iPad as a laptop replacement

[bktpl]

I use Safari, so can’t speak to Chrome, but I’ve never had any problems downloading large files on Safari. I’ve noticed on my Mac, where I used to use Chrome and Edge, that those Chromium based browsers tend to be less reliable downloading files on a mid to spotty internet connection, where Safari is far more reliable, at least in my experience. And so since I’ve seen that performance difference, I have never even bothered with Edge or Chrome on my iPad when I switched. Perhaps try downloading the files with Safari and see if that works out better for you. 👍🏻

On Safari it could be downloaded. Must be some limiting for chrome or in ipad maybe there is some setting in system, if i find a way to solve it ill explain here.
For me i use ipad every day, generally for google, web browser, some payments, when my kid is using my phone, in general, to train some cert via webbrowser (prepared env via web). In general, what am i missing for full every day use is normal app to learn programming, like cursor or vsc on macbook - it is better for me to have smaller device and i like it.
Anyway, having ipad pro m4 - i would not buy another one for this amount of money (got it with keyboard and pen) - around 1200 euro again, despite i love this device very much. I know it will probably be used for the next 7-10 years if not broken. Also the main reason was to use pen and paint for my kid, for now, He does not use it as much as i wanted.

Also it should be done like on lenovo tab - there we got profiles so we can share this tabalet between few plp with their desktops and apps. I will not buy 3 devices for three people, apple.

 

[sjebleu]

Since my last post regarding using a Raspberry Pi along with the ipad, I've actually growing to love the setup more and more. Having a "mobile server / testbed" with me for what ever ridiculous idea I might test out is fantastic.
If given I could do whatever I want with the ipad, I might really NOT want to do whatever on it, due to mostly security reasons.

That said, setting up and learning "Linux" and trying out different methods to make things intuitive and useful was painful, and I won't recommend this setup to anyone, I guess.

All this was mainly just to not bring the macbrick pro along, and that I really love the Magic Keyboard case, which is fantastic to write on.

FAQ: Why am I glueing it my ipad?
I need to have it physically with me due to school work and I need an unrestricted device for... things.

 

[bondr006]

Since my last post regarding using a Raspberry Pi along with the ipad, I've actually growing to love the setup more and more. Having a "mobile server / testbed" with me for what ever ridiculous idea I might test out is fantastic.
If given I could do whatever I want with the ipad, I might really NOT want to do whatever on it, due to mostly security reasons.

That said, setting up and learning "Linux" and trying out different methods to make things intuitive and useful was painful, and I won't recommend this setup to anyone, I guess.

All this was mainly just to not bring the macbrick pro along, and that I really love the Magic Keyboard case, which is fantastic to write on.

FAQ: Why am I glueing it my ipad?
I need to have it physically with me due to school work and I need an unrestricted device for... things.

Well, that's just pretty darn cool! The tech enthusiast in me really loves this, and in my younger days would be playing with stuff like this.
Thanks for sharing your fun experiment!

 

[Kal Madda]

On Safari it could be downloaded. Must be some limiting for chrome or in ipad maybe there is some setting in system, if i find a way to solve it ill explain here.
For me i use ipad every day, generally for google, web browser, some payments, when my kid is using my phone, in general, to train some cert via webbrowser (prepared env via web). In general, what am i missing for full every day use is normal app to learn programming, like cursor or vsc on macbook - it is better for me to have smaller device and i like it.
Anyway, having ipad pro m4 - i would not buy another one for this amount of money (got it with keyboard and pen) - around 1200 euro again, despite i love this device very much. I know it will probably be used for the next 7-10 years if not broken. Also the main reason was to use pen and paint for my kid, for now, He does not use it as much as i wanted.

Also it should be done like on lenovo tab - there we got profiles so we can share this tabalet between few plp with their desktops and apps. I will not buy 3 devices for three people, apple.

