iPad as a laptop replacement

[Kal Madda]

Actually it was. I could at least get rid of some of the bloatware. Thanks!

You’re welcome, I’m glad I could help. 🙂👍🏻

 

[Kal Madda]

This sort of became an inofficial Pages thread at the moment, so I thought I'd ask why this pop ups every time I want to crop a picture? Can I choose 'okay, okay, I get it' somewhere?

View attachment 2601974

It looks like you’re selecting the Auto Crop feature rather than the standard crop. I can check, but that seems to be what’s going on. 👍🏻

But things are starting to drift off-topic, so it would probably be better to create a separate thread for that kind of thing. 👍🏻

Edit: I confirmed that in the free version, manual crop adjustments are still very much included. You’re tapping the purple Auto Crop button in the bottom adjust bar there in the background to get that pop-up. It doesn’t show that otherwise. So just don’t tap the purple button for the premium feature and you don’t get a pop-up explaining why you can’t use the premium feature with the free version… 🤷🏼‍♂️. Seems simple enough… 🤷🏼‍♂️🤔

Again, these are easy to avoid. Just don’t click the purple buttons… 🙄🤦🏼‍♂️. And there has to be some sort of pop-up explaining it, otherwise people would think those features were supposed to work in the free version, and were just not working properly, so a small pop-up window like that seems the least obtrusive way of handling that. 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[Kal Madda]

This is exactly the behavior I am talking about. Why? Why do this, Apple? You say "free to use" but you don't mean "free to use..."

It is free to use. It’s just that some premium tools aren’t free to use, and so if you purposefully go around clicking purple premium feature buttons, of course you’re going to see a small pop-up explaining these features aren’t free… 🙄🤦🏼‍♂️.

And free users actually get more than I initially thought. Free users actually do get access to images from Apple’s stock images in the Content Hub, they just have a watermark that could be cropped out or removed with the Clean Up feature in Photos. So basically the only things free users don’t get at all are the premium templates (they still get tons of really nice templates for free), auto crop, super resolution (a Pixelmator Pro feature) and image generation… That’s extremely reasonable in my opinion. Especially when Word offers nothing for free other than reading a document… 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[ScanTheNavian]

Edit: I confirmed that in the free version, manual crop adjustments are still very much included. You’re tapping the purple Auto Crop button in the bottom adjust bar there in the background to get that pop-up. It doesn’t show that otherwise. So just don’t tap the purple button for the premium feature and you don’t get a pop-up explaining why you can’t use the premium feature with the free version… 🤷🏼‍♂️. Seems simple enough… 🤷🏼‍♂️🤔

Also my final post on Pages as to not derail. On my iPad it looked like this:

My eyes didn't even register ”edit mask” as all I was looking for was the cropping function and autocropping was at the ”top”. It's called ’mask’ in Swedish too so its meaning didn't come naturally to me. I'd be more okay if the premium functions were at the bottom, perhaps faded out to signal that they aren't accessible.

 

[Kal Madda]

Also my final post on Pages as to not derail. On my iPad it looked like this:

View attachment 2602119

My eyes didn't even register ”edit mask” as all I was looking for was the cropping function and autocropping was at the ”top”. It's called ’mask’ in Swedish too so its meaning didn't come naturally to me. I'd be more okay if the premium functions were at the bottom, perhaps faded out to signal that they aren't accessible.

Oh, that makes sense, I didn’t know English wasn’t your first language. Sorry if I was too harsh. I also wrote that before my coffee, so that probably didn’t help things either. 😉👍🏻. I sincerely am sorry if I was insensitive, I try, rereading my comment, it does have a lot of snark. Sorry about that. 🙂👍🏻

 

[ScanTheNavian]

Oh, that makes sense, I didn’t know English wasn’t your first language. Sorry if I was too harsh. I also wrote that before my coffee, so that probably didn’t help things either. 😉👍🏻. I sincerely am sorry if I was insensitive, I try, rereading my comment, it does have a lot of snark. Sorry about that. 🙂👍🏻

Ah, no, I didn't feel offended in way. I just wrote my post matter of factly that the word Apple chose in Swedish, 'mask', doesn't make much sense to non-creatives. The word they chose for 'cropping' is much clearer so my brain ignored everything else and went for it.

