iPad Pro One of those: can this replace my MBP threads (sorry..)

[courboy]

Hey guys

So I've explored this numerous times in the past, however, I feel this is now a legitimate possibility for me but would appreciate your views. I currently have a 15" MBP 2018 and a 10.5" IPP.

When I travel, which is (or rather, was) fairly frequently, I take both machines. The iPad is so useful for casual browsing and signing things, and the MBP is so useful for getting "work" done.

I run a food business, so the majority of my use-case revolves around emails, Excel, notes, lightroom, and the affinity suite. All of those apps are currently available on the iPad, with the exception of Publisher (we're a startup so I do all our social media and marketing too).

For my use case, do you think the iPad will be able to replicate my current workflow? I have concluded yes but have a few concerns:

1. 6GB of RAM vs. 16GB in my MBP: will this be a real issue? I do a decent amount of photography editing in lightroom and affinity photo;
2. Are there any other general daily use cases where the iPad is likely to frustrate that I haven't currently thought of?

As always, thanks in advance for your thoughts

 

[sparksd]

1. I use Lightroom to process my 20MB RAW photos when traveling using a 2018 12.9 Pro and RAM has not been an issue. 6GB of RAM would just make it better (possibly).

2. How sophisticated are your spreadsheets. Does the mobile Excel cover your needs?

Give it a try at home on your 10.5 for a few days, doing there what you would do on travel and see how it is.

 

[ericwn]

I think @sparksd already provided excellent advice. Test with the iPad you already have, that will give you an idea. The new ones just have more power and a new keyboard with trackpad at some stage when released in May.

 

[sparksd]

I think @sparksd already provided excellent advice. Test with the iPad you already have, that will give you an idea. The new ones just have more power and a new keyboard with trackpad at some stage when released in May.

Yeah, this is an easy try-before-you-buy test for anybody looking to fully replace a device (if you can, i.e. you have a potential replacement in hand). Put it in a drawer and don't use it and don't get rid of it until you've convinced yourself that's what you really can and want to do.

 

[AutomaticApple]

6GB of RAM would just make it better (possibly).

I think it is guaranteed to make it better.

 

[sparksd]

I think it is guaranteed to make it better.

Not necessarily - only if you are doing things that require more RAM beyond 4GB. For many users, the extra 2GB may be a negligible improvement in performance.

 

[courboy]

1. I use Lightroom to process my 20MB RAW photos when traveling using a 2018 12.9 Pro and RAM has not been an issue. 6GB of RAM would just make it better (possibly).

2. How sophisticated are your spreadsheets. Does the mobile Excel cover your needs?

Give it a try at home on your 10.5 for a few days, doing there what you would do on travel and see how it is.

That's great advice, thank you. I'll pair up my trackpad this evening and see how I cope with it. My excel sheets are reasonably formula-heavy with multiple tabs, but no macros, so hopefully that'll be ok. I guess the omission of function keys may become annoying after a while.

Re. Lightroom, are you able to use an external drive to store your library on? I currently use that with my MBP for times where I don't have enough disc space, and/or no access to the internet for my cloud photos.

 

[sparksd]

That's great advice, thank you. I'll pair up my trackpad this evening and see how I cope with it. My excel sheets are reasonably formula-heavy with multiple tabs, but no macros, so hopefully that'll be ok. I guess the omission of function keys may become annoying after a while.

Re. Lightroom, are you able to use an external drive to store your library on? I currently use that with my MBP for times where I don't have enough disc space, and/or no access to the internet for my cloud photos.

The actual library that Lightroom uses on the iPad isn't visible like on a PC (my other use) where you can specify a location for it. You can import/export from/to attached storage, though.

 

[iBug2]

I sold my 2012 MBP. My 2018 iPad Pro is already faster than that machine and much more useful in what I do nowadays. I'm also selling my 11" iPad Pro to get the 12.9" of the new models. Together with the magic keyboard in May, that's my new mobile computer.

I use a lot of Excel as well. For spreadsheets, you need a keyboard. Without keyboard doing spreadsheet work on an iPad is pretty difficult, but with a keyboard and now a mouse as well, it works pretty much as your computer. For me it works.

 

[Davefevs]

I sold my 2012 MBP. My 2018 iPad Pro is already faster than that machine and much more useful in what I do nowadays. I'm also selling my 11" iPad Pro to get the 12.9" of the new models. Together with the magic keyboard in May, that's my new mobile computer.

I use a lot of Excel as well. For spreadsheets, you need a keyboard. Without keyboard doing spreadsheet work on an iPad is pretty difficult, but with a keyboard and now a mouse as well, it works pretty much as your computer. For me it works.

that’s gonna be my biggest test, can I do more excel on it, and use my MBP less and less.

 

[iBug2]

A MBP will do excel better, but my iPad does so many things better than my old MBP that if I had to choose one machine today it'd be the iPad, and it is. Otherwise I get to use 2 mobile computers, which is worse than having one.

 

[DougFNJ]

I think IOS/iPadOS 14 is going to really give us an idea the direction Apple is taking the iPad. The last few years they've been making small iterative moves to make iPad more to the point of using it as a full time device. The new Magic Keyboard is showing us more willingness with hardware......the better multitasking is getting us closer with software. When they finally go there with Final Cut Pro X, that might move me over the edge as its one of the biggest things holding me back.