Can The iPad Replace A Laptop [iPad One Month Challenge]

So i’ts been more than a month that I started using my iPad as my primary device. Since earlier this year, I have been eager to get the new iPad pro with the stylus because I see many creatives and online entrepreneurs using it and enjoying how compact and powerful they have become.

I also watched one full 30 minutes video review on YouTube showing how much my iPad is underused.

The new iPad OS 13 update making your tablet now work like a computer, I was curious to know if using an iPad for my daily tasks could improve my workflow rather than just using it for entertainment.

Now, I know myself (tech addict) and before buying the iPad pro, I wanted to know if it is just a nice to have or something that could help improve my workflow and productivity on a daily basis.

Hence, the reason I set myself a challenge. For one month I would be using my current iPad mini 2 for most of the daily tasks I do which includes

• Light video editing

• writing

• entertainment

• admin work

• coaching sessions

And see if I can stop using my laptop. Now, the caveat is that this iPad cannot get the latest iPad OS. So for all admin work that required using online tools, I used my wife iPad Air that is compatible instead.

My goal is to keep the amount of gear I need to work on the go very minimal but still remain as productive.

Here are the lessons learned from this experience.

New workflow

Transitioning most of my daily tasks from a laptop to an iPad was challenging. Especially for all admin related work. As a content creator I use many creative apps to help me do my job. I divided my tasks into categories:

Writing and blogging

Writing is not a problem on an iPad and I actually really enjoyed the experience. The main benefit is that you get less distracted than on a laptop because you are focused on doing one thing. You have one app opened dedicated to do your task. No distractions or multiple tabs opened in your browser. I got myself a bluetooth wireless keyboard that is very light weight and slim, perfect to carry around in small backpack.

When it comes to blogging, the website that hosts my blog (Squarespace) has an updated app that allows you to write new blog posts and edit your website (with limitations) from any devices. So overall, the writing and blogging experience was a success and actually better enjoy it now doing it from iPad.

Content creation

I take a lot of photos on a daily basis. Whether for practice and improve my skills or for work. I also use creative apps to create graphics for my blog and promote my content online. The good thing is that most of the tools I used have a dedicated application. Now the question was to know if the user experience would be easier on a tablet.

I use Canva or Adobe Spark for my graphics - I prefer the user experience on a desktop. There is more room to visualize your graphics and you spend less time going through all the menus from the application to find what you need. Even though the applications are very well designed, the workflow on the app is slowing me down.

This is a great solution to have if you are on the go. But if you are bulk editing, it can become a frustrating experience.

I use Adobe Lightroom CC to edit my photos. The user experience on tablet is very enjoyable and user friendly. I like how simple and funny it’s become to edit my photos. It makes the whole editing process more enjoyable. Being able to edit my photos with my fingers rather than a click of a mouse is also an experience I really enjoy that is more intuitive.

Now there is a learning curve and a new workflow that you need to adapt yourself to. But overall, once you found your workflow, you will be able to edit your photos on the go in matter of seconds and have them at hand anywhere you go as long as you have an Internet connection. Ideal when you are traveling.

I use Final Cut Pro X to edit my videos. This was tricky as there is no equivalent of this application on tablets (yet! maybe some day). There are some similar apps you can use though, among which:

Lumafusion - Very complete and cheap ( about 30 euros one time payment) but there is a new learning curve to render a professional looking videos. I personally did not want to spend hours and hours learning a new video editing software although I already invested time and money into Final Cut Pro X.

InShot - Ideal to create short videos for social media. I use it a lot and it is very user friendly. It makes the whole video editing experience fun and intuitive. The only thing is the watermark that stays on your video once you export it unless you want to pay for the subscription, that is not expensive to be honest. But that is not what I was looking for.

VLLO - A very intuitive and user-friendly app that allows you to edit your videos. There is no watermark once you export it and I have created a 10 minutes long video using it with no problem. No lag, no frozen app experience. Even though most videos are shot in 4K 60fps.

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I would not personally use it to create cinematic looking videos. But it really helps me with the first step of the video editing process that is to sort all my video files and cut the parts I don’t need.

