Is iPad Pro a Laptop replacement?

[Night Spring]

An iPad Pro + Bluetooth Keyboard weights more than the Macbook 12". It is even more clunky.

With Apple's new Bluetooth keyboard, it doesn't feel clunky at all. I haven't checked the exact weight of the Bluetooth keyboard vs the retina MacBook, but carrying the iPad Pro plus the keyboard isn't a problem at all for me. The combination feels really light and easy to carry. I've been moving from room to room all week, toting my iPP and the keyboard. I also find that being able to position the keyboard and screen separately is great. I can put the iPad at a comfortable height for me to see the screen and type with the keyboard on my lap. To me, this feels more comfortable than typing on a MacBook, or any of the various keyboard covers for iPads, Surfaces and similar devices. I understand that other people might need a mouse/trackpad to do their work efficiently, but for my job, I don't need a mouse, so the iPP is a great productivity tool FOR ME. As I've said a few times already, I still need my desktop, but I don't foresee myself buying another laptop.

 

[tdale]

I agree. He still shouldn't have said that but it's too late now. But, it would be tough to justify a high cost laptop or desktop at this point in the game. Maybe cheaper laptops and PCs make sense just to "have one around the house in case" type of thing. So, the new Arsenal for the homeowner or small business might be to have tablets for the daily grind stuff but have the trusty clunker in the den or back room for some heavy lifting when needed?

I'd agree with that. What he said, while its generated a lot of these types of threads, where everyone says the same thing, its marketing puffery. Which is common.

 

[Max(IT)]

this kind of threads always puzzled me.
There is no answer, because every one has different needs, and so what fits for me couldn't fit for another user.

 

[tdale]

No. You can't even download your own applications onto it.
For example: No possibility to download torrent client to share content.

Then again: If you need to create content, you will be very frustrated with the iPad Pro because it has no keyboard.

For Example: I can write and design a Pages document 3-4 times faster than on an iPad because I have a precise trackpad and a precise keyboard on my Macbook.

1. True, but you can workaround that, there is an 8 step process, using an Appstore file app, and a website, zbigz.com or something like that. Too clumsy to be bothered, but it is possible.

2. If the iPad was as feature capable as a laptop, I'd always go to my 15 rMBP and mouse, always. Thats me. But if I was on the go, on holiday, on a plane, a full feature iOS iPad with a BT mouse would be very useable, and BT or case keyboard as well if preferred. You could argue that with those accessories, that you may as well take a macbook. True. But it does leave the iPad as a very useful device, and its not a hybrid.

 

[sdz]

1. True, but you can workaround that, there is an 8 step process, using an Appstore file app, and a website, zbigz.com or something like that. Too clumsy to be bothered, but it is possible.

2. If the iPad was as feature capable as a laptop, I'd always go to my 15 rMBP and mouse, always. Thats me. But if I was on the go, on holiday, on a plane, a full feature iOS iPad with a BT mouse would be very useable, and BT or case keyboard as well if preferred. You could argue that with those accessories, that you may as well take a macbook. True. But it does leave the iPad as a very useful device, and its not a hybrid.

I love the iPad concept when traveling. In a plane, train, bus etc. Its practical. You basically don't need a table where you place the tablet. You can hold it your hands and do light work.

 

[tdale]

I believe the iPad is capable of running torrent apps, but Apple doesn't allow it to discourage piracy, and also because it would be a battery hog.

I just wrote a letter in Pages on the iPP that was urgently needed for my work. I paired an Apple Bluetooth keyboard to the iPP, and working on the document was almost exactly the same as working on it on my MBA. The only thing I missed was I was unable to use the desktop site of Google Translate, but that is more Google's fault than Apple's.

I don't do page layout, so I've never used a mouse with any word processing program. So I don't know how much not having a trackpad slows you down on the iPP. But for my work, iPP+keyboard is as fast as working on my MBA.

Maybe. Not everything is pirated, but a "lot" is. iTunes competitor? Yep, maybe. Ironically, we just do it on our Apple laptop instead! Apple doesnt allow me to play or get non supported video in its default apps. But they allow me to use filesharing in iTunes to support transfer of non supported video, pirated video, any video, so IMHO, it makes more sense to allow users freedom and ease and enjoyment of use, rather than shackle some of us, some of the time

 

[tdale]

I'm a video editor. Therefore the iPad Pro is not a suitable option for me, because it has iMovie but nothing professional for video editing.

There isn't a pro type of app? Final Cut Pro X or is that gone burger? No others? Odd as I thought TC marketed/aimes this as photo/video creatives

 

[sdz]

Maybe. Not everything is pirated, but a "lot" is. iTunes competitor? Yep, maybe. Ironically, we just do it on our Apple laptop instead! Apple doesnt allow me to play or get non supported video in its default apps. But they allow me to use filesharing in iTunes to support transfer of non supported video, pirated video, any video, so IMHO, it makes more sense to allow users freedom and ease and enjoyment of use, rather than shackle some of us, some of the time

Even IF I pirate content. What does Apple care about? It's my device, my internet connection and my responsibility.

 

[tdale]

this kind of threads always puzzled me.
There is no answer, because every one has different needs, and so what fits for me couldn't fit for another user.

