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All iPads iPadOS a genuine replacement for laptop/desktop?
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Depends on what you wish to use the iPad for Sophie.
Without doubt iPadOS brings the iPad a good step closer but it’s not MacOS, it won’t have a dedicated Finder App and it won’t be able to access everything inserted into the USB-C port.
Without doubt iPadOS brings the iPad a good step closer but it’s not MacOS, it won’t have a dedicated Finder App and it won’t be able to access everything inserted into the USB-C port.
There are lots of threads on this, but the short answer is that it depends on what you do with a "computer," i.e., the specific tasks you would be "replacing." For many, iPadOS will be acceptable (or even better if touch/stylus work is needed); for others it will be worse.
Some will say yes, some will say no. Others will call for Tim Cook’s resignation 
In my opinion there is no definitive answer. After all, what is a computer anyway? It really depends very much on what you’d normally use a computer for. It’s a question only the individual can answer.
In my opinion there is no definitive answer. After all, what is a computer anyway? It really depends very much on what you’d normally use a computer for. It’s a question only the individual can answer.
This pretty much sums it up, it depends on what you want to use the device for.
I would also add that it depends on your own personal preference.
For example, there might be something that can be done on an iPad, but you prefer to do it with a mouse. Which, I guess it is possible to use a mouse with an iPad, but there are still limitations.
Another example would be if you multitask, while it is possible to multitask with an iPad, I wouldn't even compare it to the level of multitasking with a Mac.
I think that almost every task would be easier on a Mac than an iPad, but if someone just does very basic tasks, the convenience and $$ factor could be a reason to stick with the iPad over the Mac.
To the OP, I think it would be helpful if you told us what you plan on doing with your device to give proper advice, but even with this information, it might just come down to your own personal preference.
I think the perfect compromise is a work laptop and a personal ipad pro. It solves all my problems.
This ^^^
I have an MBP/13, and have been using a SurfacePro 6 due to our company’s use of all MS stuff. I tend to use the MBP less/less, but still want the iMessage, and other Mac stuff during the day. The 11” iPad Pro is perfect for that...
There could be hundreds of different opinions based off of the scenario of the situation and personal preferences. Just like most things in life, there are trade offs, and there will usually not be one perfect solution for everyone's situation.
I like having a desktop, laptop, and iPad.
If I had to give up some of them, I would give up the iPad first, then laptop, then desktop last.
I love using a desktop so much more than any other device, but of course a downside is that a desktop is not portable.
Most might think that a laptop would be the ideal device with having many features of a desktop while being portable, but I dislike using a laptop over a desktop, and I tend to be more productive with a desktop set up.
A laptop being used as a desktop solves much of the issues above, but laptops tend to cost more than desktops when compare by specs, so there is that trade off. It is a nice balance, because I can still have multiple displays, with a mouse and external keyboard. (this is my work setup, and my work purchased the laptop, so in this case, it is ideal)
An iPad is just for portability, imo. It lacks many things that a desktop and laptop have, and could never be a replacement for those things for me.
I like having a desktop, laptop, and iPad.
If I had to give up some of them, I would give up the iPad first, then laptop, then desktop last.
I love using a desktop so much more than any other device, but of course a downside is that a desktop is not portable.
Most might think that a laptop would be the ideal device with having many features of a desktop while being portable, but I dislike using a laptop over a desktop, and I tend to be more productive with a desktop set up.
A laptop being used as a desktop solves much of the issues above, but laptops tend to cost more than desktops when compare by specs, so there is that trade off. It is a nice balance, because I can still have multiple displays, with a mouse and external keyboard. (this is my work setup, and my work purchased the laptop, so in this case, it is ideal)
An iPad is just for portability, imo. It lacks many things that a desktop and laptop have, and could never be a replacement for those things for me.
The word is alternative, not replacement. It can’t really replace a desktop/laptop since they can still do things an iPad can’t but for a lot of tasks, the iPad is just as capable and in some cases preferable which makes it a great alternative.
I know this is a weird theory, but hear me out...
