iPad as a laptop replacement

[Synergie]

LumaFusion looks almost exactly like an app I used at the actual TV station here locally to edit video for news clips for on air. It was a proprietary suite I cant remember the name now... but the desktop layout and tools were almost identical! I’ve used Adobe as well...
where most mobile / tablet editing apps are watered down, LumaFusion most definitely is not. I have done an entire documentary on it which later played on theatre screen in India when I was there. (I’m Canadian).

Cool set up you got there. Totally doable. I agree, Lumafusion is an Awesome desktop level app for video editing on the ipad. Apple should really offer a version of final cut pro for their ipad pros. I think the software side will only keep improving. Adobe is coming out with a Full version of photoshop for the ipad pros next year. Next month can’t come soon enough. Gonna nab one of the new ipad pros for sure.

Seems a lot of posters here think switching to an ipad only setup is limiting. And that may be true...for them. But not everyone. And not for many professional artists & content creators. I am a professional artist and have been ipad only for nearly 3 years now. I don’t find it limiting at all! Quite the opposite.

* I sketch, draw & paint on it. No more need for piles of sketchbooks or a wacom tablet attached to a desktop. No more expensive paints and art supplies.
* I edit all my photos & videos on it. Editing 4k video, drone footage & photos at home & on the road is a breeze. It has truly liberated me and my workflow.

I can do all my creative work on an ipad as well as all the other daily activities like surfing the web, writing emails and watching movies. It’s all much easier and more intuitive than on a laptop or desktop. And lighter too for when i go mobile.

I just love it. For others, its not the answer, and thats cool. I am not anti anything. Use what works for you and enjoy. For some pros it may not be enough for them and what they do. But do not say the ipad is a toy or cannot under any circumstances ever be used as a serious tool for any pro content creator. That is such BS. It totally can. And I am not the only professional artist who thinks so.

 

[DNichter]

That MediaShair2 in my pic above and the 2 TB drive it’s sitting on, are small enough to sit in the palm of my hand. The MediaShair2 has its own battery so its portable. You can use it even without an internet connection just as a media server. Or even at Starbucks etc, you can pass through their WiFi (or hotel etc) through the MediaShair and access the net and your external storage at once. Bonus is, it gives another layer of protection when using a public WiFi network.

The whole thing fits in my handbag... LOL. You should see us at Starbucks when we set it up there haha.

I dont usually bring the Logi Base dock. When out I just use the Smart Cover as the stand, but the dock is quite small as well - I just wish it was collapsible like the back was moveable then you could also adjust the angle as well as collapse it to fit better in a bag.

Sounds good! Glad it worked out for you. Moving to iOS only has been a great experience for me and many on here.

 

[pika2000]

I can’t use Maya. That’s the end for me.
Also, Maya is so power hungry that this toy wouldn’t work. (I type on iPad from bed btw). Regardless, iPad is not ready to replace computer. It’s just extension at best. It will take few years before they can think about iPad as a computer

So anything that doesn't run maya is a toy, and people using those "toys" are not pros.
I guess "real" pros are douchebags as well. :shrug:
[doublepost=1537443386][/doublepost]

So in the photos below you will see our setups - my husband and I each have the same setup for a workstation. He has my older 2015 IPad Pro 12.9 WiFi and I have the 2017 12.9 WiFi/Cellular.

We use Logitech’s charging stand, which allows us to still access the lightning port. We use Apple’s wireless BT Magic keyboard as it gives full desktop experience of typing. When out we can either throw the keyboard in our bag or just use on screen keyboard for small emails etc. But most typing is done at home anyway.
Cases used are the Tech21 Impact clear back with the pencil holder and We just use the smart covers. I have white and he has the charcoal one.

For file management outside the device we use a Mediashair2 Travel Router which has a USB port for external storage. Currently it has a 2TB portable hard drive attached. We have full access to and from every app thanks to an app called File Browser which allows us to access any external HDD this way (or USB stick or SD card as it also has an SD slot).

I had done desktop class video editing with this setup. An app called LumaFusion is awesome on iPad pros huge screen and the layout is exactly like desktop video editing software. I also use a high end music production app called Auria and I use the full Adobe suite as I have a subscription.

For office we just use Pages, etc or MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro.

I would say software is really the only problem now keeping the vast majority of people from being able to survive with an iPad Pro as their primary computer.

