True - a mouse can't do everything your fingers can with gestures. But it does enough for me.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad Pro Mouse Experience on the iPad Pro ?
- Thread starter augustya
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
True - a mouse can't do everything your fingers can with gestures. But it does enough for me.
I don't use pinch often. However, I remember when setting my mouse buttons (under Devices), Pinch is an option you can assign. Dunno if it zooms in or out.
On my MX2 Ergo Plus, I have the buttons assigned as follows:
Left Click: Tap
Middle Click: Open Menu
Right Click: Long Press
Button 4: Control Center
Button 5: App Switcher
The way I have set up my MX Anywhere 2S Mouse keys is in the following format
Left Click - Tap
Right Click - Open Assistive Touch Menu and I have added APP Switcher to the Menu so I do my APP Switching from there (Multi-Tasking)
3rd Button - iPad Home Screen
4th Button- Volume Up
5th Button- Volume Down.
But I liked the way you have set up your buttons, I am just wondering do I need to block my button on the Mouse for Volume up and down as even the Bluetooth Keyboard that I am using offers volume Controls button. So it is dual functionality that I have, two times.
I could instead use the 3rd Button on my Mouse for Control Center just like you have, to switch to Airplay Speakers which I often use. But even that can be managed by using the Mouse Cursor and bringing the Control Centre down by forcefully pulling it down from the top right corner. So everything has a Substitute.And If I assign my button 3 to Control Centre, I will have to figure out what am I gonna assign my Button 4 for ?
I had originally assigned buttons 4 & 5 to Home and Dock with the Assistive Touch Menu having Home, App Switcher, Control Center and a couple others that I forget. I ended up switching the dedicated buttons to Control Center and App Switcher. The App Switcher brings up the Dock anyway and I found it quite easy to get back to Home from the App Switcher screen. My most used apps are in the dock so it’s not often that I need an app from Home.
To all the people who have posted here, I have a question. Firstly I hope you guys are aware that this is a Touch Device that you guys are using it. What is the point of converting it in a Desktop/Laptop Replica ? By adding External Mouse and Keyboard ? I mean, you guys are defeating the purpose, the whole idea of a Touch Based Device. I do not think Steve Jobs when he had introduced the iPad back in 2010 had this idea in Mind. I mean if you guys want to use a computer with a Bluetooth Keyboard and a Mouse why not buy a traditional Computer or a Laptop instead ?? Can someone please explain me from the above audience what are you trying to achieve and prove out of using a Bluetooth keyboard and a Mouse ? Because I don’t get it !!
Because some like to use it for both desktop and tablet. People do this to not need a laptop and will be exactly what I’m planning for the next gen ipad pro 12.9. With sissor switch keyboard coming and will likely get the ipad OS trackpad b=from brydge so I have the laptop and tablet.
Some don’t see the need for ipads and laptops when the ipad can do the same job for what some may use it for.
So that's why people like to combine the two.
Problem is the mouse use is average at best, keyboard works ok, but I have never used one with a iPad, too cumbersome.
But that might be applicable for the 12.9” iPad Pro but for something like the 11” iPad Pro screen Size, to expect the 11” iPad Pro to work like a Laptop with such small screen size and limited screen space, I think it is just a little too foolish to expect that from such a small device. Just my 2 cents.
I think I can chime in here from my personal experience. I think if you use the right mouse and the right keyboard it works great even faster than fingers. I have been using a Bluetooth mouse and a Keyboard only from last Friday, It did take some time for me to get used to it and start picking up speed. But when it did I think it works very well. And very fast too. Now the only time I feel. Have to use fingers and there cannot be any alternative for that is when I want to edit photos and I wanna play around with photos, nothing works better than fingers on a Touch Device for Zoom in and Zoom out. I did the right thing of investing heavily on a good Keyboard and Mouse which is now Paying dividends. I couldn’t be more happy !
