Yeah I hope that this improves in iOS 13. I have similar issues with tabs in Safari. They get reloaded constantly. Such things do have impact on my productivity.
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iPad as a laptop replacement
- Thread starter Omar Comin' Yo
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Yeah I hope that this improves in iOS 13. I have similar issues with tabs in Safari. They get reloaded constantly. Such things do have impact on my productivity.
I’m curious what all of your thoughts are in regards to using the iPad Pro for upcoming school work for my 9 year old. Eventually in middle school she’ll need to have some sort of computer but I just never use laptops I do everything on my phone. But the thought of having a bigger device with a keyboard that I can use handoff with whole my phone is charging is a pretty nice concept.
Erm... how’s your 9 years old’s requirements tied with your own again?! Am I missing something?!
my ipad has completely replaced a laptop for me. I do use a desktop when in my office.
I think you have to wait and see what her needs are. My daughter’s elementary school gives the kids iPads to take home starting in third grade. And I have a friend in a different school system who bought a really nice Mac when her daughter started high school, but the school gave them all chrome books, so her daughter has never touched the Mac.
By any chance are you homeschooling? I got my 11y a 2018 iPad with pencil. She is showing a lot of talent with drawing and I love graphic design on my pro. We also looked at the 10.5. She did not really see that much of a difference. We already was using my Air 2 for school. If she is going to be using the keyboard for long, I would go purchase a Logitech bluetooth keyboard. I have mine on my keyboard drawer. Other than a few issues - ie accessing my hard drives and I need flash (hopefully not too much longer) for a business website - I do everything on my iPad Pro.
I think for your usage - you need to figure out why she would need a pro verses the 2018 iPad. Do you want a bigger screen? Do you want to have the pencil? There are a lot more education apps available on iOS rather than Android (I know, I have searched). You can always PM me... or we can start a thread for using the iPad for education.
I didn’t realise just how good the whole iCloud infrastructure really was until it came time to add signatures etc to some pdfs I was sent , scurrying around trying to use the pencil and looking for various apps . Lomand behold it’s all built into the iOS app !
I put the signatures on an old defunct Mac years ago , didn’t realise it would cross pollinate the entire infrastructure without me having to do anything
Really rather impressed
I put the signatures on an old defunct Mac years ago , didn’t realise it would cross pollinate the entire infrastructure without me having to do anything
Really rather impressed
I didn’t realise just how good the whole iCloud infrastructure really was until it came time to add signatures etc to some pdfs I was sent , scurrying around trying to use the pencil and looking for various apps . Lomand behold it’s all built into the iOS app !
I put the signatures on an old defunct Mac years ago , didn’t realise it would cross pollinate the entire infrastructure without me having to do anything
Really rather impressed
Yep
once you get into the whole ecosystem, you can’t go back, it’s that solid.And I absolutely don’t mind paying apple for making my life that bit easier.
After using the 12.9 since launch day, I can now say that it has, indeed, become my laptop replacement/alternative. However, there's a catch - it's been able to replace my old Windows laptop because I also picked up a Mac Mini to handle all those full-OS needs (multiple instances of Office docs open, full multi-tasking, etc.). Since getting the Mini, I find myself using the iPad in more mobile situations, which I think is the mode where the iPad's strengths really shine. Now, when I'm at my desk, I'm generally using the Mini (whereas before I was almost exclusively using the iPad) and when I travel or just leave the office for the living room, I'm using the iPad - pretty much the best of both worlds.
Having fully ingested the Apple Kool-Aid, I'm really impressed with the integration between all my iDevices. It's just so cool to send a phone call from my iPhone to my iPad, reply to texts from my Mini, access all of my documents from iCloud, and things like that.
Having fully ingested the Apple Kool-Aid, I'm really impressed with the integration between all my iDevices. It's just so cool to send a phone call from my iPhone to my iPad, reply to texts from my Mini, access all of my documents from iCloud, and things like that.
Bought my iPad Pro 12.9 a few weeks ago. I don’t ‘need’ it because I’m on medical retirement. However, I use it daily during dialysis treatments (4x a day at home) and prefer it to my convertible/flip top. It weighs less and it allows me to deal with a lot of medical documentation coming in, which I scan to pdf’s and read/edit directly on the iPad.