Exactly, and I'd say everyone in this thread agrees. The differentiator now, is Tim Cooks use of marketing replacement "Why buy a PC". I have my own view of what replacing means, others see it as adding. Either way, you are right, the vast majority of us will use the iPad and a PC device. A small minority can in fact replace, and ditch/give/sell the PC device.

 

[tdale]

Even IF I pirate content. What does Apple care about? It's my device, my internet connection and my responsibility.

Yep, and Apple supports you copying pirated content onto the iPad, in that they provide a function to copy any video in iTunes by way of filesharing, and they allow apps that play non supported formats. With that in mind, there is no gain or benefit to block torrent apps.

 

[Appl3FTW]

Lulz no.

 

[KPOM]

I just wrote a letter in Pages on the iPP that was urgently needed for my work. I paired an Apple Bluetooth keyboard to the iPP, and working on the document was almost exactly the same as working on it on my MBA. The only thing I missed was I was unable to use the desktop site of Google Translate, but that is more Google's fault than Apple's.

Did you try requesting the desktop site using the feature in Safari that lets you do that? It doesn't always work, but it works most of the time.

 

[Night Spring]

Did you try requesting the desktop site using the feature in Safari that lets you do that? It doesn't always work, but it works most of the time.

Yup, I tried that. It keeps momentarily showing the desktop site before reverting to the mobile site.

 

[ackmondual]

It seems like there's an '*' on what "replace" means.... if all you do was email, browsing, Facebook, and WOrd, then yeah, of course it's a "laptop replacement". However, I've always thought people with laptops are also doing stuff like web programming, writing and compiling code, using software like Photoshop, Final Cut, Illustrator, music editing software, etc.

 

[ZBoater]

When I can plug my gadgets via USB and update their firmware with my iPad, THEN it will be a laptop replacement.

 

[tdale]

It seems like there's an '*' on what "replace" means.... if all you do was email, browsing, Facebook, and WOrd, then yeah, of course it's a "laptop replacement". However, I've always thought people with laptops are also doing stuff like web programming, writing and compiling code, using software like Photoshop, Final Cut, Illustrator, music editing software, etc.

I propose that the words laptop replacement are banned from the internet. We all know the answer, as you just described, so why does everybody ask what is basically an obvious question?

 

[Ghost31]

I propose that the words laptop replacement are banned from the internet. We all know the answer, as you just described, so why does everybody ask what is basically an obvious question?

People have a hard time defining things. They need to be able to easily understand something and fit it into a box or else they go nuts and feel like they're being plunged into chaos and disorder. Same with gay marriage and giving those people rights. Most of the time the people against it were simply against it because it was an idea that was hard for them to understand.

 

[roadbloc]

For me, no. I need my mouse and keyboard. My keyboard especially. For others with simpler needs (or needs covered by the iOS App Store at least), it just might be.

 

[Shanghaichica]

For some people it can do. For those who just need a device to read/reply to emails, web browse, go on YouTube, check Facebook, communicate with friends and family, shop, do banking, play games and maybe do occasional typing then yes it can. However I don't think that the pro is any better suited to replacing a laptop for these people than any of the previous generation iPads. The pencil is for artists and has nothing to do with computers. There have always been third party keyboards available for the iPad.

The 12.9 inch is better than non-pro iPads simply because it's larger and some may prefer more real estate in a laptop replacement.

However I think if people want to do anything more complex than the tasks above they really need to get a proper computer.
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With Apple's new Bluetooth keyboard, it doesn't feel clunky at all. I haven't checked the exact weight of the Bluetooth keyboard vs the retina MacBook, but carrying the iPad Pro plus the keyboard isn't a problem at all for me. The combination feels really light and easy to carry. I've been moving from room to room all week, toting my iPP and the keyboard. I also find that being able to position the keyboard and screen separately is great. I can put the iPad at a comfortable height for me to see the screen and type with the keyboard on my lap. To me, this feels more comfortable than typing on a MacBook, or any of the various keyboard covers for iPads, Surfaces and similar devices. I understand that other people might need a mouse/trackpad to do their work efficiently, but for my job, I don't need a mouse, so the iPP is a great productivity tool FOR ME. As I've said a few times already, I still need my desktop, but I don't foresee myself buying another laptop.

The Bluetooth keyboard can be paired to any iPad. It doesn't have to be a pro specifically.

 

[sjleworthy]

I have no laptop. Never have. I do have a 12incher ipad with pencil/keyboard.

Is it a laptop replacement for me:

Work: no - it aids with my admin nicely though, but cant handle the 'real' work
Play: yes - why would it not for everyone?

 

[Night Spring]

The Bluetooth keyboard can be paired to any iPad. It doesn't have to be a pro specifically.

Well, yes, it can. But in this thread, I was discussing the Bluetooth keyboard in comparison to Smart Keyboard and keyboard cases. For me, it's the bigger screen size of the iPP that makes it a laptop replacement. 9.7 iPads were too small, and I rarely used them with a keyboard.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Well, yes, it can. But in this thread, I was discussing the Bluetooth keyboard in comparison to Smart Keyboard and keyboard cases. For me, it's the bigger screen size of the iPP that makes it a laptop replacement. 9.7 iPads were too small, and I rarely used them with a keyboard.

And I would agree with that. Although in terms of software and most of the hardware I don't think that the pro models are are anymore of a laptop replacement than previous iPad models, the larger 12.9 inch pro gives people more real estate and makes tasks a lot more comfortable than say on a smaller tablet.