iPad as a laptop replacement

[Ludatyk]

So if Apple adds them as iPad users they tend to not use their MacBook Pro anymore.
Something portable exists. Does it need to not have a keyboard? I’m not convinced that’s a great improvement.

The amount of professional editors not already buying Macs but interested in iPads could be minimal. I bet they make a small subset of Mac users already.

IMO, most MBP or Mac owners in general probably already have a iPad. I’m looking at new users… those who‘s in a market for either an iPad or Mac. Those who potentially want to make the iPad their main source of computing and this topic surrounds can an iPad replace a laptop… and as more pro apps are added eventually that question becomes mute.

Obviously, added more pro apps is not the only measure of appeal… I think iPadOS has to make certain strides to become more robust. Hopefully this year with the introduction of a powerful chip comparable to M1… Apple adds more features to iPadOS. But I think it’s always a tug of war with Apple on how much to push iPadOS.

Because on one end… iPad is supposed to be this user-friendly/pick up and use/just works type of device. It’s one of those devices that a kid.. all the way to a grandparent can use. So, how far do they want to complicate iPadOS? And then on top of that… there was a huge debate on the removal of multi-tasking due to accidentally evoking it. I’ll say majority of iPad owners prefer one-app displayed at time.

 

[007p]

Because on one end… iPad is supposed to be this user-friendly/pick up and use/just works type of device. It’s one of those devices that a kid.. all the way to a grandparent can use. So, how far do they want to complicate iPadOS? And then on top of that… there was a huge debate on the removal of multi-tasking due to accidentally evoking it. I’ll say majority of iPad owners prefer one-app displayed at time.

This is why I have issues with iPadOS. As good as it was to diverge it from iOS, as long as the ‘cheap, mass appeal’ iPad runs it, the Pros will forever be held back.

I wouldn’t be unhappy if they made an iPadOS pro ?

 

[loybond]

Files needs a major, major upgrade imo. Just improving that and its interaction with apps, and adding Disk Utility would go a long way towards improving usability.

 

[Starscape]

I'll also add that a huge advantage of the iPad over any laptop is that it's far more durable and less prone to damage. Many people don't realize just how durable an iPad is, and believe me, I can vouch for that.

My iPad Pro 9.7 survived 4+ years being outside in hot south Florida sun miles out in the ocean hundreds of times for my work. It had been routinely splashed with saltwater and laying in the sun while we used it for telemetry on boat tests. Running very fast race boats is a bumpy affair, and that iPad would sometimes be thrown around a bit in the boat if it was not secured well enough. And it soldiered on.

I always did my best to care for the iPad however the nature of my work meant that it was outside more often than not. Even if the iPad was not in direct contact with the saltwater, by the end of a day's testing, it would always have a sheen of dry salt on it that I would have to wipe off with a damp cloth. It had no screen protector or case. The backside and edges did get scratched during use, however the screen did not. Does it bother me that such a device is exposed to a fairly hostile environment regularly? Nah, because over the years of its use, it has benefitted me far, far more than what it cost to purchase it. It's a tool, not something to be obsessed over.

One final note - the battery on the 9.7 was performing just as well as it did when new (or very close to it, I could not tell the difference) when I retired it for my iPad Pro 2020. And I nearly always had to use the screen at maximum brightness due to being outside.

My 2020 iPad Pro 11 is now happily following in its steps. Here's to another adventure with my little Apple friend on the seas!

 

[TomOSeven]

Files needs a major, major upgrade imo. Just improving that and its interaction with apps, and adding Disk Utility would go a long way towards improving usability.

This.

If Apple wants to market the device as "pro", they absolute need to have these features at least unlockable.

As a developer and CS student, if Apple allowed me to use an iMac at home and an iPad on the go, that would be my dream setup.

 

[Starscape]

This.

If Apple wants to market the device as "pro", they absolute need to have these features at least unlockable.

As a developer and CS student, if Apple allowed me to use an iMac at home and an iPad on the go, that would be my dream setup.

