iPad as a laptop replacement

[Koh Phi Phi]

• Proper file system
• Safari Pro (can't believe i am saying this lol - I need to be able to manage and create Squarespace websites and at present Safari is not capable of handling it nor is Chrome)
• Ability to save multiple files from a single email in an instant (like you can on the Mac; i've tried both Mail and Outlook to no avail)
• Whatsapp (this is no fault to Apple but come on!)
• Instagram (same as above, im guessing its to do with Facebook)
• Mouse cursor
• Wide support of peripherals i.e. memory sticks, microphones etc.

^^ in this order.

Give me a more flexible split screen multi tasking, proper file system, mouse cursor and Chrome extensions, and I would kiss my computer good bye for good.

Luckily, I got all that on the Samsung Tab S4 (except the Chrome extensions), which is why I just bought it over the iPad Pro

 

[desktop]

I got the iPad Pro 12.9 (2nd generation). While it's an awesome device and very powerful it can't replace my desktop PC for things like graphic design work using Photoshop and Illustrator. It would be great if I could run Sketch on it, but unfortunately they don't make a version for the iPad.

 

[Brammy]

For me it's more the little things that get in the way. I can handle an app like Blender or something not being on the iPad. It's the oddball things in Word that get me. In Office 2016 on the Mac, the grammar checker has gotten to be quite decent. On the iPad it is still not as good.

Those are the hardest things. When the app on iOS still has limitations.

 

[Momof9]

How about external hard drive? I bought My Passport Wireless Pro but it won't keep a charge for very long. I also bought the display adapter, 1 month later it won't charge my iPad. I still can connect to the monitor. Thankfully, I just bought a 30w charger, I can do a fast charge.

 

[Mainsail]

A desktop is a powerful full featured computing experience. You can have as many monitors as you like with whatever keyboard and mouse combination. For heavy lifting, the desktop is king. A laptop is a compromise device that trades-off some of desktop efficiency for portability. Some people need to carry around a full computer everywhere they go, so they opt for a laptop.....with the obvious compromises. Good laptops are difficult to make. They are expensive and prone to failure and breakage. Why? Because you are carrying around a desktop computer in a small package.....just look at the keyboard and thermal issues Apple is having with their MacBook Pros. Apple Care is more expensive for a laptop because they are more likely to need coverage and support.

The iPad is really good (maybe better than a laptop) at certain things:

Reading Books and PDFs
Annotating and Marking up documents
Taking Notes in meetings/class
Making sketches
Reviewing and responding to emails
Browsing the web and finding reference material
Outlining and editing

Some people just don’t need to carry a full computer around with them everywhere they go. They might have a desktop in their home/office, and only need a light portable solution for on the go productivity that does the stuff listed above real well. For example, before I retired, I spent a huge amount of time in meetings. Occasionally, a colleague would bring a laptop to the meeting, and it always struck be as a strange thing to do. They would be clacking away taking notes during the meeting basically transcribing everything being said. When I would discuss action items after the meeting, they often didn’t have a clue what the meeting was really about. They had a transcript without understanding. When I took notes, I wote a few words often accompanied by simple sketches or diagrams of timelines or processes....whatever. My point is that for me a Laptop is a terrible tool for meetings because it encourages the wrong behavior.......the iPad would be much more effective for me.

So, it really depends on what you do for work when away from the office desktop environment. When I left the office, it was primarily for “meet and deal” type activities and interactions with sponsors and others. I rarely flew to a client site and then sat down in their office to write a 200 page document or built a giant spreadsheet. If I flew somewhere, it was to have an interaction with a person.....not to use their office as a workstation. Perhaps, some of the people on this form do need to produce large volumes of product away from the office. Then, a laptop makes sense.

 

[Brammy]

Reading Books and PDFs
Annotating and Marking up documents
Taking Notes in meetings/class
Making sketches
Reviewing and responding to emails
Browsing the web and finding reference material
Outlining and editing

I would add writing -- even long documents -- to this list. The 12.9" iPad isn't too much different than a 13" Laptop. For most writing Word, Ulysses etc. are fine. The problem though is what you need to put in the writing. Something that is pretty much just text you are fine. However, if you need to add in a lot of images or anything outside of basic Word functionality the iPad hits some pain points.

I am in a weird state where I can't go iPad-only, and I can't go Mac-only, so I am waiting to see what Apple ends up releasing over the next couple of years to make a decision.

 

[Dave-Z]

I am in a weird state where I can't go iPad-only, and I can't go Mac-only, so I am waiting to see what Apple ends up releasing over the next couple of years to make a decision.

What I did was go 12.9" iPad, but built a Linux machine that I VNC into with Jump Desktop (with the Citrix X1 Mouse) when I need a proper web browser, video encoding with Handbrake, etc. The desktop runs without a monitor and the tower sits on the floor hooked up to the network. I've adjusted its screen resolution to match the iPad so when I VNC it's just like having a Linux laptop with a little bit of latency in the UI (unavoidable with VNC).

