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The fact that people are demanding it to become better in many areas indicates how many of us actually enjoy the platform and want it to succeed.

But there is vast difference between the hardware and the software of the iPad platform. I think hardware is almost unanimously liked. Software in 2019 not so much...
 
But there is vast difference between the hardware and the software of the iPad platform. I think hardware is almost unanimously liked. Software in 2019 not so much...

Well, simple fact is that the hardware made more and quicker progress. I myself am missing some features in iOS too, but I also don’t believe that people in 2019 don’t know what to use an iPad for - it’s an established piece of technology by now. People who purchase an iPad in 2019 probably have a very good idea what they want to use it for and what areas it’s still lacking.
 
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I think you’re spot on. While the iPad is lacking in some respects the ongoing success as the dominant tablet device cannot be denied either.
The fact that people are demanding it to become better in many areas indicates how many of us actually enjoy the platform and want it to succeed.
If I didn't enjoy using it, I wouldn't be asking for improvements. In the meantime though I have to be logical and use what really suits my needs, not what Apple wants me to use.
 
I do a fair amount of my work on my iPad Pro and iphone and the beauty here is how well they work together. They both run the same apps (such as shortcuts), and for the longest time, features like airdrop worked better across iOS devices than between a Mac and an iOS device.

Could the iPad be better? Sure. But this doesn't prevent me from appreciating the iPad for what it is today, or change the fact that I am getting a lot of meaningful work done on it.
 
Apple is playing the long (and I mean LONG) game with the iPad. Meaning, they are priming iOS to be the computing platform of the future. As such, it will be of primary use by the generation now approaching adulthood, as well as subsequent ones. Old farts like us (and by that I don’t mean “age”, but ways of thinking and working) will likely never fully embrace it the way they will, because for them, iOS will be just what a computer is.

The difficulties expressed in this forum stem from trying to fit accustomed legacy methods, with their attendant brain and muscle memories, into this radically new computing paradigm. We are making assumptions that simply do not apply in this new world. Just as a friend of mine (who is not “old”, mind you) cannot wrap his head around purchasing music via digital download (he once said to me “but aren’t you really buying nothing”?) because, as an avid CD collector he spent many years amassing a huge library that crowds out his living space.

I recall interning at a company that was in the midst of transitioning from DOS to Windows — a number of the employees took early retirement because they just could not cope with learning GUI.

Apple knows what they are doing. iPad will become the norm, whether or not the cranky ones like it.
Apple has never said that iPad will be the primary device of the future. That is a conclusion some iPad users have made on their own. Apple has, however, stated the opposite—that Macs and iPads will both continue to have their place, only that which device one chooses depends on the user.
The reason both will continue side by side is that iOS, with its sandboxed app-centric os, touch ui, and corresponding applications, was designed and is perfect for consumption and shorter input interactions. MacOS, with its file-centric os, pointer ui, and it’s correspond applications, was designed and is perfect for more demanding workflows and longer input interactions.
One is not better or more advanced than the other. They’re simply made for different purposes (insert car+truck analogy). Apple’s push for iPads to replace more laptops simply reflects the fact that for some who are currently on MacOS (or preferably Windows), iOS is better suited for their needs (especially with the help of the keyboard and pencil). It was a marketing push in a time of slowing sales.
It’s possible iOS could pivot to become file-centric and have mouse support and thereby push out MacOS, but at that point, what’s the major difference between the OSes? One could accomplish the same thing the other way, by adapting MacOS for touch. But both are extremely doubtful (outside of the rumor about mouse accessibility support in iOS). Apple has been very clear about maintaining both platforms.
 
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Good for you. You got what you wanted because it solves your use cases. That's all there is to it.