So I hope you don't feel bad for anything lol. There was zero insensitive stuff in your post. 🙂

 

[rb2112]

I wish Apple would release a double sided iPad. Why? So two people can look at the screen at the same time. Having a screen on both sides would be nice.

Pretty nice indeed, but I was actually hoping for more in the form of an orb....All outside glass. So any number of people could view.

It would float, of course.

 

[rb2112]

I seem to recall something like that being one of the legitimately better aspects of pages. That somehow, every aspect of the software is geared towards making your task easier. I do concede that with Word, I often feel like I am spending as much time fighting the interface as I am actually typing stuff.

I thought a good idea would be to allow a optional "stripped" mode....every control hidden except for the ones you choose to include 1 at a time from scratch. Everthing else to stay hidden, I mean no extra bars, tabs, arrows, or anything that reduces vertical space (especially important for laptop) or makes me hunt through 50 icons to click on my font/style.

 

[Beanoir]

I’m lucky that I can mostly choose whether or not I use Office. I do have to use OneDrive for my business use, as I’m working with others who are using Windows and use OneDrive for file management. So I must pay for it, even though I also must use other alternatives to things like Word because the version of Word they charge me for is useless crap for business use that doesn’t even support basic feature like custom document templates, insert option, precise page layout options, etc…

But sadly, there are many who don’t have that option, and can’t even use alternatives for Word like I can. Because Microsoft effectively has a monopoly on Office apps. Many don’t really have much choice in the matter. And people are being charged the full price for a lite version. Which shouldn’t be… People are rightly upset that they’re being charged full price for less product. If the only grocery store in your area charged you the full price of a gallon of milk for a quart, I have a feeling you would be “complaining” about it as well…

Yeah, again you’re moaning about something just because it doesn’t suit you, and you expect MS to do something to accommodate you, why should they? Answer: They don’t.

I run a business, I employ a lot of staff in several countries, I have been using Macs since the 90’s and I love their products, but I know there are limitations in some business uses and I also appreciate that MS (and other pieces of software we use) make great business products for PCs but not for Macs. So I accept that our tools of choice are PCs, because that’s the best platform for MS products. The romantic notion of me allowing all of me and my employees to use Macs is great, but they’re just not the best tool for the job because they are not compatible with the software we need.

 

[Kal Madda]

Yeah, again you’re moaning about something just because it doesn’t suit you, and you expect MS to do something to accommodate you, why should they? Answer: They don’t.

I run a business, I employ a lot of staff in several countries, I have been using Macs since the 90’s and I love their products, but I know there are limitations in some business uses and I also appreciate that MS (and other pieces of software we use) make great business products for PCs but not for Macs. So I accept that our tools of choice are PCs, because that’s the best platform for MS products. The romantic notion of me allowing all of me and my employees to use Macs is great, but they’re just not the best tool for the job because they are not compatible with the software we need.

I’m not “moaning” about anything, and I am advocating for changes that would suit others who are in a less fortunate position and can’t really choose alternative softwares. 🤷🏼‍♂️. But it has come to my attention that the web versions and iPad/Android versions can be got cheaper than the others as a separate purchase, so that does improve matters in my opinion.

 

[alecgold]

Again, try to use the free versions on your iPad and change the toolbar to eliminate the weird premium stuff. You can't. Only on Mac. So, forgive me if I choose to disagree on this one. I think Apple is going down a very wrong path here. But that's where we are.

So what is, in your arguments, Apple doing worse then Microsoft? Microsoft asks money for a strongly watered down version, Apple is asking money for a beefed up version. And one opinion on the latter may be different as the free version of pages or numbers often is more than enough for most people. And the paid version adds a whole lot if other apps as well.


Look at a small developer like Goodnotes. It works great on my iPad with files of over 1000 handwritten pages. The webversion that I use on windows isn’t a as great. It’s clearly a ported version, it doesn’t have all functions, but it’s usable. And that from a tiny developer?
What much more could a gist like Microsoft do?

For me the bigger point is that Microsoft has such a strong market position that basically I’m forced to use office. It comes close to a monopoly. And with that power comes responsibility.
And Microsoft could - and in my opinion should - develop a much better, more mature set of apps. Even if it would be just a unified cross platform website version.

