iPad Pro iPad as Priamary Computer via Virtual Computing? (Running “Pro” Apps on an iPad)

[groove-agent]

Like many I love my iPad and wish I could use it as my primary computer every day instead of bouncing between iPad, Macbook Pro, and a PC for gaming.

I was trying out Steam’s remote play. This allowed me to play PC games on my MacBook Pro, by streaming it from my gaming PC via Ethernet. I was surprised on how well it worked. At times I didn’t really notice I wasn’t gaming on my PC. Of course, it depends on the game and the desired frame rate/ resolution.

The lightbulb went on and I wondered if one could set up their Mac/ PC and remotely use them via their iPad. You could set up an iPad docked configuration at your desk with an external 4K monitor, keyboard and mouse while your PC/ Mac could be tucked away somewhere else. This way you can run pro apps (the thing keeping a lot of us from exclusively using the iPad) via the steaming Mac, as well as Windows apps via the streaming PC. Of course you’re technically still using multiple computers, but not having to physically switch between them.

I tried using TeamViewer, but I feel that TeamViewer is going over the internet, and not the LAN so the response was not smooth, nor a good experience. I wonder if apps like Teamviewer are more focused on low bandwidth compared to Steam’s remote play which is designed for high frames and resolution. Has anyone used a high performance remote control software that runs consistently smooth over a LAN, and works with iPad, Mac, and PC?

Any constructive input is welcomed.

 

[mikes63737]

If you have a Pro version of Windows, you can enable Remote Desktop and then use Microsoft's Remote Desktop client app on your iPad. It works well, but it's not perfect, I have keyboard weirdness in certain PC apps. It will run over your LAN if you address your PC by its local IP.

As far as I know, there's no macOS equivalent. VNC is the native alternative and performance is substantially worse than RDP, and a few other negative tradeoffs like leaving your computer unlocked and showing your screen while you use it. It has been a few years since I used VNC because of these negatives, so I may be out of date.

 

[cupcakes2000]

I’m not sure if I entirely understand what you’re after, but perhaps using something like Luna display may suite your needs. You won’t be able to use it remotely over the internet, but you will be able to use the iPad as a second screen remotely over your own network.

All it really does is turn your iPad into a touch screen for your Mac or PC, so if that’s no good then a different option should be sought.

Edit. I personally use Jump Desktop to remote into my Mac. I don’t game, but over a strong fibre to fibre connection I can edit an entire shoot in lightroom classic.

 

[groove-agent]

I’m not sure if I entirely understand what you’re after, but perhaps

Essentially the iPad would be your main computer, but then you remote control a Mac and a PC through software. It’s almost like cloud computing, but everything is on your LAN which should perform better than over the internet. This, in a way would give you access to “pro“ apps on your iPad.

 

[groove-agent]

Another method I’ve looked at is using your iPad as a sidecar to your Mac. So a possible setup/ workflow would be to get a 13” iPad Pro, and a 13” Macbook Air, connect the iPad to the Air via USB C and sidecar the iPad Pro. What I found out is you can use a BT keyboard to do keyboard entry, and the Apple Pencil will control the mouse on the MacBook Air via the iPad screen even if the Macbook‘s lid is closed. This is another roundabout way to run “pro” apps on the iPad.

Because the iPad and MacBook Air are roughly the same size, you can carry them around together more easily.

 

[groove-agent]

If you have a Pro version of Windows, you can enable Remote Desktop and then use Microsoft's Remote Desktop client app on your iPad. It works well, but it's not perfect,

I’m assuming that Microsoft’s Remote Desktop will not allow you to remote a Mac from an iPad?

 

[mikes63737]

I’m assuming that Microsoft’s Remote Desktop will not allow you to remote a Mac from an iPad?

Correct. They have client apps for iOS/macOS but not server apps.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Essentially the iPad would be your main computer, but then you remote control a Mac and a PC through software. It’s almost like cloud computing, but everything is on your LAN which should perform better than over the internet. This, in a way would give you access to “pro“ apps on your iPad.

Ah then. I do understand what you’re doing. I do the very same things.

