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Future Student Question: MacBook, iPad Pro, both or something else? (lemm.ee)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Presently I have a MacMini (M2) and iPad Air 4th Gen

I am a big fan of the iPad for working with GoodNotes and a few diagram programs. I recently used it for school but found myself wishing that I had access to microcontroller software, PLC software and generally a “desktop OS” instead of iPadOS.

I hate the idea of having two portable devices to carry around, but can’t decide if going with a MacBook is better than the iPad. Not all the courses I’ll take will require the MacBook and the iPad is great for working on documents and assignments with the pencil. That said, I find myself more and more wishing that the iPad series had a MacOS option.

Regardless, I am currently trying to sell the iPad Air and look at something with a bigger screen.

Incase it is a factor, I am looking at taking an industrial electrical diploma that works with electrical plant/grid design, motor controllers and plant management (in a nutshell).

I am interested in people’s thoughts, if they’re willing to share. I know that there is currently no ideal solution for me in the Apple scene at the moment, regarding one device that does it all.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Seriously just go with a Mac. iPadOS is just not good enough yet, and I'm not convinced it ever will be. Progress with that operating system is moving at a glacial pace.

Don't sell the iPad Air. It can be used as a second screen for the Mac and that will allow you to use the pencil in some Mac apps. And of course you can keep using it for native iPad apps. The iPad Air is obviously better than a Mac for reading (and annotating) lengthy documents so you should keep it for that use case. A Mac and an iPad work together really well, for example you can use the Mac keyboard/trackpad to type and mouse around on the iPad screen.

I agree - carrying two devices around sucks. But you're going to spend a lot of time working at a desk and you'll be happy to have two devices there.

I don't think the 13" iPad Pro would be an upgrade - it's a lot heavier than the Air and honestly worse at a lot of the things iPads are great for. Most of the things it does better than the iPad Air are just as good on a MacBook.

The 11" iPad Pro is an upgrade over the iPad Air, but it's not a big upgrade. A bit faster, a slightly nicer screen and speakers. It has face recognition. None of that is really worth the price premium unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket which it sounds like you don't.