And it’s not that the iPads aren’t capable. In many cases the iPad hardware is much more capable than the windows laptops people buy.
And with external display, keyboard, trackpad, mouse? It's full blown workstation for 95% of the people.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

So what is, in your arguments, Apple doing worse then Microsoft? Microsoft asks money for a strongly watered down version, Apple is asking money for a beefed up version. And one opinion on the latter may be different as the free version of pages or numbers often is more than enough for most people. And the paid version adds a whole lot if other apps as well.


Look at a small developer like Goodnotes. It works great on my iPad with files of over 1000 handwritten pages. The webversion that I use on windows isn’t a as great. It’s clearly a ported version, it doesn’t have all functions, but it’s usable. And that from a tiny developer?
What much more could a gist like Microsoft do?

For me the bigger point is that Microsoft has such a strong market position that basically I’m forced to use office. It comes close to a monopoly. And with that power comes responsibility.
And Microsoft could - and in my opinion should - develop a much better, more mature set of apps. Even if it would be just a unified cross platform website version.

And it’s not that the iPads aren’t capable. In many cases the iPad hardware is much more capable than the windows laptops people buy.
And with external display, keyboard, trackpad, mouse? It's full blown workstation for 95% of the people.

See this is what I mean. So tragic. When I switched to Apple in the first place (except for gaming) in the mid aughts, the goal was never to be slightly better than Microsoft. The goal was to have so much added value in the software and to be so cool and different that it wasn't even close.

But, yes, even the "watered down" office has more inherent value than "premium" iWork. Let's also be clear, MS Office has more functionality by far than iWork.

For my $99 a year (less than whatever Apple is doing with the Creative whatever (TM) since I can't get just iWork) I get 5 cross platform full installs of Office, Microsoft To Do, and other things. I have my issues with MS, but at least I get office for my whole family, in-laws, and parents for $99 a year.

But, either way, the goal was never to be slightly better than crappy MS. This marks a dark path for Apple, and it isn't going to stop with this crappy subscription plan.

 

[richpjr]

For my $99 a year (less than whatever Apple is doing with the Creative whatever (TM) since I can't get just iWork) I get 5 cross platform full installs of Office, Microsoft To Do, and other things. I have my issues with MS, but at least I get office for my whole family, in-laws, and parents for $99 a year.

I agree and if you look around around Black Friday you can often get it for $79. Great price and the OneDrive storage is a big added bonus.

 

[Luftkopf]

I’m still surprised there are people who like MS Office! I know plenty of people who need it, many who think they need it, but none who actually like it!

Soon I’ll be in the category of people who need it, and I’m going to have to investigate this cheaper web/mobile subscription, if it’s cheap enough, I could get away with running my spreadsheets on an iPad, and avoid having to install it on my MacBook.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I’m still surprised there are people who like MS Office! I know plenty of people who need it, many who think they need it, but none who actually like it!

Soon I’ll be in the category of people who need it, and I’m going to have to investigate this cheaper web/mobile subscription, if it’s cheap enough, I could get away with running my spreadsheets on an iPad, and avoid having to install it on my MacBook.

Not my favorite software, but my business pays for it, so I might as well use it. I was fine importing/exporting with iWork before though.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I’m still surprised there are people who like MS Office! I know plenty of people who need it, many who think they need it, but none who actually like it!

Soon I’ll be in the category of people who need it, and I’m going to have to investigate this cheaper web/mobile subscription, if it’s cheap enough, I could get away with running my spreadsheets on an iPad, and avoid having to install it on my MacBook.

Hey, have you ever heard of the Apple Numbers World Championship? Didn't think so.

Microsoft Excel World Championship

European Open 2026 Amsterdam • May 22–23, 2026 In-Person Excel Esports Finals H20 Esports Campus • Live + Online Prize Fund • €12,500 Amsterdam • May 22–23, 2026 In-Person Excel Esports Finals H20 Esports Campus • Live + Online Prize Fund • €12,500 Get Hyped → Finals in Las Vegas, NOv 30 - Dec 2,...

excel-esports.com

Some people really love their Microsoft Office!

 

[Luftkopf]

Hey, have you ever heard of the Apple Numbers World Championship? Didn't think so.

