iPad Pro is still mainly for entertainment

[Ashka]

Once I can use a mouse with my iPad is when it truly will replace my laptop.

I have never used a Mouse with my 2015 MacBook Pro and didn't with my previous MacBook Air.
Obviously I never use a mouse with my iPad Pro 10.5. either.
Adding a mouse really doesn't make anything "Pro"

 

[sza]

I have never used a Mouse with my 2015 MacBook Pro and didn't with my previous MacBook Air.
Obviously I never use a mouse with my iPad Pro 10.5. either.
Adding a mouse really doesn't make anything "Pro"

You misunderstood him. He meant to say "pointing device". Of course the trackpad on your MBP is a mouse.

 

[44267547]

It all depends on the user and task, but it’s obviously possible a number of people. I have sold my MacBook and I only have an iPad Pro and my 7 Plus moving forward. I work in management and most of my work involves email, word and excel documents, OneNote, and web browsing. Easily managed on my iPad.

I like this post. Mainly because it just shows how the iPad can conform to your productivity and work specifications. Now, not in every situation will the iPad meet everybody's needs or specifications and they still may require a laptop. Which there Is nothing wrong with that. But in your case, you realized the efficiency of the iPad and what it can do for you.

 

[IpadsRIpads]

I bought mine today solely for the purpose of public speaking while using multiple apps at once. The few guys I know that do public speaking in my field I'm in that have the 12.9's love them.

 

[maflynn]

I bought mine for consumption, whether its watching a movie, reading comics, reading books or other stuff, like playing a game.

 

[DNichter]

I like this post. Mainly because it just shows how the iPad can conform to your productivity and work specifications. Now, not in every situation will the iPad meet everybody's needs or specifications and they still may require a laptop. Which there Is nothing wrong with that. But in your case, you realized the efficiency of the iPad and what it can do for you.

I just became very bored with my MacBook over time and felt like a change was needed. The extreme mobility and easier ability to collaborate in the office was a huge plus to me. I experience I higher level of satisfaction when the work day ends. On top of that, it's the best "personal" computer I have ever owned, great for media consumption at night.

 

[profmjh]

I would love to get rid of my MacBook Pro. (From a financial perspective, I mean!)

My iPad Pro runs a substantially cut-down version of Excel and it simply can't do what I need it to do. Which is not even anything terribly complicated. I'm not running NASA over here.

My MacBook Pro hates me. It's vastly overpowered for what I give it to do. But I wanted a 15" screen. And I'm an upgrade junkie.

Since I also have an iMac I have considered ditching the MBP and doing my Excel work on that, but I love the convenience of a laptop.

And, yes, my iPad Pro hates me too. I use it to watch movies and browse the internet. I have an Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard "just in case".

The problem with the iPad Pro + Smart Keyboard is that the need a solid surface. You can't do with them what I'm doing now: one corner of my MBP is on my leg, the other is on a cushion. (I'm sitting sideways on the sofa.)

 

[bufffilm]

*sigh* This is just another way of asking the same "is the iPad really Pro" question. How many different ways can this same silly question be asked? The answer to this question is so blindingly obvious: "it depends on who you are and what you're trying to do". Why does this keep getting asked, despite the fact that there's probably hundreds of threads that have pretty much reached this same conclusion?

Exactly...it depends on the user and what they want to do.

With the ios11 features, some additional functionality has been added...but IMO, it's still a far cry from replacing my laptop.

But for some, the iPad may be enough. Only way to know, is to try it.

 

[augustya]

Partly to catalogue my own use, but also in response to a post on Reddit asking what apps people had on their iPads. I have had the screenshot since April, and figured it might come in handy once in a while.

I was inspired by Federico of Macstories and decided to map out my app usage as well. Also partly because I had purchased MindNode and wanted to give mindmapping a go (since I am not really a mindmap person myself, but am interested to see if it can help organise my thoughts better).

So exactly which APP did you use to make this diagram ?

 

[Abazigal]

So exactly which APP did you use to make this diagram ?

