My MBP is the secondary device for the Ipad Pro.
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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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honestly will be keeping my 2018 already have m1 for my macbook so atm since no software specific was announced im sure my 2018 will still be supported I see no point upgrading my ipad pro. I only use lightroom, shapr3d and at occassions lumafusion nothing more than that don't need the m1 speed on a tablet to be honest, I also just use my macbook as a at home desktop and use my ipad pro as a sidecar for it and work on the go. I just can't see why I would need to upgrade to a m1 from my 2018 pro, until they merge macos and ipados fully into a Ipad Pro I just don't see the need to get one. now if you have something older than 2018 then go for it; but ipados has still yet been the full laptop replacement yet. I do use it for pages and taking notes; but nothing much
I use my iPads for art, reading and consumption and Mac(s) for heavy lifting. They compliment each other.
My iPad has been my primary home device for most of the last decade (with a brief fling with a 12” Macbook). My 2018 Pro has been my personal device since its release, and it doubles as a digital notebook/reference device while working along-side my iMac. Unfortunately if I did not have access to my work iMac, this configuration would be a lot less tenable. As much as I want my iPad to function as my only personal device, I am still regularly frustrated by the limitations of the software. What I consider really basic workflows like editing some fairly basic personal spreadsheets with some embedded charts, editing documents shared with me via email attachments, or filling out an expense form at work which is just a simple spreadsheet, taking pictures of receipts, and attaching them to an email for submission. Any of these activities should be technically feasible, but more often than not I run into a bug in the software or some hurdle that makes doing this simple stuff so difficult that I just give up and go use the iMac.
Until the software evolves, this isn’t going to change, M1 or not.
Until the software evolves, this isn’t going to change, M1 or not.
But right now all you get is a speed bump, up from some already fast iPads.
If you were able to use an iPad as your main computer before that just got quicker. If you couldn’t because core functionality was missing for your workflow yesterday, it will still be missing today.
For me it depends entirely on software. I'm looking at either a new m1 MacBook or an iPad Pro, and the upcoming software stack is what will sway my decision.
So for you the iPad then is the main, the secondary device or where does it fit in?
I didn’t know you were actively using those on a Mac right now. Good for you.
The whole purpose of the iPad is to not be a MacBook. If iPad runs macOS, it may well become a 2-in-1 MacBook or something similar. The iPad has its core audience. People who want a touch device and who may use the pen(cil) more than a keyboard.
I am not part of iPad's core audience. I need a computer, and a keyboard, a mouse, and a file system are requirements for me. But I understand that many people like/need it more than a computer.
People who want the iPad to become a computer may really want (a) cheaper MacBooks at the price of iPads; (b) smaller and lighter MacBooks; (c) touch-screen MacBooks; (d) 2-in-1 MacBooks. I suppose none of this is going to happen.
Apple will probably keep differentiating the Mac and the iPad at some degree. Perhaps the iPad with the M1 gets new functions, but I guess not to mimic the Mac.
2018 Mac mini for desktop, iPad Pro M1 for mobile. I still prefer a desk setup with dual displays + Mouse/KB + HQ speakers for getting most of my work done. I plan on getting the M1 iPad Pro as a compliment to my mini. 50% of my work requires macOS-style creative apps but I can see more and more of that workflow moving to the iPad Pro.
I want the iPad Pro mainly for brainstorming ideas/browsing/media & arcade, but will gradually move whichever parts of my work to the iPad as apps/iPadOS become more capable.
I want the iPad Pro mainly for brainstorming ideas/browsing/media & arcade, but will gradually move whichever parts of my work to the iPad as apps/iPadOS become more capable.
“Performance”? That’s going to do nothing to provide the business and finance software I use daily but isn’t available on iOS. I can get more done with a 30 year old computer than a high performance iPad. I do suppose my YouTube videos will stream better.
I think that for most people the iPadOS limitations affect mainly their ability to use it as a personal computing device. Work is another story. For those that own their working computer (earn their living with it), or even for businesses for that matter, the main limiting factor is outside of Apple's control. Most people don't need Final Cut or Logic. They need desktop Office, desktop browsers, desktop cloud syncing and other desktop apps specific to their field. So if we rule out MacOS on iPad (in whatever form) I don't see how Apple is going to convince those companies to port apps to iPad, however powerful and capable of running them they can be....
When I work from home, iPad side by side with MacBook. I need a MacBook for many things (Citrix, Chrome/Zoom, better office programs, etc). At some point I will add an external monitor to the setup, and it will be interesting when both computers will be able to drive the monitor. Because I work with the iPad on a desk, I like the larger screen. I have stopped carrying my iPad Pro with me ever since I got the "regular iPad" which is my light use computer that I throw in my work briefcase.
Since I only use laptops for work, I guess I fall in the category of "ipad pro as a secondary device for laptop".
iPad OS is still way limited for it to function as primary device. I guess what defines "enough for primary work" differ from person to person, but atleast for what I do, iPad OS has a lot more to go.
When Apple unvailed 2021 ipad pro with m1 and 16 gig, I immediately thought I was going to upgrade from 4th 12.9 1tb to 2tb. Eventually, I've realized that what I do on my ipad pro will not change with ipad pro 2021 and decided to way for possilbe software news.
iPad OS is still way limited for it to function as primary device. I guess what defines "enough for primary work" differ from person to person, but atleast for what I do, iPad OS has a lot more to go.