Microsoft Excel World Championship

European Open 2026 Amsterdam • May 22–23, 2026 In-Person Excel Esports Finals H20 Esports Campus • Live + Online Prize Fund • €12,500 Amsterdam • May 22–23, 2026 In-Person Excel Esports Finals H20 Esports Campus • Live + Online Prize Fund • €12,500 Get Hyped → Finals in Las Vegas, NOv 30 - Dec 2,...

excel-esports.com

Some people really love their Microsoft Office!

I hadn't heard of Excel World Championship either. Great, they can have it! I'll continue to avoid it all as much as I can. There's no way I'm moving my own spreadsheets out of Numbers.

 

[sparksd]

I’m still surprised there are people who like MS Office! I know plenty of people who need it, many who think they need it, but none who actually like it!

Soon I’ll be in the category of people who need it, and I’m going to have to investigate this cheaper web/mobile subscription, if it’s cheap enough, I could get away with running my spreadsheets on an iPad, and avoid having to install it on my MacBook.

I needed it for work and I use it personally a lot - for around 35 years now - and I like it.

 

[Luftkopf]

I needed it for work and I use it personally a lot - for around 35 years now - and I like it.

I'm just saying I'm surprised. I haven't really used it since Office 98, and then only to check out the competition before heading back to WordPerfect. The vibes I'd picked up from those around me were that everyone uses it because everyone else uses it. It's crap, but it's the default.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I'm just saying I'm surprised. I haven't really used it since Office 98, and then only to check out the competition before heading back to WordPerfect. The vibes I'd picked up from those around me were that everyone uses it because everyone else uses it. It's crap, but it's the default.

Clearly no one around you has ever needed a pivot table! 😉

 

[sparksd]

I'm just saying I'm surprised. I haven't really used it since Office 98, and then only to check out the competition before heading back to WordPerfect. The vibes I'd picked up from those around me were that everyone uses it because everyone else uses it. It's crap, but it's the default.

I disagree on calling it crap.

 

[Luftkopf]

Clearly no one around you has ever needed a pivot table! 😉

I guess not. If I wanted to make one though, I'd just use Numbers, since they gained that feature 5 years ago apparently.

I disagree on calling it crap.

Sorry, poor communication on my part. I wasn't inferring an opinion, just describing the vibe I was picking up.

 

[Luftkopf]

I have no doubt that Excel is a very powerful spreadsheet. I have used it decades ago, don't have access to it, and don't want to pay for it since Numbers meets all my spreadsheet needs, and then some.

Now I need to use some building industry spreadsheets, so I need Excel. It seems to be AU$30/yr for the web/mobile version, so that seems to be the way to go. That still way too expensive for my tastes, because I'm old and hate software subscriptions, but by the time I need it I should be able to afford it.

 

[Kal Madda]

I’m still surprised there are people who like MS Office! I know plenty of people who need it, many who think they need it, but none who actually like it!

Soon I’ll be in the category of people who need it, and I’m going to have to investigate this cheaper web/mobile subscription, if it’s cheap enough, I could get away with running my spreadsheets on an iPad, and avoid having to install it on my MacBook.

Yeah, I completely agree. And I even grew up using BS Office for school and such. When I moved off Windows to the Mac, I ended up trying Apple’s iWork suite, and I never looked back. Not that Office doesn’t have its use cases, I’m sure that some genuinely prefer it, and that’s perfectly fine, not saying anything against that. But Pages just feels so much less distracting to me than Word. I really like Pages, and if given the choice between the two, I would choose the free version of Pages any day of the week. 🙂👍🏻

But you’re right, I’ve seen tons of people who would like to switch to an alternative Office software and move to iPad-only or iPad-primary use (because essentially every other office software suite on the iPad is more full featured than MS Office on the iPad), but can’t because their job requires MS Office. This is why I really think BS, I mean, MS, needs to up their game and actually provide basics in their Office apps for other platforms, even if only in the web version. MS Office essentially has a monopoly, and many customers have no choice but to use their software, which is why they should at least do better and not try to also lock users onto one particular platform. But their monopoly is also likely the reason they won’t change their anti-customer behavior, they sadly have no incentive to improve their product when people are effectively forced to use it no matter how crappy it is…

 

[Luftkopf]

Microsoft want to do the least possible effort to be on other platforms. They don’t want iPadOS versions to be competent, they want you to buy Windows, and pay extra for a Copilot subscription.