Can iPad replace a desktop?

[macher]

Our PC desktop is done with. Contemplating buying an iPad Pro. We are used to iOS since we have always had iPhones. I know the iPad screen will be smaller.

We pretty much use desktop for email, web browsing, watching YouTube, download some files, occasional video calling with doctors.

What will we be able not to do with an iPad Pro vs having a pc or mac?

Thanks!

 

[James_C]

I would not recommend it, personally I would get a MacBook Air. Main problem with an iPad is its rather cumbersome file management system. Don’t get me wrong I am using an iPad Pro to respond to your Message, as a browsing and media consumption device I love it, but as soon as I need to do stuff with documents , files and such I reach for my Mac.

 

[Big Bad D]

For the fairly limited scope described, then probably yes.

When you say “download some files” then agreed with the previous post that file management is a pain compared to MacOS. But it also depends what these files types are, and what you plan to do with them?

 

[Basic75]

What will we not be able to do with an iPad Pro vs having a PC or Mac?

Here are two things: Open a shell and unleash the power of the command line. Install games from macsourceports.com.

 

[Fishrrman]

I couldn't see having a "desktop" Mac without a finder or a real keyboard to type on and real mouse to "point with"...

 

[dandeco]

An iPad Pro could supplement a desktop, but certainly not replace one! They look pretty nice, but I can't really see doing any heavy-duty computing on them. If you want a portable computer to replace your desktop, I'd definitely recommend a MacBook Air, maybe even the 15" one if you want a large screen.
I'm also reminded of this commercial Apple came out with for the M1 iPad Pro, featuring people using Windows desktops and laptops singing "Part Of That World" from Disney's "The Little Mermaid" that they want more: i.e. a new world of computing via the iPad Pro.

Not one of the singers is using a Mac!

 

[RUQRU]

Possibly if there are no apps you currently use that have no iPad version. For example, I use Quicken Mac to manage my finances. There is no iPadOS version of Quicken. Yes, there are web apps that can do similar things, but not exactly.

If you are using standard office apps and maybe some photo/video apps then there are many that run on both platforms. You will need some amount of iCloud storage for file management.

 

[chrono1081]

Our PC desktop is done with. Contemplating buying an iPad Pro. We are used to iOS since we have always had iPhones. I know the iPad screen will be smaller.

We pretty much use desktop for email, web browsing, watching YouTube, download some files, occasional video calling with doctors.

What will we be able not to do with an iPad Pro vs having a pc or mac?

Thanks!

You could easily do that on an iPad Pro. I know many people who have only an iPad Pro as their main desktop.

That being said, if you think there's any special software you need make sure it's available on iOS. I have no issues using Office and Teams on iOS so I know that one works fine.

 

[macher]

You could easily do that on an iPad Pro. I know many people who have only an iPad Pro as their main desktop.

That being said, if you think there's any special software you need make sure it's available on iOS. I have no issues using Office and Teams on iOS so I know that one works fine.

No special software. We use teams and blue jeans on occasion.

 

[Zanton68]

Our PC desktop is done with. Contemplating buying an iPad Pro. We are used to iOS since we have always had iPhones. I know the iPad screen will be smaller.

We pretty much use desktop for email, web browsing, watching YouTube, download some files, occasional video calling with doctors.

What will we be able not to do with an iPad Pro vs having a pc or mac?

Thanks!

Not sure it’s the right thing to do but this is a good video on which iPad to go for;

 

[JamesMay82]

yeah another vote for getting the MacBook Air 13 or 15 inch. The iPad Pro is great but like others have said its more of a supplementary device! I have the iPad Pro and an older laptop. I bought the iPad to replace it but it just cant be done for many reasons. its also expensive once you start adding the keyboard etc.

 

[Pakaku]

For those needs, I could see it being possible. The question is how much will you spend on it and potential other needs, like a proper keyboard, vs just outright buying a laptop with a more mature OS.

 

[Big Bad D]

Provided that the usage needs have been well identified, both regular and occasional or prospective, then there is no reason that an iPad would not be sufficient. Try it and see.

 

[sierrablue]

researching and buying things is done on my MacBook Air as well responding to emails and iMessages. It is just so much easier with my laptop. I love my iPad Pro but use it for Youtube, Facebook and music mostly. I could live without my iPad but not without my MacBook Air.

 

[miemo]

We pretty much use desktop for email, web browsing, watching YouTube, download some files, occasional video calling with doctors.

What will we be able not to do with an iPad Pro vs having a pc or mac?

For those particular purposes alone, I'd say you'd actually be totally fine with an iPad (other than that the screen will be smaller than what you've accustomed to, esp. on the lower-cost options since the larger iPad is only available as the expensive Pro variant).

You'll start to run into issues if you spend more time creating things, e.g. writing more complex documents, creating fine-tuned presentations etc – and the problem isn't really that you couldn't do those things at all (there are e.g. perfectly fine office apps from MS and Apple), it's more about that they might not have all the features you're accustomed on a proper computer and many things end up being surprisingly time consuming to do, which would've been a breeze on a regular computer. Take this from a guy who some years back tried to solely use an iPad Pro as the on-the-go computer (while having an iMac at desktop for more elaborate tasks) – gave up after a year or so and to a tiny 12" Macbook. Apps have developed further since that for sure, but the same root cause is still there…

Of course there are also plenty of things that an iPad CAN do that you wouldn't be able to accomplish on a laptop/desktop, e.g. drawing or taking notes with the Apple Pencil – and many things that are just way more FUN on an iPad (e.g. I love photo editing on iPad in Lightroom compared to desktop even when the screen is smaller, the direct manipulation just feels great).