap this year. I have heard that PS is even coming out with a full version on iPad....

 

[spacebro]

Professionals who need special software or powerful specs won’t be using iPad in the future. For instance I am a composer and I work in Logic Pro. First of all there is no DAW on the App Store, second I load huge amounts of samples via SSDs via thunderbolt through another App. To use this software etc I need at least 16Gbs or Ram (I have 40GBs on my iMac) etc. People who do this kind of thing won’t be using iPads in the near future.

I’m not saying that the iPad can’t works as a replacement for some people but to broadly state that it will happen for everyone is not acurate.

Next gen audio equipment will come out where a tablet is the interface. The samples and the big ram will be in the specialized device. I am already starting to see equipment like this come out for the type of engineering I do. These things go on wifi and connect to an app or a laptop application. It will be a good thing when you can buy a specialized device to do pro work, it will cost less by using a tablet as its UI, and you won't need a huge beefy $6k pc to do what you want to do. Probably cost much less overall and end up with better tools. I can see the future.

 

[The_Interloper]

So questions, I have 2 monitors, I will have to try the HP out. But the Samsung 21” was not as nice as a display as the iPad Pro. Is that how it’s going to be, even if I upgrade to a better monitor? I need to be able to QC my work on Affinity Photo after I make it, and I make it quite large to look for stray pixels etc. I also like to see things bigger on the monitor screen because of that. Since I will technically be down to 1 screen that is mirrored, I am thinking about just gettting a larger screen 27”??? Could I use 4K?

I haven't used an iPad mirrored via Apple TV, only the Lightning Digital AV Adapter over HDMI. The result is a pixellated mess. It's fine for content consumption (where Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube etc switches natively to the connected display) but for the purely mirrored content it's just not good enough quality. I think you're just going to see a bigger mess on a bigger monitor; it's certainly something I would try out in a store before investing any money into this setup.

Bear in mind it also can't be scaled at different resolutions; you're just getting a carbon copy of your iPad screen with slight input lag. This is a major shortcoming of the "iPad as laptop replacement" workflow for me (not to mention it can't be extended, only mirrored).

 

[musicpenguy]

I haven't used an iPad mirrored via Apple TV, only the Lightning Digital AV Adapter over HDMI. The result is a pixellated mess. It's fine for content consumption (where Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube etc switches natively to the connected display) but for the purely mirrored content it's just not good enough quality. I think you're just going to see a bigger mess on a bigger monitor; it's certainly something I would try out in a store before investing any money into this setup.

Bear in mind it also can't be scaled at different resolutions; you're just getting a carbon copy of your iPad screen with slight input lag. This is a major shortcoming of the "iPad as laptop replacement" workflow for me (not to mention it can't be extended, only mirrored).

Yea the current multi display setup is a second iPad, which I’m very comfortable using 2 iPads at once, one as a reference monitor, and one that I am actively working on. I’ll send things between the two using iCloud Drive, AirDrop or universal clipboard.

 

[Kal-037]

Since 2015 I’ve been using iPads for 99% of my work, (I sold my MBP in September of 2015 and never looked back at PCs, Laptops, MBPs, or iMacs.) With each iOS update it becomes even better and will eventually be superior to laptops in many ways... IMO.
If the new iPad is like the cool all glass, no home button render with the rumored internals (Octa-core 7nm A11X or A12X chip) then the iPad will become my dream iPad/computer.


Kallum.

 

[Momof9]

Since 2015 I’ve been using iPads for 99% of my work, (I sold my MBP in September of 2015 and never looked back at PCs, Laptops, MBPs, or iMacs.) With each iOS update it becomes even better and will eventually be superior to laptops in many ways... IMO.
If the new iPad is like the cool all glass, no home button render with the rumored internals (Octa-core 7nm A11X or A12X chip) then the iPad will become my dream iPad/computer.


Kallum.

So you are not even using a desktop? One thing I am having issues with is wrapping my brain around all the things I do on the PC. ie I have 7 email addresses that go to my Pc via Thunderbird (I have a universal inbox via filters) so Imeod to find a iOS alternative. I have an android one.

 

[musicpenguy]

So you are not even using a desktop? One thing I am having issues with is wrapping my brain around all the things I do on the PC. ie I have 7 email addresses that go to my Pc via Thunderbird (I have a universal inbox via filters) so Imeod to find a iOS alternative. I have an android one.

I’m very confused multiple iOS email clients deal with a nearly unlimited number of email accounts quite well, this is pretty basic and nothing you’d need a PC for.