I also use a 2018 9.7 iPad, a Surface Go and a 2017 Dell fliptop. All of the cloud storage services such as iCloud, OneDrive, Gdrive and Dropbox allow me to have easy access to all my files in all of my devices, which is what I want.
I’m not required to maintain compatibility with work systems so it becomes a matter of personal choice.
The Apple Pencil is an absolute must.
Tom
I also use a 2018 9.7 iPad, a Surface Go and a 2017 Dell fliptop. All of the cloud storage services such as iCloud, OneDrive, Gdrive and Dropbox allow me to have easy access to all my files in all of my devices, which is what I want.
I’m not required to maintain compatibility with work systems so it becomes a matter of personal choice.
The Apple Pencil is an absolute must.
Tom
I had been a 12.9 1st Gen owner and used it widely in my work in IT/Design so buying the new 12.9 one was a no-brainer, however I ended up returning as I found myself needing Windows for a couple of Office 365 related bits of software (Sharepoint Designer mainly).
That said I've picked up a cheap Surface Go tablet which is fine for those very light Windows only things I need and I might actually pickup another 12.9 LTE as it just does almost everything I need to do, along with being a far better media device and "Tablet" than the Surface Go can ever hope to be.
Currently I don't have a Desktop and actually the new Mac Mini is probably top of the list on that front - another IPP with the ability to remote into a Boot Camp of Windows 10 on the Mac Mini would be a nice combo....
That said I've picked up a cheap Surface Go tablet which is fine for those very light Windows only things I need and I might actually pickup another 12.9 LTE as it just does almost everything I need to do, along with being a far better media device and "Tablet" than the Surface Go can ever hope to be.
Currently I don't have a Desktop and actually the new Mac Mini is probably top of the list on that front - another IPP with the ability to remote into a Boot Camp of Windows 10 on the Mac Mini would be a nice combo....
I received my iPad Pro 2 days ago and I didn`t have a Laptop before (the last Laptop I had was 5 years ago) and I`m really amazed about the iPP. At first I thought "Only a iPad" but when you really try to work with it, the workflow is amazing for my usage. I usually write, do some video and photoediting and read with the iPad. I`m really satisfied so far.
But I have to say that I have also a Windows PC at home where I can do things that i can`t do with the iPad but I didn`t do something where I needed my computer until now.
But I have to say that I have also a Windows PC at home where I can do things that i can`t do with the iPad but I didn`t do something where I needed my computer until now.
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Everyone always rags on windows 10 tablet mode, what has your experience been?
Nice post, Tom. Not related to the iPad in general, but good luck with the dialysis and future treatment. Best wishes, Andy
I got the Surface. It is a great ultrabook, but a terrible tablet. Windows 10 really was not designed for pure touch interactions.
My thoughts on the apple iPad as a computer. The iPad Pro is so powerful with the A12X chip, its insane! But it's held back by(broken record here): no mouse/pointer support, not compatible with external drives, no dedicated file manager app. iOS and macOS are separate, so why not separate all product lines and give the iPad its own padOS or tabOS. It wouldn't feel like an upscaled iPhone anymore and Apple could really do great things with it. They could put in a finder-esque app for file management, they could add mouse support. Based on ARM, it would be the next generation of computing. It could handle desktop-class apps. People would buy it like it was going out of style. That is my vision for the iPad, I really think it would change computers forever.
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The keyboard attachment could also be overhauled to look more like a laptop, maybe a strong magnet, no weird looking triangle of material to hold it up. People will still want to detach and use it like a tablet, that's the whole point. Also, they should keep the pen, it is an inventive input method.
THIS!!!! A THOUSAND TIMES THIS!!!! I WOULD BUY ONE ON LAUNCH DAY!
