I see. You can also swipe from the left screen edge to show the containing folder/list view as a “slide over” overlay.
Yeah that’s how I split screen apps not on the iOS dock too. Surely, there could be a more efficient implementation for both.
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iPad as a laptop replacement
- Thread starter Omar Comin' Yo
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i work in IT , my iPP 11 has replaced my laptop at home and desktop....i work with computers all day and i want to come home to something i can grab and just use without the thought of having to tinker with it.
i use it for video , photo editing , documents , excel , movies , streaming , coding....never had issues.
Now Apple have successfully bifurcated the line into top end pros aimed at being laptop replacement devices and the basic iPads for traditional iPad use, I think it’s time they forked off an iOS Pro for the iPad pros to use. Regular iOS can stay suited to iPhone, iPod touch and traditional iPad use, while iOS Pro gains more MacOS features, support for mice and other peripherals.
It's a good idea but i don't think that you should split the IOS version between Pro and non Pro iPads but between phones and tablets. Cheap computers are also getting the same OS than more expensive ones. That would proof that tablets could be much more than "big phones"....
That has not happened to me or anybody I know that has an iPad. Do you believe that this is a widespread phenomenon? Would the iPad forum not be filled with complaints about swollen devices or broken components? Would there not be a class action lawsuit in the US and MR would report on it at least every now and then?
Anything with a battery inside can have said battery fail.
Besides, what does this add to the discussion about replacing the laptop?
If you run the iPad hard with 3d games that drain the battery in 45 minute while it takes hours to charge, it will get battery bulge and eventually self destruct. Before this happens, it will cause display defects that make it eligible for replacement. I'm on my 3rd iPad and all of them are like this. If you're really curious about how we got to talking about iPad battery bulge, I'll clue you in- we are here in the iPad forum talking about replacing a laptop with an iPad.
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I have both an iPad Pro 11” and a MacBook Pro 15” that are used for work (and the iPad is used outside of work as well); I have an architectural business with my partner and must have access to very intensive drawing programs that do not all function on the iOS platform. Therefore, we use our Macs for the majority of the daily drawing requirements, but I also use an iPad for many other tasks throughout each day including field work.
We have developed a pretty solid system of using Macs for intensive programs (some only work on Windows), iPads & iPhones for calls, calendars, frequent access to files (email & FTP), during meetings to take notes and scanning of documents and drawings while discussions are underway, etc. We utilize iCloud extensively for files, backups and general cloud tasks (we have the 2TB storage plan) and have used it since the .Mac days; and have seldom encountered any major hiccups.
In closing, the Mac, iPad and iPhone integration has been really good for us (including a separate Apple ID & iCloud for personal use as well), where using a hodgepodge of other systems would just slow things down and interfere with the continuity that our Macs, iPads, iPhones and iCloud provide; we can just go from task to task and knock things out during the day. While we are a small firm, we handle large projects just like the big boys.
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Again, back to my points, this seems a rather uncommon problem because on this forum hardly anyone has even heard of this. Maybe you should open your own thread and let people know how this can be reproduced if in fact this turns out to be a real issue.
I for one would be interested to know more. You make it sound as if it’s easy to reproduce- record the failure how the iPad breaks while just being used and see what the manufacturer says then.
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I posted this in another thread also...
I am really considering moving to the Surface Pro 6. I love the iPad but I just started my Masters Program and I am finding that I need both the MacBook Air and iPad Pro to accomplish many things. This is an online program so the ability to write on the screen is a big time saver.
The iPad Pro seems to have some bugs with writing inside Word on docs. Characters sometimes disappear in Word when writing and the pencil will go between write and erase causing issues. On a timed exam it makes thing nerve racking.
Plus the limitations in Excel.
Anyone make the switch?
Hmmm...
I am really considering moving to the Surface Pro 6. I love the iPad but I just started my Masters Program and I am finding that I need both the MacBook Air and iPad Pro to accomplish many things. This is an online program so the ability to write on the screen is a big time saver.
