Suppose you can get Windows or Mac and their apps to run with iPad Pro by using Jump Desktop or the likes. Does it mean that your iPad can now replace your laptop 100% of the time? Or would you be missing something when running Jump Desktop instead of using a laptop directly?
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iPad Pro iPad Pro 12.9” + Jump Desktop = Laptop Replacement?
- Thread starter Sodium Chloride
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My biggest use case for a laptop while on travel - the processing and storage management of large numbers of RAW photo images taken each day. I find the iPad Pro too be too inefficient for that so I still take and use my laptop. Jump Desktop or the likes would not be a replacement because of the large amount of data (many GBs of photos) that would have to be transferred daily to the remote desktop for processing there.
For a season or two, my 12.9 iPad Pro + ASK + Citrix X1 mouse DID INDEED replace my Macbook Air. Using that combo I was able to remotely access my iMac (located in my home office). Responsiveness was actually quite good and I was able to perform detailed graphic work on my iMac. I also appreciated the ability to work on a video and then spin it off to render and switch back to working locally on my iPad until the render was completed.
Other times, I'd start some documentation on my iPad (using Pages) but then run into the limitations of the iOS version of Pages. That was when I'd remote into my iMac and perform the advanced task there and when finished, return to working on the document on the iPad. (document files were stored on iCloud)
Having said that, the experience is highly dependent upon the availability and performance of the network connection. If the network was spotty, it would be frustrating as the link between systems would temporary freeze or stutter. But if you will be using this combination in an area with a predictable and consistently good connection, it most definitely works... and works well.
You present a good use case. I'd add to your last note on good connection that you also don't want to be in the mode of having to move large amounts of data back and forth in a timely manner (unless of course your devices are working on the same network). The amount of data to move is what catches me up.
Good point. Just to clarify, my extended "hand-off" use case was limited to documents. I didn't attempt it with larger files.
I can pretty much echo what @sracer said.
I used my 12.9" 2nd Gen iPad like that for awhile. I had a headless desktop running Linux and matched the screen resolution so it was just like having a Linux laptop in the form of an iPad. It worked really well. Citrix X1 mouse worked really well; there was a TINY bit of latency with the button presses but it was easy enough to get used to. On a LAN even video ran well over the remote connection (no audio as I was using VNC).
Eventually my iPad Smart Keyboard stopped working and my iPad also has the unresponsive screen issue; so I've moved on from that setup now.
I'd like to add that the iPad + Keyboard + Citrix Mouse is a rather expensive setup for use as a dumb terminal. A cheap laptop would more than cover it.
I used my 12.9" 2nd Gen iPad like that for awhile. I had a headless desktop running Linux and matched the screen resolution so it was just like having a Linux laptop in the form of an iPad. It worked really well. Citrix X1 mouse worked really well; there was a TINY bit of latency with the button presses but it was easy enough to get used to. On a LAN even video ran well over the remote connection (no audio as I was using VNC).
Eventually my iPad Smart Keyboard stopped working and my iPad also has the unresponsive screen issue; so I've moved on from that setup now.
I'd like to add that the iPad + Keyboard + Citrix Mouse is a rather expensive setup for use as a dumb terminal. A cheap laptop would more than cover it.
I'm all for using an iPad to get stuff done but if you need a real laptop then just use a real laptop and stop trying to turn an iPad into something it isn't (yet). I've used an iPad Pro to remotely connect to other computers and it sucks. Mouse support can be an issue, you're dead in the water if you don't have a network connection, even a good network connection can result in annoying latency, etc. I don't even like working like this over a local network.
The only way I'd tolerate working like this on a regular basis would be if a simple SSH session was good enough and thus all I ever had to do was use command-line only apps. An iPad can work just fine in this situation but that's not what we're talking about here.
The only way I'd tolerate working like this on a regular basis would be if a simple SSH session was good enough and thus all I ever had to do was use command-line only apps. An iPad can work just fine in this situation but that's not what we're talking about here.
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Have you used an iPad Pro with a mouse and keyboard to remotely connect to another system? If so, what RDP software did you use and which mouse?
The thing is there is no all in one device in the market that can do everything I want. A real laptop could run full version of Microsoft Excel or Apple Numbers really well but it can’t do note taking with a stylus or read a pdf document in portrait mode. An iPad Pro 12.9" is the ideal machine to read a pdf document and to take a note with the Apple Pencil, but the iPad version of Microsoft Excel and Apple Numbers are too crippled for my needs.
The closest to all in one machine is Microsoft Surface but compare to the iPad App Store, Surface App Store is horrible. It’s range of choices is no where as rich or as diverse as the Ipad’s. Microsoft One Note for example, is the only note taking app worth mentioning but it’s features is nowhere as good as Notability, the one I use for my iPad.
I think the people above have presented the pros and cons of the remote approach and you have pretty much defined what’s non-negotiable in your latest post. You have an iPad, give your proposed setup some testing - you probably don’t have the Citrix Mouse, but some testing will give you a good idea of what the limitations are (besides which, support for a mouse in iOS is rumoured, so I would hold out on an expensive Citrix mouse).
