All iPads Why will you go iPad instead of Apple Silicon laptop?

[satchmo]

As someone who uses an iPad 80% of the time with a keyboard in landscape mode, I chose it over past Apple laptops primarily for speed and cost.

MacBook Pros were fan noisy, and frankly didn't feel as snappy with Intel chips running MacOS.
However, all that is changing soon.

With ASi MacBooks/MacBook Pros rumoured in the coming months, they will presumably be just as fast, if not faster given a bit more physical headroom.
They also come with a dedicated keyboard forgoing the need to drop big bucks on a Magic Keyboard.
One key difference of course is an iPad can always be a tablet at any time and it's touch enabled screen.

I suppose much will depend on the cost of these new ASi laptops.
So why did or will you go iPad over a MacBook?

 

[Expos of 1969]

In June I “sold” my 2013 MacBook Pro 13” to a local Autorized Apple Reseller (no Apple stores in country) as I wanted to get something for it before it died. The screen was starting to peel in one corner and the battery was the original one. i also sold them my original iPhone SE and iPad 3 from 2012. I received gift vouchers in return.

With no idea when the ARM Macs would be released and no pressing need or desire to spend Apple laptop kind of money (not cheap in Europe) and the gift vouchers soon to expire, two weeks ago I got the iPad 8th generation with 128GB storage. Very happy with it so far. I alternate between it and my Samsung Galaxy Tab A.

So I went for the iPad due to lower cost and to determine if I ever need a laptop or desktop again. Time will tell.

 

[ericwn]

As someone who uses an iPad 80% of the time with a keyboard in landscape mode, I chose it over past Apple laptops primarily for speed and cost.

MacBook Pros were fan noisy, and frankly didn't feel as snappy with Intel chips running MacOS.
However, all that is changing soon.

With ASi MacBooks/MacBook Pros rumoured in the coming months, they will presumably be just as fast, if not faster given a bit more physical headroom.
They also come with a dedicated keyboard forgoing the need to drop big bucks on a Magic Keyboard.
One key difference of course is an iPad can always be a tablet at any time and it's touch enabled screen.

I suppose much will depend on the cost of these new ASi laptops.
So why did or will you go iPad over a MacBook?

I’m not sure I get the question. Macs get a different CPU and MIGHT become faster or more energy efficient. What does that matter to the iPads I have for the last decade? Nobody I know so far bought iPads just because they have a faster chip than a Mac but because they offer a different experience and represent a different kind of device.

 

[akash.nu]

I’m not sure I get the question. Macs get a different CPU and MIGHT become faster or more energy efficient. What does that matter to the iPads I have for the last decade? Nobody I know so far bought iPads just because they have a faster chip than a Mac but because they offer a different experience and represent a different kind of device.

This was my thinking as well.

I have a MacBook Pro because the iPad can’t do what a Mac can just yet and I also have an iPad because some experience on iPad is just better and convenient. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[cdcastillo]

Because there is no such thing as an Apple silicon laptop?

At least, not yet. And not for the immediate future.

 

[satchmo]

I’m not sure I get the question. Macs get a different CPU and MIGHT become faster or more energy efficient. What does that matter to the iPads I have for the last decade? Nobody I know so far bought iPads just because they have a faster chip than a Mac but because they offer a different experience and represent a different kind of device.

This was my thinking as well.

I have a MacBook Pro because the iPad can’t do what a Mac can just yet and I also have an iPad because some experience on iPad is just better and convenient. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Certainly, iPad's can't run many true MacOS apps. But the the lines are blurring to the point where an iPad and MacBooks become interchangeable. And with cloud based computing, apps such by MS, Google and Adobe, now run on multiple devices.

The experience is one reason and that's a valid one. Especially if you're using an iPad as a tablet and Pencil.
But for some, the experience is similar if using a keyboard with an iPad using MS Office or Pages for example.
I do know of others who swear by iOS because of speed.

 

[ericwn]

The form factor differences are still there. Not everyone has a keyboard attached to their iPad in a way that negates the tablet use case which likely dominates in iPad land. That means they are different devices, with different use cases, different interfaces and they have in no way become more interchangeable.

Apple probably hopes that the rather small macOS software market will expand with this move in my opinion.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Because there is no such thing as an Apple silicon laptop?

At least, not yet. And not for the immediate future.

Are we going to forget that WWDC20 happened?

 

[cdcastillo]

Are we going to forget that WWDC20 happened?