No, it is not just you that prefers macOS. Not sure why you'd think otherwise.
 
i really dont have a need for a iPad anything
would be just another mouth to feed
 
Apple has never said that iPad will be the primary device of the future. That is a conclusion some iPad users have made on their own. Apple has, however, stated the opposite—that Macs and iPads will both continue to have their place, only that which device one chooses depends on the user.
The reason both will continue side by side is that iOS, with its sandboxed app-centric os, touch ui, and corresponding applications, was designed and is perfect for consumption and shorter input interactions. MacOS, with its file-centric os, pointer ui, and it’s correspond applications, was designed and is perfect for more demanding workflows and longer input interactions.
One is not better or more advanced than the other. They’re simply made for different purposes (insert car+truck analogy). Apple’s push for iPads to replace more laptops simply reflects the fact that for some who are currently on MacOS (or preferably Windows), iOS is better suited for their needs (especially with the help of the keyboard and pencil). It was a marketing push in a time of slowing sales.
It’s possible iOS could pivot to become file-centric and have mouse support and thereby push out MacOS, but at that point, what’s the major difference between the OSes? One could accomplish the same thing the other way, by adapting MacOS for touch. But both are extremely doubtful (outside of the rumor about mouse accessibility support in iOS). Apple has been very clear about maintaining both platforms.

I think the overall debate about it is that iOS has too many limitations for certain workflows that could easily be fixed by Apple - if they wanted. Yes that would blur the lines between what device people need. I'd love to be able to just take my 12.9 iPad Pro with me on a business trip but that just isn't feasible with the current version of iOS so I also lug my MBP with me.
 
For me the iPad is the perfect device when on vacation. I can browse the Internet, read books, read and respond to emails, keep touch with friends and family and maybe use the iPad for my vacation planning. The thing is that I can do all that with my iPhone too and for everything else also use my 13" MacBook Pro. I don't see what the iPad is doing better than my MacBook Pro, at least for my needs.
 
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I am preparing for some extended traveling and have decided to bring my iPhone + MBP 13 2016 instead of my 9.7" 2018 ipad. For simple writing of email and Facebook I much prefer a keyboard. A keyboard + ipad is already 2lbs where my MBP is 3lbs. The real kickers for me are:
- Prefer email, FB and web browsing on Mac OS a lot
- Prefer trackpad and tap vs reach out and touch screen.
- Prefer Mac OS to IOS (a lot)
- Lack of trackpad/mouse support is a real buzz kill

I have both 1st gen ipad pro 12.9 and ipad 9.7. I use the 12.9 almost exclusively for lyrics and reading sheet music. It is attached to a Mic stand. Love this! Use the 9.7 mostly for remote camera control when making music videos. Also like the 9.7 for reading books and media sharing. I have owned several ipads and I find holding them to do things just not great. Even reading I find ipads hard to hold.
 
They both have their pros and cons but I prefer my laptop. If relaxing in an easy chair I find it much easier to use the laptop and the track pad and keyboard than the iPad. I see little point in using an external keyboard with an iPad. May as well use the more functional (in many cases) laptop in that case. Just my viewpoint...
 
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I think the overall debate about it is that iOS has too many limitations for certain workflows that could easily be fixed by Apple - if they wanted. Yes that would blur the lines between what device people need. I'd love to be able to just take my 12.9 iPad Pro with me on a business trip but that just isn't feasible with the current version of iOS so I also lug my MBP with me.
I was really just responding to the poster’s assertion that iOS is generally intended to and will eventually replace MacOS, which I believe is false, based off history.
As far as the debate about where iOS should go- I think there are some things such as mouse support that would be easy to implement, others such as extended display that would be more involved, and others such as a MacOS-like file system that would not only be involved but would also maybe compromise the identity and advantage of iOS. In any case, the only area I feel Apple is failing to deliver on their promise of a “laptop replacement for many people”—and therefore should do something about—is mouse support. For all other requested features, I think an argument can be made that the iPad can still replace a laptop “for many people” without them. But I believe almost everyone needs a keyboard with their laptop, and almost no one likes touching the screen for extended periods when using a keyboard (this was admitted by Apple themselves). Because Apple made those claims, they are under obligation to fix the mouse situation, in my opinion (edit- though I don’t think they will). Other than that, I pretty much stay out of the debate.
 
