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Thinking of the iPad

Dom

Dom

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The iPad mini in the wild.​

Out and about in Wetherby this morning, I needed to get some designs approved for a function and knew I was likely to bump into one of the decision makers if I dropped into the local Saturday Coffee Shop at the Methodist Church*. I’d sent the designs out by email first thing, but knew there was little chance that they’d seen them, so I grabbed the iPad mini.

I’ve had this iPad since the mini 4 came out; it still feel fast. It’s very portable, and I have it in a Logitech keyboard case that is a predecessor of the versions on the iPad Pro models. It’s a really portable computing device, especially as I have a 4G SIM so data access is available most places.

I met up with my contact, we reviewed the designs and signed the posters off for print. I’d pulled the designs off Dropbox (which I still rate more highly for reliability than iCloud**), and we reviewed the price quotes on the emails.

This set me pondering; could an iPad replace my Mac?

I think - especially when equipped with a hard keyboard - it could go a long way to doing so now. Certainly much further than it could have done back in May 2010 when I got my first iPad. I think it’s approaching an 80% device. I still prefer the familiarity and flexibility of macOS, but for most of my day-to-day activities the iPad would easily cut it. If I wanted to go the design side of things, I suspect that I’d need to go to a iPad Pro in one of the larger sizes. In fact, one of my dilemmas with the iPad is whether I get a new mini when I upgrade, or go back to something around 10”. It’s something I’ll consider more when I eventually upgrade my iPhone 7; the new iPhones have bigger screens and that may well influence my decision to go large or not.

That said, when writing I do prefer a decent screen and keyboard. I completed most of my work for Lyonesse using the Lenovo Chromebook; this has a decent (but small) screen and a great keyboard. Plugged in with HDMI to an external screen, it handles two monitors with aplomb and gets the job done. I’m hoping to pass the Chromebook onto Nathan next year and upgrade to an ASUS C434, which looks great.

So coming back to my original thoughts; could an iPad replace my Mac? My answer at the moment is ‘no’, but it could go a long way towards doing so.

*Best Bacon Butties in Wetherby
** iCloud is borked on my desktop, refusing to sync.
26 October 2019

Continue reading...
 
I actually have several iDevices:
  • The iMac. Now over 10 years old and can't be upgraded past El Capitan. Rarely used now, routinely for 32-bit software around ebook purchases, occasionally for MS Office (2009). It was due to be replaced last year but is still sitting in the office. When we do replace, I'll roll it back to Snow Leopard.
  • The 2017 MacBook Pro. Found it cheap in Computer Exchange nearly 2 years ago now. It's only 15" and is now my primary device. I can't use my copy of MS Office on it - it's too old to install. Currently mulling whether to upgrade to Catalina but I'm holding off because it will bork everything I use to deDRM ebook purchases.
  • The iPad. My one was a Mini 2 which Paul has replaced with his 9.7" Pro. The latter stopped working with his 4G SIM but works on WiFi and using a hotspot (like my phone). The Mini 2 need to be replaced as it was out of support and wouldn't take the latest OS upgrade. Mostly used for gaming because of the bigger screen. I tend not to read on it.
  • The iPhone SE+. Got when I was made redundant along with a contract (previously I had an old Alcatel on PAYG) - I was getting into contracting and needed the connectivity and synchronisation. Mostly used as a hot spot for the iPad, as a phone and as a back-up reader. I've largely stopped playing games on it - the Unity engine seems to be a complete battery hog.
Reading is mostly done on the Kobo Forma or the iPhone. I like the latter because I can hold it in one hand, I can hold the Forma in one had as well but on a crowded train it's a bit more iffy. I've never liked reading on the computers themselves, and I find the iPad (especially the bigger one) need a stand.

I'm reluctant to go the rental route for MS Office which is one reason for keeping the old iMac running. My primary use case is Excel; I can't do what I need to on Google - Sheets isn't powerful enough. The rare letter I need to write can be done on GDocs.
 
Maddz said:
e trouble is that I'm not sure if Office 2016 is 64-bit or not.
Click to expand...
If it updates then the current version is I think.
You can download the current Office 2016 release from the Office updates page at Microsoft.
But I not going to go to Catalina until Steam catches up.
 
I thought Steam had a 64 bit client now? I’d seen an article somewhere on how to install it.

My Mojave machine will stay on Mojave until I can get iCloud to work again.
 
Either way, I'll be staying with Mojave until K4Mac 1.25 & ADE 4.5 are 'open access'. I might look at Office 2016 if I can get it cheaply. Trouble is, I want it on 2 machines (the MacBook and whatever replaces the iMac) which means 365. At least I can get it on the iPad as well. I just have a rooted objection to paying rental on software, especially to Microsoft, and especially when 90% of the package counts as bloatware.