Awesome, I’m glad that helped! 👍🏻

Also, for coding apps, there’s a web version of Visual Studio Code that works on the iPad, and there is also another great coding app built on the same engine as VS Code, the app is called Code and it has a blue rectangle outline on a black background. Code is a lot like VSCode in design and functionality, so maybe that will help. 👍🏻

 

[Kal Madda]

The latest iPadOS 26.1 beta brings back Slide Over, for those who missed it. Only now, windows in Slide Over can be resized however users want! It doesn’t seem to support a stack of windows in SlideOver yet, but I could see that coming in the future. But actually is quite useful for certain things, like a messaging app, or the calculator being able to stick a window into Slide Over for quick access later just like classic Slide Over, but now with the ability to resize it! 👍🏻

 

[Ludatyk]

The latest iPadOS 26.1 beta brings back Slide Over, for those who missed it. Only now, windows in Slide Over can be resized however users want!

Honestly, I stopped using SlideOver once Stage Manager was introduced back in iPadOS 16… thought using it in combination with SplitView was limited.

But how Apple implemented SlideOver in this new multitasking system is so cool… definitely enjoying it.

It doesn’t seem to support a stack of windows in SlideOver yet, but I could see that coming in the future.

You should watch Christopher Lawley video about this… particularly around the 2:55 mark. Because adding a stack of multiple SlideOver would make this new system convoluted… plus we already have the ability to have 3 or more windows (apps) on screen.

Only thing missing is a much quicker way to get into SplitView for using who like how it was back in iPadOS 18, even though I like the flick gesture.

 

[Kal Madda]

Honestly, I stopped using SlideOver once Stage Manager was introduced back in iPadOS 16… thought using it in combination with SplitView was limited.

But how Apple implemented SlideOver in this new multitasking system is so cool… definitely enjoying it.


You should watch Christopher Lawley video about this… particularly around the 2:55 mark. Because adding a stack of multiple SlideOver would make this new system convoluted… plus we already have the ability to have 3 or more windows (apps) on screen.

Only thing missing is a much quicker way to get into SplitView for using who like how it was back in iPadOS 18, even though I like the flick gesture.

Same here, I haven’t used Slide Over since the introduction of Stage Manager. When I first moved to the iPad before Stage Manager was introduced, I used Slide Over quite a bit for things like messaging apps that I could quickly pull onto my screen when needed, and I thought it was a pretty cool concept, and I wondered if Apple would ever incorporate it into a multi-windowing setup. The way they’ve incorporated it in the beta is really cool, I’ve been creating Slide Over windows now just for the fun of it and swiping them off-screen and back in. It’s especially useful when hopping between window stages, but still needing an app for quick access that isn’t tied to that stage.

That’s probably right about making it convoluted, I’ll have to watch that video. 👍🏻

Yeah, overall I’ve been pretty happy with the way they’ve implemented this multi-windowing system, now I’m thinking they can probably focus on streamlining some of the widowing options a bit. 👍🏻

 

[Ludatyk]

Yeah, overall I’ve been pretty happy with the way they’ve implemented this multi-windowing system, now I’m thinking they can probably focus on streamlining some of the widowing options a bit. 👍🏻

Care to elaborate on streamlining the windowing options? Removing some of the options? Combining?

 

[Kal Madda]

Care to elaborate on streamlining the windowing options? Removing some of the options? Combining?

I was meaning like you said, making things like Split View easier to launch into. Maybe they could add an option a little bit more like the Mac implementation where if you drag the window into a region of the screen and hover there a bit, a blue outline pops up showing you where the window will snap to on the screen? I don’t know if that would work well or not, but it may make it easier to launch Split View and setup other snap window arrangements than going through the windowing options or the green traffic light button. 👍🏻. I like that we have the variety of windowing options we do now on the iPad, and I think Slide Over actually even gives the iPad a bit of an edge in that department over a Mac. I just absolutely love this new implementation of Slide Over! 👍🏻

 

[Ludatyk]

I was meaning like you said, making things like Split View easier to launch into. Maybe they could add an option a little bit more like the Mac implementation where if you drag the window into a region of the screen and hover there a bit, a blue outline pops up showing you where the window will snap to on the screen?

