I'm in the same boat. Have a 2012 rMBP 15 inch and an iPad Air 2. They'll get me by for another couple of years. But man this new iPad is tempting, and I could see it someday becoming a replacement for both.
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iPad as a laptop replacement
- Thread starter Omar Comin' Yo
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I recommend you keep both. The MBP is a heavy, expensive thing to deal with on the go, the iPad fits that bill. Note taking for general ANYTHING is better on the iPad than any Laptop. Classes love it, Shopping loves it, many many other things work well with an iPad that a Laptop wouldn't work for... the iPad just doesn't yet come to the point it replaces my MBP... I find it more powerful at a lot of things and still use it as my primary computer while at home. But Traveling and any "out of home experience" I use the iPad extensively.
And yet you can do this without issue on a Windows tablet such as the Surface Pro or lowly Go. I recently took my Surface Pro on holiday as I wanted to hook Sky Sports up to the large screen TV where we were staying; no issue at all in the Now TV app for Windows.
Sky’s contractual obligations are their issue. They should be negotiating better deals with their rights partners for their customers, not pandering to their demands. If Amazon and Netflix can cast third party content via a Lightning adapter, why can’t Sky?
Sold my 2014 MBP a few months back, and since then have relied on my iPad Air 2 for my mobile needs plus an iMac for things the iPad doesn’t do so well.
Looking back on it I’m glad I sold the MBP, as I just wasn’t using it. The iPad fills that niche (for me) quite well.
So now I’m debating whether to go with the 12.9” or 11” IPP.
Decisions, decisions.
Looking back on it I’m glad I sold the MBP, as I just wasn’t using it. The iPad fills that niche (for me) quite well.
So now I’m debating whether to go with the 12.9” or 11” IPP.
Decisions, decisions.
It sees the Surface as a "computer", not as a mobile device. For the same rights reasons, xfinity has the same limitation on streaming from a mobile device but works from a laptop. It is irritating.
I think in the previous gen. this question was easier to answer. Now you have the 11" that is the same size as the 10.5" and the shrunken down 12.9" which got significantly smaller and closer to the size of that 11". I think you will be happy with either one but there is a slight advantage in size/screen ratio for the 12.9" I think. Especially for multi-tasking the 12.9 will be a better option.
I'd definitely go 12.9, but I'd skip on the storage as to me it isn't needed. Apple gets you on storage. The 12.9 is less strain on your eyes and after having used the regular pad for years before I got my 12.9 3 years ago, well the 12.9 was a game changer within an hour of use. New one is so thin and the bezels are gone so the 12.9" will be like an old regular ipad, mostly. I see no reason to go with the smaller version unless it's a financial based decision and you need to save the money.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90259725/why-i-ditched-the-mac-to-work-exclusively-on-ipad-pro
Good article. Puts the question into prospective.
Good article. Puts the question into prospective.
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I have an iPad air 2. What advantages would I get moving to the new 11"? Besides the slimmer bezels, will the updated processor improve how I have been viewing media? I'm not a big mobile gamer, since I play PC games - unless the new iPad is able to play current PC/Xbox games? I thought Apple compared it to the latest Xbox, so I'm assuming it will finally compete with consoles?
Thanks for the article! It is interesting but to be honest it still does not tackle or answer my needs of a laptop. However nevertheless we agree that it depends on what we use our laptops for and how. Only once we know this, we can now whether the iPad could replace it or not.
For example I understand why some people do not want to organize their files on their own. It is cumbersome for them. For me it's a need. I know the best how I want to organize my files and I could even organize them differently at different times based on my specific needs and I need to have that choice. If I don't have enough storage and want to delete something I want to know everything that is stored to decide what to delete. In general the systems that decide to decide for me and think for me do not work out. I often have different ideas and have to spend hours on trying to fix the system's shortcomings in doing things I did not even ask for.
And I don't want to rely on Internet connection so I rarely use cloud services for storage.
I would also say it's a matter of balance. Having multiple devices that serve only one sole purpose is overkill. Having one device that does everything is a mess and it's too complicated. Having too many open windows can be a mess for some I agree. On the other hand having only one window open for me is a restriction I dislike. I can't find an app that can do everything I want. And even if I can it will be too complex that I will have to read the manual for it every 5 minutes. And that in itself begs for a second window.
I guess it's also a matter of work. I have tunnel vision. I can have 20 applications open and still focus on only one if it's enough. That was never an issue for me. I do use big screen though. And even 12.9 inch iPad Pro is not big enough for me to replace a computer. Even if it was easy to add another monitor (I still maintain the fact that easy means no dongle and no app usage) it would take a toll to the battery. This is not a laptop that you can keep on power source all the time. This is Lithium battery that has certain mount of charge cycles before getting bad. The iPad is a device is not meant to be plugged in power source all the time like powerful computer. The amount of work I do on a computer is however such that I will have to charge the iPad at least one day. Sometimes even more.
