🎬 Check out my FREE 36-video online class on how to study for exams - skl.sh/2UOx68x TIMESTAMPS 01:46 - The case for the iPad 02:36 - General efficiency 04:17 - Essays 05:09 - Printing 06:07 - Presentations 07:09 - Spreadsheets 07:43 - Wrapping Up
I'm very angry at you because you've completely ruined the romanticised idea I had in my head of selling my MacBook air and getting a lovely iPad pro and drawing supply and demand diagrams with an apple pencil. Thank you for actually bringing me back down to earth. Now I'm back at square one and I don't even know if I want a new laptop now! Aside from a better screen there's no new features in a MacBook pro or equivalent Windows laptop that makes me want to fork out a load of money when my Air works perfectly. Love your videos btw :)
Don’t want to start a debate. But thoughts on Apple bringing touch screen Mac’s? One of the few features I adore with my windows laptop, along with the price in comparison
Ali Abdaal it’s a tricky one, however much of a fad or just simply a cool feature that’s got limited use it may be, it’s also hard to live without. Having used others macs when I go to use it as a touch screen it’s bizarre to not have it. It’s certainly a cool idea, but would be a lot better if apps were more adapted too it, if only Notability could release a Windows version, it would be really useful to keep all my notes in one place and accessible from my laptop
Ur channel is honestly a breath of fresh air. It's clean and you get straight to the point. I became more organised from watching your videos so thank you! Keep it up!
A lot of your criticism comes down to "you know how to do it on the Mac, that's because your faster and it's better" I personally think that the iPad just provides a different workflow that isn't really slower than on a laptop when you know how to adopt. E.g. Spotlight, just use the search function on the iPad "CMD+Space", no touch input needed. And my Wifi printer works just fine, btw. A laptop is more convenient, because we learned how to use it for many years.
great video.. but I myself switched last year from using a MacBook to solely working with an iPad Pro with the Smart Keyboard and have not regretted it a second. For someone like yourself it might be faster and more convenient in many cases to do things on a proper computer but I seriously doubt that the majority of students are using their laptops as efficiently as you are... at least from my experience. And for most of them the iPad would be just as good if not better as their laptops. Keep up the good work!
I have a MacBook pro 13 late 2013. Right now in college I have a lot of pdf on the internet to read and I think switching to the next gen iPad pro would be great because I have a good PC at home for the heavy lifting and something thin and light for reading and taking note in class :)
Thanks for this video, this is the exact conundrum I am facing. Going to med school and trying to decide whether or not I should use an iPad Pro instead of my MacBook Pro. Because of your suggestions I think I'll stick with the laptop for now and consider an iPad down the road if I have a lot of reading/annotating or drawing to do. Thanks!
You absolutely nailed it with this video. I 100% agree with every single point you made. I too, fell under all the youtube hype about replacing your laptop with an iPad, unfortunately majority of those you tubers don't actually study or genuinely replace their iPad with their laptop - they just use it for a day and install all the compatible apps and say "see all the apps you use are here, so its fine right??"
Great video! 😊 I actually got an iPad Pro because of your videos and it has been such a game changer! I think the most cost effect combo would be an iPad and a Windows laptop. I’m doing a biotechnology degree and it’s lecture/research heavy. I basically just use my laptop for writing research papers and formatting PowerPoint lectures into PDFs. But I actually do most of my reading, studying, and writing on my iPad. It’s super portable and reading academic articles on it is so much more efficient.
just watched a few videos of you for the first time and THANK YOU for the "where you find which topic in this video" in the beginning. Not a lot of people do that but if they do it i am incredibly thankful. It saves so much time when you are looking for something specific
I know this is a late comment, but thank you for enlightening me on deciding which device to get the job done. I love the iPad Pro and I had plans on getting it soon as a laptop replacement. But from what you’ve said, I think it’s best to have both devices, they’d make a great combo for maximum productivity. 👌🏽👌🏽
Wow, you've just saved me some money. I keep telling myself I want an ipad and for many of the reasons you summed up so well - a glorified piece of paper!! That put everything into perspective and I'm grateful!
