I found the “share sheet” incredibly frustrating since the options seemed to vary significantly amongst apps. For instance some apps would only allow saving images to your photo library vs files.
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iPad iPad Pro Going Back to MacBook Pro
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Sorry, but I think this is backwards. The iPad is a tool to help you do things (whether that be professional work, watching media, or just messing around on the internet and social media). If the tool is so inflexible that the only way to make it work for you is to change how you work, it’s a bad tool for the job. And, honestly, this comment really gets at why the iPad will probably will never replace my “traditional” computer, despite being capable in its own right. You can do many things on iPad. But, for many simple tasks, I find I am fighting the OS to get them done. Things take more steps than they should, they involve some sort of workaround to get around an OS limitation, etc.. On my Mac, I feel like the OS is working with me to get things done. With the iPad, I feel like I get things done in spite of the OS.
You see, it's like complaining that a pen and paper doesn't output text as neatly as a typewriter, or that you can't draw with a typewriter very well. And arguing over which is best, depending on whether you've had a typewriter for 20 years or not.
Yes. Some things suck on iPad. Do them on a laptop if there's no decent way to do it with the tablet
But... my point is - explore how things can be done because we've all spent the past 30 years using computers with keyboard and mouse input for stuff and sometimes there's a better way. That's all.
Don't expect it to work like a laptop, because it isn't one.
The flaw in this argument is that you’re talking from the perspective of someone whose computing paradigm is Mac centric and that’s what you know. Great! The Mac is a vibrant and excellent computing platform that’s reinvigorated with the Apple silicon shifts. The iPad, too, is a tool that carries less mental fatigue for the type of work many people are able to do, and it offers some versatility that a Mac doesn’t offer. So it’s a wonderful thing that both tools exist and while you’re unable to jimmy hack the iPad to suit your computing needs, the same argument holds true for iPad. Some of us don’t need robust file systems, or complex terminal entry, or rigorous video editors. And for those who do, a Mac is a wonderful tool that’s mature and rooted in classic computing paradigms. The iPad? A wonderful field for experimentation and intuitive for some.
I find it also seems to be missing the most obvious thing that would be there for that context, or the people/apps I share to the most. I always have to really dig through it.
I would argue that most people don't need a lot of the things they pine for on iPadOS.
below sometimes me... playing devils advocate:
Filesystem? Why do I care? On the iPad, I just want to take notes, edit photos, draw sketches, use websites, internet banking and occasionally write some documents.
Keeping track of where stuff is stored isn't something I need to care about all the time. I care about being able to create, find and open documents. I couldn't care less where on the device they are stored.
keeping track of files is a boring computer job the computer can take care of.
Having used iPad and Mac extensively over the last 5+ years, I really disagree with this.
The iPad is great at being an iPad, but when you bring it into the world of doing complicated professional tasks, proper gaming, stuff that primarily uses a mouse and keyboard, it's not just a case of there being a different and better way to do it on iPad. It's a case of the iPad being substandard for that thing.
When the thing I was just doing 5 minutes ago suddenly force closes because I dared spend 5 minutes watching YouTube or browsing Safari, is that because I'm not doing it the special iPad way? If I can't run a whole bunch of software that would be perfect on the 11" display because the thing is locked down like an iPhone, is that because I'm not doing it the special iPad way?
When so many developers have their iPad app as a second or third class citizen and it falls behind in functionality or they half abandon it, is that also because users aren't doing it the special iPad way?
You shouldn't need to worry about the filesystem if you're someone who doesn't want to worry about it, but there are simply some cases where it makes sense for the filesystem to be accessible and not a piece of trash, and for those people in those cases, it's bad and there is no excuse for it.
All true. But I was not arguing that people who find the iPad more intuitive should adopt their workflow to suit a laptop/desktop. All I was saying is that the argument that someone who doesn’t find the iPad fits their needs should tailor their workflow to fit the iPad’s OS seems backward to me. The user should never have to completely change what they are doing to fit the limitations of the tool. That holds true for a laptop as well. If you have to contort yourself to do something on a laptop that is simple on an iPad, then the laptop is the wrong tool for that task.
Especially true when the limitation comes from the fact the iPad used to be a big iPhone, and not any profound philosophical reason.
I'm not saying you should OR ELSE.
I'm saying you should explore different ways of doing things to see if they're better. Sometimes they will be. Sometimes they won't. If they aren't - USE A MAC.
But if you go into the iPad expecting it to behave exactly like a Mac, it won't and vice versa. And if you're unwilling to try to see if there's another maybe better way - you're never going to find it.
edit:
I guess it's back to Steve Jobs with the car/truck analogy. Cars are good at car things and suck at truck things and vice versa.
Every now and when, I do go back and reread this excellent blog post by Steven Sinofsky. Yes, that Windows guy.
It's a nice reminder of why I adopted the iPad so many years ago, and why I continue to use it. Especially this line.
😬
I would say Apple already knows the eventuality of the OS upgrade path and it doesn’t want to reach there too soon as it doesn’t want to accept the inevitable. One ca simply look at iOS and iPadOS where iPadOS gets features and functions a year or more later compared to iOS.
