Where the iPad Shines

Hardware
1

Yesterday I was at a pickleball tournament and decided to bring my iPad. I had the Apple Pencil attached and I would jot down notes and take photos of the players playing. It was great to be able to circle things in the photo and draw arrows etc to communicate what I was thinking.

None of this would be possible with a MacBook Air, there is no camera, Apple Pencil support, let alone built in internet access. The keyboard and trackpad are always attached making it clumsy to walk around and use it.

I love the Mac and MacOS and it does things brilliantly, but there are just times when the iPad is better as in my story above. I’m glad we live in a time where both products are being worked on by Apple and integrate really well. I love I can sit down in front of my Mac with a giant monitor and study those photos in more detail.

13 Likes
2

If Apple brought the Watch app to the iPad. I would ditch my iPhone for a Cellular iPad Mini (or Cheap iPad) and an Apple Watch Ultra so fast.

4 Likes
3

Yes, that’s a way of handicapping of the iPad that I cannot begin to understand. How many people have Apple Watches without an iPhone? No need to push the sales here.

4

Unless I’m being stupid, the only way to have an Apple Watch without an iPhone is to use the Family sharing and get a family member to set it up for you.

1 Like
5

My dream set up to deal with the mental health issues of phone usage would be an Apple Watch + an iPad (when I need Apps)

6

Yup its marketed as a way for parents to not have to get their kids iPhones but still part of the ecosystem and connected.

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7

I just used my iPad Air and pencil for a home inspection. Great being able to walk around and keep up. I like the way notes app can clean up my handwriting a little, in cases like this where accuracy is most important.

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8

I like that feature too. My handwriting is bad enough that sometimes I don’t even know what I wrote! But Notes is pretty good at figuring it out.

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9

What size iPad do you have? Mini or 11? Just curious what size you find portable and functional.

Am ruminating on ditching my 11” for a mini.

Thanks

10

I have the biggest one, the 13 inch! Without the keyboard it’s surprisingly light! Certainly much lighter than my 16 inch MacBook Pro.

11

Thanks! Impressive you use it like a smaller iPad.

Actually, I shouldn’t be surprised. I had a 12.9” with Magic Keyboard and also the previous Apple Smart Folio keyboard. The Smart Folio keyboard was a fantastic - functional and light. I enjoyed using that a lot when out of home/office.

Sadly they don’t make that keyboard anymore and there deosn’t appear to be any off-market brands for the 13”.

1 Like