Thanks for sharing, and I'm glad you found a setup that works out for you. Kudos for you to embrace your choice of devices.

 

[Ghost31]

One of the biggest things I could ever hope for is external monitor support. Give me the ability to connect my iPad to a 27inch monitor to do my work and it’ll change how I’m able to use my device

 

[Synergie]

I do actually have a 13” MBP. It’s a mid 2012... I have not touched it in over a year now and my reasons why?

The screen looks horrible in comparison to the 12.9” IPP screen. I mean it’s really bad in comparison!

I know many on here can’t do without a mouse or trackpad. I’m now apparently the opposite. When I try to use a laptop I instinctively try to just touch what I want on the screen. My brain has retrained itself.... versus having to first drag a curser across the screen to reach what I want, which actually takes longer. Just directly touching the icon is faster and more intuitive.
I have learned how to use the two finger curser method in typing areas to move the curser around easily, which is where most people want a mouse anyway (and many seem to not know about this).

At this point I don’t have anything on the MBP which isn’t mirrored on the IPP, both content and apps.

 

[Freida]

So anything that doesn't run maya is a toy, and people using those "toys" are not pros.
I guess "real" pros are douchebags as well. :shrug:

No, not at all. I used Maya as an example. I'm sure other pros can chime in with their software and to tell you what are their bottlenecks. The point was to say that iPad is simply not a computer replacement for pros that require full fleshed computer with often most uptodate components. There IS a reason why people were asking Apple to update the bloody mac pro to be more pro friendly and not the trash it is now. And because the group was vocal, Apple is finally doing something about it.

You didn't hear pros asking Apple to make iPad more PRO work ready as its simply impossible at this stage.
Eventually, iPad will probably overtake it but that is still years away. For now, computer is a computer, iPad is a toy for light tasks and convenience. I love both but I also know that I can't do everything on both. Each has separate purpose and yes, some tasks can easily overlap but some simply can't. Not for now at least.

So, leave you snarky assumption for next time, please.

 

[charlituna]

I think part of the problem is defining “Pro” work.

Say it again for the folks in the back. Heck just “how do you define work”. For me work means being on set so I’m dealing with PDFs of call sheets, location forms, recording scene notes on script pages, recording light meter etc data, taking photos of extras costumes for continuity. All stuff I can do on an iPad Mini easier than using a laptop or a phone. Plus the Mini fits real nice in the pocket of my cargos, which is why my gaffers etc love the unit as well.

 

[Mainsail]

No, not at all. I used Maya as an example. I'm sure other pros can chime in with their software and to tell you what are their bottlenecks. The point was to say that iPad is simply not a computer replacement for pros that require full fleshed computer with often most uptodate components. There IS a reason why people were asking Apple to update the bloody mac pro to be more pro friendly and not the trash it is now. And because the group was vocal, Apple is finally doing something about it.

You didn't hear pros asking Apple to make iPad more PRO work ready as its simply impossible at this stage.
Eventually, iPad will probably overtake it but that is still years away. For now, computer is a computer, iPad is a toy for light tasks and convenience. I love both but I also know that I can't do everything on both. Each has separate purpose and yes, some tasks can easily overlap but some simply can't. Not for now at least.

So, leave you snarky assumption for next time, please.

If you could lose the “iPad is a toy” narrative, you might have more credibility with people who use their iPads every day to get their work done. If you don’t limit the definition of “professional” to people that need the same speciality software that you need, you might gain more credibility. There are lots of people that are professionals that get their jobs done with an iPad.

Historically, there is a pattern on this forum by some members, and it kind of goes like this: .....I need specialty software to do my job, and it won’t run on an iPad, therefore, the iPad is a toy and no one can use an iPad professionally or as a primary device.

The operating assumption being that everyone has the same unique needs as I do, and if a device does not work for me, it won’t work for anyone else. It is kind of a narrow view of the professional world.

 

[Greenmeenie]

No, not at all. I used Maya as an example. I'm sure other pros can chime in with their software and to tell you what are their bottlenecks. The point was to say that iPad is simply not a computer replacement for pros that require full fleshed computer with often most uptodate components. There IS a reason why people were asking Apple to update the bloody mac pro to be more pro friendly and not the trash it is now. And because the group was vocal, Apple is finally doing something about it.