Why not have some basic feature parity between the two versions? The possibility is that iPadOS is on a tightrope between macOS on one side and iOS on the other, it has no clue what it really wants to be. iPadOS and tablets in general are only able to be a consumption device for so long before it becomes a stagnant product, just look at iOS with no proper multitasking or windowing ability for one.
Except laptops and desktops are not in any measure to trucks. A computer in truck terms means a server and we all know Apple discontinued those long time ago.
So we have tablets, laptops and desktops which would all be cars like sub-compact, compact, mid-size, SUV, luxury, mini van, van etc.
While servers can certainly serve up entertainment one wouldn’t use one to interact with it directly. Similarly a truck is designed to transport goods from point A-B, it can transport living things like livestock and humans but it ain’t going to be comfortable.
The late Steve Jobs was a great marketer and lied through his teeth may times with the excuse that technology or the industry and consumers have not gotten there yet.
You will find people that will tell you it’s doable and other that it si not, it all depends on 2 factors.
1 your will to adapt to a new workflow
2 the app you need
For me,doing mostly 2d Vector / raster image and logo creation / manipulation, some video editing and some text the Magick keyboard and iPad 11 pro combo was the killer app.
I went the 11 route for portability and i have an arzopa screen when need the external screen with 1 cable .
Could i do everything on iPad? I’’d say 98%. For the rest i have a pc at home, could i do everything on a MacBook Air? Probably, but I’d lose the touchscreen with pencil that i use and the ability to use the iPad as a tablet when commuting or working on the couch..
So if you do your homework first to finds out how you need to adapt your workflow and what app are available with which features, then you could make it work.
As with anything work related, if you plan ahead you might succeed.
1 your will to adapt to a new workflow
2 the app you need
For me,doing mostly 2d Vector / raster image and logo creation / manipulation, some video editing and some text the Magick keyboard and iPad 11 pro combo was the killer app.
I went the 11 route for portability and i have an arzopa screen when need the external screen with 1 cable .
Could i do everything on iPad? I’’d say 98%. For the rest i have a pc at home, could i do everything on a MacBook Air? Probably, but I’d lose the touchscreen with pencil that i use and the ability to use the iPad as a tablet when commuting or working on the couch..
So if you do your homework first to finds out how you need to adapt your workflow and what app are available with which features, then you could make it work.
As with anything work related, if you plan ahead you might succeed.
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I think you’re taking that analogy a bit too far.
Or maybe the late Steve Jobs was over simplifying the truth. In all fairness desktops and its OS are by no means “trucks”. What would Jobs label servers and super computers as “heavy earth” machinery??
I’ve tried many times to get an iPad to be a laptop - ever since gen 1. Each time have failed. I do programming and none of the major AI coding assistants have an iPad app.
My wife however is in sales and constantly on the go. mobile warriors, those types wouldn’t even dream of using a laptop. They want to turn something on, tap a few buttons and be done.
I’ve come to realize - Mac OS can do everything. Even drawing - remember those Wacom tablets? But if you need to specialize you have you ipad and iPhone for those use cases.
My wife however is in sales and constantly on the go. mobile warriors, those types wouldn’t even dream of using a laptop. They want to turn something on, tap a few buttons and be done.
I’ve come to realize - Mac OS can do everything. Even drawing - remember those Wacom tablets? But if you need to specialize you have you ipad and iPhone for those use cases.
Sure in another analogy a calculator or a GameBoy is a car and iPhone and iPad is a truck. Context matters, Jobs had no problem to befuddle those who were enveloped in the RDF.
I travel with both an iPad and Macbook. The iPad is an excellent second screen for work. It’s also a great consumption device, and a great device for certain kinds of workflows. But if you have to create or edit documents, code, or do any kind of similar heavy work, a laptop is simply required.
One thing to keep in mind is that you may not need the pro versions of any of these devices, and prices have come down. An iPad and Macbook Air combo, for example, can cost less than either an iPad Pro or a Macbook Pro individually depdnding on specs, accessories, etc. Or you can get a top of the line Macbook Pro and a discounted iPad Air or regular iPad. Or you can max out an iPad Pro and get the $750 M4 Macbook Air, or even the lower cost Macbook that is rumored.
One thing to keep in mind is that you may not need the pro versions of any of these devices, and prices have come down. An iPad and Macbook Air combo, for example, can cost less than either an iPad Pro or a Macbook Pro individually depdnding on specs, accessories, etc. Or you can get a top of the line Macbook Pro and a discounted iPad Air or regular iPad. Or you can max out an iPad Pro and get the $750 M4 Macbook Air, or even the lower cost Macbook that is rumored.
You can create documents on an iPad Pro. I do it all the time. Why do you think you it can’t or shouldn’t be done on an iPad?
This. Perplexes me that it can’t be done? I draft letters of recommendation, appeal letters, and journal articles on my iPad all the time. The rare complexity, like reference insertion, is something I do at the end stages and sure for that a laptop makes it easier, but I’m far more focused on iPad than on my Mac.
Dude, it’s a simple analogy, people make them every day without needing a framework of approved symbology!