iPad as a laptop replacement

[DeepSix]

F-

If there is such a thing?

 

[courboy]

I’ve been a Mac user for around 20 years now, and have had almost every generation of iPad. Over the years I’ve longed and tried many times for this to be my main work machine and I’ve always had issues with it for various reasons.

I’m a real estate developer so maps, the ability to scribble on architects plans, and do financial models are key to my daily routine. In the past I also needed to access development modelling software, which became possible through a VPN a few years ago. I’ve also started needing to do less Excel modelling (i.e. no macros anymore), and whilst the basic version of Excel on the iPad is definitely subpar, it’s now usable.

With iPadOS 26 I’ve connected it to my Studio Display and with a mechanical keyboard and Magic Trackpad, fit feels like this might actually work. I’m trying it out cold-turkey for a week to see how i get on but so far so good; I’ve even forgotten I’m on the iPad a few times and have tried the Mac OS keyboard screenshot shortcuts before realising I’m not on my MacBook.

My iPad is the 11” M4 1tb with nano texture display, and my MacBook is a 16” MacBook Pro with the nano texture display too - as is my Studio Display. I don’t need the MBP power but the display is the thing that made me upgrade to that; clearly a MacBook Air would suffice for me but i cannot stand the glossy displays anymore.

If this week goes to plan then I might be getting rid of my MBP for good. Sure, i could try getting a Mac mini instead - as others have done, but that sort of defeats the purpose. If i have a Mac mini, surely that just gets used over the iPad for my use case, and then the iPad is just my on-the-move device. I’m looking for something i can use everywhere, and this might just be it.

Only thing I wish for now is a Promotion Studio Display, which I’m sure is coming. No doubt it’ll have curved corners to match the rest of both operating systems too.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I’ve been a Mac user for around 20 years now, and have had almost every generation of iPad. Over the years I’ve longed and tried many times for this to be my main work machine and I’ve always had issues with it for various reasons.

I’m a real estate developer so maps, the ability to scribble on architects plans, and do financial models are key to my daily routine. In the past I also needed to access development modelling software, which became possible through a VPN a few years ago. I’ve also started needing to do less Excel modelling (i.e. no macros anymore), and whilst the basic version of Excel on the iPad is definitely subpar, it’s now usable.

With iPadOS 26 I’ve connected it to my Studio Display and with a mechanical keyboard and Magic Trackpad, fit feels like this might actually work. I’m trying it out cold-turkey for a week to see how i get on but so far so good; I’ve even forgotten I’m on the iPad a few times and have tried the Mac OS keyboard screenshot shortcuts before realising I’m not on my MacBook.

My iPad is the 11” M4 1tb with nano texture display, and my MacBook is a 16” MacBook Pro with the nano texture display too - as is my Studio Display. I don’t need the MBP power but the display is the thing that made me upgrade to that; clearly a MacBook Air would suffice for me but i cannot stand the glossy displays anymore.

If this week goes to plan then I might be getting rid of my MBP for good. Sure, i could try getting a Mac mini instead - as others have done, but that sort of defeats the purpose. If i have a Mac mini, surely that just gets used over the iPad for my use case, and then the iPad is just my on-the-move device. I’m looking for something i can use everywhere, and this might just be it.

Only thing I wish for now is a Promotion Studio Display, which I’m sure is coming. No doubt it’ll have curved corners to match the rest of both operating systems too.

I've actually done the opposite. I've been using my iPad as my main device for a while, kept my MacBook in storage. Decided to switch it up a bit and keep my Macbook semi-permanently docked at my desk. macOS 26 and iPadOS 26 just feel similar enough in my day to day tasks that there's been times I’ve been using my Mac thinking I’ve been using my iPad. Like trying to close an app with CMD+W instead of CMD-Q.

To me, the Mac just has better support for my desk setup. Like being able to control my LG monitor's brightness and sound with a third party app, clamshell mode and I like having the rounded corners on the display (again, using a third party app). Other than that, my Mac and iPad are pretty much used for the same things. I think if I had a Studio Display, my opinion might be slightly different (can you directly control the Studio Display's brightness and sound from the iPad? For whatever reason I cannot find an answer on that anywhere). I prefer using the iPad otherwise.