If everyone was a blank slate with no PC/Mac/iPad experience whatsoever, I think most (not all) people would find that the iPad Pro with iPadOS and Pencil offers a great, user-friendly, versatile experience for productivity and consumption. After years of using iMacs and MacBook Pros, the iPad Pro is now my favorite device.
Trying to retrain years of using a MacOS or PC computer to using iOS/iPadOS is a bit of a learning curve and can be frustrating. At this point, I can preform everything I’d do with a Mac on my iPad Pro, but I had to learn how, which for some consumers can be deal breaker, understandably. On the plus side for me, my keyboard shortcut skills have come a long way since using an iPad Pro, which has also improved my workflow on my Macs.
That being said, if you’re working on spreadsheets OP, you’ll never enjoy that on an iPad - at least until a true mouse/trackpad option is available. It’s become a bit easier with iPadOS, but a Mac/Laptop/PC is still far more efficient IMO.
If everyone was a blank slate with no PC/Mac/iPad experience whatsoever, I think most (not all) people would find that the iPad Pro with iPadOS and Pencil offers a great, user-friendly, versatile experience for productivity and consumption. After years of using iMacs and MacBook Pros, the iPad Pro is now my favorite device.
Trying to retrain years of using a MacOS or PC computer to using iOS/iPadOS is a bit of a learning curve and can be frustrating. At this point, I can preform everything I’d do with a Mac on my iPad Pro, but I had to learn how, which for some consumers can be deal breaker, understandably. On the plus side for me, my keyboard shortcut skills have come a long way since using an iPad Pro, which has also improved my workflow on my Macs.
That being said, if you’re working on spreadsheets OP, you’ll never enjoy that on an iPad - at least until a true mouse/trackpad option is available. It’s become a bit easier with iPadOS, but a Mac/Laptop/PC is still far more efficient IMO.
Yes. Some people will always prefer having their data stored on their device as opposed to using external storage. And at this point, we don't know which apps will support external storage.
Cost shouldn't be a significant factor, since an entry iPad Pro with keyboard case and pencil is about the same price as a MacBook Air. Of course, there are sales from time to time on both devices, but in general, about the same price.
So, it boils down to use case. MacBook is a keyboard/trackpad input device. iPad is a touch first and pencil input device. Sure, you can connect a keyboard to an iPad, but if you primarily use a keyboard and mouse, then I think you should get the device with an OS optimized for that purpose....MacBook. If you only occasionally need a keyboard, then the iPad might be right for you.
For example, if you frequently write reports, create complex spreadsheets, and make slides for presentations, you probably would be better off with the MacBook Air. Also, if you write code and work with sizable data bases, a MacBook would be a better choice. On the other hand, if you read lots of ebooks/pdfs, take frequent handwritten notes, create drawings and sketches, then the iPad might be a better choice.
College students face an interesting trade-off, since they do all of the above. I have three kids in college, two just finished and one is a freshman. Overwhelmingly, they prefer MacBooks and hardcopy notebooks/textbooks rather than an iPad. I think this is because when it comes time to writing lengthy reports and performing the requisite analysis, it is just easier to work with floating windows in MacOS to rapidly move about with keyboard and mouse to write and reference various sources and materials. Of course, it might just be that they grew up with laptops, so they want to stick with what is comfortable.
Edit: I should point out that while my son prefers using a MacBook in college, his roommate uses a PC desktop plus a Chromebook for mobile purposes. I assume he could replace the Chromebook with an iPad and be just fine. Anyway, there are lots of ways to make technology work for you.
So, it boils down to use case. MacBook is a keyboard/trackpad input device. iPad is a touch first and pencil input device. Sure, you can connect a keyboard to an iPad, but if you primarily use a keyboard and mouse, then I think you should get the device with an OS optimized for that purpose....MacBook. If you only occasionally need a keyboard, then the iPad might be right for you.
For example, if you frequently write reports, create complex spreadsheets, and make slides for presentations, you probably would be better off with the MacBook Air. Also, if you write code and work with sizable data bases, a MacBook would be a better choice. On the other hand, if you read lots of ebooks/pdfs, take frequent handwritten notes, create drawings and sketches, then the iPad might be a better choice.
