Mostly I think this topic has been way over-done with so much of the same stuff repeated. Ugh.
Anyhoo, a few thoughts. Ha, yeah, sorry, long post, I can’t help myself!
It’s seemed to me for awhile now that Federico would likely move back to the Mac… or maybe that he should. He obviously loves the iPad but he really pushes hard to make it work for him. I’ve marveled at the workflows he comes up with. I think another thing that happens with well known podcasters/writers/publishers is that they get a reputation, get to be known for certain things and those things become a part of their professional identity and role. That seems like it might be a part of the equation here.
My thinking on the various known iPad enthusiasts going back to the Mac is hey, do what works for you! That said, the iPad Pro and iPadOS are both more capable in 2022 than they were in 2021 and more capable than they were in 2020, 2019, 2018… in other words, the hardware and OS get better every year. I think it’s easy to argue that the strides and changes made to iPadOS are more significant than the more minor iterations brought to macOS which is older and far more mature.
Something that I often see stated (in one way or another) that seems silly is the above sort of thing: “…unless you have very basic work requirements…” My take from that kind of statement is that many people just never learned how to use the advanced features of the iPad. Or, put another way, people coming from the Mac, expecting to use the iPad, didn’t spend the necessary time to get comfortable with it. It’s not the same device there’s no doubt that touch-based multitasking and the multitasking flow is very different.
As someone fluent in iPad multitasking I’ve come to feel that it’s better than the multitasking on the Mac, especially on the M1 iPad with the additional memory available. My “very basic work requirements” include managing 10+ client websites, that’s updating html, CSS, changing existing design elements, creating new designs, creating or editing graphics assets, editing photos, etc. All done from iPad often moving between 2 to 5 apps or more… Textastic for code, Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, Mail, Messages, Files and/or Slack. And done so fluidly and efficiently without delay or waiting for apps to reload.
Multitasking better than the Mac? I can hear the groans. Yes. On the Mac I’ve got a desktop dedicated to communications: Slack, Mail, Messages. My 27" is divided into 3 windows. Then I’ve got Textastic, Finder and an FTP app on another Desktop and often one of the Affinity Apps on another. Or possibly Safari for reference material. Years ago I would likely have had all these on one Desktop with overlapping windows. I tried that again recently and it takes me more time to find what I want. But, let’s say I’m working in Textastic to edit the html of a page. Or Affinity on a graphic. And then I need to reference an email or an ongoing chat in Messages or Slack. I can Command-Tab to change back and forth. Or I can minimize Textastic to dock or invoke mission control and drag a window to another desktop. Or a combination of things. But I can’t be working on an app (full screen or split screen) and swipe up on the dock and drag additional windows around the way I can on iPad.
On the iPad I can be working in Textastic and split screen with another app and switch apps back and forth so quickly. Add to that having a third app in slide over which I often do. If I need to flip over to, say, the Affinity App I can do that. If I need to reference Mail, Messages or Slack while working on the graphic in Affinity I can swipe, drag the app icon up to the second split or to the slide over. It’s so much more flexible and fluid.
With the Mac I am limited to either overlapping windows all on one screen and/or minimizing to the dock and/or command tabbing. It feels so clumsy. The only time the Mac would be better for me is if I needed 4 or more different app windows open to cross reference at the same time for a task. I never need to see 4 apps at exactly the same time/same screen. For workflows where that many apps are needed, well, I can see how that would be a problem.
I actually kinda worry because selfishly, for me, I find the current multitasking to be nearly perfect for me. Some of what I hear Frederico (and others) suggest I like (the option to snap 3 or maybe 4 apps to a grid), other bits, not so much. His desires for the iPad are pushing it closer and closer to the Mac. I don’t mind greater complexity as long as current options remain relatively intact.
Now, all that said, of course iPadOS is not perfect! There are things to improve and no one will ever be entirely happy. I’ve got a few things I’d like to see improved upon, namely Smart Folders for all the apps: Mail, Contacts, Files. And in general bringing the various included system apps up to the parity with the Mac where it’s possible and makes sense in terms of features.
I’ve spent the past 3 months attempting to use my recently upgraded to M1 Mac Mini and just generally, trying to reacquaint myself with macOS and it’s been okay. But generally speaking, I get more joy out of using the iPad and feel like I get my work done there with less effort and friction.