Why an iPad? (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Don't mind me. I'm thinking out loud here.

I sold my M1 12" iPad Pro a few years back and bought a M2 Macbook Air.

That is a decision I don't regret. I was using the iPad with the Apple Keyboard and was frustrated by the limitations of iPad OS in doing things that were more easily accomplished on a laptop.

But, recently, I found myself missing the iPad. I liked the light form factor of the device, holding it in one hand as I consume news and magazine media from Apple's News+

Sometimes it was nice to throw on my Airpods Max and watch some content on the iPad's beautiful screen.


So, I have been going back-and-forth about buying another iPad.

To fill the urge, I was only going to buy the MINI. Then, after watching countless YouTube videos, it seemed the iPad AIR by far was the better pick. But, for $300 more I could get the 11" iPad Pro with its gorgeous OLED screen, Pro Motion, and Face ID.

You know how all this goes. You start small but Apple has a way of getting one to upgrade


BestBuy has the 11" iPad Pro for $100 off ($899). The Pencil Pro is also on sale ($99). This might be the perfect time to buy the iPad.

I'm just sitting here wondering if this is a device I really need when I already have two Mac laptops (AIR and PRO) and a Studio.

I love my toys. This is just a bit harder to justify, but the want is there.

I realize nobody can decide for me, but perhaps you have a story as to why the iPad is an important device for you.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I think my iPad may be put out to pasture finally. I am not big into the Apple eco system like you, Ron, but I have owned a couple of different iPads going back many years. The first was probably a 2nd or 3rd gen iPad that I won during a management retreat when I was still working. When that one started to bog down after many years, I bought my current one through a deal Comcast was offering at the time for $120 (figured I couldn't go wrong at that price).

In recent years, the iPad saw most of its use for travel, when I wanted to travel light and leave my HP laptop at home. However, the device was always limiting, since I couldn't edit photos using my preferred software, among other things.

Fast forward to last Black Friday, when I picked up a Microsoft Surface Pro to replace my aging HP laptop. I had used an older Surface Pro model for the last few years at work before retiring, and really liked the lightweight form factor as I was traveling between two office locations. The new model isn't much larger or heavier than the iPad, and can run all the software I run on my desktop Windows machines. It fits easily in either of my Think Tank photo backpacks.

Personally, if I was heavily into the Apple eco system, I would prefer the smallest, lightest weight device for travel that could seamlessly run the same OS and applications as my desktops. In your case, Ron, it probably boils down to what your intended use will be.

 

[DaveF]

Happy iPad user for about a decade. I’m using it to write this response, in bed, tonight. I use it daily around the house. And it’s indispensable for travel. The Air has been the clear winner in the “good better best” stack up, and has been my purchase after the iPad 3: I currently have a 4th gen iPad Air. I’m looking forward to buying an m4 iPad Air this year, if the rumors are accurate.

The iPad has some serious limitations for “work”. But for entertainment, web and email, and lightweight tasks, it’s great to good.

I use the 11” iPads. At times, the small screen is a hindrance, but the vast majority of the time, the 11” is the right size. Big enough to be useful, small enough to work everywhere from desktop to airplane to handheld.

Personally, the iPad Pro is simply more than I want to spend. An Air with keyboard case will be about $1000. Going pro takes it up to $1300 for features that don’t add a lot. For reasons, both pragmatic and emotional, I don’t want to break that thousand dollar barrier on my iPad purchases. But if that’s not a bother for you, I’d get the Pro.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I got whatever the entry level/lowest price version of the standard sized iPad in the fall of 2019. I primarily use it as a display device for my Plex server around the house in areas that don’t have a TV. When I got it, my kids were infants and it was helpful to have a small screen I could sit and watch with headphones while they napped nearby. Any app subscriptions for streaming also get used on it. I also use it for reading books on occasion.

I know I’m using it for far less than it’s capable of but it’s been exactly what I needed in terms of size and ease of use.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

IF I ever get another iPad (to bring most everywhere), it might be a mini, especially now that I have a MBP.

