iPad as a laptop replacement

[secretk]

I don’t look at my hands either... but the screen position itself is too low for hours and hours consecutive. It was the same when I used my MBP. I get really bad headaches from neck strain, and I need the screen basically right in front of me, with my no bend in my neck. So I need an adjustable monitor or a monitor stand.

Makes sense. I think that I don't feel that much because I have astigmatism. Due to the specifics of my eye prescription I am really careful about my positioning. Basically the correction I have is at certain angle and I really to be really careful how I position the things I see. Otherwise there is no correction and without the correction I can't see. Without the correction I see just spots of different colors on the screen. So maybe I am used to position my head only in a certain position that allows me to see, but does not give me neck strain. I have no issues with my laptop because I always position my head at perfect 90 degrees of my legs. Then I just position the monitor in a way where I can look straight to it without looking up or down.

Like I said, most of the time it’s fine... I’ve been iPad only for a year now, and this is the first time I’ve had a project that is long enough that it is becoming an issue. I am typing in Pages, and while it’s taking a bit of learning and I wish I could do page numbers or a ToC, no big deal. I’m not even finding the text selection thing to be bothersome, but maybe that’s because I have been doing this for a year and am pretty proficient at it. Generally speaking, I’m a huge fan of ASK.

Could be a habit indeed. Also if you have iPhone you most probably are used to the way text is being edited in iOS.

[doublepost=1544383251][/doublepost]I will note that the neck strain problem is worse on my 11 inch than on my 2017 12.9. Just that extra little angle down.

Interesting. Why do you think that the size matters?

 

[sparksd]

I don’t look at my hands either... but the screen position itself is too low for hours and hours consecutive. It was the same when I used my MBP. I get really bad headaches from neck strain, and I need the screen basically right in front of me, with my no bend in my neck. So I need an adjustable monitor or a monitor stand.

Like I said, most of the time it’s fine... I’ve been iPad only for a year now, and this is the first time I’ve had a project that is long enough that it is becoming an issue. I am typing in Pages, and while it’s taking a bit of learning and I wish I could do page numbers or a ToC, no big deal. I’m not even finding the text selection thing to be bothersome, but maybe that’s because I have been doing this for a year and am pretty proficient at it. Generally speaking, I’m a huge fan of ASK.
[doublepost=1544383251][/doublepost]I will note that the neck strain problem is worse on my 11 inch than on my 2017 12.9. Just that extra little angle down.

I use this tablet stand and a Bluetooth keyboard with my 10. -

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XVL8WP1

I also like using it if I'm doing extended reading or watching a long video or movie and sitting at a table.

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

Makes sense. I think that I don't feel that much because I have astigmatism. Due to the specifics of my eye prescription I am really careful about my positioning. Basically the correction I have is at certain angle and I really to be really careful how I position the things I see. Otherwise there is no correction and without the correction I can't see. Without the correction I see just spots of different colors on the screen. So maybe I am used to position my head only in a certain position that allows me to see, but does not give me neck strain. I have no issues with my laptop because I always position my head at perfect 90 degrees of my legs. Then I just position the monitor in a way where I can look straight to it without looking up or down.



Could be a habit indeed. Also if you have iPhone you most probably are used to the way text is being edited in iOS.



Interesting. Why do you think that the size matters?

With my two IPPs side by side, the top of the screen on the 11 is about two inches lower... so I’m looking down just that bit more.

 

[secretk]

I use this tablet stand and a Bluetooth keyboard with my 10. -

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XVL8WP1

I also like using it if I'm doing extended reading or watching a long video or movie and sitting at a table.

That's a good point! I am rather on the short side so I don't have such issues but some co-workers use books to lift up their monitors at work. That might be working as well.

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

I use this tablet stand and a Bluetooth keyboard with my 10. -

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XVL8WP1

I also like using it if I'm doing extended reading or watching a long video or movie and sitting at a table.

Great suggestion— thank you!

 

[secretk]

With my two IPPs side by side, the top of the screen on the 11 is about two inches lower... so I’m looking down just that bit more.

Wow that size difference is definitely noticeable enough. It so makes sense now. I had not thought about this until you brought it up.

Indeed maybe a stand and a separate Bluetooth keyboard might help.

 

[sparksd]

That's a good point! I am rather on the short side so I don't have such issues but some co-workers use books to lift up their monitors at work. That might be working as well.

I like using it - it's a quality stand with heft for stability.

 

[mk313]

So I’m looking for the first time at getting a dongle for an old monitor and a Bluetooth keyboard, and NOW I wish I could have mouse support. Otherwise, I guess I can essentially use the iPad itself as a trackpad? Assuming that the iPad still shows what is on the screen—the monitor is just mirroring what is on the iPad, not making the iPad go black and unresponsive?