MindNode.

 

[augustya]

MindNode.

Brilliant work !

 

[legioxi]

I do the same, but I use textastic, coda, webtool kit for inspect elements, all on ios. There are tons of coding apps available now if you do a little research. The mouse support isn't really needed for this. I'd only prefer it for some games.

To each their own. I do similar stuff, with similar tools (Textastic, Pythonista, Editorial, Working Copy, Prompt) but I cannot be as productive on the iPad as a laptop. For me, I need quick app switching as I usually am flipping between 5-6 applications/windows at a time on the laptop and the iPad (including Pro) has a delay when CMD-Tabing between windows. I flip enough that this delay drives me insane. Then the text selection without a mouse is truly terrible (opinion I know). It also doesn't work well when having multiple documents open in the same app (this is more app specific than iPad specific I think, though the OS doesn't have windowing support so...).

I've tried many times to make the flip, but it just can't cut it for me. That isn't to say that other people's workflows don't work just as well on the iPad or even better on an iPad than a laptop. I do like that is works as a supplemental device and is easy to work with while traveling. For reading materials (tech PDFs mostly) it is a lot nicer to use than my laptop, but that is consumption and not production.

 

[James.K.Polk]

I would love to get rid of my MacBook Pro. (From a financial perspective, I mean!)

My iPad Pro runs a substantially cut-down version of Excel and it simply can't do what I need it to do. Which is not even anything terribly complicated. I'm not running NASA over here.

My MacBook Pro hates me. It's vastly overpowered for what I give it to do. But I wanted a 15" screen. And I'm an upgrade junkie.

Since I also have an iMac I have considered ditching the MBP and doing my Excel work on that, but I love the convenience of a laptop.

And, yes, my iPad Pro hates me too. I use it to watch movies and browse the internet. I have an Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard "just in case".

The problem with the iPad Pro + Smart Keyboard is that the need a solid surface. You can't do with them what I'm doing now: one corner of my MBP is on my leg, the other is on a cushion. (I'm sitting sideways on the sofa.)

You are me, almost exactly. Have the 15" screen because I always have several docs open (and I love new stuff). Would get big $$ to sell it but not sure I can quite make it on iPad alone.

 

[Rafterman]

It's for whatever you wanted it for. An Etch a Sketch is a business tool if that's what you need it for.

​

 

[bufffilm]

To each their own. I do similar stuff, with similar tools (Textastic, Pythonista, Editorial, Working Copy, Prompt) but I cannot be as productive on the iPad as a laptop. For me, I need quick app switching as I usually am flipping between 5-6 applications/windows at a time on the laptop and the iPad (including Pro) has a delay when CMD-Tabing between windows. I flip enough that this delay drives me insane. Then the text selection without a mouse is truly terrible (opinion I know). It also doesn't work well when having multiple documents open in the same app (this is more app specific than iPad specific I think, though the OS doesn't have windowing support so...).

I've tried many times to make the flip, but it just can't cut it for me. That isn't to say that other people's workflows don't work just as well on the iPad or even better on an iPad than a laptop. I do like that is works as a supplemental device and is easy to work with while traveling. For reading materials (tech PDFs mostly) it is a lot nicer to use than my laptop, but that is consumption and not production.

A classic use-case where having optional mouse support would make doing this on an iPad infinitely easier.

No fumbling with selecting text or having to readjust the boundaries, switching between windows and going to the spot to paste the selection, etc.

All the people against mouse support being added to the iPad need to read this. Apple needs to read this.

 

[macfacts]

This is the worst argument I've seen yet. That can happen on literally any software or hardware platform.
....

Almost every iOS update breaks apps/games so that is a valid concern. Apple has no interest in supporting backwards compatibility.

On other OS like windows, when a dev stops supporting the program, it still runs even on newer os versions.

 

[macduke]

Productivity apps are cool but do you really feel you can be more productive than using a computer?