College students face an interesting trade-off, since they do all of the above. I have three kids in college, two just finished and one is a freshman. Overwhelmingly, they prefer MacBooks and hardcopy notebooks/textbooks rather than an iPad. I think this is because when it comes time to writing lengthy reports and performing the requisite analysis, it is just easier to work with floating windows in MacOS to rapidly move about with keyboard and mouse to write and reference various sources and materials. Of course, it might just be that they grew up with laptops, so they want to stick with what is comfortable.
Edit: I should point out that while my son prefers using a MacBook in college, his roommate uses a PC desktop plus a Chromebook for mobile purposes. I assume he could replace the Chromebook with an iPad and be just fine. Anyway, there are lots of ways to make technology work for you.
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There's a lot of validity to this. Definitely more accustomed to using a PC for certain tasks.
That being said, I also think there are some things that just take so many more extra steps on an iPad that it's just much easier done on a PC, regardless of whether you grew up using a PC or an iPad. There's also the problem of lots of necessary software just not being available for the iPad or not being full featured enough on the iPad.
So it's a combination of many things. I've tried using the iPad as my one and only device but there are just too many compromises and "what if" situations that it's not worth the trouble. Apple makes a great laptop and it works fine.
I just purchased an 11 inch iPad Pro for like $200 off (256 GB model). I have a 13" Macbook Pro (with an eGPU) and an iMac Pro 10 core with a Vega 64, etc. I primarily video edit, so for big jobs I use the high powered iMac Pro. When I need a second/portable machine, I use the MacBook Pro.
It's those weird middle cases where the iPad Pro can really work well. Like showing off a portfolio, or writing a script, or especially editing photos. When I want to be out and about and not lug 3 lbs around + accessories, but only 1.5 lbs. Which actually matters. It's nice to have an extremely powerful unit geared to drawing/editing/brainstorming/consumption, and not be carrying so much weight.
Also while I have an XS Max it's still not ideal for extended reading, where the iPad shines. I have an Apple TV. But sometimes I like to just watch something on the TV and monitor something else, so the iPad gets use. And of course with iOS 13/Catalina, I can use it as a 2nd screen to either the macbook or the iMac Pro.
I think iOS 13 fills in tons of gaps towards making it a light powerful and useful machine. Full desktop class Safari, actual multiwindow multitasking, a real files/finder app where you can use external drives, and the ability to use a mouse are all huge wins.
But when I want to perform detailed video edits in FCPX or whatever, or have to type a lot, or need to work on detailed spreasheets, the MBP/iMac will always win.
It's those weird middle cases where the iPad Pro can really work well. Like showing off a portfolio, or writing a script, or especially editing photos. When I want to be out and about and not lug 3 lbs around + accessories, but only 1.5 lbs. Which actually matters. It's nice to have an extremely powerful unit geared to drawing/editing/brainstorming/consumption, and not be carrying so much weight.
Also while I have an XS Max it's still not ideal for extended reading, where the iPad shines. I have an Apple TV. But sometimes I like to just watch something on the TV and monitor something else, so the iPad gets use. And of course with iOS 13/Catalina, I can use it as a 2nd screen to either the macbook or the iMac Pro.
I think iOS 13 fills in tons of gaps towards making it a light powerful and useful machine. Full desktop class Safari, actual multiwindow multitasking, a real files/finder app where you can use external drives, and the ability to use a mouse are all huge wins.
But when I want to perform detailed video edits in FCPX or whatever, or have to type a lot, or need to work on detailed spreasheets, the MBP/iMac will always win.
It depends,heres why
While built on the same foundation as iOS, iPad has become a truly distinct experience. With powerful apps designed for a large Multi‑Touch display. Multitasking made simple with intuitive gestures. And the ability to drag and drop a file with a fingertip. It’s always been magical. And now it’s called iPadOS
Slide Over and Split View have made working with multiple apps on iPad effortless. Now they can take your workflows to another level by letting you work exactly how you want in even more intuitive ways.
App Exposé, available when holding down an app's icon, lets you view all of the open windows from a particular app, and there's an option to swap between them with a tap, making it much easier to switch between your open windows on iPad.