A full size iPad Air would be nice, except I really don't like thumb typing on that size -- definitely requires too much extended reach for me to easily thumb type. Plus yeah, like some others pointed out, iPads are a bit too limiting on what they can or should be able to easily do (despite the underlying hardware). Otherwise, I mighta gone for an iPad Pro perhaps instead of MBP.

But really, a Pro Max iPhone is probably all I'll ever need when I don't want to lug or pull out my MBP. IF I ever get another full size iPad, it'll probably be a cheapest one used mostly for my HT, etc, not so much to bring everywhere w/ me, which was what happened w/ my last one before I sold it cheaply to a friend as a favor because I simply didn't use it much -- really, I originally got it for my Mom anyway, but she didn't want it either.

_Man_

 

[Nelson Au]

As you know Ron, I’ve been an avid iPad user since it came out. I’ve used nearly every model Apple has released. I still use the 2015 iPad Pro 12.9”. I recently semi retired the iPad Pro 2 12.9” from 2016. Today I use the iPad Pro 13” M4. And I use my own iPad Pro 3 12.9” at work. I’ve been testing how productive I can be. The thing I love about the big iPad Pros is as I’m in the design biz, I draw and sketch on it. In the notes app, I use that in meetings to take notes and to draw sketches and doodles of a design detail. That’s been powerful as it’s synched to iCloud and I can open and review and edit the notes from my iPhone and other iPads. Obviously I’m biased and I do a lot on the iPads from work stuff to browsing on the web, posting here on the HTF, etc, etc.

I still like to use that old iPad Pro 1 from 2015, but the battery life is pretty bad now and I’ve looked at the iPad Air 13” as a replacement for that one. I don’t need the power of the M4 for the secondary iPad so the Air should be fine for most of the tasks I do. Plus it’s going to be able to have a modern iOS so it should be safer on-line then the old 2015 model.

I think you likely won’t like the iPad now if you didn’t like it before. But if you can afford to, just buy it and don’t worry about the cost. Enjoy it! You could look at a refurbished one from Apple too. I looked for one there to see if they had any. I look forward to hearing what you decide to do!

I forgot to mention, my friend tells me the rumors are that a new super iPad Pro is expected this year. I’ll be checking that out. I don’t always keep up with the rumors, not sure what the specs will be. Probably the M5 chip.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

I look forward to hearing what you decide to do!

11" iPad Pro, Pencil Pro, and Satechi Stand. iPad Folio is incoming this weekend

I like the form factor of the 11" over the 12" I once owned. Much easier to handle.

For the moment, I am having fun being back on iPad OS. Not going to get a keyboard for this.

Thanks, everyone, for your insights. Enjoyed reading each of your responses.

 

[Clinton McClure]

I live within the Apple ecosystem and only use an iPad for consuming content (watching movies) when I travel for work.

 

[Nelson Au]

View attachment 245926

11" iPad Pro, Pencil Pro, and Satechi Stand. iPad Folio is incoming this weekend

I like the form factor of the 11" over the 12" I once owned. Much easier to handle.

For the moment, I am having fun being back on iPad OS. Not going to get a keyboard for this.

Thanks, everyone, for your insights. Enjoyed reading each of your responses.

Wow, congrates, that was fast! Enjoy it!

 

[Ronald Epstein]

I live within the Apple ecosystem and only use an iPad for consuming content (watching movies) when I travel for work.

Which one and size?

Wow, congrates, that was fast! Enjoy it!

Yeah, the urge was strong. Thanks, Nelson

 

[Citizen87645]

I'm late to the party, but here are my experiences whether you want them or not.

I have a 9th generation iPad that I really don't use much. I got a MacBook Air last year and that gets a lot of use. So similar to what Ron described. The iPad is really best for consumption, not productivity, and most of the time I'm doing a mix of both and the MacBook just handles my shifts seamlessly.

So I'm thinking I'll eventually give my iPad to my mom as she is due for an update from her model.

If I ever get another tablet, I'll probably get a Pixel, as it would be a bigger version of my phone experience, which I have found more able to handle my occasional needs for doing productivity tasks on a mobile device.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

The iPad is really best for consumption, not productivity

That’s been my finding as well.