When Apple unvailed 2021 ipad pro with m1 and 16 gig, I immediately thought I was going to upgrade from 4th 12.9 1tb to 2tb. Eventually, I've realized that what I do on my ipad pro will not change with ipad pro 2021 and decided to way for possilbe software news.
Nowadays as I am working from home I use the most my working laptop. After that is my personal laptop and then at the last the iPad. I do not do anything hardcore on my personal laptop. It is even sad how less I use it, given that it was not super cheap. I use it mostly for browsing in Internet, watching youtube videos, watching movies and skyping friends (texting, no video calls).
All of those things can be done on an iPad, but I prefer the laptop because:
1. The typing experience is better on the laptop
2. The laptop is lappable. I can type while being at bed. I find the iPad not comfortable for this. I hate the onscreen keyboard and the hardware one is not as ergonomic as the 15.6 inch laptop.
3. The screen is bigger and I enjoy that when watching movies and youtube videos
4. The laptop can handle in general more open tabs in Chrome
5. Better multitasking and background processes. I do not process RAW photos but when I do, I do not want to observe my laptop while doing it and just sit waiting. I want to watch a movie in the meantime or chat with friends.
I use the iPad mostly with the pencil - to read books or write digital notes. This is where the iPad shines for me and I gladly use it as a digital notebook.
All of those things can be done on an iPad, but I prefer the laptop because:
1. The typing experience is better on the laptop
2. The laptop is lappable. I can type while being at bed. I find the iPad not comfortable for this. I hate the onscreen keyboard and the hardware one is not as ergonomic as the 15.6 inch laptop.
3. The screen is bigger and I enjoy that when watching movies and youtube videos
4. The laptop can handle in general more open tabs in Chrome
5. Better multitasking and background processes. I do not process RAW photos but when I do, I do not want to observe my laptop while doing it and just sit waiting. I want to watch a movie in the meantime or chat with friends.
I use the iPad mostly with the pencil - to read books or write digital notes. This is where the iPad shines for me and I gladly use it as a digital notebook.
Quite agree and would add that I can attach my laptop to a monitor and have a full-screen experience and can use full-up Office 365. I'd say my use now is 90% laptop, 10% iPP. Were my iPP to die, I'd strongly consider not replacing it at this point.
Yes, adding cool external display is also a factor. I don't currently do it as my external display is hooked to my work laptop but technically it is a plus I enjoy.
I realized that currently I do not use Office for personal needs. I do however use Notion to do some stuff and as weird as it sounds, Notion on Windows is a nicer experience than on an iPadOS. For some reason editing tables requires less step on a Windows machine. For example in Windows I can directly edit the fields on a row without opening the associated page. On iOS/iPadOS I have to do it on the page itself which to be honest annoys me as it is an aditional step.
Then today for example my 2 GB RAM iPad had so much RAM issues that Spotify would stop working mid song 3 times in a row. In the end I restarted the iPad and decided to use my personal laptop for the Spotify ...
My current 11” iPad has become my main device at home and a secondary/ companion device for work.
I have an iMac 21.5” from 2017 as another device at home and then a Dell Windows laptop for work.
At home I use it as my main device for browsing, banking apps, some light gaming, Netflix, youtube,... sometimes a video call with friends, Twitter, ...
I have an iMac 21.5” from 2017 as another device at home and then a Dell Windows laptop for work.
At home I use it as my main device for browsing, banking apps, some light gaming, Netflix, youtube,... sometimes a video call with friends, Twitter, ...
Well in the first setup (with the 12.9" iPad Pro) the iPad Pro would effectively be my primary device - my portable device with the biggest screen will always be my 'primary' device that gets the most use. If I went with the 11" iPad / 16" MBP then I would expect the MBP would get the most use.
To be honest I don't have a lot of use cases that require a lot of power or special applications. My workflow is pretty simple and I usually only go to my Mac when I need to torrent, manage and sync my Music library (I don't subscribe to any services - only local downloads), or edit a photo (which I could probably figure out how to do even better on the iPad).
Theoretically, if reviews are good and iOS 15 adds some of the "real laptop" features like proper multi tasking, macOS software support, proper external display support, then it might be AiO device for me:
1)Its an iPad for both productivity and leisure
2)With MK/Brydge its a laptop
3)Docked and connected to external display, its a desktop
If and only if...
Otherwise not spending 1300-2000 euros on tablet only.
1)Its an iPad for both productivity and leisure
2)With MK/Brydge its a laptop
3)Docked and connected to external display, its a desktop
If and only if...
Otherwise not spending 1300-2000 euros on tablet only.
I’ve thought about that. The only reason I could think for not waiting is marketing.
The average user isn’t going to care about power or productivity, or want ‘pro’ apps necessarily. It will be far easier to sell and market if they can say ‘hey look we put the Mac chip in an iPad!’.
But what do you do when you update the Mac Pro/MacBook Pro with M1X? Suddenly your marketing how good it is you put the M1 chip in an iPad, but also how much better the M1X is.
It makes sense to get all the M1 products out now, so in the latter half the year, the M1X or whatever it will be called can go into new products and be the new focus from a marketing hardware point of view.
As much needed as it is, I don’t think Apple have used its OS features/apps to sell iPads very often.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it will be more of the same, but that’s my reasoning at least for not waiting. That and I guess they needed to release something this spring ?♂️