Last edited:
When I'm at the office, apart from PDF markup with Pencil, I also use the iPad (12.9") docked as a secondary device for email, iMessage and the like. I have a Logitech K780 and a Logitech MX2 Ergo Plus trackball that I switch between my work desktop and the iPad.
I've got a dual monitor setup at work but both monitors are usually taken up by Access and/or Excel so it's convenient having a relatively large third screen for other stuff.
Besides, just because we use the iPad with keyboard and mouse doesn't mean that's how we use it all the time. For example, I'm in bed right now and I'm just using the iPad (9.7") with onscreen keyboard to type this reply. When at home, the 12.9" gets used sans keyboard/mouse for comic reading or occasional video watching (I'm near sighted and it's easier to watch without glasses on the iPad than wearing glasses on the big TV).
So that's what I said earlier maybe this use case works and is applicable for the 12.9" iPad Pro but to use the 11" iPad Pro as a Laptop Substitute just because you are adding mouse and keyboard does not cut it will not give a Desktop/Laptop replacement feel. It wil not and canot fill up that space.
It becomes just too cramped for space and tiny !
If I didn't have a 12.9, I'd have absolutely no qualms using a 10-11" iPad in its place. It's already significantly bigger than an iPhone anyway. The iPad can't be a work desktop/laptop substitute for me because of the software I need.
At home though, the iPad comprises majority of my personal computing, admittedly mostly consumption (reading and web browsing). I used to use a laptop for those tasks but the iPad is so much more convenient. 🤷🏻♀️
So at Home do you add Mouse and Keyboard to it ? Look, I am not denying the 11" iPad Pro in its own league. It is a great Device with a great screen size but when someone adds mouse and keyboard to it he expects it to give a feel of a Desktop or a Laptop, the user is coming with that mindset. That is what I am debating about. In its own league no doubt the 11" iPad Pro is the way to go for many including me.
I don't but with my usage at home (reading in couch or bed), the keyboard's just an unnecessary hassle.
To each their own, though. My brother regularly uses a Logitech K480 with his 9.7" iPad (mostly for chatting on Twitch).
I really don't see how there's a right or wrong way to use the iPad.
There you go...That's what I am trying to explain. This device is not meant to be used that way. Of course you can use it nobody is stopping you from doing so. But it is like saying on a Free Highway I will drive an Aeroplane since it can be driven on a road aswell. is it meant for that ?
I know there cannot be a uniform yes or no for everyone. But just a thought, what gimmicks people do in their free time. lol !!
For many of us, it's not gimmicks. Good news is that you don't have to use the mouse and keyboard and other people's use doesn't impinge on your experience.
Exactly. I was just pointing out that for some of us it's not a gimmick, it's a necessity at times.
That's a stupid comparison. You're not allowed to drive airplanes on freeways.
No such rules governing proper/improper use of iPads.
And that's what gets so irritating about these discussions. There are countless threads and posts on why people like/want to use a mouse and keyboard - go read those to answer your original question. Don't use them if you don't want to but don't abuse those that do.
Because for most personal computing I prefer iOS over macOS or Windows. There are times when I want to use iOS with a keyboard, and there are times when I want to use iOS with a mouse. It’s really that simple.
Ok I am here now seriously curious and interested to know why do you prefer iOS over Mac OS or Windows ? What is that iOS trumps over other OS. If you can give any quick simple examples to illustrate your point ?
Sure, I use the Tapatalk app to access this forum. Your reply showed up as a notification on my lock screen. I tapped it, the iPad auto-unlocked with FaceID, and went straight to your message. I typed this reply with the Smart Keyboard from my kitchen table. Super fast, super convenient.
All those little conveniences for personal computing tasks add up over time for me, to the point that iOS is my preferred OS.
I know your message is meant for @paulmeyers42. But I gravitate more toward iPadOS over macOS... for the versatility it provides. Being able to use touch... cellular capabilities, better portability. Of course, I absolutely enjoy my iMac.. but I do tend to use my iPad more...