By Nicole Nguyen
Apple said iPad sales went bonkers during the holiday quarter.
The company reported a $2.4 billion revenue increase compared to
the same period last year -- the first year-over-year iPad sales
growth since 2014. Apple also said about half the customers who
purchased iPads were new to the tablets.
With so many fresh iPads out in the wild, I decided to revisit
one of my favorite topics: Can an iPad actually replace your
computer?
I know, I've referred to the iPad as a spork. It tries to do two
jobs -- be as mobile as a phone and as powerful as a computer --
and in doing so, it makes compromises. But I'm realizing its
versatility outweighs the compromises. Proof? Lately, I've found
myself reaching for my iPad far more often than my MacBook. Here's
why:
-- The iPad is faster. It takes far less time to boot up and
load apps than my Intel-powered MacBook Pro. When I get a phone
call, I can fire up the iPad and immediately start taking notes
with a keyboard or the Apple Pencil. And there's no spinning Beach
Ball of Doom when there are too many browser tabs open.
-- The iPad is more flexible. If I want to read a Kindle book or
binge on a Netflix show, I can easily disengage the keyboard and
curl up with the device on the couch.
-- The iPad doesn't overheat. I never hear fan whirring, like I
do with my 2017 MacBook Pro, because the iPad doesn't have one! (
The more power-efficient M1 MacBooks don't overheat either.)
The iPad can do 95% of the things I do on my Mac. There are some
specific exceptions, including these:
-- Browser extensions don't exist in iPadland. For example,
while the LastPass password manager works in the Safari browser, it
can't detect and store updated credentials like it does on a laptop
browser.
-- Many PC-exclusive games, like the titles on Steam, can't be
played on an iPad. Apps that bring desktop gaming to iOS devices,
such as Rainway and Steam Link, still require access to a PC.
-- You can't download MP3s from, say, SoundCloud or Bandcamp,
and add the tracks directly to the iPad's Apple Music app. You have
to use a computer. (Yes, there are people who download actual music
files in the year 2021!)
-- You can't reformat external hard drives to the faster,
iOS-optimized APFS format without a Mac. (More on this below.)
While an iPad isn't a direct replacement for a MacBook -- and
doesn't have the integrated PC powers of, say, a Surface tablet --
it can do pretty much everything most people do on a laptop. You
just might need some new accessories and productivity apps. Here's
how to go full computer on your iPad:
Get a mouse and keyboard.
If you're updated to the latest system software, iPadOS 14.4, or
at least running iPadOS 13, you can finally use a mouse. (Supported
models include iPad Air 2 and newer; iPad 5 and newer; iPad Mini 4
and newer; and the redesigned iPad Pro and Air models with USB-C
ports and no home buttons.)
Some apps feel more natural than others -- in Microsoft Word,
for example, you can select text as you would on a laptop, by
clicking and dragging. In Google Docs, you have to double-click a
word before dragging to highlight, similar to the way you'd select
text on an iPhone.
Now, for the keyboard cases: For models that are a few years
old, I like Logitech's Combo Touch ($149) because it's protective
and lightweight, and it connects via the Smart Connector, a port on
some iPads that provides power and data through compatible
accessories. It means you don't have to mess with Bluetooth
settings.
If you want to use your iPad literally on your lap, try a more
stable option from Brydge. Starting at $50, these covers make your
iPad look and feel like a MacBook. Brydge's covers for older iPads
don't come with trackpads and only connect over Bluetooth,
however.
The best keyboard cover on the market is Apple's Magic Keyboard
for iPad, which is compatible with the latest USB-C models. The
typing experience is fantastic, and because of its solid build, it
doesn't bounce around on your lap. The case also adds an additional
USB-C port for more convenient charging.
My initial gripe with the Magic Keyboard is its $299-and-up
price. But I've seen big markdowns lately: You can find the smaller
Magic Keyboard at Walmart and Amazon for $199 right now.
When I'm at my desk, I prefer pairing a typical full-size
wireless keyboard and mouse to my iPad and propping it on an
adjustable stand. Any affordable model should do.
Use an external display.
One of the iPad's biggest limitations is its small screen, which
can be remedied by plugging in a monitor. In general, you can only
mirror what's on screen. However, these apps have special support
for second screens:
-- Shiftscreen ($5) is a must-download for two-screeners.
Essentially a browser that takes over the connected monitor, it
allows you to open four windows side by side. You can open web apps
such as Google Docs, Slack and YouTube. Then, on the iPad's own
screen, you can run a separate app.
-- Netflix, Prime Video and Apple TV app content will play in
full screen on the monitor, freeing up the iPad for another
app.
-- In Twitch, opening a stream will prompt the live-video feed
to play in the full screen, while the iPad's display shows the
comment section.
-- Apple's Photos app and Google Photos display images
full-screen on the monitor, while you can browse through your
library on the iPad.
-- Procreate ($10) is a drawing and illustration app that
projects your canvas on to the big screen. On the iPad, you can
zoom in and work on specific areas.
-- In the movie-editing apps LumaFusion ($20) and iMovie, you
can view playback on the big screen and work on the editing
timeline on the iPad.
If you only want your iPad screen mirrored, you can beam it
wirelessly to any Apple TV or AirPlay 2 display. But if there's a
weak Wi-Fi signal, there will likely be some latency issues.
Expand your peripherals.
To connect your iPad to a monitor, you will need an HDMI or
DisplayPort adapter. For older models, get a Lightning-to-HDMI
adapter. Newer iPads with USB-C ports can use any accessories
available to USB-C laptops and tablets. With a hub, you can connect
webcams, external hard drives or even wired headphones. (The new
iPads lack a headphone jack.)
I like Anker's 8-in-1 USB-C hub ($60) which has eight ports. In
addition to HDMI, it has ethernet and an SD card reader. Fledging's
Hubble for iPad ($100) is a connectivity hub cleverly integrated
into a protective case. Just note: It doesn't work with Apple's
Magic Keyboard.
Get to know the Files app.
This Files app is a little like the Finder on a Mac, only it
shows the files on the iPad along with what's stored in your cloud
services -- iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox and the like. Let's say
someone sends you a link to a worksheet, and you want to save it.
In Safari, in the top right corner, tap the up-arrow share icon,
then select Save to Files.
If you plug in an external hard drive, you can access the
drive's contents through the Files app. And if you want to move
photos and other documents to the drive, you can put the Files app
on one side, in split view, and your Photos app, for instance, on
the other side, then drag files across.
While multiple drive formats are compatible with the iPad,
you'll get the fastest speeds if your drive is formatted to APFS,
Apple's file system. Unfortunately, that reformatting requires the
Disk Utility app -- on a Mac.
(Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, has
a commercial agreement to supply news through Apple services.)
--For more WSJ Technology analysis, reviews, advice and
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Write to Nicole Nguyen at nicole.nguyen@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 14, 2021 09:14 ET (14:14 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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