You didn't hear pros asking Apple to make iPad more PRO work ready as its simply impossible at this stage.
Eventually, iPad will probably overtake it but that is still years away. For now, computer is a computer, iPad is a toy for light tasks and convenience. I love both but I also know that I can't do everything on both. Each has separate purpose and yes, some tasks can easily overlap but some simply can't. Not for now at least.

So, leave you snarky assumption for next time, please.

Again, i think you miss the point. You keep stressing the word “Pros” as if professionals right now cannot conceivably use the ipad as their only content creating device. I think thats what some people on this board who are indeed pros and do use the ipad as their only content creation device took issue with. Now, are there pros out there who cannot or choose not to? Of course! There is no doubt that many professional users cannot use the ipad as their only device or at all with the software they use. You look like you’re one of them. Bravo! Enjoy.

But the idea that the only time ALL pros could use the ipad as their only device is in the far far future, is false! Many have made the switch in the here & now. Doesn’t make computers bad. None of us who made the switch to ipad only are saying that at all. You are the only one taking such a generalized view. Its all good!

And as far as pro level software for the ipad, there are tons of apps out there that are. And more coming. Adobe is putting out a FULL version of Photoshop for the ipad in 2019. Not a “lite” watered down version. A full version. So that right there destroys any notion you or anyone has that real professionals can’t use the ipad seriously as their main device. They can, and they are. Others can’t or won’t. Again, it depends. But just because you can’t or don’t doesn’t mean others can’t. I am not being snarky. Just stating the truth.

I’m glad you’re happy and productive on your choice of device. Other professionals are happy with their choice of switching to the ipad as theirs. Live & let live. Cheers!

 

[Brammy]

I am not sure even Apple knows what “Pro” means. Their Pro series of devices seem to just be “users that need some extra oomph in their computing platforms.” Lots of people buy MacBook Pros because they want the large screen or the dGPU, but don’t do any sort of paid, pro work on them.

What I find interesting about these arguments is the “this device is useless” only ever really extends to the iPad, and not Windows or Macs these days. There are parts of my day job I can’t do on a Mac because the program just isn’t there. That doesn’t mean the Mac is useless, or a toy, it’s not fit for that purpose. However, on these threads only the iPad gets this treatment, and not another desktop-class OS that can’t run a key tool.

 

[Mainsail]

I am not sure even Apple knows what “Pro” means. Their Pro series of devices seem to just be “users that need some extra oomph in their computing platforms.” Lots of people buy MacBook Pros because they want the large screen or the dGPU, but don’t do any sort of paid, pro work on them.

What I find interesting about these arguments is the “this device is useless” only ever really extends to the iPad, and not Windows or Macs these days. There are parts of my day job I can’t do on a Mac because the program just isn’t there. That doesn’t mean the Mac is useless, or a toy, it’s not fit for that purpose. However, on these threads only the iPad gets this treatment, and not another desktop-class OS that can’t run a key tool.

I agree fully. Suppose I used my iPad in the field to markup drawings, annotate documents/contracts at client sites, and make sketches. I could say that an iMac is completely useless because I can’t carry it around the job site to do the work I need to do. I could say it is just a toy that people use to play 4K video games. I could further say that anyone that doesn’t do my kind of field work isn’t a professional or doesn’t have professional work requirements for their device.

In other words, I could be completely dismissive of all of the other uses of an iMac just because it does not fit my particular workflow or needs. That’s exactly how this iPad narrative sounds to people that use their iPad every day to be productive.

 

[Freida]

Again, i think you miss the point. You keep stressing the word “Pros” as if professionals right now cannot conceivably use the ipad as their only content creating device. I think thats what some people on this board who are indeed pros and do use the ipad as their only content creation device took issue with. Now, are there pros out there who cannot or choose not to? Of course! There is no doubt that many professional users cannot use the ipad as their only device or at all with the software they use. You look like you’re one of them. Bravo! Enjoy.

But the idea that the only time ALL pros could use the ipad as their only device is in the far far future, is false! Many have made the switch in the here & now. Doesn’t make computers bad. None of us who made the switch to ipad only are saying that at all. You are the only one taking such a generalized view. Its all good!