The lack of a proper file system on the iPad has always been a big annoyance for me. That to me is the single largest issue for me. Because of the rigid framework of the iPad‘s limited file system, often very quick and simple actions on a computer become unnecessarily extraneous on the iPad. That entire system sucks.

 

[Little Jim]

Today, the moment when I see it. The shape of the new iMac. I know that. The dream for all of us. Is approaching. Very, very soon.

 

[007p]

Well I don’t think anyone can say the iPad isn’t a laptop replacement from a hardware point of view anymore.

Now the software wait continues ?

 

[QCassidy352]

The lack of a proper file system on the iPad has always been a big annoyance for me. That to me is the single largest issue for me. Because of the rigid framework of the iPad‘s limited file system, often very quick and simple actions on a computer become unnecessarily extraneous on the iPad. That entire system sucks.

Yeah. File system and multitasking. They just can’t get either right on an iPad so far.

 

[loybond]

Well I don’t think anyone can say the iPad isn’t a laptop replacement from a hardware point of view anymore.

Now the software wait continues ?

More of the same story we've had for about 3 years now, really.

I just tried moving a block in Elementor over, and the iPad absolutely refuses to do it with touch (OK, I can live with that), then with the trackpad, it works about 25% of the time. I dunno where the issue lies exactly - the trackpad interaction, Safari, but these little things can't happen if Apple wants me to spend $2500 on the new one.

 

[subjonas]

This is why I have issues with iPadOS. As good as it was to diverge it from iOS, as long as the ‘cheap, mass appeal’ iPad runs it, the Pros will forever be held back.

I wouldn’t be unhappy if they made an iPadOS pro ?

I still consider ipados ios. It’s really just iOS for a bigger screen. Same file system, same inner workings, both even have mouse support. The name change is just for marketing.
And I agree, unless Apple gives the pros its own app ecosystem and probably OS, basically splitting off the pros into a completely new product line, it will continue to share the same fate as the smaller/lower end iPads.

Files needs a major, major upgrade imo. Just improving that and its interaction with apps, and adding Disk Utility would go a long way towards improving usability.

This.

If Apple wants to market the device as "pro", they absolute need to have these features at least unlockable.

As a developer and CS student, if Apple allowed me to use an iMac at home and an iPad on the go, that would be my dream setup.

What do y’all mean by Apple needs to improve the files app? Anything specific? Not sure what more Apple can do with what it is, a lot of it is up to developers to fully support it, which I find pretty hit and miss from app to app. If you mean Apple should make the file system more like macOS, that would be completely rebuilding ipados based on a different philosophy. I don’t know how realistic that is. A dual boot or a completely new OS would seem more realistic at that point.

The lack of a proper file system on the iPad has always been a big annoyance for me. That to me is the single largest issue for me. Because of the rigid framework of the iPad‘s limited file system, often very quick and simple actions on a computer become unnecessarily extraneous on the iPad. That entire system sucks.

Yeah I hear you, but I would say it only sucks for certain use cases. I’m sure Apple knew the strengths and weaknesses of this type of file system going into it, so I can only assume that means Apple intends the iPad for a different use case. It sucks for other use cases.

 

[loybond]

What do y’all mean by Apple needs to improve the files app? Anything specific? Not sure what more Apple can do with what it is, a lot of it is up to developers to fully support it, which I find pretty hit and miss from app to app. If you mean Apple should make the file system more like macOS, that would be completely rebuilding ipados based on a different philosophy. I don’t know how realistic that is. A dual boot or a completely new OS would seem more realistic at that point.

M1 iPad Pro...why?

There's many people that can make the iPad in its current state work for them. But let's be honest, it does require a commitment to the idea at a minimum. Workarounds are needed everywhere, if they exist at all. There's just always multiple steps, and that's if you get there at all. The...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[AutomaticApple]

They just can’t get either right on an iPad so far.

Try FileBrowser for Business.

 

[sparksd]

Try FileBrowser for Business.

