iPad Why did you choose an iPad rather than a Laptop?

[Mainsail]

The California State University System purchased iPads Airs for students at some of their Universities. IPad Air 4 + Apple Smart Keyboard + Apple Pencil. The idea was that this would eliminate the need for students to buy laptops. I am wondering how this is going. We will probably hear more as the semester progresses.

 

[iPadified]

The California State University System purchased iPads Airs for students at some of their Universities. IPad Air 4 + Apple Smart Keyboard + Apple Pencil. The idea was that this would eliminate the need for students to buy laptops. I am wondering how this is going. We will probably hear more as the semester progresses.

If they are going to write any kind of report with references to scientific articles you need a reference manager. Not even desktop versions of Word is good enough. Word on iPad needs to work together with at least one advanced reference manager like Endnote, Mendeley or Zotero. For content consumption (which reading books are) iPads are excellent and far better than any laptop. For note taking and ordinary pen and paper tasks, the iPad outclasses the Laptop. The issue arises when students are going to use complex software such as r, Maple, Mathematica or CAD softwares. Then you must have a laptop. Conclusion, you need both an iPad and a laptop/iMac. In fact the best combo is iPad/win PC if you want best access to software and functionality for academic work.

 

[Mainsail]

If they are going to write any kind of report with references to scientific articles you need a reference manager. Not even desktop versions of Word is good enough. Word on iPad needs to work together with at least one advanced reference manager like Endnote, Mendeley or Zotero. For content consumption (which reading books are) iPads are excellent and far better than any laptop. For note taking and ordinary pen and paper tasks, the iPad outclasses the Laptop. The issue arises when students are going to use complex software such as r, Maple, Mathematica or CAD softwares. Then you must have a laptop. Conclusion, you need both an iPad and a laptop/iMac. In fact the best combo is iPad/win PC if you want best access to software and functionality for academic work.

I would agree. Even relatively routine productivity applications are more useable on a traditional computer vs an iPad. Imagine trying to write a paper with multiple references and documents open. Or, trying to create a team presentation for class that pulls together input from several other students. Finally, most economics and business students need to develop spreadsheets for business analysis and finance courses. Spreadsheets can be agonizing on a tablet.

For college, I would take the base M1 MBA over an iPad Air plus accessories. I have a son in college right now (3rd year) and he laughed at the idea of an iPad rather than a Mac.

Nevertheless, I could be wrong, and hopefully, we will get some feedback from students in the next month or so. College students can be very resourceful, and they might find a way to make it work effectively. Perhaps, they will leverage the iPad's strengths (note taking, reading, and annotating) and supplement with on-campus desktop computers for heavy lifting and multi-tasking. We will see.

 

[iPadified]

I would agree. Even relatively routine productivity applications are more useable on a traditional computer vs an iPad. Imagine trying to write a paper with multiple references and documents open. Or, trying to create a team presentation for class that pulls together input from several other students. Finally, most economics and business students need to develop spreadsheets for business analysis and finance courses. Spreadsheets can be agonizing on a tablet.

For college, I would take the base M1 MBA over an iPad Air plus accessories. I have a son in college right now (3rd year) and he laughed at the idea of an iPad rather than a Mac.

Nevertheless, I could be wrong, and hopefully, we will get some feedback from students in the next month or so. College students can be very resourceful, and they might find a way to make it work effectively. Perhaps, they will leverage the iPad's strengths (note taking, reading, and annotating) and supplement with on-campus desktop computers for heavy lifting and multi-tasking. We will see.

I agree that we will see work arounds using on campus computer or remote access. As said, I need two devices to work efficiently in the academic sector but I am not paying, the university does. At any rate a very interesting experiment.

What does your son study? I think that makes a huge difference in usability of iPads vs Macs vs WinPCs.