The iPad Pro seems to have some bugs with writing inside Word on docs. Characters sometimes disappear in Word when writing and the pencil will go between write and erase causing issues. On a timed exam it makes thing nerve racking.
Plus the limitations in Excel.
Anyone make the switch?
Hmmm...
I'm not a student but for about a year I used an iPad as my primary device. I really enjoy using iOS because it's clean and simple. There were definitely some challenges and while I had worked around most I still found some things very difficult. For example, I could build web sites using my remote development environment (via SSH with Prompt) but there's absolutely no way to test web sites with different browsers, and no really good web inspector for viewing various elements on a page. For blogging my content management system was fine but editing without a mouse was extremely difficult. It was hard to cut and paste large portions of text to re-arrange things, sometimes my I-beam/insertion point would simply disappear so I had no idea where my cursor was. iOS was always pushing apps out of memory so they had to restart and even if they returned to where they were it took longer.
This winter I purchased a Lenovo 2-in-1 laptop, while it's not a Surface Pro I am running Windows 10 Pro and using it as both a tablet and laptop. I'm actually surprised at how much I like this device (my only real complaint is the weight, which I'll get to in a bit). The user interface is not as nice, for sure, but I find I can be much more productive and work a lot faster. I spend a lot of the evenings with the device in tablet mode (keyboard folded behind) and just read in a web browser or the Kindle app. When I need to get some stuff done I pull the keyboard around and start working.
The tablet mode on Windows 10 is no where near as nice as on an iPad; however, I don't find it to be that bad. It really is like using desktop apps with a touchscreen (sometimes the UI elements are a little small to accurately hit with your finger, for example) but in general it does work... especially if you're just interested in casually reading or watching videos.
My laptop is obviously going to weigh more than the Surface Pro, and it's one thing I dislike, but
Windows 10 is still my least favorite operating system, I really do prefer iOS and Linux, but it's functional. As someone who does web development and server admin stuff, Microsoft adding OpenSSL, Linux subsystem, and a hypervisor (virtual machines) to Windows is fantastic and makes the operating system much more usable for me than previous versions of Windows. Your mileage will vary because you have different needs, of course.
I do believe Apple has a good product with the iPad. I really enjoy it. But the new pricing and a few limitations has pushed me away. I think Windows has long since moved past the "blue screen of death" phase and is a reliable product that's much better than it used to be. I was at a Microsoft Store recently and looking at their product lines, the Surface Pro is a nice machine (the black one looks amazing, though it showed finger prints more). The screen is fantastic on it (it's high DPI so things are very sharp). The keyboard seems fine. The keys have a good click and travel, however that "Alcantara" material they're made of seems like it would really pick up dirt and look nasty after awhile (they do make a cheaper keyboard cover made of nylon or something, which is probably easier to clean, but I'm just guessing).
Those are my thoughts, for what it's worth.
Genuinely curious as to why you'd move to a Surface Pro 6 and get rid of the Mac/ iPad. It's been a couple of years since I was in school, but I used the iPad/ MacBook strategy to get through my MBA & thought it worked pretty well. Unless you need to do a lot with the pencil/stylus, why not just use the MacBook as your primary device & keep the iPad for secondary usage (or get rid of the iPad if you aren't using it).
I am finding that I use the pen/pencil feature a lot for work. The iPad is great for that in general but when I try and do within Word Docs it seems to be lacking.
Excel for most things is way easier on the PC/MacBook.
Another item that begun to bug me is the mobile browser vs a nice desktop version.
The Surface Pro addresses some of those concerns. I should note I have a work iPad 6th Gen so it works with a Pencil.
If I go with the Surface Pro then I also only have to carry one device for school work when I travel for work work.
Still debating... really love the ease of the iPad.
