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Mainsail

macrumors 68020
Sep 19, 2010
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From Apple Support page
 

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dk001

macrumors demi-god
Oct 3, 2014
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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.

There is a reason I have two 27" monitors on my desk. :)
 

Mainsail

macrumors 68020
Sep 19, 2010
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There are a lot of people that could replace their home computer with an iPad. Most employers provide a work computer, so you will use what they give you and that’s that.

Ten years ago, you needed to buy a laptop or home computer just for email, web, and photos. Now you can walk into your local BB and pick up a new iPad for $250 on sale. It will do everything most people need to do, so it really is a laptop alternative. If they occasionally do a lot of writing, they can get a separate BT keyboard and keep it in the desk drawer when needed.

The iPad is really a much better home computing solution for a lot of people.
 

YOTR

macrumors member
Feb 26, 2011
59
10
Does anyone think the Ipad Pro is doable as a desktop replacement? My wife is going to be starting grad school in the summer. She definitely needs a laptop so I was looking at the Macbook Pro 13" that just go released. However she likes the idea of just purchasing the Ipad Pro 12.9, magic keyboard, pen, and any software or apps she might need. She is in education so I highly doubt she will be using the ipad or macbook for more than writing papers, sending emails, and maybe presentations she has to send. She currently uses google slides a lot with her job. We are contacting her college also to try and get specifics.

After searching on this topic for awhile, it isn't clear if an ipad pro would support adobe pdf, office, etc. easy enough for her. I work in IT so for me it wouldn't be an issue and I could get around it. I don't mind downloading an app if it means it gives her the functionality. However I don't want her to have to use multiple apps to convert stuff or have a long work around for something that would be quick on a macbook.

Currently I am leaning towards just getting her a Macbook Pro 13" and an Ipad Pro 11". Obviously spending less money would be great but I can plan if I need to buy both.
 

Clintro

macrumors newbie
Apr 25, 2020
24
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What is her subject of study.... With a good quality keyboard the iPad should work for most situations, unless she needs specific software that is not available.
 

YOTR

macrumors member
Feb 26, 2011
59
10
What is her subject of study.... With a good quality keyboard the iPad should work for most situations, unless she needs specific software that is not available.

Education. I will say right now in her current position, she mainly uses google docs and also downloads, edits, and sends pdf documents on a daily basis. I know she mentioned she needed to be able to do those things along with access to a word program (preferrably office) so she could write papers for school and powerpoint (or something similar) for presentations.

Cost wise it would be great to just do the 12.9 Ipad Pro and a Magic Keyboard and Pen. She loves the possibility of the pen as she takes notes a lot in her current job. I don't mind budgeting for a MacBook Pro also. I can see why the Ipad Pro is more appealing to her though as she would really use it as a tablet and obviously even more when you add the keyboard.

I looked at a Surface Pro but honestly it's not cheaper in the long run and she does like the Apple ecosystem.
 
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secretk

macrumors 65816
Oct 19, 2018
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Education. I will say right now in her current position, she mainly uses google docs and also downloads, edits, and sends pdf documents on a daily basis. I know she mentioned she needed to be able to do those things along with access to a word program (preferrably office) so she could write papers for school and powerpoint (or something similar) for presentations.

What program is she currently using to edit PDF files? In terms of the word processing and presentation software I assume she will need Office. I am saying it because while you can export Keynote and Page files to Powerpoint/Word document sometimes certain Office features are not available on iWork and vice versa. It is important to know what her school would expect. To be honest I assume Office. Now that being said it also depends on whether she needs basic Office features or something more. Office on iPad does not come with all the features the desktop counterpart provides.

Cost wise it would be great to just do the 12.9 Ipad Pro and a Magic Keyboard and Pen. She loves the possibility of the pen as she takes notes a lot in her current job. I don't mind budgeting for a MacBook Pro also. I can see why the Ipad Pro is more appealing to her though as she would really use it as a tablet and obviously even more when you add the keyboard.

I looked at a Surface Pro but honestly it's not cheaper in the long run and she does like the Apple ecosystem.

Would the 12.9 inch display be enough when it comes to desk sort of work? I am asking because hooking up external display to Makbook is way cooler than to iPad. I mean Macbooks allows display extension, iPads do not. iPad's battery drains a lot when hook up external display and you will have to plug it in charger all the time. That kind of affects the battery of the iPad. Macbook would not have those issues.
 
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MyopicPaideia

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2011
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Sweden
If she will be using Google Docs as her primary productivity suite, I fully endorse the iPad Pro, 11” or 12.9” (I have the 11” with the Smart Keyboard Folio, that I connect to a 28” or 45” 4K monitor depending on my location, with an external mechanical keyboard and a Magic trackpad or Magic Mouse when I am at a desk). I am a finance professional and use high powered, complex Google Sheets all day, every day, and my iPad Pro is not only my primary work device, it is my sole work device. Combine that with the PDF Expert app by Readle, and your wife will have zero problems.

Just make sure to use the Google Docs Suite on the Web, in Safari, not the crap iPadOS apps that Google has. One of my default workspaces is a Split View with Safari 2/3 (50% or 75% zoom) and one of either the Files app or Google Drive 1/3, (Files app with Google Drive integration usually, but if I know I am going to be switching Google Accounts, then it is the Google Drive app, where you can switch on the fly.)

816AABA9-5A1B-45F0-A233-00BBC6926F30.png
 
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cupcakes2000

macrumors 601
Apr 13, 2010
4,037
5,429
I seem to be able to use my iPad Pro 12.9 just fine for rather advanced tasks, so I have to assume that you do not have one.