Are you saying you are running an email server from your PC? That is something else entirely that yes you would want a PC for ...

 

[nburwell]

I was laptop-less for about eight months (sold my 2013 15" MBP) and just used my X and IPP for basically everything. Last week, I picked up a pristine 2015 MacBook and it fits in great with my other Apple devices. For me, the reason I originally sold my 15" MBP was because it was too big and heavy to carry around anywhere. Plus, I mainly used it for photo editing which I don't need anymore. The 2015 MacBook is the perfect size and weight that it can accompany my other Apple devices when I'm traveling.

 

[Jonathantuba]

If an IPad Pro can be your only device depend on what you do and your attitude. I have not used a MacBook since the iPad Pro came out and don’t miss it at all. I do have an iMac but increasingly find I prefer to work on the iPad Pro so use that most of the time even when at my desk. I use it to run my business which it achieves very well. There is rarely anything I need to do on the iMac - and when I do I curse it not working as well as the iPad (the dreaded spinning ball). Ever since I got the iPad Pro I have researched how to use or the best app to use to do whatever I needed on it and as time has gone on with software updates there is less and less I can’t achieve. For me it’s current biggest weakness is not being able to have two Numbers spreadsheets open side by side - but I get around this by using second iPad for reference.

There will always be some people with specialist needs that will need MacOS, but for most people I am sure the iPad can do all they need once they feel confident using and have found out its full capabilities.

 

[Baronmist]

1. Forced to use Safari in mobile version - this is ridiculous and it's really disappointing since there is plethora of sites that don't work well with mobile versions of the sites. Not on Safari nor on Google Chrome. This severely limits the productivity of iPad Pro.
2. Try opening two words documents side-by-side or any office document. I mean such a simple task is so troublesome.
3. I don't see what iPhone X can't do that IPP can (especially with a larger iPhone X coming out). If you need mobile device just use iPhone. iPhone can do everything that IPP can do (apart from the functionality of Apple Pencil). For heavy work or any serious work Mac's have no alternative and never will. IPP has been and always will be a COMPANION device and it will never be able to replace Mac's.
4. Simple tasks such as copy/paste are so slow on iPad and it takes much more time to actually do any really work on it. Touch screen is much less precise than mouse and keyboard.

Also, you probably can find a way to adjust to its workflow but i don't understand why would one want to do something in harder way when it can be much more easily done on a proper laptop.

This are 4 main reasons (and there are many more small nuisances that occur from using IPP as a laptop replacement that would drive me mad if i had to use it all the time) why IPP in my opinion cannot replace Macs.

That being said i do believe its AMAZING device for artists. My GF is graphic designer and almost all of the work she does on an IPP.

 

[Momof9]

I’m very confused multiple iOS email clients deal with a nearly unlimited number of email accounts quite well, this is pretty basic and nothing you’d need a PC for.

Are you saying you are running an email server from your PC? That is something else entirely that yes you would want a PC for ...

No email server, I just have a lot of email addresses.

On my iPP I am using the app that looks like an envelope. I have my gmail addy in it, I don't see a way to add more email addresses.

 

[musicpenguy]

No email server, I just have a lot of email addresses.

On my iPP I am using the app that looks like an envelope. I have my gmail addy in it, I don't see a way to add more email addresses.

Spark, AirMail, and the built in Mail client support an unlimited number of email accounts - maybe try looking on their support pages if you need help with that, it for sure is for sure a common feature that I use with my 5 accounts.

 

[akash.nu]

No email server, I just have a lot of email addresses.

On my iPP I am using the app that looks like an envelope. I have my gmail addy in it, I don't see a way to add more email addresses.

This sounds like more of a user error than lack of feature. I use 7 email accounts with the default mail client without any issues.

 

[allonym]

No email server, I just have a lot of email addresses.

On my iPP I am using the app that looks like an envelope.

Could be Apple's in-built Mail app. Is it a white envelope on a blue background and does the icon have the word 'Mail' underneath it?

I have my gmail addy in it, I don't see a way to add more email addresses.

To add an account that you can access in Mail:

Settings app --> Accounts & Passwords --> Add Account

 

[Kal-037]

So you are not even using a desktop? One thing I am having issues with is wrapping my brain around all the things I do on the PC. ie I have 7 email addresses that go to my Pc via Thunderbird (I have a universal inbox via filters) so Imeod to find a iOS alternative. I have an android one.

