iPad Pro Seriously, why not just get MacBook?

[Johnny Steps]

I don’t think you can quote higher price point when many iPad Pro’s are now dearer than a MBA without adding and accessories.

Oh yeah agreed. I guess I was thinking of my particular situation as I’ve only owned a regular white MacBook in 2009 and then only MacBook Pros from 2011 and up. Though I’ll argue that you do get a very much capable ‘multifunctional’ device by purchasing an iPad Pro.

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

I like the combination of the MacBook Pro AND the iPad Pro. The iPad serves as a second macOS screen while giving me easy control of the Apple TV and HomePod. Plus I can use the iPad as a capable graphics tablet and easily share documents with the Mac for more precise editing.

I'm still a bit perplexed why Apple hasn't introduced an Apple TV remote app for macOS. But having the iPad handy addresses that issue.

 

[secretk]

Oh yeah agreed. I guess I was thinking of my particular situation as I’ve only owned a regular white MacBook in 2009 and then only MacBook Pros from 2011 and up. Though I’ll argue that you do get a very much capable ‘multifunctional’ device by purchasing an iPad Pro.

The thing with these threads is always the fact of the personal choice. Like IMO laptops, desktops and iPads are all multi functional devices. The question is how relevant is this for you, me or someone else. I mean I am Software Development lead. I need a machine that I can work with code and I need external monitor. I also big size keyboard and good ergonomics in terms of screen size, otherwise I get back and neck pain. At this point of time iPads cannot offer me this without a lot of hoops. This does not mean that iPads are not multifunctional, but it does not offer me the functions I need.

And vice versa. Someone would say sure the laptop offers a lot but I don't care about this.

So yeah both type of devices offer a lot the question is what we need.

 

[C. Robert]

Reading this on my iPad Pro, while looking at my MacBook Pro that hasn’t been used in over a week.

 

[jonatious]

Reading this on my iPad Pro, while looking at my MacBook Pro that hasn’t been used in over a week.

lol same

 

[Abazigal]

curious what kind of companies are buying these for their employees instead of Macs. who puts the PRO in iPad Pro?

i work in advertising/design and we all have work-issued Macbook Pro's.

Anecdotally speaking, my insurance company equipped their sales staff with iPads and Apple pencils. It’s pretty handy for making presentations, and they can generate a report from the company website and have their customers sign on the spot. As a bonus, it’s extremely to have the document beamed to me via airdrop. And 4g connectivity as well.

Granted, they were using the entry level iPad last I saw them. As mentioned, I think the iPad makes a lot of sense for less complicated tasks and when mobility and battery life are a premium over raw computing power.

I am sure they have laptops for backend work, but when you are out and about, a thin and light tablet makes more sense than a bulkier and heavier laptop.

 

[Jonathantuba]

curious what kind of companies are buying these for their employees instead of Macs. who puts the PRO in iPad Pro?

i work in advertising/design and we all have work-issued Macbook Pro's.

Think of company executives travelling a lot for business, the iPad Pro is perfect. I am owner of my own company and when out of office work exclusively from my iPad Pro for often weeks at a time. If there is anything which cannot be accomplished on the device, then I can always get one of my team to do that back at the office - but that is rare. My practice from when I first got an iPad Pro when they came out in 2015 has been to do a web search if I come across something which I can’t do on the device, and usually I can find an app or a technique to do the job - and as the OS has got better, the difficulties have got less and less - to now I only can’t use the iPad if very specialist software is required which is not available for iOS.

 

[Adelphos33]

curious what kind of companies are buying these for their employees instead of Macs. who puts the PRO in iPad Pro?

i work in advertising/design and we all have work-issued Macbook Pro's.

As I have said often, there are many enterprise apps (specifically in the finance, insurance, sales, and related industries) that are written specifically for iOS/iPadOs (which user interfaces that are optimized for iPads of all sizes) that are not available on desktop operating systems (including Windows and MacOS). And a lot of companies use programs like Blackberry Work to do authentication for apps that are installed on people's bring to office devices. For these types of jobs, iPads can be essential. They don't necessarily replace home computers / laptops - they are additive to them.

