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What would make your iPad a real Pro?

It already is for me, because I do all of my work on it, and it is actually a bit more capable than my MBP in that regard because of the fact that I draw on a whiteboard for hours everyday. With my MBP, I need an extra accessory to do that.

When I got the IPP, I wasn’t sure how the typing experience would be or if I would miss a mouse, but I’m totally happy on both of those fronts. I don’t miss the mouse at all. In fact... I already used touchscreens so much even before this latest iPad that I often found myself reaching up to touch the screen on my MBP. If I need to do anything precise, I can use the Pencil— I actually find it more precise than a mouse.
 
Ability to downgrade apps and OS.

With a desktop you are always in control. A downloaded software will work forever and you can stick with the same version if it works best for you. An update won't be forced by the developer or by you updating the operating software. Most importantly, a computer allow you to downgrade and update as you please.
 
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For the iPad to be used for my professional purposes, I would need to the hardware to support having multiple screens plugged into it. (Or enough video graphics to power a Ultra Wide monitor.) I often have multiple source documents open in one screen and develop or write in another screen (it includes copying content from source and pasting into development screen).
It would also need to have a mouse with secondary button feature.
It would also need to be able run advanced multi-media branched learning development applications equivalent to Camtasia, Captivate, or Storyline.
While those are my professional needs (that can't be met by an iPad) i know that some professionals will find that their needs can be met with an iPad. Lots of people are different and there is no single right solution for everyone.
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mgipe said:
A proper file system.
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There is a proper file system for the iPad. There is a different proper file system for the Mac and Windows.
I agree that the iOS file system does not suffice for my professional needs (and many other's needs).
 
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You could go a long way by allowing the running of local containers or VMs. And a mouse. And the ability to split screen the other way (ie, above/below) and maybe into quarters. Extending the display instead of just mirroring...

A friend of mine has a Pixel C. If it had actual video out on it’s USB C port, it would do ALL of these things with a better keyboard than the current iPad Pro.
 
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El_Capitan said:
I love using my iPad but to make it a real Pro machine I would need it to do some things that can be done only on my Mac as of now.

For instance - I would love to have Xcode on my iPad, the ability to use it for coding would be really awesome.

I know everyone has different needs so I'm wondering what yours might be? What do you need your iPad to do in order to have it become a true computer replacement?
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Your need is same as mine, let devs put IDE’s on it and let me code. Then I wouldn’t have to go buy a expensive MacBook for that one thing. Also I’d love the ability to have like two desktops like on Mac, how you can switch bewtween the spaces. I could have Safari with 5-6 tabs on one space with a IDE open in the other.
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mgipe said:
A proper file system.
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I see no issue with the current file system in terms of storing and organizing files both locally and in the cloud. I do hope they add more support for different file types, I should be able to unzip a .zip file on an i:as without some extra app.
 
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The problem is three fold:
  • iOS is too limited (it was conceived as a phone OS). An OS that doesnt allow you to navigate and organize files around your own device is not a pro-OS.
  • Ergonomics: when it comes to get work done, a mouse cursor beats a finger.
  • Full scope apps, instead of trimmed down mobile versions.
 
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Brammy said:
Full-featured apps like Office. Word is gimped in unexplainable ways with regards to ToC support and editing styles.

Pages the same way.

Not many of the problems I have are on Apple or iOS, but developers. For example, I'm waiting for OneDrive to support the Files app. Today's update doesn't include that support.
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I am also waiting on OneDrive and Office updates to support the Files app. MS did announce a large redesign of OneDrive across all platforms recently and did a demo of Files app support. My understanding is that was supposed to be released by End of November, but here we are having just rolled out the December OneDrive update and still no Files app support.

If we could get more office functionality on iPad Pro along with bluetooth mouse support, my iPad Pro could replace much more of my MacBook Air's function. Working with large, complex documents, the iPad Pro just doesn't work well for me today. Its not that I can't create and edit large or complex documents its that it takes me more time based on the iPad workflow without a mouse. Maybe I am archaic in the same way that 90's era WordPerfect users and Unix coders using vi could complete tasks much faster using keyboard only than in a GUI environment. The GUI + WYSIWYG editing tools gave computing a broader market appeal. Touch input is broadening the appeal again perhaps at the expense of efficiency.
 
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gobikerider said:
I see no issue with the current file system in terms of storing and organizing files both locally and in the cloud. I do hope they add more support for different file types, I should be able to unzip a .zip file on an i:as without some extra app.
Click to expand...

Download the Documents by Readdle app and just forget about the Files app. Documents is free, and really everyone should download it. It is what the Files app should be, and it has much more capability than Files. It works well with all cloud storage types, FTP sites, and with iCloud it keeps everything synced locally on the iPad as well as on iCloud Drive. It also allows you to zip and unzip files. It allows you to view most popular file types. And it allows you to view file properties for each file.
 
I am pretty happy with the iPad Pro as my only computer (besides my iPhone). The only thing I would really like is a download manager and mouse support within certain productivity apps (not the whole OS). Besides that, it just comes down to quality apps.
 