Regarding students and apps. Team presentation: Google docs would do that. I think the Magic keyboard and Excel should play very well together. Students are not superusers of any software so even basic software would do. They think though they do better job with advanced software - not true really. the problem is software that does not exist on iPad. I am waiting for Fusion 360, a possibility to use good reference manages with the necessary links to Word and r for iPad. There was some rumours of running Fusion 360 over the web but it does not work on tables.

 

[Ipadlover29]

These are the reasons I choose my 12.9 ipad pro 2021 over any macbook

120hz refresh rate
touchscreen
easier to use than windows laptop or mac
more apps than a laptop
can be used as tablet or laptop (with magic keyboard)
widgets on homescreen
home controls in control center
better speakers than a macbook
screen has a very low reflectivity rate and is laminated so is easier to read
screen is brightner than any macbook
mini-led (this will change when the new macbooks come out with mini-led)
webcam is better than any macbook, also ipad pro has center stage which no mac has right now
Face ID

 

[outlawarth]

I am forced to use a Windows laptop for work. When I have some down time or for leisure I don’t feel like sitting in front of another laptop.

Therefore, the majority of my non work time is spent using an iPad.

 

[Mainsail]

I agree that we will see work arounds using on campus computer or remote access. As said, I need two devices to work efficiently in the academic sector but I am not paying, the university does. At any rate a very interesting experiment.

What does your son study? I think that makes a huge difference in usability of iPads vs Macs vs WinPCs.

Regarding students and apps. Team presentation: Google docs would do that. I think the Magic keyboard and Excel should play very well together. Students are not superusers of any software so even basic software would do. They think though they do better job with advanced software - not true really. the problem is software that does not exist on iPad. I am waiting for Fusion 360, a possibility to use good reference manages with the necessary links to Word and r for iPad. There was some rumours of running Fusion 360 over the web but it does not work on tables.

My son is majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Spanish. He is taking Finance this semester and expects a fair amount of class work using Excel. His freshman year he had a statistics class that required R. I am not sure if there is a good iPad app for that application. Also, he frequently collaborates on team projects or has to write papers using multiple sources, so it is often necessary to have numerous windows open at the same time to seamlessly move between documents and apps. He has a 23.5 inch monitor to connect to the laptop for those assignments that require more real estate for large spreadsheets and multiple documents. All of this would be incredibly cumbersome on an iPad. And a secondary monitor isn’t much help with an iPad, since it just mirrors the iPad screen. Well, this is the way my son sees it.

 

[iPadified]

My son is majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Spanish. He is taking Finance this semester and expects a fair amount of class work using Excel. His freshman year he had a statistics class that required R. I am not sure if there is a good iPad app for that application. Also, he frequently collaborates on team projects or has to write papers using multiple sources, so it is often necessary to have numerous windows open at the same time to seamlessly move between documents and apps. He has a 23.5 inch monitor to connect to the laptop for those assignments that require more real estate for large spreadsheets and multiple documents. All of this would be incredibly cumbersome on an iPad. And a secondary monitor isn’t much help with an iPad, since it just mirrors the iPad screen. Well, this is the way my son sees it.

He is far better of than the engineers and natural science students because for these the software do not exist on iPad. . To be fair most students have really lousy laptops with really poor screens. Do what you describe on any small/poor screen device would be agony. Proper external monitor support on iPad and not just mirroring would be awesome.

Looks like RStudio has a cloud solution. That is cool. I must try at some point as it is free for limited use.

 

[BarredOwl]

I use both a MacBook Pro and an M1 12.9" iPad.

I choose the iPad over the Mac when possible because of 1 thing: 5G

 

[Mainsail]

He is far better of than the engineers and natural science students because for these the software do not exist on iPad. . To be fair most students have really lousy laptops with really poor screens. Do what you describe on any small/poor screen device would be agony. Proper external monitor support on iPad and not just mirroring would be awesome.

Looks like RStudio has a cloud solution. That is cool. I must try at some point as it is free for limited use.

