iPad to Replace Macbook?

[ZBoater]

The size of the iPad is IRRELEVANT to whether it can replace your MacBook.

Do you use your MacBook for something the iPad can't do?

Then you can't replace it with an iPad. 9.7, 12.9, or 17.7.

You can? Then even Mini will do. It's just a matter of how much you want to carry and how much you want to spend.

 

[Night Spring]

Then even Mini will do.

By that logic, even the iPhone will do.

Sure, I can edit Page documents on the Mini, or even the iPhone. But it's a very cramped, unpleasant experience. I did write/edit in Pages in the 9.7 iPads, but it's a LOT better on 12.9.

 

[Daws001]

As a student, writing would be the main thing I would use the iPP for. That and reading or researching. But you say that it handles large loads of writing just fine? Do you use a particular app to write on? Most of my papers don't exceed 5-6 pages, with only a few exceptions. Even on my MB I usually use Google Docs. What would you suggest for the iPad?

I just finished my undergrad this month and I used Word for my English papers. I got Office 365 for free from my school so you may be able to also: Link. Google Docs is good too. I used it for a class last year to collab on a group project. I haven't used Pages in a long time since switching to Word but it's solid. Outside of school, I use Storyist for my fiction writing.

On the reading note, I bought all my school books through Kindle only to find out that Kindle doesn't support split screen yet. That was a bit of a headache when doing lit papers. One of the best things about the 12.9" screen is that split screen is pretty great. I was able to pull up my Kindle notes and highlights in Safari but it wasn't ideal. iBooks would be a better solution right now if you're buying etextbooks as it does support split screen so you can have your book open + writing program (Word supports split screen but I'm not sure about Google Docs).

 

[ghsDUDE]

Has anyone thought about or even tried replacing their Macbook with an iPad?

Right now I'm a student and don't use my computer for much more than writing papers and reading stuff for class, occasionally taking notes, although I usually do that on paper. So since the recent major upgrades to iPads, and especially with the Pro now available in a 9.7 inch I'm interested in trading in my old iPad and older Macbook and going to just an iPad.

I'm a little nervous about not having a computer. In the past I never could have imagined not having a computer, but most of the stuff I do now is stored in the cloud or downloaded digitally. I obviously don't use my computer for high performance tasks so that's not a concern I have either.

So I was curious if anyone with an iPad Pro could testify to the validity of this option. If anyone has actually done this I'd be incredibly intrigued at your experience.

I just made the change and I'm satisfied. Screen is larger and the keyboard is great!

 

[Closingracer]

Has anyone thought about or even tried replacing their Macbook with an iPad?

Right now I'm a student and don't use my computer for much more than writing papers and reading stuff for class, occasionally taking notes, although I usually do that on paper. So since the recent major upgrades to iPads, and especially with the Pro now available in a 9.7 inch I'm interested in trading in my old iPad and older Macbook and going to just an iPad.

I'm a little nervous about not having a computer. In the past I never could have imagined not having a computer, but most of the stuff I do now is stored in the cloud or downloaded digitally. I obviously don't use my computer for high performance tasks so that's not a concern I have either.

So I was curious if anyone with an iPad Pro could testify to the validity of this option. If anyone has actually done this I'd be incredibly intrigued at your experience.

Honestly I went the opposite way. I had an iPad Air 2 with LTE and 128GB of Storage. I tried to use it this past Fall semester in college for me but I felt I didn't like to use it for note taking or using it in school and ended up doing notes the old fashion way. For me I don't have the best hand writing so a computer is better. I needed up using my iPad for only reading one textbook the whole semester. Decided to buy a Macbook pro 13 inch and couldn't be happier with it and using it to write all my notes and etc. Now I do all my papers on this vs my 17 inch windows laptop.
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Pages. Included for free.

Pages is inferior to Word on any Apple Device IMO. I use Pages on my phone or Macbook in a pinch but thats about it.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I've taken my iPad w/ me on short business trips instead of my MBP and for trivial writing the iPad is fine. I wouldn't want to write and edit a 20+ research paper on it though. I know Apple is pushing the iPad as a computer replacement but IMHO its still more of a computer companion if you do more than web, email, and short writing. That's why I think the Pro prices are out of line.

Shorter: if I had to chose between either an iPad or a MacBook (Air) I'm taking the MacBook every time.

Logically I can't go past the iPad Pro prices. To get a decent storage capacity 128GB plus in either 9.7 or 12.9 inches along with the pencil and keyboard you are looking at in excess of £800. For that price you can buy a MacBook Air. I already have a MacBook Air and admittedly an iPad Air 2 and mini 3, but for that price it doesn't make sense to buy an iPad Pro when it's around the same price or even higher than a MBA which does a lot more. I think if I were an artist, into graphics then the pencil support would probably make the pro the better buy. As I'm not it doesn't make sense logically.

 

[pika2000]

Unfortunately, imo for a student, if you have to invest on just one device, a laptop is still the recommended choice. (and alas Windows is still the recommended OS)

Some issues I can see in a typical college/university student life:
1. Note taking. This is sort of taken care off with the Pencil support. So the Apple Pencil, with great note taking app such as OneNote, Evernote, etc,allows the iPad Pro to bypass this hurdle
2. Group work. Despite the availability of dropbox, Google drive, etc, I find that many people are still more comfortable emailing each other a project, or using a thumb drive. Many people don't even use dropbox/google drive correctly. Some are getting comfortable with Google Docs, etc, but there will always be one or more group mates that just refuse to adapt, and everybody ended up using the common denominator, flash drive.
3. Program compatibility. Many greedy publishers are too lazy to support anything other than Windows, so many times they only make their "required" apps useable on Windows. Some sites are also still reliant on flash and/or mouse/keyboard interface, and not touch optimized.