 

[Farsider]

I do exactly the same with a MacMini. Works great for the 2% of the time I need to access a desktop.

 

[prospervic]

To the naysayers, listen to this PROFESSIONAL:

Make no mistake: Adobe sees the future and migrating its flagship application to iPad is an endorsement of the device as where the industry will be in for the long term.

The future of professional photography post production is on the iPad and the iPhone, not the Mac. We’ve all seen the resistance to this concept every time someone says that the iPad is a consumption device. Yet, as a professional photographer, I’ve been living it and proving them wrong. I’ve been using my iPad Pro as my primary editing device for 2 years now. I didn’t replace my MacBook Pro and let it sit in a drawer (haven’t seen it in months).

What makes this possible is Adobe Cloud. Cloud editing is seriously fantastic for a professional. I shoot, then wirelessly upload from my camera to my iPhone X on location. I do some culling on my iPhone X, edit and share a few photos from the field, then get to my iPad Pro back in my studio where the photos are waiting for me with the applied edits. I do most of the editing work on the iPad Pro, directly manipulating photos, then swiping to the next one. It’s way faster than a mouse based process. I go to my iMac to finalize everything and upload the photos to my site with a plugin, ready for the client to download. If I notice something after uploading and make any changes on any of my devices, the files on my site also update.

It works seamlessly and incredibly well, with each device used according to its strengths. Increasingly, the Mac has fewer and fewer advantages over the iPad Pro in this workflow. I spend the least amount of time on my iMac, using it only for local storage and uploading hi-res files to my site. It’s a step I can skip when I decide to go full Cloud.

 

[Momof9]

I totally agree...

There is a huge relearning curve going from PC (and I mean Windows 10) to an iPad Pro full time. I had a 21” iMac for about 1 week. There was something wrong with it. But I just returned it - I know that if I go Mac - I need 16 gb ram.

I AM using a 2015 12.9” iPP. It is working fine. Sometimes I notice it is lagging, but then I close the whole bunch of apps that are opened.... I mean it takes a lot of them to slow it down.

When the new ones come out, I am going to get the largest storage. Then I can upload ALL of my graphic design files that I need. Right now, I do have a My Cloud Wireless Pro. It seems to be working fine. I also have a dongle that I can plug my iPP into my monitor - works great with the keyboard for reading/deleting emails and browsing the web. More ergonomic.... I use a logitech keyboard (you can set it up for 3 divices).

I plan on using 2 - 12.9” iPPs. My old one will be for emails and browsing the web and the 2nd one will be for graphic design. I also plan on using the old one to browse thru my files when I am creating - it will be like the dual monitor set-up I had on my PC.

Yes - some of it is a pain on just a iPP. But it is more like learning HOW to do things. Some of it is learning Mac type shortcuts. They work on the iPP with the keyboard!!! I have a bunch of post it notes on my desk, so I can remember which app etc is good for certain things I do.... especially as I am learning which app might work better for certain tasks....

 

[DNichter]

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.

Perfect explanation in my eyes. I left this thread because it always comes back to the same nonsense. If the iPad doesn't work for me personally, it's a toy. That same narrative has been repeated over and over again in these forums, it's very shortsighted. I currently use just an iPad Pro and iPhone XS Max to manage a team of 60 people. If this isn't considered "real" work, then my company is getting duped for how much they are paying me.

 

[Momof9]

I just solved another one of my issues - Print to size app... now I can print multiple photos on one page!!!

The problem is - I am getting impatient with waiting for the new IPPs.... I would like to have my desk all set up - it’s been too long of a process.... LOL

 

[akash.nu]

Perfect explanation in my eyes. I left this thread because it always comes back to the same nonsense. If the iPad doesn't work for me personally, it's a toy. That same narrative has been repeated over and over again in these forums, it's very shortsighted. I currently use just an iPad Pro and iPhone XS Max to manage a team of 60 people. If this isn't considered "real" work, then my company is getting duped for how much they are paying me.

I think it greatly depends on the type of work someone’s involved in. Managing people might not require any software tools that can’t be used on an iPad, in that case it works.

However, a developer can’t use iPad for work whatsoever.

 

[DNichter]

I think it greatly depends on the type of work someone’s involved in. Managing people might not require any software tools that can’t be used on an iPad, in that case it works.

However, a developer can’t use iPad for work whatsoever.

Of course. Just like any task out there, you would use the best tool for the job. For some it's an iPad, for some it's an iMac. It doesn't mean that said task is any less valid, nor is the tool chosen. The people who act like an iPad simply cannot be used for productivity are typically just scared of what the future holds for them.

 

[akash.nu]

Of course. Just like any task out there, you would use the best tool for the job. For some it's an iPad, for some it's an iMac. It doesn't mean that said task is any less valid, nor is the tool chosen. The people who act like an iPad simply cannot be used for productivity are typically scared of what the future holds for them.

Yeah I see what you mean. I use iPad for all nontechnical stuffs everyday and that suffices for me to justify buying it.

 

[DNichter]

Yeah I see what you mean. I use iPad for all nontechnical stuffs everyday and that suffices for me to justify buying it.

