iPad as a laptop replacement

[Kal Madda]

Coming partially out of retirement to start a part time consulting gig has given me the opportunity to push some boundaries on my cellular 12.9” iPad Pro.

I track my time and mileage, and create a monthly invoice with a detail sheet, in Excel. Normally on my Mac Mini. When I’m in the field, I update time and mileage plus any notes in Excel on my iPad. Since I use iCloud and the Files app on the iPad, the worksheet is always current.

This morning I needed to send in my April invoice, which involves creating a new invoice, a new detail sheet, and exporting both as a merged pdf document to email to my client (I have only one). This is a task that I would normally do on my desktop Mac.

However, my Kinesis keyboard on my Mini decided to act up, and needs to be reprogrammed; and I just don’t feel like messing with it this morning.

So instead I did the task on my iPad. Took a bit longer, but in the process I learned a couple of things about Excel, files, and exporting and merging pdfs on the iPad. Which, in turn, makes me want to explore further what I can do with Excel and other apps. It’s kind of fun.

Just more confirmation that I really don’t need a laptop for what I do. YMMV.

Awesome! Yeah, when I originally switched to using my iPad, I expected I would be using it in combination with my MacBook at the time, but I was pleasantly surprised by how functional a lot of the apps really are once you start digging into them. I’ve always enjoyed learning how to use apps and tinkering with them, so I can totally relate with what you’re saying about tinkering with them being fun. 👍🏻. I also usually prefer the UI design of iPad versions of apps, they’re usually so much more intuitive and easy to find options, at least for many of the creativity-oriented apps I use. 👍🏻

 

[Meedoss]

iPads with keyboard are just no good as a laptop on the lap or bed

 

[Kal Madda]

iPads with keyboard are just no good as a laptop on the lap or bed

I totally disagree with that. I’ve used mine with the Magic Keyboard for both and it works great.

 

[Meedoss]

of course you do, but you are wrong they wobble eveywhere

 

[Abazigal]

of course you do, but you are wrong they wobble eveywhere

Not really, my 11" iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard is extremely stable on my lap. The magic keyboard adds a fair amount of weight, but I understand why they had to add all that weight to the base.

 

[Meedoss]

no where as good as a macbook, not even close, have had all, 11",13" ipad pro's with MGK, 13" and now 15" mba.

 

[Kal Madda]

of course you do, but you are wrong they wobble eveywhere

Never had a problem with it wobbling everywhere… I’ve even used it in the car on a bumpy road and it’s perfectly stable…

 

[Kal Madda]

no where as good as a macbook, not even close, have had all, 11",13" ipad pro's with MGK, 13" and now 15" mba.

And that’s just your opinion, many people disagree with you. You do you…

 

[TgeekB]

Awesome! Yeah, when I originally switched to using my iPad, I expected I would be using it in combination with my MacBook at the time, but I was pleasantly surprised by how functional a lot of the apps really are once you start digging into them. I’ve always enjoyed learning how to use apps and tinkering with them, so I can totally relate with what you’re saying about tinkering with them being fun. 👍🏻. I also usually prefer the UI design of iPad versions of apps, they’re usually so much more intuitive and easy to find options, at least for many of the creativity-oriented apps I use. 👍🏻

It’s cool that you’ve committed yourself to making the iPad work for you. Playing around with apps and such. The good thing about Apple devices is the ability to find what works best for you. I hope we see more compatibility in the future as it will make it even more enjoyable.

 

[richpjr]

Never had a problem with it wobbling everywhere… I’ve even used it in the car on a bumpy road and it’s perfectly stable…

Not my experience. The new generation is wobbly unless sitting on a desk.

 

[Kal Madda]

Not my experience. The new generation is wobbly unless sitting on a desk.

I’ve had a chance to try the newest M4 13”, and it feels perfectly stable to me. YMMV.

 

[Sully]

I’ve had a chance to try the newest M4 13”, and it feels perfectly stable to me. YMMV.

Even my M1 12.9” is fine on my lap with the Apple keyboard case (whatever it’s called). And, it doesn’t get hot like my MacBook Pro did.

I do need a full computer that runs MacOS. But, I can travel for a month with my iPad Pro and keyboard and no one knows I’ve even left the office given my use case.

 

[sparksd]

Even my M1 12.9” is fine on my lap with the Apple keyboard case (whatever it’s called). And, it doesn’t get hot like my MacBook Pro did.

I do need a full computer that runs MacOS. But, I can travel for a month with my iPad Pro and keyboard and no one knows I’ve even left the office given my use case.

It really comes down to a couple of things - Can I accomplish my tasks with a particular tool in a way that is satisfactory to me? Given more than one tool that satisfies that question, is there one of the tools that I just like using more than the other?

 

[richpjr]

I’ve had a chance to try the newest M4 13”, and it feels perfectly stable to me. YMMV.

It does. It works fine on a flat surface and that is where I use it most, but IMO, it is noticeably more wobbly that the prior generation.

 

[sparksd]

It does. It works fine on a flat surface and that is where I use it most, but IMO, it is noticeably more wobbly that the prior generation.

I find the M4 13 to be more stable in the lap than the M1 12.9 it replaced for me - less weight in the upright tablet.

 

[MrAverigeUser]

Never had a problem with it wobbling everywhere… I’ve even used it in the car on a bumpy road and it’s perfectly stable…

I have no experience with the „Magic“ Keyboard because I made my choice for the Logitech Keyboard (half the price and at least as good as the MK) as everyone can see and read in many reviews comparing both apple and Logitech.

My experience ist the same as you have for the apple MK for the LogiTech Slim Folio Pro with my 11“ iPadPro - this thing is absolutely stable as a rock. There is nothing that wobbles at all.
And typing on its Keyboard (it has backlight as well) is very precisely and comfortably possible, it has apple-function keys as well…. and its own battery - thus the key board drains not at all the battery of the iPad. Nice advantage !
The LogiTech seems to be very reliable as well.

So I recommend again for others to have a look (and test) at both, the apple MK and its Logitech Alternatives before making the choice for one of them.

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