Yeah, it works great. It's just pathetic that Apple can't get such basic, straightforward functionality straight - it's not rocket science.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Yeah, it works great. It's just pathetic that Apple can't get such basic, straightforward functionality straight - it's not rocket science.

They should just buy the company that makes the app and bake it into iPadOS.

 

[sparksd]

They should just buy the company that makes the app and bake it into iPadOS.

I've had communication with the company - they're very small and they said they use the same interfaces in iPadOS that Apple does. But this is such basic functionality that it should be real simple to find knowledgeable engineers and that they should already have them in-house.

 

[subjonas]

M1 iPad Pro...why?

There's many people that can make the iPad in its current state work for them. But let's be honest, it does require a commitment to the idea at a minimum. Workarounds are needed everywhere, if they exist at all. There's just always multiple steps, and that's if you get there at all. The...

forums.macrumors.com

Hmm I haven’t had any issues with unzipping. I wonder what the issue was there. Maybe ipados does need to support more zip type files,
Formatting drives does seem pretty reasonable to add. I’m by no means deeply knowledgeable but I can’t think of any technical or philosophical reason it couldn’t be added.
Seems fairly easy to me to open files from the files app in the app of my choice, as long as the app properly supports the share sheet, which is definitely not always the case, so that goes back to app developers doing their part.
As far as associating file types with apps, also not sure why that isn’t allowed.
Slack app download process, isn’t that an issue with the app?
Regarding most apps not being able to work off external drives, I actually wasn’t aware that any apps could. I thought that was a fundamental aspect of ipados, that apps can only edit files within their sandbox.

 

[ericwn]

Today, the moment when I see it. The shape of the new iMac. I know that. The dream for all of us. Is approaching. Very, very soon.

What’s a desktop Mac doing in this discussion?

 

[AttilaTheHun]

Well I don’t think anyone can say the iPad isn’t a laptop replacement from a hardware point of view anymore.

Now the software wait continues ?

I don't believe apple will put a full OS like in MBP IPAD will always stay IPAD

 

[Ludatyk]

I don't believe apple will put a full OS like in MBP IPAD will always stay IPAD

Sure... Apple won't. But now that an M1 chip runs on the iPad, that won't stop 3rd party devs to bring virtualization apps to the platform.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

They should just buy the company that makes the app and bake it into iPadOS.

I’m not convinced they’d make that better. I’ve used Dark Sky for weather alerts for years as it was the most reliable weather app I’d found. Apple then bought it and not sure if it’s coincidence but it suddenly became less reliable and rather crap.

 

[Never mind]

I don't believe apple will put a full OS like in MBP IPAD will always stay IPAD

Apple agrees to....

Apple's Greg Joswiak: No Plans to Merge Mac and iPad

Apple earlier this week introduced refreshed 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models with few external changes but one notable internal change - the...

www.macrumors.com

 

[FlyingScot]

Have been using an iPad Pro 11 purchased March 2020 as primary device - over 1 full year. Takes some adjustment getting used to the different workflow and apps. This was only made possible because of iPadOS magic keyboard, mouse pointer support. Definitely some compromises but good for 90%. In that time I have learned I prefer the “touch” capabilities and portability (cellular model) of this device. Definitely a take anywhere, do “most” of what you want. Oddly enough have had some hangs/slowdowns on some apps at times and the 11” has proven too small for multi-tasking / constant use. Will be getting the 12.9 2021 and fingers crossed we start to get “Pro” apps for productivity, photo editing, etc. I think it can be a primary device.

 

[ericwn]

I don't believe apple will put a full OS like in MBP IPAD will always stay IPAD

And it doesn’t necessarily have to either but one can hope for more powerful software to make use of that M1 system.

 

[ericwn]

Sure... Apple won't. But now that an M1 chip runs on the iPad, that won't stop 3rd party devs to bring virtualization apps to the platform.

Not sure that’s a common use case but aside from that, would that fly through App Store regulations? Is there any true vitualisation out there for iOS?