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Earlier this year, I announced that I’d be trialling an iPad-only setup.
That has kinda happened.
Ok, hands-up, it hasn’t. I really can’t claim that I’ve gone all-in on the iPad. Because I haven’t.
What I have done, though, is invest as much of my productivity into the iPad as makes sense for my business, and the results are pretty interesting. It’s also made me think a lot about the argument for going either Mac- or iPad-only, and whether or not the two can live side-by-side in someone’s life without one of them being a wasted investment.
Let’s get into it.
The argument for the Mac
For me, the Mac feels ultimately familiar. When I have a task that needs undertaking, I know exactly how to undertake it on the Mac – there’s no second-guessing myself or any form of hurdling in the way of the end result. macOS feels like a lovely, warm, old pair of slippers.
A great example of this is working with files. This is old-fashioned stuff, I know, but it’s where macOS scores so highly and why the Mac remains one of my most relied-upon devices in this business. Moving files around, finding old files, emailing files, ingesting files into any processes – I just know intrinsically how to do it on the Mac. On the iPad, it always feels like a cumbersome process and one which – regardless of how many improvements are made to Files in iPadOS – I never particularly look forward to.
The same goes for professional apps. In my world, that means Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro. The iPadOS version of the former is one of Apple’s greatest triumphs, but when it comes to quickly preparing audio for a podcast edit, nothing beats Logic Pro on the Mac (again, mainly because of the need to work with files). As for Final Cut Pro on the iPad, I’m afraid it is still far from a replacement for the desktop version and is crippled by the ludicrous inability to edit from an external drive.
The Mac is also, arguably, far more customisable than the iPad. As much as Apple may have attempted to lock it down with the introduction of the App Store, you can still introduce software to macOS via the ‘back door’ and get your hands dirty with the internals if you really want to. I don’t, but I know a lot of you do.
Lastly, there’s the cost element. While you can build a decently priced iPad setup with a keyboard, if you’re swayed by the bright lights of the iPad Pro and the Magic Keyboard, the cost can sail far beyond what you’d pay for a baseline MacBook Pro.
The argument for the iPad
As noted above, there’s a lower cost of entry for iPad-only ownership if you opt for the non-Pro models. The iPad Air remains one of Apple’s greatest triumphs for this reason, and with desktop-class performance thanks to that M1 chip, it offers serious bang-for-buck.
Then, we have the touch display. I’m a big proponent of Windows laptops that offer touch input – I’ve used a few of them and, despite Windows remaining a fairly unenjoyable experience, it does benefit from the option of finger-based tactility. This is where the iPad has always excelled – arguably above any other device on the market.
Then, we have the Apple Pencil (or, if you fancy saving some money, the £40 Benks Pen). For artists, the iPad is a no-brainer because of this accessory, but even if you’re nothing more than a digital note-taker, pairing the iPad with a Paperlike screen protector and Apple Pencil gives it powers the Mac could only dream of having.
The iPad pales in comparison to the Mac when it comes to customisation options, but that’s actually a benefit for certain users. System tinkering isn’t for everyone, and if you want an operating system that gives you just enough control not to get yourself into trouble, iPadOS is utterly superb.
The iPad is also far more generous when it comes to the camera system. The Mac has a selfie cam. The iPad has that and a very capable rear camera, with multiple lenses (if you opt for the iPad Pro) and the ability to ingest footage directly into apps such as Final Cut Pro. For certain creators, this might be the feature that makes the iPad an obvious choice over the Mac.
The iPad is also a wonderful platform for productivity. As much as I love macOS, it is distracting. There are too many options and random system updates to have your attention diverted elsewhere and the ease with which you can multitask doesn’t help matters. The latter remains the Achilles heel for iPadOS, but that is no bad thing – Apple’s tablet excels at single-app usage. If you need to really get into whatever it is you’re working on, the iPad is one of the best devices for gaining and retaining resolute focus.
Lastly – cellular! Yes, you can easily tether your MacBook to your iPhone and use the latter’s internet connection while on the go, but having cellular built into the iPad is far more convenient and reliable. Will we ever see a MacBook with cellular? I very much doubt it; we’d have seen it by now if it was a priority for Apple.
How I’m using the Mac and iPad
Now that I’ve admitted I’m unable to prize myself away from the Mac, yet still have an affinity with the iPad, you might be wondering how these devices fit into my daily work.
It’s pretty simple – and a bit old-fashioned, I admit. The Mac is my workhorse for video and audio work. I couldn’t run this business without it for that reason – the Mac is so tightly woven into my production processes that it cannot fail and cannot be absent, wherever I happen to be.
Although I can get by on the iPad for file management, the familiarity and comfort offered by macOS in that regard means I turn to it more often than not when I need to move stuff around.
The iPad is something I’ve always loved as a writing tool. The focus it affords and the brilliant single app usage that is baked into iPadOS is why I often turn to my iPad to write blog posts, journal entries, and anything else where I need to get deeply into the words.
I also use the iPad for note-taking, and for referencing bullet points and scripted scenes while filming my YouTube videos (the iPad mini, naturally).
I’d miss the iPad, big time, if it wasn’t there. And it’s becoming more useful with each iPadOS update.
Which one is right for you?
I think you’ll fall into one of the following categories:
- Mac-only. The iPad doesn’t interest you whatsoever. You might have one, but it barely gets used. In fact, is it even charged?
- iPad-only. You’ve either had enough of laptop life – or you never experienced it at all.
- Mac and iPad. The Mac is your default – your point of safety. But the iPad is often more alluring and exciting for very specific tasks.
I can’t tell you which camp you fall into, but I’m definitely Camp 3. If I had to take just one of those devices to a desert island, it would be the Mac, without question.
You’ll recognise yourself as being a member of one of those camps. And that’s why you probably knew the answer to the question posed by this blog post even before reading it.
I did. As much as I like the idea of iPad-only life, I just cannot do it. Until it feels as familiar as macOS and until we get the full-fat version of Final Cut Pro, it will forever remain a fascinating yet second-place device in my business.
Will that time ever come? I’m not convinced it will, I’m afraid.
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