 

[Hooyah]

For me the magic ingredient that has finally allowed the iPad Pro M4 to be my main machine (replacing an M1 MacBook Pro) is Remote Desktop, Tailscale and proper external display / keyboard and mouse support (Windows keyboard shortcuts and all). Not only does this bridge the gap between the limitation of the iPad, but also the limitation of ARM Windows. Sure… most things are / have been emulated fine or work on Windows on ARM but that’s fine and dandy… until it’s not and you’re in class or installing something for a project and there you go, incompatibility. I’m using a cheap Intel Pentium Gold HP laptop which has been on for about a month now connected to my Tailscale mesh network so I can access it anywhere reliably. No stupid subscriptions or latency for being on a low tier. It’s as fast as my internet connections allow (and that’s fast). The only thing it’s not really good for is gaming but if I was into that I’d probably not be into Apple.

This is perfect as now, when I need it or want to mess around with proper development or filesystems or things iPadOS doesn’t and will NEVER allow, I can tap right into it. It’s actually easy and fast to jump in and out of the windows app as well to go between iPad OS stuff.

Files with OneDrive and iCloud, then on the HP, iCloud utility and OneDrive logged in makes it surprisingly seamless. I also can just plug things into both devices via USB drive or whatever too when at home.

I start college again tomorrow for the final year of programming… I know I’ll get insane looks and disapproval for ‘bringing an iPad instead of a computer’ for THAT course. I am looking forward to being able to keep up, with an iPad.

I first attempted ‘iPad only’ in 2011/2012 with an iPad 2. Back then I thought just being able to set it up without a Mac was all I needed… how wrong I was. Again in 2017..2019..2020.. but now with iPad OS 26, and the stuff I mentioned above, I can’t believe it’s finally possible, with so little limitation. The only thing I think I might regret is not going 13” but then I don’t know if that’d be so nice under my arm to carry around the office, or college, home or town on days off. I know I’d never trust carrying my MacBook around like that.

Realistically I only need and want and care for full desktop stuff when doing actual work that needs it. Outside of that, I am glad and comforted by the sheer simplicity of iPad OS stuff- and maybe a bit grateful it’s not just macOS plastered onto a touch interface.

 

[Kal Madda]

I’ve been a Mac user for around 20 years now, and have had almost every generation of iPad. Over the years I’ve longed and tried many times for this to be my main work machine and I’ve always had issues with it for various reasons.

I’m a real estate developer so maps, the ability to scribble on architects plans, and do financial models are key to my daily routine. In the past I also needed to access development modelling software, which became possible through a VPN a few years ago. I’ve also started needing to do less Excel modelling (i.e. no macros anymore), and whilst the basic version of Excel on the iPad is definitely subpar, it’s now usable.

With iPadOS 26 I’ve connected it to my Studio Display and with a mechanical keyboard and Magic Trackpad, fit feels like this might actually work. I’m trying it out cold-turkey for a week to see how i get on but so far so good; I’ve even forgotten I’m on the iPad a few times and have tried the Mac OS keyboard screenshot shortcuts before realising I’m not on my MacBook.

My iPad is the 11” M4 1tb with nano texture display, and my MacBook is a 16” MacBook Pro with the nano texture display too - as is my Studio Display. I don’t need the MBP power but the display is the thing that made me upgrade to that; clearly a MacBook Air would suffice for me but i cannot stand the glossy displays anymore.

If this week goes to plan then I might be getting rid of my MBP for good. Sure, i could try getting a Mac mini instead - as others have done, but that sort of defeats the purpose. If i have a Mac mini, surely that just gets used over the iPad for my use case, and then the iPad is just my on-the-move device. I’m looking for something i can use everywhere, and this might just be it.

Only thing I wish for now is a Promotion Studio Display, which I’m sure is coming. No doubt it’ll have curved corners to match the rest of both operating systems too.