Nope, not a single traditional computer. I do mostly content creation and school (character design, concept art, photography, writing, homework videos, and creative-design consulting.) The only thing I need is iPads to have full Adobe products, but for now Procreate and illustrator work good.
Emailing, doing homework, content consumption, and video editing... work great. But of course the iPad needs a couple things like (Final Cut, better Adobe integration, even better file management, and desktop-class apps.) For my work and school though, it does it’s job extremely well.
But obviously it will vary person to person.


Kallum.

 

[Momof9]

Could be Apple's in-built Mail app. Is it a white envelope on a blue background and does the icon have the word 'Mail' underneath it?


To add an account that you can access in Mail:

Settings app --> Accounts & Passwords --> Add Account

Thank you - I actually was setting up an iPad for my daughter and found it in settings. I forget that apple has a main settings area for everything. On Android - you did everything within the individual app...
[doublepost=1535730495][/doublepost]

Nope, not a single traditional computer. I do mostly content creation and school (character design, concept art, photography, writing, homework videos, and creative-design consulting.) The only thing I need is iPads to have full Adobe products, but for now Procreate and illustrator work good.
Emailing, doing homework, content consumption, and video editing... work great. But of course the iPad needs a couple things like (Final Cut, better Adobe integration, even better file management, and desktop-class apps.) For my work and school though, it does it’s job extremely well.
But obviously it will vary person to person.


Kallum.

Have you checked out Affinity Photo, Designer and a Beta of Publisher (Computer only right now). They are really good PS alternative.

 

[gobikerider]

1. Forced to use Safari in mobile version - this is ridiculous and it's really disappointing since there is plethora of sites that don't work well with mobile versions of the sites. Not on Safari nor on Google Chrome. This severely limits the productivity of iPad Pro.
2. Try opening two words documents side-by-side or any office document. I mean such a simple task is so troublesome.
3. I don't see what iPhone X can't do that IPP can (especially with a larger iPhone X coming out). If you need mobile device just use iPhone. iPhone can do everything that IPP can do (apart from the functionality of Apple Pencil). For heavy work or any serious work Mac's have no alternative and never will. IPP has been and always will be a COMPANION device and it will never be able to replace Mac's.
4. Simple tasks such as copy/paste are so slow on iPad and it takes much more time to actually do any really work on it. Touch screen is much less precise than mouse and keyboard.

Also, you probably can find a way to adjust to its workflow but i don't understand why would one want to do something in harder way when it can be much more easily done on a proper laptop.

This are 4 main reasons (and there are many more small nuisances that occur from using IPP as a laptop replacement that would drive me mad if i had to use it all the time) why IPP in my opinion cannot replace Macs.

That being said i do believe its AMAZING device for artists. My GF is graphic designer and almost all of the work she does on an IPP.

1. Safari is certainly a challenge at times but I do believe it’s improving constantly. Unfortunately it’s up to developers to code for iPad layouts and too many get lazy and just load there mobile view port.

2. The document thing is a personal preference I’ve yet to need to have more then one word doc open at once.

3. iPhone X can’t Spitview... you can’t use a keyboard...it’s thermally constrained so working on any large projects or exporting video are not really practical. Not sure of anyone who is gonna touch type a 5 page research paper on there phone. While the iPad has been a companion device in the past it’s very rapidly shaping out its own market of people who can and want to work exclusively from an iPad. I mean Adobe is bringing “full desktop class” Photoshop to iPad in 2019 so your really starting to see it evolve.

4. I never felt like copy and paste was slow...it takes me as long to do it on an iPad as it does on any computer.

 

[maerz001]

1. Safari is certainly a challenge at times but I do believe it’s improving constantly. Unfortunately it’s up to developers to code for iPad layouts and too many get lazy and just load there mobile view port.

2. The document thing is a personal preference I’ve yet to need to have more then one word doc open at once.

4. I never felt like copy and paste was slow...it takes me as long to do it on an iPad as it does on any computer.

1. yes there is movement. But we are talking about 11years of Safari mobile now...

2. this probably has to do with 4.
If u don’t use it often u don’t see how good it works to copy things with a mouse on a PC.
On iPhone and iPad almost every time i have problems with selecting words and have to fumble around with the unprecise blue pins or it jumps to completely different positions.
It’s a pain in the ass for years without improvements

 

[canesalato]

1. yes there is movement. But we are talking about 11years of Safari mobile now...