As can be seen above, I’ve been unable to go 100% iPad. When I hit the iOS app version limitations in Office for example, I save the document on Dropbox or iCloud and complete the job on my MBP (2018, keyboard still fine ). I could leave a Mini running permanently so I could remote in, but it seems just so inefficient. I rather just batch my work. A good example is what I did last night: I downloaded a .dotx file from our Confluence server to my 12.9 and proceeded to carry out edits on it, required for the new version. One can’t (at least I don’t know how to) access custom doc properties to update a field and I’m not 100% if I can save as .dotx once more. So I saved it on in a dedicated “share” folder I have on Dropbox and I’ll complete the edit when next on my MBP. It’ll take another couple of minutes once there and I’ll update Confluence once more...nice, clean and efficient.
I’ll go into a little more detail. I’ve got an original 12.9" Pro with SKB, that hangs around the house and is the general workhorse for, let’s call it, general work, I.e. anything that doesn’t require a desktop version. This includes remote support with MS RDP and Teamviewer. When at the office or traveling, I carry the MBP and my new Air 3 with SKB (and Pencil, that I share between the two iPads). I’ll often spend half the day at work on the Air 3 before moving to the MBP to do some work that requires a Windows VM, including some development, or some touch-ups on Office docs. When on the road, more often than not I work solely on the Air 3, with the occasional need for the MBP where I need Windows resources (we develop micro-based products using tools that only support Windows).
So overall, a hybrid lifestyle is great, and quite efficient from my perspective. Plus, I get to work on and enjoy both platforms. Try some things out and play around a little, your workflow will come to you.
As can be seen above, I’ve been unable to go 100% iPad. When I hit the iOS app version limitations in Office for example, I save the document on Dropbox or iCloud and complete the job on my MBP (2018, keyboard still fine ). I could leave a Mini running permanently so I could remote in, but it seems just so inefficient. I rather just batch my work. A good example is what I did last night: I downloaded a .dotx file from our Confluence server to my 12.9 and proceeded to carry out edits on it, required for the new version. One can’t (at least I don’t know how to) access custom doc properties to update a field and I’m not 100% if I can save as .dotx once more. So I saved it on in a dedicated “share” folder I have on Dropbox and I’ll complete the edit when next on my MBP. It’ll take another couple of minutes once there and I’ll update Confluence once more...nice, clean and efficient.
I’ll go into a little more detail. I’ve got an original 12.9" Pro with SKB, that hangs around the house and is the general workhorse for, let’s call it, general work, I.e. anything that doesn’t require a desktop version. This includes remote support with MS RDP and Teamviewer. When at the office or traveling, I carry the MBP and my new Air 3 with SKB (and Pencil, that I share between the two iPads). I’ll often spend half the day at work on the Air 3 before moving to the MBP to do some work that requires a Windows VM, including some development, or some touch-ups on Office docs. When on the road, more often than not I work solely on the Air 3, with the occasional need for the MBP where I need Windows resources (we develop micro-based products using tools that only support Windows).
So overall, a hybrid lifestyle is great, and quite efficient from my perspective. Plus, I get to work on and enjoy both platforms. Try some things out and play around a little, your workflow will come to you.
I ran into this recently. I’ve been iPP only for several years, and realized there are just some things I can’t do (very few, but it’s a few that do matter to me). I’m sure I could find some sort of workaround if I really wanted to, but I like simplicity, and don’t want to jump through hoops to get my iPP to do things it’s really not set up to do well.
I wound up buying another iMac (obviously many folks would do a laptop instead, but I’m not a laptop fan). This way I can do the things I really need/want to do with the least amount of effort. Yeah I have to have a second device, and the minimalist in me would LOVE to do everything on one, but it’s just not gonna happen right now.
I think once I have all my stuff synced up to work together properly, as Apple products do, I’m gonna find the flow is perfect.
So I guess I agree with the poster above who said if you need to have another device to do what needs to be done, get it. It doesn’t mean your iPad won’t still be useful for everything else.
As others have indirectly suggested, this won't work well unless you get the $$$ mouse to go along with Jump Desktop.
https://support.jumpdesktop.com/hc/...mp-Desktop-work-with-a-physical-mouse-on-iOS-
Splashtop will play desktop sound on the iPad. Teamviewer is another remote app that does not.
I have Splashtop as well. It connects very quickly, just like Jump. I find that maneuvering in Splashtop isn't as fluid as Jump. Splashtop does a very good job playing sound remotely.
Are you using the Swiftpoint mouse with Splashtop? Looks inviting, but that price ...
I wasn't aware of the Swiftpoint mouse. I looked it up and I agree with you about the price. I have been using the Apple Pencil or finger / hand gestures with Splashtop.
Splashtop is the best for watching videos, but for writing and general use of a remote machine it has some latency. Teamviewer and VNC do a much better job at removing latency (as long as you have a strong connection on both ends)
What's more splashtop is not free for connections ouside you own house.
What's more splashtop is not free for connections ouside you own house.
If remote desktop fits your needs, then why expend the dollars for another device to carry? For some people (maybe not you), remote desktop is adequate to fill a hole in iOS functionality.
Some people (like me) are away from home at times, and want to be able to access our home server. Loading every video on a mobile device (iPad etc) is not always practical or possible.
The thing is, there is a product that does what you want. It's a Surface Pro... just like you said; it fits the bill exactly. It's Windows, but that's not that bad, really. I get the Microsoft Store sucks for apps. Having recently moved to Windows from macOS and iOS I can agree completely. However, this is Windows and if you look around you can find what you need outside the store. There is a lot of software for Windows; much of it sucks but there's enough good stuff to get what you want done.
Okay...but don’t you pay a huge amount in data then, or watch in low quality?