What's the point of owning an ipad if you're not an artist/teacher? - an apple silicon macbook can run all ios apps and do way more like ftp/coding..!
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What's the point of owning an ipad vs. arm macs
- Thread starter KensaiMage
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I use my iPad for ForeFlight which is an aviation app containing charts and other information for pilots. It is mounted to the yoke of the airplane when I fly.
A Mac would cost more, but most importantly, if you need to run iPad apps right now, you can't buy a Mac that can do that. Also, lots of people have no use for ftp or app development capabilities.
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Atm I think the upcoming 12 inch apple silicon macbook should cost a little bit less than an ipad pro and more than an ipad air. I just hope it gets face id and cellular connection.
iPad smaller and lighter. i use for content consumption. No such thing as one thing suits everyone.
I use it all the time to take notes from meetings and annotate documents, and after hours I use it when a database server does something stoopid and I need to log on remotely and fix it.
1. Apple Silicon Macs don't exist yet and haven't existed for the entirety of the iPad's 10 year existence so this point is very irrelevant as to why people currently own iPads
2. Lighter/more compact unit for content consumption
3. Taking notes with the Apple Pencil is awesome. One doesn't need to be an artist or teacher to appreciate the ease and convenience of use.
4. Not everyone needs a full fledged computer. In fact, I would guess that most people do not. The average person has no need of a device for coding, etc.
5. Etc., etc. etc....the list could go on. Have you truly thought about this question before asking?
2. Lighter/more compact unit for content consumption
3. Taking notes with the Apple Pencil is awesome. One doesn't need to be an artist or teacher to appreciate the ease and convenience of use.
4. Not everyone needs a full fledged computer. In fact, I would guess that most people do not. The average person has no need of a device for coding, etc.
5. Etc., etc. etc....the list could go on. Have you truly thought about this question before asking?
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Face ID, 120hz refresh rate display, portability, touch screen, Apple Pencil support, etc.
The iPad can be much cheaper and a good form factor for reading/watching things if you're not at your desk. It's easier to travel with, as well. The low end iPad can be bought for $329 retail whereas the Macbook Air is $999.
With my iPad mini, I log into my brokerage account at 6:15 am while I'm still lying flat on my back in bed.
It has better battery endurance than notebook computers. I can opt to buy a cellular data plan.
It also fits better on an airplane/train tray table.
Also it is silent; there is no fan.
And here are a few problems with your argument:
Right now there's no Apple Silicon notebooks available for sale. Zero. And even when they are released, I personally won't be ftp-ing or coding.
I will point out that one can code on an iPad. Swift Playgrounds has been around for a while. There are likely other programming tools.
There are likely ftp utilities as well for iOS/iPadOS devices. I have WebSSH on my iDevices so I can ssh into my Raspberry Pi 4 running Kodi/LibreELEC.
Summary: there are more usage cases than yours. There are other people who do different things with their devices.
Why does anyone need a pick-up truck? A minivan? A large SUV? A bicycle? Same concept. I know it's difficult for some people to understand that what you do is not the same exact thing everyone else does.
It has better battery endurance than notebook computers. I can opt to buy a cellular data plan.
It also fits better on an airplane/train tray table.
Also it is silent; there is no fan.
And here are a few problems with your argument:
Right now there's no Apple Silicon notebooks available for sale. Zero. And even when they are released, I personally won't be ftp-ing or coding.
I will point out that one can code on an iPad. Swift Playgrounds has been around for a while. There are likely other programming tools.
There are likely ftp utilities as well for iOS/iPadOS devices. I have WebSSH on my iDevices so I can ssh into my Raspberry Pi 4 running Kodi/LibreELEC.
Summary: there are more usage cases than yours. There are other people who do different things with their devices.
Why does anyone need a pick-up truck? A minivan? A large SUV? A bicycle? Same concept. I know it's difficult for some people to understand that what you do is not the same exact thing everyone else does.
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Things that an iPad can do that a Mac cannot, in no particular order:
None of which is to knock Macs. I have said many times on this forum that I cannot replace my Mac with an iPad. But, likewise, I cannot replace my iPad with a Mac.
- LTE
- Pencil
- Touchscreen
- Backup to iCloud
- FaceID
- Promotion / 120hz refresh
- both landscape and portrait orientation
- Take non-selfie photos (and LIDAR)
- Instant-on
- Option to detach keyboard for a 1 lb device
None of which is to knock Macs. I have said many times on this forum that I cannot replace my Mac with an iPad. But, likewise, I cannot replace my iPad with a Mac.
We don’t actually know anything about Apple Silicon Macs yet. They might have LTE which would be great but if they don’t then you have your first reason that you may want an iPad Pro/Air over a Mac. Then there is the ability to take the iPad off of it’s keyboard and use it as a tablet. You might not find that valuable but I certainly do. I use my iPad Pro to read books—something I would find very uncomfortable with a MacBook.
Don’t discount other people’s needs because they don’t match yours. If an ASi Mac is better for you than an iPad, that’s great. Buy a MacBook. Others may find the iPad Pro or Air a better fit for their uses.
