I Used an iPad Pro As My Computer for 1500 days, Here’s What I’ve Learned

I have spent close to 5 years using my iPad Pro as my main computer. While I love it there are some things I've learned over this time that I think people should know before diving in and doing the same thing.

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Twitter: @nandoprince93

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0:00 - Intro
0:54 - Back Story on My iPad use
3:04 - The Good About the iPad Pro
6:34 - Paperlike Sponsor
7:44 - The OS
9:55 - The Hard Truths of iPad Pro Life
12:54 - Do I recommend an iPad?
14:25 - Final Take

#ipados17
#ios17
#ipadpro

[nuwannilanka]

I used iPad Pro for three years as my main device for day-to-day usage. I used it to apply for jobs and brought it for interviews. It works!!!

[akosGTA]

This is gold. You can tell why you use it, when others could have the same experience and when not. Really a rare review.

[rorydeon]

I use my iPad Pro (12.9 M1) for 95% of my daily use. I’m a writer and painter, mostly. But there are a few apps that I need my MacBook Pro for: database development and web development. Neither app is available for iPad. As soon as those projects end, it will be ipad all the way. Thanks for the great iPad coverage through the years—I’ve been following you (silently) since long before 9to5. Looking forward to your future videos.

[DimeMedia]

I completely transitioned from MBP and Mac Pro to my M1 iPad Pro after 20+ of using desktop. As professional Audio Engineer and Media company Founder/Director, I was able to do ALL my professional work for all my clients (big and small) on my iPad and I haven’t looked back, without any compromise in quality. None of my clients could tell the difference. It’s definitely changed my life and how I work day-to-day.

[jerryvincent]

When the country locked down for covad i purchased a I-Pad 2020 pro and have never looked back. Love the system and can’t learn enough about it.

[Elle]

My laptop gave way about 1 month after I purchased my iPad 11 M2 pro. While taking my time to decide, I gradually started doing everything on the iPad. Some things are easier than others but with Logitech Slim Folio Pro, a multi-connection hub, external SSD and other peripherals, I don’t miss the laptop at all. It’s been 8 months.

[stefanacarstens]

🐬 I had yo resort to only using my iPad Air for work when my MacBook was broken, and I can honestly say that it was challenging at first but you adapt quite fast and it ended up being a great experience getting everything that you would normally do on your Mac now having to do it on your iPad. I would easily go and do it again especially with Final Cut Pro on iPad. Makes life so much easier.

[kaveh_m_beigi]

I think it’s come a long way. My biggest issues right now are when working on web apps on Safari. For example copy pasting is a pain, the text input box some times goes under keyboard settings widget, the auto correct doesn’t work on web apps. But when in the apple notes app or even MS word app these work fine, the mouse cursor changes shape when you want to highlight text for copy paste and the rest work very well.

[mhkb]

I started out with an 2013 MacBook Pro and I loved it. Still have it. But with my hobbies, interest and work flow, I didn’t need another MacBook Pro but also the one i have was too old and clunky to use, so i went with an 11 inch m2 iPad. I it. No regrets. From YouTube, to taking notes, to surfing the web and even a little gaming it runs so smoothly it’s crazy. I sometimes wonder how such a powerful computer is really just a tablet. I think i will eventually get a MacBook Air if my workflow changes a bit but im super happy with this purchase right now .

[Marngel]

I got my 2018 iPad Pro back in May 2019, just before I started college. At first I used it a lot as my main computer, and I enjoyed it a lot. However, as my needs for a computer changed to become more demanding, the limitations of iPadOS began to bother me. To make things worse for the iPad Pro, the iPhone and Mac improved quite a lot over the past four years in both hardware and software. As a result, I use my iPad less and less, especially after going into content creation and graduated college. Overall, the iPad Pro for me is a great device. But it just hasn't improved fast enough for me to keep up with my changing demands for a computer while the Mac and iPhone did. I still have my iPad Pro, but only for when I need to occasionally doodle something which is rather rare because I'm not much of a drawer, even though it is something I'd like to learn.