A new Column View in the Files app when the iPad is in landscape mode lets you see high-resolution previews of your files, and support for Quick Actions lets you do things like mark up and rotate images and create PDFs. iPadOS also brings support for local storage, zip and unzip, and 30 new keyboard shortcuts.
When you use Safari on the iPad, you're always going to get the desktop version of a website instead of the mobile version. Websites are scaled appropriately for the iPad's display and optimized for touch, so you can use your favorite web apps like WordPress, Squarespace, Google Docs, and Slack.
For the first time, Safari has a download manager, which is a game changer when it comes to managing files that you've downloaded on an iPad from the web, plus Apple has made improvements to tab management.
As with the iPhone, editing text on iPad is better than ever thanks to a new swipe gesture that lets you select text and new gestures for cut, copy, paste, and undo. A floating keyboard that supports the new QuickPath swipe feature allows you to type one handed, and there's support for installing fonts across the system.
By splitting up iOS 13 and iPadOS, Apple is free to make changes designed just for the larger display of the iPad. One of these changes includes an iPad-specific Home screen redesign, created specifically for bigger displays.
Icons on the iPad's Home screen now take up less space so you can fit more of them on each page of the Home screen, and there's a handy new widget feature.
You can move the Today View widgets right onto the Home screen so you can see your most important information right on the display. All of your standard widgets appear, but only in landscape mode.
In portrait mode, your widgets are where they always are -- accessible with a swipe to the right on the Home screen. Customize your widgets by accessing them on the Home screen and tapping the "Edit" button at the bottom. Favorited widgets are the ones that show up on the Home screen, but you can swipe to see all of your other widgets.
When using the Slide Over interface, there's an option to view and switch between multiple apps more quickly, which lets you open up several apps and then flip between them as needed, similar to having several open windows on a Mac.
Using Slide Over this way makes it easy to do something like access Messages or Calendar quickly while working on a document or browsing the web with the Split View interface.
You can keep all of the apps you need to access occasionally stored in Slide Over, swapping between them with just a few taps. Swipe up to see all of your apps in Slide Over, and make a Slide Over app full screen by dragging it upwards.
You can close Slide Over app windows by accessing the App Switcher and then flicking upwards on a window in Slide Over.
While built on the same foundation as iOS, iPad has become a truly distinct experience. With powerful apps designed for a large Multi‑Touch display. Multitasking made simple with intuitive gestures. And the ability to drag and drop a file with a fingertip. It’s always been magical. And now it’s called iPadOS
Slide Over and Split View have made working with multiple apps on iPad effortless. Now they can take your workflows to another level by letting you work exactly how you want in even more intuitive ways.
App Exposé, available when holding down an app's icon, lets you view all of the open windows from a particular app, and there's an option to swap between them with a tap, making it much easier to switch between your open windows on iPad.
A new Column View in the Files app when the iPad is in landscape mode lets you see high-resolution previews of your files, and support for Quick Actions lets you do things like mark up and rotate images and create PDFs. iPadOS also brings support for local storage, zip and unzip, and 30 new keyboard shortcuts.
When you use Safari on the iPad, you're always going to get the desktop version of a website instead of the mobile version. Websites are scaled appropriately for the iPad's display and optimized for touch, so you can use your favorite web apps like WordPress, Squarespace, Google Docs, and Slack.
For the first time, Safari has a download manager, which is a game changer when it comes to managing files that you've downloaded on an iPad from the web, plus Apple has made improvements to tab management.
As with the iPhone, editing text on iPad is better than ever thanks to a new swipe gesture that lets you select text and new gestures for cut, copy, paste, and undo. A floating keyboard that supports the new QuickPath swipe feature allows you to type one handed, and there's support for installing fonts across the system.
By splitting up iOS 13 and iPadOS, Apple is free to make changes designed just for the larger display of the iPad. One of these changes includes an iPad-specific Home screen redesign, created specifically for bigger displays.
Icons on the iPad's Home screen now take up less space so you can fit more of them on each page of the Home screen, and there's a handy new widget feature.