Apple has already stated that certain apps which rely on iPhone/iPad specific features (GPS, mobile network connections, etc.) will not run on the Mac, although the developers can make versions of those apps which do not rely on those specific features for MacOS. You also completely overlooked cellular capabilities, Apple Pencil support, versatility, portability, photography/video, and other use cases that a Mac couldn't duplicate. Just this past weekend, I used my iPad pro as a teleprompter/floor direction tool for an online convention we were running. The only thing I needed besides the iPad was a tripod and tablet mount for the tripod, since I could send the information to the iPad from any device with an internet connection. I could even have the iPad in a different room in the studio and still update it in real time. I couldn't have used my Mac in that fashion, especially without connecting to power as I could my iPad. After the first day, the iPad still had 20% battery left, while my Mac would have dropped to 0% around 4-6 hours earlier. Just like your use case is an edge case in that the vast majority of Mac and iOS users have no need whatsoever for coding and FTP applications, my situation was an edge case in that the vast majority of people will never have reason to even consider using an iPad like I did. My point is that for every edge case you present to make your case, I can present one which points to the iPad as the superior tool in that instance.
If you use iPad with a keyboard attached most of the time, then yes, MacBook with Apple Silicon is likely a better machine to invest. I use iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard attached most of the time and I eagerly look forward to MacBook with Apple Silicon.
Having said that, there are few caveats.
Having said that, there are few caveats.
- We don't know the hardware specifics yet, such as the screen size and quality, storage capacity, and RAM. For all we know, rumored $799 12-inch MacBook with Apple Silicon maybe more comparable to entry-level iPad (which costs $479 with Logitech Folio Keyboard). But if it is more comparable to iPad Air ($759 with Logitech Folio Keyboard), it can be a very compelling alternative.
- We don't know the software specifics like how well macOS will run iPadOS apps and whether developers will openly embrace and allow iPadOS apps to run on macOS.
- Pricing is not yet known. Aforementioned $799 can be very compelling. Directly replacing current $999 price point maybe less compelling for some.
- New iPad Pro may have exclusive killer new features, such as rumored mini-LED screen.
Oh no another thread about Macs can do more than an iPad.
Your lists is too short for those who find iPad better. We have see pilots here, but add anyone that takes notes or work in he field such as construction, maintenance, nursing.... All these have in common that a keyboard is just in the way for work. That recent scribble feature is amazing for field work. Field work = being away from your desk.
Coding on a 12 inch screen? Possible but not practical.
The same question can be asked anytime.
Instant on vs traditional os
efficient but not truly multi-tasking vs true multi tasking
light weight and tablet form factor vs a laptop
touch interface vs traditional input based ui
longer battery life vs not so long (this will benefit most by going ARM)
LTE option vs no LTE (this also depends on Apple’s decision)
Let’s assume one of Apple’s ARM Macs can satisfy all of above, even then, form factor alone can affect one’s decision.
Ask tablet people why they choose a tablet.
Lots of variations for meeting various needs.
Why can someone simply not understand it?
Instant on vs traditional os
efficient but not truly multi-tasking vs true multi tasking
light weight and tablet form factor vs a laptop
touch interface vs traditional input based ui
longer battery life vs not so long (this will benefit most by going ARM)
LTE option vs no LTE (this also depends on Apple’s decision)
Let’s assume one of Apple’s ARM Macs can satisfy all of above, even then, form factor alone can affect one’s decision.
Ask tablet people why they choose a tablet.
Lots of variations for meeting various needs.
Why can someone simply not understand it?
This is a major point to consider. I think most devs will actually opt out of allowing their iPad and iPhone apps to just run on Macs. They’ll want to have different versions of that app, they’ll want to limit functionality to certain platforms, they’ll want to monetize separately, or any other host of possible motivations.
This will probably be one of the bigger let-downs from an end user perspective of ASi Macs. I know there are several iPad apps I would like to use that probably won’t last long on the usable on ASi Mac train.
All good points and some comments.
Instant on vs traditional OS: Assuming Mac's hibernate mode is set to sleep or safe sleep mode (keeps RAM powered on, avoiding disk writing and reading), much of its slow wake up from sleep is due to Intel processor taking longer to restore previous state. In theory, switching to Apple Silicon should significantly decrease wake up time. We shall see.
Touch interface: When iPad has Magic Keyboard attached, I am finding myself touching the screen less. When I do, generally with a pencil. I hope Macs will gain Apple Pencil compatibility. along with magnetic charging.
LTE option: Unless Apple has been hiding a secret from us, macOS Big Sur is not likely to adopt iPadOS's cellular data management. TripMode is indispensable for anyone who uses their Mac with cellular and Apple acquiring or Sherlocking it would be a clear sign that cellular is coming to macOS.
Few other things to consider.
Multi users environment: Although iPadOS supports multi user for education market, it feels hobbled together and clumsy. macOS has great multi users support.
Storage: iPad is very usable with 128 GB, and even 64 GB can be fine if you don't store media and photos/video. Mac can be downright claustrophobic with 128 GB storage.
Security and stability: As a newer operating system, iPadOS has a lot more security measures baked into its foundation. And it is far less likely to become unstable and get infected with malware.
Ease of use: While macOS is relatively easy to use, it does have some learning curve.
There is also the security model to consider. iPad OS is far more locked down. Because of this many Corporate iOS apps will probably not be allowed to run on MacOS.