iPad Pro iPad has become quite useless and I regret purchasing it

[Superman730]

Since everyone is giving their experiences, I'll give mine. I've always been curious if the iPad COULD be a laptop replacement for me, and it hasn't happened yet. It's getting close, but the multi-tasking, multi-monitor limited abilities, and the lack of traditional file browser has kept me from making the jump. So I've had a MBP since college, 15" 2007 and 13" 2014 (still going strong), and don't see myself getting rid of a laptop.

iPad wise, I have been a bit all of the map. Got my wife an iPad 2 and then myself an iPad 3 (out of jealousy lol). When they announced the iPad mini, I was in the camp that bigger was better and thought it was a terrible idea. What started to sell me on the form factor was how much I loved my Kindle e-reader that I got in 2010. Then, since they were cheap enough to impulse buy, I bought a 7in Fire Christmas 2013 to see what small tablet life was like. Loved being able to put a tablet in my back pocket but hated the software and how slow it was, even after rooting it. So once the 3rd generation mini came out, I traded my iPad in and got the Mini. Then upgraded to the 4th gen (I don't remember why because I don't usually upgrade things each generation). From there I was waiting for years for the rumored "Pro-style" Mini to do any kind of update.

Then, mid-summer 2020, DISASTER STRIKES! In a super random happenstance, I dropped my Mini while it wasn't in it's case and shattered the screen. I didn't want to pay full price for a year+ old 5th gen mini esp when the rumors were STILL churning for a full screen mini that was being worked on. So I took the plunge and decided to go with the 11" Pro because they just released the Magic Keyboard and I really liked the look and functionality that had given. (With my old mini, I had it attached to a BT keyboard and magic trackpad the minute that functionality was implemented. Great addition to my workflow being able to use the iPad for all of my Zoom/Hangouts/MS Teams communications. I even briefly had a ZAGG keyboard case for the Mini but the quality was terrible). I also wanted the ability to play with the Pencil 2 should I ever get one on sale. (I DESPISED the Pencil 1 implementation. Can't believe that was an actual released product) If I had known they were going to add these functions to the Air 4, that would have been the one I would have gotten because I don't personally need any "Pro" features, I just wanted the use of the peripherals.

I really liked how I could use this iPad almost as a quick laptop when I didn't need to do complicated tasks. However, I unconsciously started to just keep the iPad in place attached to the MK. The size had diminished the portability for me. It wasn't laptop ENOUGH to replace my laptop and it wasn't small enough to be as carriable as my old mini. It was also too large (IMO) to do handheld gaming the way I can on the iPhone and iPad mini and too large to use in bed comfortably.

Then they finally updated the Mini to the full screen version and I've been using that for the past week and I'm back to using an iPad again. It slides into my pockets (mostly...) and I can walk around my house with it. I have found for my usage of these devices, a nice life and work flow exists between a laptop, small tablet, and phone. For me. FYSA - pre-pandemic I used to commute (drive myself or van with people) about an hour each way and since the pandemic I have been working from home with minor work travel. My main work is on a Windows-laptop attached to two screens so I don't utilize Macs to do my real work, just iOS devices where I can get them shoehorned in.

 

[kc9hzn]

I think the M1 MBA has really changed the game. At $999 retail and $899 education discount, the M1 MBA is tough competition for the 12.9 in iPP, which retails for $1,100 with half the storage. If you add the Magic keyboard ($350), you are looking at $1,450 for a device with iPadOS that restricts multi-tasking, file management, and other basic day-to-day activities.

The iPad used to have an advantage in portability, but the 12.9in IPP with MKB is about the same footprint and weight as the MBA, so what is the point? Also, the iPad used to have better battery life than MacBooks, but now the MBA has better battery life than the iPad.

I think the Pro is more of a niche product for people that really need a touch screen with pencil for drawing and artwork. For the average college student or office worker, the MBA seems like a better value.

BTW - I thought note taking would be a major advantage for the iPad, but frankly, it does not work well for me. I find it very cumbersome to write notes on a glass screen, and I don't want to cover-up my screen with a protector. On You tube there are folks that have success with it. For me, it is easier to keep a paper journal and then type a summary Note at the end of the day....usually just a few bullets from each meeting so it only takes a couple of minutes. It is a good way to reflect on the day and review action items.

