Now that you have had your M1 laptop for a while are you using your iPad with keyboard less and less?

[Seanm87]

Still using both equally.

Though the iPad is mostly related to bed use. I still find the form factor and touch input for lying down far superior. I keep the MK as I like the fact it has adjustable angles if I'm watching YouTube or Netflix.

I don't need both but I enjoy having both.

 

[antipodean]

I'm one of those with something of an "Apple problem". I try to spread my usage among my various devices (iPhone 11 Pro Max, 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 + MK, M1 MBA (8/512), M1 mini (16/1TB), 2020 i7 MBP (32/1TB) + eGPU, plus other Apple products like watch, homepods, etc.)

I haven't had the M1 MBA long, but I can already see how it would take over some uses where the iPad was the "go-to" device. I am very impressed with its performance, battery life and fanless design. Portrait orientation and pencil are some of the iPad's only unique features over the MBA (4G not such a big deal during lockdown).

One thing I'd like to see is more developers produce M1-optimized versions of their iPadOS apps, especially games.

 

[Mistborn15]

Yes! Especially with the battery life of M1 Macs, I am using it much more than the 11" and thinking of replacing it with the next Mini. I've to admit that I never loved the iPad as a non-touch device - certainly not as much as some youtubers who were convinced that it is a good laptop replacement

 

[rui no onna]

The main thing different about an M1 Air (compared to an Intel Air), which might cause usage of iPad to drop, is the ability to run iOS apps on the M1 Air.....interesting that no one who has stopped using their iPad has mentioned this!

This honestly isn't a factor for me. Pretty much anything I do on the iPad can be accomplished with alternative software on Mac, Windows or Linux.

It's just the iPad's form factor that makes it a lot more convenient. Bed and couch use, the iPad's my fave device to use.

When at the office, the iPad's a lot more convenient to use than a laptop as a third screen. I just have the iPad docked on the Logitech K780 keyboard in front of the monitor. I control it with the same keyboard+trackball I use for the desktop and switching between desktop and iPad is easy.

Meanwhile, the MacBook would take up too much desk space as well as block the lower part of the monitors.

 

[OldCorpse]

The main thing different about an M1 Air (compared to an Intel Air), which might cause usage of iPad to drop, is the ability to run iOS apps on the M1 Air.....interesting that no one who has stopped using their iPad has mentioned this!

Meh, I don’t know - maybe that will be true one day, but I’m not sure how true it is today... it certainly is not true for me, that’s certain.

And the reason is simple - the vast majority of iOS/iPadOS apps are massively inferior to their MacOS equivalents. Now, there are some thing the iPad is better for, but those apps are not relevant to the Mac, because the Mac doesn’t have a touch interface, so f.ex. drawing apps on iOS/iPadOS are mostly irrelevant.

Now there may be some iOS/iPadOS apps that don’t have an equivalent on MacOS, but I can’t think of may off the top of my head, that I’d want on my MBP.

In fact, I’d posit the opposite. iPad will GAIN use if the iOS/iPadOS quality improves to at least equivalence vs their MacOS counterparts. For example, I use a lot of word-processing software, including specialized ones (screenplay writing software), and I am always extremely frustrated by how inferior they are on iPadOS (compare Final Draft on MacOS vs iPadOS - ugh!). Now, if these apps become as good on the iPad as they are on my Mac, I can easily see how I’d use the iPad a lot more. As an example, I forced myself to use FD on my iPad for over a year, and it was always a chore compared to working in FD on my iMac. But the iPad was portable. However, since I’ve gotten the M1 MBP, I use FD there and the FD usage on the iPad has fallen off dramatically (except on those occasions when I take the iPad to places where I have to wait, like doctor’s waiting room etc. and it’s more convenient than lugging the MBP around.

Bottom line, to MY use scenarios, not being able to load iPadOS apps onto my Mac is not a factor - what would definitely make me use the iPad more is if I could load MacOS apps onto the iPad! YMMV.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Now that I have my M1, I am using my iPad Pro in Sidecar mode when at home, which I like. I am still taking my iPad to work twice a week to accomplish tasks I need done.

 

[jerryk]

I gave up on trying to make my iPad Pro a "real" computer a while back. I bought the Apple Magic keyboard and it was a heavy pig. Made my 11" iPad Pro weight close to the same as my M1 Air. Also, having the iPad on the stand felt a little unstable.

If you want a full laptop, get a laptop with an M1. Don't try to make an iPad Pro into something it is not.

 

[OldCorpse]

I gave up on trying to make my iPad Pro a "real" computer a while back. I bought the Apple Magic keyboard and it was a heavy pig. Made my 11" iPad Pro weight close to the same as my M1 Air. Also, having the iPad on the stand felt a little unstable.

If you want a full laptop, get a laptop with an M1. Don't try to make an iPad Pro into something it is not.

It’s funny, because while I can see why the Apple Magic Keyboard might be wonderful to use, I shied away from it for the very reason you mentioned... it becomes the weight and awkwardness of a laptop - if I wanted a laptop, that’s what I’d get. The AMK loses some of the form factor advantages that make the iPad special as a distinct platform with its own use-case profile.

That is why I avoided all such keyboards from Brydge, Logitech and others - it’s missing the point.

On the other hand, there is no denying the adantage of having a hardware keyboard for the iPad. This is why I bought the best - IMHO - compromise, the Apple Smart Keyboard. It is light, convenient and functional. Is it perfect? Hardly. I’m not talking about how it is to type on it, because that’s subjective and different for each user - f.ex. I’m OK with it, I don’t think it’s a champ at typing, but it’s all right. What I miss most from it, is the lack of any kind of backlighting on the keys. For some reason I find myself typing in the dark not that rarely, and a lighted keyboard would’ve been just aces. But I understand that it would need to be heavier at that point, so, win some lose some. One other thing I like about the ASK is that it’s spill and dust-resistant - unlike, say, a laptop keyboard... that’s not trivial, especially if you own a cat that sheds fur and likes to lie on the keyboard

So, while not perfect, I like the ASK, and it’s very easy and pleasant to carry around, it adds very little in the way of bulk or weight, and it’s functional enough. YMMV.

 

[brig2221]

I still use my 11" iPad Pro, but about 25% as much as I did prior to my M1 MBA purchase. For once, I think I got a steal of a deal as far as Apple products go, getting a base model MBA at $999. I can't really think of one thing to complain about, powerful, compact, great battery life, great keyboard, no touchbar, full operating system, etc. etc. etc....

 

[scottrods]

Exactly. People always want their latest. I personally sold my iPad because I couldn’t justify having a tablet if I have the same thing basically in my laptop. If the iPad could run the full macOS, that may be a different thing.

Amen on the OS - if they could both run the same OS, then I'd be more happy to have both... I still am OK with it, but I think I will have to step into a MI book soon... been teasing myself for too long about this. Then 2 basically portable devices that I would use totally differently.

 

[scottrods]

Pulled the trigger today and have an M1 MBP on the way - went ahead and did the 16 gb integrated ram thing though... Probably don't need it but hate to sell myself short on power for anything. My MBP mid2015 needs a new battery due to swelling... no Apple Service providers have a schedule that will get me fixed up with that for several weeks to months... All the area Apple stores are closed... So I just ordered the new Computer to get by... if they come out with substantially better for the larger MBP's I'll sell this new one and get the bigger screen (Getting old and vision is not all. that great...) Now I feel like the 13" iPad may get left unused...LOL

 

[dmccloud]

I basically use my ipad Pro for one purpose now: as a second monitor for my Mac. That iPad/13" Mac combo can't be beat as far as a portable, lightweight dual screen setup is concerned.