It's true that multi tasking is now better in iOS 11 and 12. Still though it's easier to copy/paste image using a laptop and a mouse than using drag and drop on an iPad. When you have to do this numerous times a day, the time you are slowed down piles up. Also if I work for something and I need images I want to be able to store those images together with my other text files. Not in the Photos folder. I can't do that in iOS. I don't store my files by types, but by areas. Say I am working on a Postcard. I will store the sketch that I found in Internet (suck at drawing), the improved sketch (sometimes it needs tweaking), my annotations about the different layers I plan to use, the reference photos and any color palettes ideas in one folder with the result image. Not in a common photos folder.
One last thing - performance is really subjective. The iPad I have (6th gen) has decent geekbench marks. It still reloads tabs like crazy though and if you ask me that is not good performance. So when I hear someone saying that the iPad is more powerful than laptop I would answer it depends on how you use it and what you measure as a good performance. It might have great performance for certain tasks and poor for others. If you don't do tasks with poor performance you would be satisfied. If you do them often, you won't be.
With the understanding that I have a couple of weeks to decide whether to keep it, I ordered a 12.9" 256 GB WiFi. Also trading in my Air 2.
With the reduced overall size compared with the Gen2 12.9, I'm thinking the new 12.9 will be a good choice. If not, I'll exchange it for an 11.
It's supposed to be here November 20th.
Newer processor than Air2 that you can do content blocking which vastly speeds up Safari browsing. Screen is 120Hz refresh so it scrolls much smoother with less smearing and True Tone color correction is awesome too. FaceID, More RAM, etc etc. You'll definitely see a huge improvement in just straight media consumption.
You make very good points. You are most certainly a power user that needs the versatility and "horsepower" that a laptop provides. I have an iMac, and most certainly agree that having multiple devices don't make a lot of sense.
I had to choose between abandoning the iPad, and getting the new Air. I even thought about keeping my 10.5 and getting the new Air. However that seemed overkill and dealing with the iMac, the iPad, Air, and my iPhone would make my head spin
Thanks for you insight.
Would you continue using the iMac? I am also wondering do you use your iPad the way you use your iMac? It's a genuine question. I think that people wrongly associate a power user with using power hungry apps and that is not the case for me. I am Software Developer and a team lead, but I honestly have no time coding at home. The only power hungry thing I do is opening 3 Chrome browsers with 20 tabs on all of them. Now that does want RAM. And I occasionally process RAW files, but that's not often. For me I think it's more about certain workflows and just the fact that I use computers a lot. Like 15 hours a day. And if the iPad is the only device I have it would not last a day.
I had to choose between abandoning the iPad, and getting the new Air. I even thought about keeping my 10.5 and getting the new Air. However that seemed overkill and dealing with the iMac, the iPad, Air, and my iPhone would make my head spin
What did you decide in the end? Going for iPad or for Air?
I have an 12.9 iPad on order. For "heavy lifting" I'll go back to my iMac. It isn't that I don't agree that a laptop isn't more versatile/more powerful. But, the many narrow purpose apps for the iPad makes it a very useful "Swiss Army Knife".
Heck, I was nuts enough to buy the Apple Newton pad so you can see why I'm a sucker for the iPad. It almost matches the price of a 12.9 with memory upgrade
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At a base price of $699 (about $1129 when adjusted for inflation), the MessagePad was a pricey gadget at launch, but one that pushed the technological boundaries of the day.Aug 27, 2013
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Cool! I hope that you enjoy it! What kind of storage did you get? Btw is there a thread here where people share what iOS apps they have installed on their iPad. I do consider the fact that I am not an iPad user for long so I might miss some useful apps.
Heck, I was nuts enough to buy the Apple Newton pad so you can see why I'm a sucker for the iPad. It almost matches the price of a 12.9 with memory upgrade
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At a base price of $699 (about $1129 when adjusted for inflation), the MessagePad was a pricey gadget at launch, but one that pushed the technological boundaries of the day.Aug 27, 2013
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Wow. Definitely. Sorry for the question but I am not that much of an Apple fan (let's say that I bought the iPad to serve me a purpose, not because I love iOS and Apple) - when did this device appear? And I am interested are you a long time iPad user?
I honestly never felt the need for a tablet until the pencils came to play. I use my laptop for media consumption. And I rarely consume media (aside music for which I don't need big screen) when I am not at home. It seems you are a long iPad user.
secretk - I am NOW only using my iPad Pro as my only computer. I am a power user. Like you - I would have 3 windows of chrome open with 20 tabs each. Right now I have 8 tabs open. I am having to rethink how I do everything....
I do like you want - put everything I want in a different folder. I did preorder the new 12.9” with 1 TB so that I can store everything on my iPad. I do have things in a variety of places, which can get confusing. I have been a long time windows user and I had a very detailed files organization- folders in folders etc. That is driving me a bit crazy, but I am figuring out how to do it on an iPad. I am very impressed with the numbers coming in showing how fast this new iPad is.... I do have the 2015 12.9”. I have made it stutter and slow down or stop.... So I am power using it. Most of the time, when that happens, I just go in and close all the apps I am not using at the time (which may be over 20 apps). I rarely restart this thing - did yesterday for the new update LOL.