 

[secretk]

As I have said often, there are many enterprise apps (specifically in the finance, insurance, sales, and related industries) that are written specifically for iOS/iPadOs (which user interfaces that are optimized for iPads of all sizes) that are not available on desktop operating systems (including Windows and MacOS). And a lot of companies use programs like Blackberry Work to do authentication for apps that are installed on people's bring to office devices. For these types of jobs, iPads can be essential. They don't necessarily replace home computers / laptops - they are additive to them.

Makes sense. I want to also point out the MDM thing. Companies are willing to give corporate devices (whether it is a mobile device or laptop/desktop device) if there is an easy way to remote administrate key aspects. As far as I know iOS makes more sense than say Android in that aspect.

There are jobs where people are always on the go (not just trips, but I mean day to day work). They are not in the office but say on the field or in the fabric etc. They still need to record, document or even take pictures. For example my dad is working on roads maintenance. In the summer this is about renovation mostly, in the fall/spring and winter it is also about maintaining the usability of the road - snow, rain can negatively affect this. Quite often he has to take photos of the situation and share them with the company. He also a lot of documentation to fill in. And in the summer when it comes to renovation there are a lot of measurements and formulas that need to be considered.

Now his company is not advanced and they do not use iPads, only phones (to take photos). So he has to manually do the documentation once at home for all those calculations, then take photos of this and share with the rest via email. I do see an iPad with Pencil quite handy with this activity. He can sketch the situation, he can do the calculations and then easily share with his co-workers.

 

[DiCaprioAngel]

My iPad does everything I need it to. The only reason why I may still need a MacBook is to watch Netflix using the Netflix Party extension with one of my friends who lives in another state as this feature cannot be used on an iPad. Other than that, and possibly transferring some files/songs that I don’t have access to on my iCloud ... I don’t really *need* a MacBook because my iPad Pro literally does everything I need it to do!

 

[Eggtastic]

I eventually want to join in on the iPad crowd. I have a MacBook from 2016 that still serves me well but the battery life is not what it used to be. I also enjoy Mac OS still. As stupid as this sounds... I have an emulator (open emu) and several retro games that I like to play on it, especially when I travel. I don't think there is a solid emulator like this one without some 3rd party hoops to jump through.

It would be the end of the world but still would like to have my retro games. Plus I am thinking of building a PC from home office use so an iPad would be a good portable companion.

 

[pdoherty]

I eventually want to join in on the iPad crowd. I have a MacBook from 2016 that still serves me well but the battery life is not what it used to be. I also enjoy Mac OS still. As stupid as this sounds... I have an emulator (open emu) and several retro games that I like to play on it, especially when I travel. I don't think there is a solid emulator like this one without some 3rd party hoops to jump through.

It would be the end of the world but still would like to have my retro games. Plus I am thinking of building a PC from home office use so an iPad would be a good portable companion.

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[C. Robert]

i used my Mac today to put a old movie on my iPad.

 

[Jamacfer]

Maybe if we look at it in other terms, like cars. MacBooks are a Prius or mini van. Function but no fun at all. iPads are Porsche’s, a little tight but gets you there with a smile on your face. A keyboard is like putting a roof rack on your Porsche And for some that’s okay but I’d rather just drive the Porsche.

I agree, but maybe we should consider the Magic Keyboard more as a (mobile) stand than a case.

 

[mr_jomo]

When we have pro-grade office applications from Microsoft, that support trackpad gestures and multiple instances of the same program, I'll finally be able to go all iPad Pro for my portable working needs.

Until then, I'll keep a macbook of some variety handy.

Spend the last 18 month trying to go iPad Pro 2018 exclusive: I could do 75% of my work at 75% efficiency, so had to give it pause for now.

I was quite close to pulling the trigger on the Surface Pro X. But neither the hardware or WOA is fully worth the asking price currently (26.04.2020).

 

[Jamacfer]

When we have pro-grade office applications from Microsoft, that support trackpad gestures and multiple instances of the same program, I'll finally be able to go all iPad Pro for my portable working needs.

Until then, I'll keep a macbook of some variety handy.