[theociba]

I couldn't agree with you more. I went to the iPad Pro 12.9 in late 2021 and it is my primary. All OEM accessories inc. pen and keyboard. I never used anything as fast and powerful. Good overview.

[LuizSiqueira]

I think multitasking on the iPad is fantastic, for me it's the best. It's the most modern operating system I know. It does not load the legacy that MacOS carries. It's light and powerful.

[RandySloan]

Thank you for making this video I want to use my iPad more for general-purpose usage and because of this video I have renewed confidence in being able to do that

[HendryRoesly]

i'm a video game artist, & i use my iPad Pro as my main "computer" too. I use it for work, & it's simply the device that i carry with myself everywhere i go, next to my phone. I do my work & personal things 95% there. I do own a powerful gaming laptop too that i leave at home & only turn on for gaming purpose.

[DiannawithtwoNs]

I have the newest Air model, and I really love it! I primarily use it to read books, some light gaming, digital art, and note-taking (I work remotely). I know there are a ton of things I can do with it, and I haven't even scratched the surface, but so far it does what I want it to do and in the future I plan on using it for video editing once I get back into consistent uploads. I will also use it for FaceTime video - I like the bigger screen compared to my iPhone, and I don't like using FaceTime on my Mac.

[Lord_Mangoat]

I bought an M1 iPad Pro back when they came out. Got the Apple Pencil and a folio case to go with it. I'm in my 40s and thought about how much I missed drawing back in my school days. Ended up getting Procreate and a few other apps, but honestly, I'm too overwhelmed to dive into them. So many brush options. I used to be a pencil and paper drawer. Jumping into the digital art world is very intimidating, but I still want to do it. Just having a hard time actually trying to do it.

So instead, I use my iPad as a big iPhone, basically. I much rather watch videos on it, rather than my phone, if not my 2014 MacBook Pro, which I should have replaced instead of buying the iPad. The MacBook though is for my work. Lots of spreadsheets, Slack, Zoom, and websites. Thought about trying to use the iPad for work instead of the MacBook, but I multitask so much with the MacBook + a 2nd display, I don't think I could make the iPad my go-to for work.

[iPhonePhan]

As an IT Exec at a major global company, I personally made the switch to an iPad Pro M1 11” with the Brydge Keyboard then switched to an Apple Magic Keyboard.

Day 1 - iOS 16 w/ stage manager made the switch possible. Don’t think I could’ve done it using normal app switching.

400 days later, I’m on iOS 17 and using Azure Remote Desktop for a few apps (ie Excel Pivots, Data manipulation options, etc. ).

I’m using a wide angle Dell monitor with native USB-C and USB-A charging. Once the remote Logitech camera is supported, it’ll be a professional laptop replacement game changer.

Would be nice if the computer continued to run whilst closed.

I’ll never go back to 100% PC - in fact, I’m working on moving our company to mixed iPad / thin client VDI mode to have the greatest agility.

Big thanks to this channel for helping convince me to make the switch - it’s been an amazing experience that has made my worklife beyond productive.

[kelseyc]

I use my M2 Pro as an art tool and a supplemental device for my M1 Air; I am in graduate school for education and do a lot of multi-tasking, and I will take just the iPad with me if I'm traveling, working outside of my house, or working in a school. I also do digital art on it, so for me it is the perfect device. I also consume content and whatnot on it like everyone else.

[mrdarryljones]

I finally upgraded my 2nd gen 12.9 iPad Pro to the M2 12.9 inch pro with 1 TB of storage. I get that most of the commentary is for people that like the idea of the device replacing their laptop but the killer app is Procreate! I can’t draw on a MacBook Air directly on the screen no matter the configuration! Since that’s my main use case, when I have to answer emails, edit photos or videos it’s just more convenient to do it on the device that I spend the most time on. Love your stuff!🔥💪🏽👍🏾

[rickdog]

I agree, if you only have one computing device the Mac Book Air is the better option. I have a maxed out 2012 i7 Mac Mini and use a 12.9 M2 iPad Pro as my “Laptop”. I love it, very versatile and very powerful and still have a cheap Mac solution for when I need to do a little more.