I've heard some horror stories about what happens when people try and upgrade downgrade from 2016 to 365.
 
I think you might find the Office 2016 licence is two machines
 
I rotate currently between my 11” iPad Pro 2019 and my MacBook Pro 2018.

Being able to draw and write directly on the iPad Pro is a joy. Typing on the folio keyboard is good.
The new update on the iPadOS means you can access files from key drives and memory sticks.
You can get a monthly subscription for MS Office on the iPad too.
In many ways it works better than my old iMac that I got in 2007 and my new MacBook too.

I use the MacBook for Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, things that even the iPad Pro can’t handle.

So why do I use my iPhone more?
 
You use your iPhone more because it is always with you.
 
This has turned into which tech when, which is lovely.

I use my Android Moto X4 to message, check my bank accounts, read the Tavern, do email, stream audio, control my Sonos system, and manage my Hive heating. Not to mention that I have two stage authentication turned on most places so my phone is my "smart key".

I read all my ebooks on a 3rd gen keyboard Kindle that l love, have replaced the battery in, and have a spare in the drawer.

I have an Android tablet that plays second fiddle to my phone except when I read graphic novels or play boardgames solo on it (KoDP, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Small World).

I love my iMac 27" retina as a writing workhorse. I had the workflow all perfect until it eventually developed a graphic glitch. Turned out to be software but necessitated a new clean install. Cue a disagreement between my referencing software and Word (not M$ fault methinks).

Which leaves my MacBook pro. It gets used, it'll be used today when I want to type on the sofa, and it travels with me. I no longer take laptop to meetings, my tablet is far less intrusive for the occasional note. I suspect that the MacBook is currently in the shade. If it dies I may think about a larger screen iPad Pro as it's replacement, but I think I wouldn't replace it right now at all.
 
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Dom said:
I thought Steam had a 64 bit client now? I’d seen an article somewhere on how to install it.

My Mojave machine will stay on Mojave until I can get iCloud to work again.
Click to expand...
Yes, Steam is 64bit, but not all games are.. yet.. I am sure it will sort it themself out and then I'll keep an APFS external drive with Mojave or even High Sierra on it to boot to if needed for legacy apps, which I am sure will include InDesign 5.5
 
I'm looking to upgrade my iPad 2021 model to much more smarter, newer version. If I take my old one to an Apple Store, I can trade it in for up to £80 off one that I purchase. Is that trade in actually worth it or could I get more selling it second hand?
 
Hmm, I seem to be the odd one out using Wintel and Android, although one of my key selection criteria for software is being able to use it across multiple platforms.

I plan to move to Linux in 2027 - I still need InDesign for editing work for my last remaining client at the moment, but once we part ways I'm no longer tethered to MS. As I'm winding down the editing I have let my Office 365 licence lapse, although persuading OneDrive of that has proved surprisingly difficult; even after open heart surgery on the Windows Registry, OneDrive still tries to take over my PC sometimes. It's like one of those horror movie monsters you just can't kill.
 
Nathan said:
I'm looking to upgrade my iPad 2021 model to much more smarter, newer version. If I take my old one to an Apple Store, I can trade it in for up to £80 off one that I purchase. Is that trade in actually worth it or could I get more selling it second hand?
Click to expand...
Assuming it is an 9th Gen iPad (A2604), CEX sell B grade 64GB models for £230, so that would seem to indicate that a private sale should get you more than the trade in, but you have to deal with selling it and hoping that the purchaser isn’t a scammer of some kind.
 
Here's my state of the technical nation.

I have, mostly, enjoyed overseeing my technical duel between Linux and Wintel over the years, and the fight continues today. My use cases are roughly as follows with current preferred service offerings:

Book and document layout, image manipulation - I really enjoy using the Affinity suite
Text creation with realtime collaboration - Google Docs
Simple accounts and data manipulation with realtime collaboration - Google Sheets
Websites - Wordpress
Office compatibility - LibreOffice
VTTs - Foundry Hosting on Sqyre and Role
Game streaming - OBS at 1440p
Cloud storage - Google Drive and Hostinger for domain, websites and alternate email addresses
PDF reading - 10" tablet
Book reading - Kindle or paper
Note taking - Obsidian
Browser - Chrome
'Computer games' - PS5

I continuously create something of a faux conflict between the idea of low cost devices, open source, and not being dependent on large, especially American, corporations for my technology, and my creative choices. The wish to disassociate from American technical hegemony has become a stronger driver over the recent year. The reality is that I am deeply enmeshed, and to extricate would be a more significant effort than I am prepared to make. Periodically, I joyously berate myself about this.