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I never said that iOS will replace macOS. If this were the case, then it would be an awful situation to be and I would go back to Windows, unless iOS becomes as powerful as macOS..I also don't believe that Apple plans to get rid of macOS. It is pretty much what Steve Jobs said. At some point the majority of people will be using a tablet (the car analogy) running iOS and desktop computers will be like tracks, still very important, but required/needed by fewer people. This is where we are going and I am fine with that. I guess I will continue using a track and not a car.
 
I never said that iOS will replace macOS. If this were the case, then it would be an awful situation to be and I would go back to Windows, unless iOS becomes as powerful as macOS..I also don't believe that Apple plans to get rid of macOS. It is pretty much what Steve Jobs said. At some point the majority of people will be using a tablet (the car analogy) running iOS and desktop computers will be like tracks, still very important, but required/needed by fewer people. This is where we are going and I am fine with that. I guess I will continue using a track and not a car.
I wasn’t referring to you. I was referring to the person I quoted. You would need to go back over my conversation.
I agree, it’s cars and trucks. I guess a surface would be like an suv.
 
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Steve Jobs really knew what he was talking about. I guess that in five years from now things will be even more interesting, especially if Macs make the transition to ARM processors. There are exciting years ahead of us and I am happy to be able to live this technological evolution.
 
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I have an iPad Pro with Apple Pencil, however, much like you I prefer macOS for basically every task.

:apple:
I must be using my iPad Pro too much; today I had to go back to my MacBook Pro to attach two files to an email (LOL) and not only kept touching the screen but found the trackpad totally unintuitive and the scramble of windows just a great big mess.
 
Depends what you're doing.

I love my iPad pro. But i use it for a lot of things my mac CAN'T do or is bad at, like:

  • Note-taking - in meetings, etc.
  • Remote support/remote terminal when i am out of the office and nowhere near a desk
  • Photo editing/drawing

If you don't do those things, or those sorts of things that demand portability and/or stylus use then sure.... the iPad Pro is probably a very limiting device.

For me its used a lot of the time i'd otherwise use a laptop, and my desktop has replaced a lot of the other times i'd use my laptop. But definitely, there are things that are far easier done in macOS than iOS.

If you're mostly desk-bound and don't draw, do diagrams or take notes... its probably not 'usable' for work.
 
The Mac is also great in note taking. Maybe not handwritten notes, but notes I can use and share with others much more easily than with an iPad. I am not very fond of handwritten notes
 
This is a great sum-up. Through the years I really have tried working with iPads but it simply doesn't stick. After coming from a proper OS, it feels like a toy or more like an inflated iPhone. In terms of productivity I think that an iPad is far closer to an iPhone than a Mac. When you think about it, for software available on all platforms you actually can do everthing on an iPhone, that you would on an iPad. But there are many (mainly non-content-consumption, creative, professional stuff) things you simply cannot do (or cannot reasonably do) on an iPad.

You can do NICHE pro stuff.

Can you do video editing? Like for real. No!
Can you do complex presentations? Like animations and timings and stuff? No!
Can you write scientific articles with references etc.? No.
Can you use complex keyboard shortcuts in software? No.
Can you create software for iOS? LOL, no. This one alone makes it not really "pro".

I mean for crying out loud if somebody sends me a ZIP file, I need to jump through hoops to open it.



I would love to work with an iPad. It's so portable, elegant... If it would run macOS, I would simply get an external keyboard and trackpad and that could be my only device besides the phone. I really wish Apple brings their own silicone to the Macbook line.

Even scrolling through Macrumors is a far nicer experience on a laptop. You can open threads in new tabs, have separate windows, switch between them.
I believe you are wrong about complex presentations. Check out Keynote. I would love to have an advanced time line in Keynote like those in 3D apps but that is not strictly necessary. Custom made shape library is also very useful.

Scientific writing is a software problem (target audience is too small so microsoft has not embedded a good reference manager). If you add that criteria, you can just as well add engineering software etc which also is very limited on MacOS.

Ability to create software is a funny criteria. I believes the software in the router, car, oven etc cannot be created in the router, car or oven.

Who said that the iPad was a replacement for software development, engineering and other very specialised application areas?
 
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