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It is rather clear that iPad is primary a media consumption + light work (email + MS Office + ssh terminal = thin client) machine. With recent additions of Pen

It is rather clear that iPad is primary a media consumption + light work (email + MS Office + ssh terminal = thin client) machine. With recent additions of Pen functionality it is also an amazing sketch book. But proper laptop is just in the different league for productivity. I tried using my iPad with external keyboard as the primary computer when my laptop was undergoing repairs and it was bearable, but not more than that.

jonplackett 6y ago
What was it you missed exactly? I'm assuming i would find the exact same, but i can't put my finger on exactly why.
- d_silin 6y ago
  To answer that and above comments - it is a combination of form-factor and software limitations. Lack of adjustable hinge/base part and excessive OS sandboxing.
_ph_ 6y ago
But why, is it anything hardware related, or isn't it, like the article described, a problem of the software infrastructure?
- qayxc 6y ago
  It's the software. The hardware of the iPad Pro is actually even better than the Macbook Air, considering the built-in cellular modem, additional camera, touch screen /w pencil support, motion sensors, two more speakers, micro-location, GPS, etc. The processing power should be behind the Macbook (whether that's significant, I don't know), but the next iteration could close the gap. If it wasn't for iPadOS artificially limiting the use cases, I'd see an iPad Pro with detachable keyboard as superior to a Macbook for the aforementioned reasons.
reader_mode 6y ago
I use a proper keyboard and mouse with my laptop almost exclusively (the only exception is unplanned work while traveling or content on the go). In that sense iPad pro form factor would be a strict improvement - it's far better for casual use and I can set up a home server to SSH into for development outside of home, iOS is a deal breaker however - I need to run some tools client side.

jonplackett 6y ago

What was it you missed exactly? I'm assuming i would find the exact same, but i can't put my finger on exactly why.

d_silin 6y ago
To answer that and above comments - it is a combination of form-factor and software limitations. Lack of adjustable hinge/base part and excessive OS sandboxing.

_ph_ 6y ago

But why, is it anything hardware related, or isn't it, like the article described, a problem of the software infrastructure?

qayxc 6y ago
It's the software. The hardware of the iPad Pro is actually even better than the Macbook Air, considering the built-in cellular modem, additional camera, touch screen /w pencil support, motion sensors, two more speakers, micro-location, GPS, etc. The processing power should be behind the Macbook (whether that's significant, I don't know), but the next iteration could close the gap. If it wasn't for iPadOS artificially limiting the use cases, I'd see an iPad Pro with detachable keyboard as superior to a Macbook for the aforementioned reasons.

reader_mode 6y ago

I use a proper keyboard and mouse with my laptop almost exclusively (the only exception is unplanned work while traveling or content on the go). In that sense iPad pro form factor would be a strict improvement - it's far better for casual use and I can set up a home server to SSH into for development outside of home, iOS is a deal breaker however - I need to run some tools client side.