I've been learning Affinity Photo, and let me tell you there are some things this app can do that would take me several times longer in Photoshop on my Mac. Although they do have a Mac app that I have yet to try, lol. The mask refinement seems a lot more advanced and it's super fast. For many things it seems like it combines steps to get you to the end result faster. Drawing is also a lot easier using the Pencil with the iPad than the Wacom tablet with my Mac. Some things, such as web development, are going to need some work to catch up. Coda for iPad is pretty neat but I feel like there are some critical apps mising like CodeKit with real background multitasking and the interface space needed to make it work while editing code and checking the result in browser side by side.

 

[Abazigal]

A classic use-case where having optional mouse support would make doing this on an iPad infinitely easier.

No fumbling with selecting text or having to readjust the boundaries, switching between windows and going to the spot to paste the selection, etc.

All the people against mouse support being added to the iPad need to read this. Apple needs to read this.

I use my iPad in positions where a mouse is simply not practical to use. When I am lounging on the sofa. When I am walking around the room with iPad in one hand and Pencil in the other. I am just not certain external mouse support would have much of an impact for me.

But I am sure it would benefit people who use their iPads in a more conventional desk setting.

 

[bufffilm]

I use my iPad in positions where a mouse is simply not practical to use. When I am lounging on the sofa. When I am walking around the room with iPad in one hand and Pencil in the other. I am just not certain external mouse support would have much of an impact for me.

But I am sure it would benefit people who use their iPads in a more conventional desk setting.

And your use case makes complete sense.

But it doesn't change the wish that Apple add mouse support for those users who want/need more precise control and who are in front off a desk or table.

Why oh why can't we have both?

 

[BayouTiger]

My old Air was limited in work use, but the new 10.5 is so far ahead. I can scroll around on plans and drawings so much a faster than my 16 loaded MBP. Why can't they make pdfs as responsive on the Mac as on this iPad. It truly is amazing. My Surface Pro 4 wasn't nearly this responsive either. Can't wait for iOS 11 and a usable file system. It still won't replace my laptop, but it makes for a great add on.

 

[off_piste]

I have never used a Mouse with my 2015 MacBook Pro and didn't with my previous MacBook Air.
Obviously I never use a mouse with my iPad Pro 10.5. either.
Adding a mouse really doesn't make anything "Pro"

I certainly helps when remoting into a desktop.

 

[Abazigal]

And your use case makes complete sense.

But it doesn't change the wish that Apple add mouse support for those users who want/need more precise control and who are in front off a desk or table.

Why oh why can't we have both?

Because my concern is that the presence of mouse support might then result in developers optimising their apps for mouse input, which would in turn make the UI less conducive for touch.

The two are, as far as I can tell, mutually exclusive.

 

[bufffilm]

Because my concern is that the presence of mouse support might then result in developers optimising their apps for mouse input, which would in turn make the UI less conducive for touch.

That is...an unfounded fear.

 

[italodance]

I have never used a Mouse with my 2015 MacBook Pro and didn't with my previous MacBook Air.
Obviously I never use a mouse with my iPad Pro 10.5. either.
Adding a mouse really doesn't make anything "Pro"

Likewise i have never bought a mouse for my windows laptop since beginning 6 years ago.

 

[MiniMe77]

I would love to get rid of my MacBook Pro. (From a financial perspective, I mean!)

My iPad Pro runs a substantially cut-down version of Excel and it simply can't do what I need it to do. Which is not even anything terribly complicated. I'm not running NASA over here.

My MacBook Pro hates me. It's vastly overpowered for what I give it to do. But I wanted a 15" screen. And I'm an upgrade junkie.

Since I also have an iMac I have considered ditching the MBP and doing my Excel work on that, but I love the convenience of a laptop.

And, yes, my iPad Pro hates me too. I use it to watch movies and browse the internet. I have an Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard "just in case".

The problem with the iPad Pro + Smart Keyboard is that the need a solid surface. You can't do with them what I'm doing now: one corner of my MBP is on my leg, the other is on a cushion. (I'm sitting sideways on the sofa.)

Am curious to know what you can't do with Excel on the iPad that you need to do?