And how incapable it is as well.
Ahhh, yes, of course. The anti-iPad crowd with their periodic reminder to ensure we are not in doubt as to where they stand. We hear you! 
By the way, my wife is in the same club. She will be buried one day many, many, many years from now clutching her MacBook Air.
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This! No type of device does it all and is perfect. The iPad does a lot of things that you can’t do on a Mac without a workaround, and the same goes the other way around. And that’s totally fine.
On the iPad I can work on a document by typing, but when I need to explain something to the person sitting next to me I can draw something with the pencil. It’s such a versatile device, I love it.
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This topic has been discussed time and time and time and time and time and time again. Can’t we just get along and agree that there is no one correct device for everybody? Each has their pros and cons. Let’s move onto subjects that rarely get debated in this forum like Weather apps and AI.
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Otherwise he will not have more contents for his website. Definitely he will write the same topic in different angles every half a year.
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The Device I want above all is the “MacBook Surface.” Attach a keyboard, the touch screen is disabled and it is a MacBook. Take the keyboard off it is an iPad. Throw a Cell modem on it and it is my perfect laptop.
Apple knows this. They do not care.
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I agree, after reading this article my biggest takeaway is that iPads are not the right tool for the work being described. The workflow still sucks compared to a Mac (swapping memory cards and cables everywhere).
I’d much prefer to use the right tool to get a job done and not waste thousands and lose days of productivity for an inferior workflow!
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I play guitar; a hobby I’ve had longer than tech. It’s the same in those spaces. “How many guitars does one truly need” and “why brand X is better than brand Y” and “why YOU NEED a brand Z if you’re taking this seriously at all.”
It’s fun to discuss the merits of all sides, but after a while it gets tiring, and content creators rely on this stuff to keep going. I’m sure there are channels about people who use Linux for everything, including things that aren’t “built in” to it.
If you like it, or are new to the scene, go for it. If you don’t, don’t watch or read. I’m in the latter camp at this point and feeling quite comfy.
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Alas you are correct. Im just sad they dont. I almost looked at a 5G surface because they wont.
Youre not wrong. The conversation is mostly played out at this point. Apple has little interest in making the iPad more than an iPad.
Have you used the Surface? They really aren’t that great. They are fine, but don’t do anything well. I have had 2 of them, I want to love them, but MS never really follows through. Windows is not a good tablet OS and third parties don’t make Windows tablet apps for the most part. You end up with this awkward to use semi-laptop thing.
Granted, I haven’t used one since Windows 8 was a thing.
Thats why I “almost” looked at it. Looking forward to the 5G Macbook though. My next iPad might be 5G since I very publicly declared that my next phone is a Light Phone. Need to at least have something with apps available.
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Using FaceTime you can share your screen on an iPad now.
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The latest pie-in-the-sky rumor is that Apple is working on a folding iPad.
It would be the size of two iPad’s side-by-side when unfolded.
If they actually make that in a few years, it would definitely tempt me back to the iPad - not as a laptop replacement, just as an iPad with the screen size i really want 
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Nice. I barely use my iPad Pro 12.9” . When I do , it’s usually for reading a book or watching video. I plan on using it when I learn to pay the piano, as I’ve read that size is perfect for sheet music .
My Macbook handles all the productivity and software development stuff. I’m pretty sure tools I use daily like colima, docker, git, homebrew,
ffmpeg, ansible, and so on won’t run on the iPad. Even productivity tools like YNAB desktop and Quicken Classic desktop won’t run on it.
I’ve never thought about a folding iPad, I probably wouldn’t like the extra bulk and weight. But I’ve often thought that larger iPads (17 - 20 inches?) would often work for many executives and decision makers.
The ones that I worked with over the years looked at reports, spreadsheets, and emails, made decisions, and then let those be known to their subordinates. A large iPad with a wireless keyboard that kept in a drawer would probably be all they need and wouldn’t be as intrusive as a separate monitor or a lunch tray size laptop. When they travel they could carry a smaller iPad and an iPhone like Tim Cook.
But who knows what we will be using in another 5+ years if AI agents are doing much of the work of producing reports, etc.
Thanks for relating this experience.
My computer of choice is the MBA. What could an iPad do that the MBA does not? The M1 have a fantastic battery life. The iPad does not have keyboard maestro , Alfred, Typinator.
I had forgotten about the form factor and accessibility. The courtroom experience highlighted that well.
Probably in terms of hours spent, the iPad mini wins. It is the perfect consumption device, because it is so tiny , but has more comfortable screen than the iPhone.
I prefer the Mac for getting work done, because I dont’ have to break my head with work arounds. In the past I have appreciated Viticci’s adventures with the iPad. I just want a device that can do the job I need, without the mental overload of figuring out what else I need to do to make it work.For me that’s the MBA/Mac mini.
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I can’t see that anyone has responded to this for you, so I just wanted to comment and let you know that in iOS18 (the current iOS) Apple added this functionality. During a FaceTime call you can request remote access to a device to control the other person’s device (obviously they need to consent on screen). There’s also a share screen function so that you can show what to do on your own device and they can follow along. Here’s the Apple support page on the function: Request or give remote control in a FaceTime call on iPhone – Apple Support (UK)
Obviously how helpful this is depends on how comfortable the person is with FaceTime, but it’s great that Apple added this functionality and recognised how many people are providing tech support for less confident users.
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Nicely articulated and impressive effort using the IPad to conduct your successful trial work!
I like Federico’s detailed iPad reviews purely to understand the work arounds. But his needs are way beyond mine.
I find my professional services work which involves persuading, informing etc is well suited to the iPad but constrained by company imposed limitations regarding access to server file systems (understandably)
I also have a MacBook Air which is mainly my back up system for files, photos etc and an enabler for an external ssd backup system. But I find myself using it less and less and more significantly, the less I use it, the more I find myself inadvertently messing up file locations due to its more complex OS. But it comes in handy for the odd work flow where websites don’t play nicely with the iPad.
If I could only settle on one device, ideally iPad and device size 11 vs 13 (currently have the luxury / cognitive stress of running both) I would be happy -maybe… 
Thanks to all for your insights!
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