All iPads Does anyone else feel like the iPad is Apples most underrated product?

[Jamacfer]

I'm in the old school category of thinking a laptop is just better for most things. The new iPads are cool and I want to like them, but when it comes down to it most of the stuff I do is just faster and easier on a laptop. I even made myself a pros and cons list trying to convince myself to get an iPad and couldn't make it work. There are workarounds for most things but then there are several things you just can't do on it at all, like torrents or disk utility. My 13" Macbook Pro vanishes in my bag when I travel and there isn't even a portability advantage of an iPad if you have the keyboard and trackpad attached.

Maybe, but when you finish working you cannot detach it from the keyboard and use it as a tablet to browse the internet or to read a newspaper on the couch...So it is just a matter of needs and preferences.
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I think all Apple products are appropriately rated with the exception of the Apple Watch. That device is completely overrated, and this is coming from an Apple Watch owner!

I think the opposite since I do love my AppleWatch which is (in my opinion) a great product with an even greater future.

 

[richpjr]

It is underrated by some people that usually cannot adapt to a new way of working. Usually it is the "laptop replacement" that bothers them. It is now reduced to the lack of "Esc" key and windowed multitasking and for the very few who needs the terminal. The windowed multitasking will come when the iPads grew larger as will more and more full apps. Rumour has it Xcode and FCPX (Logic Pro?) will come to the iPad.

For many of us, the iPad is an indispensable tool that cannot be replaced with a laptop.

Depends on what you are doing and what your workflow is. There are cases where a traditional computer is simply better for some tasks and others where it is the only choice. IMO, the limitations in iPadOS and lack of certain applications hold back the iPad far more than people not adapting to a new workflow. Adapting to a new workflow is not something people like to spend time on unless there is a notable improvement for them, not just a different way of doing things.

 

[secretk]

Depends on what you are doing and what your workflow is. There are cases where a traditional computer is simply better for some tasks and others where it is the only choice. IMO, the limitations in iPadOS and lack of certain applications hold back the iPad far more than people not adapting to a new workflow. Adapting to a new workflow is not something people like to spend time on unless there is a notable improvement for them, not just a different way of doing things.

Exactly! Even if there is new workflow available what would motivate me to spend time and even waste on adapting to this new workflow. Why should I do it when I have a device that works, covers my needs and it is easy and straightforward. I can go through hoops to make it work on an iPad to cover some of my needs but why. What do I gain from this? It has to bring me something notable to invest the time to do it.

 

[iPadified]

Depends on what you are doing and what your workflow is. There are cases where a traditional computer is simply better for some tasks and others where it is the only choice. IMO, the limitations in iPadOS and lack of certain applications hold back the iPad far more than people not adapting to a new workflow. Adapting to a new workflow is not something people like to spend time on unless there is a notable improvement for them, not just a different way of doing things.

Agreed, people are reluctant to change. The bottom line is the key - "it is an indispensable tool". The next step is that that tool will do more.

 

[Phil A.]

I've had iPads since the first one was released and always felt they had loads of potential but were being held back by iOS and some of the decisions made by Apple.

However, over the years, they've gradually evolved into a genuinely useful device and my 12.9" is my first choice device for some of my work now.

For example, I do nearly all my photo management and editing in LightRoom on my iPad: I load my photos in to LightRoom Classic on my desktop and let it sync to Creative Cloud (reason I do it that way is then it only syncs smart previews so reduces network usage a tonne).

Once that's done, I do pretty much all the retouching and organisation I used to do on my desktop LightRoom on the iPad where the Pencil and touch support makes it a much more natural workflow

It's still not at the stage of being a complete replacement for "traditional" computers for me, but it gets closer every year and I'm excited to think where we'll be in 10 years time

 

[maflynn]

just seems to be a snobbery that it isn't a laptop

I've not really seen or experienced that, I think reputation wise, its Apple's second most popular (next to the iPhone), product.

 

[russell_314]

Even Android users admit iPad to be the de facto tablet of choice so nope, I don't think it's underrated at all.

Afaik, Apple sells more iPads than they do Macs.

Well part of this is due to how terrible Android OS is on a tablet. I bought one because I wanted to try something different. I really wanted it to work but after a few months I gave up. As to Mac sales that’s a really niche market so of course iPads sell better.
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Whenever I read things about iPads in the tech world there just seems to be a snobbery that it isn't a laptop and its just a big iPod touch, a toy etc.

If you’re talking about in these forms you have to remember people here aren't the average user. You always get a little snobbery or elitism in tech forms. I don’t think it’s even that common here though. I know people out in the world who love their iPads. Do you have everything from the base iPad which is great for people who just need a tablet to the iPad Pro for work use.

 

[thisismyusername]

Whenever I read things about iPads in the tech world there just seems to be a snobbery that it isn't a laptop and its just a big iPod touch, a toy etc.

It's rare that I see that kind of thing. Even a lot of pro-Android and pro-PC folks will admit the iPad is the best tablet and quite a capable device. The "but it's still not a laptop replacement" is not just coming from a bunch of grey beards who refuse to adapt to new technology or a new way of doing things; in fact I'd say they are the minority. I mostly see it from folks like me who want to ditch the laptop/desktop but can't (because iPadOS is still too limiting and lacks a ton of pro-level apps needed for lots of different industries) or from folks pointing out that Apple will happily take $1,000+ from you in exchange for an iPad Pro setup that still can't do everything a $300 laptop can.

It's not hard to spend $1,500+ on a new iPad Pro, Magic Keyboard, and Pencil and you still can't do something as simple as plug it into an external monitor and use it properly (I'm really hoping iPadOS 14 finally addresses this). That's not snobbery.

 

[Jonathantuba]

The iPad has been my favorite device ever since the first iPad Pro 12.9” came out. Since then I have used more and more and much prefer to anything else. I have an iMac, but that is just used for specific work tasks, while my iPhone is mainly for photography and reference on the move. My iPad Pro goes with me and gets used everywhere from my office, to my home, In meetings, hotel rooms, coffee shops, on aircraft, in the car, to play music in concerts - everywhere. It is by far the most versatile and useful computer ever. I love it!

 

[ipos]

when travelling, ipad is the most impt gadget . a must bring item

 

[JagRunner]

 

[PCandaMac]

I used to have the 2nd gen iPad, then the first iPad Air. They were fine, but I didn’t really use them a lot. Recently I got an 11in iPad Pro and I am blown away. I use it for everything and barely use my iMac any more.
This was a real surprise to me. Yes, I do think the current generation of iPads are underrated.