You can move the Today View widgets right onto the Home screen so you can see your most important information right on the display. All of your standard widgets appear, but only in landscape mode.
In portrait mode, your widgets are where they always are -- accessible with a swipe to the right on the Home screen. Customize your widgets by accessing them on the Home screen and tapping the "Edit" button at the bottom. Favorited widgets are the ones that show up on the Home screen, but you can swipe to see all of your other widgets.
When using the Slide Over interface, there's an option to view and switch between multiple apps more quickly, which lets you open up several apps and then flip between them as needed, similar to having several open windows on a Mac.
With iPadOS, the Apple Pencil is more deeply integrated into the iPad, mainly through new Markup tools available throughout the operating system.
Entire webpages, documents, or emails can be edited and annotated using the Markup feature by swiping the Apple Pencil from the corner of the screen. Dragging the Apple Pencil from the bottom corner of the iPad also lets you take a screenshot.
Markup has a new tool palette with quicker access to the tools that you use most along with color palettes, shapes, an object eraser, and a new pixel eraser that removes any part of a stroke. There's also a new ruler tool designed to help you draw straight lines.
The tool palette can be dragged anywhere on the screen so you can customize how you work, and Apple is making the API available to developers so the same familiar toolbar is available across apps.
Thanks to optimization improvements, the Apple Pencil's latency is as low as 9 milliseconds now, down from 20 milliseconds.
With macOS Catalina, your iPad can be used as a secondary display for your Mac, either by extending your Mac's display or mirroring it. With this feature, you can use apps like Photoshop or Illustrator right on your iPad, and they even work with Apple Pencil.
iPadOS introduces mouse support for the first time, allowing a USB mouse to be connected to an iPad. Mouse support is not a standard feature, but is instead available as an AssistiveTouch option within the Accessibility settings on your iOS device.
While built on the same foundation as iOS, iPad has become a truly distinct experience. With powerful apps designed for a large Multi‑Touch display. Multitasking made simple with intuitive gestures. And the ability to drag and drop a file with a fingertip. It’s always been magical. And now it’s called iPadOS
Slide Over and Split View have made working with multiple apps on iPad effortless. Now they can take your workflows to another level by letting you work exactly how you want in even more intuitive ways.
App Exposé, available when holding down an app's icon, lets you view all of the open windows from a particular app, and there's an option to swap between them with a tap, making it much easier to switch between your open windows on iPad.
A new Column View in the Files app when the iPad is in landscape mode lets you see high-resolution previews of your files, and support for Quick Actions lets you do things like mark up and rotate images and create PDFs. iPadOS also brings support for local storage, zip and unzip, and 30 new keyboard shortcuts.
When you use Safari on the iPad, you're always going to get the desktop version of a website instead of the mobile version. Websites are scaled appropriately for the iPad's display and optimized for touch, so you can use your favorite web apps like WordPress, Squarespace, Google Docs, and Slack.
For the first time, Safari has a download manager, which is a game changer when it comes to managing files that you've downloaded on an iPad from the web, plus Apple has made improvements to tab management.
As with the iPhone, editing text on iPad is better than ever thanks to a new swipe gesture that lets you select text and new gestures for cut, copy, paste, and undo. A floating keyboard that supports the new QuickPath swipe feature allows you to type one handed, and there's support for installing fonts across the system.
By splitting up iOS 13 and iPadOS, Apple is free to make changes designed just for the larger display of the iPad. One of these changes includes an iPad-specific Home screen redesign, created specifically for bigger displays.
Icons on the iPad's Home screen now take up less space so you can fit more of them on each page of the Home screen, and there's a handy new widget feature.
You can move the Today View widgets right onto the Home screen so you can see your most important information right on the display. All of your standard widgets appear, but only in landscape mode.
In portrait mode, your widgets are where they always are -- accessible with a swipe to the right on the Home screen. Customize your widgets by accessing them on the Home screen and tapping the "Edit" button at the bottom. Favorited widgets are the ones that show up on the Home screen, but you can swipe to see all of your other widgets.
When using the Slide Over interface, there's an option to view and switch between multiple apps more quickly, which lets you open up several apps and then flip between them as needed, similar to having several open windows on a Mac.