Not particularly. The Magic Keyboard is hardly a required accessory. It’s nice to have in some contexts (like remote desktop scenarios), and it has a better keyboard than the smart keyboard cover. But, of course, the iPad has an on-screen keyboard, and it supports Bluetooth keyboards, too. And again, the extent to which the iPadOS restricts multitasking or file management and “other day to day tasks” is debatable. I imagine that Files works just fine for most people’s file management needs, for instance. (I still don’t feel like anyone’s given me a great explanation for why it doesn’t work for them, apart from some deficiencies in dealing with external physical storage, which is hardly a day to day activity for me.) And iPadOS multitasking works well enough for many people, I’d imagine.

I’d argue that the iPad still gets the nod for portability (coming in at roughly half the weight with the keyboard cover), and it gets the nod for any application requiring touch or stylus input (and the Apple Pencil is hardly a required accessory, if you’re just doing very basic note taking or scribbling, you can totally use a touch screen stylus instead).

The macOS vs iPadOS comparison also misses the fact that the relative simplicity of iPadOS can be a selling point for a certain type of user. So it’s not nearly so cut and dry, in my opinion. The iPad also gets the nod for providing a more comfortable reading interface than the MBA. The stylus on glass complaint is fair, though it’s also a matter of personal preference. In the Android e-ink world, some people prefer the glassier feel, while others prefer a more paper like feel. When I use paper, it’s often quality cloth fiber paper with fountain pens (I like a smoother, more frictionless writing experience), while cheaper, more pulpy paper would have more of a roughness to it that some people prefer (this texture tends to be the preference of pencil writers). And I feel that the glassier feel is closer to the paper I use than the rougher feel that you prefer.

 

[Superman730]

Agreed, except the Mini should be the cheapest in the line like it used to be. I think my 16GB iPad mini 2 was only £249 brand new in 2014, that was a good price point at which I was willing to give it a try. As above I've never really found a good use for it, but for £249 (and the fact it still works 8 years later with 85% battery health) I'm not complaining.

Can anyone explain why Apple have made the 64GB iPad Mini over £100 more than the 64GB iPad?! I understand it is higher specced in other areas, but why!?

While I am in agreement that the current Mini pricing structure is outrageous, you're making a bit of a mis-representation of the hardware. The iPad Mini, in most recent couple iterations, has not been a mini iPad. It has been a mini iPad Air. The cheapest iPad is relegated to old hardware to make it cheaper for mass purchases by schools and corporations and parents want to give their kids/grandparents an iOS device, where they've attempted to keep the Mini in line with the Air's specs and form factor. So in that way, it's priced "correctly" at less than the Air (despite how typically it costs MORE to miniaturize things in the tech world...).

Again though, I agree that this mid-tier pricing level is too high, even accepting the typical "Apple tax."

 

[rui no onna]

Maybe it has something to do with Safari content blockers? If you make judicious use of one that blocks many ads and trackers, that should minimize how much memory Safari uses for that page, which should minimize page reloads. It could also be due to differences in web browsing habits (types of pages you visit, number of tabs you open, that sort of thing).

I've used adblockers since they first became available. Some websites are just heavy on Javascript for navigation, etc.

Reckon this is partly performance expectations. I find the Air 2 noticeably slower for web browsing compared to my Windows desktops (i5-3570 & i5-4570). Those are my baseline for acceptable performance. Personally, I actually feel occasional lag/hiccups even on the 2017 iPad Pros (A10X).

 

[kc9hzn]

I've used adblockers since they first became available. Some websites are just heavy on Javascript for navigation, etc.

Alas, that’s a thing. The other day, I was trying to figure out how to use an ad blocker (1Blocker, specifically) to hide the “related” posts on Reddit (mostly to prevent myself from getting roped into checking out more of them). I came to find out from looking in the DOM that all the content (other than the top toolbar) is loaded asynchronously via JavaScript, but, worse, that they all used divs with the same name, just differentiated by a randomly generated ID value. I couldn’t block based on ID, as that would differ between page loads. I couldn’t block based on the class name of the div as the main post and user comments were loaded into a div with the exact same class name. And the class name was definitely procedurally generated (something like col-[column number] in parts, obviously not the sort of class name a human would derive).

So yeah, all of Reddit’s content on mobile is loaded in via JavaScript. Ironically, it’s probably easier to block Reddit’s ads than to block its related/“you may like” posts features (which often are totally inaccurate, anyway).

 

[Isamilis]

Alas, that’s a thing. The other day, I was trying to figure out how to use an ad blocker (1Blocker, specifically) to hide the “related” posts on Reddit (mostly to prevent myself from getting roped into checking out more of them). I came to find out from looking in the DOM that all the content (other than the top toolbar) is loaded asynchronously via JavaScript, but, worse, that they all used divs with the same name, just differentiated by a randomly generated ID value. I couldn’t block based on ID, as that would differ between page loads. I couldn’t block based on the class name of the div as the main post and user comments were loaded into a div with the exact same class name. And the class name was definitely procedurally generated (something like col-[column number] in parts, obviously not the sort of class name a human would derive).