Just confirm, you are correct about the monitor mirroring the iPad. That is how it works. The iPad screen stays visible the entire time. Depending on if you have a TV & an apple TV & where it is positioned on the wall, you could also use the Apple TV to duplicate your iPad, so that you don't have to buy an entire monitor & adapter.

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

Just confirm, you are correct about the monitor mirroring the iPad. That is how it works. The iPad screen stays visible the entire time. Depending on if you have a TV & an apple TV & where it is positioned on the wall, you could also use the Apple TV to duplicate your iPad, so that you don't have to buy an entire monitor & adapter.

Ohhhhh! I didn’t think of my Apple TV. I have an old monitor, so I ordered an 11 dollar dongle— no big deal. Still... that’s a really good idea. I’ve never tried getting the Apple TV to duplicate it. Also, thanks for confirming about the mirroring.
[doublepost=1544392292][/doublepost]To add, like 10 minutes later, sitting in front of the TV... yeah, this is a much better neck angle. Interesting. Earlier this afternoon, I set up the monitor, ordered a dongle and ordered a Magic Keyboard. Now I’m wondering if I should cancel those orders and put the monitor back in storage. This is pretty sweet.

 

[Momof9]

Here is my setup. I actually just did this yesterday. The monitor on the right is for my ipad. I use the pencil alot so I don't have to reach up so high.

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

Nice!

 

[samcow]

I took the plunge and got an 11 inch with keyboard, I figured I'd use it at meetings and for document editing. I mostly dont need a laptop for what I do, except for certain things.

That said, the Microsoft apps on the ipad pro close CONSTANTLY. If I switch to a different app, for example a pdf reader, when I return to my Excel spreadsheet or Word doc it is likely closed. These apps save after any change, so I'm not worried about losing work. However I have to select the file to open again, and then potentially scroll to where I was before.

It makes using it for my purposes essentially unusable. Im considering going Chromebook and using the Microsoft web apps.

 

[mk313]

I took the plunge and got an 11 inch with keyboard, I figured I'd use it at meetings and for document editing. I mostly dont need a laptop for what I do, except for certain things.

That said, the Microsoft apps on the ipad pro close CONSTANTLY. If I switch to a different app, for example a pdf reader, when I return to my Excel spreadsheet or Word doc it is likely closed. These apps save after any change, so I'm not worried about losing work. However I have to select the file to open again, and then potentially scroll to where I was before.

It makes using it for my purposes essentially unusable. Im considering going Chromebook and using the Microsoft web apps.

Interesting. That doesn’t happen on my 9.7 pro.

 

[samcow]

Interesting. That doesn’t happen on my 9.7 pro.

Oh really? I wonder what's causing it on mine. Maybe the pdf reader I have is heavy (in terms of ram)? That's odd

 

[secretk]

I took the plunge and got an 11 inch with keyboard, I figured I'd use it at meetings and for document editing. I mostly dont need a laptop for what I do, except for certain things.

That said, the Microsoft apps on the ipad pro close CONSTANTLY. If I switch to a different app, for example a pdf reader, when I return to my Excel spreadsheet or Word doc it is likely closed. These apps save after any change, so I'm not worried about losing work. However I have to select the file to open again, and then potentially scroll to where I was before.

It makes using it for my purposes essentially unusable. Im considering going Chromebook and using the Microsoft web apps.

This happens for me too (regular 2018 iPad). Constantly. It does annoy me but for now I am tolerating it as I bought it mostly for taking notes in OneNote during meetings. The constant apps closing and reloads are annoying though. Sometimes does not even save the files properly and that is even worse.

 

[jonblatho]

I use my 27" iMac for most of my general computing when I'm at home. Obviously I can't tote this thing around, so when I need a bigger screen than my phone away from home (often in class, for following along in lecture slides or to write notes in LaTeX) I use my 11" iPad Pro. Recently upgraded from a 9.7" iPad Pro and I love it.

That said, the Microsoft apps on the ipad pro close CONSTANTLY. If I switch to a different app, for example a pdf reader, when I return to my Excel spreadsheet or Word doc it is likely closed. These apps save after any change, so I'm not worried about losing work. However I have to select the file to open again, and then potentially scroll to where I was before.

I've noticed this too. It's obnoxious, and I'm not really sure what I'm doing that would cause it (it usually happens when switching between the Office apps and Safari or Canvas in my case).

 

[akash.nu]

I took the plunge and got an 11 inch with keyboard, I figured I'd use it at meetings and for document editing. I mostly dont need a laptop for what I do, except for certain things.

