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Flabasha

macrumors 6502
Dec 21, 2011
357
441
Just copy the Galaxy Tab Ultra.

I’m an old-school Apple fanboy, but the Ultra is exactly what a “pro” tablet needs to be. After years of just iPads and iPad Pros, I just bought my second Ultra. It’s preposterously good.
 

Traverse

macrumors 604
Mar 11, 2013
7,711
4,491
Here
TL/DR: The iPad is a fantastic device and I enjoy mine, but outside of ridiculous workarounds you can mostly only do what Apple has specifically considered and allowed within its parameters. If that is impossible or in a way you'd rather not work then you're out of luck.



As has been said many times over - the limitation is the software. For many users the iPad is all they need and for many "professionals" the iPad is sufficient, but the vast majority would prefer - or honestly be better served by - a MacBook Air.

Some things I do as a "power user" that iPadOS just doesn't allow:

  • Can't create smart playlists in Music.
  • Can't create or view smart albums in Photos.
  • Cannot act as a server - fine there are better dedicated products.
  • Can run virtual machines for testing/fun
  • Can't access terminal
  • **Can't trust software to finish processes in the background**. - biggest issue to me.
  • App Store restrictions
Just this weekend I decided that I wanted to create some custom ROMs for vintage gaming emulation. First of all, emulating games on iOS is difficult as apps get regularly pulled. To keep my core install clean I'm running macOS virtual machines in UTM to (1) install home-brew, (2) install WINE, (3) install Java. Then I get to play these fun hacks games all on my Mac. Essentially, if you can think it you an probably do it on macOS.

On top of niche use cases above, macOS just overs better day to day flexility. There are utilizes to improve screenshots, the menu bar, file extensions, etc.
 

Traverse

macrumors 604
Mar 11, 2013
7,711
4,491
Here
iPadOS is so limited, I find myself using iPad more as a professional Mobile gaming machine and light productivity more than anything else.

Honestly, this. I am very disappointed at the money I spent on a 12.9" iPad Pro with all the accessories. I had grand ambitions, but at the end of the day I ended up using it mostly as an iPad outside of times I forced the iPad into the workflow just because I had it. I ended up buying an iPad mini to help for the "iPad" things.

I plan to consolidate down to an 11" iPad Pro in the future since no non-Pro iPad can have more than 256 GB of storage apparently.
 

Greenmeenie

macrumors 68020
Jan 14, 2013
2,121
3,304
It already is for me. I’m an artist and am still using my 2018 iPad Pro professionally. I create digital art on it using the Apple pencil. I also use it to edit 4k video on to promote my art & photography… all which I create on my 2018 iPad Pro. So the current M2 iPad Pros are DEFINITELY PRO level creation devices. Will it be enough or suit EVERY professionals needs? Of course not. But it will for be PRO enough for many Professional artists such as myself. Depends on who you ask.
 

iPadified

macrumors 68020
Apr 25, 2017
2,014
2,257
Will it be enough or suit EVERY professionals needs? Of course not. But it will for be PRO enough for many Professional artists such as myself. Depends on who you ask.
So true and and a view on iPads mostly missed on MR forum.
 

Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,725
13,245
UK
I think a Dex like feature. However, what does pro really mean. For many people the iPad is already a pro device and they can do their work/what they need to do on it.

I think it's ok for the iPad to exist as it does. It doesn't have to replicate the exact same functions as a MacBook. Computing has evolved. Some years ago all 'computing tasks' had to be done on a traditional computer because that was all we had. We didn't have smartphones or tablets. If you wanted to check your emails, watch videos, use the internet, do basic typing, do online shopping and online banking and go on social media etc you had to use a traditional computer because that was all we had. Now we have other devices and computing tasks don't all need to be lumped together. Many computing tasks can be achieved on smartphones or tablets. It all depends on the user and what they need/wamt.
 

rappr

macrumors regular
Jul 8, 2007
134
264
”Pro” by Apple’s definition just means highest end hardware in the product line. That’s how iPhones and AirPods can be ”Pro” without any productivity focus.

But from a platform perspective, I think the only big ticket item iPad is missing is the audio routing stuff people have been talking about for a few years. From there, its just convincing developers (like Microsoft) to improve the capabilities of their iPad apps.
 

Username-already-in-use

macrumors 6502a
May 18, 2021
567
1,056
While probably true, it doesn’t need to be Xcode as it exists on the Mac. I don’t think the option to develop iPad apps on a device called iPad Pro is too much to ask.
It’s an unrealistic ask.

The reality of development is you’re using third party packages and libraries with whatever IDE you use, which requires those third parties to make a conscious decision to offer versions of those packages/libraries which run on iPadOS. There is no demand for this and they’re not going to do it. It’s just a tech YouTube fantasy take.
 

rappr

macrumors regular
Jul 8, 2007
134
264
It’s an unrealistic ask.

The reality of development is you’re using third party packages and libraries with whatever IDE you use, which requires those third parties to make a conscious decision to offer versions of those packages/libraries which run on iPadOS. There is no demand for this and they’re not going to do it. It’s just a tech YouTube fantasy take.
Swift Playgrounds allows for iOS app development with Swift Package Manager support for 3rd party libraries. It's my understanding that they need to be written in pure Swift, but that support is there.
 

Username-already-in-use

macrumors 6502a
May 18, 2021
567
1,056
Swift Playgrounds allows for iOS app development with Swift Package Manager support for 3rd party libraries. It's my understanding that they need to be written in pure Swift, but that support is there.
and just who is going to rewrite the libraries written in C/C++ into pure Swift?
 
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iPadified

macrumors 68020
Apr 25, 2017
2,014
2,257
Hardware isn't the problem at all

The OS is , it's a joke

There should be a dumbed down version for kids and the elderly ( existing with a few teaks ) , and a real pro version to match the potential of the hardware
Define a real pro please.
 
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