So yeah, all of Reddit’s content on mobile is loaded in via JavaScript. Ironically, it’s probably easier to block Reddit’s ads than to block its related/“you may like” posts features (which often are totally inaccurate, anyway).

Have you tried Apollo on iPad to browse Reddit?

 

[kc9hzn]

Have you tried Apollo on iPad to browse Reddit?

I don’t actually use use Reddit, occasionally I find Reddit threads on search results and start reading. I don’t even have a Reddit account (and don’t really have an interest in starting one). I know of Apollo. I find I really have a problem with sites with a lot of internal links because I end up opening entirely too many of them, and a lot of sites these days put display units with internal links on the bottom of their pages, or use infinite scrolling to load in a new article, all in the name of getting you to spend more time on site. Forums and social media are also dangerous for me, well, for my free time, anyway, as I tend to check for responses or reactions more than I should. So Reddit would be the worst of all worlds for me if I were to start using it logged in.

Actually, I don’t have an iPad currently (I was in a tight space for money a few years back and had to sell mine). I’m using a 12 year old PC laptop for WfH (helps that the machine is still supported in Windows 10 and that Windows 10 still is getting security updates and that work is all remote anyway, so all I need is the right remote desktop software). I have an iPhone XR, which is so much larger than my old iPhone 5s or even than my iPhone 6s was, so I haven’t felt the need to buy a new iPad just for web browsing or video. For reading and electronic note taking, I have an e-ink Android tablet (only 7.8 inches, though) with a Wacom digitizer. I went with e-ink in part because I wanted to read and write at nighttime with the amber LEDs, otherwise I would have saved up for an iPad then. There are other things I’d want an iPad for (like, if I seriously get back into GTD*, I’d rather use OmniFocus on an iPad than my iPhone), but I haven’t needed to take a computer out of the house in so long (I’ve taken the laptop with me when I visited my parents over the holidays, and that’s about it) that it makes an iPad somewhat hard to justify. For when I do upgrade computers (which I honestly should be considering sometime in the next year or two), I’m actually kind of torn between the iPad and a MacBook Air (part of it is the cost of a high capacity iPad Pro, part of it is the fear that “maybe there’s something I’ll need to do that I couldn’t do on the iPad”**, and I’ve addressed that fear in the past by owning a Mac mini, which would require me to set up a monitor).

* Basically I’d be starting from scratch with a new GTD system, and that means doing a brain dump. And I’ve been resisting that.

** Even though realistically, I can do all my work from an iPad (since it has the right remote desktop software available), I’d retain the laptop for those Windows-only and x86-only things that sometimes pop up, I do all my emulation on a hand-held Android device, and I can do at least 99.9% of the things I use a computer or phone for on an iPad (including things where, like making memes in Pixelmator, I’d be better off doing it on an iPad anyway).

 

[JahBoolean]

My iPad has replaced the spot that my palm used to inhabit back in the day. Not interested in shoehorning my regular workflow on the device. It does what I expect it to do, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[FranApple]

My iPad has replaced the spot that my palm used to inhabit back in the day. Not interested in shoehorning my regular workflow on the device. It does what I expect it to do, nothing more, nothing less.

Took me a minute to process what you meant by "Palm." We've come such a long ways since those days. Amazing how fast technology evolves. I used to be inseparable from my Palm. Still remember when the color version first came out.

 

[sparksd]

Took me a minute to process what you meant by "Palm." We've come such a long ways since those days. Amazing how fast technology evolves. I used to be inseparable from my Palm. Still remember when the color version first came out.

lol - I didn't pick up on it. I still have Palm Pilot devices stashed away somewhere. Really liked my Palm Pre phone.

 

[bondr006]

Mistake here. Corrected below.

 

[bondr006]

My iPad has replaced the spot that my palm used to inhabit back in the day. Not interested in shoehorning my regular workflow on the device. It does what I expect it to do, nothing more, nothing less.

Took me a minute to process what you meant by "Palm." We've come such a long ways since those days. Amazing how fast technology evolves. I used to be inseparable from my Palm. Still remember when the color version first came out.