Awesome! I hope it goes well for you! If you run into any snags, feel free to share here, we might be able to help you find some solutions/fixes! 👍🏻

 

[Kal Madda]

For me the magic ingredient that has finally allowed the iPad Pro M4 to be my main machine (replacing an M1 MacBook Pro) is Remote Desktop, Tailscale and proper external display / keyboard and mouse support (Windows keyboard shortcuts and all). Not only does this bridge the gap between the limitation of the iPad, but also the limitation of ARM Windows. Sure… most things are / have been emulated fine or work on Windows on ARM but that’s fine and dandy… until it’s not and you’re in class or installing something for a project and there you go, incompatibility. I’m using a cheap Intel Pentium Gold HP laptop which has been on for about a month now connected to my Tailscale mesh network so I can access it anywhere reliably. No stupid subscriptions or latency for being on a low tier. It’s as fast as my internet connections allow (and that’s fast). The only thing it’s not really good for is gaming but if I was into that I’d probably not be into Apple.

This is perfect as now, when I need it or want to mess around with proper development or filesystems or things iPadOS doesn’t and will NEVER allow, I can tap right into it. It’s actually easy and fast to jump in and out of the windows app as well to go between iPad OS stuff.

Files with OneDrive and iCloud, then on the HP, iCloud utility and OneDrive logged in makes it surprisingly seamless. I also can just plug things into both devices via USB drive or whatever too when at home.

I start college again tomorrow for the final year of programming… I know I’ll get insane looks and disapproval for ‘bringing an iPad instead of a computer’ for THAT course. I am looking forward to being able to keep up, with an iPad.

I first attempted ‘iPad only’ in 2011/2012 with an iPad 2. Back then I thought just being able to set it up without a Mac was all I needed… how wrong I was. Again in 2017..2019..2020.. but now with iPad OS 26, and the stuff I mentioned above, I can’t believe it’s finally possible, with so little limitation. The only thing I think I might regret is not going 13” but then I don’t know if that’d be so nice under my arm to carry around the office, or college, home or town on days off. I know I’d never trust carrying my MacBook around like that.

Realistically I only need and want and care for full desktop stuff when doing actual work that needs it. Outside of that, I am glad and comforted by the sheer simplicity of iPad OS stuff- and maybe a bit grateful it’s not just macOS plastered onto a touch interface.

Awesome, I’m glad to hear it’s working out for you! If you run into any snags and want some advice, feel free to ask, I may be able to help with finding solutions/fixes. I just dabble a bit with coding, but some apps that may be useful for you are Code (black icon with a blue rectangle outline, it’s built on the same engine as VS Code, and has very similar layout and tools), and the official web version of VSCode. 👍🏻

 

[SnowCrocodile]

I don't think I'd be going "iPad only" anytime soon. There are still many usability limitations, and the cost of setting up a decent "iPad only" system is about the same, if not higher, as having a decently specced out MBA and an 11" iPad Pro without the Magic Keyboard.

However, for someone who primarily needs iPad specific features (maximum portability, pencil), and the docked use comes secondary, this could work out, the new iPadOS definitely makes this less painful.

 

[Hooyah]

I don't think I'd be going "iPad only" anytime soon. There are still many usability limitations, and the cost of setting up a decent "iPad only" system is about the same, if not higher, as having a decently specced out MBA and an 11" iPad Pro without the Magic Keyboard.

However, for someone who primarily needs iPad specific features (maximum portability, pencil), and the docked use comes secondary, this could work out, the new iPadOS definitely makes this less painful.

I thought about that but… two devices, two AppleCare plans, two things to charge, moving things between em and still limited by ARM. Plus both having only like what 128 or 256GB each versus 1TB onboard and 24/7 access to (currently) a 4TB drive at the home server / HP end. There are also some true benefits to such a setup if you are up for it

 

[Hooyah]

Awesome, I’m glad to hear it’s working out for you! If you run into any snags and want some advice, feel free to ask, I may be able to help with finding solutions/fixes. I just dabble a bit with coding, but some apps that may be useful for you are Code (black icon with a blue rectangle outline, it’s built on the same engine as VS Code, and has very similar layout and tools), and the official web version of VSCode. 👍🏻

I must go look for that now, thank you

 

[Kal Madda]

I must go look for that now, thank you

You’re welcome, no problem, hope that’s helpful! 👍🏻