Once I derushed all my videos from a project, I can export the file to my gallery and airdrop it to my mac where I can import it as a video file in FCPX and continue the edit from there and add the effects that I want.

This is ideal when traveling for a week or two and being able to derush your videos on a daily basis, instead of waiting to come back from your trip, import all your videos and feel overwhelmed by the amount of footage to go through.

This is my worst nightmare and one of the reasons I still haven’t had the courage to edit most of my travel videos! But with this new app and workflow, this will change!

Social Media Management and advertising

I use multiple online tool to manage my social media. From scheduling my content for my blog and Instagram accounts with Later.com and Tailwind, to setting up ad campaigns to promote my offers online. Therefore I’d use my Internet browser to use these tools.

The experience on my iPad mini 2 was bad. Loading the pages was very slow. And as this tablet does not have the latest iPad OS 13, I was not able to use the desktop version of Power Editor to manage my Facebook ads for Instance. It still redirected me to the Facebook ads app that is very limited!

So I used my wife’s iPad Air instead. And I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was. Sure it requires some adaptations, but overall, I could do what I usually do on my laptop and I did not spend more time as the user experience is exactly the same.

Work gamification & Improved productivity

What I really enjoy with the iPad is that work does not seem like work when using it. It is hard to explain unless you experience it yourself. But being able to have the freedom to move from a sitting position at a desk to a laying position on a couch and still be able to work on your task is a unique experience. And it makes it fun.

Hence, the work gamification. Everything you do is fun because the iPad user experience makes it simple for anyone. Whether you are a kid or an elderly person, you will know how to use an iPad. Although using a laptop for professional purposes requires a learning curve.

Also, being able to focus on one task at a time is a game changer in terms of productivity. On a laptop it is very easy to multi-tasks and have many tabs opened in your internet browser, which most of the time you do not even check but keep open just in case. Being forced to have this minimalist approach forced me to stay focus and therefore improved my productivity.

Limitations

There are some limitations obviously. An iPad will never replace a laptop. But it can actually complement your workflow and if like me you travel a lot, you will find that the user experience on a iPad is more enjoyable. It is compact, light and multi-purpose. It feels like carrying a Swiss knife with you. But there are limitations regarding some tasks.

Some applications are not ideal to work on. So I’d rather work on those tasks from the desktop version of the website instead. (i.e. creating graphics in Canva or editing full videos in Final Cut Pro)

Is the iPad going to replace my laptop?

My answer is yes…

because I really enjoy the flexibility of using it on the go.

It is light and compact. I can carry it in my backpack with me

It is easy to use. No need to find a flat surface to work on it or be in an awkward position to work

It is modular. You can use it as a tablet on the go and connect a keyboard when you need to do more heavy writing tasks

It feels like playing a game. Editing my photos on my laptop can sometimes take hours sitting on a chair and leaning on my desk for support. I would end up with back and neck pain over time. So, editing my photos on an iPad in the position I want anytime I feel like it and also being able to use my fingers to edit is a game changer. It is making this whole experience more enjoyable. Of course there are some limitations regarding the editing task you can do. But again it is all about the workflow you decide to adapt.

…But under one condition.

As I do not travel as often as I used to and I am planning on settling down, I am thinking of having a dedicated work space at home with a big screen, a desk and a comfortable chair! Yes, I am getting too old for this laptop lifestyle!

So, being able to create a workflow with an iPad where I can start creating my content on the go and take over those projects I started to my desktop to complete them is sounds like the ideal seamless workflow to me.

This challenge was very fun to do actually. And I started to use my iPad for what it actually is (a mini computer) and not only an entertaining device. Now is time to think about upgrading.

Will I get the latest iPad Pro?

I do not believe so, but I will start looking for a compatible iPad OS 13 tablet that will answer to my needs.

If you have any recommendations, feel free to share them with me.

What about you? Do you own an iPad or tablet? Do you use it for your work? I am always curious to know how others manage to create workflows with the devices at our disposal.

If you enjoyed reading this post, make sure to like it, it actually makes a difference. And if you know anyone that would find this article helpful, do not hesitate to share it with them.

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