All iPads The Joy of iPad

[0989382]

Does anybody else here prefer using an iPad over a PC or laptop simply due to the fact it's time they can spend on their sofa or in their garden versus 'hunched over a keyboard'? I work 9-5 at an office and sitting at a computer anymore would truly make me feel like a slave to the machine.

Catching up on email, music, YouTube, news, social media and forums while sitting back or checking out photos on that sweet display isn't as fun to me on a laptop or phone. It really feels like you've got your whole digital life on your person without the tethering.

I'm not claiming in every situation an iPad or tablet is superior - it's not! But in personal life, downtime, leisure... what's the greatest joy you have using your iPad? I'd love to get a discussion on this going!

(what do you do / where / how / why is it so good?)

 

[rui no onna]

I enjoy using the iPad more than laptops. I used to read on laptop in bed or on the sofa but it just wasn't comfortable (gave me stiff neck).

I started looking at tablets so I can read manga (Japanese comics) more comfortably than on desktop/laptop. My first non-Windows tablet was the iPad 2. Didn't do everything that Windows can and web surfing was meh (CPU was still too slow and there were a lot more websites that still required Adobe Flash and mouse support, or were just plain broken on Mobile Safari). However, it worked beautifully for manga. And unlike my Windows tablets, it didn't overheat after 1-2 hours use and battery life was excellent. It actually exceeded the 10 hour rating with my usage (reading with brightness set to 0-15% so the light doesn't sear my eyeballs).

iPad 4 with A6X/1GB is when I started to browse on the iPad for more than a quick Google search.

Web browsing got better with the iPad Air but it was still slower than my PCs and there was still the annoying Safari tab refresh. Bonus, smaller size (with built-in LTE) means it now fits in my purse so I can easily carry and use it everywhere. Made for a big reduction in iPhone usage.

iPad Pro 9.7 + iOS 9 is when I started to prefer using the iPad over PCs for web browsing. The 2GB RAM couldn't completely get rid of tab refreshes but with the faster CPU, reloading is so much quicker. It also remembered your last place on the refreshed tab compared to older firmware which puts you back to the top of the page. This is when I switched to 80-90% iPad use in my personal time. I've got multiple iPads (different generations and sizes) so I always have backups available.

 

[MisterSavage]

OMG yes. My iMac usage is significantly lower because I do more and more with my iPad Pro.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Does anybody else here prefer using an iPad over a PC or laptop simply due to the fact it's time they can spend on their sofa or in their garden versus 'hunched over a keyboard'? I work 9-5 at an office and sitting at a computer anymore would truly make me feel like a slave to the machine.

Catching up on email, music, YouTube, news, social media and forums while sitting back or checking out photos on that sweet display isn't as fun to me on a laptop or phone. It really feels like you've got your whole digital life on your person without the tethering.

I'm not claiming in every situation an iPad or tablet is superior - it's not! But in personal life, downtime, leisure... what's the greatest joy you have using your iPad? I'd love to get a discussion on this going!

(what do you do / where / how / why is it so good?)

I have come to use my iPad Pro much more than my MacBook Pro nowadays.

 

[secretk]

For me it is the opposite. I find it easier to use laptop in bed than an iPad. The iPad is not lappable at all and I have to hold it constantly if I am in bed. The laptop sits secured on my lap and I don't need to hold it. I also find the display rather small and I need to lean forward a lot more which leads to neck and back pain. Plus I use youtube as a music player and I prefer the laptop as I could load it in a tab and not see it at all.

Lastly the keyboard of the laptop is more functional. I tend to type a lot (chatting, forums etc) and I tend to switch between languages and for this the iPad is still a bit clunky and inefficient. I actually find the iPad the most useful exactly on desk because then I have the stability to use the hardware keyboard. I hate on screen keyboards because with them I am rather slow and inefficient when it comes to typing.

 

[Freakonomics101]

My iPad Pro 11” with my Bluetooth lit up colored keyboard and the Magic Mouse makes for a great combo. I have been using laptops a lot less ever since Apple released the first beta of iPadOS 13.

 

[joeblow7777]

An iPad is my go-to device for quick/casual web surfing, social media, YouTube, reading emails, and some other tasks. I think that's really what it was designed for. As Jobs himself said when he unveiled the original model, it fills a niche between a smartphone and laptop.

 

[Shirasaki]

I am a bit of the mixed bag here. Let me layout pros and cons.

