The "Laptop Replacement" Debate

[kebrone]

When I dont need my web dev and design apps I mostly only use my iPhone Plus, before that I used iPad only with a keyboard. After iphone launched the plus size I dont need iPad anymore and do a lot of my work on the iPhone this is what i use it for:


- Taking notes in conference/meetings with OneNote app

- Recording audio and videos and editing them for small clips

- E-mail: a lot of e-mails

- Presentations PowerPoint and Google Slides (depends which clients use what)

- Edit Google Docs (collaboration)

- Edit Dropbox files in Word and manage that

- Sometimes I even use it for remoting terminals

- Browsing Internet and writing !this!

It can't be a laptop replacement if you need some apps which are not suitable on iOS, but for a lot of people and usage it is a replacement. A friend's daughter is using it in school full-time.

I prefer using my iPhone for this because then I don't need to have my laptop heated up in my lap or be aware of the battery, and of course mobility, sometimes I need to be in the city withouth the laptop bag and I avoid putting in the car because it can be stolen.

It would be nice to read others usage of the iOS device only. For me it covers 40% of then work I do.

 

[ejfontenot]

I am in interesting spot. I am about to take a new position working for a software company that works only in the Windows world. I haven't used a windows machine in like 8 years. They will issue me a windows computer, but open to letting me BYOD for me to function, I won't have to use much in the windows world other than the software on occassion (I am not a programmer, will be doing marketing). Last night I ordered a refurb 2016 MacBook. Had one in my last job, loved it. Now, I am considering whether or not I could just buy a new 12.9 iPad Pro and be able to function in the way I need. If I need to do some heavy writing, I could do in both, if I need some heavy Excel use, I could use the company issued machine.

I really don't know what to do. The price would be similar, maybe cheaper if I don't choose a cellular option.

I am so torn. I really don't know which direction to go, so I need some opinions!

Thanks!

 

[richpjr]

I am in interesting spot. I am about to take a new position working for a software company that works only in the Windows world. I haven't used a windows machine in like 8 years. They will issue me a windows computer, but open to letting me BYOD for me to function, I won't have to use much in the windows world other than the software on occassion (I am not a programmer, will be doing marketing). Last night I ordered a refurb 2016 MacBook. Had one in my last job, loved it. Now, I am considering whether or not I could just buy a new 12.9 iPad Pro and be able to function in the way I need. If I need to do some heavy writing, I could do in both, if I need some heavy Excel use, I could use the company issued machine.

I really don't know what to do. The price would be similar, maybe cheaper if I don't choose a cellular option.

I am so torn. I really don't know which direction to go, so I need some opinions!

Thanks!

I work at a software company that mainly uses Windows based laptops but I do some occasional iOS work so I am using a MBPro with Parallels and it gives me the best of both worlds. I have a 12.9 and find an iPad too limiting for how I use it daily so it won't work for me as a laptop replacement. I have brought it on a few trips where my main use for work was note taking in meetings and it worked fine for that.

 

[ejfontenot]

I work at a software company that mainly uses Windows based laptops but I do some occasional iOS work so I am using a MBPro with Parallels and it gives me the best of both worlds. I have a 12.9 and find an iPad too limiting for how I use it daily so it won't work for me as a laptop replacement. I have brought it on a few trips where my main use for work was note taking in meetings and it worked fine for that.

Thanks, I was considering the same. They mentioned they have some issues with authentication of the software when running parallels. Not sure what that issue is. I have an iPad Mini 4 that I use for note taking, but will get an iPhone 7+ for work, which I believe to be the greatest work phone ever made. Had a 6+ in my last job, was awesome. Hate talking on it, but love it for notes and quick working. Maybe the Pro is just too limited. I want to believe its not, but I know it may be.

 

[DNichter]

I am replacing my MacBook with the new Pro 10.5. iOS 11 has definitely made this possible for me.

 

[Cape Dave]

Not when using the smart keyboard - it's awful to have to reach up and touch the screen. You can do some things with keyboard shortcuts but it does not come close to the precision or speed of a mouse.

Truth. Why can't people just understand that? A mouse would be the KILLER app for the iPad. Really. Sales would double at least.

