iPad Pro The end of the iPad era for me, the dawn of M1 era

[Booji]

I am with you. I also migrated a lot of work to my iPad Pro. The main reason I was doing this was maximum mobility because I was a very frequent traveller. With COVID, I am mostly home now and an iPad no longer makes sense like it did before.

My M1 MBP is on order now and will arrive in a couple of weeks.

 

[hoodafoo]

To me, the iPad is purely for fun - browsing reddit, looking at photos, etc. I can't imagine doing anything 'productive' on that thing. Typing on that thing is absolute dread

 

[rowspaxe]

I think it's a good bet the M1 will get full Photoshop and the iPad will not. I also think it's time to
to give up the illusion that touch interfaces are somehow successors to keyboard/mouse/trackpad
interfaces. Both have a role, but full productivity software are not coming to the iPad

 

[rui no onna]

I think it's a good bet the M1 will get full Photoshop and the iPad will not. I also think it's time to
to give up the illusion that touch interfaces are somehow successors to keyboard/mouse/trackpad
interfaces. Both have a role, but full productivity software are not coming to the iPad

Thing is iPad already has keyboard/mouse/trackpad support. Remaining issues for desktop apps support are:

1. entry level storage too small
2. memory/RAM too small
3. no storage-backed virtual memory
4. file system sandboxing

The latter two is software-related.

 

[rowspaxe]

Thing is iPad already has keyboard/mouse/trackpad support. Remaining issues for desktop apps support are:

1. entry level storage too small
2. memory/RAM too small
3. no storage-backed virtual memory
4. file system sandboxing

The latter two is software-related.

iPad ram and storage constraints would not prohibit full Photoshop implementation, only effective
use with large files. Not sure about reasons 3 and 4, although I never saw these problems cited when
Adobe introduced "full" PS for iPad. Photoshop IOS is being implemented as a touch friendly UI,
as is illustrator. IMO--full versions will never be released for IOS because the complexity of
these programs would overwhelm the touch a touch UI.

 

[rui no onna]

iPad ram and storage constraints would not prohibit full Photoshop implementation, only effective
use with large files. Not sure about reasons 3 and 4, although I never saw these problems cited when
Adobe introduced "full" PS for iPad. Photoshop IOS is being implemented as a touch friendly UI,
as is illustrator. IMO--full versions will never be released for IOS because the complexity of
these programs would overwhelm the touch a touch UI.

That's Photoshop for iOS, though. They were designed with iOS constraints in mind.

I'm talking desktop versions of apps (so the Mac version) which have different system requirements and expectations.

I don't expect to see it happening anytime soon nor do I expect any of the current iPad models to support it. I do see it getting there eventually ever since they made their "Unified Apps" announcement.

 

[rowspaxe]

'm talking desktop versions of apps (so the Mac version) which have different system requirements and expectations.

To clarify, Adobe promised "full" PS --meaning fully featured--on the iPad--and imo that is not
going to happen. No one ever proposed "desktop' Photoshop on the iPad. As long as ios and
and MacOS are distinct, there will be two Photoshop apps, the IOS version having limited functionality.

 

[Digitalguy]

The iPad is 90% there, but whats frustrating is that Apple seems to be working AGAINST allowing it to claim that last 10%.

It really wouldn’t take much, but I guess if Apple intends to sell two “computer” products then they have no incentive to finish the iPad journey (Which is why the iPad “Pro” been so stale and stagnant that the Air and even the most basic iPad have caught up in power, ability and accessory options.)

Exactly. Despite the wishful thinking of many iPad lovers, this is not in Apple's interest. Apple will make no hybrid (no touch, pen or modularity for macs and no desktop system for ipad). The best we could see is some developers porting pro apps to iPad. I am not sure if Universal Apps would work fine on iPad or if they need some changes, but if they do that could be a possibility. RAM could be an issue. Some apps take several gigs of RAM by themselves, so developers would probably prevent their use in any iPad expect the latest pro (which is a possibility, some apps already exclude certains ipads even those still supported, but reduces the incentive for the developer). And then there is price. Porting to iPad means going through the app store (with a 15-30% fee). And people should also start getting used to pay Mac prices on ipad for fully features apps...

 

[rowspaxe]

The iPad is 90% there, but whats frustrating is that Apple seems to be working AGAINST allowing it to claim that last 10%.