Ok this is potentially going to sound dumb or shallow, but there's this girl in my classes that has an iPad Pro 12.9" with the Keyboard Folio and Apple Pencil that she uses everyday and it just looks so dang futuristic. It really makes me want to go sell my iPad Pro 10.5", buy a 12.9", and go iPad only. It just seems so versatile - being able to switch from more of a traditional laptop use to drawing with a pencil to interacting with everything via your fingers. Not to mention, battery life would be more consistent and it's a more efficient machine overall. If only Excel and other applications were up to the desktop standards. Sigh.
Apple Pencil - $70
Smart Keyboard - $120
You’ve been living in the future for the last 3 years. You Already have an iPad Pro 10.5 so you dont need to spend $1300 more to go iPad only. Just spend >$200 and get the accessories you forgot to buy years ago.
BTW. If you really want to see how productive students can be with iPads then check out some of the iPad Study With Me channels. Some use the high end Pros and some use budget $300 iPads. But all of them are equally efficient and “futuristic” because the hardware is only one small factor in what makes them such good students.
That tends to be the issue - at least for me. I could do 90% of my personal stuff but only about 60% (or so) of my work stuff. Daughter (studying to be a veterinarian) ran into the same issue. Some of her class software is not iOS compatible.
It looks awesome and for some it is. For others, not so much.
The 10.5 screen is constricting for me when multitasking, which is the large majority of my workflow. Thank you though. I’ll have to check out the Study with Me channels.
@xxray The issue for me is that the larger screens offer even more usability, but then become simultaneously way way worse as normal iPads...
But - I do a lot of handheld usage in addition to docked with Magic Keyboard on my 10.5”, so it’s definitely a balance for me.
Maybe I missed it above (sorry), but what is your usage/workflow that needs more than 10.5” (or even 11”) screen?
But - I do a lot of handheld usage in addition to docked with Magic Keyboard on my 10.5”, so it’s definitely a balance for me.
Maybe I missed it above (sorry), but what is your usage/workflow that needs more than 10.5” (or even 11”) screen?
Thats very accurate. I have a 12.9 (2017) which I do some pretty heavy duty video/photo work on at home and its great. But when I take it on the go it feels cumbersome so if I go out I use my old 2016 Pro 9.7.
IOS doesn’t necessarily take advantage of the slightly increased screen res. So experience of the 12.9 and a smaller Pro is pretty much identical since the general feature set of multitasking and general functionality is the same.
First off, when I have the 10.5” on a desk, I find myself hunching over or squinting to interact with it. Second, I work with pencil a lot in split screen, and both my canvas to write on and the material I’m referring to on the other side of the screen seem cramped. I often keep switching between using 50/50 split to 2/3 or 1/3 split to try to find the optimal experience. I understand that iPadOS treats multitasking basically the same on different iPad sizes, but the larger screen would be a benefit to my back, eyes, and workspace on the screen compared to my 10.5. I do agree though that the larger size makes it more difficult for the portability/light tasks that tablets are usually best at.
Are the safari split screen pages on the smaller ipads still mobile sites in iPadOS? Other than that, yes it’s the same software experience (if that’s what you meant), but the overall experience sure isn’t identical. Screen size is always going to be a major factor in a user’s experience. Whether the screen size difference between the 12.9” and 10.5” is considered “significant” or not is subjective, but to put a number on it the 12.9” screen has a 51% bigger surface area.
Yeah it’s always a compromise between productivity and mobility. One device can do it all for some but not everyone. I also need the bigger 12.9” size for what I do, but I also like having a very mobile casual device, so I have a mini in addition. The combo works out pretty ideally for me, but everyone is different.
Another thing missing from the old 10.5 inch iPad Pro is the ability to swipe between pages across the bottom of the screen. You can swipe using five fingers in the centre of the screen, but that is a lot more cumbersome. I use that swipe gesture every day on my 2018 12.9 inch iPad Pro to quickly switch between pages. It is as quick and easy as turning the page in a book. That is another alternative to the split screen
I'm pretty sure I have that gesture on my iPac Pro 10.5....
Look in settings. This can be enabled and disabled to your liking.
This facility is only available with FaceID devices. I find it one of the advantages of the 2018 iPad Pro I use the most