They could do it... but it would mean removing the flick gesture that's currently the action to get into SplitView. I like the animation we get from using the flick gesture, but clearly... some users don't care for it.

 

[Ludatyk]

According to Jason Snell with Six Colors, we can have two SlideOver windows (apps) when using an external monitor.

Slide Over only supports one app per display, so while you can only position one window on your main iPad display, if you use an external display, you can position a different app on that one.

Haven’t tested it myself yet though.

 

[Kal Madda]

They could do it... but it would mean removing the flick gesture that's currently the action to get into SplitView. I like the animation we get from using the flick gesture, but clearly... some users don't care for it.

Yeah, that’s a good point, and I personally have nothing against the flick gesture for Split View. I actually feel it’s more natural for the iPad with its touch interactions than on the Mac. So I definitely wouldn’t want them to replace the flick gesture with the click and drag interaction.

Also, really interesting about Slide Over on external displays! I’ll have to try it out! That could be quite handy! 👍🏻

 

[nucl30us_m]

Over the last decade, I have tried numerous times to make the iPad my laptop replacement. It just doesn’t work for me, which is interesting because I don’t have significant computing demands. I would characterize my use as run-of-the-mill every day computing: Productivity apps (iWork and MS office), Photos, Mail, Messages, Safari…… typical home and office stuff.

My base M2 MBA sails through daily tasks smooth as butter on the latest operating system. You can buy the latest MBA for under $800. I just don’t see trying to shoehorn my current workflow into an iPad, when everything is working so well.

Of course, YMMV, but I see myself as being a pretty typical everyday user.

Why doesn't iPad work for you as a laptop replacement, if the reason is not computing demands? You say it doesn't work, without giving reason why...

 

[Mainsail]

Why doesn't iPad work for you as a laptop replacement, if the reason is not computing demands? You say it doesn't work, without giving reason why...

Good question. While my demands are simple and I don't need a lot of computing power, I often do need to have multiple documents open at the same time. I find MacOS so much easier to navigate between different docs and apps..... productivity apps in particular. Also, the trackpad makes rapid navigation a breeze.

You can stick an iPad in a keyboard case with trackpad, but fundamentally IPadOS is a touch first operating system with one app at a time roots. So, it would be unrealistic to expect it to work as quickly or seamlessly as a windows based operating designed to be used with a trackpad.

The opposition is true as well. Apple gave the MacBook a multi-touch trackpad and they have made some changes to the OS that gives it more iOS look and feel......but I would not expect a MacBook to be a good iPad/Tablet replacement.

 

[xxFoxtail]

Good question. While my demands are simple and I don't need a lot of computing power, I often do need to have multiple documents open at the same time. I find MacOS so much easier to navigate between different docs and apps..... productivity apps in particular. Also, the trackpad makes rapid navigation a breeze.

You can stick an iPad in a keyboard case with trackpad, but fundamentally IPadOS is a touch first operating system with one app at a time roots. So, it would be unrealistic to expect it to work as quickly or seamlessly as a windows based operating designed to be used with a trackpad.

The opposition is true as well. Apple gave the MacBook a multi-touch trackpad and they have made some changes to the OS that gives it more iOS look and feel......but I would not expect a MacBook to be a good iPad/Tablet replacement.

I see your point. The moment I try to have more than one Excel instance open on my iPad Pro M4, I just kind of expect something to happen with it. Visual bugs start happening in Excel, or it becomes a blank screen. And I had Excel crash on me once. Nothing mission critical, but it's annoying when it happens before it can auto save.

I ended up just switching most of my spreadsheet work back to Numbers, much more stable. I don’t have these problems when I’m using the Mac version of Excel.