Ipad is 90% there for-- perhaps--80% of laptop users, imo

 

[PilotWoo]

Ipad is 90% there for-- perhaps--80% of laptop users, imo

Ipad is 90% there for-- perhaps--80% of laptop users, 50% of the time

 

[007p]

I hate to be that person, but honestly, all this talk about "Apple wants you to buy two devices". Ha, currently I'm not going to be buying another MacBook or iPad again. My 2018 iPad Pro does everything I need it to from a tablet perspective. When I need to do something more productive, I'm not going to go reaching for a second device, I'm just going to remote into my desktop where-ever it may be and use that. No need to carry two devices. Just a small keyboard/mouse combo or the magic keyboard. With cellular this is even easier to do and its not like I'd get too much done these days without any access to the internet so...
I guess if you get files 'in the field' like video then I can see the issue with 'remoting'. I guess two devices is a must in that sceanrio which is a horrible burden IMO.

Until AV1, I really have no need to update this iPad. It has all the power it needs to remote into a fully functional computer. Would I love for it to be a hybrid? Sure. But Apple doesn't want it to be so I won't be giving them any more money ? . No screen, processor or RAM upgrade is going to intice me to upgrade any more, the iPad (Pro) needs some serious software improvements - the only frustrating thing is its already pretty much ready to go in the shape of MacOS.

IMHO if Apple truely doesn't want the iPad Pro to run a decent OS, just kill it. Keep the iPad mini, iPad and iPad Air and release a proper hybrid running MacOS under a different name. Everyone knows touch is inevitable on Mac. To be clear - that doesn't mean the Mac would go touch first/only, it will just have the option. That plus Pencil support ? It's no different than the iPad with mouse support. Nothing forces you to use the mouse on an iPad, nothing will force you to use touch on a Mac if you don't want to.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If power was the main concern, the M1 would win. However, tablet portability for many people still takes precedence over ultimate power.

It is much easier for me to carry and use my iPad Pro at work, versus a laptop.

 

[max2]

If power was the main concern, the M1 would win. However, tablet portability for many people still takes precedence over ultimate power.

It is much easier for me to carry and use my iPad Pro at work, versus a laptop.

True.

 

[Markgnyc2]

I just bought an iPad Air 4 a month ago, with magic keyboard and pencil. I also have a 2018 MBA that works just fine for what I use it for (no video editing or intense work). There is room for both devices in your life. Last night when I was laying on the couch with my iPad Air working as a tablet, off the keyboard, I said to myself that not even a MBA with an M1 can do this. And then I attached it to the keyboard to answer a few emails. So it all depends on what you use the devices for and your workflow.

 

[Robbosan]

Sitting in my car waiting for my wife on my 11” iPad Pro 4g now, wouldn’t be doing this on a MacBook Air lol.

 

[Digitalguy]

I just bought an iPad Air 4 a month ago, with magic keyboard and pencil. I also have a 2018 MBA that works just fine for what I use it for (no video editing or intense work). There is room for both devices in your life. Last night when I was laying on the couch with my iPad Air working as a tablet, off the keyboard, I said to myself that not even a MBA with an M1 can do this. And then I attached it to the keyboard to answer a few emails. So it all depends on what you use the devices for and your workflow.

Yeah some people dream of just one device, and that's fine, others want to have 2 or (many) more, in part because one device often means giving up something (cellular, touch, pen, weight, desktop OS or software, lappability, screen real estate, speed, etc.) and in part because the more devices you have the better you can suit different use cases, and by the way some people have more use cases than others....

 

[ignatius345]

The dawn of M1 in Macbooks also mean its probably going to be a new and just as exciting era for the iPad. Give it a couple years

The iPad has had quite a few years. I think it's a great platform for certain things, but when you need a Mac you need a Mac.

 

[planteater]

.

 

[blurryvision]

The iPad has had quite a few years. I think it's a great platform for certain things, but when you need a Mac you need a Mac.

The 2020 iPad Pro already competes with older Macbook Pros from a couple years ago (it's faster than my 2016 15" Macbook Pro...). Next years model will compete with the M1 Macbooks in terms of speed and performance. Yes the iPad has had quite a few years to mature, but iPadOS itself is still in its infancy. Keep in mind that iPadOS was first released in 2019, only a year ago.

