iPad as a laptop replacement

[Ludatyk]

Ok, it’s just the way you phrased things, it sounded to me like you were saying that people who didn’t have a use-case like that weren’t doing “real work”. Thanks for the clarification, and sorry about any misunderstanding. 👍🏻

I’ve been meaning to ask… what’s your iPad setup look like? You mind sharing a photo or two?

 

[Kal Madda]

I’ve been meaning to ask… what’s your iPad setup look like? You mind sharing a photo or two?

Sure, do you mean hardware, or software, or both?

 

[Kal Madda]

I’ve been meaning to ask… what’s your iPad setup look like? You mind sharing a photo or two?

This is my iPad and Magic Keyboard Case. It’s the 11” M1 iPad Pro. I might have some photos somewhere of my desktop monitor, but that’s a 27” LG UltraFine 4K model I got for something like $130. I occasionally use my iPad connected to that monitor for extra workspace, but most of the time I use my iPad as shown with the Magic Keyboard Case and the Apple Pencil. 👍🏻

PS, the folder icons on my Home Screen I created to match the look of the ones in the Files app. I added them on a GitHub repository if you’re interested in pinning files or folders to the Home Screen. 👍🏻 https://github.com/KalCadle/iPadOS-Home-Screen-Folders-Files-Icons

 

[Ludatyk]

Sure, do you mean hardware, or software, or both?

I was thinking more of your desktop setup... monitor included?

 

[Kal Madda]

I was thinking more of your desktop setup... monitor included?

Oh, yeah, I can get a picture of that later, I will want to tidy it up a little first though, lol! 😂👍🏻

 

[Ludatyk]

Oh, yeah, I can get a picture of that later, I will want to tidy it up a little first though, lol! 😂👍🏻

So, you rarely plug up the iPad to the monitor? Primarily use the iPad itself?

 

[Kal Madda]

So, you rarely plug up the iPad to the monitor? Primarily use the iPad itself?

Yeah, I mostly just use the iPad itself. I don’t work at my desk very often. But I am wanting to improve my desk setup at some point. I’ve been slowly improving it. 👍🏻

 

[Kal Madda]

I was thinking more of your desktop setup... monitor included?

This is my desktop setup, it isn’t much to write home about, but it’s slowly improving. The first pic is new, and the other is an older one. I eventually want to upgrade my keyboard and mouse to a Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad. But the wired ones I’m using currently work fine. 👍🏻. I have a base spec M1 Mac Mini hooked up as well, which I mostly use for remote storage and comparing features and software between the Mac and iPad for my SubStack articles, but I also occasionally use it for my graphic design and 3D modeling/sculpting work when I want to work on a larger display or when I want to use a few tools in Blender. I do pretty much all of my 3D modeling and sculpting on Nomad Sculpt and Valence 3D now, both of which I use on my iPad. 👍🏻. I eventually want to setup my desk with a KVM switch so that I can plug my iPad in, and switch all of the accessories to be connected to it more simply. Currently I have to unplug my Mac Mini from the monitor and plug in my iPad when I want to use my monitor with my iPad. My monitor does have multiple inputs, so I have also considered just getting another display cable and switching input source on the monitor when I want to connect my iPad. I also eventually want to buy or make a magnetic stand for my iPad when I dock it, but I keep waiting on that because I’m hoping to upgrade to the M4 iPad Pro sometime this year, and I’m considering also switching to the 13”. I’m torn because the 11” is compact and is usually enough screen real estate, but sometimes it would be nice to have a larger screen, and handling a display model of the 13”, it is so much lighter and better to handle than the 13” M1 was. 👍🏻

 

[bondr006]

I’ve been meaning to ask… what’s your iPad setup look like? You mind sharing a photo or two?

Oooh! Can I play too? I know you guys have seen my setups, errr...let's see, a couple times?😊🤣

Anyways...

Mobile Setup: M1 iPad Pro 11, Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard Case, Apple Pencil 2, Airpods Pro 2

Desktop Setup: M1 iPad Pro 11, Foldable Tablet Stand, Bluetooth Keyboard, Apple Magic Trackpad, ACER 27" 1080P Monitor, Anker USB C Hub (7-in-1), with 4K HDMI

 

[Kal Madda]

So, you rarely plug up the iPad to the monitor? Primarily use the iPad itself?

