Anyone else abandoning ship?

[Painter2002]

I know the feeling. I enjoy the iPad pro. I just wish they made a better keyboard for it. I would have liked a keyboard made of the same aluminum as the device that fit perfectly over it, with a trackpad and converted it into a claim shell.

Sounds an awful like a laptop... lol.

I think in all seriousness though, Apple needs to add at least a trackpad/mouse functionality to the iOS UI for iPads in order to make it a true "laptop" replacement. I world seriously consider an option for using an iPad Pro as my portable device, with a desktop solution for home/power use. But as it stands right now, I need a mouse functionality, something that the iPad Pros just don't have.

 

[Retsiem]

I know the feeling. I enjoy the iPad pro. I just wish they made a better keyboard for it. I would have liked a keyboard made of the same aluminum as the device that fit perfectly over it, with a trackpad and converted it into a claim shell.

Look into Brydge!

 

[Cashmonee]

I know the feeling. I enjoy the iPad pro. I just wish they made a better keyboard for it. I would have liked a keyboard made of the same aluminum as the device that fit perfectly over it, with a trackpad and converted it into a claim shell.

The only issue is that you now have what is essentially a laptop. Similar weight, size, and price. Why not just get a laptop?

 

[jerryk]

The only issue is that you now have what is essentially a laptop. Similar weight, size, and price. Why not just get a laptop?

Good point. And more importantly the laptop will have a great trackpad and the OS is designed for keyboard and trackpad interaction.

My experiment of using an iPad pro with a keyboard instead of laptop on summer travelling tuned out to be huge failure. Did not save much weight and size, and gave up a lot of functionality I needed when I had to revise some code and a documentation.

Keyboard now sits in a closet collecting dust.

 

[richinaus]

Good point. And more importantly the laptop will have a great trackpad and the OS is designed for keyboard and trackpad interaction.

My experiment of using an iPad pro with a keyboard instead of laptop on summer travelling tuned out to be huge failure. Did not save much weight and size, and gave up a lot of functionality I needed when I had to revise some code and a documentation.

Keyboard now sits in a closet collecting dust.

the iPads are great tablets.
the MacBooks are great laptops [some disagree....]

the 2 don't really do each others jobs for me. I need both.

At the same time, a surface device is not a better tablet than the iPad, and not a better laptop than the MacBook Pro.
There are compromises everywhere in the products and if you want the best solutions, individual task based products are best. However you do carry more and it costs more.

Not sure what the solution is really. An iPad is a computer for those who only need what it provides,...... if you know what I mean.

 

[_Kiki_]

the iPads are great tablets.
the MacBooks are great laptops [some disagree....]

the 2 don't really do each others jobs for me. I need both.

At the same time, a surface device is not a better tablet than the iPad, and not a better laptop than the MacBook Pro.
There are compromises everywhere in the products and if you want the best solutions, individual task based products are best. However you do carry more and it costs more.

Not sure what the solution is really. An iPad is a computer for those who only need what it provides,...... if you know what I mean.

I paid $550 for Surface Laptop i5 8GB 256GB - refurbished device with Microsoft warranty, for about $110 I can extend warranty up to 3 years, can you beat that? it's cheaper than refurbished 9.7" iPad Pro 32GB in country where I live

 

[richinaus]

I paid $550 for Surface Laptop i5 8GB 256GB - refurbished device with Microsoft warranty, for about $110 I can extend warranty up to 3 years, can you beat that? it's cheaper than refurbished 9.7" iPad Pro 32GB in country where I live

well done. you win the big prize.

 

[jerryk]

I paid $550 for Surface Laptop i5 8GB 256GB - refurbished device with Microsoft warranty, for about $110 I can extend warranty up to 3 years, can you beat that? it's cheaper than refurbished 9.7" iPad Pro 32GB in country where I live

My wife was given a Surface Book. i7, 16GB, 1 TB drive. Pretty neat device. Drive speed a little pokey, but fast enough.

 

[Mendota]

Look into Brydge!

Thank you! That is much much better than Apple's offering and just the right size. A bit pricy, but worth it.
[doublepost=1550547529][/doublepost]

The only issue is that you now have what is essentially a laptop. Similar weight, size, and price. Why not just get a laptop?

