I have been primarily using an iPad Pro for a little over a year. I went this route because my work horse 2011 MacBook Pro, while still working, is not working as well as it did when I first got it. For a while, while my MacBook was unavailable, I used an iPad Air 2 with a keyboard to get most things done. This experience really got me thinking about what the limitations of the iPad really are, versus the limits of my knowledge of how to use the device.
Part of the decision to go with the iPad Pro over buying another MacBook (Pro or Air) had to do with how much I like to use iPad OS. While there was a stretch of time where it was necessary to figure out how to do my tasks with apps and the operating system, the experience caused me to develop an affinity with iPadOS. While some people complain about multitasking, I found it to be very useful and with some tweaks to my workflow, I was able to get it to work almost as I needed.
Almost is where the story really begins. My current setup is a 2018 12.9 inch iPad Pro in a Smart Keyboard cover and the Apple Pencil. When I bought it, the plan was that this was going to be my daily driver. My computing needs primarily revolve around writing, email, household accounting, task management and social media. None of these functions require a ton of computing power. I don't write code or edit large audio or video projects, so it seemed like the iPad would be up to the missions that I have. For the most part, my tasks are nearly achievable with the iPad.
I was able to adapt the stuff that I do to the new environment. In my day job though, I use Excel quite a bit. I have learned to do a lot of things with the software, in terms of analyzing data and looking for trends. Excel has been a key part of my work for over 15 years and it has become a comfortable tool for doing statistical analysis. When I tried to go with the iPad only lifestyle, I started using Numbers. It was because it came on the iPad and I was able to figure out how to make it fit into my workflow. I wrote some simple formulas for doing some basic spreadsheet work. As I worked on the templates and macros, I wanted to add more functionality and automation to the sheet. I quickly realized that there is some functions in Excel that is missing in Numbers, namely being able to do pivot tables with the data. A pivot table is a tool used to breakdown larger statistical data sets based on categories that the data falls into. I use them to evaluate how frequently certain things happen in my work. I also use them at home to break down the expenditures in my family's budget by category. Numbers kinda sorta break down the data, based on category, but there is still some manually math that has to happen to get to where a pivot table in Excel gets me. Why do math in a calculator from numbers on a spreadsheet? I installed Office 365 on my iPad and it bridged a lot more of the gap between what I needed to do and the limits of the iPad. However, it is still not possible in the MacOS version of Excel to create a pivot table. A previously created table can be refreshed, but a Mac or PC is required to build the initial pivot table. That was one problem that was beyond the iPad to solve.
Another thing that I was not able to do in MacOS was to use some of the functionality on some websites that I work in. Whenever I went to access those sites, the operating system keeps trying to push me to use the app version of the product. The apps have a lot of limitations when compared to the web version of the product. I needed to access the sites on a Mac or PC to use all of the functionality available. That was a second problem that was beyond the iPad's grasp.
Even though I don't write code, I do write formulas and equations for analyzing data sets. I have been doing this for a long time and have gotten in the habit of using the Escape key when I have made a mistake in my formula and need the algorithm to go away so I can start it over. The smart keyboard does not have an Escape key. I don't know of a keyboard made to go with the iPad that has an Escape key. I know that I could remap a key to give myself one, but, that would not solve the problem of muscle memory. Sometimes, I use the back-tick (`) and remapping that key just changes the name of my problem instead of solving it. I remember when Apple released the first Touch Bar MacBook Pro models and developers talked about the lack of a physical Escape key and I could relate the the concern.
For as much as I wanted my iPad Pro to be my only computer, I find myself in that space where it was not going to solve all of my computing needs. Also, it created some artificial limits
around developing future skills. There have been more than a few occasions where I have thought of teaching myself how to write code. As a result, I bought a 2020 MacBook Air. The scissor switch problems on Apple laptops that people were reporting was part of my reason with trying to go iPad only. I was determined to wait through the era of the scissor switch keyboards before I considered buying a new Mac. While the 16 inch MacBook Pro came out earlier this year, it is way more computer than I need or could afford. My daughter told me that she likes my computer. "It is cute and small," she said. Ironic considering I think my wife's 17 inch laptop is huge. Generally speaking, I am not a fan of bigger laptops. If I need something that big, I wouldn't haul it around much, so an iMac would do the job.
As far as the MacBook Air goes, I freaking love this thing. Even for being a consumer grade computer, it out performs my old MacBook Pro. Considering that the Air it is almost 10 years newer, it should out run my MacBook Pro. I also love not having to deal with the response times of spinning hard drives. The 13 inch MacBook Pro was announced the Monday after I ordered the Air. If I edited video in 4K, or wrote code professionally, I would have cancelled my Air order and gone with the new 13 inch MacBook Pro. The thought that Apple would start making computers with ARM chipsets, instead of Intel, was not something I had considered a near term possibly. The Air not only meets my short term needs, but I think I will be able to use it for many years to come. I did the migration of my data from the old machine overnight and it took about 5 hours. I am glad that I slept through that. So far, in the time that I have had it, I have not had any trouble with the Air. I love how the keyboard feels as I type and there is a physical Esc key. It feels like things are in order. While some people have talked about problems with thermal performance, I have not experienced any of those issues. I also don't try to use my MacBook like a gaming PC. Another plus to the Air, versus my old MacBook Pro is that I can reliably do video calls on it. With job interviews being done on Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype, The MacBook Air has been able to handle it. I am not sure that my MacBook Pro could have. Even with the 720p camera, I have been clear on camera and the people I have been meeting with have been able to hear me with no issues.
Where does this leave me, in terms of my iPad? I still use it every day and it accomplishes a lot of my basic tasks. The workflows that I developed for performing tasks on the iPad are still faster to do than on my MacBook, so I still gravitate to it for those actions. I am also using it for things, like email, that I do in the evening while watching TV with the family. I am also using the MacBook on a daily basis. It has been perfect for doing things, like job hunting, where some of the websites do not allow the use of a phone or tablet. I am also using it to do things like building more complicated spreadsheets and teaching myself how to code. Mostly the computer that is in front of me is the computer that I can get things done with.
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