This utilitarian view on tech has driven my devices and operating system choices over the years. My preferred end point is Linux for the static(ish) PC and laptop and Android for the portable. I love the Gnome desktop and feel very at home there, and found a distribution of Linux that I am very happy with in Fedora Workstation. Everything listed above runs natively on Linux except, crucially, Affinity. I have run Affinity suite on Linux using a Windows VM. I wasn't happy with the way it performed (and that could well be on me and the resources I gave the VM), so sanded it off. There are scripts now that gets Affinity running under Wine, which I really need to try. The war could end there.

Device Reality:
2 PCs - one running Fedora, one with Windows 11 for Affinity. The PCs were low cost and built by my son. I purchased one of them to help fund his tech.
1 laptop - portable workmate running Fedora
2 Chromebooks - does almost everything day to day (One is old, but is a 12" 4GB Ram little beauty that I can't let go, but never use)
1 Android 10" Tablet. FoxIT Reader
1 Google Pixel 9 phone
1 Kindle (that I hardly ever use)
1 PS5 - I play Skyrim a bit

Apple? I've never seriously considered, perhaps due to a combination of corporate tie-in and an outdated view on cost. The devices themselves are beautiful and they would do everything I would want.

I will press on with Linux a little longer.
 
Ah.. the joys of always being the one who's blamed for VTT flakiness because I am not running the OS or browser of the GM... or Windows.
Whereas it's usually the flakiness of the VTT!

So. I switched to Linux wholly back in 2006, and then wholly to Macos around 2011, but my memory is unreliable - unlike my tech RAM and SSD. By 2020 I was running Linux at work and Macos on a Mac Mini at home and on a MacBook Pro. I have always preferred Android on mobile devices, and I now run a Samsung A54 for my phone and a OnePlus tablet. In that Android is Linux, more of the same, albeit only at the kernel level.

It's not just about the hardware or the OS these days, is it?

My work is very much a Micro$oft environment, albeit with neglectful tolerance of Macos and Linux.. which is just how we like it.

So I have seen how M$ has adopted and integrated Linux into their ecosystem, and continued the excellent support they have given given Macos with Office. I am therefore quite happy to have both work and personal accounts for 365 (and indeed one with my charity).

So after some years valiantly using OpenOffice and then LibreOffice I just work on a native app of Word on Macos and the web version on Linux. I have noted how the web version of Office has advanced and added in features, it's pretty damned close to the native apps now - my favourite citation manager add-on has worked in it for last few years. In fact my semi detached position has made me realise that M$ are serious about being a web/cloud software house. So, for example, they developed and launched and then dropped a native Linux client of M$ Teams. It annoyed me at first until I realised that the web version (after a little delay) was as functional as the native app, and didn't really care which OS you used.

So, I subscribe to Office, I tend to use Edge browser for work integration, I use Outlook online for work email, I use Mailspring for personal mail for Macos and Linux.

I run a VirtualBox VM copy of Windows on Linux for a very old copy of Heaven and Earth for Traveller, and Affinity runs fine in it, but I never use it since I run that in Macos.

My primary use of computers is to academic research and publication, my setup workflow is smooth on both.

My secondary use is online VTT gaming. Which works just fine on both OS when I run the game, and frankly I think any flakiness is down to VTTs and AV more than much else.

My tertiary use is post processing photos. Hello Macos and Affinity and a few other packages. Mine you, darktable, krita, and RAWtherapee also run on Linux and are great on both OS. Only problem is I need more space on my Mac.. maybe a Mac Studio might appear..

Now when I retire, will I actually ever write and publish anything? Maybe, and if so, I suspect my workflow will be the same as my academic work, thus I am all set.

Why do I like Macos and Linux? Two reasons;

1: They're UNIX. Ever since I logged into my first remote session on a UNIX server I have loved UNIX. Macos is derived from BSD and Linux is really GNU/Linux. I am no code/DB genius but I can wrangle the command line and write scripts. Both are rocksteady and support all kinds of hardware. Linux is inherently much more adaptable to anything you want, but Macos has a vast array of FOSS software and is far more open than many people think, but locked down for those that need hand holding.

2: Macos is ergonomically a very well designed user interface (UI). GNOME 3, the UI I prefer on Linux, is a very well designed UI. I tweak them both to be a leetle bit similar, and I love them for supporting my workflow.

I read novels on my Kindle. Another Linux device.
 
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