I have laptops, Surface and MacBook. But when take the iPad somewhere it is nice to have the option to use Office on it. When I go somewhere such as the hospital (I have health issues) I don't want to take a laptop there. I want something that is less expensive, less vulnerable to falls and theft, and easy to put away.
[doublepost=1550547690][/doublepost]

the iPads are great tablets.
the MacBooks are great laptops [some disagree....]

the 2 don't really do each others jobs for me. I need both.

At the same time, a surface device is not a better tablet than the iPad, and not a better laptop than the MacBook Pro.
There are compromises everywhere in the products and if you want the best solutions, individual task based products are best. However you do carry more and it costs more.

Not sure what the solution is really. An iPad is a computer for those who only need what it provides,...... if you know what I mean.

Disagree, my surface is perfect for both. When I want to use actual full Office it does that. When I want to game, Steam is right there with high quality, non "freemium" games, and when I want to draw I can use actual Corel Painter, not some watered down app.

 

[lcseds]

None of those have a trackpad to match a Mac in my view.

I'm struggling more than ever with my 2018 15" MBP trackpad. I am having trouble selecting files/folder and moving. Miss clicks, clicks not registered, etc. I have changed the pressure in preference but I still have misfires on that trackpad. I get on my 2013 15" MBP and it's trackpad is perfection. So for me, as much as I dislike the the touch bar, I also am not happy with the new trackpad. So I'm starting to wonder why I bought the thing.
[doublepost=1550582650][/doublepost]

Yes, and a number have offered examples


Same exact argument applies to Apple's touch bar

Not to mention the iPad with keyboard. Type, then lift hand to touch. Then type and lift hand to touch....rinse, repeat.

 

[Conutz]

No. I enjoy my 2018 MBP 32GB, 1TB. I prefer it to my 2014 rMBP and to me it truly feels like a premium, quality notebook. Keyboard is great, Touch ID is really great and increased portability is welcome too. As are 6 cores, faster SSD and the battery life. Charging from either side is also handy!

The USB-Cs took a little getting used to, but I was already halfway with the old one: Thunderbolt to Ethernet, Thunderbolt to VGA & DVI, USB-A hub...so not vastly different. In MacOS, I think the Touchbar is nice/useful, but I don’t have huge need for it in my workflow, but am comfortable looking through the options in the different apps. When debugging in Windows, it can be a little weird though as there’s no tactile feedback, but it’s not unusable. I do code way less than I used to, so I’m not sure which way it’d go with increased usage: either get used to it or pull hair out!

Overall though, I’m having a better experience than with my previous model. In my book, and for my use, I think Apple has done a decent job.

 

[PeterJP]

I'm actually moving more into Apple's ecosystem as we speak. Just got an iPP 11 and I’m loving it. I use it to take notes by hand as well as to do mail/general organisation stuff (Trello, several types of office documents, ...) I love how smoothly everything syncs, like passwords and iCloud documents. Sure, I can replicate that with Chrome and OneDrive. I've got plenty of experience with Windows and Android as well. With Mac + iOS, it works out of the box without having to install additional stuff. So my next phone will be an iPhone. And that's something I would never have said a few years ago.

Sure, Apple currently haws its share of hardware problems. Do you know any hardware vendor that has never had a bad spell? Dell is currently on a roll, but before they went private, their name was nearly synonymous to buy-and-it-will-die hardware. You can say the same about any brand. Including Apple: in their history, they've had plenty of bad periods. Welcome to the latest edition. It'll go away, don't worry.

 

[cubbie5150]

I've been planning to move out of the Apple ecosystem for the past year or so. I've been a dedicated iPhone user since the original, up through the 6 (which I am still using). My mid-2014 15" MBP is still going strong, but once it starts fading, I'll likely switch to whatever Lenovo has out as a X1 Extreme equivalent at that time.

I have never had a problem paying premium prices for a premium product. It just seems Apple's hardware is no longer that much ahead of the (select) Windows machines. My buying decision, that I assume I'll need to make in the next 18-24 months, will ultimately come down to whether Apple has fixed these issues. Also, if I do switch to Android for my next phone (which is almost certain to happen) when my 6 dies, that'll probably make me feel sticking w/ Apple is not a priority.

 

[MBAir2010]

Linux rules! The set up is clean and pure! And FREEEEEEE!
The annoyance of logging in persistently is gone and the programs do not demand heavy ram usage as osx or windows.

