All iPads Is anyone else happy with IpadOS as it is?

[rui no onna]

It's true to some degree but how those needs are fulfilled also matters.

A $300 iPad can do in theory what an $1500 does.

For example, you can do Facetime. But on the $300 iPad, the camera sucks. On the $1500 one it is actually very good.
Both can edit video in LumaFusion. The export time on the M1 will be a lot faster (although the A12 works just fine).
Both can be used for media consumption - but one is far better at this than the other one.
Both can be used to listen to music - but the speakers on the Pro are superior.

And the list goes on and on. It's true that all iPads can fulfill basically the same needs. But there are big differences in the way those needs are fulfilled.

Agreed. It's like buying low end vs high end PCs. Majority of software that runs on high end PCs will also run on low end PCs. However, speed, display, storage, build quality, etc. differs.

The $300 iPad only has 32GB storage. That's very cramped considering half the capacity will be used by System+Other. If I had to use one as my main device, I would be super frustrated. Even 64GB was too small for my use circa 2012 (iPad 3). I constantly had less than 1GB free space on that and I couldn't even update apps without deleting stuff.

 

[cupcakes2000]

So many "but"s and "if"s just to justify Apples inflated marketing claims.
It is not, in a "true" sense computer or laptop replacement, just like an iPhone isnt, just like Samsung's DeX isnt etc.
Just because, say, VW Golf has four wheels, 5 seats and a trunk, doesnt mean its a school bus(if this example made sense), its the same for iPad/iPad Pro, you can do lots of cool stuff with one, but its still lacking in so many departments compared to real laptops and desktop computers and its not the power, its artifical iPadOS limitations that Apple has set.

If we continue down this path, one could argue that, in a way, Nokia 3310 could be ones computer as well, if only things required are ASCII messaging, calculator and primitive Snake game and voice calls.

Not sure anyone is trying to justify anything for Apple, just their own use cases. You, on the other hand seem to be fighting tooth and nail about what is or isn’t possible for someone else to do on their own machine. They say it’s a laptop replacement for themselves, but you tell them it isn’t. That’s some weird voodoo right there.

Obviously its hard to comprehend what Im talking about.
Is it 70s, still? Im sure, compared to those times even Apple watch would kick ass in computing, but, newsflash, its 2021, its time to move on.

Exactly. It’s time to move on. Take your own advice. Realise that the future of mainstream computing is in iPad/iPhone like devices with iPadOS type os’.

 

[sparksd]

I’ve been thinking about buying an M1 Pro in 11”. What didn’t you like about it? Were there any compatibility issues with apps? I’d like to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

I have moved on - a long ways - and still dispute your contention.

 

[darngooddesign]

Apple simply should stop pushing their narrative that iPad or iPad Pro is computer/laptop replacement.
It is not, until they make lots of improvement within iPadOS.
As simple as that. Until they do so, there will be lots of people complaining and rightfully so.

And people who need a desktop OS should stop telling people who don‘t that the iPad isn’t a computer replacement. There are many people for whom the iPad meets their computer needs.

 

[doolar]

I’m on vacation now, as per usual I just travel with my iPad. I use my iPad a lot always, and I’m very happy with iOS as is.

 

[Surfman]

I went a month with just my M1 12”9 ipad and MGK after selling my 2015 27” iMac, it worked for my uses but made a few things harder and a bit frustrating, so got a 24” iMac. Best of both now.

 

[Nhwhazup]

I have no problem with getting done most anything on the iPad Pro. I’ve got so used to doing things in iOS that it’s just 2nd nature for me. Yesterday I was working on a project in Windows on a laptop and kept going back and forth between the laptop and iPad.

 

[cwosigns]

I guess all of those machines I worked with in the early 70's weren't computers, either. Based on what I've seen and worked with in my near 50 years of professional computing experience, I'd call the iPad a computer.

I think this gets to the heart of the issue: computing is changing, and the iPad and iPad OS *is* the future of computing. Even looking at my own workflow, the iPad has become more viable in the last 2 years as we transitioned from network drives to the cloud. I can essentially do 98% of my job (training development and project management) from any device that can access my Microsoft OneDrive, Outlook, and Teams.

Lots of computer workflows are in flux right now and becoming more and more device-agnostic. Not all, but quite a lot.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

My iPad Air 2019 is 100% a consumption device these days, so to be honest I'd still be happy with iOS10 on it.