 

[ABC5S]

I am replacing my MacBook with the new Pro 10.5. iOS 11 has definitely made this possible for me.

Replaced MacBook Pro a few months ago, and I could not be happier. Last, it does everything I need, nothing to complain. Now with this new 12.9, its good for my eyes and it does everything. No need to spend so much more money on a MacBook or MacBook Pro. Your mileage may differ.

 

[roccobladr]

I'm wondering if any one has experience coming from an 11" MacBook to an iPad pro? I'd be curious to see which screen size would be a better transition. I don't mind the 11" screen size at all and I have used my 9.5" iPad at times though it's a bit cramped for work.

 

[James.K.Polk]

Entering my 2L year of law school. Used my Macbook Pro (2016, TB) all semester but have an offer for a top-end 12.9" Pro with LTE, Keyboard, Pencil and cash on top. My firm uses a file management that has an iPad app (DocMoto). Thinking about it - we won't use ExamSoft (and I understand that ExamSoft has an iPad app now, anyway) but still a little hesistant.

Has anyone done this in law school?

 

[sracer]

Truth. Why can't people just understand that? A mouse would be the KILLER app for the iPad. Really. Sales would double at least.

And THAT might be the reason that they don't. Those doubling of iPads sales would be at the expense of the Macbook Pro w/Touchbar.

It's possible and it's easy. (since the days of the iPad 1, there has been a mouse support option via jailbreak). It can be done in a way that neither requires a mouse nor interferes with the user experience for those who don't use a mouse.

Those of use who use Jump Desktop + Citrix X1 mouse on the iPad (as well as Android tablet owners), have been given a glimpse of what it could be like.

 

[James.K.Polk]

Just to play devil's advocate here, on the iPad, you can't edit 2 Word documents side by side. You can't compose 2 emails side by side. A lot of times, multitasking doesn't mean using more than one app. It means doing multiple things inside 1 app. I love my iPad, but this is a major pain point for me. I can't tell you how often at work I need to jump from email window to email window, Excel sheet to excel sheet, etc. It's constant.

This, 100%, just stopped me dead in my tracks. The number of times I have 2, 3, 4 word docs or emails open is... it's all the time. Maybe I'm not ready yet...

 

[richpjr]

Truth. Why can't people just understand that? A mouse would be the KILLER app for the iPad. Really. Sales would double at least.

And THAT might be the reason that they don't. Those doubling of iPads sales would be at the expense of the Macbook Pro w/Touchbar.

It's possible and it's easy. (since the days of the iPad 1, there has been a mouse support option via jailbreak). It can be done in a way that neither requires a mouse nor interferes with the user experience for those who don't use a mouse.

Those of use who use Jump Desktop + Citrix X1 mouse on the iPad (as well as Android tablet owners), have been given a glimpse of what it could be like.

There might be something to this. While Apple gets a sale whether you buy an iPad or a MB, I'm guessing they make more on the MB.

 

[ejfontenot]

Replaced MacBook Pro a few months ago, and I could not be happier. Last, it does everything I need, nothing to complain. Now with this new 12.9, its good for my eyes and it does everything. No need to spend so much more money on a MacBook or MacBook Pro. Your mileage may differ.

Can I ask what kind of work you do with it? I am very tempted to make this jump.

 

[DNichter]

Replaced MacBook Pro a few months ago, and I could not be happier. Last, it does everything I need, nothing to complain. Now with this new 12.9, its good for my eyes and it does everything. No need to spend so much more money on a MacBook or MacBook Pro. Your mileage may differ.

Totally agree! I am excited for the change. I no longer need macOS, plus it was getting very stale to me anyhow.

 

[Cape Dave]

And THAT might be the reason that they don't. Those doubling of iPads sales would be at the expense of the Macbook Pro w/Touchbar.

It's possible and it's easy. (since the days of the iPad 1, there has been a mouse support option via jailbreak). It can be done in a way that neither requires a mouse nor interferes with the user experience for those who don't use a mouse.

Those of use who use Jump Desktop + Citrix X1 mouse on the iPad (as well as Android tablet owners), have been given a glimpse of what it could be like.