Well, I've been a Mac user since 1990s and jumped ship late last year because apple apps are worthless, my ipad email could not link links, itunes is disorganized and cuts music that sounds horrible and the entire apple company only cares about their 2019 and beyond products.

BUT 2012 apple machines are the best! If we have one, you can run free programs like libre office which offers word, excel and powerpoint. You can install quod libet for music that sound amazing. Opera is a very reliable web browser that streams great and does not horde drive space like firefox. mac osx el Capitan is still capable to run ipads, pods and other computer related things in 2019.

I hope this helps

And apple should be accountable for any flaws they make because they are supposed to be better, even my 2010 itouch because their products should last.

 

[maflynn]

Linux rules! The set up is clean and pure! And FREEEEEEE!

It certainly has some advantages, but also some major disadvantages. I tried to make a go of using Linux a few years ago, and found the disadvantages to be significant. Lack of apps, the need to manually edit conf files to make things work. The lack of support if something goes wrong (this varies based on the hardware/distro). Upgrading Linux was a hassle and never worked cleanly.

Perhaps that last issue has been resolved now, but back when I tried it (about 6 years ago) it was a pain. Lack of apps is what killed my attempt, I was running macos and windows virtualized to get at the apps I need, and I had one of those epiphanies, why run macos in a vm with poor performance if I need those apps, just run macos naively.

And apple should be accountable for any flaws they make because they are supposed to be better, even my 2010 itouch because their products should last.

There's two options as I see it, lawsuits, and voting with your wallet. We have people doing both, lawsuits for the defective keyboard, and maybe because I'm sensitized to the fact but I'm noticing more articles, stories, youtubes about people switching back to windows.

 

[MBAir2010]

It certainly has some advantages, but also some major disadvantages.

lucky for little o me, Linux (mint matte) has only the apps I need and use mentioned above. Linux OSX is improving were the platforms are interesting, eye appeasing and very friendly as far as support from chat rooms and forums.

The change made me realize i should not spend too much time on a computer and do more productive things like woodworking and restoring furniture instead of internets!

and i would never give Apple another dime.

 

[c0ppo]

Linux is awesome. I use it (Pop_OS and Manjaro), but it depends on what you need it for. For example, most of programming needs are good on linux. Especially web dev.

But what if you edit videos for example? Or do some heavy 3D graphics? Or even editing photos or doing some vector work? Sure, you can do all of those one Linux as well. But doing those on mac OS or Windows is way easier and more powerful because of apps.

So it leaves you with more time for woodworking and restoring furnitures.
Don't get me wrong, I love linux. I love versatility of linux and how easy it is to customize it for your own needs. Mac OS and Windows can't do that at all.

But if I was a video editor for example, switching to Linux would be foolish to say the least.

 

[MBAir2010]

Linux is awesome.
.

I forgot to include that "face in the sand, Age of Innocence" and "the journeyman" sound better on linux than OSX!
wink wink,
I do know some users who edit videos and other detailed photo editing using Unbuntu on a expensive Lonovo PC (i think).
i just do not know the particulars. linux is getting expansive by the day!
for this thread i'm posting my experience and helping those make a decision.
/up the irons!

 

[PeterJP]

Lack of apps, the need to manually edit conf files to make things work. The lack of support if something goes wrong (this varies based on the hardware/distro). Upgrading Linux was a hassle and never worked cleanly.

Perhaps that last issue has been resolved now, but back when I tried it (about 6 years ago) it was a pain. Lack of apps is what killed my attempt, I was running macos and windows virtualized to get at the apps I need

linux is getting expansive by the day!

I'm happy Linux works for you. But in the 25+ years I work with Linux (yes, that's pre-v1.0), if I would've gotten a dollar every time somebody thought about apps or upgrades for Linux that 'maybe now it'll be better', then I'd be a millionnaire. I've tried it too many times to believe there is any interest in the Linux community to develop for the general desktop user commonity. Developers? Yes, I've been there and it's great. Servers? Idem. Embedded/Internet of Things? Yep. Desktop? No way and it never will.

For general use and for office or media pros, Windows and mac are much better. If you have mixed needs, it's macos all the way, or installing a Linux subsystem for Windows.

 

[Retsiem]

The only issue is that you now have what is essentially a laptop. Similar weight, size, and price. Why not just get a laptop?

iPads and MacBooks are very different.
iPads are more durable and have a touch screen.

