The improvements that the iPads have received in recent years, both in software with the presentation of iPadOS and in hardware with the incorporation of the M1 Chips in the iPad Pro and iPad Air, have opened a sigma among a certain group of users who do not they know if iPad meets their workflow needs or if they need a Mac for everyday use. For this reason, in this post we are going to tell you in which cases you can replace your computer with an iPad, and of course, in which cases you cannot.
The iPad if it is your computer
Depending on your workflow, the iPad may be your ideal computer. On many occasions, users buy a laptop because they still do not trust enough that this device solves their work or personal needs every day. However, today the iPad, both in its Air and Pro versions, are computers that contain a consolidated operating system and hardware for tasks such as project writing, email management, video editing or graphic designers that require a suite of professional photo editing like Affinity Photo.
In relation to the previous paragraph, it has been commented if the iPad is a computer for the development and execution of some works. However, this equipment is also a computer if you perform higher education, where the iPad can be an ideal complement and even offer advantages that a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro does not have. Specifically, if you are doing a degree in the humanities or social sciences, where you are not going to need technical programs such as AutoCad, Blender, Maya and many management tools such as note-taking, tools such as the Office suite appear in the App Store or native Apple apps like Keynote or Pages. These applications, despite the fact that they are in macOS too, the touch screen and the Apple Pencil provide a better user experience. In addition, there are specific applications for iPadOS such as Notability or GoodNotes, giving a difference in use between a Mac and an iPad.
The best option will be to buy a Mac.
one of the greats problems which presents the iPad as substitute for a computer is that many applications are not adapted for iPadOS. Added to this problem of inadaptability is the fact that the hardware that both the iPad Air and the iPad Pro carry has M1 chips, the same processor that Apple carries in its entry-level MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. At first, the fact that it contains this chip is a great advantage for certain users, but the problem lies when in its versions, the possibility of being able to expand the RAM does not appear, falling short to develop certain projects.
If you are a computer scientist who needs to compile code, an engineer, a 3D video game designer or create virtual environments, the iPad is not your device, especially from a software point of view and to a lesser extent from a hardware point of view, since many applications are not adapted to iPadOS, so you’ll get a great team, but not your team.
What type of user are you?
We have seen that the iPad is a computer in those cases that the applications are adapted to its iPadOS operating system, portability, the Apple Pencil, its touch screen, the possibility of being able to connect it to an external monitor and the incorporation of the most powerful chips Apple will mean an increase in productivity and performance without palliatives. On the other hand, if the applications require high RAM memory and are not adapted for iPadOS, it is recommended that you purchase a MacBook or iMac because you will make an economic outlay that will be reflected in your professional performance.