I sorta get the idea that because the newer Pros have such massive processing power they should be able to do more and have more of that power unlocked. But yeah, as long as I can watch videos and occasionally use it for reading, I don't need iPadOS to do any more than it does.

 

[sparksd]

I think this gets to the heart of the issue: computing is changing, and the iPad and iPad OS *is* the future of computing. Even looking at my own workflow, the iPad has become more viable in the last 2 years as we transitioned from network drives to the cloud. I can essentially do 98% of my job (training development and project management) from any device that can access my Microsoft OneDrive, Outlook, and Teams.

Lots of computer workflows are in flux right now and becoming more and more device-agnostic. Not all, but quite a lot.

Computing entails a lot of different kinds of tasks and jobs and there are some where iPads and iPadOS will not be appropriate. e.g., my last job (now retired) was technical leader for the development and deployment of airborne C4I systems for US and international customers. My teams consisted of hundreds of engineers in a variety of software and hardware disciplines and we employed a wide array of computing systems both in development and in the systems themselves. The iPad (or tablets of any kind) was not the right tool in this environment. In actuality, no Apple devices of any kind were in use and an iPad would not have integrated well in the workflow (nor would it have been allowed for individual use). The iPad is part of the future of computing; it is not *the* future of computing.

 

[secretk]

Happy is a strong word. There are things that I enjoy with iPadOS (everything related to pencil usage) and there are things that I am like WTF Apple Developers were smoking implementing this?

Unlike more people I actually do not find iOS or iPadOS simple. I did have issues setting up my first Apple devices and getting used to it. iOS is a bit convoluted. Settings is a mess. Some apps have their own settings menu accessible from the app itself, others do not. Selecting and editing text is PITA and multitasking gestures are not intuitive at all (false triggering is a real possibility). Also way too many bugs in early versions of iOS. I always wait for at least 3 patches of major versions before installing. Too unstable. Working with bigger files is a bit primitive - no progress bar, no idea what is going on and you just still wait and watch the screen or the ceiling because no real multitasking and you cannot do this in the background.

That being said there are certain things for which I would choose the iPad over the laptop - like reading (useful with the pencil for highlighting), note taking and brainstorming, media consumption when in bed (especially listening podcasts). Also usable when travelling. And playing with Procreate. Lumafusion is good enough for my needs. So I am OK with iPadOS but happy is a strong word and there are two much issues that I have with it to be happy with it.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Working with bigger files is a bit primitive - no progress bar, no idea what is going on and you just still wait and watch the screen or the ceiling because no real multitasking and you cannot do this in the background.

If you’re talking about the files app, there is now a progress bar macos style, much more useful!
And also, certainly in iPadOS 15, files continues to copy or move the files in the background. I haven’t tested it for anything massive, but it works for stuff I generally move and copy on my iPad, 5/6 minutes worth of time. Needs more testing if you need to move stuff that takes hours obviously, but I was quite surprised.

Agree about settings though. Ridiculous. Text selecting has gotten a little better with the reintroduction of the loup in 15, but it’s still pretty annoying.

 

[secretk]

If you’re talking about the files app, there is now a progress bar macos style, much more useful!
And also, certainly in iPadOS 15, files continues to copy or move the files in the background. I haven’t tested it for anything massive, but it works for stuff I generally move and copy on my iPad, 5/6 minutes worth of time. Needs more testing if you need to move stuff that takes hours obviously, but I was quite surprised.

Thanks for sharing. Will check once iPadOS 15 is available in October.

Agree about settings though. Ridiculous. Text selecting has gotten a little better with the reintroduction of the loup in 15, but it’s still pretty annoying.

I will check how it is done with iPadOS 15.

 

[paulmeyers42]

I’m very happy with the iPad, it’s a great lightweight, modular computer. It could always use more features and enhancements, but it’s in pretty good shape right now. My biggest issue is the software - they need to be more fully featured, but that’s more on app developers, not necessarily Apple. For example: I use Teams all the time for work, but there are some features that aren’t available in the iPad version that I need to use every now and then.

 

[Isengardtom]

I went a month with just my M1 12”9 ipad and MGK after selling my 2015 27” iMac, it worked for my uses but made a few things harder and a bit frustrating, so got a 24” iMac. Best of both now.

iPad + iMac is the best combo

 

[MisterSavage]

I wish iOS/iPadOS were more in sync. As someone who uses my iPad FAR more than my iPhone I get frustrated by things that I can do on my iPhone that I can't on my iPad. For example, it's great iPadOS 15 lets us put widgets anywhere on any page, but we should have had that a year ago when iOS 14 got it.

