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I replaced my iPad Air2 with 2017 MacBook

D

DNAppleGold

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 9, 2009
339
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I was using my iPad Air2 as my second work computer - taking notes at meetings, working out of the office, second screen while I'm at my desk. I became frustrated with iPad because, even thought I do pretty basic stuff at work, I was often at meeting and had wait until I got back to my desk (like finding emails, revisions to Salesforce contacts or designing reports, or sophisticated Excel edits to name a few).

I really considered the new iPad Pro. It is really sweat, insanely fast, wonderful display. But at the end, almost all of my time on the computer was using Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Salesforce, Outlook, with documents stored in filesite (and other related Microsoft services). Pretty boring, I know. But at this point, all of those services just work better on a Mac than an iPad. Even though IOS 11 will close the gap, there is still gap and probably will be one for a little while. There a many things that iPad does better (mocking up pictures; hand written notes) but I really don't do much of that at work. (My iPad almost never left the keyboard case).

I do miss the small footprint when I'm using the Mac as a second screen or to use on the sly in meetings. And everyone once in a while I have to show people in a room what's on my screen. But every time I do something on the MacBook that was a drag on my iPad, makes feel good about my choice.

For my work use, the MacBook is the perfect ultra mobile laptop.
 
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IMO, the iPads are functionally nearly useless for MS Office. And crappy for notes too, even with a full sized keyboard. I don’t miss the light weight of the iPad in this context because I’d have to carry a keyboard anyway.

I too have replaced my iPad Air 2 with a 2017 MacBook. However the one spot where I keep using my iPad is with my TV application where I can watch DRM’d TV shows through my TV provider account with their iOS app with full quality and the ability to skip commercials. On macOS the quality is not as good, there are sometimes lip sync issues, and I can’t skip commercials. They use Flash on macOS. :rolleyes:
 
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EugW said:
IMO, the iPads are functionally nearly useless for MS Office. And crappy for notes too, even with a full sized keyboard. I don’t miss the light weight of the iPad in this context because I’d have to carry a keyboard anyway.

I too have replaced my iPad Air 2 with a 2017 MacBook. However the one spot where I keep using my iPad is with my TV application where I can watch DRM’d TV shows through my TV provider account with their iOS app with full quality and the ability to skip commercials. On macOS the quality is not as good, there are sometimes lip sync issues, and I can’t skip commercials. They use Flash on macOS. :rolleyes:
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As I said,iPads are not that useful for work. For me,it's easier to have both,the iPad as a mobile device for internet access or light video watching/games and a MacBook Pro for more serious tasks.
 
EugW said:
IMO, the iPads are functionally nearly useless for MS Office. And crappy for notes too, even with a full sized keyboard. I don’t miss the light weight of the iPad in this context because I’d have to carry a keyboard anyway.

I too have replaced my iPad Air 2 with a 2017 MacBook. However the one spot where I keep using my iPad is with my TV application where I can watch DRM’d TV shows through my TV provider account with their iOS app with full quality and the ability to skip commercials. On macOS the quality is not as good, there are sometimes lip sync issues, and I can’t skip commercials. They use Flash on macOS. :rolleyes:
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You could try to change the user agent in your browser. So the site thinks an iPad is visiting the site.
 
Stefan johansson said:
Obviously,OP use a dedicated iOS app,not the browser. Soo,how are you going to make the iOS app run on a Mac? It's two different things.
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Correct. On iOS it's a dedicated TV app, and it works great. On macOS it's browser based, and requires Flash, and it kinda sucks.

Hopefully, the announcement by Adobe that they are discontinuing Flash will finally make these companies update their sites. Visiting restaurant and small mom-and-pop type retail store sites which still require Flash is bad enough, but it's even worse when a major nation-wide broadcasting corporation requires Flash for basic functionality. Welcome to 2010.
 
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EugW said:
Correct. On iOS it's a dedicated TV app, and it works great. On macOS it's browser based, and requires Flash, and it kinda sucks.

Hopefully, the announcement by Adobe that they are discontinuing Flash will finally make these companies update their sites. Visiting restaurant and small mom-and-pop type retail store sites which still REQUIRE Flash is bad enough, but it's even worse when a major nation-wide broadcasting corporation requires Flash for basic functionality. Welcome to 2010.
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The reason for using the browser on the Mac,is that browser viewing can be done from the same homepage regardless of OS. It's simply too much cost and effort to create an app for macOS,as the people using macs to watch movies are too few.
 
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Stefan johansson said:
The reason for using the browser on the Mac,is that browser viewing can be done from the same homepage regardless of OS. It's simply too much cost and effort to create an app for macOS,as the people using macs to watch movies are too few.
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That's fine, but it would be much preferred that they stop using Flash. It's not installed by default, and the functionality is really problematic. For my usage, those sites are basically the ONLY sites which still use Flash. Everyone else moved on about 3-4 years ago.