My son uses a 2017 MBA, which doesn't have a Retina display, but he gets by with it nonetheless. Even on a 13.3 inch laptop, it is just plain easier to navigate multiple apps and documents with floating windows in MacOS than the clunky multi-tasking on iPadOS. Also, an external monitor connected to the laptop is worlds better than connected to an iPad.

 

[iPadified]

My son uses a 2017 MBA, which doesn't have a Retina display, but he gets by with it nonetheless. Even on a 13.3 inch laptop, it is just plain easier to navigate multiple apps and documents with floating windows in MacOS than the clunky multi-tasking on iPadOS. Also, an external monitor connected to the laptop is worlds better than connected to an iPad.

My eye sight is so poor so a 13.3 inch screen low res is impossible to use unless I have use full screen mode. Four finger swipe works as good on iPad as on MacOS to switch apps.That is often quicker than messing around with windows anyways. What really is useful for multi document usage is tabs in an app like pdf expert. That is both quick and tidy.

I doubt many students has larger screen monitors but yes, iPad would be better is external large screen monitor support was better. .

 

[jakja83]

…

 

[rluvbeach]

mostly because of its portability

 

[Monotremata]

Because I have a Mini already doing my desktop/Logic Pro duties. I wanted something else I could have on hand to use Safari. look up strategy guides while Im playing the Xbox/Switch, read books, etc while Im on the couch. MacBook was about the same price, and I did consider it for a second, but it wasn't what I really wanted.

 

[ackmondual]

Oh, my use case doesn't fit yours!

I have a home and work PC for work (would NOT want to write scripts on those! And software wouldn't work on an iPad anyways). Video games and internet at home. Chromebook for superior internet access while staying at hotel or relative's house. I've been using the iPad mostly for iOS games that aren't on other platforms, or too cumbersome to deal with on the go (e.g. Steam is great, but even a portable laptop still worse off than an ipad). I'd more likely use the Chromebook for work than an iPad.

 

[GBNova]

I would appreciate some input from guy/gals that use an iPad/Tablet for actual work, rather than just consuming media. My equipment has always been a desktop for power use and a laptop on the go. That said, I have owned the original iPad and another - a mini or some such that I still have. They were/are great for consuming as I said, to pass the time in a hotel room or doctor's office, but I never found a use other than that.

It seems to me that the purchase of, say, an iPad pro with a keyboard and a stand just gives you an ersatz laptop, with nowhere near the capability of an MB Air. Or does it? If you use a slab instead of a laptop for actual work, I would like to know why you chose one over the other.

I use the pencil a lot, so the iPad suits my needs better.

 

[xxray]

I’ve decided to try going iPad only. I’ve always viewed the iPad as the future since 2015 when the first iPad Pro came out. To me, it was obvious. The iPad form factor just feels futuristic just being a slab of glass you can carry around. Then there's how powerful, efficient, and optimized the iPads were/are compared to the noisy, hot, slow, and outdated Intel Macs. The Mac honestly seemed neglected from 2013-2018 until iMac Pro, 16" MacBook Pro, and Apple Silicon. 2013-2017 in particular seemed really dire with rare and slow hardware updates, Mac Pro being dead, the butterfly keyboard, the gimmicky and poorly thought-out Touch Bar, major feature disparity in both hardware and software from the iPhone and iPad, increased prices for not a whole lot more compared to Windows products, and dongles.

Once Apple released the 2018 iPad Pro with the much reduced bezels/body size, it really made me want to go iPad only. However, I never upgraded because I just bought the 2017 iPad Pro the year before. I tried going iPad only a few times with the 2017 10.5 Pro I own now, but the screen was just too small, and even with an external keyboard, it just didn't feel right and felt limited. Also, both the software and hardware has expanded in capability a lot since 2017, and my needs have also changed a lot. I have less niche small little things I need to keep the Mac around for. I feel like I can get 97% of the things I want done on an iPad. I'm also excited to have the opportunity to recreate workflows and try new software on the iPad.