 

[cupcakes2000]

I wish iOS/iPadOS were more in sync. As someone who uses my iPad FAR more than my iPhone I get frustrated by things that I can do on my iPhone that I can't on my iPad. For example, it's great iPadOS 15 lets us put widgets anywhere on any page, but we should have had that a year ago when iOS 14 got it.

Bit of a null point considering iOS 15 allows this.

 

[Wizec]

I'll be honest I'm getting quite bored of the constant theme that the iPad isn't good enough and it needs to do more. For me it does everything I need it to and I can't think of anything I really want it to do that would make the experience better. The iPad operates between the iPhone and Mac and Apple is happy to have it there. If you're looking for it to replace a laptop then for people with relatively simple and straightforward needs it can do that. For others it can't. And that's why the Mac exists for those people.

Now don't get me wrong I'm not saying it can't improve, just like any other OS can make improvements. I think they should bring pro level apps over now it has M1 but that will take time but it's probably on its way. I don't need a ton of floating windows, and if I did I'd just use a Mac. Is it overpowered? Well yes but so is the iPhone but no one ever complains about that.

I think people on tech forums forget that these are aimed at people with much simpler needs, and that's why the iPad exists for simplicity and for people that don't want or need big desktop style OS's. Pro now just means the model with the most features, not really professional like the old days.

Surely I'm not alone in this thought process? I never hear anyone I know personally complaining their iPad doesn't do enough.

I would love for it to do more, as long as it did it well. I wish we could have another dot release that would focus on bug fixes like making AirPlay and AirDrop rock solid, fix the crazy overnight battery drain in Find My that came with AirTags, the sudden jump in keyboard sound volume that happens when I’m connected to an AirPlay 2 device, the keyboard lag that still happens several times a day, etc.

I heard a saying once that the more user friendly and polished software is, the more complex the code in the background. As a developer myself, I think there’s a lot of truth to this.

The reason I bring that up is to say that adding good features is expensive, and don’t forget the “mythical man month” dilemma. You can’t scale time to delivery (reducing it) linearly simply by adding more developers.

 

[sparksd]

I would love for it to do more, as long as it did it well. I wish we could have another dot release that would focus on bug fixes like making AirPlay and AirDrop rock solid, fix the crazy overnight battery drain in Find My that came with AirTags, the sudden jump in keyboard sound volume that happens when I’m connected to an AirPlay 2 device, the keyboard lag that still happens several times a day, etc.

I heard a saying once that the more user friendly and polished software is, the more complex the code in the background. As a developer myself, I think there’s a lot of truth to this.

The reason I bring that up is to say that adding good features is expensive, and don’t forget the “mythical man month” dilemma. You can’t scale time to delivery (reducing it) linearly simply by adding more developers.

"The Mythical Man-Month" - lol, I was actively working s/w when Brooks first published that in '75. Was still true when I retired a couple of years ago - and still ignored.

 

[MisterSavage]

Bit of a null point considering iOS 15 allows this.

Yes, wishing my iPad could do something my iPhone could do for a year is a great user experience.

 

[hatchettjack]

my air 4 is an amazing computer, I would have no problem if it was my only machine!

 

[MacDaddyPanda]

Yep, my Ipad Air 4 is more than adequate. It's my glorified HUE, Logitech Harmony, ChromeBook(replacement) all in one supplement to my Iphone. It's definitely not a laptop replacement. And I doubt Apple will create a Tablet that will be an 2-in-1 type computer any time soon. So it gets the job done for me. I would love for it be my mac mini replacement. But That's also been relegated to my bedroom computer I hardly use. As I'm mostly PC(Gamer).

 

[bevsb2]

I love my M1 iPad Pro 11" and am very happy with it as is. I don't need a laptop replacement. I have a MacBook Pro for that.

 

[Username-already-in-use]

iPadOS in addition to remote desktoping, gives me all the functionality I need.

 

[boss.king]

I’m very happy with it as it is, I’m just not under any impression that it can replace a “real”computer. It’s a great tertiary device, but it would be the first one I get rid of if needed. It can’t match the versatility of a desktop OS or the portability of a phone.