Because of you I purchased an iPad and started taking all my notes on it. I love it! I find myself studying a lot more, also it's so minimal. I don't have to carry all my papers around with me. Thank you for your videos! Keep up the great work!
Definitely agree with the conclusion. It does ultimately come down to what kind of a degree you’re doing as well. Any more advanced software tends not to be available for iOS, and if it is it tends to be heavily simplified. If I just look at my degree right now - Matlab? Any sort of an IDE? Nope. The general efficiency of use point - I have noticed this. I can fly through iOS on my phone or MacOS on my laptop, but everything slows to a crawl on an iPad. Turns out that Minority Report fantasy of navigating an interface with big gestures just isn’t very efficient.
Exactly. Would love to see them develop a more advanced i/OS, especially for the pro models. All the pundits anticipating the new Pro linup seem to only be talking about a leaked bezzl-less design and the inclusion of face recognition, I hope there's more to it than this!
For my experience, if you can afford them. Get them both. I got MacBook Pro and iPad Air for different reasons. I’m a mass media major in college I also take video editing and other media classes. So I need my Mac for heavy editing stuff. However, I decided early this year that I’m going paperless from now on. Also, bc my classes rarely handout papers most lectures handout are online. I use my iPad for note taking and reading (entertainment). Overall, I still recommend you to get a laptop instead of an iPad. MacBook Air is good for college if you not in classes that have heavy work. Hope my opinions help.
Have to disagree with you on this video. Maybe it’s easier on a laptop for some things, but you can accomplish those things on an iPad nonetheless. So the iPad can replace a laptop. How efficient it is is another subject altogether. I am in school for my doctorate and I create content daily whether is typing up a word document in pages, creating a spreadsheet, making a keynote presentation, reading my schoolbook and doing the work on the other half of my screen, all of it I can do just as well as a laptop (and I used to own a surface pro - which I loved)... on top of that, when you include iOS programs like affinity photo and lumafushion, the iPad gives ways of getting the same work done on an iPad than you do on a laptop.. all in a much more portable package and with a pen for notes or artists. I gave up my windows pc for an iPad and have never regretted it for a second. Everything I did then I can do now. Even the keyboard has the plenty of shortcuts that make searching easier as it is on a laptop.. and about your comments on printing.. seriously? Most people own a wireless printer and I haven’t once had an issue printing anything out on my iPad. I think your nitpicking.. At the end of the day, iPad Pro is the future for portable computers and it will only get better as fewer and fewer people want to drag around a bigger laptop when they can have something as thin and light as an iPad Pro. I think the iPad Pro is not getting enough credit
I think it always depends on the person. One of my friends in school growed up with his iPad and he loves using it since he was a child. He is so used to work with an iPad that he always has the reflex to touch the screen, even if it is a normal laptop. It is the complete opposite with me: I have always been using laptops when I was a child and I am so used to all the shortcuts and the mouse that I just love to use a laptop. That's why I bought a MacBook and I definitely don't regret it.
Actually on the topic of search, the iPad does a good job in searching the web using spotlight very quickly without dock, safari, tap search. Just swipe down or Command Space if you have a keyboard. It also searches for in-app files (like one password or notes)
I agree with you that the iPad is more cumbersome for most real work. I write a lot of technical reports (Word and Excel) for a living. I tried using the iPad Pro exclusively with an Apple wireless keyboard for a month for work. While it was possible, some things were just more of a pain. On the other hand, I love taking notes with the Apple pencil. I have given up taking notes on paper for the many technical documents I have to read and reference in my own papers. The other problem I find with the iPad is the Files program. Is getting better, but still seems painful compared to either windows or Mac is for programs. I am 68 years old by the way, but am thoroughly enjoying the new technology and your videos. Keep up the good work.
It's useful to watch the entire video because even an iPad can replace your laptop you may have some needs that an iPad can do, but a laptop will just save you time and even money. If you have to write lots of papers like me maybe a laptop is better. Paper sometimes is better for note taking, even isn't the most technological thing.
