Seriously, I understand your point completely. All I can say is that for a workflow consisting primarily of researching, reading, annotating, writing, and manipulating text, the iPad is a wonderful device. Need a wider screen? Work in landscape. Need more vertical space? Rotate to portrait. Portrait orientation is far more natural for reading long documents, articles, or books than the MacBook Pro’s fixed landscape format. Want to select text, drag elements, or zoom directly? Use touch. The immediacy of manipulating content with your fingers feels more intuitive than using a trackpad. Need to type? Attach the keyboard. Want to brainstorm or take meeting notes unobtrusively? Grab the Apple Pencil and write in Apple Notes or Freeform. Want to annotate or sign a PDF? Open Preview and use the Apple Pencil. Heading out to the coffee shop to do some work? Grab the iPad. Need a bigger screen? Connect to the monitor and wireless keyboard and trackpad. Always available cellular? The iPad has that. And more.
Are there points of friction, sometimes major friction? Absolutely, which is why I keep my MacBook Pro around. But overall, for a text-based workflow, the iPad is a wonderful computer, and yes, it is a computer.
Yes, this is the confusion for me. Our workflows aren’t that different, despite our different contexts. We’re both organizational leaders who spend most of our time with text: in conversations, gathering information, rallying people to make and implement the best decision, and removing obstacles. I’ve always read your posts and workflows carefully because of that.
This is why my feeling is “how am I doing this so wrong?!?!”
I think text manipulation on the iPad is horrible. Selecting text with touch is about the fussiest thing I do (even trying to do it editing this post has reinforced that!). I find the keyboard “fine,” but very unsatisfying compared to my real keyboards. I’ve tried for years to make the Apple Pencil work for me in notes or Freeform but, sorry to use this word again, it feels so fussy all the time. I was excited to see Preview come to iPad this go round, but so far have pretty much only found it fraught with limitations.
And on that note, I hope my posts come across as inquisitive (and perhaps confused) but not argumentative. I believe your report of your own experience; I’m perplexed why I can’t recreate it. I’ve spent money on additional tools and carry around way too much technology because I can’t get the iPad and pencil combo to be sufficient travel (or even daily) companions.
Second, your posts and responses are always respectful, informative, and appreciated! Thank you.
Third, I may be wrong. I could be fooling myself or trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, but what I’ve noticed is that when I have both devices near me (MBP and 13” iPad Pro), I almost always reach for the iPad unless I know the task at hand is going to be more complex (e.g., bulk file management, creating complex Keynotes,though I’ve nearly eliminated the use of slides, as I think we have become too dependent on them, or large, complex spreadsheets, which our CFO fortunately handles, sparing me the misery of it all ). I think the reasons I reach for the iPad are:
• It is modular and more flexible.
• It is lighter—I do much of my work sitting on the couch in my office or a recliner at home. I’ve reached the point where I rarely like sitting at a desk.
• The screen is far better. However, if the rumors are correct, the upcoming MBPs may get the same screen.
Perhaps I’m wrong about this. After all, many who are far more tech-savvy than I (David Sparks, Stephen Hackett, Federico Viticci, and nearly everyone in this forum) use the iPad as a secondary, complementary device.
I want to offer another angle. I’ve seen this complaint many times, and it always reminds me of someone saying: “My truck has the same horsepower as my sports car—why doesn’t it drive like one?” Because they’re designed for different purposes.
In product design, everything is a trade-off. Target market and form factor dictate what a device is optimized for. No product can be great at everything. A well-designed product is great for its intended users, and less ideal for others—and that isn’t a flaw; it’s reality.
Several years ago, I traveled with a huge, wheeled briefcase loaded with project documents, customer files, brochures, and reference materials. Today, my 11" M4 iPad Pro holds every file related to my company—project folders, product details, even 3D models—with far superior search and organization.
I’m also a heavy reader. I used to own more than a thousand physical books. Now they live on my iPad, along with family photos, maps, travel information, and anything else I might need to reference. It’s remarkable how much of my world fits into one compact device.
But I don’t expect it to replace my work machine for creation, because that’s not its role—no more than my iPhone would be. Different tools for different jobs. And when you treat the iPad for what it is—a portable reference, research, reading, and field-work device—it becomes one of the most valuable pieces of technology you can carry.
Expecting it to be a laptop is misunderstanding the design
Why? There are many who are more savvy about today’s cars & trucks that I am, but I don’t ask them what I should drive.
Of the years between finishing my formal education and retiring, about 50% was spent in I.T. And I probably had more in common with a couple of lawyers I discovered online, years ago, than I do with anyone I read or listen to today.
You know what works for you. Just like the people I used to support knew what worked for them, after they became proficient in their job.
You are correct, of course. When it comes to technology, I have a tendency to seek the elusive perfect setup and workflow. As I have considered this tendency, it has slowly dawned on me that there is something rather unique about modern digital technology: it is an ever-changing and rapidly evolving environment surrounded by a cloud of hype that tempts one to search continuously for the Holy Grail of the perfected productivity system. The irony is that this fool’s errand proves counterproductive. I think I need to stop overthinking my tools and processes, relax, and enjoy the tools I am blessed to work with.
“I think I need to stop overthinking my tools and processes, relax, and enjoy the tools I am blessed to work with.”
Ya…sure…right….that’s going to work. Good luck with that concept. I’ve tried that for the last 25+ years and NEVER been successful. Damn Apple! (Just my feeble attempt at humor) Great discussion!
Your “condemnation” of Apple led me to wonder: Is this obsessive tinkering with workflows also an affliction suffered by those using Windows and Microsoft Office (or Google), or is it a uniquely Apple-inspired malady? I don’t visit Windows, MS Office, or Google focused forums so I have no context to judge this.
My guess would be “tinkering with workflows” would be limited to smaller organizations, and those in authority? Larger companies generally control the software allowed to be used with their data.
But I would be interested in knowing the answer to your question too.