Simple choice:

1) Get her a Mac and she will focus on her job.
2) Get her an iPad and make her jump through hoops to achieve basic tasks (get ready to add a new client onto your speed dial as you will be getting calls from her!)
 

cupcakes2000

macrumors 601
Apr 13, 2010
4,037
5,429
I’m a professional portrait photographer, so advanced photo editing mainly and to a lesser extent video editing. Plus all of the other associated things that come with running my business, website design and upkeep, flyer and promotion design, plus the normal email and all the associated office and tax admin.
I do use and need a Mac and a file server for my use case, but everything other then the ability to locally store my lightroom classic library, is done on my iPad.
 

dk001

macrumors demi-god
Oct 3, 2014
11,136
15,488
Sage, Lightning, and Mountains
I’m a professional portrait photographer, so advanced photo editing mainly and to a lesser extent video editing. Plus all of the other associated things that come with running my business, website design and upkeep, flyer and promotion design, plus the normal email and all the associated office and tax admin.
I do use and need a Mac and a file server for my use case, but everything other then the ability to locally store my lightroom classic library, is done on my iPad.

Thanks!!
As an engineer the iPad can't do it for me but I am always interested to see how other use it professionally.
Thanks!!
 

petvas

macrumors 603
Jul 20, 2006
5,479
1,808
Munich, Germany
The iPad has definitely come a long way to becoming a computer. Depending on your needs it might be able to be your main computing device, or it might not. For my needs the iPad is a great device but it cannot replace my Macs. Only when I am on the road or away from my office/home I have decided to use only an iPad. For anything serious though that involves my profession, I will rely on my two Macs.
I also have the Magic Keyboard and that has made the iPad great for typing and also using spreadsheets (at least simple ones that can be edited correctly on an iPad). When I go to vacation I will only take my iPad with me and no Macs, since it allows me to do basic stuff.
 

sparksd

macrumors G3
Jun 7, 2015
9,996
34,294
Seattle WA
I’m a professional portrait photographer, so advanced photo editing mainly and to a lesser extent video editing. Plus all of the other associated things that come with running my business, website design and upkeep, flyer and promotion design, plus the normal email and all the associated office and tax admin.
I do use and need a Mac and a file server for my use case, but everything other then the ability to locally store my lightroom classic library, is done on my iPad.

Do you do your photo mgmt. on the Mac with a DAM?
 

Wasteman97

macrumors newbie
May 13, 2020
6
1
Education. I will say right now in her current position, she mainly uses google docs and also downloads, edits, and sends pdf documents on a daily basis. I know she mentioned she needed to be able to do those things along with access to a word program (preferrably office) so she could write papers for school and powerpoint (or something similar) for presentations.

Cost wise it would be great to just do the 12.9 Ipad Pro and a Magic Keyboard and Pen. She loves the possibility of the pen as she takes notes a lot in her current job. I don't mind budgeting for a MacBook Pro also. I can see why the Ipad Pro is more appealing to her though as she would really use it as a tablet and obviously even more when you add the keyboard.

I looked at a Surface Pro but honestly it's not cheaper in the long run and she does like the Apple ecosystem.

I currently made the switch the iPad Pro with the AMK for uni work and I’m finding it as easy as it was on my 2015MBA. There is a slight learning curve with adapting to the mobile nature of some apps (such as web pages etc.) but overall it’s a pleasant experience.
For PDFs the default viewer embedded in the files app allows you to edit it though you can find other suitable editors in the App Store.
I personally haven’t used google docs however when I do it is browser based and you are able to load pages in desktop mode so this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
 
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YOTR

macrumors member
Feb 26, 2011
59
10
I was just catching up on everyone's response and I greatly appreciate it! I think I am just going to get her a macbook pro and and an 11" ipad pro. It is way more expensive but she will need this laptop for a solid 4 years or maybe a bit more (she is probably going to try for her doctorate right after she finished grad school). I thought about getting a macbook air and a ipad pro but not sure it's worth the savings. I am also concerned with heat issues, etc. with the macbook air.

So currently I think I am going to go with a 13" macbook pro and an 11" ipad pro for her. It is way more expensive but I know she would use both of them.
 

richpjr

macrumors 68040
May 9, 2006
3,763
2,594
I was just catching up on everyone's response and I greatly appreciate it! I think I am just going to get her a macbook pro and and an 11" ipad pro. It is way more expensive but she will need this laptop for a solid 4 years or maybe a bit more (she is probably going to try for her doctorate right after she finished grad school). I thought about getting a macbook air and a ipad pro but not sure it's worth the savings. I am also concerned with heat issues, etc. with the macbook air.

So currently I think I am going to go with a 13" macbook pro and an 11" ipad pro for her. It is way more expensive but I know she would use both of them.

If you have the budget for it, that is a safe way to go. It all depends on the apps a person needs and their workflow. There are some things my iPad is great for and some things that are still just not possible, or are too limited or clunky for me to do.
 
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YOTR

macrumors member
Feb 26, 2011
59
10
If you have the budget for it, that is a safe way to go. It all depends on the apps a person needs and their workflow. There are some things my iPad is great for and some things that are still just not possible, or are too limited or clunky for me to do.

That's what I am worried about. I just didn't want to limit her with just an ipad pro or have to worry down the road if something wouldn't work. So I think I am going to go for the MacBook Pro configuration with the 10th Gen I5/16GB/512GB. I don't feel like she would benefit from upgrading the memory or storage space (plus it really increases the price). We looked at the 16" because with the sale prices they can at least be considered. However she wasn't as keen on spending another $400. Honestly for her the 16" would be way overkill. She uses a 14" work laptop right now so I don't think the 13" will be that much of an issue. We were mainly considering the 16" if she wanted a bigger screen. Then on the ipad pro side, I will spring for the 256GB version so she has a little room there space wise.
[automerge]1589395847[/automerge]
 
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