Precursor said:
When you're using excel and have to select a couple of cells for example, the pencil doesn't help.
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There's no workaround or alternative to that? I forgot what it was called, but there was an Office like app that let you select a range of cells by doing a double tap and drag motion.
 
eyeseeyou said:
A mouse pointer and or the ability to connect a mouse to use the mouse pointer.
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I think the arm based windows are pointing the way. Similar ipad hybrids--with mouse/trackpad--and pencil would be awesome. Many could live without macOS and usb.

HP envy x2 hybrid cover makes apple smart cover look like garbage.
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ackmondual said:
There's no workaround or alternative to that? I forgot what it was called, but there was an Office like app that let you select a range of cells by doing a double tap and drag motion.
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no thanks. the tech needs to support the workflow, not visa versa
 
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rowspaxe said:
no thanks. the tech needs to support the workflow, not visa versa
Click to expand...

I can select a range of cells in Excel for iOS easily. There is a resizer in the selection that lets you select additional cells.

That said, I can't find a way to select non-contiguous cells like you can with Ctr + Select as you can on a PC.
 
ackmondual said:
There's no workaround or alternative to that? I forgot what it was called, but there was an Office like app that let you select a range of cells by doing a double tap and drag motion.
Click to expand...

Every of the simplest little things seems to require a workaround, additional app, or compromise on the iPad.
 
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blackcrayon said:
Yep.
I don't need a global mouse pointer everywhere like the Mac, but something more like a combination between the Apple TV app selector, a mouse-like pointer for certain apps, and an I-beam for text editors.
Click to expand...

Yes, I think this is a critical point -- many of us (okay, I'm projecting) who want mouse and trackpad support don't actually care about a global OS mouse pointer. We just want the capacity for apps to take mouse/trackpad input and create a pointer in their own UI's if they choose.

For applications like Excel, word processors, development IDEs... that sort of work is not fun when you have to keep reaching up and touching the screen to do everything, as Apple themselves have pointed out in the context of their laptops.

Apple could maintain the same policy they have about game controllers currently; The interface must be fully-functional with touch, with a mouse/trackpad as an option only.
 
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To me it’s 3 basic things:

1. Better text input method that does NOT require putting the iPad down, is as fast and accurate as a physical QWERTY keyboard, does not take up half the screen real estate, and is not audible
2. Better apps that fully utilize iOS features and are as robust as their desktop counterparts
3. Versioned backups and easy file retrieval

#1
To me, the point of a tablet is that you can use it while holding it and doing so comfortably. If you set it down and prop it up, and add a keyboard and mouse, you just end up with a laptop again, but not as optimized. I already have a laptop that is designed from the ground up for when I’m at a table. You can’t beat it at its own game. This would allow the iPad to be a replacement work device for me (*with some caveats) by embracing the tablet form factor, diminishing the need to adopt another form factor. That said, this a very tall order. Handwriting recognition could work if implemented well and system-wide, except it would require a pencil.

#2
Echoing previous posters, most apps are just not as fully featured as desktop applications. I don’t know the whole story as to why but I don’t think it’s because of hardware or software limitations set by Apple for developers as much as financial—and this does need to be resolved. And I think most of my file system woes would be satisfactorily solved if apps would just properly implement share sheets.

#3
iOS devices can be automatically backed up to iCloud, but it’s paid subscription if you have over 5 GB worth of data (which I do), and most critically it doesn’t have versioning. Or iOS devices can be backed up to iTunes manually over a cable, and if your iTunes is backed up to time machine then you have versioning. But manually backing up is a chore. And neither option supports an easy way to retrieve old files individually. You have to restore the entire device. I need a way to restore files, a la time machine, and an option to automatically wirelessly back up to iTunes when on the same network and plugged into power.

*I don’t see ipads ever fully replacing desktop OS computers because of a couple reasons. At least for now there still needs to be some sort of desktop computer to handle backups and things of that nature. Whether you trust that computer to belong to some company in a server farm somewhere or whether it belongs to you in your home, it needs to exist.
And then there are inherent things about the iPad, namely the requirement that it be a hand held device, that makes it unable to compete with bigger, more powerful laptop workstations which don’t have that limitation. Not an issue for most probably, but for some (including me). Also with touch UI, not as many controls and as much information can be displayed on the screen as with pointer UI. But maybe an interesting idea would be for productivity/work apps to have ‘pencil UI mode’ where the UI becomes more like MacOS applications, showing a more expansive UI, but to be used with a pencil (still no keyboard, because an iPad should be held in my opinion).
 
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I may be alone on this but my idea of what a true iPad Pro is would be more of a convertible RMB 12 with removable touch screen and a built in modem/SIM card. As long as I am dreaming I'd also like it to be capable of operating on either IOS or Mac OS based on what I was doing at any given time.
 
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A mouse, because I'm a writer and it's absolutely miserable to cut and paste something like 6.2 pages of text using a touchscreen, and a web-browser that's capable of the same functionality as Firefox's NoScript. I _love_ NoScript, and no longer browse the web without it.
 
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Ability to run software like Node in a terminal. Not thru some SSH remote but locally. That and a proper file system is what I would need for work. It would need to have the background task 10min limit lifted as well.

Being able to connect a mouse over BT or USB would be welcome too.
 
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