iPad as a laptop replacement

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Slartibart said:
that works in e.g.FileBrowser Pro or Go.

unrar works in FileBrowser too.
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I know. I use FileBrowser for it. Is it a good experience thou? Ohhhh no nononon oh no . No its the worst expereience I’ve ever experienced. So - first you need to load it into filebrowser, than you need to unextract it or whatever you wrant, than you have to save it back where you want it, than you need to delete th eone in filebrowsers internal hdd space. HORRIBLE experience, and I havetnt even mentioned how chunkly loading files form the cloud is to to the filebrowser…. and why should I have ti get an external app to do this in the first place… change filetype? come on. also filebrowser cimes with a perpetual monthly subscription . to change a file extention lol. I think it can be cone in a free version too, but I am not sure, maybe someone can comfirm… :O
 
Slartibart said:
Well, that even works in Apple’s Files - it’s not called “Open In”, but the Share-sheet provides exactly that functionality. Use“More” and then select one of the apps registered. Affinity Photo, Designer, Pixelmator, Pixelmator Photo, Vectornator, Koder, Git, etc. support this…don’t use Procreate or Lightroom (but my guess is Procreate is there too.. 😀)
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I know. I use it. Is it a good experience thou?

Also it actually doesnt work always for all apps. Which just makes it unnecesarrily confusing.
 
mrLucas said:
I know. I use FileBrowser for it. Is it a good experience thou? Ohhhh no nononon oh no . No its the worst expereience I’ve ever experienced. So - first you need to load it into filebrowser, than you need to unextract it or whatever you wrant, than you have to save it back where you want it, than you need to delete th eone in filebrowsers internal hdd space. HORRIBLE experience, and I havetnt even mentioned how chunkly loading files form the cloud is to to the filebrowser…. and why should I have ti get an external app to do this in the first place… change filetype? come on. also filebrowser cimes with a perpetual monthly subscription . to change a file extention lol. I think it can be cone in a free version too, but I am not sure, maybe someone can comfirm… :O
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There is a one-time buy option that I used. One of my favorite apps.
 
I spent the last month testing the iPad Pro 12.9in M1 + magic keyboard (returned both), my iPad Air with a magic keyboard, and a Mac mini (will return) that I controlled using Jump/Sidecar.

Ultimately, I reluctantly decided to buy a new MacBook Pro 14in since the iPad as a laptop replacement just isn't there yet. Biggest issue is that it needs a usable desktop mode when connected to a monitor or a magic keyboard - whether that's Mac OS running as a shadow OS or iPad OS that can be ran on two separate screens with the ability to size the resolution to 16:9 without the annoying 4:3 desktop mode with vertical bars. It's just too distracting and a significantly inferior work experience vs. a laptop.

Other issues I found are:
1. The native Google and Microsoft apps are horrendous for multitasking even with the new iPadOS 15 changes.
2. Safari is not as good as using Chrome for Google Docs/Slides/Sheets (unsurprising but still an issue). It's actually 80% there so close but if they allow non-safari browsers, would be huge. Not interested in Android or the Surface Pro although it crossed my mind.
3. 13in is great as a laptop resolution but 11in is much better for use in bed.
4. Using a Mac mini in headless mode was nice but remote resolutions suffered and Sidecar has a limited range.
5. Lightroom (which I use for my photography) lags behind even the desktop version of Lightroom (not the classic)

I do hope the new MacBook Pro is the last laptop I buy in a very long time - the iPad is so close but just out of the running.

Biggest pro is the iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard is a really elegant looking machine and what a laptop should look like in 2021. The new MacBook Pro looks like something from 10+ years ago but sometimes you just need a truck or minivan. The MiniLED display on the 12.9 pro is also beautiful which is why I bought the 14in MacBook Pro. I considered buying a MacBook Air and the 12.9 pro but didn't want two 13in screens. I think the ideal size for the iPad is 11in in my opinion so I will likely upgrade my iPad Air to the 11in Pro once it gets a better screen.
 
PandaPunch said:
It has been an interesting thread. My only problem with the discourse is the concept of "real work". It's something I've came across often in my many discussions all over the Internet about this.