Also, I may have already asked you before, but what are your thoughts on the 13” option? As your probably already know, I currently use the 11”, and I’m torn on which size I will choose when I go to upgrade. On the one hand, the 11” model has a smaller footprint, is a bit more compact, and usually provides enough screen real estate. On the other hand, I do a lot of typing, and the 13” Magic Keyboard Case provides a full-sized keyboard. The keyboard on the 11” case isn’t bad, but does feel a bit more cramped than a usual keyboard does. And the extra screen real estate could be useful for some things like 3D modeling where I wouldn’t have to zoom in and out as much, and for multitasking in Stage Manager. With the M1 models, I ended up picking the 11” model because the 13” felt significantly heavier and bulkier. But this go around, trying a 13” display model, it is such a noticeable difference from the prior 13” models. It feels so much lighter and more portable. So this time I’m really seriously considering the 13” model, especially now that I’m doing more writing.

 

[roguester]

Oooh! Can I play too? I know you guys have seen my setups, errr...let's see, a couple times?😊🤣

Anyways...

Mobile Setup: M1 iPad Pro 11, Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard Case, Apple Pencil 2, Airpods Pro 2

Desktop Setup: M1 iPad Pro 11, Foldable Tablet Stand, Bluetooth Keyboard, Apple Magic Trackpad, ACER 27" 1080P Monitor, Anker USB C Hub (7-in-1), with 4K HDMI

View attachment 2491513 View attachment 2491512

Is that the iPad mirroring to the monitor?

 

[Ludatyk]

Also, I may have already asked you before, but what are your thoughts on the 13” option? As your probably already know, I currently use the 11”, and I’m torn on which size I will choose when I go to upgrade.

Yeah, you asked me that before. I suggested keeping the 11in size... since that's what you been accusomted to, no need to choose differently.

With the M1 models, I ended up picking the 11” model because the 13” felt significantly heavier and bulkier. But this go around, trying a 13” display model, it is such a noticeable difference from the prior 13” models. It feels so much lighter and more portable. So this time I’m really seriously considering the 13” model, especially now that I’m doing more writing.

Agreed! The 13in is definitely lighter than it's predecessors... I knew immediately upon picking mine up how light it was, I've been a 12.9in since introduction (back in 2015).

The first pic is new, and the other is an older one. I eventually want to upgrade my keyboard and mouse to a Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad.

My advice. Just get an arm for your monitor and use your iPad+Magic Keyboard as the hub for your Mac Mini and iPad experience... that way you can use Universal Control between the two.

I’m torn because the 11” is compact and is usually enough screen real estate, but sometimes it would be nice to have a larger screen, and handling a display model of the 13”, it is so much lighter and better to handle than the 13” M1 was. 👍🏻

When you desire more screen real estate... just plug in your external monitor to get that experience, that's the purpose of external monitor support. From my perspective, it's different... I'm familiar with the 13in size (had the 1st gen, 2nd, 3rd, skipped 4th, picked up 5th, skipped 6th and now I’m on the current gen.

But given you enjoy the compact nature of the 11in, I'd encourage you to stay with it… then again you can always buy the 13in model and compare it to your current 11in.

 

[bondr006]

Also, I may have already asked you before, but what are your thoughts on the 13” option? As your probably already know, I currently use the 11”, and I’m torn on which size I will choose when I go to upgrade. On the one hand, the 11” model has a smaller footprint, is a bit more compact, and usually provides enough screen real estate. On the other hand, I do a lot of typing, and the 13” Magic Keyboard Case provides a full-sized keyboard. The keyboard on the 11” case isn’t bad, but does feel a bit more cramped than a usual keyboard does. And the extra screen real estate could be useful for some things like 3D modeling where I wouldn’t have to zoom in and out as much, and for multitasking in Stage Manager. With the M1 models, I ended up picking the 11” model because the 13” felt significantly heavier and bulkier. But this go around, trying a 13” display model, it is such a noticeable difference from the prior 13” models. It feels so much lighter and more portable. So this time I’m really seriously considering the 13” model, especially now that I’m doing more writing.

Well, I also have wondered if I'd like to upgrade to the 13" but then I remember that I did get the iPad to be my mobile replacement for my MBP. I will keep the 11" size when I replace my M1 for the portability factor. At home, I use my Mac Mini or one of my desktop PC's, but it is fun to use my iPad once in awhile as a desktop setup. I love using the Apple Magic Trackpad with my iPad. IMO, it truly is the best experience to use a touch device to control a touch device. It just feels natural with all the gestures intact. The thing I mainly use my iPad at home for, is sketching home and property dimensions, .pdf markup and signing, taking notes, and editing photos....all with the help of my Apple Pencil 2. Otherwise, at home...most of my realty work is done on my Mac Mini or one of my mini PC's, and my iPad is my fully featured mobile office. It truly is a great device, and still in my mind...Apple's most flexible computer.😉

 

[bondr006]

Is that the iPad mirroring to the monitor?

Not mirroring. That is the iPad using Stage Manager on the monitor like a Mac or PC. I really like Stage Manager to be honest. I know it is hotly debated, kinda like religion and politics but I appreciate it and find it very useful.