And as far as pro level software for the ipad, there are tons of apps out there that are. And more coming. Adobe is putting out a FULL version of Photoshop for the ipad in 2019. Not a “lite” watered down version. A full version. So that right there destroys any notion you or anyone has that real professionals can’t use the ipad seriously as their main device. They can, and they are. Others can’t or won’t. Again, it depends. But just because you can’t or don’t doesn’t mean others can’t. I am not being snarky. Just stating the truth.

I’m glad you’re happy and productive on your choice of device. Other professionals are happy with their choice of switching to the ipad as theirs. Live & let live. Cheers!

I think the issue here is that we all have different definition or meaning of the word 'pro' which I tried to explain before. So one more time for clarity, to me, 'pro' needs where those that put the machines to tests and really stretch it. That doesn't mean that people outside these jobs or tasks are not professionals. We can all say that we are professionals in the other definition some people used here and it would be correct. Office workers could use that they are pros because their job demands that they are the best at their level. However, my comment wasn't to belittle professions that don't have high computing needs. My point was, that I use the term 'pro' for a specific group of people (i used media/vfx content creators as an example) and for that group the iPad is simply not sufficient enough and hence I labeled it as a toy (which I still stand by that definition even when I use iPad everyday).

Let me take it to a complete extreme here just for illustration purposes

A doctor using iPad for analysis of his patient's stats, RTG etc. doesn't mean that he is not a pro because he is using an iPad. Not at all - but (and again for dramatisation here) watching slides and text + some pictures etc. is not very demanding computational wise.

Now, the same way goes to another guy who is a scientist and requires mathematical simulations (lets say for cancer research) is hardly going to use an iPad (hence why I labelled it as a toy).

BOTH are professionals and both are the best at their game (I would hope) and yet only one can use the iPad for work. The other can supplement it to a computer but he needs a computer.

I'm not here to belittle professions. That was not my intention. Just to show that (for me) using the term 'pro' is for group of people that need the computational power that simple iPad can't supply yet.

 

[Mainsail]

Well, to be fair, you also called the ipad a toy, which implies that it can not be used for serious work and was pretty dismissive of what other people do for a living with their devices. In your example above, clearly a doctor does serious professional work. So, it sounds like you are walking back the “toy” comment.....which is cool.

Peace.

 

[mk313]

I am not sure even Apple knows what “Pro” means. Their Pro series of devices seem to just be “users that need some extra oomph in their computing platforms.” Lots of people buy MacBook Pros because they want the large screen or the dGPU, but don’t do any sort of paid, pro work on them.

Someone posted this on here before and it’s one of the funniest comments I’ve ever read on Macrumors ‘with Apple devices, Pro stands for Profit’.

 

[Freida]

Well, to be fair, you also called the ipad a toy, which implies that it can not be used for serious work and was pretty dismissive of what other people do for a living with their devices. In your example above, clearly a doctor does serious professional work. So, it sounds like you are walking back the “toy” comment.....which is cool.

Peace.

I meant no disrespect to people's jobs. I still think iPad is a toy but not in the way you guys portray me here like the evil professor.
Its all cool from my end. I love my iPad and can't wait for the updated 12.9 PRO (kidding) so I can pick up drawing again and maybe some digital sculpting with the pencil.
I also can't wait for the iMac update (or mac pro but i think thats too far away) so I can do some fun stuff I've been delaying for a while because my MBP 15" screen is too small. (miss the 17")

Anyway, its all cool and I hope now everyone is not misreading my comments because that was not my intention at all.

 

[Momof9]

* I sketch, draw & paint on it. No more need for piles of sketchbooks or a wacom tablet attached to a desktop. No more expensive paints and art supplies.
* I edit all my photos & videos on it. Editing 4k video, drone footage & photos at home & on the road is a breeze. It has truly liberated me and my workflow.

I can do all my creative work on an ipad as well as all the other daily activities like surfing the web, writing emails and watching movies. It’s all much easier and more intuitive than on a laptop or desktop. And lighter too for when i go mobile.

I just love it. For others, its not the answer, and thats cool. I am not anti anything. Use what works for you and enjoy. For some pros it may not be enough for them and what they do. But do not say the ipad is a toy or cannot under any circumstances ever be used as a serious tool for any pro content creator. That is such BS. It totally can. And I am not the only professional artist who thinks so.

Can you share your setup? How do you deal with storage. I am actually thinking of getting the largest storage rare new 12.9. Then I wont have to worry about not enough storage.

