I get the impression they're trying to market this to laptop users. I'm still very skeptical of iPads as a productivity device. The problem isn't the hardware, it's the OS, the app store and the model for selling apps. Apple's app store policies make it hard to sell expensive software (which most productivity apps are somewhat expensive), it also makes it hard to distribute free software (as in open source -- because…
I bought iPad Pro M4 and I am yet to find a use case for it. Combined with non-secure cloud backup in the UK, I see it as a toy device. Watch YouTube, casually browse web (I am yet to install VPN). So far the most use I had with it was recording meetings, so that later I can relisten. If I was able to run Ubuntu on it or even macOs - that would have been a different story...
iPad Pro with M5 chip
171–180 of 288 posts
Re: iPad Pro with M5 chip
#172Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 95% of her need is reading, email, and writing papers Sure, it's great for that kind of (computationally) light work, but then what's the point of putting a monster like the M5 chip in it?
Yep, I have the original 11" iPad Pro from 2018. It still works flawlessly and would be perfect for this use case. Someone who needs a device for school should buy a used iPad like this, not a new one that would be overpowered for the task and would cost double. Even with the edu discount, it's over $1k with the keyboard case. Why not just buy an MBA at that point?
Re: iPad Pro with M5 chip
#173Earlier quoted context omitted.
I did a performance test over the weekend of compilation times across 4 projects using 4 devices. My M4 MacBook Pro is faster than my modern i9 desktop that work spent $$$ on... iPad feels like a genie trapped in a bottle to me. It has that same M4 but there's so much less to use it for. Too bad I can't just set it by my PC and throw workloads at the processor or something. Continuity works well enough as a second sc…
Second CPU idea is brilliant. I’d buy an iPad for second screen, second CPU and occasional plane/hotel Netflix/Youtube.
Second CPU would be nice, too.
Re: iPad Pro with M5 chip
#174I get the impression they're trying to market this to laptop users. I'm still very skeptical of iPads as a productivity device. The problem isn't the hardware, it's the OS, the app store and the model for selling apps. Apple's app store policies make it hard to sell expensive software (which most productivity apps are somewhat expensive), it also makes it hard to distribute free software (as in open source -- because…
For work I need an SSH client to access remote servers, and a web browser for when ClickOps is needed. Long battery life, and a tack sharp touch screen are gladly accepted. An iPad is the perfect "laptop" for me.
Just trying to imagine the workflow :)
I personally prefer a ~32" 4k screen for main work but I could see the convenience of an iPad to quickly remote in and check on stuff or maybe it's enough on it's own and I can learn from ya'll!
Re: iPad Pro with M5 chip
#175For the haters here - Apple sells roughly 2x as many iPads as Macs (including MacBooks). Roughly as many iPad Pros as laptops. I've cycled through using an iPad Pro as my main device on and off over the years - particularly the cellular modem has been a draw. For coding, they're terrible, as they are for longer form writing. I've ultimately shrunk down to the small size and use it as a kindle/gaming replacement. I th…
I didn't believe this at first, but it seems valid. Apple earnings on Mac and iPads are in the same ballpark and if iPads cost half of a Mac its indeed a 2x. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/01/apple-2q-2025-earnings/
iPads have way more common with phones than laptops. They are more prone to damage and many people treat them like fashion accessories, promptly buying new devices upon launch even if the old one is perfectly fine.
Re: iPad Pro with M5 chip
#176I get the impression they're trying to market this to laptop users. I'm still very skeptical of iPads as a productivity device. The problem isn't the hardware, it's the OS, the app store and the model for selling apps. Apple's app store policies make it hard to sell expensive software (which most productivity apps are somewhat expensive), it also makes it hard to distribute free software (as in open source -- because…
I bought iPad Pro M4 and I am yet to find a use case for it. Combined with non-secure cloud backup in the UK, I see it as a toy device. Watch YouTube, casually browse web (I am yet to install VPN). So far the most use I had with it was recording meetings, so that later I can relisten. If I was able to run Ubuntu on it or even macOs - that would have been a different story...
https://github.com/albertquiroga/awesome-ios-game-ports?tab=...
Re: iPad Pro with M5 chip
#177I have the feeling that everything one could do with the Pro could be done as well with the less expensive models. Apart from the handful of travel youtubers that might want to edit and render their videos in an airport terminal I think the use cases would be very niche. Yet a lot of people seem to prefer it over the other variants, I guess just because it exists and it is at the top of the line?
Re: iPad Pro with M5 chip
#178Earlier quoted context omitted.
I didn't believe this at first, but it seems valid. Apple earnings on Mac and iPads are in the same ballpark and if iPads cost half of a Mac its indeed a 2x. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/01/apple-2q-2025-earnings/
To me it makes a lot of sense. iPads have way more common with phones than laptops. They are more prone to damage and many people treat them like fashion accessories, promptly buying new devices upon launch even if the old one is perfectly fine.
Re: iPad Pro with M5 chip
#179Earlier quoted context omitted.
For work I need an SSH client to access remote servers, and a web browser for when ClickOps is needed. Long battery life, and a tack sharp touch screen are gladly accepted. An iPad is the perfect "laptop" for me.
Do you use this as your main driver or just to check on things? Just trying to imagine the workflow :) I personally prefer a ~32" 4k screen for main work but I could see the convenience of an iPad to quickly remote in and check on stuff or maybe it's enough on it's own and I can learn from ya'll!
Just dock your iPad in the office and get a desktop class experience. Pick it up and go and have your same apps and sessions and data anywhere.
Would be nice. It's the experience I had with a Surface but I get Windows isn't applicable to all users and workloads.
Re: iPad Pro with M5 chip
#180Earlier quoted context omitted.
The iPads have become very capable for 3D and illustration, I think they are good also for music. I don’t have a use for the Pro model but I use my Air a lot.
My laptop folds and has a touchscreen too.. there are ones which support advanced pens - none of this requires the OS to be as locked as iOS.
It's a touch-first OS, for better and for worse. Anything else it was tacked onto a UI/UX made for a keyboard and mouse