I use Luna Display when I’m at home on my lan, and I use Jump Desktop to remote in when I’m away from my studio. My system works extremely well.

I use all my pro apps (I’m a photographer) with this set up, and at home with luna display it’s essentially latency free for my work, although I do have a cable with I use to plug the iPad into the Mac for critical work - it’s glitch free guaranteed that way.

 

[groove-agent]

Ah then. I do understand what you’re doing. I do the very same things.

I use Luna Display when I’m at home on my lan, and I use Jump Desktop to remote in when I’m away from my studio. My system works extremely well.

I use all my pro apps (I’m a photographer) with this set up, and at home with luna display it’s essentially latency free for my work, although I do have a cable with I use to plug the iPad into the Mac for critical work - it’s glitch free guaranteed that way.

Thanks so much for the info. I think I've heard of Luna, but I don't recall the "headless mode". It might be what I'm looking for. I'm confused about the USB-C dongle they have. I'm curious about what it does, especially since the Mac and iPad already have bluetooth, and wireless networking.

 

[dsusanj]

I’m assuming that Microsoft’s Remote Desktop will not allow you to remote a Mac from an iPad?

Look into Jump Desktop for the iPad/the Mac. It’s a single purchase, it’s cheap and will even stream sound over the remote desktop connection (unlike many other solutions).

 

[arw]

Two solutions that offer extremely high quality desktop streaming and don’t require an account or any fees/purchases:
- Sunshine for Windows/macOS/Linux and the matching Moonlight client for iPadOS
- if you have a recent AMD GPU in your Windows PC, then you can activate AMD Link and use the matching iPadOS client

 

[Phil A.]

I've used Jump Desktop for years to remotely connect to Macs and Windows machines and never had a problem with it: it will connect using VNC or Microsoft RDP but works best with its proprietary protocol that requires a small app installing on the machine you want to connect to

It's not the cheapest but worth every penny to me and it's a one off cost too, not a subscription

 

[groove-agent]

I've used Jump Desktop for years to remotely connect to Macs and Windows machines and never had a problem with it: it will connect using VNC or Microsoft RDP but works best with its proprietary protocol that requires a small app installing on the machine you want to connect to

Jump looks good, I'll have to try it. I haven't heard of it until now. I like the idea that it uses its own protocols for remote control as I find Teamviewer really slow even if both machines are on my LAN.

I don't mind paying, but the pricing on Teamviewer is out to lunch. Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[sparksd]

I have Splashtop, TeamViewer, and Jump and now use only Jump to interface with my Win11 (Home version) laptop & desktop from my iPads (M1 12.9 & Mini 6). I also use it between my laptop and desktop.

 

[jdb8167]

Screens is very good with a good remote/over the internet connection too. It uses VNC so it doesn’t have quite the sophistication of Jump but I like its UI better and I’ve never had a performance problem.

 

[groove-agent]

I've used Jump Desktop for years to remotely connect to Macs and Windows machines and never had a problem with it: it will connect using VNC or Microsoft RDP but works best with its proprietary protocol that requires a small app installing on the machine you want to connect to

It's not the cheapest but worth every penny to me and it's a one off cost too, not a subscription

So I tried Jump and it works ok, but not that much better than Teamviewer. It's still not smooth enough to comfortably use pro apps on my iPad via remote controlling the Mac. Maybe I need to tweak things a bit or go through the settings. Problem is I think is it still goes through the internet instead of the LAN which makes the experience choppy. Regardless, Jump is a good remote control platform to remote friends and family because of the price, but I think you can do the same thing via Zoom for free.

What works better is the native remote control built into the Mac (which you access via Finder). It's designed for LAN use and if wired to the network, is quite smooth. Problem is, iPadOS has no such functionality.

 

[sparksd]

So I tried Jump and it works ok, but not that much better than Teamviewer. It's still not smooth enough to comfortably use pro apps on my iPad via remote controlling the Mac. Maybe I need to tweak things a bit or go through the settings. Problem is I think is it still goes through the internet instead of the LAN which makes the experience choppy. Regardless, Jump is a good remote control platform to remote friends and family because of the price, but I think you can do the same thing via Zoom for free.

