iPad Pro The iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard has basically replaced my Macbook—Anyone else doing the same?

[omelet1978]

Hi,

I was looking at the iPad as a laptop replacement thread but thought I’d post this separate thread since it’s very specific to the Magic Keyboard.

Over the last 6 months after getting the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro 11, I’ve gradually stopped using my Macbook and pretty much exclusively used the iPad Pro. My MacBook Air is 2 years old, so I’m not going to get rid of it though. Just holding onto it and right now it’s just a Plex server in the back room for movies. I figure holding onto it is a good idea bc the iPad can’t do everything. Overall though, the usability of the iPad Pro with the keyboard is so much nicer imho. The smaller footprint, the touchscreen, desktop Safari but also having apps, etc...

I was just wondering if other people were doing the same after purchasing the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard?

 

[chabig]

No. Just you. ;-)

 

[Jonr515]

My IPP was a personal laptop replacement for quite a while. My biggest issue was not being able to use LRC to manage photos. I still use the IPP a lot though.

 

[KittyKatta]

My Magic Keyboard is nice but the Smart Keyboard + Pro replaced my laptop 5 years ago.

 

[Harmonious Zen]

No. Just you. ;-)

Ha..... I won't say it's just OP, but I'm not in that boat. Ever since the M1 MacBook Airs came out, there's no reason for me to use my iPad except when I'm lounging around. It's handy to have around, but nowhere near as versatile as my M1 MBA.

 

[Mac47]

Absolutely. I teach online on an iMac, but everything else is done on my iPP: PDF production, scanning documents, writing, annotating PDFs, grading students’ work, email, social media, watching movies — and above all, reading.

Even when I’m on my iMac teaching, I’m still using the iPP as to show .pptx slides and mark them up with the pencil.

IMO, the iPP with MK is the best laptop available right now.

 

[secretk]

Not me. Nowadays with working from home I gravitate more and more towards my laptop - bigger screen, more ergonomics when it comes to typing experience. Overall I still spend most of my time on my laptop. I do use the iPad for reading books, annotating, taking handwritten notes. Stuff like that but I would not say that it replaces my laptop for me.

 

[omelet1978]

Ha..... I won't say it's just OP, but I'm not in that boat. Ever since the M1 MacBook Airs came out, there's no reason for me to use my iPad except when I'm lounging around. It's handy to have around, but nowhere near as versatile as my M1 MBA.

Guess I’m in the minority lol. Part of the reason I can do this is that I’m commuting for work and use the iPad with the LTE a lot for that. I did put together resume’s for the airlines a couple of weeks ago and did it solely with the iPad and the Keyboard though, so I was pleasantly surprised I was able to do that.

 

[AutomaticApple]

No. Just you. ;-)

Are you sure about that?

 

[NastyMatt]

I use my PC work (WFH full time now) because it has a huge screen, rest of the time I use the IPP, even some of my work I just pick up the IPP and go and sit somewhere else in the house (if the kids are not using it!!) and continue working. The only reason I fire up my MBP is to make sure it’s up to date with updates!!

Most of my work apps are now browser/cloud based so I am not restricted by limited native iPad apps. I have said elsewhere on this forum - the MK makes all the difference tho, it would not nearly as productive for me without it. Hard to put my finger on it why but the IPP just feels like a ‘special’ device where as the MBP is well.. just a laptop.

 

[Virgilinsanity]

I run my health care business from my iPad Pro with magic keyboard. Clinic software, email, Word documents etc. All good.

 

[The Game 161]

I have both. M1 air and iPad Pro 12.9 with MK. I use Mac for work and the iPad and MK set-up for at home and when I'm on my break. I have a good use case for both really.

 

[bscheffel]

Below is my running list of iPad Pro limitations I have run into, trust me I would LOVE to use it exclusively.

1. Can’t add music to my iCloud music library unless bought from iTunes store which doesn’t support Apple’s own ALAC. My main iTunes music library is all lossless
2. iPadOS apps don’t have feature parity with desktop version (MS Office, Spotify are big examples). This alone is killer for me
3. Limited multitasking
4. Can’t download files in bulk or entire folders from iCloud Drive and they don’t stay downloaded to iPad. Many times I’ve tried to use a file on plane and it wasn’t downloaded
5. External SSD drive support limited (can’t format a drive, and encrypted Samsung T5 with password isn’t visible on iPad)
6. Can’t use external webcam with iPad
7. External display support poor
8. Coping/moving files with Files app is cumbersome and doesn’t show progress - frequent error copying to cloud provider
9. Can't run Logic Pro and exchanging files between Logic Pro and Garageband doesn't always translate well

 

[Phuz01]

I got a new iPad Pro a few weeks ago and decided to spring for the magic keyboard. I really didn't expect to use the trackpad, as I've become a huge fan of the Apple Pencil. That said, I've barely used the pencil, and almost every action I perform is using the trackpad. I've only taken the iPad off the keyboard a couple of times to read on it, and the pencil really comes in handy then. But this feels much more like an upgrade to a laptop than it does a replacement of my previous iPad Pro.