 

[nucl30us_m]

Good question. While my demands are simple and I don't need a lot of computing power, I often do need to have multiple documents open at the same time. I find MacOS so much easier to navigate between different docs and apps..... productivity apps in particular. Also, the trackpad makes rapid navigation a breeze.

You can stick an iPad in a keyboard case with trackpad, but fundamentally IPadOS is a touch first operating system with one app at a time roots. So, it would be unrealistic to expect it to work as quickly or seamlessly as a windows based operating designed to be used with a trackpad.

The opposition is true as well. Apple gave the MacBook a multi-touch trackpad and they have made some changes to the OS that gives it more iOS look and feel......but I would not expect a MacBook to be a good iPad/Tablet replacement.

Makes sense, thanks for elaborating. Sounds like I'd run into the same issue, since I do a lot of writing on my MBP and often have several documents open at once. I'm drawn to the idea of replacing the macbook with an iPad Pro with keyboard case, because I travel a lot with it. But it looks like I'd end up regretting it for reasons like this, also lack of available apps on iPadOS.

I wish Apple would expand MacOS to make it run on both macbooks and iPads, in such a way that it could encompass all the tablet-specific functions on iPad while also allowing for optimized laptop-replacement use cases. Like two different modes for the iPad, all within the MacOS environment. They could even change the name from iPad to MacPad, signaling the device's development of more laptop-like capabilities as its hardware has gotten more powerful. This way all MacOS apps would run on iPad without issue.

Now would be a good time to do that, considering that they're about to add touch screens to macbooks, so that there will be hybrid use cases for both iPads and macbooks: iPads used in keyboard mode, macbooks used in touch mode; or the iPad as a touch-first device with laptop capabilities, and the macbook as a keyboard-first device with touch capabilities.

I'd even go so far as to say that such an iPad could replace the Macbook Air line altogether, turning the Air into a hybrid tablet device with detachable keyboard. Or they could keep the current Air as a cheaper base model, and add a hybrid version as a premium option.

Maybe it's time for a shakeup in Apple's lineup of devices, which has been the same for, how many years? But this doesn't seem to be on their agenda. So I'll be sticking with macbooks for the foreseeable future.

 

[Kal Madda]

Makes sense, thanks for elaborating. Sounds like I'd run into the same issue, since I do a lot of writing on my MBP and often have several documents open at once. I'm drawn to the idea of replacing the macbook with an iPad Pro with keyboard case, because I travel a lot with it. But it looks like I'd end up regretting it for reasons like this, also lack of available apps on iPadOS.

Working with multiple documents, I honestly don’t really see much difference in utility with the iPad vs the Mac… I can open several windows with different documents in them perfectly fine. I can do it with Microsoft Word as well. Just be sure to install the Microsoft Word app, as that supports multiple windows, where the Microsoft 365 app doesn’t. But yeah, a big part of my business use for my iPad involves working with documents. I can easily manage it all on my iPad. Now, I did switch to Pages, but for basic utility, Microsoft Word on iPadOS works okay for some things as well. But if you heavily rely on some certain features in Word like custom document templates, those sadly aren’t supported because Microsoft is being anti-customer. But Pages does support features like that. So that’s a big part of why I use Pages. I haven’t had a single problem using Pages, and I even share documents with others using Word, as I can export documents written in Pages as Word files. 👍🏻

That said, I totally understand if you prefer doing document work on the Mac, I just thought that my experience may be helpful. 👍🏻

 

[sjebleu]

Just be sure to install the Microsoft Word app, as that supports multiple windows, where the Microsoft 365 app doesn’t

Oh this right here really makes my blood boil. The inconsistency and fragmentation of MS solutions is a [insert_worst_possible_swear_word].

 

[sjebleu]

Good question. While my demands are simple and I don't need a lot of computing power, I often do need to have multiple documents open at the same time. I find MacOS so much easier to navigate between different docs and apps..... productivity apps in particular. Also, the trackpad makes rapid navigation a breeze.