I’m very good at typing on an iPhone but terrible on an iPad, so the iPad doesn’t get used for web browsing, participating on this forum, or anything like that. It’s not comfortable to hold in the hands for photography or videography. It isn’t worth it to me to get a portable keyboard for it since I can do typing tasks on either my phone or my laptop.

But it really is wonderful as a Plex and video app playback device.

 

[Clinton McClure]

Which one and size?



Yeah, the urge was strong. Thanks, Nelson

I’m not home right now and don’t remember the size but it’s the latest generation regular sized iPad. Not a Mini, Air, or Pro. I can watch about 4.5 hours of content via WiFi on a full charge so it’s not great on battery life but it’s several years old now and that’s all I use it for. Other than that, I’ve always found the iPad to be a solution in search of a problem.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

That’s been my finding as well.

I’m very good at typing on an iPhone but terrible on an iPad, so the iPad doesn’t get used for web browsing, participating on this forum, or anything like that. It’s not comfortable to hold in the hands for photography or videography. It isn’t worth it to me to get a portable keyboard for it since I can do typing tasks on either my phone or my laptop.

But it really is wonderful as a Plex and video app playback device.

I had an external keyboard/cover for my first iPad, which took care of the typing issue. I never bought one for my current iPad, though, as it was used mostly for media consumption, as others have mentioned.

 

[Citizen87645]

My work has also provided me with an iPad Pro with keyboard case for doing work, but that has only confirmed my distaste for it as a productivity device (in part because we are using Google Suite as the cloud storage and document creation platform). My experience just trying to download and import image files into a photo booth app was so convoluted it soured me to actually using it for anything except checking Gmail once in awhile.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Even for media consumption, especially movies/shows, my new MBP is usually waaaay better than an iPad anyway.

Pretty much the only thing the iPad can do that my new MBP can't is be much lighter and thinner to be easier to bring everywhere... but if I feel like I need to lug a laptop somewhere (for what it can do that an iPad can't... at least all that well) anyway, well, the iPad being more portable won't help any.

_Man_

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Even for media consumption, especially movies/shows, my new MBP is usually waaaay better than an iPad anyway.

Pretty much the only thing the iPad can do that my new MBP can't is be much lighter and thinner to be easier to bring everywhere... but if I feel like I need to lug a laptop somewhere (for what it can do that an iPad can't... at least all that well) anyway, well, the iPad being more portable won't help any.

_Man_

Yeah, I feel the same way about my new Microsoft Surface Pro -- and it also has the benefit of being almost as small and light as the iPad, plus it includes a keyboard/cover. No more compromises when I want to travel light.

 

[DaveF]

Even for media consumption, especially movies/shows, my new MBP is usually waaaay better than an iPad anyway.

Pretty much the only thing the iPad can do that my new MBP can't is be much lighter and thinner to be easier to bring everywhere... but if I feel like I need to lug a laptop somewhere (for what it can do that an iPad can't... at least all that well) anyway, well, the iPad being more portable won't help any.

_Man_

I thought most streaming services didn’t have apps for laptops and didn’t support downloaded / offline viewing on laptops.

That’s been a “killer app” part of the iPad for me. But maybe that’s no longer the case and you can watch Netflix offline on an MBP now?

 

[Robert Saccone]

I downsized to an 11” Pro from a 12.9” last year when it came out. I wanted something lighter and more portable. I don’t regret my choice at all. I also bought the folio case and the Magic Keyboard case. I frequently swap between them. I find the Magic Keyboard indespensible when I am doing lots of typing of the iPad Pro.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I thought most streaming services didn’t have apps for laptops and didn’t support downloaded / offline viewing on laptops.

That’s been a “killer app” part of the iPad for me. But maybe that’s no longer the case and you can watch Netflix offline on an MBP now?

I don't know about Netflix (we have never subscribed), but there have been iTunes / Apple TV apps for Windows and Apple OS laptops / desktops for a long time, and those apps allow downloading for offline viewing. Same with Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), although I never checked about downloading for offline viewing -- it's not a need for me. I do not know which subscription services allow downloading of their content for offline viewing, but I can access online any service I have ever subscribed to via my laptop -- YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Paramount+, ESPN+, Disney+.