Laptop or iPad Pro Suggestions

Hipmumma on 23/06/2017 - 07:12
Last edited 23/06/2017 - 19:14

Hi all

Just wondering what people's take are on this.

At the time I sold my iPad mini to pay for my sons school iPad. Before this I used the iPad for web browsing Etc a lot and had no use for my laptop.

My laptop seems to be sluggish and the touchpad is a bit dickie so I have been keeping an eye out for a new one.

Recently I've starting helping a business design a website through Wordpress (.org) and I think this is something I would like to get into.

So my question is would an iPad Pro do these things or would a laptop be preferred. I also take minutes at meetings and I've been curious if this would work better on an iPad Pro with the pencil (currently use pen and paper).Also any suggestions would be amazing. I always seem to end up with sluggish laptops. I have tried CCleaner and more to make it faster.

The cheaper the better, but I would also like something that will last a few years and do the job. Optimistically up to $1000 realistically around $500

My current laptop is an Asus i5 and takes ages to load!

Thanks!
Edit:
Laptop details
F550C
Memory 4gb
HDD 750gb
RAM 4gb

Intel i5-3337U CPU @ 1.8ghz

Windows 10
It's around 3-4 years old

Poll Options

  • ?
    Keep the laptop and make do
  • ?
    Get an IPad Pro!
  • ?
    A laptop will be best
  • ?
    Other - suggestion in comments
  • ?
    I don't want to participate...
Computing

Comments

  • Toons on 23/06/2017 - 07:39
    +2

    Always been a MAC family until work give me the surface pro 3 to trial when it came out a couple of years ago it seems now.

    The new pen is much better for me and i have both only difference is my surface belongs to work

    Work being work windows seems to dominate the skyline at the moment, and everything integrates into that eco system much easier.

    the surface has been the one and only windows based system i've actually liked and keeps getting better.

    The toshiba dock allows for multi screen i keep a 3 window set up 2 monitors doing bulk of work and surface i use for emails and writing notes text recognition is quite good and quiet in meetings scribbling notes.

    • Hipmumma on 23/06/2017 - 19:05

      Thankyou the multi screen idea does sounds good. I have seen a few surface deals too

  • Cheapcuda on 23/06/2017 - 08:29
    +3

    I have both an Ipad Pro 12.9" 2015 and also a very fast performing laptop.

    My recommendation for you is to identify your workflow and then determine which device to proceed with.

    Apple is notorious with it's paid apps, which in the long run, is worth it's money but it's just tiring. I use my Ipad for architectural/graphic design services so it's a bit different. The pen is fantastic, just make sure you get the right note taking app. Microsoft has it's own suite, but you'll have to pay for an Office 365 subscription. The pen charges within minutes which is fantastic on the go. I haven't used wordpress on the ipad so i cannot comment on the user interface and how friendly it is, but i know some sites are buggy with the Ipad (just something to keep in mind). Portability, battery life and performance are amazing on it. Also note that using the 12w charger it'll take about 6hrs to charge but if you use the 29w it'll be less than 2 hrs for a full day charge.

    • Hipmumma on 23/06/2017 - 19:08

      Thanks :) I have a 365 supscription through uni so that side of things are ok :) sounds promising about the pen and battery sode of things too… I'm not a fan of cords always connected.

      • Cheapcuda on 26/06/2017 - 16:40

        Just letting you know that office 365 is annoying because it only saves to onedrive……

  • KitchenSink on 23/06/2017 - 11:33
    +2

    OP whats the specs of your laptop?

    I would think that you're using a HDD rather than a SDD if its running sluggish. SSDs breathes new life in an older laptop. Upgrading your laptop might be an alternative. + throwing in some extra RAM.

    $1000 (even $500) won't buy anything decent (I would think decent) except those Lenovo specials that pop up every now and then.

    • Hipmumma on 23/06/2017 - 19:11

      There's an idea…I just figured with the touchpad issue it might not be worth spending money on it?

      It's a F550C
      Memory 4gb
      HDD 750gb
      RAM 4gb

      Intel i5-3337U CPU @ 1.8ghz

      Windows 10
      It's around 3-4 years old

      • KitchenSink on 23/06/2017 - 21:08

        Specs aren't bad for what you need it for - and if that's just web browsing and productivity apps then its fine. Its a older dual-core CPU with hyper threading - but the biggest bottleneck would be the HDD. Throw in a SSD and extra 4GB RAM and it should be fast again for a few years.

        I would think your laptop won't support M.2 drives (being almost 3-4 years) so go with the normal 2.5" SATA SSDs.