You can stick an iPad in a keyboard case with trackpad, but fundamentally IPadOS is a touch first operating system with one app at a time roots. So, it would be unrealistic to expect it to work as quickly or seamlessly as a windows based operating designed to be used with a trackpad.

The opposition is true as well. Apple gave the MacBook a multi-touch trackpad and they have made some changes to the OS that gives it more iOS look and feel......but I would not expect a MacBook to be a good iPad/Tablet replacement.

I think I get what you're saying. I myself did struggle for a while, and still so, on a few things on the iPad.
I just used a Macbook again a couple days ago, and was somehow shocked how "precise and firm" the whole trackpad and navigation process felt.
That said, I've gotten used to the ipads 'behavior' now, which I guess took me about 6 months.

If I'm not interpreting it wrong though; Apple has given us a glimpse of their roadmap with the releasing of iPadOS 26.

 

[Kal Madda]

Oh this right here really makes my blood boil. The inconsistency and fragmentation of MS solutions is a [insert_worst_possible_swear_word].

Absolutely. I hate Microsoft software. I use it for some business purposes, but man does it suck. OneDrive consistently keeps hogging up more native storage on my device than I even have files in it… 🤦🏼‍♂️. And apparently it’s a known bug that’s been there for years, but they refuse to fix it. I even took all of the time to report it repeatedly. Finally I got a support agent, told them the issue I was running into, and they literally decided that since I could uninstall and reinstall the app to correct the issue each time it pops up, the issue was “resolved”… 🤦🏼‍♂️😡🙄. I hate Microsoft software support with a passion…

 

[Silvestru Hosszu]

Oh this right here really makes my blood boil. The inconsistency and fragmentation of MS solutions is a [insert_worst_possible_swear_word].

Totally agree.
This week I had to travel to my secondary office (500 km from the primary) and I tried to use only the iPad Pro and see how well I can manage.
I left the mini at my primary office powered on to be able to use it remotely if necessary. Also, I had around a windows laptop for emergencies.
Things went surprisingly fine.

With iPad OS 26 and multimonitor support I was able to cope very well.

I had just one major issue with that bloody M$ Word which simply refused to find & replace something in a document. Being in a hurry I reached for the windows laptop but had I had more time I could just finish even that job on the iPad.

I draw 2 conclusion from this trial:
(1) At least document centered work (doc, pdf, I do not use excel) can be comfortably done on iPad and external monitor;
(2) I wish M$ the most painful bankruptcy ever.

 

[Kal Madda]

Totally agree.
This week I had to travel to my secondary office (500 km from the primary) and I tried to use only the iPad Pro and see how well I can manage.
I left the mini at my primary office powered on to be able to use it remotely if necessary. Also, I had around a windows laptop for emergencies.
Things went surprisingly fine.

View attachment 2569450

With iPad OS 26 and multimonitor support I was able to cope very well.

I had just one major issue with that bloody M$ Word which simply refused to find & replace something in a document. Being in a hurry I reached for the windows laptop but had I had more time I could just finish even that job on the iPad.

I draw 2 conclusion from this trial:
(1) At least document centered work (doc, pdf, I do not use excel) can be comfortably done on iPad and external monitor;
(2) I wish M$ the most painful bankruptcy ever.

I’m glad to hear that your experiment worked out well for you! 👍🏻. I know that some unfortunately have to use MS Word for work, and I feel for them. At least for me, Pages is a viable alternative. 🙂👍🏻

What really burns me up about this is that I am paying just as much for MS 365 as the next guy using a Windows PC, yet Microsoft intentionally penalizes me with a watered down version because I didn’t buy yet another of their products (Windows/Surface Pro)… That’s just so beyond ridiculous. And even more frustrating, you literally get all of the same features (except OneDrive sync or whatever) on smaller devices for free! So you have the gaul to charge me the same as Windows customers for a product that’s exactly the same and as underpowered as the free versions minus the OneDrive stuff just because I happen to use another platform than yours… 🤦🏼‍♂️

They really need to change this. All users paying for MS 365 should be getting the full apps, Microsoft shouldn’t be penalizing some customers with watered-down versions just because they don’t want to buy another product from Microsoft in addition to the one they bought… It’s very anti-customer.