SO even with some pretty big changes, there are some that I believe would be over the top for a tablet. One of the beauties of the tablet would be destroyed if you have external monitor support. The fact it has such long battery life would be diminished to unusable levels in my estimation. Other MultiTasked items may cause similar reductions in a Tablet of any make's battery life and long term usability. So I think the limitations would be met long before all the wish list could be filled. Even the external hard drive scenario tears apart the whole concept of battery life. If it could access files wirelessly that'd be plenty, but driving the hard drive through its on board power would be too much to ask. Maybe a SD card or USB Stick... and of not too large capacity might be do-able over all, but everything everyone seems to ask for would be counter to what the iPad has going FOR it. Monstrous capabilities exist... for a Tablet... Laptop ability? maybe not, depending on what you intend to replace. Base model HP laptop would easily be a good example of something a lot of people could replace with an iPad. But generally people who buy high end laptops are power users, while the rest are just casual users mostly.
I buy High end (for my wallet) at around $3k per laptop, and could easily go higher, but find *that* my sweet spot for dependability and power and ability. I buy them for their superior hardware so I don't have to buy a new HP base model every couple of years or less to keep a decent computer around. I buy with mid level Hard drives and mid level RAM so that I get somewhere near gaming quality machines, so they will last longer for my "very average" use. I get as much as 9 years from a Laptop when I buy... I trade up a little sooner at times... but I don't like buying new very often.
Using some basic deduction, iPad will never be a laptop. But could be a replacement for someone who isn't in need of a full on DESKTOP... but a "light user" type laptop it could replace. Keep in mind, a Laptop is a Trade off from a desk top to begin with. I never understood having 10-12 or more windows open with 30 tabs per window etc... that seems to me to be an immense problem that someone with ADD would be wild about, but would also have a zero work ethic and even more zero of a productivity level... spending all day just flipping from one tab/window to the next would close off productivity that most would find necessary to actually make money. Yeah... a couple or even a few might be useful from tab to tab or window to window, if both could be visible at the same time, but the numbers I see often on here, I can only imagine someone who is marginally productive at best, and likely just someone who blows smoke and hides their unproductive behavior with some other mirrors...
It matters not how powerful the hardware, running it at full tilt would render it totaled from overheating eventually. Yes... iPad has some impressive hardware... but I believe one of the reasons the iPad in general is so hardware proud, is to have huge overhead in usable processing power so it is not taxed to a heat level that is devastating to the system. I haven't seen Apple ever explain why they have such awesome hardware but allow marginal capabilities with it... but somewhere in there, you have to know they have a clue. Some will argue that Apple doesn't have a clue... but I'm betting on the company that makes the stuff... not a bunch of arm chair QB's.
Since there's really no such thing as a cheap complete Apple Computer (complete, no matter the model or type), the iPad is not really competitive with any maker/brand of laptop. Some of Apples Tablets are as expensive as their own laptops... It is, however a great competitor for other tablets to compare to... as far as quality and ability... and generally speaking, will better any it is put up against in most any category... most. There's no other "tablet" as such, that supports external monitors and hard drives without sacrificing their power to the parasite item... so no one really wins over apple on that either... The very biggest item Apple is messing up on, that all others have handled, is their resistance to Adding SD cards for file capacity... The second one is UI... They need a mouse interface. Neither of these would really be hugely problematic for their hardware or battery life, but they refuse to oblige a growing number of us whiners who want those things. Apple's File system and manager sucks, but I have gotten used to it and can now manage using their "finder" and a second "freeware" file manager (Commander One) to deal with it... Their file system is truly lacking in many ways. I know what it's like to have a decent file manager, and crave a better app for that within ANY apple product... don't care if apple makes it or someone else... there HAS to be a better way... but I'm still searching for it. and I would PAY WELL for one that meets my expectations.
The Comparison is truly Null to begin with, but a fun exercise in futility... the concept is great, but the variations are too, too many to have a solid pat answer to the question "Can an iPad replace a laptop?" The answer, quite Plainly is "YES" and Obviously "NO" depending on your personal situation, needs, habits, expectations, and for some, the money.
I buy High end (for my wallet) at around $3k per laptop, and could easily go higher, but find *that* my sweet spot for dependability and power and ability. I buy them for their superior hardware so I don't have to buy a new HP base model every couple of years or less to keep a decent computer around. I buy with mid level Hard drives and mid level RAM so that I get somewhere near gaming quality machines, so they will last longer for my "very average" use. I get as much as 9 years from a Laptop when I buy... I trade up a little sooner at times... but I don't like buying new very often.
