Get Ready To Navigate an Obstacle Course
Ever since Apple released its new iPad Pro in October, I’ve been reading stories from people who use MacBooks on why they can’t use an iPad as their main work machine. Well, of course, these are primarily Mac users. That’s like getting Android Central to review the new iPhone.
But if I let my mind wander and start to imagine a world where tablets were invented first. I chuckle at the kinds of stories that might’ve been written by iPad users regarding Macs. Something along the lines of…
But if I let my mind wander and start to imagine a world where tablets were invented first. I chuckle at the kinds of stories that might’ve been written by iPad users regarding Macs. Something along the lines of…
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I use my iPad Pro every day for work. At my desk I prop it up on an elevated stand and use Apple’s Magic Keyboard. I take it to meetings with my Apple Pencil where I can take notes which sync to my iPhone. In the evening I use it at my favorite chair to surf the web. In my living room, I keep the keyboard section of my case in my armrest for impromptu writing sessions. On my frequent business trips, I use it on the airplane where it’s the perfect size to prop for either writing or watching a movie.
Could I get some work done on a Mac while traveling? I suppose but it’s unwieldy. First, the size can be too large for economy seats if the person in front of you decides to take a nap. And more troublesome, there is no internet connectivity. To get work done on a Mac requires that I setup a hotspot from my iPhone or iPad. You’re forced to use a second device to make up for a hardware shortcoming in the Mac.
Could I use my Mac as my only note taking machine? Not really. Using a keyboard to take notes is too limiting. I need the freedom to move text around the page and draw diagrams. Plus, it’s so much quicker emphasizing text or adding bullets via freehand. Again, using the Mac is like fighting a headwind.
If I couldn’t use my iPad Pro, I’d rather write on a paper notepad than take notes on my Mac. But then there’s the issue of getting my paper notes onto my iPhone where I actually reference them in the future. I suppose I could snap a photo of them. Oh wait, my Mac only has a front facing selfie camera.
The iPad camera has become a necessity for me. I often need to add pictures to my notes. Either white board brain storming sessions, screen shots of someone else’s monitor, or a quick video of instructions I’ll need to remember later. Can I do this on my Mac? No. Again, you’ll need to pair a separate device and transfer the data at a later time. What a bother. In reality, with a Mac, you’ll never go to the trouble of taking those pictures or videos.
Then there’s the whole software situation. The iOS app ecosystem is vibrant and growing. The Mac? Not so much. I have some amazing note taking, video, and writing apps for my iPad Pro. And there’s new stuff getting released on a regular basis. If I had to describe the state of Mac Apps in a word it would be...stagnant. The future of software is with iOS apps.
Are you getting the overall theme here? Getting work done on a Mac is like navigating an obstacle course that Apple set up for you. Sure if you’re willing to handcuff yourself to a desk you can get some decent work done. But that’s not how most people live their lives. We do some of our best thinking when we travel or on the couch. If you’re willing to take the time to climb all those walls around the Mac, you can be productive. But even if you do, there’s very little new software on the horizon. Why limit what you can do in the future? When you have devices as powerful and mobile as the iPad Pro, why make all those compromises?
I remember reading a sad article about GM’s Cadillac division many years ago. GM was caught in between a rock and a hard place because their core market had an average age of about 71. They couldn’t go after new performance oriented customers without alienating their bread-and-butter market who wanted floaty cushy chariots. If they clung to what the majority of their current customers wanted, they were headed to a slow but certain death. If they took a risk and made some big changes, they risked a quicker death.
I can’t think of a better description of where Apple’s Mac business is today.
I use my iPad Pro every day for work. At my desk I prop it up on an elevated stand and use Apple’s Magic Keyboard. I take it to meetings with my Apple Pencil where I can take notes which sync to my iPhone. In the evening I use it at my favorite chair to surf the web. In my living room, I keep the keyboard section of my case in my armrest for impromptu writing sessions. On my frequent business trips, I use it on the airplane where it’s the perfect size to prop for either writing or watching a movie.
Could I get some work done on a Mac while traveling? I suppose but it’s unwieldy. First, the size can be too large for economy seats if the person in front of you decides to take a nap. And more troublesome, there is no internet connectivity. To get work done on a Mac requires that I setup a hotspot from my iPhone or iPad. You’re forced to use a second device to make up for a hardware shortcoming in the Mac.
Could I use my Mac as my only note taking machine? Not really. Using a keyboard to take notes is too limiting. I need the freedom to move text around the page and draw diagrams. Plus, it’s so much quicker emphasizing text or adding bullets via freehand. Again, using the Mac is like fighting a headwind.
If I couldn’t use my iPad Pro, I’d rather write on a paper notepad than take notes on my Mac. But then there’s the issue of getting my paper notes onto my iPhone where I actually reference them in the future. I suppose I could snap a photo of them. Oh wait, my Mac only has a front facing selfie camera.
The iPad camera has become a necessity for me. I often need to add pictures to my notes. Either white board brain storming sessions, screen shots of someone else’s monitor, or a quick video of instructions I’ll need to remember later. Can I do this on my Mac? No. Again, you’ll need to pair a separate device and transfer the data at a later time. What a bother. In reality, with a Mac, you’ll never go to the trouble of taking those pictures or videos.
Then there’s the whole software situation. The iOS app ecosystem is vibrant and growing. The Mac? Not so much. I have some amazing note taking, video, and writing apps for my iPad Pro. And there’s new stuff getting released on a regular basis. If I had to describe the state of Mac Apps in a word it would be...stagnant. The future of software is with iOS apps.
Are you getting the overall theme here? Getting work done on a Mac is like navigating an obstacle course that Apple set up for you. Sure if you’re willing to handcuff yourself to a desk you can get some decent work done. But that’s not how most people live their lives. We do some of our best thinking when we travel or on the couch. If you’re willing to take the time to climb all those walls around the Mac, you can be productive. But even if you do, there’s very little new software on the horizon. Why limit what you can do in the future? When you have devices as powerful and mobile as the iPad Pro, why make all those compromises?
I remember reading a sad article about GM’s Cadillac division many years ago. GM was caught in between a rock and a hard place because their core market had an average age of about 71. They couldn’t go after new performance oriented customers without alienating their bread-and-butter market who wanted floaty cushy chariots. If they clung to what the majority of their current customers wanted, they were headed to a slow but certain death. If they took a risk and made some big changes, they risked a quicker death.
I can’t think of a better description of where Apple’s Mac business is today.
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