Being a student using iPad Pro only (except for written exams on campus) I understand your way of seeing things. Though I would like to add that if you use a keyboard the issue you explain or not being able to quickly access the internet, a keyboard can do that as long as it has a spotlight button! I like what you’re doing with this page :)
Everything you said was all that I was trying to pretend wouldn’t be a problem if I chose to buy an iPad. Definitely helped me chose a MacBook over an iPad. Thanks!
Completely agree with you Ali, I really regret buying the iPad Pro with the bundles before getting a laptop. After trying to make notes on the iPad I just gave up. So much time was wasted trying to navigate or scroll. Also I find that the iPad Pro is not as fast at processing commands as the MacBook Pro :((
Still watched the whole vid. Thanks Ali. Since I'm not in school anymore and im now a RN..I will have to go with the Ipad, more portable for watching my series and still have somewhat the capacity to create simple docs and stuff. Hopefully I get it this month.
I discovered the same issues as you! To get around the "restrictions" of the iPad, I just use the google chrome remote desktop app to access my main computer. Of course, you still don't get a mouse and it's still touch screen, and there's no getting around to actually giving a presentation, but I get to access my home computer and use it's programs over my schools blazing fast wifi. So it _can_ work, but it's still cumbersome!
Ali : laptop vs ipad Few: ipad Few: laptop Me studying in my smartphone: 🙃 Since , lockdown I am at home with 2 books and my smartphone. Unfortunately, I left my 2.5 kg laptop in my pg and now managing my studies in my smartphone 🙃
I find printing from my iPhone/iPad is so easy with any network-based printer. I mostly use it to take a photo, print it instantly, It's so handy. (often when I do engineer/electrical work, then I know how things is before I start tear down so I can have a paper on my table tio sort things xD).
Amazing videos and brilliant reviews!! N i love that u give us your conclusion straight upfront at the beginning of the video. That anyway doesn't stop me from watching them all the way till the end!!!
I completely agree, over summer I made the decision to get an iPad so I could hand write notes without the hassle of all the paper and people said to me, what’s the point you have a MacBook and now it’s going to become redundant. However, with only a few weeks of using the iPad at uni it is clear that although the iPad does make my life a hell of a lot easier, my MacBook will never become redundant. The iPad is great for many things, but it definitely doesn’t replace a laptop. Really love your channel by the way 😊
totally agree with you. I have both IPad and MacBook and i use iPad for school just to take notes and intermediating during classes because i have two or one class a day. It is easy to do some tasks on IPad. And i get advantage to get lighter backpack on me.
Also, I would like to add : for people who in their studies need to use programs for video or photo editing, to use specific stuff like Publisher etc...I think it’s more effective on an actual laptop than an IPad. I’m personally getting both.
I like these videos. Real life scenarios especially if you are using a laptop for research. Unfortunately iPad is a good stand in device but not a laptop replacement.
Hey man - nice video. Up front: I get by with an iPad for multi-week business trips, and rarely miss my Macbook Pro. My use-case: my work consists mainly of eMails, the occasional Spreadsheet, writing "Word" documents, and presentations in Keynote. For all of these purposes the iPad is not "better", but it gets the job done without complaints. And the up side is how light and easy it is to travel with the iPad vs the Macbook Pro. So - to answer the question of whether an iPad can replace a Macbook with a resounding "no" is too much of a generalisation. In my case, I can go for a long time without missing the Mac. I have a great slim keyboard, a stylus, Airpods, etc. It's my mobile office, and it just works....
You described my dilemma perfectly - I sold my macbook in May, used just an iPad and repurchased a macbook in September (I have a home pc as well). It's an expensive combo, but I am very glad to be fortunate to have the triple combo (PC, Macbook, iPad) and it works very well. Also, I love you videos!
I beg to differ with this video.... As for me, I have an par Pro and it’s the device I consistently use for everything related to work, leisure, read and discover. I have an old MBP which is now well retired. You should use shortcuts on the keyboard (same as the Mac OS ). The speed is just a question of habit. The more you use, the faster it works... I design all presentations with keynote. And I present them with my IPhone as remote controller... I use LateX for my research papers with the iPad. Another app worth trying because I do think we kind of think the same way... Try Yoink for collecting anything watches, read or seen that could be used afterwards.
