The iPad Just Got a Lot More Like a Mac Thanks to These 20+ New Features

[bluespark]

I’m really happy to see these new features, and they are prompting me to consider buying a 13” iPad for the first time ever, since I might be able to use that as a work device while traveling (something it’s never been quite able to do before). That’s great!

My hope now is that software developers will start taking the iPad seriously as a computing platform. For example, Microsoft 365 apps on the iPad should be as full-featured as their Windows counterparts.

 

[prospervic]

I feel like this is still completely pointless waste of hardware until I'm allowed to use it like a Mac for Parallels and development environments. I'm not using anywhere near the capability of the hardware on this half-baked iPadOS. I'm pleased it's getting better but for the love of everything holy - just give us macOS already!

Better idea: just go by a freakin’ MacBook already! iPads are we’re not intended for power-user geeks, but for the vast majority of “normal” users who are not doing all stuff that you do in their daily computing lives..

 

[Dr Nobody Important]

I’m really happy to see these new features, and they are prompting me to consider buying a 13” iPad for the first time ever, since I might be able to use that as a work device while traveling (something it’s never been quite able to do before). That’s great!

My hope now is that software developers will start taking the iPad seriously as a computing platform. For example, Microsoft 365 apps on the iPad should be as full-featured as their Windows counterparts.

One would hope that Microsoft would, but they seem to prefer to keep the most features for Windows. I have been using the 13" iPad Pro as a notebook replacement for some time, but as of to this date, Apple iWork is better than Microsoft 365 on the iPad.

 

[Dr Nobody Important]

Better idea: just go by an ***** MacBook already! iPads are we’re not intended for power-user geeks, but for the vast majority who are not doing all stuff that you do in their daily computing lives..

I am a power user and yet, I use an iPad as a replacement for a MacBook and have done so for a little over fourteen years.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Better idea: just go by an ***** MacBook already! iPads are we’re not intended for power-user geeks, but for the vast majority who are not doing all stuff that you do in their daily computing lives..

Who are iPads intended for?

Even the iPad Pro?

And now with windowing like a desktop OS?

You sure you have the pulse of "who they are for"?

 

[Dr Nobody Important]

Sounds great, I'm excited to transition to this new way of working and living. I feel like its going to open up so many great possibilities

Hopefully the developers will get their heads out of the ground and start porting applications to the iPad. I may have to start building replacement applications for them. Of course I have not needed more than what was available for the iPad. Although I think that it would be great to have R on the iPad natively.

 

[Dr Nobody Important]

Who are iPads intended for?

Even the iPad Pro?

And now with windowing like a desktop OS?

You sure you have the pulse of "who they are for"?

Some people feel that their needs dictate all user's needs.

 

[mentaluproar]

I'll miss the morphing circle. I liked it.

 

[Galas]

Since I don't want to pay for iPad versions of Logic Pro and Final Cut (and other specialized music production and graphic design software), my Mac remains. DVD extractions for example can't be done on an iPad, nor importing old VHS tapes or cassette tapes - or recording a vinyl. CD/DVD writing can't be done on an iPad. You'll say it's old stuff... I know. But in a few decades, my data/files will still be safe having been backed up on these media. HDs or SSDs tend to fail. HDs or SSDs have never been my only backup system. Transferring books on my digital reader need using a Mac, if purchased from independent libraries. Preparing documents with a Mac is much easier using Numbers or Pages on a mac than with an iPad. I know you can attach a keyboard to an iPad - but that becomes more expensive than having an macbook air for example. And more cumbersome. Some games work only on Mac - not on iPad. That's my experience anyway. In the future, when an iPad has a 15 inch screen and can become as flexible as a Mac (iMac or macbook air/pro), maybe I won't see the need to keep a mac. But at this point, in spite of all the welcome improvements (which I'm afraid will also slow down my iPad M2), I don't see when (if ever) the mac will become irrelevant or useless.

Many workflows will only really work out on a full blown laptop. And that's a good thing. Luckily we can still choose to own a macbook instead.

iPadOS is macOS optimized for the iPad. Android UX is a joke and Apple did not copy it.

No, it's not. It's more like iOS optimized for a bigger screen. And no, iOS is not macOS.

I do not see any limits with iPadOS. Of course Apple does unlock features from the base macOS each year. I have been using the iPad as my primary portable computer for the last thirteen years and soon I will sell my last Macintosh to migrate completely to the highly productive iPad.

I am a power user and yet, I use an iPad as a replacement for a MacBook and have done so for a little over fourteen years.

If you don't see the limitations of ipadOS, you can't call yourself a power user.

 

[darngooddesign]

Actually the top menu bar is NOT always there which makes it a two tap process, which is useless. Also have to tap it to see the time, which I HATE on the Mac. While I’m at it, why do I have to tap to get the menu, then tap again to close a window. Those are added steps and a bastardization of ipadOS making the tablet functionality worse for the sake of being more Mac-like.

I dont have to tap anything to see the time on my Mac.

Maybe with enough feedback they will make always visible menubar an option.

 

[GWLBE]

It would be nice to save files directly from an app (browser, excel, etc) to a server without saving first to Files app.

 

[xxFoxtail]

yes, buy a Mac.

Yeah, you’re probably right.

