iPad Pros have a very capable (and expensive) keyboard which doubles as a great stand. BLE keyboards and mice can be paired with an iPad. Wired keyboards also work.
I often see my dad use his iPad in keyboard/mouse mode. At this point I question the point of the iPad. It seems like the user is seeking to interact with it like a laptop, yet the OS is far more compromised than macOS. Window management isn’t as flexible, all apps need to come from the App Store, things that power users would generally want (like Terminal) aren’t there for the native OS, Files is less capable than Finder, and the entire OS is build around apps rather than files, which makes working on a file across multiple applications more difficult.
I think my tech life would be more simple if I could use an iPad as my computer, but I can’t see a path there. I’d have to give up too much.
I program for a career and I’m not going to argue that iPad is going to be my go to device, until there’s a ‘killer’ app. But that’s my day job. When I want to play around with a hobby (writing, music, game dev using Godot???) I turn to an iPad because it’s NOT a computer. Maybe in the same way a lot of music hobbyists buy gear to make music even though using a computer DAW is far easier - we want to ‘unplug’.
I use the iPad for several reasons.
- I can remove the keyboard when I don't want it.
- When I want it I can use keyboard, trackpad, mouse and a Pencil, something a Mac does not have.
There are power users out in the world that never use a terminal because that's not their line of work. I use the Affinity suite of apps, most notable Affinity Publisher for layout and design work. I regularly design annual reports, newsletters, any number of print materials ranging from brochures, posters, banners, bookmarks, etc. All of it. And I do it all with the iPad and whatever input I want/need at the moment. No problem.
Additionally I use the iPad along with Textastic to code websites the old fashioned way, basic html and css. I started experimenting using the iPad for those particular jobs in 2010. When I sold my MacBook Pro in 2017 I switched to the iPad for all of my new website set-ups as well as website updates for existing sites. Textastic is great for that and I've had no problem.
Last, I do spreadsheet work for a client who runs a retreat center. I process thousands of records per year, managing contacts, retreat signups, mailings, etc all from the iPad and with no problem.
When I want a break or at the end of the day I set the keyboard to the side but within reach.
Another point worth mentioning that I think often goes overlooked by those that don't use the iPad is the variety of interesting set-ups that can be created with it. Because it's not attached permanently to a keyboard it can be easily attached to a multi-arm stand and swiveled to different angles and heights. Just one example. I've enjoyed experimenting with all sorts of different useful arrangements.
The iPad obviously isn't for everyone or every task. But it's kinda bonkers how many people who don't have a use for it themselves just assume that no one else could possibly put it to use.
If you're looking at this from the perspective of a power user, then sure. For everyone else, the iPad makes a robust computing device that simply does not have a lot of complexity that we power users have just learned to accept. Try explaining the concept of "files" or "terminals" to a random person on the street.
That's a very nice combination if you have a relatively static setup for the keyboard and mouse, where you can drop the iPad in and out of it like a dock and take advantage of the modularity.
However—at least in my own experience—if you're carrying the keyboard/mouse/trackpad around with the iPad all the time, I found it robs the device of what makes it compelling to begin with (being ultraportable and handheld).
For a stint I was using an iPad Pro with the keyboard/trackpad case, and it made it a far worse tablet. The case almost doubled the total weight and thickness, which made using it much more like to a laptop, but it isn't nearly as capable as my MacBook (nor is it any cheaper).
More power to you if that setup works for you, but I came to the conclusion that I'd just assembled myself a second, worse laptop (which I think was OP's overall point).
See the second paragraph of the comment to which you replied:
If you're going to use the iPad with a keyboard, why not just use a laptop?
I suppose the use case here is iOS game developers who don't want to use their MacBooks, but iPad+keyboard doesn't seem like a fun way to write complex software to me.
al_borland|1 year ago
I think my tech life would be more simple if I could use an iPad as my computer, but I can’t see a path there. I’d have to give up too much.
sandoze|1 year ago
beardystarstuff|1 year ago
There are power users out in the world that never use a terminal because that's not their line of work. I use the Affinity suite of apps, most notable Affinity Publisher for layout and design work. I regularly design annual reports, newsletters, any number of print materials ranging from brochures, posters, banners, bookmarks, etc. All of it. And I do it all with the iPad and whatever input I want/need at the moment. No problem.
Additionally I use the iPad along with Textastic to code websites the old fashioned way, basic html and css. I started experimenting using the iPad for those particular jobs in 2010. When I sold my MacBook Pro in 2017 I switched to the iPad for all of my new website set-ups as well as website updates for existing sites. Textastic is great for that and I've had no problem.
Last, I do spreadsheet work for a client who runs a retreat center. I process thousands of records per year, managing contacts, retreat signups, mailings, etc all from the iPad and with no problem.
When I want a break or at the end of the day I set the keyboard to the side but within reach.
Another point worth mentioning that I think often goes overlooked by those that don't use the iPad is the variety of interesting set-ups that can be created with it. Because it's not attached permanently to a keyboard it can be easily attached to a multi-arm stand and swiveled to different angles and heights. Just one example. I've enjoyed experimenting with all sorts of different useful arrangements.
The iPad obviously isn't for everyone or every task. But it's kinda bonkers how many people who don't have a use for it themselves just assume that no one else could possibly put it to use.
neilalexander|1 year ago
deergomoo|1 year ago
However—at least in my own experience—if you're carrying the keyboard/mouse/trackpad around with the iPad all the time, I found it robs the device of what makes it compelling to begin with (being ultraportable and handheld).
For a stint I was using an iPad Pro with the keyboard/trackpad case, and it made it a far worse tablet. The case almost doubled the total weight and thickness, which made using it much more like to a laptop, but it isn't nearly as capable as my MacBook (nor is it any cheaper).
More power to you if that setup works for you, but I came to the conclusion that I'd just assembled myself a second, worse laptop (which I think was OP's overall point).
stackghost|1 year ago
If you're going to use the iPad with a keyboard, why not just use a laptop?
I suppose the use case here is iOS game developers who don't want to use their MacBooks, but iPad+keyboard doesn't seem like a fun way to write complex software to me.
rxyz|1 year ago