Using some basic deduction, iPad will never be a laptop. But could be a replacement for someone who isn't in need of a full on DESKTOP... but a "light user" type laptop it could replace. Keep in mind, a Laptop is a Trade off from a desk top to begin with. I never understood having 10-12 or more windows open with 30 tabs per window etc... that seems to me to be an immense problem that someone with ADD would be wild about, but would also have a zero work ethic and even more zero of a productivity level... spending all day just flipping from one tab/window to the next would close off productivity that most would find necessary to actually make money. Yeah... a couple or even a few might be useful from tab to tab or window to window, if both could be visible at the same time, but the numbers I see often on here, I can only imagine someone who is marginally productive at best, and likely just someone who blows smoke and hides their unproductive behavior with some other mirrors...
It matters not how powerful the hardware, running it at full tilt would render it totaled from overheating eventually. Yes... iPad has some impressive hardware... but I believe one of the reasons the iPad in general is so hardware proud, is to have huge overhead in usable processing power so it is not taxed to a heat level that is devastating to the system. I haven't seen Apple ever explain why they have such awesome hardware but allow marginal capabilities with it... but somewhere in there, you have to know they have a clue. Some will argue that Apple doesn't have a clue... but I'm betting on the company that makes the stuff... not a bunch of arm chair QB's.
Since there's really no such thing as a cheap complete Apple Computer (complete, no matter the model or type), the iPad is not really competitive with any maker/brand of laptop. Some of Apples Tablets are as expensive as their own laptops... It is, however a great competitor for other tablets to compare to... as far as quality and ability... and generally speaking, will better any it is put up against in most any category... most. There's no other "tablet" as such, that supports external monitors and hard drives without sacrificing their power to the parasite item... so no one really wins over apple on that either... The very biggest item Apple is messing up on, that all others have handled, is their resistance to Adding SD cards for file capacity... The second one is UI... They need a mouse interface. Neither of these would really be hugely problematic for their hardware or battery life, but they refuse to oblige a growing number of us whiners who want those things. Apple's File system and manager sucks, but I have gotten used to it and can now manage using their "finder" and a second "freeware" file manager (Commander One) to deal with it... Their file system is truly lacking in many ways. I know what it's like to have a decent file manager, and crave a better app for that within ANY apple product... don't care if apple makes it or someone else... there HAS to be a better way... but I'm still searching for it. and I would PAY WELL for one that meets my expectations.
The Comparison is truly Null to begin with, but a fun exercise in futility... the concept is great, but the variations are too, too many to have a solid pat answer to the question "Can an iPad replace a laptop?" The answer, quite Plainly is "YES" and Obviously "NO" depending on your personal situation, needs, habits, expectations, and for some, the money.
Writing this on my 12.9 I have been using as only computer the last month. Loving it so far. Get tons of compliments, the screen looks very slick and people seem pretty unaware of this solution. I show them some gestures, open netflix, take a picture of them and show it to them and they are mindblown. I have been able to do everything I need to do and pretty well. Some apps really suck, such as facebook, instagram, reddit, hbo etc and youtube(I even pay for pro) has some offscreen playback issues. But overall I really like this solution and it feels right (for me)!
I don't mind paying the $10/month because I just use iTunes cards and since I'm already buying App for the most part it doesn't matter. I have 2 iPad(s) and A iPhone X which all use iCloud and my iMac I use a Lacie 2Big Tunderbolt 3 8TB Raid Dock.
iPad is not a Laptop, for One, because it Runs a iOS version of Mac, and NOT the same as using a Laptop. First unless you don't mind buying an external Keyboard as oppose to the one that comes with the laptop you'll need that, SECOND, the port as the new iPAD Pro does Sport a Usb-C it doesn't support the Docking capabilities to use it in that manner. Third comes down to ease of use, you'll need some sort of something too keep it propped up so you don't get carpet tunnel in your wrist.
Since every iOS device is a computer they also have a file system, just not one that we can freely access.
Which is the point everyone means when they list that as a shortcoming of iOS.