Tablet Recommendation as a Secondary Device for My MacBook

Krytonx85 on 28/03/2022 - 10:30

Hello,
I am a IT engineer (more in the cloud/devops/infrastructure mgmt side of things. I own a macbook pro. My current role involves a lot of the following:
1. Terminal access
2. Research via various online websites,pdf,etc
3. Documentation/note taking
4. Training team via ppt/docs/training videos,etc
5. I also prefer some portability as my macbook is always on my table and i want to be able to use it away from my desk

Currently after years of use I find that the macbook pro with its hard edges gives me a lot of wrist pain. It is also not convinient to type from other locations apart from my desk. It also is losing its battery life from the early days (a couple of hours max). I am looking for a portalble option for me to do some if not all of the above tasks and eyeing my eys on the IPAD pro 11 inch. I have other devices in mind and so wanted to see if you have any suggestions.1

  1. Could I perform and how easy is it to use the ipad 11 inch for the above
  2. How is the 12.9 inch - i hear its good for some use cases but lacks portability if we remove it from the keyboard (for reading ,etc)
  3. I was also looking into the Microsoft surface pro 8 but I feel microsoft as a tablet is not that good? Also I hear the battery life is pretty bad
  4. Other alternatives are the Samsung S8+ - however as I own the macbook - i feel integration may not be ideal?
  5. Perhaps a chromebook
Computing Tablet

Comments

  • MS Paint on 28/03/2022 - 10:41
    +6

    I think the only answer, and I can't believe I'm saying this, is an iPad pro 11 with keyboard.

    The new tab s8+ is amazing but I think the seamless integration wins for your needs.

    • Krytonx85 on 28/03/2022 - 11:46

      Thanks mate

  • freefall101 on 28/03/2022 - 10:51
    +1

    You really shouldn't be resting your wrists on the body of your laptop while you type, horrible for them. Maybe look at an ergo keyboard for your desk?

    Typing on a tablet sucks, I'd just look at an m1 macbook air. While everything you've mentioned is doable on a tablet, it's not fun to do so.

    • Krytonx85 on 28/03/2022 - 11:48

      True.. I do have a mac keyboard but I usuallly type/use my mac from my bed/couch and this is where i kind of feel the metal restpad with corner edges is not good. Not the same issue with other laptops..

  • ktvibes on 28/03/2022 - 10:55
    +2

    I would go with an iPad Pro (either 11 or 12.9), simply because of the sidecar feature to turn the iPad into an extra screen wirelessly.

    • Krytonx85 on 28/03/2022 - 12:15

      True - have you used it - can we use the touch screen in macos for drawing/selecting stuff..

    • crentist on 28/03/2022 - 14:41

      apple 1st party implementation would be awesome
      but theres also an app called spacedesk which lets you do this with almost anything. I've used this to turn a chromebook tablet into a second screen for a windows laptop (with touch working). works pretty well

      windows also has this built in btw, under Projection Settings. mentioning for people who might not know about it

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 28/03/2022 - 11:06
    +2

    Ipad pro m1 owner here:

    Am I the only one who can't use this seriously as an off-hand work device? I also splashed out for the magic keyboard - and yes it adds functionality as far as functional typing and workability - but dang it is bulky, practically doubles the weight of the tablet. The limited range of movement is actually also very annoying.

    Fantastic media consumption device though.

    >3. Documentation/note taking
    You'll probably want to consider splashing out for magic keyboard too, or BT keyboard if you dont already have.
    Are you a written notes kind of user? I bought a knock off apple pencil on amazon for like $30, and tried a friends apple pencil after - and look yes it's better but I just can't see myself doing proper sessions of note taking with this. Rather just pull out pen and paper.

    ** >I also prefer some portability as my macbook**
    See above , if you get the magic keyboard you might as well just have pulled out the macbook tbh.

    >How is the 12.9 inch
    TBH I find this too big everytime I see it at JB/Apple shop I am confident to say no regrets on the 11. Plus I think they still havent' addressed the light bleed issue.

    >I was also looking into the Microsoft surface pro 8
    I had a spro 3 and sold myself on it back then with the table functionality, but it's just not quite there… I'm sure they've done something (?) for usability/ QoL since then but probably still not quite there vs an ipad.

    **>Perhaps a chromebook
    Dont :(

    • Krytonx85 on 28/03/2022 - 12:14

      Thanks mate… yeah seems like there is no clear good solution here..

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 28/03/2022 - 12:18

        Id prob vote for ipad pro or maybe air..but specs are sooooo similar between the two.

  • mskeggs on 28/03/2022 - 12:34

    New battery for your computer, cheap ipad for media consumption.
    If you need to enter text in volume, you need to go sit properly with your computer, the ipad option is ‘adequate’ for somebody traveling without a laptop or shooting off a quick email, but not a viable replacement for a real keyboard on a laptop.

    That said, I have a Brydge keyboard with my ipad, and it is very capable for use on my lap on a train etc. but I wouldn’t write a novel on it.

  • crentist on 28/03/2022 - 14:37
    +1

    One thing that could make thing easier is using a teamviewer/rdp type software to control the macbook from the portable device. this lets the secondary device become much more of a thin client, and makes windows/chromebooks a more viable option (if you require a mac for anything in particular)

    With that in mind, a light and tiny laptop could be a good balance between tablet portability and laptop functionality.
    I'm a fan of the old 12 inch macbooks. quite underpowered, but I managed a fair bit of work on mine, and at 900g its super light. They're hard to come by atm, but you might get a used one for quite cheap.

    A more current option in similar vein would be a Lenovo X1 Nano. 13 inch laptop that weighs less than 1kg, and less than an 11inch ipad pro+keyboard.
    Great little laptop, plenty of power and usability. I've been trialing one alongside an x1 Carbon and it's my preference. Lack of ports sucks, but the sheer portability makes it so much nicer to move from the desk, and power difference is small.

    If a tablet is really preferred, I hear the Lenovo X13 yoga is also quite lightweight

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 28/03/2022 - 17:34

      I like jump rdp as a Remote Desktop option- unfortunately not a good user experience for controlling a multi screen Pc

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