Using Slide Over this way makes it easy to do something like access Messages or Calendar quickly while working on a document or browsing the web with the Split View interface.
You can keep all of the apps you need to access occasionally stored in Slide Over, swapping between them with just a few taps. Swipe up to see all of your apps in Slide Over, and make a Slide Over app full screen by dragging it upwards.
You can close Slide Over app windows by accessing the App Switcher and then flicking upwards on a window in Slide Over.
While built on the same foundation as iOS, iPad has become a truly distinct experience. With powerful apps designed for a large Multi‑Touch display. Multitasking made simple with intuitive gestures. And the ability to drag and drop a file with a fingertip. It’s always been magical. And now it’s called iPadOS
Slide Over and Split View have made working with multiple apps on iPad effortless. Now they can take your workflows to another level by letting you work exactly how you want in even more intuitive ways.
App Exposé, available when holding down an app's icon, lets you view all of the open windows from a particular app, and there's an option to swap between them with a tap, making it much easier to switch between your open windows on iPad.
A new Column View in the Files app when the iPad is in landscape mode lets you see high-resolution previews of your files, and support for Quick Actions lets you do things like mark up and rotate images and create PDFs. iPadOS also brings support for local storage, zip and unzip, and 30 new keyboard shortcuts.
When you use Safari on the iPad, you're always going to get the desktop version of a website instead of the mobile version. Websites are scaled appropriately for the iPad's display and optimized for touch, so you can use your favorite web apps like WordPress, Squarespace, Google Docs, and Slack.
For the first time, Safari has a download manager, which is a game changer when it comes to managing files that you've downloaded on an iPad from the web, plus Apple has made improvements to tab management.
As with the iPhone, editing text on iPad is better than ever thanks to a new swipe gesture that lets you select text and new gestures for cut, copy, paste, and undo. A floating keyboard that supports the new QuickPath swipe feature allows you to type one handed, and there's support for installing fonts across the system.
By splitting up iOS 13 and iPadOS, Apple is free to make changes designed just for the larger display of the iPad. One of these changes includes an iPad-specific Home screen redesign, created specifically for bigger displays.
Icons on the iPad's Home screen now take up less space so you can fit more of them on each page of the Home screen, and there's a handy new widget feature.
You can move the Today View widgets right onto the Home screen so you can see your most important information right on the display. All of your standard widgets appear, but only in landscape mode.
In portrait mode, your widgets are where they always are -- accessible with a swipe to the right on the Home screen. Customize your widgets by accessing them on the Home screen and tapping the "Edit" button at the bottom. Favorited widgets are the ones that show up on the Home screen, but you can swipe to see all of your other widgets.
When using the Slide Over interface, there's an option to view and switch between multiple apps more quickly, which lets you open up several apps and then flip between them as needed, similar to having several open windows on a Mac.
With iPadOS, the Apple Pencil is more deeply integrated into the iPad, mainly through new Markup tools available throughout the operating system.
Entire webpages, documents, or emails can be edited and annotated using the Markup feature by swiping the Apple Pencil from the corner of the screen. Dragging the Apple Pencil from the bottom corner of the iPad also lets you take a screenshot.
Markup has a new tool palette with quicker access to the tools that you use most along with color palettes, shapes, an object eraser, and a new pixel eraser that removes any part of a stroke. There's also a new ruler tool designed to help you draw straight lines.
The tool palette can be dragged anywhere on the screen so you can customize how you work, and Apple is making the API available to developers so the same familiar toolbar is available across apps.
Thanks to optimization improvements, the Apple Pencil's latency is as low as 9 milliseconds now, down from 20 milliseconds.
With macOS Catalina, your iPad can be used as a secondary display for your Mac, either by extending your Mac's display or mirroring it. With this feature, you can use apps like Photoshop or Illustrator right on your iPad, and they even work with Apple Pencil.
iPadOS introduces mouse support for the first time, allowing a USB mouse to be connected to an iPad. Mouse support is not a standard feature, but is instead available as an AssistiveTouch option within the Accessibility settings on your iOS device.