 

[mikedude86]

I will be until tomorrow, getting a MBA M1, gonna strip the expensive MK and AP2 and just keep the iPP naked. It was great for awhile when I was just doing some light bookkeeping, web browsing, some photo editing and YouTube, but the form factor just doesn’t work for me beyond that type of light use anymore. I work on a PC all day and end up working on my personal devices in the evening and sometimes in bed, the MK constantly flips over on itself depending on how I’m sitting up. So now I’ll use it like a tablet and for sidecar.

 

[thisismyusername]

Nope. Been there, tried that, and finally gave up. I tried so hard for my iPad Pro to replace my laptop, doing things the "iPad way" and all, and it's just can't do it. iPadOS just has too many limitations and even really basic tasks are just so much easier on a real computer. I still like iPads but I've given up trying to shoehorn them into being a real computer replacement. If I could go back and do it again, I would have just bought the basic iPad instead of the Pro and never bothered trying to use it like a computer.

Even the "desktop" safari alone is a deal breaker for me. The screen is small enough where a lot of web developers, who follow responsive web design practices, still render crippled sites that are closer to a mobile version than a desktop version. I realize this isn't necessarily Apple's fault and the problem lies with web developers but it's still a problem that causes me to reach for a real computer instead. Combine this with the point that bscheffel correctly pointed out (too many iPad apps are crippled when compared to their desktop counterparts) and it just really turns me off of the entire platform for everything other than simple media consumption type activities.

 

[TheRealAlex]

#1. Scanning and signing Tax documents (Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard iPad Pro 11”)
#2. Applying for PPP Loans
#3. Tethered to my Note 20 Ultra 5G when there’s no WiFi or power outage
#4. Sharing entertainment
#5. Typing
#6. Face time or Zoom Video conference

I could go on and On. But my 11” iPad Pro MAX (because with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2 makes it Max level)
This device has paid for itself. I filled out and received a SBA EIDG on Day 1 because I was able to access and fill out the 1 page SBA form immediately. That free $1,000 the iPad Pro Max earned its keep.

Heck when a Hurricane knocked out power in Miami. Tethered to my Note 9 at the time and on a 9.7” iPad Pro I was able to access and fill out the FEMA Forms an easy $1,500 was direct deposited to cover Damages. While most people had no internet.

 

[dumastudetto]

Yep the Mac is dead to me now.

iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard is the ultimate supercomputer.

 

[TechLord]

Perfect size for a tablet for me is 11 inches. Would rather use my MBA for productivity than a 12.9 ,which is frankly more powerful, less limited and much cheaper with discount than the pro + magic keyboard combo.

 

[snipr125]

I didn’t think it was possible, but I have to admit my iPad Air 4 and Magic keyboard can do the majority of tasks I would have done on my 2015 MacBook Pro. Now I mainly use my MacBook pro for file management and syncing iTunes media to my iPhone and iPad.

 

[omelet1978]

Well disregard my original post.

After a few months of trying to go iPad Pro 11 only with the Magic Keyboard after a couple of months I decided that there were too many limitations on iPad OS (as explained in this thread) to not have a computer. Another personal choice I noticed is that I like the look of the Macbook Keyboard better with the space gray look and such. And the last thing is that sometimes I just wanted a bigger screen than the iPad Pro 11, but since I travel a lot I’m passing on the 13 inch iPad bc it’s not as portable. As such I’m using the MacBook Air I have a little more but it’s still like 75% iPad Pro 11 and 25% MacBook Air.

One thing that has come out this experiment is I’m going to try and resist the bug to upgrade and just use these two devices for a while longer. Usually I’ll get a new device after 2 years or so but the MacBook Air is 24 months old and the iPad is almost 30 months old and both are still going strong. These devices get expensive when you include an iPhone and Apple Watch and stuff like that, so just keeping things til they age out.

 

[ozreth]

I had been wanting to try this for a year or so now, but work recently sent me a new macbook pro so I couldn't justify buying an iPad.

But then we had a competition at work two weeks and and lo and behold I won the new 11" iPad Pro. Eagerly awaiting its arrival and plan on using the magic keyboard to make this my go to device. I'm moving further away from tech as I get older and none of my work or hobbies rely on it. With my computer I surf the web, use Spotify, email and photo organization. My iPad will be doing these things now.

 

[rui no onna]

These devices get expensive when you include an iPhone and Apple Watch and stuff like that, so just keeping things til they age out.

Yeah, they all add up so I just prioritize. iPad's #1 usually on my list. No Apple Watch. The iPhone and laptop, I keep until they become unbearable to use. No MKB for me, though.

 

[UltimateSyn]

After seeing the new 12.9“ iPad Pro and iMac reviews (and with both of them on order) I’m kind of tempted to just use this combination and omit a MacBook from my setup completely.

 

[rui no onna]

After seeing the new 12.9“ iPad Pro and iMac reviews (and with both of them on order) I’m kind of tempted to just use this combination and omit a MacBook from my setup completely.

You could always just keep your current MacBook as backup.