Right now, I have post it notes on my desk telling me which app to use to do certain things. I have 4 files apps - or more when you consider the ones for external drives and cloud.... `1 or 2 of them let you add folders. I am finding that I can do anything I did on my computer. Some of it can be a bit complicated, but I am use to doing things on a windows PC - so learning new apps and new ways of doing things. I can’t wait to see Photoshop on the iPad..... I DO like Affinity Photo though. I can do pretty much the same things. I have just been using PS for a long time now. Well I will be using Photo for quite awhil, before PS comes out. I am sure I will get more efficient on it as time goes by. At least they (affinity) has a lot of tutorials online!!!
I have had to do a lot of googling on apps to use. Sometimes I have to change how I word things. Or even get more specific on “how” I want an app to work. Sometimes it is so overwhelming - the amount of apps that are out there. I wish Apple had the try for free, for 15 minutes or whatever it is on the play store. That would make it so much easier to find the app that you want to use. Unless it is free, I do a lot of reading about apps before I purchase them, to see if it would fit my needs.
I do like you want - put everything I want in a different folder. I did preorder the new 12.9” with 1 TB so that I can store everything on my iPad. I do have things in a variety of places, which can get confusing. I have been a long time windows user and I had a very detailed files organization- folders in folders etc. That is driving me a bit crazy, but I am figuring out how to do it on an iPad. I am very impressed with the numbers coming in showing how fast this new iPad is.... I do have the 2015 12.9”. I have made it stutter and slow down or stop.... So I am power using it. Most of the time, when that happens, I just go in and close all the apps I am not using at the time (which may be over 20 apps). I rarely restart this thing - did yesterday for the new update LOL.
Right now, I have post it notes on my desk telling me which app to use to do certain things. I have 4 files apps - or more when you consider the ones for external drives and cloud.... `1 or 2 of them let you add folders. I am finding that I can do anything I did on my computer. Some of it can be a bit complicated, but I am use to doing things on a windows PC - so learning new apps and new ways of doing things. I can’t wait to see Photoshop on the iPad..... I DO like Affinity Photo though. I can do pretty much the same things. I have just been using PS for a long time now. Well I will be using Photo for quite awhil, before PS comes out. I am sure I will get more efficient on it as time goes by. At least they (affinity) has a lot of tutorials online!!!
I have had to do a lot of googling on apps to use. Sometimes I have to change how I word things. Or even get more specific on “how” I want an app to work. Sometimes it is so overwhelming - the amount of apps that are out there. I wish Apple had the try for free, for 15 minutes or whatever it is on the play store. That would make it so much easier to find the app that you want to use. Unless it is free, I do a lot of reading about apps before I purchase them, to see if it would fit my needs.
I have the 2017 12.9 and an Air 2, and I just ordered the new 11 inch to replace the Air 2. My Air 2 isn’t keeping up with my 12.9 in terms of the most demanding game I play, and when I’m working (online teaching), I like to use the Air 2 to look at materials while drawing on a whiteboard with the 12.9. When I’m doing that, I wish I had pencil support on the Air 2, because I always want to mark up the document I’m looking at. Plus, I’ll be really happy to have a keyboard on the smaller, purse-sized iPad. Then I will feel super mobile and prepared at all times.
I got my 12.9 in November and sold my MBP in January. I am all iPad/iPhone, no laptop or desktop. I love it!
I'm fine with people being happy as they use ipads as their main device - but for me, and no matter how hard I try to visualize my workflow - it just seems compromising from both the perspective of a mouse pointer and file system.
I'm fine with "thinking different" when thinking different means working smarter. I'm not fine with thinking different when it means making compromises - because that's not working smarter.
I'm fine with "thinking different" when thinking different means working smarter. I'm not fine with thinking different when it means making compromises - because that's not working smarter.
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I really wish to use only my iPad, and I have try very often ( like I said in a previous post), but for my work (ui and ux design ) 2 app is missing : Adobe XD (or sketch app or Figma or InVision studio) and after effect ( or motion). For me the problem is not anymore the workflow , the OS or the power but lack of more pro software !
Anyone that works in IT using only iPad as a replacement? Having a hard time thinking about using Remote Desktop on my iPad. I use it on my phone for quick access on the go, but I’m unsure if it works good for more detailed work, like having multiple Remote Desktop opened to manage multiple servers.
I’m also a student so I want to take notes and I already have a ton of apps purchased on my old iPad. Thinking about getting the 1TB to be my desktop replacement. Just wondering if anyone in IT used it without any issues. Thanks.
I’m also a student so I want to take notes and I already have a ton of apps purchased on my old iPad. Thinking about getting the 1TB to be my desktop replacement. Just wondering if anyone in IT used it without any issues. Thanks.
I just can't. I need a computer. If I wasn't going into the Accounting profession soon...I could probably go with a 12.9 1 TB as my main 'computer'. What Apple has to do is allow bluetooth mice and then it would be easier for people.