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iPad as a laptop replacement
- Thread starter Omar Comin' Yo
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Only superficially. I think you will find that people use shortcuts for completely different workflows compared to automator.
There are some very sophisticated shortcuts out there. And, they are gaining in popularity. Years ago, Automator, to me, seemed very powerful, it seems however programs moved away from providing the necessary linkages over time. Or, maybe I just moved away from most of the stuff I built in it. I wonder with mobile support on the new M1 chips, shortcuts will eventually replace Automator.
How does everyone feel about this topic now that the M1 chips is a thing? Does that change your desire to turn the iPad into a laptop replacement when there is now a machine that can also run iPad apps, is fanless, has great battery life, and is also light and portable?
I’m giving this quite some thought. I like the ability to “curl up“ with an iPad on the couch. And an iPad is still lighter than a MacBook Air at this point. But, who’s thinking about just going for the MacBook Air rather than the iPAd?
I’m giving this quite some thought. I like the ability to “curl up“ with an iPad on the couch. And an iPad is still lighter than a MacBook Air at this point. But, who’s thinking about just going for the MacBook Air rather than the iPAd?
For me, the ipad 11” with MKB is still more portable and flexible.
Touch screen, Pencil, bedability / sofability more, and less awkward to open 11” device with keyboard case in tight public places.
But now I am interested more than ever to pick up an M1 Mac Mini for my desktop setups.
I don’t need a beast spec computer, the M1 with 16gb RAM already a beast for my 4K video editing.
I personally do not. For me the iPad is still different than Macbook because of the pencil support and this is why I want and use iPad. I do not curl with iPad in bed because man laptop is just more useful for me in bed. And yes the iPad is lighter but honestly in my own bed that is not even a factor to consider.
That being said multitasking is just basically non existing on an iPad (I am talking about being able to export a video from Lumafusion while reading in Books or watching youtube) so if I want that (and I do as it saves me time all the time I would choose to fire my laptop.
Honestly IMO even with M1, I still find Macbooks and iPads different enough to not be able to merge them in one device.
Ironically, it's made me think I'd like to go all in on iPad.
I went from a 27" iMac, to a 2012 MacBook Pro when my daughter was born and I lost my home office. I used that happily as a writer and hobbyist photographer until I turned pro in 2014 and then I maxed out the RAM and bought an SSD. Over the years I have simplified my photography kit to the point I am editing jpegs for my wedding and personal work. This eked a few more years out of the 2012 MacBook Pro but I was using it out and about a lot more, working from coffee shops and in client meetings and found it heavy and bulky, and the battery life was non existent.
I made a sideways move to a 12" MacBook in 2019 primarily for the portability, but also in pursuit of a minimalist workflow, free of clutter and cables. I am still in the process of getting rid of all my external hard drives and having everything in the cloud.
I was really excited to see the M1 chips and thought something like the new MacBook Air would give me a more powerful computer with a longer battery life in a similar form factor to my current MacBook.
But here I am checking out the iPad threads and wondering if I could run my entire business on an iPad. That would be the ultimate machine for portability, and it would also be powerful enough for my needs. I really think I'd enjoy editing photos on the iPad with a pencil (I use my current iPhone to help cull my photos in Lightroom, and edit personal work). I'd have the flexibility of using it for other things too such as reading, drawing, watching films, etc.
Ideally I would buy an iPad Pro to run alongside my MacBook for a while and see how I go but my income has been wiped out this year due to Covid and my budget will only really stretch to either / or.
Having to homeschool my children earlier in the year has fed into my thoughts too, as I've watched them interact with my laptops. It's clear to me that touchscreen devices make far more intuitive sense to them than traditional computers. I do think that the iPad form factor, along with accessories that can transform it as necessary, is the future.
My head says get something like the MacBook Air but my gut says the device I'd most get on with is the iPad.
Decisions, decisions...
No. Those are great advancements, to be sure. But the key characteristic of the iPad is the ability to use and interact with just a screen and a finger/pencil.
I tried, with the magic keyboard, partly because my 2018 Smart Keyboard was coming apart at the sides. Returned it after a week, because its inability to fold flat turned out to be a bigger annoyance than I thought it would, as it now meant that I had to use my iPad naked, in situations where I really wanted back protection.
Ended up getting the 2020 smart keyboard instead.
I have also ordered the entry level MBA today and will be picking it up from my apple store later in the evening after work. I still can't get 100% of my work done on an iPad, and there is really no practical need for me to do so (though I never stop pushing the boundaries of what I can do on my iPad), but my house's iMac is a shared computer, and it's still good to have my own dedicated Mac at times.
Lastly comes the million dollar question - I am still using my 8+, and still enjoying it very much (iOS 14 runs smoothly on it, plus touch-ID), though I am also tempted by the new iPhones. 12 or 12 pro?