Like, the foundation of the idea of "the iPad is a toy" is that the iPad is incapable of "real work". When most people say this I understand it to be something like video editing or programming, although I have seen valid complaints that have been addressed as iPadOS continues to mature. I'm not much of a fan of saying the iPad can't do "real work" because I feel like that's gatekeeping a little bit. For example, I think writing can be a lot of work. I think having documents of a power tool and reading it can be work.

True, I think certain things might be better on a Mac, like writing several paragraphs. But I disagree so much with the idea that the iPad is a "toy". As I said before, I think it's important to acknowledge that the iPad's form factor allows it to do different (but equally valid) work. Just like it's fair to say that some people may never truly "click" with an iPad.
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I’d like to adress this as well.

I thing the basis of this is - ipad really USED to be a toy. It really did. I think I had the first ipad back 10 yeras ago, and it was basically an epub pdf reader and a web browser. I liked its calendar view, it reminded me of a paper organizer, and… I used it as a big remote for my itunes library on my mac. So thats all.

It was completely incapable of any ‘real work’ it was really not a computer but a tablet.


Today, I see things quite differently. First of all - the ipad I have now and the ipad I was talking about - are not comparable at all software wise. Even thou at the surface it looks like its the same OS, its actually a completely different OS, and today - ipad IS a computer. It is a computer.

It just, as a computer, still has a few quirks that need fixing, like the one I described. Its actually in a weird spot, and its history as a toy shows. Many ‘serious’ things that any ’real computer’ can do, iPad actually cant, or can - but in a very convoluted and inconvinient way. So its still drawing a bit from its ’toy’ background, even thou, its not a toy anymore.


I think thats why some people feel and call it a toy, since they remember it USED TO BE a toy. And theese are the people quoting certain things ipad cant do and a’real computer can’ and using that to shot that ipad is really ’just a toy’ but not a computer . Truth is, it used to be a toy, its not anynmore, but some of the toy aspects of it are still present, and need. to be addressed.


But no. Its not a toy.


##myopinion. Btw. I do programming on iPad, its great for it.
 
cupcakes2000 said:
I think this is the key point. Half the time it’s because they’re stuck in their ways, the other half is that it’s genuinely not suited to their workflow.
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but also third of the time when it still lacks basic functionality like changing filetypes from finderapp


sparksd said:
There is a one-time buy option that I used. One of my favorite apps.
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but you didnt answer me. Is it convinient to unzip a file form the cloud on the cloud on the ipad using the app you mentioned. No its not.


I am writing this in hopes someone from apple is reading it….
 
mrLucas said:
but also third of the time when it still lacks basic functionality like changing filetypes from finderapp



but you didnt answer me. Is it convinient to unzip a file form the cloud on the cloud on the ipad using the app you mentioned. No its not.


I am writing this in hopes someone from apple is reading it….
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I was really just addressing your subscription comment but no, it's not simple and Apple hasn't made it any easier for app developers to create good options. I keep using my laptop for what works best on it.
 
mrLucas said:
I know. I use FileBrowser for it. Is it a good experience thou? Ohhhh no nononon oh no . No its the worst expereience I’ve ever experienced. So - first you need to load it into filebrowser, than you need to unextract it or whatever you wrant, than you have to save it back where you want it, than you need to delete th eone in filebrowsers internal hdd space. HORRIBLE experience, and I havetnt even mentioned how chunkly loading files form the cloud is to to the filebrowser…. and why should I have ti get an external app to do this in the first place… change filetype? come on. also filebrowser cimes with a perpetual monthly subscription . to change a file extention lol. I think it can be cone in a free version too, but I am not sure, maybe someone can comfirm… :O
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I paid a one time small fee for FileBrowser pro.
Mate- stick with the mac if you can’t do your stuff on the iPad! Pretty simple.
mrLucas said:
which one is that?
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Which one is what?
 
sparksd said:
I was really just addressing your subscription comment but no, it's not simple and Apple hasn't made it any easier for app developers to create good options. I keep using my laptop for what works best on it.
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and having to switch a whole machine to do a certain part of things you wanna do - seems to me EXTREMELY unconvininet. like, thats really bad UX
 
cupcakes2000 said:
I paid a one time small fee for FileBrowser pro.
Mate- stick with the mac if you can’t do your stuff on the iPad! Pretty simple.