Well, if I may be candid. My iPad Pro does a crap ton more than any palm device ever could. I actually run my Real Estate and Property Management company from my iPad Pro. I do very little on my Mac Mini (mostly emails and web browsing) compared to what I use my iPad for. In fact, after using my iPad for a few weeks, I realized I didn't need my MacBook Pro anymore so I sold it. A lot of people have a preconceived idea of what a computer is. The iPad Pro may not be a traditional computer, but it is a highly functional computer nonetheless, and is capable of so much more than most people realize. If folks would just take the time to get to know the iPad Pro and what it can do as opposed to what it can't do, they would find that the list of what it can do totally dwarfs the can't do list.

My story of how my iPad Pro replaced my MacBook pro is linked in my signature along with a link to an ever growing list of things I have discovered I can do with it. If anyone is interested, please check out the links.

 

[Night Spring]

My story of how my iPad Pro replaced my MacBook pro is linked in my signature along with a link to what I have discovered I can do with it. If anyone is interested, please check out the links.

I have turned off signatures, and can't find how to turn them back on. Could you post the link in a post? Thanks.

 

[bondr006]

I have turned off signatures, and can't find how to turn them back on. Could you post the link in a post? Thanks.

Here you go...

Why my M1 iPad Pro 11 replaced my MacBook Pro
What I can do with my M1 iPad Pro 11

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Well, if I may be candid. My iPad Pro does a crap ton more than any palm device ever could. I actually run my Real Estate and Property Management company from my iPad Pro. I do very little on my Mac Mini (mostly emails and web browsing) compared to what I use my iPad for. In fact, after using my iPad for a few weeks, I realized I didn't need my MacBook Pro anymore so I sold it. A lot of people have a preconceived idea of what a computer is. The iPad Pro may not be a traditional computer, but it is a highly functional computer nonetheless, and is capable of so much more than most people realize. If folks would just take the time to get to know the iPad Pro and what it can do as opposed to what it can't do, they would find that the list of what it can do totally dwarfs the can't do list.

What you wrote is quite true. There are numerous businesses that use iPad's specifically tailored for their business. Hospitals, heck even Walmart are now using the iPad in store, just to name a few. However i'd wager that the vast majority use their iPad's for what they were intended for and that is entertainment or the basics. My use for the iPad is the same in 2022 as it was in 2012 and that is not a complaint.

My biggest complaint though, is the iPad on screen keyboard. It's beyond basic. The best on screen tablet keyboard is the one Samsung uses on their Tablets. It uses multi-function keys as well as having DEL and Backspace keys. I find the default iPad keyboard very limiting and the flick keys is something that's hit and miss so I turn that off.

 

[bondr006]

What you wrote is quite true. There are numerous businesses that use iPad's specifically tailored for their business. Hospitals, heck even Walmart are now using the iPad in store, just to name a few. However i'd wager that the vast majority use their iPad's for what they were intended for and that is entertainment or the basics. My use for the iPad is the same in 2022 as it was in 2012 and that is not a complaint.

My biggest complaint though, is the iPad on screen keyboard. It's beyond basic. The best on screen tablet keyboard is the one Samsung uses on their Tablets. It uses multi-function keys as well as having DEL and Backspace keys. I find the default iPad keyboard very limiting and the flick keys is something that's hit and miss so I turn that off.

Yeah, I'd be self deluded if I thought that iPad OS didn't need any improvement, definitely including the on screen keyboard. But, at the same time, it has come a very long way from it's beginnings. Far enough that I can use it as my primary business device, replacing my MacBook Pro. I am hoping that they continue to improve it to the point where there is no debate as to whether or not it can replace a traditional computer for most people. I do know quite a few people that don't want to, or have no interest in taking the time to find out what the iPad can really do. Some are intimidated at the thought of using a new operating system, some are happy with what they have always used and just don't want to learn a new OS, and some are just perfectly fine with the iPad being their media consumption device. These are all ok, but it doesn't change the fact that the iPad is a very capable device that has an OS that has some more evolving to do, and can replace a laptop for a large minority of people as it stands. I myself am pretty excited, happy, and proud of the fact that at 61 years old, I learned a new OS on a device that has replaced my need for a traditional laptop.

Now Linux, that intimidates me...

 

[rui no onna]

However i'd wager that the vast majority use their iPad's for what they were intended for and that is entertainment or the basics. My use for the iPad is the same in 2022 as it was in 2012 and that is not a complaint.

For me, I'm using the iPad way more than I did back in 2012. The primary reasons being improvement in website compatibility as well as much faster performance and RAM increase.