 

[Mainsail]

I think one way an iPad has replaced the laptop is when people use an iMac + iPad combo. The iPad is light and portable. You can use the pencil for meeting notes. It’s a great setup for reading documents and making edits and annotations. You can even write short reports, memos, etc. on the virtual keyboard. Emailing and calendaring are a breeze. So, for people with light mobile content development needs, the iPad is a great solution. You can’t make sketches and handwritten notes on a MacBook.....well, not as easily as an iPad. For heavy lifting, use the iMac back at the office.

Like I said, this worrks for people with relatively traditional and straightforward mobile computing needs. Fortunately, there are tons of professional office worker types that fit into this category.

 

[eVolcre]

Is the media shair similar to the rav power file hub you were using? What made you switch?

 

[m00min]

That’s great that you e got a setup that works for you but I’d be concerned about eye strain having to peer at a tiny screen, plus the screen height is too low for comfortable usage. Also, constantly having to prod the screen might give you shoulder issues.

I have a MBP for work but no way would I want to use it for eight hours a day without having a large monitor plugged into it and a mouse. My eyes and shoulder thank me for it.

 

[oVerboost]

No good for me... Photoshop mobile is no where even close to the full fat version.

Plus for the normal person, how much did all the bits cost? iPad, cabling, external hard drive, the other devices etc... Could have just bought a used iMac or MacBook.

 

[ericwn]

No good for me... Photoshop mobile is no where even close to the full fat version.

Plus for the normal person, how much did all the bits cost? iPad, cabling, external hard drive, the other devices etc... Could have just bought a used iMac or MacBook.

At least we now know that Adobe is finally working on a desktop level version of PS for the iPad. Good things are coming!

 

[pedregosa]

Probably the one thing holding me back from going all-IPP is that there is no full version of Adobe Acrobat. I think PDF Expert is pretty good, but there are some things I can’t do on my IPP and that require me to go to Adobe Acrobat Pro on a Mac — OCR of scanned documents, file size reduction, and Bates numbering are the ones that come to mind. (PDF Expert offers Bates numbering on its Mac version, but not on the iOS one.)

 

[Momof9]

No good for me... Photoshop mobile is no where even close to the full fat version.

In 2019 Adobe IS releasing a full version of PS for the iPad!!! I am pretty excited about this! Affinity Photo is a lot like PS and it is already available for the iPad.

 

[Dave-Z]

I moved to mostly iPad last year when I bought a second-gen 12.9" iPad.

Most of my work consists of writing (blog-style) or backend web development. There's enough tools to make doing that on an iPad pretty easy.

For writing I use 1Writer and for coding I use Prompt to SSH to the appropriate servers where I use vim for all my coding. My setup works really well for me.

I still need a computer because frontend web development on an iPad sucks. Even with something like Web Tools I can't get the job done; I need a proper web inspector and need to be able to use multiple browsers to make sure everything is working. What I do is run a headless Linux desktop machine and use Jump to connect to it remotely. I use that when I need a desktop browser or if I have to encode video, etc. I also have a headless Linux server which acts as a NAS and runs Plex, etc.

So while I'm not truly iPad-only my day-to-day tasks are done on it and it's my primary device. (I rarely even use my iPhone.)

 

[rosyapple]

I still need a computer because frontend web development on an iPad sucks. Even with something like Web Tools I can't get the job done; I need a proper web inspector and need to be able to use multiple browsers to make sure everything is working. What I do is run a headless Linux desktop machine and use Jump to connect to it remotely. I use that when I need a desktop browser or if I have to encode video, etc. I also have a headless Linux server which acts as a NAS and runs Plex, etc.

So while I'm not truly iPad-only my day-to-day tasks are done on it and it's my primary device. (I rarely even use my iPhone.)

Sigh. I totally agree with this, doing web development or coding is very clunky on the iPad. I miss tools like Google / Firefox / Safari Developer Tools, Codekit, Xcode or Little Snitch, which is why I'm still stuck with a MacBook Air.

My current usage between iPad and laptop is 50-50. For school, I mainly use iPad to take notes and read. For other interests such as coding, I use my laptop. Since I have the iPad, my laptop stays at home though, it is currently my main desktop.

I also hate downloading things on the iPad. Some download links are redirects and iPad Safari doesn't understand that and ends up downloading the page where it redirects to instead of the actual file itself.

My favorite game, World of Warcraft, is also not available on iOS.