        Crucial's MX300 SSDs are cheaper bang for buck, but arent the fastest in comparison to the Samsung Evo 850s which are faster. But I prefer the extra GB over unnoticeable speeds at a cheaper price. So I got the Crucial 275GB SSD for around $135 off ebay 20% off sale recently. Extra 4GB RAM should be around 30-40. There's higher capacities to suit your storage needs.

        Also after installing the SSD you can reuse the old HDD as an external with a caddy or remove the DVD drive and put in a Optical drive bay adaptor and put it in there for extra storage in the laptop.

        This should last a few years as a cheap fix, so you can save more for a better laptop in the future.

        • Hipmumma on 23/06/2017 - 22:16
          +1

          Thankyou! That's a great recommendation!

    • Toons on 23/06/2017 - 19:47

      4g ram thats the holdup newer software versions are moving towards 64bit over 32 which is the maximum 4gigs of ram can handle

      selling them with 4 should be banned

      ssd drives are good because of the predictive nature but your still restricted by the engine

      • Hipmumma on 23/06/2017 - 22:17

        I believe mine is a 64bit, would that be what is making it slower too?

        • donnot on 24/06/2017 - 00:40
          +2

          Won't be making it slower unless you're using all/coming close to using 4GB of RAM. I've found that 64 bit Windows generally uses more RAM though (not significantly). 64 bit just allows the OS to address >~4GB RAM.

          For suggestions- as others have said, more RAM and an SSD can help significantly, as the CPU shouldn't be holding your laptop back for 'productivity' work. As KitchenSink said, the MX300 is quite good value with the 20% off ($120). For RAM, an extra 4GB could be beneficial. Here's what I used on my old Asus (S550CA, same CPU so probably a similar board).

        • Hipmumma on 24/06/2017 - 06:35

          @donnot:

          Thanks heaps for that!

  • ahoihoi on 23/06/2017 - 13:50
    +1

    Get the surface pro and the keyboard touch cover?
    The SP itself is currently on sale at $799.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/314500

    Tip: I would try going to JB and HN, to haggle the price down to $698 and sharp/best price on the keyboard. (something like $150)

    The surface pro recently gone down to $698 (this April)

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/300837

    Computer is more versatile than a tablet.
    If you can only have one, that is the best way to go I'd say.

    A computer than can double as a tablet.

    Think of a computer as an essential, and tablet as a luxury item*.

    *Even though both Android and iOS is pushing itself as being capable of replacing a 'full-OS' computer, it is still in the early days of doing so. So if you want your device predominantly for productivity, get a PC, media-consumption device, get a tablet.

    There is a post inquiring about the spec of your current computer (would have been handy to put the spec on the original post); and that it might be helpful to upgrade to an SSD. This is a possible option. How old is the notebook? But considering the cost of SSD, I would personally just sprung up for a new computer like the surface…

    • Hipmumma on 23/06/2017 - 19:13
      +1

      Thanks I'll update my post now :)

      It's really hard to decide what to do. Whatever the choice I'd like it to last me a few years. I'll have a look at the surface pro :)

  • lupiter on 23/06/2017 - 15:47

    You can do web development on an iPad pro (I've done it) but it's not easy. You're missing a lot of the tools (like developer mode in the browser) that make life simpler. The iPad is quite good for taking handwritten notes, but you aren't going to get an iPad pro and pencil for $500. Even an older iPad pro on sale is ~$700 and the pencil is ~$140.

    If your laptop is slow, try working out why. Is it running out of RAM, flooring the CPU, or does it have a HDD that could be replaced with a SSD? You'd have to look not just at the specs, but also what your computer is doing when it 'feels slow'. With the trackpad, I've not seen any non-mac trackpads I've liked, but if it's got any dirt buildup that will make it a lot worse.

    • Hipmumma on 23/06/2017 - 19:16

      Thankyou that's what I was needing to know. I need all the tools I can get whilst still learning.

      It's a HDD I've updated my post with the info about my laptop

      I might have to open it to see if there is any dirt in there. That's a good idea. It seems to be temperamental, sometimes great and other times it double clicks depending on where it's placed

  • phocus on 31/07/2017 - 08:17
    +1

    I updated my 6yo MacBook Pro with a ssd and now it's working a dream. Perfect for coding and will prob get me by a few more years. Only cost me ~$120

    • Hipmumma on 31/07/2017 - 08:56

      Ooh I have been tempted to buy a MacBook. Even a second hand one but I do worry about the history of it.

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