Back in 2012, I did ~80% of my web browsing on my laptop. Banking websites, I pretty much always had to open on the laptop for anything other than a quick balance check. Nowadays, I find there are much fewer sites that are incompatible with Safari for iPadOS.

 

[rui no onna]

Now Linux, that intimidates me...

As long as your hardware is supported, then it's actually fairly OK.

The difficult thing is when you don't have working drivers and you need to find/compile one. Particularly annoying if the missing driver is for networking. I think I once had a laptop where both the ethernet and wifi didn't work on Ubuntu. Granted, I think that was more than a decade ago on Breezy Badger/Dapper Drake.

Had some issues with wifi on a ThinkPad with Linux Mint a couple years ago but at least that was resolved after some headscratching and forum searching. The wifi issue has also been resolved with newer releases.

 

[Ipadlover29]

Long time iPad user. Ive owned 10 different versions (pro and non pro). I ended up selling my 12.9 pro 5th gen a few months ago. This is the first time since 2011 I haven't owned an iPad. I don't see the point of an iPad anymore. Its still just a larger iPhone at this point. I love my 16" MacBook m1 pro, I do miss the touch screen, the apps and how easy it was to use. I hope some day we can see significant hardware and software improvements with iPad Pro line to make more like Mac. I know that apple will never give us all the Mac features.

Hardware improvements I would like to see:

Larger screen 14" to 15"
Larger battery - 12 to 15 hours usage time
oled screen
camera at the top when in landscape mode
better magic keyboard - function keys, larger trackpad, pencil storage, fully functional usb c port

 

[zidarko]

I'd just add the ability to run macOs and option to switch between macOS and ipadOS.

I can deal with the lack of ports.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

For me, I'm using the iPad way more than I did back in 2012. The primary reasons being improvement in website compatibility as well as much faster performance and RAM increase.

Back in 2012, I did ~80% of my web browsing on my laptop. Banking websites, I pretty much always had to open on the laptop for anything other than a quick balance check. Nowadays, I find there are much fewer sites that are incompatible with Safari for iPadOS.

It was just the opposite for me. I got hooked on the iPad back in 2012. It was my go to device for web browsing, listening to music, email and playing games. I rarely do mobile gaming as I got to see the limitations of mobile gaming. Now it’s still my go to device for the basics.

 

[nStyle]

I use the iPad simply because it’s beautiful and it’s fun to use. For me a laptop makes more sense but I love the simplicity of the iPad and everything it lacks begins to make sense the more you use it.

But for me it’s definitely more of a toy that I enjoy playing with. I game, read, and watch stuff on. I don’t do any professional work on it as it‘s just too cumbersome. There are a lot of great games on iPad (especially ones that are well suited to a touch screen) and the library is only expanding.

I have the MKB and use it a lot so most of my day to day use is no different from a tablet to a laptop. Occasionally you still get a site that doesn’t play nice with Safari.

If you use the pencil frequently then any iPad automatically makes perfect sense. If not, then you definitely need to have another specific use case for a touch screen or mobility to really not regret buying it.

Bought the 12.9 because of the screen but if I’m honest I’d rather have the 11” so when that one gets a better screen I’ll trade out

 

[DeepSix]

Great comparison, winner: ipad pro.

 

[russell_314]

I think it’s all about what you want. I don’t see the iPad as a laptop replacement no more than I would see an SUV being a pickup truck replacement. Sure you could do some of the things a pickup truck could do with an SUV but not everything as good. I see it as a different animal a different usage.

Even when I had my MacBook or Windows laptop, a tablet (iPad) always seemed to be the thing I grabbed if I wanted to watch videos or do light web browsing. If I had serious work to do then I would use the laptop. I’ve never really liked keyboard cases because they seemed to try to make it into something it really wasn’t meant to be. I can see them being useful in some situations but at that point why not just use a laptop. I think up until now the answer would’ve been battery life or needing an outlet. The M1 MacBook Air sort of killed that.

I’m waiting to see what comes out in the March event. If it’s a new MacBook Air that is going to be the first thing I buy. It won’t replace my iPad Air because it’s just not the same.

Of course that’s just explaining my use case and not necessarily related to anyone else’s. Everyone has to figure out what fits in best in their workflow

 

[Pezimak]

Great comparison, winner: ipad pro.

Both have pros and cons, but it’s nice to see finally a decent competitor to the iPad. But it’s been great to see iPad development continue despite not having much competition.
People seem to want a 15” tablet and as Apple doesn’t make one, I wonder if they will try out this Samsung instead? Or will it entice Apple to make a 15” iPad”?