 

[Kal Madda]

Yeah, you asked me that before. I suggested keeping the 11in size... since that's what you been accusomted to, no need to choose differently.

Agreed! The 13in is definitely lighter than it's predecessors... I knew immediately upon picking mine up how light it was, I've been a 12.9in since introduction (back in 2015).

My advice. Just get an arm for your monitor and use your iPad+Magic Keyboard as the hub for your Mac Mini and iPad experience... that way you can use Universal Control between the two.

When you desire more screen real estate... just plug in your external monitor to get that experience, that's the purpose of external monitor support. From my perspective, it's different... I'm familiar with the 13in size (had the 1st gen, 2nd, 3rd, skipped 4th, picked up 5th, skipped 6th and now I’m on the current gen.

But given you enjoy the compact nature of the 11in, I'd encourage you to stay with it… then again you can always buy the 13in model and compare it to your current 11in.

Thanks, sorry I forgot whether I had asked you about it before, I’ve asked a few people that have used the 13” M4, so I wasn’t sure if you were one of those people I had asked or not. 👍🏻. I think I’ll end up sticking with the 11” model, then I wouldn’t have to worry about getting another carry sleeve and such. And I really do like that smaller footprint, there have been several times I’ve been able to fit it in a more cramped area. And what I might end up doing is getting a good portable monitor for more screen real estate on the go if I want to have more additional screen space. And the desktop monitor definitely provides quite a bit of workspace, so I want to continue to improve my desk setup for when I want to use my desk for some of these things as well. 👍🏻

Question, by “arm for the monitor” do you mean a swivel wall arm mount, kind of like some wall mounted TVs use? That sounds like it could be interesting. 👍🏻. And I definitely like the idea of using the iPad and Magic Keyboard Case for the Mac Mini instead of having that big wired keyboard. 👍🏻. I’ll have to experiment with that. I thought I had remembered reading you couldn’t control the Mac with the iPad’s Magic Keyboard Case, but maybe I’m remembering wrong or things have changed. I’d like to experiment more with that though, I mostly access my Mac Mini via VNC on my iPad anymore anyways because I mostly use it for some extra native storage. And it wouldn’t require switching between keyboards. 👍🏻

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. 👍🏻

PS, aha, so you can actually use the iPad’s Magic Keyboard to control the Mac! That would be perfect! I just found on Apple’s support page that if a keyboard and trackpad are connected to your iPad, you can use those across the devices as well! 👍🏻. That’s perfect! I’ll have to try that out. 👍🏻

 

[Ludatyk]

Question, by “arm for the monitor” do you mean a swivel wall arm mount, kind of like some wall mounted TVs use?

Well, it’s secured to your desk. And the swivel arm allows for flexibility in terms of where you want it placed at, if I’m not mistaken.. that monitor is VESA compatible. I’d remove that desk shelf to allow more space… get rid of the keyboard and mouse. Keep all your accessories (docks, drives and microphone).

I’ll have to experiment with that. I thought I had remembered reading you couldn’t control the Mac with the iPad’s Magic Keyboard Case, but maybe I’m remembering wrong or things have changed. I’d like to experiment more with that though, I mostly access my Mac Mini via VNC on my iPad anymore anyways because I mostly use it for some extra native storage.

If you have any question… feel free to ask. But I don’t think upgrading to a Magic Keyboard and Magic Keyboard is necessary. Using an arm for your monitor will make a huge difference. I tweaked this (to some extent) portable stand and use it exclusively with iPad.

 

[Kal Madda]

Well, it’s secured to your desk. And the swivel arm allows for flexibility in terms of where you want it placed at, if I’m not mistaken.. that monitor is VESA compatible. I’d remove that desk shelf to allow more space… get rid of the keyboard and mouse. Keep all your accessories (docks, drives and microphone).

If you have any question… feel free to ask. But I don’t think upgrading to a Magic Keyboard and Magic Keyboard is necessary. Using an arm for your monitor will make a huge difference. I tweaked this (to some extent) portable stand and use it exclusively with iPad.

View attachment 2491605
View attachment 2491606

Thanks. Yeah, I think it is VESA compatible, so I may consider swapping to an arm like that at some point. 👍🏻

That setup looks great! I like that VESA adapter on it. And that way you can carry your monitor around the house. 👍🏻. I also like that you added the Apple logo on the back of your portable monitor. 👍🏻

I’m looking forward to trying out controlling the Mac Mini with the iPad Magic Keyboard Case! 👍🏻

Out of curiosity, what does your desktop setup look like? Or do you prefer a fully mobile setup?