That said, the Microsoft apps on the ipad pro close CONSTANTLY. If I switch to a different app, for example a pdf reader, when I return to my Excel spreadsheet or Word doc it is likely closed. These apps save after any change, so I'm not worried about losing work. However I have to select the file to open again, and then potentially scroll to where I was before.

It makes using it for my purposes essentially unusable. Im considering going Chromebook and using the Microsoft web apps.

This happens for me too (regular 2018 iPad). Constantly. It does annoy me but for now I am tolerating it as I bought it mostly for taking notes in OneNote during meetings. The constant apps closing and reloads are annoying though. Sometimes does not even save the files properly and that is even worse.

This is categorically an app issue. Poor memory management.

 

[samcow]

This is categorically an app issue. Poor memory management.

I cant see Microsoft including this as functionality. It’s more likely to be an iOS issue. You’d think that iOS would at least just save the state of the word doc to storage (instead of ram) if the ram was running low. With how fast storage is now a days, it could easily just grab the state from storage.

I’m going to contact both Microsoft and Apple about this, so I’ll see what they say (if I get a reply). I find it odd I haven’t read that much about how aggressive iOS is with closing apps in the background.

 

[akash.nu]

I’m going to contact both Microsoft and Apple about this, so I’ll see what they say (if I get a reply). I find it odd I haven’t read that much about how aggressive iOS is with closing apps in the background.

It’s highly unlikely that a customer service team will ever know technical details about how a piece of software is developed.

Platforms aren’t developed based on specific applications. Applications should be developed to make the most out of a platform. Applications can be developed to save data before iOS closes the process. In fact the OS does tell the app that it’s going to kill it, and provides enough time to write on the memory.

Microsoft hasn’t optimised the app properly. That’s about it. In fact apps can crash while not being in focus due to poor memory management. You never know if the app is crashing in the background if it’s not saving the data occasionally.

 

[samcow]

Well you may be correct. That said, iOS should not be closing a word document when the app is not in focus. That’s insane, right? I feel like we should be able to agree that the new iPad Pro should be able to have a pdf app and Word open without closing either of them. If Microsoft isn’t properly handling what happens when iOS kills it, that’s a different matter to me.

 

[akash.nu]

Well you may be correct. That said, iOS should not be closing a word document when the app is not in focus. That’s insane, right? I feel like we should be able to agree that the new iPad Pro should be able to have a pdf app and Word open without closing either of them. If Microsoft isn’t properly handling what happens when iOS kills it, that’s a different matter to me.

At the OS level it’s a simple logic of allocating maximum memory to the app in focus. Depending on how the specific app handles memory it can have an impact on the other open app.

You never know, your PDF app may be leaking memory. It’s always the apps that are developed poorly. A platform can’t make specific decisions based on apps. There are general rules and APIs that the app developers are supposed to follow.

 

[samcow]

At the OS level it’s a simple logic of allocating maximum memory to the app in focus. Depending on how the specific app handles memory it can have an impact on the other open app.

You never know, your PDF app may be leaking memory. It’s always the apps that are developed poorly. A platform can’t make specific decisions based on apps. There are general rules and APIs that the app developers are supposed to follow.

I’m sorry but I don’t buy it. You seem to be laying the fault at the app developers feet. Yet a few posters above have experienced similar issues presumably with different app choices. The problem is likely that iOS is not optimized for this type of workflow, which more closely mirrors what would be done on macOS.

The PDF app in question, PDF Expert, is known to be decent. It’s either a lack of RAM included in these devices, or iOS is just not geared towards having apps behave like their desktop counterparts. I can have multiple PDFs and word docs open on a MacBook Air with 4GB, and the word docs are not randomly closing in the background. Why can’t I expect the same here?

 

[akash.nu]

Why can’t I expect the same here?

Because not every platform on the planet is developed the same way. It’s up to the app developers to develop their apps based on the platform, not the other way around.

 

[JD2015]

Using Office applications a lot on IPP and it constantly closing and then reopening them when you go back is annoying. You then have to go back to the part of the document you were working on. May end up start using pages and see if the same happens there.

 

[samcow]

Using Office applications a lot on IPP and it constantly closing and then reopening them when you go back is annoying. You then have to go back to the part of the document you were working on. May end up start using pages and see if the same happens there.

Yea. It’s easy, and maybe apt (I don’t know), to lay the blame at Microsoft’s feet, but regardless of the blame the platform suffers. Thus it seems like ultimately an Apple problem. I suspect you’ll see this problem be dramatically addressed in iOS 13 from Apple’s end, I just don’t know that I’ll hang around that long