That’s true, but it looks like iPadOS will never be “a full MacOS”. Instead, recent changes to macOS suggest that Apple may continue to lock down the Mac. One example of this is being discussed in another thread: https://talk.macpowerusers.com/t/did-you-update-your-dropbox-client-yet-mac/
- Your Dropbox folder will be moved to ~/Library/CloudStorage.
- Changing the location of your Dropbox folder is no longer supported by macOS.
Why force Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, etc. users to store their remote files in ~Library? Security?
Apple doesn’t always go into details when issuing a security update but “Apple security documents reference vulnerabilities by CVE-ID when possible.” And this information is available on Apple’s website as well as https://cve.mitre.org
As of today Apple has reported 447 vulnerabilities in 2022, 175 for code execution.
I don’t think the Mac will ever be as locked down as iOS/iPadOS. But I don’t expect them to make many/any changes to the iPad/iPhone that would lessen security.
Apple has addressed this limitation. Even if it is too heavy and too expensive, IMO.
Since it uses the same chips as the Mac there is no technical reason an iPad can’t have equal or better battery life as the Mac. However I’m not sure how many people would be interested in a “chubby” iPad Pro.
I only needed a browser, email, file storage, and a way to connect to other computers and devices to do the bulk of my job. I normally used an 8GB MBA/MBP, and either an external monitor or an 8GB 21.5" iMac to use when connecting to other computers and devices.
Macs/PCs have mainly been my “digital assistant”. That’s what allows me to use an iPad Pro today. And what could have allowed me to replace my MacBook if a M1 iPad Pro had existed five + years ago.
iPads weren’t designed to replace Macs but they may be more secure and, in some situations, a better choice. It’s not a case of Mac vs iPad. It’s Mac and/or iPad.