iPad Pro Seriously, why not just get MacBook?

[hipnetic]

In my family we've got a 2019 MBP 16 (me), a 2020 MBA 13 (wife), and a 2018 (I think) MBP 13 (daughter).

Then I've got an older (I forget the year and size) iPad Pro (I forget the exact size, maybe 9.7") and 5th-gen iPad Mini w/Pencil support.

I've been lending out my older iPad Pro to my daughter who is in her final year of an Art School. I was hoping she could be content with that size, but she really wants the largest canvas possible (she was mentioning Cintiq devices, but I really wanted to push her towards the iPad), so I expect to be purchasing a 2018 or 2020 iPad Pro 12.9" for her.

I tried feeling out both my daughter and my wife to see if they might be content with just an iPad coupled with a Magic Keyboard/case and neither thought they would be. I suspect they're both wrong, but I didn't press the issue. I absolutely need a MacBook, as I'm a software developer, but I'm actually extremely intrigued by the idea of using an iPad Pro w/Magic Keyboard/case and leaving my MBP 16 in my home office most of the time. I'm not sure if I would be happier with the iPad Pro 11" or 12.9". I think I'd prefer the added screen real estate and slightly larger keyboard/trackpad of the 12.9" model, but I worry that when detaching it to use as a tablet, that it might feel too big/heavy. I'll probably hold off for myself for a while, and just continue using the iPad mini or older iPad Pro as a supplement to my MBP 16.

I absolutely do think that an iPad Pro w/detachable keyboard/trackpad is the way of the future. I've mentioned this in a few threads in this forum, but with the rumors of an ARM-based MacBook, I'm hoping that Apple might offer a dual-OS option for the iPad, where you can run iPad OS when using it as a tablet, or run OSX when using a keyboard and trackpad or mouse. The latter mode would give you a more full-featured OS and more screen real estate / resolution options.

 

[zhenya]

I absolutely do think that an iPad Pro w/detachable keyboard/trackpad is the way of the future. I've mentioned this in a few threads in this forum, but with the rumors of an ARM-based MacBook, I'm hoping that Apple might offer a dual-OS option for the iPad, where you can run iPad OS when using it as a tablet, or run OSX when using a keyboard and trackpad or mouse. The latter mode would give you a more full-featured OS and more screen real estate / resolution options.

It seems pretty clear Apple is not likely to take this route, rather that they are moving towards a unified code base such that apps will be universal on all devices. They are already pushing developers toward this model now, and the rumors of ARM Macs seem pretty solid.

Also, Microsoft went down this path already back with Windows 8. It wasn’t very satisfactory for users and they’ve since backed off.

 

[hipnetic]

It seems pretty clear Apple is not likely to take this route, rather that they are moving towards a unified code base such that apps will be universal on all devices. They are already pushing developers toward this model now, and the rumors of ARM Macs seem pretty solid.

Also, Microsoft went down this path already back with Windows 8. It wasn’t very satisfactory for users and they’ve since backed off.

I don't think it's "clear" at all. In fact, the rumor that they're introducing ARM-based Macs running OSX would make it pretty simple for them to do what I've suggested. Also, what I've proposed isn't at all like what Microsoft has done with the Surface Pro devices. Those are running a single OS/UI which isn't great when used as a laptop nor as a tablet.