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Experienced a Week with iPad Pro as a Laptop - Swiftly Returned to Windows's Embrace

Spent an entire week relying on iPad Pro as my primary device, awarding it near-top marks. One might wonder then, how could it possibly disappoint?

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3 min read
Experienced daily life utilizing the iPad Pro for an entire week, awarding it a near-spotless...
Experienced daily life utilizing the iPad Pro for an entire week, awarding it a near-spotless review. One might wonder, given such a high rating, what potential drawbacks could possibly exist?

Experienced a Week with iPad Pro as a Laptop - Swiftly Returned to Windows's Embrace

Fresh Take:

After a week of living life as a digital nomad with the Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch Gen 6, it turns out, a tablet ain't always heaven. Oh, the hardware? Stellar, no question. But some good ol' fashioned software issues ruined my humble tablet utopia.

Let's start with what made the iPad Pro an ideal laptop contender. The Magic Keyboard proved to be a sturdy, comfy companion, withstandable gusts of wind and all. I even managed to regain my seasons-honored 78 WPM typing speed post-iPad resume. But it's the attached stand that elevated the tablet to a comfortable workstation, mitigating unsteady landscapes such as my couch.

But here's the kicker. The real villain isn't the hardware, or even its reduced-size sibling, the iPadOS, in its entirety. Instead, it's the iPadOS in its iOS context. You see, fellow tech enthusiasts, Apple bolted the iPadOS name to the iPads way back in 2019. Yet deep down, they still regard it as iOS leftovers.

Here's What I Loved about the iPad Pro for a Week:

  • Magic Keyboard: Obviously durable and user-friendly, making the iPad Pro more laptop-like after some time.
  • Stage Manager: Swiftly navigation in a browser-like setting, making productivity a breeze.

Here's What Made Me Facepalm:

  • iPadOS: An excellent operating system for a phone, no contest. Apple, please treat it like an iPad, not an iPhone-lite! Restrictive mobile software makes the iPad Pro anything but a laptop replacement.

My Tests and Tortures

First things first, I opened Google Chrome. Low and behold, it treated me like I was scrolling through some basic phone screen. The UI was a mess. But I tweaked some settings, and it somewhat improved. But Gmail? A whole new nightmare. The display was a mess, and I was forced to use the app for normal functionality. And then Google Docs (the browser version)? You need the app for that too. Believe me; it's an unforgivable first-world issue.

And yes, I'm upset. I dropped nothing less than $2,477 on this tablet, not a phone! Go figure!

But guess what? I could get used to these restrictions. But do I want to? No way. macOS is the only operating system that could convince me to take my life as an iPad Pro user to the next level. And don't get me wrong, Apple has macOS, but they're still using iOS for the iPads.

Here's what the iPad Pro needs to become a true laptop replacement:

  • Improved UI for Productivity Apps
  • Multitasking and Window Management
  • Expanded External Display Support
  • Robust Accessory and Peripheral Support
  • Background Task and RAM Management

Let's hope future iPadOS updates address these issues, making the iPad Pro shine as the laptop replacement it's longing to be. Until then, the MacBook Pro remains the better choice for me and many other productivity-oriented users.

Enrichment Data:

For the iPad Pro to function effectively as a laptop replacement, several improvements in iPadOS are widely recognized as essential by users and tech experts:

  • Enhanced Multitasking and Window Management: Better background processing, persistent app state, and flexible windowing are crucial to offer an experience similar to desktop operating systems.
  • Expanded External Display Support: Complete external display support, allowing for multiple windows and flexible screen management, similar to macOS.
  • Improved App and File System Flexibility: Better optimization of productivity apps, expanded file management, and support for traditional software workflows.
  • Robust Accessory and Peripheral Support: Improved mouse/trackpad precision, support for more input devices, and better user experience for long productivity sessions.

Future Outlook:The upcoming iPadOS releases, such as iPadOS 19 with the M5 chip, are expected to address some of these issues with improved multitasking, expanded external display support, and new Stage Manager features. However, until iPadOS matches the flexibility and capability of desktop-class operating systems in key areas, the iPad Pro will remain a secondary device for many users.

  • The Magic Keyboard, attached to the iPad Pro, provided a comfortable and durable typing experience, making the tablet feel more laptop-like.
  • The stage manager feature facilitated smooth navigation, enhancing productivity on the iPad Pro.
  • Despite the iPad Pro's hardware excellence, the restrictive iPadOS, rooted in iOS, hindered its potential as a laptop replacement.
  • Google Chrome on the iPad Pro displayed a lackluster UI, making navigation challenging, while productivity apps such as Gmail, Gmail, and Google Docs (browser version) necessitated the use of their respective apps.
  • The iPad Pro's high price point, similar to a laptop, left users feeling underwhelmed when faced with mobile software limitations.
  • For the iPad Pro to become a true laptop replacement, it needs improvements in UI for productivity apps, multitasking and window management, expanded external display support, robust accessory and peripheral support, and better background task and RAM management.
  • Future iPadOS updates, such as iPadOS 19 with the M5 chip, may address some of these issues, including improved multitasking, expanded external display support, and new Stage Manager features.
  • Until iPadOS matches the flexibility and capability of desktop-class operating systems, the iPad Pro will continue to be a secondary device for many productivity-oriented users, with the MacBook Pro remaining the preferred choice.

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