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iPad as a laptop replacement

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D

Dave-Z

macrumors 6502a
Jun 26, 2012
881
1,483
ascender said:
I ended up getting frustrated with the amount of time I had to touch the screen to do stuff. Is that any better with the later versions of iOS in terms of integration?
Click to expand...

As someone who uses a 12.9" iPad as their primary device I can say this has not changed and you should be prepared to get frustrated.

iOS is still my favourite operating system, but text selection (cut, copy, paste, etc.) sucks. Switching between apps (Cmd-Tab) is slower than on a desktop OS. And sometimes there's simply no way to do something other than tapping the screen.

You get used to it, but Apple definitely could make it better.
 
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ascender

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
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I'm going to give it a go... The more I think about it the more I realise I don't need a MBP to do my work on the move. I now no longer need to run Windows on it and there's a couple of iMacs here, so I'm going to go for a 12.9 and see how I get on.
 
partsofspeech

partsofspeech

macrumors regular
Apr 6, 2018
238
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I have stopped taking laptop to work in a cafe, since I had my iPad Pro (with Pencil and Keyboard).
[doublepost=1541587386][/doublepost]
subjonas said:
I find “laptop replacement” a weird, confusing, and unneccessary term. Yes, it can replace a laptop for some, but labeling it a “laptop replacement” only causes confusion for those whom it cannot. (So bad on Apple if they're pushing that term.)
Click to expand...
Jobs introduced iPad as a gap-filling device for a niche between phone and laptop. He did not intend tablet to be a replacement of either. Hoever, Tim Cook changed that goal to be the replacement of laptop while Apple had no sufficient iOS features to support that.
 
TrueBlou

TrueBlou

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Sep 16, 2014
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partsofspeech said:
I have stopped taking laptop to work in a cafe, since I had my iPad Pro (with Pencil and Keyboard).
[doublepost=1541587386][/doublepost]
Jobs introduced iPad as a gap-filling device for a niche between phone and laptop. He did not intend tablet to be a replacement of either. Hoever, Tim Cook changed that goal to be the replacement of laptop while Apple had no sufficient iOS features to support that.
Click to expand...

It seems to be mainly since the introduction of the Smart Keyboard, Pencil and large power gains that Apple have started to push more for “laptop replacement”.

The trouble is that they seem to be using every metric possible to justify their claims - other than operating system.

I personally don’t much care, it’s all just marketing. For some people - myself included, the iPad Pro will be able to take over the duties, or the bulk of the duties, once performed by a laptop. For others, it won’t.
 
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secretk

secretk

macrumors 65816
Oct 19, 2018
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I just now realized one specific reason why I don’t see the iPad as a laptop replacement. It’s a rather specific case and most probably is not valid for most of you.

I am not a native English speaker but I work in a Spanish company and the official language there is English. This means that every day I have to use two languages in the same time - English and my own (Bulgarian). Same applies for my personal usage as I chat and talk to my friends in Bulgarian, but I browse in English.

So I switch between languages quite often. In Windows I can use different languages in different apps. That however is still not supported in mobile OS (both Android and iOS). This is rather annoying to me as I have to switch the language all the time. The fact that I don’t just switch between the two languages but also some emojis means that every time I have to tap 2 times (and not one) for a change and that is frustrating for me.

However that is rather specific case I guess.
 
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Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi

macrumors regular
Nov 15, 2017
168
347
TrueBlou said:
The trouble is that they seem to be using every metric possible to justify their claims - other than operating system.

I personally don’t much care, it’s all just marketing. For some people - myself included, the iPad Pro will be able to take over the duties, or the bulk of the duties, once performed by a laptop. For others, it won’t.
Click to expand...

It's not only a marketing problem. It's a product concept problem: what is the purpose of an iPad Pro?

Here's what I mean:

  • If it is NOT meant to be a laptop replacement, and thus its typical usage would be mundane tasks (checking emails, browsing web, Facetime, writing docs, YouTube, etc), then why is Apple investing (and charging dearly for it!) in pushing the iPad Pro's CPU and GPU power to almost match that of a Macbook Pro?! You don't need such power unless you're going to do proper laptop stuff on it.

    If the purpose of the iPad as a product is indeed casual tasks, then Apple is R+D'ing in the wrong direction. The goal should NOT be power, but instead convenience, affordability, portability, etc.

    If casual usage is its goal, why have they abandoned the ultimate casual iPad (the Mini)?

  • If it is INDEED meant to be a laptop replacement, and thus the sheer CPU+GPU power (and price!) is justified, then Apple needs to provide the iPad Pro with proper laptop tools: mouse cursor, a full file management system, more flexible multi-window multitasking, multi-user logins, etc.

    If proper laptop-replacement usage is the goal, why is the iPad Pro using the same operating system as a phone?! Shouldnt Apple create an iOS Pro version for the iPad Pro?

So yeah, the real issue is that the iPad Pro is kind of lingering in between two worlds: not equipped enough for power usage, while clearly overpowered (and overpriced) for casual usage. What gives?
 
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mdjasrie

macrumors regular
Dec 26, 2009
169
98
Singapore
I have been following this thread with interest because I am curious as to what the arguments are on both sides of the both fence. Whether some thought iPad can be used as a laptop replacement or not, both sides have valid points. I guess at the end of the day, anyone intending to buy it as a laptop replacement really needs to evaluate how they are going to use the iPad.