2. this probably has to do with 4.
If u don’t use it often u don’t see how good it works to copy things with a mouse on a PC.
On iPhone and iPad almost every time i have problems with selecting words and have to fumble around with the unprecise blue pins or it jumps to completely different positions.
It’s a pain in the ass for years without improvements

About 4) thankfully copy/paste has been tweaked for iOS12. When it works, it is much better now, more similar to how it works on computers. Unfortunately the response seems to be a little buggy

 

[Kal-037]

Thank you - I actually was setting up an iPad for my daughter and found it in settings. I forget that apple has a main settings area for everything. On Android - you did everything within the individual app...
[doublepost=1535730495][/doublepost]
Have you checked out Affinity Photo, Designer and a Beta of Publisher (Computer only right now). They are really good PS alternative.

Yeah, I forgot about posting Affinity Photo. Thanks, lol

 

[Macalicious2011]

I have not used a MacBook since the iPad Pro came out and don’t miss it at all.

I do have an iMac

its[iPad] current biggest weakness is not being able to have two Numbers spreadsheets open side by side - but I get around this by using second iPad for reference.

There will always be some people with specialist needs that will need MacOS, but for most people I am sure the iPad can do all they need once they feel confident using and have found out its full capabilities.

Hahahah. That's terribly contradictory.

It would be like me saying "Since I bought a Ferrari 488 I don't need my Range Rover as much. When I do take it shopping or driving the family around I curse at it for not being as the Ferrari. For quick trips to the airport I occasionally drive my BMW M5 instead of the Ferrari"

In the real world most consumers have a different financial situation than the average MacRumours enthusiasts who owns 3-4 Apple devices. Many consumers can only afford to buy and own one device, and laptop is more flexible and has more longevity than an iPad.

Two weeks ago my mother in law told me that her iPad has become slow since the recent update and mentioned what I told her last year, which is not run every update since they can slow your device down.

Is there a roll back option? Nope. When you own an iPad, its performance and usability is permanently in Apple's control.

 

[UOThief]

It depends what you need it for.

iPad Pro can do a lot, but it's not a laptop.

For me, it's capable of doing what I need to do on-the-go and it's a lot more portable in both storage/transport and usability.

 

[LovingTeddy]

It depends what you need it for.

iPad Pro can do a lot, but it's not a laptop.

For me, it's capable of doing what I need to do on-the-go and it's a lot more portable in both storage/transport and usability.

Storage?

First of all, you need shell out more money for higher storage option as there is no expandable storage option.

Second of all: The way that transfers files between iPad and computer is stupid. You either rely on iTunes or cloud storage. For all that matters, upload and download files from cloud is slow and painful. I have like 60GB worth of lecture videos (as i am taking online courses), there is no easy way for me to transfer these videos to my iPad. And I refuse install iTunes on my computer. Where i am using my Android or Windows based tablet or laptop, i can just copy these video to USB or MicroSD card. Simple and easy.

Just for the file transfer alone, iPad will not replace laptop anytime. Unless Apple give us access to the file system.

 

[UOThief]

Storage?

First of all, you need shell out more money for higher storage option as there is no expandable storage option.

Second of all: The way that transfers files between iPad and computer is stupid. You either rely on iTunes or cloud storage. For all that matters, upload and download files from cloud is slow and painful. I have like 60GB worth of lecture videos (as i am taking online courses), there is no easy way for me to transfer these videos to my iPad. And I refuse install iTunes on my computer. Where i am using my Android or Windows based tablet or laptop, i can just copy these video to USB or MicroSD card. Simple and easy.

Just for the file transfer alone, iPad will not replace laptop anytime. Unless Apple give us access to the file system.

Storage/transport of the physical device; not GB of information.

 

[eVolcre]

Storage?

First of all, you need shell out more money for higher storage option as there is no expandable storage option.

Second of all: The way that transfers files between iPad and computer is stupid. You either rely on iTunes or cloud storage. For all that matters, upload and download files from cloud is slow and painful. I have like 60GB worth of lecture videos (as i am taking online courses), there is no easy way for me to transfer these videos to my iPad. And I refuse install iTunes on my computer. Where i am using my Android or Windows based tablet or laptop, i can just copy these video to USB or MicroSD card. Simple and easy.

Just for the file transfer alone, iPad will not replace laptop anytime. Unless Apple give us access to the file system.

1. Ravpower filehub to an external Hdd as big as you want.

2. SanDisk iDisk. Lightning / usb flash drive.

There’s ways.