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I Tried Replacing My MacBook with An iPad Again

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iPads have gotten better and better. And now they sometimes cost more than their laptop counterparts. I tried to switch from my MacBook to an iPad before. But that was 3 years ago! A LOT has changed. So let’s talk about how much things have really changed and if I’d consider switching to just an iPad.

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iPad Air: https://amzn.to/477NvbH
iPad Pro 11in: https://amzn.to/3FBkXeX
iPad Pro 12.9in: https://amzn.to/45OPror
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 12.9in: https://amzn.to/479qXaE
Magic Keyboard for iPad Air/Pro: https://amzn.to/3tM0nFT
Apple Pencil 2: https://amzn.to/3tHXCW7

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Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:30 Form Factor
2:29 Software Differences
5:33 Accessories
7:23 Day-To-Day Experience
10:48 Conclusion

Macs with M chips can run iPhone and iPad apps by directly downloading them from the App store, and iPads have been getting more and more desktop quality apps. An iPad can connect to servers, plug in external webcams, storage, and other accessories. There’s even better multi-tasking capabilities now when you plug the iPad into a monitor, letting you have different windows on the external monitor like a computer. And you can actually do cool stuff like turn your ipad into a display for a game console. You can use google drive, and all your different google docs, sheets and presentations. You can save files to external drives, or to a server. But the problem with the ipad is, once you’re more of an advanced user in some of these apps, doing things can take a little longer, is more difficult to do, or can’t be done at all. Like, in Microsoft Excel, you can do formulas but can’t run excel macros. In Final Cut Pro for iPad. You can’t edit directly off external storage. You’ll have to move your footage off the drive, onto the ipad, taking up all the capacity there, to edit it. Basically. When it comes to how similar an ipad app is to it’s windows or mac os equivalent, you have to know what you’re doing with it, and figure out if it can do it, before you fully jump to just an iPad.

When you buy a laptop, you’re buying a complete package, you got everything you need for it to be a laptop. But with an ipad, there’s added costs if you’re trying to make it more laptop-like. Apple however sells a magic keyboard for their ipad air and pro lineups. That gives you laptop-like levels of tiling, and a 65% keyboard, a trackpad, and a usb-c port that can only be used for charging, but that frees up your iPad’s remaining USB-C port for any other accessories, or you can use a dongle to add even more ports. There are 3rd party keyboards, but those don’t elevate the ipad higher, or provide another port that charges your ipad. In my opinion, the Magic Keyboard makes iPads feel the most laptop like out of all the other offerings. There’s just a ton more unique accessories for a tablet vs a laptop as a whole. Like this Lab22 ipad stand created by fellow YouTuber Sara Dietschy, which is pricey but gives you full control over the positioning of your ipad, it’s built well, and feels nice too. It’s nice to have if you want to use your ipad with an external display for a desktop with a drawing tablet type smaller screen, you can do that, angled to any position you want.

What makes the ipad feel the most like a computer is when it’s plugged into a monitor. You can do this with either an hdmi cable connected to a USB-C dongle, or directly to a monitor that supports USB-C. And it will charge directly off the cable if the monitor or dongle supports it. Then, on the external monitor, you can have up to 4 apps on the screen at once, add any more and it just slaps it into the stage manager sidebar, which contains all your active apps. I can have youtube, my script, and two instances of safari open so I have everything I need, on my screen at once for easy reference. So when the external display works, it works great. When it doesn’t you get weird stuff happening.

For me personally, I don’t think an ipad can replace a laptop but when I talked to some more non-techy people, it seems like most of them use ipads or other tablets as their primary machine at home for all their computing needs. The iPad air or iPad Pro will be all the computer you ever need. If you want to do more than that, It can’t really replace your computer just yet. Even if it does have a chip used in Apple’s laptops and desktops.

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37 Comments

  3. I tried Ipad Pro M1 as my main computer but I sold it and got MacBook Air M1 instead. The best tech decision of my life. The ergonomics of a real keyboard is simply too good to give up.

  4. There is one big feature that the iPad has over a MacBook for people like myself who are always out in the field… cellular connectivity. My 11” M2 Pro has completely replaced a MacBook for me, and I need the cellular without having to rely on hot spotting my phone.

  6. My issue is that certain programs arent available for ipads. I use clipstudio on my mac mini, but i gotta buy a subscription to use it on my ipad because an ipad is like a large phone unfortunately.

  7. I'm trying 2 just use my phone & iPad Pro & ditching my old Mac Mini. Have thought of having MacMini converted into a personal server but it doesnt have SSD so more cost & effort. As a retired gtr teacher I used GtrPro notation editor heaps bug i can't create & edit on iPad. MacMini has desktop power .. iPadPro doesn't. Can read only & very ltd @ that. Apart from that tho, I will ditch the desktop as I can cover all my everyday computing needs with the tablet or phone. So u have a good pt .. tablets don't have desktop power yet AND I won't use Android 4 their security vulnerabilities.

