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iPad Pro M1 iPad Pro. Main Computer or Secondary Device? Where does it fit into your life and workflow?
- Thread starter Royksöpp
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It'll be interesting to see if boundaries are really broken with the M1 in a tablet configuration. I'll be preordering on Friday
I think your valid question is one that needs to be asked after iPadOS 15 has been released, and people have had a chance to use it with the new iPad Pro.
there is alot of speculation about iPadOS 15 but keep in mind, apple's maintsream iPad isn't the pro or the air 4. Maybe they'll just limit features in the OS for the basic model that most folks get.
Some people are already talking about going all out with the 16GB configuration, and that is with iOS 14. For some people iPad iOS is already sufficient enough.
I don't doubt that the current OS is fine for some. You asked about an iPad that hasn't been released yet, that many will be putting a lot of emphasis on the upcoming OS to answer the question you asked.
If all one needs for work is spreadsheet creation, email, Zoom, Slack, and other basic office usage, the new iPad will be more than enough. The Achilles heel for the new iPad is going to be the OS.
First my main device is not just for personal computing, it's for work, since I mainly work from home...
For me to be a primary device it would need to run
- desktop Chrome / chromium browser with extensions
- real time syncing Dropbox and Onedrive
- full MS Office
- desktop Zoom
- a copy of Windows for a couple of softwares, even virtualized and even just Windows on ARM like M1 Macs can....
- support at least one 16.9 monitor.
I guess only MacOS could go this far and doubt M1 iPads will be able to do it anytime soon...
For me to be a primary device it would need to run
- desktop Chrome / chromium browser with extensions
- real time syncing Dropbox and Onedrive
- full MS Office
- desktop Zoom
- a copy of Windows for a couple of softwares, even virtualized and even just Windows on ARM like M1 Macs can....
- support at least one 16.9 monitor.
I guess only MacOS could go this far and doubt M1 iPads will be able to do it anytime soon...
The OS is irrelevant based on the positive response and interest from many of our members. People that use an iPad know it's limitations and continue to use it regardless. The M1 will be an upgrade no matter what. It's obviously not enough for you, but it is for many others. Keep an open mind when it comes to other users and know they are not the same as you.
This should have an option that says “iPad as primary device with laptop (or desktop) as secondary device.”
Before the M1 MacBook Air I would have chosen “iPad Pro as secondary device for Desktop.” I owned a 2018 13” MacBook Pro but essentially never used it and used my 2013 Mac Pro instead. Now with the M1 MBA, the Mac Pro is a file server and occasional compute server.
Unfortunately I still can’t use my iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard as my primary device.
Unfortunately I still can’t use my iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard as my primary device.
***iPad Pro as only computing device.*** For my workflow all I need is word processing (Microsoft Word) with some presentations (PowerPoint). I don't do any photo/video editing, spreadsheets, programming, etc. I successfully used a set up of an iPad Pro 11" (2018) with Smart Keyboard Folio and Apple Pencil for all my workflow needs for the past 2 years and I just loved the versatility of being able to simply snap on and snap off the iPad off the folio whenever I wanted to work or when I wanted just casual entertainment/leisure time. I just sold off that iPad Pro 11" because I'm going to purchase the new 12.9" iPad Pro along with the Magic Keyboard and again, coupled with the Apple Pencil, it'll be my ultimate all-in-one device setup. The only thing that could make it better is an even bigger screen--I would absolutely love a 15" screen iPad Pro, even though the price would most likely be astronomical. I'd gladly pay it!
You are really living it up, Kltmom. That is a very nice treat for yourself.
In today’s uncertain world you gotta have redundancy.
#1. Home Gaming PC as primary desktop 144hz displays
#2. Secondary back up PC
#3. Mobile Laptop for on the Go
#4. XDR 12.9” iPad Pro
#5. Samsung Note 20 Ultra 5G serves as mobile data WiFI hotspot
#6. Satellite Phone call for help. If all previous devices are out of commission.
Even Steve Jobs in his book compares Computers to AutomoBiles each with different capabilities and mobility levels. An RV Camper can do more but isn’t as mobile you would want to daily drive an RV.
I am strongly considering using a 12.9” iPad + 24” iMac setup with the products announced last Tuesday. The alternative would be 11” iPad + 16” MBP + Monitor... I’m having a really hard time deciding.
For me, the iPad is the perfect compliment to an iMac. I like having a large-screen Mac with multi-terabytes of storage as a media and file server as well as for tasks that are better suited for that platform. The iPad offers me a perfect mobile-first experience for consumption with the ability to be productive on the go.
I hope that future iPadOS version help build up the productivity side to fully eliminate any chance that I’d ever need a portable Mac.
I hope that future iPadOS version help build up the productivity side to fully eliminate any chance that I’d ever need a portable Mac.
the timing seems off, they could have coordinated the new pro with 15 release if it is really going to be game changing in a few months. I think we see more of the same to be honest.
Hopefully, we are both wrong on that front. That small voice inside says Apple will be Apple.
My situation is similar. I basically use Microsoft Office. Word, Outlook, PowerPoint. But my impressions are different. I need all the features of the desktop version of Office and the mobile version will not do, no matter how powerful the device is. Plus, I need a great keyboard and pointing device (preferably a mouse), and the tablet form factor is not really necessary for me.
So, regardless of how powerful the iPad may become, my primary device will always be a real computer, either a desktop or a laptop, a Mac or a PC. But always a traditional computer.
It'll be used as a secondary device until Apple picks up their act and puts pro applications on the App Store.
Use MacBook at work and 11" Pro at home. I rarely use a computer (Mac Mini) at home other than syncing my idevices.
So far no device can be my only computing device, the iPad Pro has fully replaced the MacBook Pro I had before though.
But for games I need Windows and a desktop, for work I have a desktop at work I remote into because it needs both power and Windows (Mac OS has really poor Office support, basically iPad OS level).
So in my eyes nothing Apple makes can be my only device, and I cannot replace my gaming desktop with anything mobile from any manufacturer.
But for games I need Windows and a desktop, for work I have a desktop at work I remote into because it needs both power and Windows (Mac OS has really poor Office support, basically iPad OS level).
So in my eyes nothing Apple makes can be my only device, and I cannot replace my gaming desktop with anything mobile from any manufacturer.