Thanks for the Video just got accepted to my grad school DPT program and was debating if I wanted to replace my old laptop or just get a iPad Pro. Lots of good information
Loved this video! I'm in my third year of undergrad in Canada - fingers crossed moving on to vet school next year - and I think I'm going to jump on the redesigned iPad releasing this fall (hope its soon). Potential video suggestion... I think you should do a video showing off a selection of your slight of hand tricks. It would be super fun and interesting! Keep it up Ali :)
Hey Ali I really like your format of your videos and it would be great if you can create an updated version of this video as iPadOS has really made the iPad Pro as a more viable option as a laptop replacement but I’m still not sure if I should.
The iPad is an alternative to a laptop not a replacement. Y current set up I think is the best one I’ve ever had. An iMac and an iPad Pro 12.9”. I do 95% of my tasks on the iPad and for the other 5% I go to the iMac. I do have to say why you have some valid points I really like reading on the iPad. I had a 15” MacBook Pro and I just hated reading on it. I also like being able to read and make hand written notes at the same time. I can’t do that as easily on a laptop. I also wonder if it’s a generational thing that makes it harder for us to deal the iPads touch interface. I had my first laptop for 10 years before the first iPad came out. It’s now almost and additional 8 years when I made the switch to iPad. Thats 18 years basically of using a laptop a certain way. I work and process completely different on the iPad and it is slower at times. But then I look at my nephews who are 7 and 10 and they are flying through the iPad. It’s almost as if our brains are wired differently (which they are) but I wonder how much of it is simply because we’ve used laptops longer than iPads.
I love your perspective and your videos! ❤️ you do a great job in presenting your opinion. The depth that you go to explaining you reasoning is absolutely fantastic . Thanks for your great videos!👍
I've been thinking for 2 months and could not reach the conclusion.. As a Masters student, my question is; should I sold my 7 year old (but still working well) Windows Laptop and buy a Macbook Air or keep the laptop and buy an iPad pro?
I am still gonna buy ipad pro over macbook pro after watching this video. Macbook Pro is way better in terms of typing up essays and making presentation, but my course work requires a lot of reading and reading on the go(say in subway) is nearly impractical with a MBP. With an iPad I can utilize my time better even when I am commuting. Also iPad is good for essay/book annotation. I love to print out course material and write my thoughts in the margin. This type of notetaking is not possible on MacOS/window and I have not find a alternative method that I enjoy. For those of you that need to read a lot, or if you like highlighting and annotating books, or if you need to read a lot, iPad Pro would a better choice over MBP. That being said, if you are going to get only one device and you do not have a PC or iMac at home, definitely go for Macbook Pro. The advantages of having a MBP that Ali mentioned are essential for a college student.
I was pretty close deciding that I was going iPad only for my Physiotherapy degree. But in the end I decided to go for MBP. Now i’m midway through the first semester and I‘m so glad I decided on a laptop instead of a tablet. Making Anki cards from internett resources is such a breeze on MBP, and there is no way I could come even close working on an iPad. Btw, i’’m doing Anki as my only studying method and its working like magic.
You know I'm always confused as to people like you. Why not get the cheaper options for both and get both of them. You can get the 300 dollar 6th gen iPad and the 800 dollar MacBook air or the normal MacBook. That way you save money compared to getting a pro and you get both
I tried the iPad with pencil support, but that screen glare is straigth cancer for the eyes in my opinion. But I see your point, most people should probaly just go for your option. I prefer focusing on one device though
You should do an update with the iPad Pro and New iPad OS. I’ve been using the mouse support and it’s really useful. Also, the new external storage support is great
Amazing quality video as always Ali 😄 if someone was in the position where they could buy both, would you recommend it? As they both seem to have their own individual benefits that are useful! P.s. submitted my medicine application yesterday, your grad entry medicine video was so helpful with it so thank you!! 💞