What works better is the native remote control built into the Mac (which you access via Finder). It's designed for LAN use and if wired to the network, is quite smooth. Problem is, iPadOS has no such functionality.

Did you enable Fluid Remote Desktop -

https://support.jumpdesktop.com/hc/...endations-for-very-high-performance-scenarios

It will go over the LAN, not the Internet, if both devices are connected to that LAN. With Win11 and my M1 12.9, I can readily use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop on my laptop & desktop using Jump.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Thanks so much for the info. I think I've heard of Luna, but I don't recall the "headless mode". It might be what I'm looking for. I'm confused about the USB-C dongle they have. I'm curious about what it does, especially since the Mac and iPad already have bluetooth, and wireless networking.

Well it works much better than sidecar, in my Experience anyway. But the key feature is that it’s not limited as side car is. Touch works properly, and you can start the app from the iPad which for any headless mode is key. It’s essentially your Mac as an app.
I fully recommend it - even though it’s perhaps costly. Along with Jump it’s the bomb for using an iPad to control your mac. Been doing it for years.

Edit: I don’t know how it works. But it does.

 

[Eddie W]

I have used Splashtop for several years. It’s $16 per year and it allows me to connect to any computer in the house using the local network so I get the full house network speed. I connect with my iPad Pro 12.9 using a Logitech Combo Touch keyboard. I mostly use it to run the full versions of Microsoft Office (on both Mac and Windows). I also like using it to run the full Mail app on Mac so that I get “Today” “Yesterday” “7 Days” etc that I can’t get on iPad mail. On the Mac, I use SwitchResX to set the resolution to 1600x1200 to get full-screen on my iPad and still be readable (if I use the native 2560 x 1440 of my Mac monitor, I can barely see the screen on iPad LOL).

 

[tlnargi]

Problem with this is you can’t get the host machine to “See” multiple monitors.

 

[Eddie W]

I have two monitors attached to my Mac (it’s an M1 Mini), and if I need to, I can switch between them using the Display option in the iPad app. I can’t for sure see both displays at the same time on the iPad though.

 

[tlnargi]

I have two monitors attached to my Mac (it’s an M1 Mini), and if I need to, I can switch between them using the Display option in the iPad app. I can’t for sure see both displays at the same time on the iPad though.

If you connect an external to the iPad, the mac can’t see the external iPad monitor. I don’t think you could run two Splashtop screens on the iPad.

 

[Eddie W]

Oh, I think I see the disconnect. I misread the original poster’s request. I thought he was asking for a way to use his iPad to talk back to his Mac and use the iPad as a window into a “real“ computer, which is what I do, to use my large-screen iPad like a laptop. My iPad is totally standalone, and I use Splashtop to connect back to the Mac. My apologies for any confusion!

 

[groove-agent]

Update:

So I hooked up my Mac to ethernet and made sure wireless was off and Fluid was enabled for my Jump remote control. It was pretty smooth this time around, especially for one device being still being wireless (I only have one USB to ethernet adapter at the moment). The resolution did seem low as the text looked a little blurred around the edges. The other challenge is with keyboard shortcuts. For example, to launch apps I use Spotlight (command + space) and to switch between apps, command + tab. This will work on the iPad and not the host machine. I wonder if the resolution/ image quality would improve if I had both devices on wired.

As for gaming via the Stream Link App, it worked very well once . Very little latency. What's interesting is you can actually use steam to control the Windows Desktop with it as well. You can use your fingers to control the mouse cursor in Windows and I think you can program different gestures as well. Steam has done well here. I tried it on MacOS and it works also! The trick is you have to switch desktops or minimize the Steam app and voila, the Steam app provides free low latency remote control of Macs/ PCs. Steam also installs an audio driver on MacOS which you can assign via Logic, or MacOS. Latency is just as good or better than Jump Desktop at face value.

If I was going to go ahead with an iPad centric workflow I would upgrade to a 12.x" M1 iPad Pro, but I'm waiting for WWDC before finalizing on any hardware changes.

 

[groove-agent]

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