I’ve always loved the iPad—not just because I’ve always wanted one, but because I’ve always wanted to make it an important part of my life. However, this isn’t the case today, given that I only use it for entertainment on the go or for watching soccer matches without monopolizing the TV at home. I wish it could be more than that.
Since the launch of the M4 iPad Pro, and with little hope that iPadOS 18 would bring significant changes (spoiler: it didn’t), I’ve been considering using it as my primary computer, replacing my 2021 MacBook Pro.
A Look to the Future
When you take the iPad Pro out of its box, it’s truly impressive. Whether you’re an Apple fan or not, it’s hard to deny the impact of seeing such a thin device at just 0.21 inches thick. Its design is simply flawless. Some highlights:
- Incredibly thin and light
- A stunning 13-inch OLED screen
- M4 chip, the same one that next-generation Macs will use
- A front camera on the long side, which is perfect for video calls
Image: Xataka
I attached the Magic Keyboard and saw what looks like the MacBook of the future: a large touchscreen, a detachable keyboard for when you don’t need it, and the power of a Mac in an ultra-portable form factor.
Where the iPad Stands Out
There are tasks where the iPad not only equals but also surpasses my MacBook:
1. Multimedia consumption: Watching shows and movies, reading articles, or watching sports is a fantastic experience. The OLED screen and the ability to use it as a tablet make it unbeatable.
2. Note-taking and brainstorming: With the Apple Pencil Pro, apps like Freeform or Goodnotes have become very powerful tools. Drawing, sketching, or jotting down ideas is very satisfying.
3. Photo editing: With Pixelmator Photo (or equivalents like Affinity Photo), I was able to take full advantage of the touchscreen and Pencil, making editing more precise. Plus, the OLED panel is very pleasing.
4. Video calling: The new camera position and Center Stage feature, which keeps you centered even if you move, improves video calls.
5. Extreme portability: Taking the iPad Pro to a coffee shop, to any mobile support, or even using it on the couch is more comfortable and versatile than a traditional laptop.
One detail I particularly appreciate about the Magic Keyboard is its additional USB-C connector, which is only for charging. It frees up the iPad’s only port and allows the charging cable to sit at table height, not elevated. | Image: Xataka
Where the iPad Falls Short
As time passed, however, I began to encounter several limitations:
1. File management: While the native Files app is functional, it falls far short of macOS. It has limited capabilities for using external drives and organizing large numbers of files.
2. Multitasking: Although Stage Manager improved multitasking, it still isn’t as smooth as macOS. Managing multiple windows and apps simultaneously isn’t as intuitive or fluid.
3. Software compatibility: Professional apps on iPad OS are either non-existent or limited compared to their desktop versions.
4. Customization and advanced capabilities: Due to system restrictions similar to those of iOS, iPadOS lacks the small utilities found in macOS, such as the context menu, menu bar, and background processes.
For instance, I use the Paste app to expand my clipboard’s memory so that I don’t lose anything I’ve copied or quickly find something I copied a few days ago. However, this kind of app isn’t available for the iPad. Windows, on the other hand, includes a similar native feature.
The Elephant in the Room: iPadOS
The iPad Pro has an incredible design and excellent hardware. It’s thin, powerful, and versatile, featuring the same M4 chip that will be used in many upcoming Macs.
Additionally, the detachable keyboard and large touchscreen add to its versatility. This makes it a pleasure to use… until you start needing more advanced capabilities.
You’ll then realize that the iPadOS, while improved, is still an operating system originally designed for tablets and inherited from mobile devices rather than being designed from scratch for professional productivity computers.
The Surface Pro leads the way with the same versatility but much more complete productivity. Approaching the iPad Pro as a productive device is futile without a desktop operating system or an iPadOS unchained from its atavistic limitations. With shortcomings and frustrations, the work is geared towards enabling the process, not the outcome.
As a result, I’ve felt that I have far more desire to turn the iPad Pro into my computer than the iPad’s actual ability to fulfill that role.
So Close, Yet So Far
My experience has been bittersweet, although a bit more bitter than sweet.
The iPad Pro is an incredible device that can surely replace many users’ traditional laptops. If your work involves creative tasks, especially those that utilize the Pencil, content consumption, or basic office tasks, the iPad Pro might be sufficient.
However, the iPad Pro still falls short for professionals who require the full flexibility of a desktop operating system. It’s not a hardware issue but rather the limitations imposed by iPadOS that make certain tasks either impossible or frustrating to complete.
The iPad comes in four models–mini, standard, Air, and Pro. iPadOS is compatible with all of them. Yet, it doesn’t make sense for a smaller or cheaper model to have the same operating system as a larger, more expensive one. This is different from how Macs work.
I hope that Apple will eventually promote the iPad as the computer of the future and develop an iPadOS that matches its hardware or even allows the iPad Pro to run macOS. Here’s an idea: When the keyboard and trackpad are attached, the iPad should run macOS. When they’re not, it should run iPadOS.
Until any of these options become available, the iPad Pro will continue to be a great idea for the future, but we still live in the present. As such, the potential it offers is far from becoming a reality.
Image | Xataka
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