Are we going to buy things that are not for sale yet? I mean, the post is called "Why DID you go iPad instead of Apple Silicon laptop"

 

[satchmo]

Are we going to buy things that are not for sale yet? I mean, the post is called "Why DID you go iPad instead of Apple Silicon laptop"

Semantics...if you read the context and beyond the heading.
But I changed the heading...happy?

 

[ericwn]

Are we going to forget that WWDC20 happened?

And the post you quoted says “yet” - probably for that very reason.

 

[ejin222]

At the end of the day, if my iPad can’t run desktop quality apps, then I’m going to need a laptop/desktop.

The day that these companies and app developers give us full, desktop quality apps is the day I sell my MacBook Pro.

 

[Plutonius]

As someone who uses an iPad 80% of the time with a keyboard in landscape mode, I chose it over past Apple laptops primarily for speed and cost.

MacBook Pros were fan noisy, and frankly didn't feel as snappy with Intel chips running MacOS.
However, all that is changing soon.

With ASi MacBooks/MacBook Pros rumoured in the coming months, they will presumably be just as fast, if not faster given a bit more physical headroom.
They also come with a dedicated keyboard forgoing the need to drop big bucks on a Magic Keyboard.
One key difference of course is an iPad can always be a tablet at any time and it's touch enabled screen.

I suppose much will depend on the cost of these new ASi laptops.
So why did or will you go iPad over a MacBook?

Who knows about the laptops other than they will be ARM based (i.e. how can people make a comparison at the current time).

The question should probably wait until they are released and people had a chance to evaluate them.

 

[jazz1]

The future ARM based laptops certainly have me reviewing my needs regarding iPads vs. MacBooks. But in the end I think I'll always want/need an Apple tablet and laptop. While my current iPad with MK folio bridges between a tablet and laptop, I'm still not totally satisfied with the MK.

Having gotten back a 12" MacBook from my kid (it is dying due to aged battery and liquid damage) I was very happy with the larger trackpad, screen ratio, thin form factor, and ability to open multiple windows (including multiple desktops open).

Of course the old 2015 12" MacBook is slow, and the screen resolution pales compared to the current iPad Pro. But it did open my eyes as I've not had a laptop for over two years. I certainly would welcome with open arms an ARM 12-14" MacBook that was similar current MacBook Air (which is what I replaced my kid's 12" MB with).

 

[AutomaticApple]

Are we going to buy things that are not for sale yet? I mean, the post is called "Why DID you go iPad instead of Apple Silicon laptop"

And the post you quoted says “yet” - probably for that very reason.

Are we going to forget about all the rumors of an ARM MacBook coming out next month?

 

[ericwn]

Are we going to forget about all the rumors of an ARM MacBook coming out next month?

Are we going to forget that it was a wrongly phrased question as if the rumour had turned into reality already and has since been changed by the OP?

Sigh.

 

[ericwn]

Also @AutomaticApple, any input on the topic? Selling your tablet because your laptop computer will get a new chip at some point in the future?

 

[Digitalguy]

I think Apple will keep Macs and ipad distinct enough so that people will still want to buy Macs AND ipads...
People like to dream of what they would like, but don't think about what maximizes return for Apple while still improving on their current products.
Macs will not get touch or pencils and Ipad will never get all the desktop apps, at best some of them. I mean, Office on ipad is far, far from the desktop version. It's not suitable for a lot of basic work environment. You can't do even basic things like compare documents with track changes, open rtf files or work on .doc files without converting them to .docx...(which can be unacceptable for some clients for instance).
And fans will probably remain on most macs.
But Apple will improve sidecar to the point that you will be able to use your mac on your ipad with touch and pencil wirelessly with no lag (as long as you have bought a recent mac). And they will improve Macs (face id, cellular, much more speed and/or better battery life and yes, ipad apps on macs...).
That's the best for Apple and still better than now for customers...

 

[KittyKatta]

Ive been trying to have my iPad replace the Mac. But I still need a Mac for a few things.

Full Apps
Pro editing
File System
User Switching
Proper multitasking
Printer Compatibility

The hardware has been here for years but unfortunately Apple just doesnt care enough about the platform to provide the software that this product deserves. And relying on 3rd party apps, having basic apps get ignored for years or getting truncated versions of Mac Programs is frustrating.

 

[macdogpro]

Many seems to be not getting what the OP’s asking for opinions for.

As for me OP, that future decision might be because on portability, simplicity and all-in-one form factors.