Spend the last 18 month trying to go iPad Pro 2018 exclusive: I could do 75% of my work at 75% efficiency, so had to give it pause for now.

I was quite close to pulling the trigger on the Surface Pro X. But neither the hardware or WOA is fully worth the asking price currently (26.04.2020).

Compared to your experience, I think that now the big difference is the implementation of the trackpad.

 

[tivoman]

I currently have a MBP 12” (2012) and iPP 10.5”*, but only can think of few things that I would need the MBP for.

MBP:
- Online data/photo backup. (besides iCloud)
- Excel spreadsheets (complicated ones*)
- Downloading photos/videos from dedicated DSLR/video camera.
- iTunes: Streaming local music/movies

iPP:
- Everything else

^ Upgraded to iPP 12.9” (2020), but still waiting for it to be delivered. eta maybe 5/1

 

[mr_jomo]

Compared to your experience, I think that now the big difference is the implementation of the trackpad.

But, I totally agree!

When - and if - Microsoft updates their apps to support the new trackpad implementation in iPadOS (which they didn't a couple days back, when last I checked) and multiple instances of their apps, then an IPad Pro will be my sole mobile office. It'll be the perfect 2-in-1 for me. Until then sadly ... not.

 

[ascender]

One other reason is money. Assuming you can get all your apps on iPadOS, you no longer need to have an iPad and a Macbook. With cursor support being added, I think a lot of people will be able to get down to one device.

 

[Jonathantuba]

I currently have a MBP 12” (2012) and iPP 10.5”*, but only can think of few things that I would need the MBP for.

MBP:
- Online data/photo backup. (besides iCloud)
- Excel spreadsheets (complicated ones*)
- Downloading photos/videos from dedicated DSLR/video camera.
- iTunes: Streaming local music/movies

iPP:
- Everything else

^ Upgraded to iPP 12.9” (2020), but still waiting for it to be delivered. eta maybe 5/1

You can easily backup photos on the iPad Pro - Google Photos does that automatically if you install the app. Although I do not have personal experience downloading from DSLR, from what I hear it is now easy on the IPP.

I do agree that the iPad version of Excel needs improving to provide all facilities found on the Mac

 

[secretk]

You can easily backup photos on the iPad Pro - Google Photos does that automatically if you install the app.

This is true but I personally would not rely on this. Google Photos screws up the photo quality when backing up. I am OK having Google Photos as say secondary or tertiary backup option but not the first one. Especially not when I have used mirror-less camera to take RAW photos that I later on processed. For photos taken with the phone it is an option, for photos taken with DSLR or mirror-less I personally would backup both the RAW files and the end end results on an external drive.

Although I do not have personal experience downloading from DSLR, from what I hear it is now easy on the IPP.

Yeah I have heard that now with USB-C it is easier to import raw photos on an iPad directly from the camera.

I do agree that the iPad version of Excel needs improving to provide all facilities found on the Mac

Yep, definitely.

 

[Macintosh101]

I have a 16” MacBook Pro and the 12.9 iPad Pro. I need the MacBook only for certain programs (music production applications that can’t be run on an ipad). For almost everything else, I’m using the 12.9 iPad Pro, especially since getting the Magic Keybaord for it (including recording / editing a weekly podcast, tasks for work etc). If it wasn’t for the music production side of things and a few other limited tasks, I could ditch the MBP to be honest.

 

[Eggtastic]

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That is really cool. The only thing I liked about emulator / roms being on my mac is its just one less device.

 

[C. Robert]

I agree, but maybe we should consider the Magic Keyboard more as a (mobile) stand than a case.

I just don’t see a real use for it in my uses of my iPad. Take it out of my case put it in the keyboard and vice versa for a $350 price tag.

 

[richpjr]

These threads are always fun. Use what works best for you. I personally could not just use my iPad Pro and I don't like to compromise when I am doing something so I have a Windows gaming/photo editing PC, a MBP Pro for work, a 12.9" iPad Pro with a smart keyboard (the new touch pad keyboard on order), an 11" iPad Pro and an iPhone. With cloud storage, everything is connected and available to me whenever I need it. Yeah, overkill I know.