  8. as someone who's been saving for an iPad, I'm so thankful for this video because it just highlighted and pointed out everything I've been debating about this big purchase. Do I really need it and if I have it, how can it enhance my workflow etc etc. Now, I'm finally ready to invest on the new iPad that's gonna come out soon! Thank you, Jimmy!

  9. Originally, I switched to an iPad with my desktop computer and anything else seems to break down and then it’s a huge heavy thing to take him to get repaired ever since I had the iPad. It basically lasts until it doesn’t last name there’s nothing you can do it if I replace it It’s so small you can take it anywhere and do whatever you want with it can’t do everything the desktop or laptop can do but there’s enough so I think it’s great. I can take it anywhere I want in the house doing everything I want whenever I want to take it with me in the car. I’m not going to spellcheck this or grandma check this cause I don’t want to say anymore or do anymore with this. I just want to thanks very much goodbye

  10. For my day to day stuff I could easily do everything on my 11inch M1 iPad Pro, I do DJ from time to time though for which I still prefer a laptop – I just grabbed an M1 Macbook Air for that. Now I'm at least thinking about getting rid of my Magic Keyboard or the iPad altogether, as a "real" laptop is just that tiny bit more versatile & in the case of iPad + keyboard vs. Macbook Air just not a whole more convenient to throw into a backpack. Maybe, just maybe, I need an iPad mini back in my life?

  14. Great video. The only thing holding me back from full iPad Pro only use for work is the lack of full Office functionality. Apart from that, it’s a fantastic device.

  15. Very nice voice. Spend a lot of time using iPhone 14. Tired of the small screen. Already have laptop Mac. Shall I purchase iPad so I can use it instead of iPhone 14? Laptop does not have apps as it’s a laptop not a phone. You are so sweet. Articulate kind. Also have lg to screen so I can use it as a desktop as you say? Lady here ❤

  18. If Apple fixes the Magic Keyboard so that it folds entirely so I can actually use it as a laptop + tablet (with protection) then it'd be a done deal for me. I love my M1 ipad pro, but now that I've been using it with the magic keyboard, the form/function of the magic keyboard feels like it's robbed me of the idea of using a tablet. I also own the folio, but it seems so un-apple like to have to take an extra step of taking it out of the magic keyboard then putting it in the folio to protect it while using it as a tablet. And I refuse to use it without a cover, in tablet mode, since it can easily break. If they fix this pain point then for me, the ipad's usability will become the best thing since banana bread.

  20. If apple wanted to reduce waste and save the planet they would let the iPad pro become a Mac mini when you hook it up to a monitor keyboard and mouse. I could literally replace 3 computers that have the exact same chip with one. Give the iPad enough ssd space to install Mac OS and let it boot into Mac OS when docked and you would have a killer productivity machine that also lets you draw on the screen when it isn't docked. It would be perfect for every artist. And it would save untold resources and money. And apple wouldn't have to spend a dime on paying software engineers to make iPad OS more productive – because you could just use Mac OS. Look at it as Steve jobs allowing intel macs to boot into widows. Only it is apple all the way down.

  21. Starting 2024 we will begin transitioning our internal software to iPadOS/iOS and soon replace all of our aging computers with iPads. I am responsible for the transition so thats why I've been watching these videos in addition to forcing myself to use it to find weakness etc.

  22. I use my iPad in conjunction with my MacBook. I tried using only the iPad but their have been multiple times I needed to do a software update on a tech device ie Cardo motorcycle headset or radar detector. Most software updates are only able to be conducted on macOS or windows. iPadOS is cool for traveling or consuming content but for working I’ll stick with my MacBook

  25. Well no my iPad’s can’t replace my Mac just yet! I have two I use my iPad mini for my main job, and iPad Pro for everything else. About 90% of what I do is done on either two iPad’s. If Xcode or Playground would get better and support App Extensions my iPad might be 100% of my workflow. I personally like playground netter them Xcode. I write fast code when using playgrounds.

    I like the mobility of an iPad better then a Mac.

  26. I personally haven’t owned a computer in about 12 years. I have been iPad only basically that a whole time. I just bought a iPad Pro 12.9, and, I don’t see me getting computer anytime soon still lol

  30. I have a iPad Pro only setup in combination of four servers at home. Wich I can acces from anywhere in the world through a SSH terminal or remote desktop. Connected through my own hosted VPN.

    I love the size and battery life. And able to charge it also on a plane, instead of a computer that need high voltage power. That’s why I go for a full iPad Pro only setup. The things that I can’t do on the iPad, I remotly connected to one of my servers and that’s how the job is done.

  36. HARD disagree that the iPad with Magic Keyboard is not “lappable.” It’s not that top heavy that it tips over. To test this, put it on a 90 flat surface and push the top of the tablet until it falls forward. Unless your lap is angled downward already, the iPad works perfectly well on your lap. Even better: there is no heat generated from the keyboard.