Ironically enough, the M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pros sorta is what finally lit my match and convinced me to try to go all out and go iPad only now rather than later. Here has been my thought process over the last few weeks:

• The new MacBook Pros were announced. Despite not needing a new laptop anytime soon, I realized they will be too powerful and too expensive for my needs when I do need a new laptop. The MacBook Pro is no longer a product category that fits me. The standard M1 chip would be more than enough.
• The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro has M1, but compared to an iPad Pro that also has an M1, these products are:
  • Less fun
  • Less modular/flexible in hardware
    • Think of how an iPad can be docked to a Magic Keyboard, then detached and carried around, then used as a drawing tablet. You can use your finger, mouse/pointer, or a stylus as touch input.
  • Have worse screens
    • Dimmer
    • No ProMotion
    • No mini-LED (much worse contrast)
      • Even if these models get mini-LED by the time I need a laptop, I'm betting Apple will keep ProMotion as a MacBook Pro model feature.
  • Have worse cameras and no Center Stage
  • Don't have LiDAR or the ability to be carried around for AR use
  • Don't work as well with the iPhone as an iPad does
  • Have outdated designs
  • No FaceID
  • Touch Bar on 13" model
• If the Mac no longer fits my usage, and if I can eliminate the Mac from my device lineup, not only is the iPad setup cheaper, but I also wouldn't have to buy both an iPad and a MacBook Pro every 4-5 years. It's simpler and it's cheaper.
• The next iPad Pro will likely not arrive for another year (499 days historical average between 12.9" iPad Pro releases according to MacRumors buyers' guide).
• The 12.9" iPad Pro was $200 off this past week, and even the newest Magic Keyboard was over $100 off as well. Sales this good won't happen for months after the next iPad Pro is released, which could be a year and a half away at this point.
• I bring my 2018 MacBook Pro to work and use it on average for 2 hours per day there for light work (just using Safari, Notes, Messages, and email). Not only can these tasks be completed on my iPad, and completed with more enjoyment on the iPad, but everyday I also worry about if my MacBook Pro battery life will last long enough while I'm there. My battery can drain anywhere from 15-50% per hour, and my laptop is pretty much always warm and sometimes noisy.
• If I...
  • No longer see the Mac as a product I need, want, or that fits me
  • Can have both my needs and desires fulfilled by an iPad
  • Want to upgrade my next iPad Pro within the next year but the next one likely won't be out for another year
  • See that the current iPad Pro is having the biggest discounts yet
  • Have been wanting to go iPad only for years
• ...then why should I not upgrade now and go iPad only?

To me, the iPad is just a more fun product to use. I love its modularity and flexibility to be as much or as little as you want it to be. Not only are you not tied to a desk like a desktop computer, but you're not even tied to a keyboard or a certain input method (mouse/trackpad/pointer) like you are on a MacBook. I love how consistently great the hardware is and how it always feels like an innovative product, while the Mac misses out on and is slow to adopt features that the iPhone and iPad get. I love how the software features are way more compatible and in sync with the iPhone than the Mac is with iOS/iPadOS apps. I love how futuristic it feels to use an iPad. I love how efficient and powerful the iPad is. I love how the iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard + Pencil would not only be a more enjoyable product for me to use compared to the MacBook Pro I would likely buy, but it would also be $1,000 cheaper. I'm excited to see how the transition goes!

 

[Hunter5117]

My everyday desktop for the past year+ was my 16" MBP plus my 12.9" IPP. The iPad was mostly used for monitoring my stock portfolio during the trading day, making trades and with the iPad app that I use, I was able to watch CNBC and other finance shows at the same time. The MBP was used for spreadsheeting and research. Research mostly consisted of web searches and clipping information into Notes. The MBP can also run my more complex stock trading platform when I want to do complex trades, charting etc which the iPad does not do at all or very well.

