New Ipad Pro or New Macbook air advice please?

If you intend to use an iPad Pro like a MacBook, there is also the costs of an external keyboard case to consider, as well.

For the costs of a new M1 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro, which is, now, more prohibitively expensive, and the fact some users, like you, are just going to waste most of the touch screen experience by trying to turn a touch screen iPad into a laptop/MacBook and NOT use the touch screen hardly, your money would be better spent on a good spec'd out MacBook or MacBook Air.

macOS is more flexible and capable than iPadOS and for the costs a MacBook is a better value.

iPadOS window multiasking is very limited compared to macOS and a Mac computer.

External hard drive support on iPadOS is still in its infancy and is very rudimentary in its day to day use and execution.

Everything in a MacBook/Air is already built-in. No extra keyboard case to purchase. No extra weight added.

The Magic Keyboard case for iPad Pro is a great thing, but it is the cost of another iPad to purchase at $350 U.S.D..

The cheaper Folio keyboard case for iPad is good, but this means needing to use a separate Apple Magic mouse or compatible third party mouse or Apple Magic Trackpad OR an even cheaper third party keyboard with built-in Trackpad support.

Lots of paid, and potentially expensive, extra accessories with an iPad/iPad Pro.

Also, with any iPad, you need to get the largest internal data storage you can afford as NO Apple iOS/iPadOSvdevixes have expandable internal data storage.

If you have always been a Mac users and have NEVER been a user of iPads, switching to an iPad Pro is going to be a much more expensive and more frustrating an experience for you.

Do what you will.

It's more portable than an iPad Pro with Magic keyboard. The Keyboard is quite heavy, and makes the complete setup much heavier than the MacBook Air.

Here's a comparison between my iPad Pro and my M1 MacBook Air:

and, correct, the MacBook Air does not have a touch screen.

HopeCove wrote:

Well, I've had a good old think about the external software thingy and I don't believe I really have any.

Can I ask if using Whatsapp on the new ipad pro is a problem please? I reckon it probably is. It's not a deal breaker. The only thing I guess is, is how different photo editing might be on the new ipad pro as opposed to a macbook air.

On an iPad. WhatsApp can be used through its website version only. The App cannot be downloaded to the iPad, and of course you need a phone with WhatsApp installed too use it on their website like you do with the Mac.

I have to agree with Michell above, that, if you don't like editing photos on your current iPad, the new one will likely not change that much. It will work pretty much the same.

Also, new M1 Macs can run iPad apps, so if you need something from the iPad, you can always try to run it on the Mac if its available in the Mac App Store.

The Mac will give you the best of both worlds, and will be less limiting.

The new iPad Pro will work essentially the same as your old iPad Pro, there is no real difference there as long as your current iPad is running iOS 14.

NO iPad is a full laptop/MacBook replacement.

A MacBook is a better value and flexible device

There are one-time paid photo editing apps for both iPad and Macs.

I have long since abandoned Adobe as I abhorred Adobe's expensive monthly “rent software” forever subscription models.

I have some monthly subscription apps on my iPads, but the monthly costs are very cheap!

I use Affinity Photo on both my Mac and iPads.

Both versions are inexpensive and one-time pay purchases and even cheaper purchase for the iOS/iPadOS versions.

I am a desktop Mac user and I have used iPads for 11 years for my own mobile version of a digital sketching/drawing/painting device and as a pseudo-laptop replacement, minus resorting to external keyboards and mice/trackpads.

The Pencil is great and is more integrated into iPadOS now, but unless you actually create art, I am not sure how usefull the Pencil will be with strict image editing.

The Pencil IS great for handwriting notes and for having handwriting converted to text, though.

So, there is that feature to the Pencil and iPad combo.

Again, it all comes down to how your everyday workflow is.

I tend to use my iPads more over the years than my iMac, but I STILL use my iMac quite a bit for its larger screen and superior OS, external drive support and window multitasking.

HopeCove wrote:

Thank you again Michel. That's good to know about the Apple Pencil as the video I watched sort of implied that all sorts could be done with it to the point that I had in my head that I could do all the editing I needed to with it on the iPad. But from what you are saying, I think (and please forgive if I am wrong) it won't give me the full editing experience that the Macbook Air photo app will give me?

Thanks for the tips about different photo editing software too. That is really useful..

The Pencil will work with apps that it is coded to work with it.

Depending on the app ( image editors of which even sketching/drawing/painting apps have varying levels of image editing ) some will take advantage of the Pencil, some will not.

If an apps does things that are useful to you and these things can be done using an Pencil, then that is great!

You just need to find the right app/s that do these things and that can do them using an Pencil.

Not every app in the iOS App Store takes advantage of the features and capabilities of the Pencil

The type of image editing you need and the features you need may or may not work with an Pencil

Like I stated earlier, some apps may, some may not.

I am not an a complete expert on all of the apps in the iOS App Store than support the Pencil.

There are many, but NOT ALL.

You would need to do your own research on this to see which image editing apps support the Pencil and if they have a fairly complete suite of image editing tools.

Affinity apps, like Affinity Photo on iPad/iPadOS support the Pencil and is very full featured image editor and sketching/drawing.painting app, as well.

Very similar to Photoshop, but less expensive and NO monthly subscription model.

Another pure image editing app ONLY ( similar to Adobe Lightroom ) is Darkroom.

This is either a monthly or yearly paid subscription app OR you can pay the developer their one-time flat payment fee forever of $50 U.S.D..

You're welcome. I use my iPad is as an additional screen from my MacBook Air through SideCar. It works nicely and gives you more desktop room for apps when on the go.

I do also use it for some games and movies and Youtube when away from home.

One factor to consider is whether you need software not available in Apple's App Store. Only a MacBook will give you that option.

No Mac has a touch screen

Many apps for iPad exist as Mac apps for the Mac for cross connectivity workflows, either by file transfer or using Apple's Handoff/Continuity features.