Just a few weeks ago I attempted to ditch
my Mac by switching to the newest iPad with
the latest software and BRYDGE Pro keyboard.
I came into it trying to find an answer to
the question so many of you ask. Can I finally
just have one device, or the other common
question, should I buy a MacBook Air or an
iPad.
The experience was better than I expected,
but after about a week the answer was no,
and it depends.. but now that I got my hands
on Apples new Magic keyboard which I still
think is really ridiculously priced the answer
is now yes, and I no longer feel like I need
my basic compact MacBook, and I think most
of you don’t either.
Now there are still a few downsides which
I’ll cover in just a bit, but first, let
me explain why I’m way happier this time
around and as much as I hate to say it, I
think Apple’s crazy priced keyboard is worth
it.
First off, one thing I liked using the 2020
iPad Pro as a laptop replacement was the touchscreen.
I never thought I’d want a touchscreen on
a MacBook but now I do because sometimes it
just quicker or better than using a trackpad.
With Apples new magic keyboard its even better.
I honestly wasn’t floating design to matter
but it surprised me. The iPad is closer to
you which makes the 11” screen size seem
bigger and it makes using the navigation bar
much more comfortable.
One thing I kept doing was trying to reach
for a trackpad, but this time its actually
there, and can I just say that it shockingly
good. I’ve used a ton of trackpads over
the years and even though its not a force
touch trackpad its one of the best I’ve
used.
I don’t know what they did but its not a
diving board design like most windows laptops,
so you have an even feel wherever you click.
Now it is small, so that took a bit to get
used to but its super accurate for clicking,
tapping, and all of the gestures Apple supports.
Which seems like pretty much everything I
do on a Mac.
If you have an older MacBook that uses a diving
board trackpad, this one is better.
What really surprised me is how I naturally
just started using both the trackpad and touchscreen
and switching between them depending on what
is faster or more natural.
This is the review of the 2020 Magic keyboard
case from Apple. I think its overpriced but
I would spend the money on it. It just works
so well!
Yes, I have to admit you windows guys were
right.. Touchscreen are worth it for laptops.
The other thing is that
Probably my biggest issue with using the iPad
was the keyboard. None of them are really
that great, and I didn’t expect the Magic
keyboard to be great either, but I was wrong.
The keys feel fantastic. I was skeptical that
they are using the same switches as the new
MacBooks but it seems like they are. The backlighting
looks great and unlike the Brydge my fingers
didn’t feel cramped and didn’t hurt after
a two hour typing session.
They feel very stable with the perfect amount
of feedback and having that extra port for
charging is great. As I was writing this review
I went back and forth between my Mac pro’s
keyboard, and this iPad case actually feels
better due to extra feedback.
I know that I’m sounding like a major fanboy,
and trust me I do have some complaints and
I’m still not happy about how much Apple
is charging, I’m just so surprised how well
it works.
I watched MKBHD’s review and some of his
complaints really worried me and even though
I’m a major laptop fan like he is I have
to say I don’t agree with some of his points.
I was worried about the angle being limited
but I never felt like I wanted it to go higher,
even when it was on my lap. Speaking of that,
I was worried that having the iPad so high
up would throw off the balance but my palms
just rest on the stiff keyboard and it works.
He mentioned that it's off balance since the
iPad is floating and that’s true its not
as good as a MacBook, but I used it on my
lap for over and hour and it worked surprisingly
well, way better than any other keyboard case
we’ve tested.
I was also worried about the weight and thickness
as he mentioned but as I took it around with
me on the go I didn’t find it that bad,
fairly similar to other options and more comfortable
than lugging around the air, at least with
the 11” iPad.
Now here’s a couple things that still aren’t
great. If you’re someone that does a lot
of typing like I am when you try to erase
a sentence it still takes forever as the cursor
doesn’t speed up, but with that said since
we now have a trackpad in some apps you can
quickly select text just like on a Mac which
was one of my big complaints moving to an
iPad.
Now I said some apps because Google Docs which
I use the most doesn’t support it just yet,
but hopefully they will update it soon. Another
issue is some apps don’t support split view,
as MKBHD mentioned using zoom and taking notes.
Thankfully you can still have an app open
in Slide over to take notes but the size is
small.
So there are still downsides to using an iPad
as a MacBook replacement, but with the new
great keyboard there are now way more upsides
to getting an iPad instead of a MacBook Air
and my biggest reasons for sticking with the
Air are now gone.
Because of that, I’m no longer going to
be taking my Mac around unless I need Final
Cut Pro, the iPad is just way more capable
overall and more flexible, and for all of
you trying to decide between a new MacBook
Air or iPad Pro, go for the iPad, as long
as you’re buying this stupidly expensive
case, I think you’ll be very happy as long
as you can forget how much you paid for the
thing.
I don’t want to repeat my talks on Apps,
gaming, CPU and graphics performance, battery
life, fan noise, speakers, display quality,
and much more since all of those things I
covered in my last video are still super valid,
so if you haven’t seen it yet click right
over there.
If you want to see more honest tech video
click that circle to above to subscribe. This
has been Max and I’ll see you in the next
video. Thanks fo rewatching The next thing
I want to get is.