 

[mlayer]

I dont have to tap anything to see the time on my Mac.

Maybe with enough feedback they will make always visible menubar an option.

Lord, I hope not. Permanent chrome like a persistent menu bar just to show the time and eventually customizations should be the domain of the Mac. Not iPad. They're already adding plenty of chrome to iPadOS 26 with the new windowing implementation.

 

[It’s always something]

It would be nice to save files directly from an app (browser, excel, etc) to a server without saving first to Files app.

How do you mean? Because if a server can be added to the Files sidebar, you can save documents directly to it now, can’t you?

 

[darngooddesign]

Lord, I hope not. Permanent chrome like a persistent menu bar just to show the time and eventually customizations should be the domain of the Mac. Not iPad. They're already adding plenty of chrome to iPadOS 26 with the new windowing implementation.

Shoudl be an option like show/hide the Dock and show/hide stages in Stage Manager.

 

[Dble07]

they finally freakin did it!!! Just look at my comments from past years about this - and I was proven correct!!! About damn time!!

They finally did what?

 

[Alameda]

Better idea: just go by a freakin’ MacBook already! iPads are we’re not intended for power-user geeks, but for the vast majority of “normal” users who are not doing all stuff that you do in their daily computing lives..

Oh, allow me to brutally disagree!
Can you use MS Word on an iPad? Yes. Is it as good as using Word on a Mac ten years ago? No, not even close.

Maybe, for you, writing a document is a "power-user geek" feature, but for me, a word processor is a pretty basic computing function.

I have a very poor opinion of Apple Computer these days. Their management does not understand the Steve Jobs message AT ALL. If Steve did a keynote today, and I stood up and said, "Hey Steve, selecting text for copy/paste is really difficult to do on an iPad an iPhone," he would agree, and he'd do something about it. The guys running the show now are obsessed with how thin the device is, what wallpapers it includes... but they really drop the ball on basic usability in so many ways.

I'm hoping this new iPad OS is the rock star we want it to be. I'd love to be proven wrong. Let's see how well Copy/Paste works, or whether word processing gets any better.

 

[StoneJack]

Who are iPads intended for?

Even the iPad Pro?

And now with windowing like a desktop OS?

You sure you have the pulse of "who they are for"?

they are for youtube and games.

 

[mlayer]

Shoudl be an option like show/hide the Dock and show/hide stages in Stage Manager.

Date/time left, battery/WiFi/Control Center (?) right, autohide menus - a decent compromise. Stage Manager appears to have been relegated to a third windowing option after Full Screen and Windowed (tiled).

 

[turbineseaplane]

Date/time left, battery/WiFi/Control Center (?) right, autohide menus - a decent compromise. Stage Manager appears to have been relegated to a third windowing option after Full Screen and Windowed (tiled).
View attachment 2518461

Oh my goodness
What are we looking at here?

 

[cupcakes2000]

Never heard of the term floss when it comes to open source software, just dental floss

FOSS=Free and open source software (free as in beer)
FLOSS= Free/Libre open source software (free as in freedom)
They’re not really very distinct, but it’s set up to ensure that when they mean that free as in freedom, they can verify that using the Floss name.

Can you use MS Word on an iPad? Yes. Is it as good as using Word on a Mac ten years ago? No, not even close.

Maybe, for you, writing a document is a "power-user geek" feature, but for me, a word processor is a pretty basic computing function.

That’s on Microsoft. Complain to them. There are plenty of decent word processors on the iPad.

 

[darngooddesign]

Oh, allow me to brutally disagree!
Can you use MS Word on an iPad? Yes. Is it as good as using Word on a Mac ten years ago? No, not even close.

Thats because Microsoft doesn't want it to be as good as on a Windows computer.

I have a very poor opinion of Apple Computer these days. Their management does not understand the Steve Jobs message AT ALL. If Steve did a keynote today, and I stood up and said, "Hey Steve, selecting text for copy/paste is really difficult to do on an iPad an iPhone," he would agree, and he'd do something about it. The guys running the show now are obsessed with how thin the device is, what wallpapers it includes... but they really drop the ball on basic usability in so many ways.

Or more likely Steve Jobs would tell you that you're using it wrong.

I've used all versions of iOS copy and paste, including Steve Jobs original one, and don't find it harder now.

I'm hoping this new iPad OS is the rock star we want it to be. I'd love to be proven wrong. Let's see how well Copy/Paste works, or whether word processing gets any better.

Apple can't make Microsoft improve their apps.

 

[winxmac]

Date/time left, battery/WiFi/Control Center (?) right, autohide menus - a decent compromise. Stage Manager appears to have been relegated to a third windowing option after Full Screen and Windowed (tiled).
View attachment 2518461

ChatGPT seems lost...

 

[ultratiem]

I’m really happy to see these new features, and they are prompting me to consider buying a 13” iPad for the first time ever, since I might be able to use that as a work device while traveling (something it’s never been quite able to do before).

Good luck with that. The fact all you have is Files to interface with will crush you. After that, if you still have any gusto left, you’ll feel the singular pain of using “mobile” apps in place of desktop ones.

Window management and few new features won’t change the fact iPadOS is not macOS.

 

[darngooddesign]

they are for youtube and games.

I just told my last Lightroom photo editing session that it was YouTube or games but it didn't believe me.