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C. Robert

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 1, 2013
1,346
898
Baltimore
Going from my iPad to a new MacBook showed me some thing about laptops. They are extremely boring to use and they feel antiquated. I know some people need them for certain tasks. I don’t have any of these tasks. If I need to use a computer I can do it at work or my desktop. The cost of them and how limited they are makes them boring. A iPad is a giant phone, gaming machine, content consumption beast, the best note taking device, amazing cameras for calls or if you need to take a pic, office suit that for me is easier to use. I just had to say how boring using a Mac again was. It’s pretty much a one trick Pony.
 
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glenthompson

macrumors demi-god
Apr 27, 2011
2,983
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Virginia
I understand your position. Used my iMac for an hour or so today doing stuff that was very hard on the iPad. Just about everything else I do is on the iPad. Usually run 10+ hours screen time on it. If I had screen time on the iMac it would be less than 5 hours a week, if that. Makes it easy to hold onto a 9 year old machine instead of upgrading.
Some things may change when we get back to whatever the new normal will be. To date I prefer editing photos on the iMac but haven’t done much lately since I’m stuck at home as a high risk individual (65+). Some of the editing programs on the iPad are good but hard to beat the large screen.
 

C. Robert

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 1, 2013
1,346
898
Baltimore
I understand your position. Used my iMac for an hour or so today doing stuff that was very hard on the iPad. Just about everything else I do is on the iPad. Usually run 10+ hours screen time on it. If I had screen time on the iMac it would be less than 5 hours a week, if that. Makes it easy to hold onto a 9 year old machine instead of upgrading.
Some things may change when we get back to whatever the new normal will be. To date I prefer editing photos on the iMac but haven’t done much lately since I’m stuck at home as a high risk individual (65+). Some of the editing programs on the iPad are good but hard to beat the large screen.
My iMac is 9 years old and is fine for what I need it for.
 

Hawaiian Starman

macrumors regular
Oct 27, 2001
125
83
Somerset West, South Africa
For photography and graphics, I find either the MBP or my iMac invaluable for working with RAW images or image development . Doing same on an iPad is just plain slow and cumbersome. Same with audio file work.

As far as document prep, unless you’re using a keyboard (I use a Logitech slim folio), typing on an iPad is at best awkward.

I do like the iPad for movie/video watching (especially when flying) although Apple TV app is just plain awful, annotating PDF files via Apple Pen, showing images, listening to music, web surfing, games and email/SMS correspondence. I’m glad to have options as each device serves a useful purpose. My iMac is 3 years old, MBP 5 years (purchased refurbished model last year) and iPad a year old.
 

TofSanity

Cancelled
Oct 29, 2010
1,498
2,935
Going from my iPad to a new MacBook showed me some thing about laptops. They are extremely boring to use and they feel antiquated. I know some people need them for certain tasks. I don’t have any of these tasks. If I need to use a computer I can do it at work or my desktop. The cost of them and how limited they are makes them boring. A iPad is a giant phone, gaming machine, content consumption beast, the best note taking device, amazing cameras for calls or if you need to take a pic, office suit that for me is easier to use. I just had to say how boring using a Mac again was. It’s pretty much a one trick Pony.

I almost bought a MacBook Pro this week but decided to try the Magic Keyboard case on my 12.9” iPad Pro. I became frustrated with the previous MacBook Pros so I was waiting until the new ones came out In the meantime I have been using my iPad Pro. I agree that the MacBook Pro at least for me is in the past with me. That new Magic Keyboard is great!!
 
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C. Robert

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 1, 2013
1,346
898
Baltimore
I almost bought a MacBook Pro this week but decided to try the Magic Keyboard case on my 12.9” iPad Pro. I became frustrated with the previous MacBook Pros so I was waiting until the new ones came out In the meantime I have been using my iPad Pro. I agree that the MacBook Pro at least for me is in the past with me. That new Magic Keyboard is great!!
My son wants a MacBook Pro and im having trouble talking him out of it.
 
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TofSanity

Cancelled
Oct 29, 2010
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To each their own, right? lol
Seriously it’s really what one does with a device. I find myself more and more either using iPhone or the iPad. 27” iMac was sold. 15” MacBook Pro sold. I found them just sitting on used. The only thing I miss is the ability to manipulate my iTunes/Apple music library.
 

Deliro

macrumors 65816
Sep 20, 2011
1,142
1,337
To each their own indeed. The iPad is a great device however things I can do on the iPad I can usually do in a fraction of time on a laptop. Alot of apps on the iPad are also watered down. It really all depends on your use cases. I enjoy using my iPad but for now it’s not a laptop replacement by a large margin for what I need to do.
 

C. Robert

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 1, 2013
1,346
898
Baltimore
To each their own indeed. The iPad is a great device however things I can do on the iPad I can usually do in a fraction of time on a laptop. Alot of apps on the iPad are also watered down. It really all depends on your use cases. I enjoy using my iPad but for now it’s not a laptop replacement by a large margin for what I need to do.
What do you Do that cant be done on a ipad?
There are far more things a Mac cant do that my ipad can. Touch screen, better front and a rear camera, better screen, can run all programs and apps made for Ipad os, use of Apple Pencil, use of different keyboards, use one handed, best software and game library, travels better, doesn’t get hot on the lap, and has pretty much 95% of the apps/software that macs have.
 
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glenthompson

macrumors demi-god
Apr 27, 2011
2,983
844
Virginia
Software development, particularly when a multi-monitor setup is needed. Photo & video editing is much easier on a Mac. Yes, a lot can be done on the iPad but for many people it doesn’t eliminate the need for a Mac.
 
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Deliro

macrumors 65816
Sep 20, 2011
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What do you Do that cant be done on a ipad?
There are far more things a Mac cant do that my ipad can. Touch screen, better front and a rear camera, better screen, can run all programs and apps made for Ipad os, use of Apple Pencil, use of different keyboards, use one handed, best software and game library, travels better, doesn’t get hot on the lap, and has pretty much 95% of the apps/software that macs have.

I'll stick to my use cases, I'm sure some others can be made..
  • I code, you can't do that on an iPad
  • Hooking up to a full sized monitor. I have a multi monitor array that works with my Mac and PC, not so much with the iPad
  • Apps are getting better for the iPad, but the iPad's bottleneck is it's software. Most tend to be watered down versions of a personal computer version. Also, try using plugins with an iPad.
  • Video editing, can be done on an iPad, but much easier on a Mac, in my experience.
  • Complex spreadsheets with formulas. Complex slideshows.
  • More work to have apps interact and exchange data between. Floating windows of a Windows 10 or MacOS system makes this much simpler to accomplish. Some PadOS apps don't support split view.
  • Expandablity. There are a slew of perpherials I use, that aren't yet compatible with an iPad.
As far as your points
  • The portability is roughly the same when you throw in a keyboard/track pad combo. The magic keyboard + 12.9 pro weighs roughly the same as a MacBook. Heat is a non factor for me, both get warm when doing intensive tasks.
  • Multiple keyboards. I dock my MacBook and use another keyboard and mouse.
  • I bought an Apple Pencil, rarely use it though. It's a cool feature, yes.
  • IPad's screen is amazing. Cameras are better, but not a huge deal for me unless I'm doing a video call, which the camera on the MacBook is good enough for that. I don't take snaps using an iPad.
I enjoy my iPad and it's my go to device for content consumption, for the most part. But for my type of work and use cases it doesn't quite fit in as efficient as a MacBook. Not knocking your workflow at all and if you enjoy using an iPad over a laptop, awesome. Cheers.
 
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