iPad is better than Laptop?

Now that Apple has released the Magic Keyboard, I have seen a lot of videos and articles comparing the iPad with Magic Keyboard against the Laptop.   I thought I would talk about my preferences in this article.

iPad Lover

I have loved the iPad since Steve Jobs introduced the original version.   ​For me, this was an answer to the tiny iPhone screens they had on the market at the time.  It was so nice to be able to actually run apps on something larger than the 4 inch screen!

CH-CH-Changes

The changes since the initial release have been huge.  We now have a "pencil", you can use it with a mouse and keyboard, and the screen resolution alone has improved dramatically.

For a long time, this was my " go to" device in the home.  However, that award now goes to my iPhone 7 Plus.   At one time, I really hated using that small screened device, so the iPad was about all I would carry around the house at the time.  Many of those roles have switched to the iPhone.   However, that doesn't mean it isn't still the second most used device during my free time.  I still like the larger screen for a lot of the things I do.. Youtube, News+, surfing the web, etc.

Is it a real computer?

As with the Original iPad, there are a lot of people that can use this as their main computer.  The device has always been great for those focused on consuming media, answering emails, and other small tasks.  However, the new changes have definitely opened it up to a larger audience.

Enter the Magic Keyboard

There is no doubt that creating a case with a very nice, back-lit, keyboard with a built in trackpad has taken this device to a new level.   You can now get many of the same benefits on the go that you get from a laptop.   However, I have written about my issues with this setup in another article, but the main issue is the weight and the fact that if you want to use it in tablet mode, you have to completely remove it from the case, which will give you another item to deal with.  

I have been messing around with a small mechanical keyboard combined with a Logitech Ergo mouse for some of my Notes and Safari usage.  I have them stored near the kitchen table to make it easy to setup when I want to use it this way.  However, I really just couldn't get by with only this setup.  I need a computer with a more desktop oriented operating system.

MacOS vs iPad OS

While they both have advantages, there are issues with the iPad that I don't have with my MBP (or any laptop).   Before I discuss the OS, the MBP can be plugged into multiple monitors and run at full resolution.  You can't do that with an iPad (with only a few exceptions).  This makes it less useful for real work right out of the gate.  Also, my MBP has 4 thunderbolt ports and a headphone port.  The iPad, even with the Magic Keyboard, only has two ports and one of them is only for power.

The OS though, is a bigger obstacle.  I use Photoshop and Lightroom as my main photo editors and for organizing my catalogs.   Unfortunately, the iPad versions are dumbed down, eat up tons of bandwidth, and start costing more the minute you go over your limited allotted space.   I tried going this route with Lightroom, but I was over 600GB in no time.  Also, I just don't think it is practical to store every file in the web until you have time to review and delete.   It is nice to have, no doubt, but until these programs have the same capabilities and some way to save to a network drive instead of the cloud, it just isn't practical.   Also, I have several TBs of files on hard drives that would need to be moved to a network drive if I didn't have a computer accessing them.  

​Even Apple doesn't have their pro software on the iPad.  No Final Cut and no Logic Pro.  Hard to even make the argument that this is a Pro device from Apple's perceptive. 

Great at what it does

Obviously, there are things that still make the iPad very appealing to someone that needs a laptop or a desktop computer.    There is the Pencil , the tablet apps, and the form factor.  While I use  my Mac Mini more than any computer right now (while working from home), when I do use the MBP, that 15 inch screen is so nice to have when I need to use Excel or Photoshop.  My 9.7 inch iPad feels tiny in comparison.  I am considering the 12.9 inch to get that extra real estate, but I still don't consider this a real computer replacement (for my needs) because of the current OS.

Does it need to replace a computer?

Well, if you are getting ready to buy your first computer, then I guess you need to ask this question and then it depends on how you plan to use it.  Personally, I already have multiple computers and don't need to update them all that often. 

For me, the iPad is the perfect "in between" device.  Its larger screen give me a better experience than the iPhone with most apps and its tablet form factor means I will use it more often than a laptop for consuming media.   It is close to being a laptop replacement, but for my needs, it still comes up a bit short as an "only" device.   Of course, right now, I could get by without the laptop and just have a desktop and the iPad.  However, if it came down to one device...an iPad or a MBP, I would still have to pick the MBP.   I would live with my iPhone for reading on the couch.

Apple is Listening

Apple appears to be listening to those that are always questioning whether it will ever completely replace a laptop.  I guess they have to do something to justify a user upgrade, so this may just be a natural evolution.   Unlike the iPhone, the better camera marketing pitch just isn't as important on a device you don't always have on you.  

Personally, I am happy with the OS updates, but the only reason I am thinking of another iPad is to get that extra screen size for using with "Sidecar" (their screen sharing app) or Photoshop...if they ever come out with the full version on the iPad.   Until then, I will happily continue to use this as my favorite "in between" device that makes the user experience a lot better with certain apps.   For me, that is enough to justify updating next time around, but they will really need to make some major changes for me to upgrade again anytime soon after that.