Which one is what?
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you said you use some app to go to mac with it/

I do my stuff on the ipad, didnt you read it. Right now I have my Macbook Pro half a meter from me , and my iMac 27” Three meters from me but I use ipad, since I like it.

I dont get your argument really or lack of it. Do you want iPads not to improve?
Did I call you stupid for using an ipad? Why do you react as if I did? What does it concern you actually that ipad is not as good as it should be? Did you make it? Do you work in apple? If you do, can you please fix theese things, thanks.
 
sparksd said:
I was really just addressing your subscription comment but no, it's not simple and Apple hasn't made it any easier for app developers to create good options.
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mrLucas said:
and having to switch a whole machine to do a certain part of things you wanna do - seems to me EXTREMELY unconvininet. like, thats really bad UX
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No, it isn't for me. If it is for you, I don't see why you would want an iPad.
 
mrLucas said:
oh 😁 well I like it. Its new and exciting. I use it for fun not for serious work
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I do most of my "work" effort on the laptop as I prefer to use it with a larger 4K monitor. My iPads are relegated to more of a consumption use than anything.
 
mrLucas said:
I do my stuff on the ipad, didnt you read it. Right now I have my Macbook Pro half a meter from me , and my iMac 27” Three meters from me but I use ipad, since I like it.

I dont get your argument really or lack of it. Do you want iPads not to improve?
Did I call you stupid for using an ipad? Why do you react as if I did? What does it concern you actually that ipad is not as good as it should be? Did you make it? Do you work in apple? If you do, can you please fix theese things, thanks.
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I didn’t call you stupid. I just said - if you can’t do what you want to do on an iPad, then use a mac. iPads can do loads of stuff a Mac cannot. And macs can do some stuff iPads cannot. If the thing that’s holding you back isn’t available on an iPad - use a mac.
I do all of my work on an iPad, except I cannot use lightroom classic. So I use my Mac for it.

No idea why you’re getting so agro with me about it.
 
cupcakes2000 said:
I didn’t call you stupid. I just said - if you can’t do what you want to do on an iPad, then use a mac. iPads can do loads of stuff a Mac cannot. And macs can do some stuff iPads cannot. If the thing that’s holding you back isn’t available on an iPad - use a mac.
I do all of my work on an iPad, except I cannot use lightroom classic. So I use my Mac for it.

No idea why you’re getting so agro with me about it.
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but why would you say that thou? on a post thats discussing both platforms and what ipad is lacking? I dont get it. Its not like I asked for advice on how to do it, while having a task at hand… we are here discussing what ipad lacks.. why would you say - use a mac? Thats seems like a wierd thing to say…

Im not agro with you at all, you are mistaken :) Im agro with apple, for not adding this… not really agro tbh, I just think they should add it - if we are discussing products and platforms here
 
Traverse said:
What if the song you want to add is not available on streaming? You literally cannot proceed without a macOS device unless you keep some music in the Files.app and some in the Music.app
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Then you are too old world in music taste, of course!
 
Traverse said:
What if the song you want to add is not available on streaming? You literally cannot proceed without a macOS device unless you keep some music in the Files.app and some in the Music.app
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It probably won’t work in iTunes but would copying the files locally and using VLC work?
 
Mahasamatman said:
Yeah, pretty much this.
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I use FileBrowser Pro for file mgmt. on my iPads & iPhone - it's excellent. The same company makes an app that supports remote streaming from another device (e.g., PC or Mac), creation of playlists, etc. But it also supports importing music onto your device over WiFi for offline use and has a lot of other capabilities. I don't own it - it's $4.99 and I think I'll give it a try as a Music Library alternative.

https://www.stratospherix.com/products/musicstreamer/userguide.php

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/musicstreamer/id979888370

Edit: Got it, scanned in my library from my NAS consisting of over 2000 mp3's rather quickly. Copying locally for offline use works well, as does playlist creation. A nice option if you don't want to use iTunes and have a lot of owned mp3's.
 
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What if the song you want to add is not available on streaming? You literally cannot proceed without a macOS device unless you keep some music in the Files.app and some in the Music.app

ericwn said:
Then you are too old world in music taste, of course!
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haha.. ?

sparksd said:
There are multiple apps you could use in that manner (play local copy in app) but if you want to have it in your Music Library on the iPad, you need iTunes. Ridiculous.
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it is, I agree.
 
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