Even if it may not mean getting the equivalent to a macOS on the iPad, I imagine there will be huge leaps with software in the next few years that'll fit more in line with the powerful hardware these devices carry. We're on the cusp of getting 8GB+ RAM on iPads as well. Hardware spec wise - it truly is a "monster touchscreen notebook/tablet".

iPad will continue to differentiate itself from the Mac, and at the same time it hasn't reached full maturity yet. It will come

 

[Mr. Awesome]

Regarding what the OP said about muscle memory and the Touch Bar, I beg to differ. It’s muscle memory for me to center align items in Illustrator with a couple taps on the Touch Bar. In fact, something about that feature broke with either an Illustrator update or Big Sur, and the buttons disappeared. I found myself repeatedly tapping and wondering what was going wrong until I looked down and saw that the alignment buttons were missing.

You can definitely build up muscle memory for the Touch Bar. It just takes time.

 

[rowspaxe]

iPad will continue to differentiate itself from the Mac, and at the same time it hasn't reached full maturity yet. It will come

Based on the Photoshop experience, I'd say it's not coming. Nor are Final Cut or Logic on the way. Pro
Apps have a complexity not consistent with a touch UI.

 

[blurryvision]

Based on the Photoshop experience, I'd say it's not coming. Nor are Final Cut or Logic

Photoshop will improve in the upcoming years. Again, it's only been a year for Photoshop on iPad.

Final Cut and Logic are ABSOLUTELY coming to the iPad. Wait and see.

 

[macdogpro]

Based on the Photoshop experience, I'd say it's not coming. Nor are Final Cut or Logic on the way. Pro
Apps have a complexity not consistent with a touch UI.

Photoshop was Adobe’s first step, the recently released Illustrator is pretty great for what it can do on mobile device.
I don’t hold my breath for FCP, Lumafusion is the video editing standard on iPad / iPhone now. But I can see Logic making advantage of touch UI, but IDK, I never use it before.

 

[subjonas]

Over the last 4 years I really tried hard to go iOS (mainly iPad) 100%. Main uses: video/photo editing, word/excel/powerpoint, pdf studying, web browsing. I have available all iPad sizes, iMac, MacBooks, so all pieces of equipment are available to try them.
I reached a 95% of my workflow being done on iOS. I was proud of that, but I realized that many functions were unnecessarily more complicated on iOS than they need to be. Try to tag files, load external drives, edit powerpoint etc, and I think most would get the message here.
The M1 chip brought to Macbook what I really enjoyed on iPad: long battery, instant on, fanless. That came without the annoying limitations of iOS software. It also came in a more compact package with much better keyboard and track board (not software- and hardware-wise). I say more compact because if you try to move around the iPad Pro12.9 with the keyboard case you realize that it has the same portability as the Macbook Air. However, the stability of the IPP on the keyboard case is worse than that of Macbook.

Granted, you can use the Pencil on iPP and not on Macbook, but very few times I found myself wanting to draw something.

So I am transitioning to Macbook Air M1 and I am excited about it. I plan to instal first class software to do my job instead of the half baked software I was forcing myself to use in the previous years in order to stay on the iPad.

A side note here. I tried the Macbook 16in but felt too big to carry around, not an option even if it came with an M1 chip.
I also tried the Macbook pro 13in M1 which felt heavier, more bulky and less convenient for typing than the Air. There was no appreciable difference in the screen brightness or the trackpad size (higher/larger on Pro). I did not like the touch bar because it doesn’t allow you to use the muscle memory and it requires extra steps to do what you need to. Battery performance on Pro is better but I am not convinced that it translates to a meaningful advantage: if I plan for such long working sessions, I don’t think I would risk not taking with me the charger. Fanless performance is a potential issue but I cannot think of a task that would be demanding on the chip for more than 10 minutes to really need the fan.

 

[KittyKatta]

Yes the iPad has had quite a few years to mature, but iPadOS itself is still in its infancy. Keep in mind that iPadOS was first released in 2019, only a year ago.

iPadOS is a marketing name. The OS that the iPad runs is 10 years old and its "infancy" is less about age and more due to it being treated like caged veal. Its lack of growth is intentional.

We're on the cusp of getting 8GB+ RAM on iPads as well. Hardware spec wise - it truly is a "monster touchscreen notebook/tablet".

iPad will continue to differentiate itself from the Mac, and at the same time it hasn't reached full maturity yet. It will come

We've been saying that for 5 years and the iPad has not matured anywhere near the same rate as the hardware. So a more likely scenario is that the M1 Mac will continue to differentiate itself from the Legacy Mac and the iPad will remain the same.