"It's possible and it's easy. (since the days of the iPad 1, there has been a mouse support option via jailbreak). It can be done in a way that neither requires a mouse nor interferes with the user experience for those who don't use a mouse." Link please!
[doublepost=1497472421][/doublepost]

Totally agree! I am excited for the change. I no longer need macOS, plus it was getting very stale to me anyhow.

MacOS is so long in the tooth it is truly pathetic. I do not care how many bloated "features" they add, it is a sad and pathetic and outdated UI.

 

[sracer]

"It's possible and it's easy. (since the days of the iPad 1, there has been a mouse support option via jailbreak). It can be done in a way that neither requires a mouse nor interferes with the user experience for those who don't use a mouse." Link please!

Link to what?

 

[jeremiah256]

That's different from providing a full expensive app vice a lite version though. It's the app we are talking about and not a service. Unless they implement some serial number thing where you can't use the app until you go to the browser and purchase a serial number. But then it becomes clunky.

Although, for the user, the process of purchasing more content is clunkier, for the developer (and that is what this conversation is about), the process of making a full app is, if anything, easier, as you don't worry about the payment portion within the app, just the verification and updating of the content.

I use Amazon apps (Video Prime, Kindle, Comixology, Audible) across different platforms. The Kindle OS and Android versions, as a consumer of the content, are better only in that I can buy the material I want within the app. The other functionality of the app is identical. Amazon made full apps for iOS.

I can't think of any major vendor that has a better version of an app on Android or Windows, where there is no tax, than on iOS, because they don't want to pay the Apple Tax. There may be other reasons (Window's wants to keep the best Office 365 experience on Windows, for example), but no, the tax is a non-issue in a discussion on why or why not make a full iOS app.

 

[nickftw8686]

Well as of today I have my work laptop and 10.5 pro as only personal device besides phone so shall see how it goes!

 

[Cape Dave]

Link to what?

The easy non destructive way to get a mouse working with iPad.

 

[drewcosten]

I'm wondering if any one has experience coming from an 11" MacBook to an iPad pro? I'd be curious to see which screen size would be a better transition. I don't mind the 11" screen size at all and I have used my 9.5" iPad at times though it's a bit cramped for work.

I've been working on an 11" MacBook Air for the last 3 and a half years, and just switched to the new 10.5" iPad Pro today and didn't find it a problem. I do Customer Support via email, and with the Smart Keyboard I didn't find myself working much if any slower than I did on the MacBook. There are a couple things that I've had to do to adjust my workflow in places, but nothing that made it particularly difficult to do my job. There's a good chance the only time I'll turn on the MacBook again from now on is when I need Mac screenshots to send a customer.

 

[kebrone]

Truth. Why can't people just understand that? A mouse would be the KILLER app for the iPad. Really. Sales would double at least.

I saw this, mouse with iPad, does it not work anymore?

 

[Jedimindtrick]

Apple has been touting the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement since it first shipped in 2015. Their current iPad Pro commercials (which are great!) are directly stating THIS WILL REPLACE YOUR LAPTOP.

I have decided that the iPad Pro has successfully replaced the laptop for me. Sort Of.

Here's what I mean. I have a MacBook Pro. Ive used it less and less since I've gotten my iPad Pro - iOS 11 will further this. The new iPad Pro has shown me enough that I doubt ill ever buy another MacBook again for the foreseeable future, thus "replacing" my laptop. I'll still keep my MacBook Pro around for rare spreadsheets or photoshopping, but I will not be investing in another laptop. These new iPad Pro's are true workhorse tablets, and quite honestly, I think they're more fun to use than a laptop.

I actually think Apple should throw some ads out there that send the message: "You wont buy another laptop" - instead of saying that it's going to outright replace a laptop. I feel it might be more accurate for some people.

What's your guys thoughts?
[doublepost=1498936045][/doublepost]Sorry, just realized there's a pretty extensive thread on this already - my apologies.

 

[SDColorado]

Sorry, just realized there's a pretty extensive thread on this already - my apologies.

Beat me too it. My thoughts where "Isn't there already a huge thread on this?

 

[richpjr]

There is but the mods started deleting a bunch of posts form it so it's not so large any more!

 

[SDColorado]

There is but the mods started deleting a bunch of posts form it so it's not so large any more!

Oh? Really? Why? Posts getting to contentious?