Surface Ripples

Not A Desktop

 I purchased the new iPad Pro (12.9” model) at the end of 2018, firstly because I needed to update my older model and secondly to see whether all the ‘hype’ surrounding the new ‘Pro’ series was, in my opinion, justified, particularly the claims that this could really be a ‘desktop substitute’.

My work involves plenty of online research, copious use of email (over six different email accounts, using the Microsoft Office suite (WORD, EXCEL, PowerPoint) daily, reading articles and books online to improve my professional knowledge and skills and networking through LinkedIn.  

My current laptop is a 16” MacBook Pro and I often have multiple peripherals plugged into its four USB-C ports.

So, what’s the verdict?

Pros:

• The iPad Pro 12.9” allows for all the activities I describe above, when combined with a keyboard (I invested in Apple’s ‘Smart Keyboard Folio’ although there are better alternatives out there) and Apple’s ‘Magic Mouse’.
• It does behave in many ways like a 13” laptop might.
• The screen is of good quality and processing speed is still acceptable for my needs two years on, despite newer, faster (supposedly) models being introduced. 
• Using the ‘Smart Keyboard Folio’ allows me to fold it back behind the iPad when I want to use the latter in portrait mode – this is not possible if you buy the ‘Magic Keyboard’, which forces you to use landscape mode only.  
• Purchasing Microsoft Office 365 allows a fair degree of the functionality of the full desktop/laptop version on the iPad, although certain features aren’t available.  For this, one needs to set up the document/spreadsheet or PowerPoint presentation on a desktop and then save to OneDrive for editing on the iPad.
• The inflexible ‘Smart Keyboard Folio’ base means you can rest the iPad on your knees when working.
• The USB-C charging port accepts USB-C memory sticks and can read the contents.  This means I can copy/backup to an external memory source to protect my documents.  I can also use it to plug in a ‘docking port’ which expands its connectivity (e.g., to and additional USB-C port, USB-A ports, HDMI port, 3.5mm jack audio devices, SD and Micro-SD cards).
• Like all Apple devices, it can be connected to external monitors with the right adaptor.

Cons:

• I need to be able to have multiple tabs, programmes and documents, spreadsheets and/or presentations open at a time.  The iPad offers some ability on this side, but the small screen and limited ‘scrolling’ capabilities mean that I inevitably revert to one document open at a time (although multiple apps are not a problem).  This slows me down and reduces productivity.
• Despite its relatively small size, once you add in the keyboard, the 12.9” iPad weighs in at c. 1.2kg.  This makes it heavy to hold in the hand for any lengthy period without support of some kind.
• Its ‘footprint’ is still quite large (close to a 13” laptop).
• I rarely use the docking port (although it’s useful to have when needed).
• When plugged into an external monitor, the screen size reflected is still a mirror image of the iPad screen (so smaller than the external monitor screen).

Conclusion:

Despite not being what some would call a ‘power user’, my work requires that I have certain capabilities available which the iPad 12.9” just doesn’t deliver, so it isn’t a laptop/desktop substitute for my needs and work style.  If you mainly use it for video editing, web surfing and social media, it’s great.  I found that I can use it as a temporary laptop substitute for my kind of work for about two weeks, but for ‘power use’ (e.g., multiple windows, etc, open) it doesn’t deliver for me. 

I won’t be dumping my current 16” MacBook in favour of the iPad only, although I’m looking at reducing the size to a 14” model when I next need to update, as it’s still a beast to lug around at 2kg!  The 16” is a great laptop and I can work happily on its screen all day without the need to plug into an external monitor, but my work is usually office (home or other) bound where I have an external monitor when I need it.  

Labels: Productivity

posted by William Martin @ 10:23