Yup, just depends on the individual. The old tired mentality that an iPad can't be used for productivity is as ignorant as it gets.

 

[intervenient]

I just want to code on the iPad dammit.

 

[IscariotJ]

I think it greatly depends on the type of work someone’s involved in. Managing people might not require any software tools that can’t be used on an iPad, in that case it works.

However, a developer can’t use iPad for work whatsoever.

Not entirely true, I'm a developer / sysadmin, and I've been iPad only for a number of years. Textastic / Working Copy / Prompt along with a *nix VM ( which was the case when I used a laptop; somethings just don't compile very well on a Mac ), and I'm good to go.

 

[Nugget]

Not entirely true, I'm a developer / sysadmin, and I've been iPad only for a number of years. Textastic / Working Copy / Prompt along with a *nix VM ( which was the case when I used a laptop; somethings just don't compile very well on a Mac ), and I'm good to go.

How do you run a VM on an iPad? Sounds to me like you aren’t really “iPad only”

 

[IscariotJ]

How do you run a VM on an iPad? Sounds to me like you aren’t really “iPad only”

Obviously the VM runs on a remote host. It's the same set up I had when I used a MBP; code is written and tested locally, and then pushed to a server. Having a VM for final testing doesn't make what I do any less iPad only.

 

[Nugget]

Seems to me like it does. In an iPad you need access to a computer to host your “local” testing VM. If you were on a laptop then you could be completely self sufficient and that “local” VM could actually be local.

 

[IscariotJ]

So, even though most of what I write is tested on the iPad, because the final testing is done elsewhere, that isn't iPad only? OK.

 

[akash.nu]

Not entirely true, I'm a developer / sysadmin, and I've been iPad only for a number of years. Textastic / Working Copy / Prompt along with a *nix VM ( which was the case when I used a laptop; somethings just don't compile very well on a Mac ), and I'm good to go.

You don’t really need to run an ADT though, do you? iPad can’t run such things yet.

 

[Dave-Z]

Seems to me like it does. In an iPad you need access to a computer to host your “local” testing VM. If you were on a laptop then you could be completely self sufficient and that “local” VM could actually be local.

Countless developers run their development environments remotely. I use my iPad for coding and have remote servers for development, etc.; I still consider myself iPad-only because that's all I'm using. When I had an iMac or a MacBook I still ran those services remotely for a variety of reasons.

The confusion is probably because iPad-only has become synonymous for iPad-primary. When I used only a MacBook I considered myself MacBook-only even though I also used my iPhone and remote servers. Now I still use an iPhone but not a MacBook and consider myself iPad-only.

 

[secretk]

For me it definitely depends on the usage and preferences. It also depends on what we mean when we say iPad. Is it just iPad or it's iPad Pro? Obviously if some iPad has chance to replace laptop it's the Pro. I have the 2018 regular iPad and that thing cannot replace laptop.

I used to be Java Software Developer that required a lot of RAM for my server, IDE and all that's needed. To sum up - desktop Windows PC with 32 GB RAM, SSD and i7 CPU. Due to the nature of my work I need a lot of fast storage and a lot of RAM. The amount of stuff we have needs to be stored locally. Otherwise it gets slow due to network.

Now I am leading the Software Development team so I do not have time to actually code. I am using the computer mostly for making excel files, presentations and doing research. I would get insane if I have to do any of that with iPad. For sheets and presentations I need physical keyboard, mouse and bigger screen. Yes I know that the iPad can work with physical keyboard, but it's not easy to hook it up to external monitors. At work I have two monitors. At home I hook external 23 inch monitor to my laptop. I need to have two monitors. Split view in iPad is great, but it's still rather small. The physical keyboard is also smaller than my 15.6 inch laptop one. This means that I can't type as fast as I can on my laptop. Not to mention that I am the type of person to have 3 browsers open in the same time with 20/30 tabs in each. That's how I do research. Oh let's not forget the music in the background coming from youtube.

For me I can make the iPad work for some stuff, but why do it and on what price? It always comes down to the question of do I save time using the iPad instead of the laptop or not. If I don't save time then it's not a replacement for me. Yes I found solutions for a lot of problems, but they are not straightforward or easy. They are compromises. Why bother again?

iPads on the other hand can do some stuff better than laptops - namely the Apple pencil support. That for me is the driving point. Tablets have existed long before the pencil support and I never bought one because I did not see the point. Even for media consumption my laptop is better with its 15.6 IPS panel. It even sits better on my lap than the iPad that is rather too unstable to be there.

Anyway back to the point for me iPads can work as laptops (if you include physical keyboard) and are more portable so they are great to carry around when travelling or outside, but at home they would never replace my laptop or desktop machine. Now if there was an easy way to hook it up to external monitor (easy automatically excludes paid apps and dongles; easy means quick work like using your HDMI/thunderbolt port on your laptop) then maybe. If they were able to open multiple browser windows and multiple tabs then yes. Until then I will mostly use the iPad for notes taking during meetings.