Hell, even MS Silverlight for Netflix is much, much better (although that is also at the end of its life too).
 
EugW said:
, However the one spot where I keep using my iPad is with my TV application where I can watch DRM’d TV shows through my TV provider account with their iOS app with full quality and the ability to skip commercials. On macOS the quality is not as good, there are sometimes lip sync issues, and I can’t skip commercials. They use Flash on macOS. :rolleyes:
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I admit that I've "multi-tasked" at work and watching videos at work and agree with your assessment.
 
EugW said:
That's fine, but it would be much preferred that they stop using Flash. It's not installed by default, and the functionality is really problematic. For my usage, those sites are basically the ONLY sites which still use Flash. Everyone else moved on about 3-4 years ago.

Hell, even MS Silverlight for Netflix is much, much better (although that is also at the end of its life too).
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Yes,flash is problematic on macs,but as it's a part of many other systems,it's the standard graphics driver.
Most home computers are not made by Apple,and flash works withouth problems on those.
 
Stefan johansson said:
Yes,flash is problematic on macs,but as it's a part of many other systems,it's the standard graphics driver.
Most home computers are not made by Apple,and flash works withouth problems on those.
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Flash is problematic on my Windows 10 machines too. Maybe a little better than on Macs, but not exactly good.
 
I did the same thing. I replaced my iPad Air 2 with the 2017 M3 MacBook. I could not be happier with this machine. I tried the new MacBook Pro and hated it. I guess coming from an iPad Only camp, it was too much for me - too heavy, too big, ran too hot, etc. I've tried my mom's base 2015 model and hated the keyboard. The 2016 model didn't thrill me either. With the updated keyboard on this model its almost perfect. I do think a 480p isight camera is a little ridiculous in 2017, but I rarely use it, so it's not a deal breaker by any stretch. I also think Apple should consider putting touch screens in their Macs too.

So, if yr looking for a light, very capable Mac, this is definitely a contender. With the improvements with High Sierra I think its going to be even better.
 
Apple doesn't care about mac or iPad, apple cares only about sales and share holders that's beyond doubt. Internally there's no mac or iPad division with teams vs teams gladiatorial battles for exec time or politics.

If apple thought they could make more money from a combined device that would be the direction they went...
 
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AFEPPL said:
Apple doesn't care about mac or iPad, apple cares on,y about sales only and share holders that beyond doubt.
Internally there's no mac or iPad division with teams vs teams gladiatorial battles for exec time or politics.

If apple thought they could make more money from a combined device that would be the direction they went...
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Yes,and that's why they prefer two different devices,many buyers buy both,which is more profitable.
 
apple will add touch screens in their Macs if the market swings that way. they always follow the market, just years behind...
 
rillrill said:
apple will add touch screens in their Macs if the market swings that way. they always follow the market, just years behind...
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Of course they do,but as long as their customers,when the computers lack a touchscreen usually also buy an iPad,and iPad owners that want more often buy a MacBook,they this far made more profits from NOT adding a touchscreen to any Mac model. As long as it stays that way,there is from the big fruit company's point no need for a touchscreen Mac.
 
Well, anyway, I didn't mean to hijack the thread talking about touchscreen Macs. I think this 2017 MacBook is the bee's knees. Anyone on the fence about moving from an iPad to a MacBook should definitely consider it - especially over the iPad Pro line. If you're adding a keyboard, really, why not get a MacBook; it's not much more money.

Hopefully the new iPhone 8/Pro/Whatever will have a large enough screen to satisfy a need for a tablet. if its close to 6 inches thats about the size of a small paperback.
 
Fully agree about the taking the rMB over the IPP, but it all comes down to preferences and workflows.
 
I'm not that interested in the IPP either,my present Air 2 does everything it's supposed to do,and for some tasks,iOS is just not enough. That's why I bought the rMBP about two years ago. A 13 inch screen,a real working keyboard,and the possibility to use a mouse or a drawing board makes it better for me.
 
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I originally purchased a iPad Pro 10.5 256 to be my portable device with a new 27 iMac that is awaiting delivery but having thought about it the base MacBook 2017 might serve a better machine to get my admin and dev tasks done rather than a luxury pro 10.5 for consumption and trying to make it work as a laptop replacement. Having played with the M3 MacBook it in the reseller store it is very light and seems quick. I did compare it to the base non touch 13 but then that only has 128GB which might get used up quickly.
 
bigredmachine said:
Having played with the M3 MacBook it in the reseller store it is very light and seems quick. .
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If portability is a big deal the rMB is great. My M3 with 16g RAM is quick. Opening most apps take a few seconds (unlike the new ipad pro- which is instantaneous). But once open , everything is snappy
 
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