I have just sold off my 2017 MBP 13 inch laptop a couple of days ago, and just gotten the iPad Pro 11 inch with the Smart Keyboard. For me and my use case, I just graduated with a Master’s Degree and I won’t be using the laptop to write essays and assignments anymore. Now that I have time, I decided to get the iPad and use it as a creative device, and perhaps learn new skills like drawing or photo editing or video editing on top of the usual consuming content.

I don’t know if that will work out for me, but I am willing to try and give the iPad Pro a shot.
 
TrueBlou

TrueBlou

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Sep 16, 2014
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mdjasrie said:
I have been following this thread with interest because I am curious as to what the arguments are on both sides of the both fence. Whether some thought iPad can be used as a laptop replacement or not, both sides have valid points. I guess at the end of the day, anyone intending to buy it as a laptop replacement really needs to evaluate how they are going to use the iPad.

I have just sold off my 2017 MBP 13 inch laptop a couple of days ago, and just gotten the iPad Pro 11 inch with the Smart Keyboard. For me and my use case, I just graduated with a Master’s Degree and I won’t be using the laptop to write essays and assignments anymore. Now that I have time, I decided to get the iPad and use it as a creative device, and perhaps learn new skills like drawing or photo editing or video editing on top of the usual consuming content.

I don’t know if that will work out for me, but I am willing to try and give the iPad Pro a shot.
Click to expand...


I hope it does work out for you. The new iPad Pro is a beast of a machine and I’m sure iOS 13 will bring some much needed changes - though probably not all the ones we’d like.

I managed to make the switch to iPad Pro quite easily. I had both the 2015 12.9 and the 2016 MacBook Pro at the same time. I used the MacBook a lot to begin with. But over a few months I found myself using my iMac mostly and the iPad when I wasn’t.

So eventually, the MacBook got sold. I do use Remote Desktop software to access my Mac remotely from time to time. Just for Xcode really. It works out fine for me.
 
M

mdjasrie

macrumors regular
Dec 26, 2009
169
98
Singapore
TrueBlou said:
I hope it does work out for you. The new iPad Pro is a beast of a machine and I’m sure iOS 13 will bring some much needed changes - though probably not all the ones we’d like.

I managed to make the switch to iPad Pro quite easily. I had both the 2015 12.9 and the 2016 MacBook Pro at the same time. I used the MacBook a lot to begin with. But over a few months I found myself using my iMac mostly and the iPad when I wasn’t.

So eventually, the MacBook got sold. I do use Remote Desktop software to access my Mac remotely from time to time. Just for Xcode really. It works out fine for me.
Click to expand...


Exactly my sentiments. Somehow I knew that my MacBook Pro is gonna be underutilised so I made an early exit by selling it away and use the proceeds to get myself and iPad Pro. Besides it’s also a sweet graduation gift for myself!
 
TrueBlou

TrueBlou

macrumors 601
Sep 16, 2014
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mdjasrie said:
Exactly my sentiments. Somehow I knew that my MacBook Pro is gonna be underutilised so I made an early exit by selling it away and use the proceeds to get myself and iPad Pro. Besides it’s also a sweet graduation gift for myself!
Click to expand...

Yeah, nothing like treating yourself to a new toy :D Mines is a bit of an(other) early Christmas present to myself.
 
I

Infinitewisdom

macrumors 6502a
Sep 23, 2012
858
607
linkgx1 said:
"This little Lightroom vignette is basically the story of the iPad Pro: either you have to understand the limitations of iOS so well you can make use of these little hacks all over the place to get things done, or you just deal with it and accept that you have to go back to a real computer from time to time because it’s just easier. And in that case, you might as well just use a real computer." --- Nilay Patel.

^This by far is what my main issue is with it as a replacement.
Click to expand...

Yes, well said. That's why I gave up on the iPad as anything more than a media machine.
 
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ascender

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
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I’ve cheaped out with an LG non-ultrafine 4K monitor so will see if the iPad connects to it over usb-c any more reliably than the MBP does.
 
TrueBlou

TrueBlou

macrumors 601
Sep 16, 2014
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ascender said:
I’ve cheaped out with an LG non-ultrafine 4K monitor so will see if the iPad connects to it over usb-c any more reliably than the MBP does.
Click to expand...

Hardly cheaping out mate, you buy what you need. Nowt wrong with that.
Fingers crossed it works though.
 
N

norge

macrumors member
Apr 14, 2010
59
32
I think I read that it shows 4K on this monitor because for 5k this monitor would need thunderbolt. Unfortunately I can’t remember where I got this information hope it’s correct.
 
akash.nu

akash.nu

macrumors G4
May 26, 2016
10,870
16,998
Having read almost all of the comments I can categorically say I don’t really need an iPad in my life. This is why I bought the basic 2017 non pro model to just have a tablet to be able to play around and also use it as a test device.
 
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ascender

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
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So, with a 4K monitor connected over usb-c, the picture on the external display isn’t full screen. It’s basically windowed with a shedload of space all around. And as soon as you plug a usb-c cable in, it ports sound out to the cable even if you have no speakers connected to it. Same thing with a usb-c to DisplayPort adapter. So I guess this means you really need a Bluetooth speaker (or HomePod) to get the most out of this sort of setup. As there’s no headphone jack...

But video does display full screen in Netflix which is good... No full screen in YouTube.

Strange that Safari isn’t full screen being an Apple app though.
 
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