Yes, this is me. I’ll probably pick up a M1 MBA in the next few days and possI l’y returning an iPad Air 4.
But it really depends a lot on how you normally use an iPad. if you typically use it like a laptop with keyboard, it makes sense to go MacBook Air. And of course, if you draw or rely on the pencil, go iPad.
I just bought the IPad Air 4. Along with the newer pencil and Magic Keyboard for it. I must say this easily for me replaces my old 2012 Macbook Pro and Chromebook. For general purpose mobile device that's not a phone these easily replaces those devices. Coming from Gen 6 Ipad it easily and quickly cloned all the apps and settings. That's one thing I like about my Iphone and Ipad or IOS in general. THe ease with which they've made the upgrade to new device super simple and quick.
I don't do pro work on laptop, so I can't say if it would fit a person in that position. But for general computer usage this combo is a big winner for me. But my Windows PC will still be my primary rig/computing device as I game frequently. No Tablet can do that yet.
I don't do pro work on laptop, so I can't say if it would fit a person in that position. But for general computer usage this combo is a big winner for me. But my Windows PC will still be my primary rig/computing device as I game frequently. No Tablet can do that yet.
This was asked in another thread here, but I think it's a big topic for some of us. Where does the iPad Pro fit (especially the 12.9") when the MacBook Air exists.
Let's compare models and price:
MacBook Air @ $999: 8GB RAM, 256GB HD, better track pad and better keyboard. 18 hours of battery. Oh, and MacOS.
iPad Pro 12.9 + Magic Keyboard @ $1527: 6GB RAM, 256GB HD. Promotion display, touch screen, Pencil Support, iPad OS and only 10 hours of battery.
This comparison doesn't provide the pencil and because we're talking about using the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement we are going to keep storage the same as well as throw in the comparable keyboard cover. Even at base storage the iPad is more expensive than the MacBook Air.
This is what is astounding to me and honestly makes me regret getting my iPad - even before the M1. The iPad has failed to be a laptop replacement for me and due to it's screen size it's not a very enjoyable iPad. When using it on the couch I want the smaller version, and on a table I want an actual Mac. To think i could get a much higher spec MacBook Air now for the same price and get a better keyboard, touchpad and battery life is really tempting. MacOS would be my preferred operating system for the things I do: web browsing, photo editing, file management and tinkering with Linux/Servers. I've been able to do these things on my iPad but I'm always trying to find a work around or easier way to do things.
Now I am debating selling my iPad and Mac Pro and just sticking with a iPhone 12 Pro with a MacBook Air.
I am in this same exact situation. If the MBA had a touchscreen I’d be all over it. I have the first version of 12” IPad Pro and looking to upgrade but feel with iPhone 12 Pro Max I should just get the MBA but I really think I’d get more use out of the IPad but it’s more expensive with accessories. Decisions suck.
Still pretty much entirely different use cases for me, the MBA is too bulky. Something even smaller and lighter than the discontinued MacBook (or the 11” MBA) would have more of the same uses as an iPad for me.
I am currently iPad-less, waiting to see what happens with the iPad Pro. If a smaller laptop is released I will most likely get that and simply not have an iPad, although i would miss having one in some situations.
Maybe those devices works better in your workflow. You are however comparing a flagship tablet against a lower tier notebook offering. Two very different form factors for different use cases for many.
From marketing point of view you are right but I was left with the impression that M1 offers better performance than A12Z and in that sense I kind of feel like the Air line is getting redefined. If this is true then I think the comparison is fair because we try to see the iPad as a laptop replacement and then compare it to a laptop.
For me also currently the laptop and the iPad offer different use cases and meet different needs because for me big part of the iPad is the pencil support and usage. However I have to admit that I do prefer the laptop for browsing, for watching movies in bed, for photos management etc. Overall no surprise but the laptop is better laptop than the iPad
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The reason I use my 12.9 ipp as a laptop replacement boils down to pencil support, so the new M1 laptops don’t change anything for me.
between iPad vs MacBook. i would suggest MacBook air m1. Both not powerful but if you had extra buck ipad mini 2019 like me. it's freaking portable and meet customer to show off. Opening laptop just hassle.
My ipad mini 2019 lighting still never ending issue to access pendrive.
I moved to huawei d15 ryzen because not yet stock can order from apple provider or apple website. Laptop kinda important to me but something happen i still have macbook 2011 which running catalina with new battery and 16 gb ram( not powerfull compare ryzen dan kaboom imac 2017 but at least a backup them help me a lot when my imac 2017 kaboom)
From marketing point of view you are right but I was left with the impression that M1 offers better performance than A12Z and in that sense I kind of feel like the Air line is getting redefined. If this is true then I think the comparison is fair because we try to see the iPad as a laptop replacement and then compare it to a laptop.