I’m already using an iPad Pro 11” with Magic Keyboard as a laptop replacement while waiting for the ARM based Macs.
I couldn’t see myself buying the current underwhelming Intel based Macbook Pros.

While using this setup, I find it very comfortable and quite capable using one device for almost everything besides being my iPhone.
Heavy video / photo editing, drawing illustration, mobile gaming, watching movies, typing scripts, doing spread sheets and presentation. All to handheld usage when browsing on couch / bed.

Yes there are still plenty of limitations and not for every use case scenarios as everybody known, but if Apple stick to their “No, we’re not going to merge the iPad and the Macbook line”, I can imagine both hardware and software (and apps) on the iPad line up will get even better and capable.

The opposite challenging question is: How well the Mac OS ARM based, will handle the iPadOS / iOS apps?
That will also be a deciding factor for me in the future.

But my ideal future setups will be using both iPad Pro for mobile and creative work and an iMac for desktop work.

 

[secretk]

I am in this still weird category so I am not sure that my answer would matter you. I do not need tablet and I did not buy my iPad to gain tablet experience. This is something I rarely need. I consume most of my media on my laptop, I watch movies in bed with my laptop, I do not play games, I do photos processing in batches on my laptop... You get the point.

I bought the iPad because of its pencil support. And I am pretty sure that the iPad will stay in my devices line up until I can get a laptop that can offer me good experience (in terms of apps) with pencil and still offer me desktop apps. I am not sure how much I will have to wait for that and I am not sure that Apple would be the brand to go there but this is what I need/want.

In that sense Apple silicon would not change anything for me. First of all I find Apple laptops overpriced for the hardware they offer anyway so I would not buy one. But let's talk speed. So yes my iPad has in theory is faster than my laptop but I cannot take advantage of that. I cannot do real multi tasking - multiple processes in the same time. I cannot run video export in the background while for example browsing in internet. So this raw power is under used in iPads. Maybe in laptops it will be used more appropriately. And let's not start on RAM management which is just poor in iPadOS. The amount of tabs and apps reloading is unacceptable for me. This reloading has affected negatively my productivity. I end up losing concentration and focus while waiting for something to reload.

So yeah before and after Apple silicon for me still the thing is about the pencil support. And I don't see myself anytime soon choosing only iPad. I still use my laptops heavily. In fact I use them more than I use my iPad.

 

[akash.nu]

I think Apple will keep Macs and ipad distinct enough so that people will still want to buy Macs AND ipads...
People like to dream of what they would like, but don't think about what maximizes return for Apple while still improving on their current products.
Macs will not get touch or pencils and Ipad will never get all the desktop apps, at best some of them. I mean, Office on ipad is far, far from the desktop version. It's not suitable for a lot of basic work environment. You can't do even basic things like compare documents with track changes, open rtf files or work on .doc files without converting them to .docx...(which can be unacceptable for some clients for instance).
And fans will probably remain on most macs.
But Apple will improve sidecar to the point that you will be able to use your mac on your ipad with touch and pencil wirelessly with no lag (as long as you have bought a recent mac). And they will improve Macs (face id, cellular, much more speed and/or better battery life and yes, ipad apps on macs...).
That's the best for Apple and still better than now for customers...

Although a lot of people concur with this idea but Apple does and have in the past replaced their most profitable product line for a new product that completely replaced it.

So I won’t say never, maybe not in the near future with the present technological setup. But nothing is set with Apple when it comes to product lines.

 

[kasakka]

I had a keyboard attached to my iPad Air 2. But I chose to just use the virtual keyboard on my 12.9" iPad Pro because I felt adding a keyboard would make it too heavy - and more like a laptop. So far it has worked pretty well for me like this.

With the way I use my Macbook Pro mostly in clamshell mode with external peripherals, at this point I would prefer a Macbook Pro with a touchscreen and no keyboard but MacOS is not designed for that.

 

[unchecked]

I'm going to use both two.

Getting an Apple Silicon Macbook (Pro) in two or three years time for the extra power and more importantly USB-C ports to replace my 2018 Mackbook Pro. Hopefully it'll be powerful enough to be a solid machine with plenty of graphics juice for my portable live streaming setup.

Will be using the iPad Air 2020 to bring along with me for jobs and events that don't require that kind of forementioned power. And travel when it permits.

 

[JustAnExpat]

I think the user interface is the big difference between the tablet and laptop. The iPads work great, until you start needing to do something outside of their expected workflow. The laptop is extremely flexible and allows multiple windows on the screen.