Hopefully, market pressures will force Microsoft to have to provide more for customers on other platforms. It’s nice to see Google Docs taking away increasing amounts of Microsoft Office business, as hopefully that could be the kick in the pants Microsoft needs to get their act together. Hopefully either Microsoft gets their act together or they get left behind by the market at some point. I don’t believe Microsoft will ever change otherwise, sadly… I guess we can also keep leaving feedback with Microsoft to make our displeasure with their artificial restriction of the iPad versions of their software known…

 

[sparksd]

I’m glad to hear that your experiment worked out well for you! 👍🏻. I know that some unfortunately have to use MS Word for work, and I feel for them. At least for me, Pages is a viable alternative. 🙂👍🏻

What really burns me up about this is that I am paying just as much for MS 365 as the next guy using a Windows PC, yet Microsoft intentionally penalizes me with a watered down version because I didn’t buy yet another of their products (Windows/Surface Pro)… That’s just so beyond ridiculous. And even more frustrating, you literally get all of the same features (except OneDrive sync or whatever) on smaller devices for free! So you have the gaul to charge me the same as Windows customers for a product that’s exactly the same and as underpowered as the free versions minus the OneDrive stuff just because I happen to use another platform than yours… 🤦🏼‍♂️

They really need to change this. All users paying for MS 365 should be getting the full apps, Microsoft shouldn’t be penalizing some customers with watered-down versions just because they don’t want to buy another product from Microsoft in addition to the one they bought… It’s very anti-customer.

Hopefully, market pressures will force Microsoft to have to provide more for customers on other platforms. It’s nice to see Google Docs taking away increasing amounts of Microsoft Office business, as hopefully that could be the kick in the pants Microsoft needs to get their act together. Hopefully either Microsoft gets their act together or they get left behind by the market at some point. I don’t believe Microsoft will ever change otherwise, sadly… I guess we can also keep leaving feedback with Microsoft to make our displeasure with their artificial restriction of the iPad versions of their software…

The problem is that the vast majority of Microsoft's Office revenue comes from the business community, not consumers, and that business community uses Windows. The financial incentive to support other platforms is not large.

 

[Kal Madda]

The problem is that the vast majority of Microsoft's Office revenue comes from the business community, not consumers, and that business community uses Windows. The financial incentive to support other platforms is not large.

Yeah, sadly that’s true. I think there’s very little hope of Microsoft changing their behavior anytime soon. Unless a competitor like Google manages to take away enough of their business.

 

[Hooyah]

I’d say Google is giving Microsoft a good run for its money as many schools / education sector have adopted Google’s Chromebooks / online Docs platform instead. This, along with iPads, has led to a new generation of kids now who aren’t familiar with Windows - the Start button, programmes, …in some cases, also even mouse point and click since touch and voice dictation etc has become so accessible. We’re sort of going backwards in many ways.

Though the corporate world isn’t moving away from Microsoft solutions anytime soon. Some EU regional governments are making a big point of switching to open source stuff (also a threat to Microsoft)… that’s alright until you get missing functionality… nobody to complain to to force compatibility fixes or fix critical issues like Microsoft will and does. Or when half the work force feels displaced and needs re-trained or refuse to adopt the open source office suites.. You guys are right, Microsoft aren’t worried about you or me.

One thing I thought though was since Windows phone was suffocated to death, they have sort of had to accept putting Office…Copilot… even Xbox cloud gaming on every other platform. I’ll be the first to say though… the likes of Office for iPad is atrocious. More like they checked a box to say it’s on iPad… without caring to make it any better than the phone versions. It’s great for phones. It’s limited for the likes of our iPads by 2025 standards. I can’t see them fixing it, though I wish they would..