Apple, too, now seems to be re-energized in thinking of the iPad as a work platform. The improvements that they’ve brought to bear this year alone, including split screen multi-tasking, more robust support for hardware keyboards and, maybe most significantly, Apple Pencil, have markedly improved the device’s viability as a design tool.
Great article from Khoi Vinh. While he focuses on design, you could substitute that word for almost any other work you want to do on the iPad. We’re getting so close. iPad Pro made a huge jump, but there’s still a little way to go.
I’ll have to admit that I don’t really get the obsession people have with “doing real work” on an iPad. I think it’s certainly possible for many people, depending on their job, but I’m not sure how it’s superior to the Mac experience. What’s the advantage? Cost? Travel weight?
The weight of the iPad Pro plus smart keyboard is 2.25 lbs. The weight of a 13 inch MacBook Air is 3 lbs and the weight of the 12 inch MacBook is 2 lbs. So the MacBook is actually lighter and had a more usable keyboard and a better OS for “real work”.
I don’t get the obsession people have in trying to dictate what “doing real work” is. The iPad is a perfectly capable computer. If it has the apps you need to be productive, then great, use it. Whether or not it’s a superior experience is subjective.