Macbooks are prone to water damage and various other quirks, like the screen peeling off, the recent flexgate, the battery swelling or the butterfly keyboard failing.

The fact is that iPads will replace MacBooks. It's just a matter of time.
The iPad Pro is already more powerful than most laptops, while MacBooks have been increasingly dumbed down.

I just hope that they fuse iOS and macOS as soon as possible.
I will buy an iPad Pro with a Brydge keyboard and a MacMini as my desktop.
I will not buy any of the post-2016 MacBooks because they simply do not meet my standards for a usable laptop.

 

[c0ppo]

The iPad Pro is already more powerful than most laptops, while MacBooks have been increasingly dumbed down.

Apples 'A' chips are powerful. No denying that.
But how do they behave when doing intensive tasks for hours upon hours? And they lack instruction sets embedded into Intel/AMD x86 chips.

And being hardware powerful isn't being powerful. You can use iPad for a lot of regular stuff these days. And they will get the work done without any issues (well, mostly...). But for heavy pro work like video editing/rendering, heavy photo editing, 3D work, CAD stuff, etc. -> iPad is as useful as is an iPhone. Just a toy in that regard.

I mean, you can't even develop apps for iPad on an actual iPad. And even if you could, who would go for such a hassle in the first place?

Further more, you can't connect external drives to iPads. You can't use your multi monitor setup with an iPad. You can't even connect it to a mouse and a keyboard.

So while iPad does a few things right and good, in most of heavy work stuff it fails completely, or isn't usable at all.

 

[rayriceroni00]

I paid $550 for Surface Laptop i5 8GB 256GB - refurbished device with Microsoft warranty, for about $110 I can extend warranty up to 3 years, can you beat that? it's cheaper than refurbished 9.7" iPad Pro 32GB in country where I live

You bought a Honda Civic. Apple sells BMWs.

 

[Cashmonee]

iPads and MacBooks are very different.
iPads are more durable and have a touch screen.

Macbooks are prone to water damage and various other quirks, like the screen peeling off, the recent flexgate, the battery swelling or the butterfly keyboard failing.

The fact is that iPads will replace MacBooks. It's just a matter of time.
The iPad Pro is already more powerful than most laptops, while MacBooks have been increasingly dumbed down.

I just hope that they fuse iOS and macOS as soon as possible.
I will buy an iPad Pro with a Brydge keyboard and a MacMini as my desktop.
I will not buy any of the post-2016 MacBooks because they simply do not meet my standards for a usable laptop.

Anyone that has tried to use an iPad Pro like they would laptop will tell you it's a fool's errand. No windowing, no real file system access, and no mouse support are just a few of the reasons that make it a no-go. So yeah, I suppose you could make an argument an iPad is more durable but that does not mean you should expect to pay the same amount and carry the same weight as a MacBook Pro and get the same level of productivity. It makes little sense to to use an iPad Pro with something like the Brydge keyboard unless you just want to try to prove it is possible.

 

[Retsiem]

Apples 'A' chips are powerful. No denying that.
But how do they behave when doing intensive tasks for hours upon hours? And they lack instruction sets embedded into Intel/AMD x86 chips.

And being hardware powerful isn't being powerful. You can use iPad for a lot of regular stuff these days. And they will get the work done without any issues (well, mostly...). But for heavy pro work like video editing/rendering, heavy photo editing, 3D work, CAD stuff, etc. -> iPad is as useful as is an iPhone. Just a toy in that regard.

I mean, you can't even develop apps for iPad on an actual iPad. And even if you could, who would go for such a hassle in the first place?

Further more, you can't connect external drives to iPads. You can't use your multi monitor setup with an iPad. You can't even connect it to a mouse and a keyboard.

So while iPad does a few things right and good, in most of heavy work stuff it fails completely, or isn't usable at all.

Those are mostly software issues.
Once the iPad runs macOS and you can connect a hub to the port, you are good to go on most things.
I agree that the iPad is not there yet, but it will be in the not-so-distant future.

 

[Hanson Eigilson]

Those are mostly software issues.
Once the iPad runs macOS and you can connect a hub to the port, you are good to go on most things.
I agree that the iPad is not there yet, but it will be in the not-so-distant future.

that's been the story for 8 years now, every single year excusing a remarkable lack of progress and real usability.