I can’t sleep on planes.

I used to be bored. Now I’m productive. My iPad is the reason why.

Since 2010 I used different versions of the Apple tablet:

• iPad 1st Gen: Didn't really have much use for it other than adding weight in my bag. Joking aside, when my old laptop died during my exchange semester it was a handy tool to finish off the last weeks of uni without buying a new device.
• iPad mini 2: Really cool device. Portable and capable of everything I wanted (browsing, reading, etc.) - it filled a perfect niche: travel companion.

In 2018 I snagged an iPad Pro 11 inch. Since a couple of people have asked about my experience and specific use cases I decided to write these down.

The Device

November 2018 was game time. I ordered the following setup:

• iPad Pro 11 inch (2018) // 256GB of storage
• Initially ordered 12.9 inch but way too big + heavy as laptop (comes with the downsides of a larger device without all the benefits // still, might make sense for artists for stationary usage)
• Pencil is a must since it unlocks a more intuitive interaction - specifically for creative workflows
• Keyboard is great // feels nice + supports most shortcuts

When it launched, Apple advertised the iPad Pro as a full-on laptop replacement, which it wasn't. There were too many limitations:

• No possibility to connect external storage via USB-C port
• No ability to connect bluetooth mouse
• All browsing was done in mobile-browsing mode (despite 11 and 12.9 inch screen form factor)
• No proper file management

Then came iPad OS.

iPad OS: Turning a Tablet Into a 95% Laptop Replacement

Apple listened and fixed all of the kinks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2iorLuSjOg

Hence some tech reviewers went from meh! to yay! in a single software update.

Creative Machine: My Use Cases

• Work - taking notes (replaces paper + syncs with all my other devices) + email
• Travel - consuming information and doing brain dumps while travelling
• Create - illustrate; edit photos

• Light/versatile —> don’t have to stow away during take-off and landing (since it counts as mobile device)
• Has different modes of usage (keyboard vs. screen vs. pencil)

• Not a 100% replacement for laptop (e.g. excel; logic pro X; recordbox; etc.)

Software: Apps I Use

Safari

• • Usually doing everything on chrome but since iPadOS (Nov 2019) Safari on iPad supports desktop browsing which is a huge deal (see below)

Work

• • Notes - Perfect note taking + syncs with all other devices
  • Evernote - when working on iPad only
  • GMail/Outlook - for email
  • Slack - team comms
  • Sheets/Excel - for viewing of information (but not really geared to edit/create)
  • 1password - pw management
  • Google/Microsoft Authenticator - MFA apps
  • Zoom/Skype - if call is needed
  • Trello - task management
  • Soundcloud/Spotify - listening to music

Travel

• • Reading
    • Wired - app to read magazine in digital format
    • Pocket - saved articles for offline reading
    • Kindle - books
  • Audio
    • Audible
    • Spotify
    • Podcasts
  • Video
    • Netflix - download for offline viewing
    • Youtube - watching clips

Create

• • Illustration
    • Procreate - amazing way to do illustrations/covers/etc // check it out, it's a sick app

• • Photo Editing
    • Lightroom Mobile - best way to edit images on the go (just pluck in SD card and start working)
    • Google Photos - unlimited storage // but compressed
  • Music
    • Garage Band - play around
    • Blocs Wave - coming up with track ideas

Bottomline

• Great tool to use while traveling (during commute + just as a light device)
• Other applications, which are more suitable for a tablet (sketching; faster photo editing; reading)
• A year in I’m very happy