 

[Ludatyk]

That setup looks great! I like that VESA adapter on it. And that way you can carry your monitor around the house. 👍🏻. I also like that you added the Apple logo on the back of your portable monitor. 👍🏻

Yeah, I forgot to mention... I don't exclusively use the portable monitor with the iPad. I use it with the MBP too.

Out of curiosity, what does your desktop setup look like? Or do you prefer a fully mobile setup?

I'm looking to adds some hexagon panels to my back wall... deciding on how much I need and how plan on adding it.

 

[Kal Madda]

Yeah, I forgot to mention... I don't exclusively use the portable monitor with the iPad. I use it with the MBP too.


View attachment 2491742
I'm looking to adds some hexagon panels to my back wall... deciding on how much I need and how plan on adding it.

Wow! I like your curved monitor, that’s pretty nice! 👍🏻. And I like the LED along the back! I’m thinking about doing similar on my desk as well. I just finished LED lighting the 3D printer enclosure I’m building on the right of my desk, and I’d like to use some of the same LEDs along my desk as well at some point. 👍🏻.

Hexagon panels would look nice! I used some double-sided 3M adhesive squares to mount the sound foam I used in my 3D printer enclosure to insulate it and reduce the noise, and so far that’s been working pretty well, so maybe that would work well for the hexagon panels as well. 👍🏻

 

[Ludatyk]

Wow! I like your curved monitor, that’s pretty nice! 👍🏻. And I like the LED along the back! I’m thinking about doing similar on my desk as well. I just finished LED lighting the 3D printer enclosure I’m building on the right of my desk, and I’d like to use some of the same LEDs along my desk as well at some point. 👍🏻.

Thanks! I've been eyeing the super curved ultra-wide ever since they were announced... finally found one at a pretty good discount, so I picked it up. I recently tried the new 57-inch curved monitor... but the 2021 14" MBP I currently own can't output its maximum resolution (7680x2160). And I'm not looking to replace my current MBP anytime soon.

But yeah, I had the LED strip on the back of my previous monitor and when switched to this monitor decided it was better on the desk. They are some Govee light strips... highly recommend them.

Hexagon panels would look nice! I used some double-sided 3M adhesive squares to mount the sound foam I used in my 3D printer enclosure to insulate it and reduce the noise, and so far that’s been working pretty well, so maybe that would work well for the hexagon panels as well. 👍🏻

Yeah, I wanted some panels to make the setup POP more... having a white empty wall seems boring to me lol.

 

[jfreedle2]

iPad is much better for teaching in class rooms than a laptop. Pencil support and portability is essential. So iPad for the classroom and laptop for the desk.

You are correct about teaching, but not about it being a replacement for a notebook computer. I have used my iPad for the last thirteen years as a replacement for a notebook computer. I have a desktop computer for the desk.

 

[jfreedle2]

Retired now but we weren't allowed to use personal devices for work nor connect them to company networks at any locations.

With that story, it seems as though they only understood Windows and did not know anything about the iPad at all.

 

[jfreedle2]

iPad can replace your work if your specific use cases translate well to the Apple/iOS/iPad ecosystem in terms of apps needed, cloud functionality, and workflow. If it struggles in any of those areas, you are better off sticking to a traditional computer/laptop to get your work done.

That is why I pair the iPad with a desktop computer for the 1% of tasks that still require a traditional computer. While mobile, I can use VDI services or remote access to accommodate those small tasks that still require a traditional computer.

 

[jfreedle2]

I’m a consultant. These days most things are webbased and/or MS office and very well doable with an iPad.
there are a few legacy systems that are still operated via citrix and that doesn’t play nice with an iPad. So once every week or two weeks I need to fire up the old Dell laptop and login to that.
I’ve heard the rumor that they will move everything to Azure and it will be accessible via a web/app-based thingy so then I can do everything on my iPad.
Biggest advantage is that when interviewing, the iPad is flat on the table and I’m writing with the pencil. But if I need to, I can use the Magic Keyboard and it’s almost a laptop. Oh and it has the cellulair option, no need to use all kinds of shady wifi 🙂 Oh and OLED is so nice when writing in near dark, no blooming. One more thing? When reading 350 pagers, it’s so nice to hold it in landscape when reading in a lounge chair!

If you are an engineer or write code or do lots of other things? Then an iPad can be a really nice secondarily device. Or not.

It depends on the language. You can write Swift applications on the iPad and even publish them to the App Store. Less modern languages like Rust, Go, c++, and others you would need access to a more traditional computer. That is why I have a Raspberry Pi that I can plug into the iPad to supplement with access to those legacy technologies.

 

[jfreedle2]

If I was first glancing at this thread from an outsider perspective, would have thought it was AI generated and fetching for real user data lol

AIs are not that intelligent.