When I wanted to go portable, obviously the IPP was what I took. However, over time I found it to be a poor laptop replacement if I say went to lunch or a coffee shop and wanted to continue research or spreadsheets the workflow was a lot more difficult. Split screens on the iPad don't come close to multiple full screen windows or multiple desktops on the MBP. Even though I use a Magic Keyboard and mouse, just not as efficient.

So just this week I decided to swap the 12.9 IPP for a 13" M1 MBP. Especially since I can still run my iPad stock program on it, it pretty much seamlessly replaces the iPad in the office, and for the reasons mentioned, is much nicer to use if I go out.

One thing that is part of my workflow that the iPad is necessary for is when I review and annotate my research. For that I have always used an 11" IPP and pencil since I like the 11" size it feels more like a conventional (paper) notebook.

 

[PhotoPimp]

Online Poker

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I would appreciate some input from guy/gals that use an iPad/Tablet for actual work, rather than just consuming media. My equipment has always been a desktop for power use and a laptop on the go. That said, I have owned the original iPad and another - a mini or some such that I still have. They were/are great for consuming as I said, to pass the time in a hotel room or doctor's office, but I never found a use other than that.

It seems to me that the purchase of, say, an iPad pro with a keyboard and a stand just gives you an ersatz laptop, with nowhere near the capability of an MB Air. Or does it? If you use a slab instead of a laptop for actual work, I would like to know why you chose one over the other.

I know this is an older thread but I don't quite understand why this question is being asked. Using an iPad will require learning that OS: it is VERY different from using a Mac. Those that expect to use an iPad the same way as a Mac are in for a rude awakening, and are only going to end up frustrated and calling it a piece of crap or a toy or some other dismissive adjective.

That said, content consumption is part of the job for many folks. For example, a pilot can access flight planning, mapping and technical software instead of having to rely on paper. So can an aircraft maintainer.

Around the time I was in the Air Force, we began using digital technical documentation and aircraft manuals to accomplish all aircraft maintenance on the flight line. Before this, we had to maintain huge libraries on each aircraft and copies in our tool crib for maintainers to sign out. At that time, we were using Windows laptops which were a huge PITA but much better than carrying books around. An iPad would be perfect for this, although I retired before the iPad existed and I don't know whether or not the USAF decided to use them instead.

Now I use a work-issued Windows PC for DevOps work, but I could totally use an iPad if I needed to (I'm not a Developer, though, I work on the Operations side of the DevOps team), particularly in the field or when traveling light.

Preferably, I'd have the PC though, given the iPad still doesn't output to external monitors properly and we have a lot on Windows-dependent enterprise infrastructure.

Once it does, it's over.

 

[gsal]

Portability. I also do a lot of photo editing and artwork, which lends itself better to the iPad form factor.

I have the M1 11” iPad Pro that I now use mostly with the Smart Folio as it encourages me to use the touch screen, which in my opinion is the better way of using an iPad. I also have the Magic Keyboard, but only use it now for longer typing sessions as a portable dock. I used to have the MKB permanently attached, but found it added too much weight and discouraged me from using my iPad as what it was made to be, a primarily touch screen device.

If I was ever to go back to a Mac, I’d probably go for an iMac. But honestly, I feel that I can do everything I need to do on my iPad, in a much more enjoyable form factor to me.

 

[Mahasamatman]

I have the M1 11” iPad Pro

From the specs that is still n the A12Z not an M1...

 

[Hunter5117]

From the specs that is still n the A12Z not an M1...

I don't think so, both current IPPs are using the M1. As far as I know, the only differences are size, screen quality and presumably battery.

 

[sparksd]

I don't think so, both current IPPs are using the M1. As far as I know, the only differences are size, screen quality and presumably battery.

Right, the 2021 11" uses the M1 -

https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/specs/

 

[Mahasamatman]

I don't think so, both current IPPs are using the M1. As far as I know, the only differences are size, screen quality and presumably battery.

I stand corrected - misread the site.