For me also currently the laptop and the iPad offer different use cases and meet different needs because for me big part of the iPad is the pencil support and usage. However I have to admit that I do prefer the laptop for browsing, for watching movies in bed, for photos management etc. Overall no surprise but the laptop is better laptop than the iPad
The iPad is an alternative to a laptop in lots of cases but it remains a different product. The magic keyboard helps with more notebook like workflows for those who want, making it a kind of hybrid experience. However, the Air isn’t the entry level. Pretty much all iPad functionality can be had at the lower price point of the entry level. So if we want to compare entry level products let’s do it on both sides.
The iPad Air line has become a pass-down ramp for iPad Pro model technology (iPhone SE approach) in the last few years as the Pro line became the flagship product.
It is true that even the basic iPad can do the basic functionality. That being said as a person that had basic iPad it really cannot replace a laptop. Too many apps crashes and reloads. Multitasking is basically impossible on this iPad. At least for me. Now granted most probably I am not the usual type of user and do more stuff than I should and this is why the iPad cannot hold it but this is what I do with my laptop and if another device would have to replace it, I will have to do it there too.
I see your point though. We can approach those comparisons in two ways:
1. Based on their level (entry or pro)
2. Based on their price
As a tech enthusiast I would go for one, as an end consumer I would go for two because what I care about is the better experience for the least money.
I feel the M1 MacBooks are a kick in the face to iPad Pro users.
Look at all that praise for the M1 Mac over features that iPad Pro users had for half a decade. Instant On, Unheard of Speed, Fast Rendering, No Heat, Efficient Battery. Yeah, we got that but what good was overpowered hardware if Apple never fully invested in the platform by providing Apple Pro apps or by having the OS evolve at the same rate as the hardware? Instead of Apple pushing the limits they instead sat back, sold expensive accessories and relied on 3rd party to make the quality software.
I still prefer the iPad form factor, but it’s tough to compare what Apple has done on Day 1 with the M1 MacBook and what they NEVER did with the iPad Pro despite running ARM the whole time. The iPad is a legitimate platform and the iPad (and iPad users) deserved better.
(Yes thats a jealous rant but seriously, at this point its pretty clear that there is NOTHING about iPad hardware that indicated it could only have been a sidekick to the Mac rather than an equal.)
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Even tho I won’t get mad for what mac users got, I fully understand what you say regarding the iPad Pro customers. Yes, I have an 11” iPad Pro, and made the jump a year ago from a MacBook Pro to an 11” iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard Folio + and old Mac mini with SSD. And so far so good, BUT (and that’s a big but) I always felt like I could do more things and more easily on the mac platform, and noticed the lack of software compared to what I had on the mac. Fortunately, I’ve been able to somehow do most of my tasks on the iPad Pro but for the complex things (like, for instance, signing a document and converting that PDF into a JPEG) on the mac I was able to do this easily with Preview. iPad OS doesn’t have Preview and other mac apps, so I had to rely on dubious third party apps from chinese developers I don’t know. Giving access to private documents to strange cheap/free apps from unknown developers was the only way to do this on iPad OS because it lacks MacOS core functionalities.
This is just an example. I was trying to search some movies on an external hard drive, and at this point spotlight on iPad is still a joke compared with the mac counterpart. Yeah, it usually works, but many times it doesn’t work, it fails to mount external drives, it fails when performing a search, etc. Buggy as hell, and we’re not at iPadOS 13.0.1, we’re on iPadOS 13.7 or even iPad OS 14.2 in some cases. I’m not sure if future releases will bring the iPad closer to the mac but right now I am seriously considering going back to the MacBook again. Selling my mac mini, and getting an M1 MacBook Air, and keeping my iPad Pro because it’s still useful for many tasks, and those that it does, are more confortable to do on an iPad.
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I think that Apple devices as series, are targeting specific groups of users. The ipads evolved to serve a group that wants portability at most or exclusively and had no alternative but to get a laptop.
Now, these users are being covered by a ipad model so laptops can be replaced and restricted to their role.
My answer to the question is then,no. There will always be a different field of use for these two machines, even if boundaries are not always clear.
Ipads to be productive on the go and laptops to offer a degree of portability to the office.
Now, these users are being covered by a ipad model so laptops can be replaced and restricted to their role.
My answer to the question is then,no. There will always be a different field of use for these two machines, even if boundaries are not always clear.
Ipads to be productive on the go and laptops to offer a degree of portability to the office.
I think you are spot on in many areas, just don’t let it frustrate you so much. We all kinda expected it to be tricky for iOS to grow and cover more professional use case. I guess it comes down to software interfaces being much harder to improve than hardware pieces.
It’s kind of similar on the Mac side where the last drastic OS change was the introduction of Mac OS X, the rest has been refinement until now.