Pros: Ever since I decided to commit and bought iPad Pro 2018 11”, my iPhone usage is cut dramatically because, damn, iPad has WAY larger screen than iPhone, and everything is just so much more pleasant. Macrumors has a well-designed website so browsing on iPhone is a bit less painful. But when playing games, screen size advantage is obvious, plus the on-screen keyboard would not cover over half of the gaming areas, and keys are much larger. Oh, I can also use keyboard folio to type much faster and without onscreen keyboard at all. I might still need onscreen keyboard to type emoji but I rarely use emojis so it is ok.
Oh, the battery life is amazing, and A12X is a monster. I don't have any complaints about its performance at all. 6GB might be better but 4GB is well enough for me.

Cons: Also because of its size, carrying around is not as easy as carrying out an iPhone. I can hold it in one hand but I cannot do anything in that state, as I may risk losing the grip. It is heavier as well, and I have to use it with both hands. Apple keyboard folio does provide some level of protection, but I am still a bit worried about damaging the screen.

Conclusion: While I don’t think iPad can replace my PC or iPhone (hardware limitations - can not make phone call; not versatile enough - iOS does not have software support for lots of my usage cases), iPad in general is a much better device to use than iPhone, especially when playing some games and web browsing. Larger screen is almost always better than smaller one, and it is easier to my eyes.

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

I use a PC all day, but also my iPad as a notebook/media consumption device and web browser.
In my downtime I use it almost exclusively, except when I am either looking for a "quick fix" with my iPhone or my Kindle for an extended reading binge.

I'd be largely lost without my iPad now.

 

[nightlong]

I have three iPads which I use every day, they all have different uses. The 12.9 for watching movies etc, and reading, and writing with split screen or using the 10.5 as my internet tablet when using the 12.9 to write on. The 10.5 and the mini are used on the go and in various situations where the 12.9 is too heavy or big.

Don’t use my laptop much, sometimes for writing or mostly editing, and for putting things on iPads. It will be so good when I can get things from hard drives directly onto the iPads.

One of the great things iPads have done for me is, saved my back. After many years of way too much sitting, with iPads I now only sit to write, everything else I do on sofa or bed, laying down, with the iPad on a suitable angle. I’ve had no lower back problems since I reduced sitting to no more than 2 hours, and then doing some exercises or a walk before sitting again.

I love the iPads, laptops feel so clunky to me now, and I do almost everything on them. And I hardly ever use a phone for more than phone or checking messages, which is why I have an SE.

 

[Ken1222]

Earlier this year I couldn’t decide which iPad Pro to keep...the 11 or the 12.9.
I ended up keeping both (quite happy I did) and each has different uses for me. I like the 12.9 for reading newspapers and the many magazines I subscribe to through Apple news+. I take the 11 when I travel, otherwise it stays with me on the sofa while I watch TV.
Also have a 5K iMac that sits in my office (love the 27” screen). I will soon be retired and use my Apple toys to track & research investments, play online games, read newspapers/magazines, play fantasy football, Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, etc.

 

[Crow_Servo]

I use an iPad (6th gen) at work and iPad Mini (5th gen) at home, so it’s definitely my all-around go-to device. It’s a highly functional tool and fun for pretty much everything I like to do at home. My favorite thing to do on it is web browse and play games.

 

[limesmoothie]

Does anybody else here prefer using an iPad over a PC or laptop simply due to the fact it's time they can spend on their sofa or in their garden versus 'hunched over a keyboard'? I work 9-5 at an office and sitting at a computer anymore would truly make me feel like a slave to the machine.

Catching up on email, music, YouTube, news, social media and forums while sitting back or checking out photos on that sweet display isn't as fun to me on a laptop or phone. It really feels like you've got your whole digital life on your person without the tethering.

I'm not claiming in every situation an iPad or tablet is superior - it's not! But in personal life, downtime, leisure... what's the greatest joy you have using your iPad? I'd love to get a discussion on this going!

(what do you do / where / how / why is it so good?)

I had an ancient Mini Gen 1 as a work device, but obviously that became unusable. Had been using my MBP for general surfing, tried a Samsung tablet, which was slow and glitchy.

Just bought a 2019 iPad Air. Wow. Like night and day. Such a pleasure to sit and read/work/browse the web and consume music/video. Got the pencil as well. Am thrilled with it, particularly for listening to music/curating playlists.