@Denny My lazy request: Have you written a single post about how you're currently using the iPad?
I was a heavy iPad user, but I started using my MacBook around the house a couple of months ago, and then I got an iPhone Pro Max a couple of weeks ago, and now I hardly use my iPad. I'm just one person of course—not claiming punditry for myself.
@MitchW The iPad is my only computer, 8+ hours a day.
Other apps used during the day: PastePal for persistant clibpoard, LilliHub saved to homescreen as my Micro.blog app. Music and Podcasts.
That pretty much covers it. 🤓
@Denny @Denny I've been able to convince my 78 year old mom she could use the iPad as her computer after her 2012 iMac finally gave up the ghost. So far she's adapted quickly after initially protesting. "Ma, I'll give you 3 months and if you still can't do it, I'll buy the iPad from you and you can get another Mac." Meanwhile wifey was wanting to switch to iPad in the same manner since I could remember but was waiting for her 2010 Macbook to pass over, which it finally did last year.
Not sure why these "iPad on life support" stories keep getting written every year. It's not the kind of device that needs to be upgraded like an iPhone all the time so sales are always gonna be slower, upgrades are always iterative.
@starrwulfe I think the beauty of the iPad is that it can be the super simple, inexpensive computer for older people and kids as well as the more powerful option for users like me. A simple tablet in the hand, docked to a keyboard for laptop mode, or held in a separate, elevated stand optionally connected to an external screen as a desktop computer. The form factor lends itself to modularity and versatility.
Pundits have to create controversy for content during the slow news cycles. They have podcast episodes to do every week and articles... it's all manufactured clickbait tech drama to fill in between rumors.
From the outset the iPad evolution from a basic iPhone-based OS to a more powerful OS created a tension with "pro" Mac users that, in the first years, immediately loved the large multi-touch screen and tablet form factor but were used to the more powerful and open macOS. They have a hard time reconciling that not every new tech device is for them. In those early years they formed a bias against the iPad that they've failed to reconcile as iPadOS has grown into a more capable and complex OS. Many of them just haven't used it enough in recent years to be aware of all the new features and it's increasing parity with macOS. To them it's still the more limited iPad of 5 years ago.
@nathanrhale Yeah, 12.9" M1. I bought the less expensive model with 8GB of memory but it's not been a problem in my workflow. I regularly bounce between 10+ apps during a day with no problem. Apple added virtual memory to iPadOS 16 for M1 iPads so that helped quite a bit.
@Denny Impressive! I've been using Yoink for persistent keyboard. Wish it ran in background all the time, rather than the weird hack that allows it to run in bg some of the time. I'll look at PastePal.
I was a heavy iPad user until a couple of months ago. It was my around-the-house computer. A couple of things changed: I realized I already have a MacBook Pro, which I had gotten out of the habit of undocking from my desk. I started using that as my around-the-house computer in addition to it being my at-my-desk primary work machine.
Also, I got an iPhone 15 Pro Max a couple of weeks ago.
The combination of the two has nearly eliminated my iPad use.
Do you use the 13" iPad Pro or a smaller one?
@nathanrhale Most of my sites are usually small, 4-6 page "brochure" sites for smaller businesses or nonprofits. I code by hand using Textastic which has a built in ftp client. I've got a couple of WP sites but not much to do with those other than ensure that WP and plugins are staying updated.
@MitchW A note about PastePal, it's a paid app and my method does require use of a second device. But it's been working flawlessly. Basically, run the app on a nearby iPad, iPhone or Mac. When I copy on my iPad Pro the other device picks it up via the shared clipboard. PastePal on that device is sitting in the foreground and set to monitor the clipboard. It's also set to sync via iCloud. I have a Mac and an old iPad Air, either of which could be set to be the PastePal "server". More details here: beardystarstuff.net/2024/02/1... In theory Yoink can be used in exactly the same way but I found it was less reliable and missed text and files. PastePal has been flawless and has a better looking UI.
The 13" is essential for my old eyes and the work I do with Affinity Publisher. And as it's my primary device, I generally want that larger screen anyway. I hardly touch my iPhone. I think Stage Manager is far more useful on the 13" screen. If they offer a 15" and my budget allows I'd consider that. Alternatively, any M1 or better iPad works great plugged into an external screen.
I think the real allure of the iPad for some of us is that we want the device without the keygoard attached. I love being able to use my in a stand positioned away from the keyboard/trackpad. Or just in my lap as a tablet.
@Denny An interesting and very useful hack that should in theory work with any clipboard monitor that works in the background on the Mac and that syncs with the iPad and iPhone. I quite believe you that in practice it doesn’t work with Yoink. I use Paste as my primary clipboard manager on the Mac. I will test it out to see if it works. 
@Denny how do you manage seeing the results of your coding efforts (ie previewing in a browser as you code) on the iPad?
@alpower Textastic has had the feature to preview local files in Safari for quite awhile. I can just put the two side by side or put one on the external display.
@Denny I tried your Universal Clipboard trick with Paste, my clipboard manager of choice on the Mac. It worked in tests when I was in the same room. I'm curious to see how well it works when I'm around the house. Science! And thank you!
Are you familiar with Yoink's video trick for running in the background on the iPhone and iPad? It leaves a little notch on the side of the screen, which can be a problem on the iPhone and smaller iPad, but on the 13" iPad it will probably be fine.
@MitchW Yeah, I'd used Yoink in the past using the picture-in-picture video feature. It works pretty well. Sometimes I'd copy an image that for whatever reason would not end up in Yoink. That happened a few times when I needed it which prompted my search for something else. Also, PastePal has a better UI that takes better advantage of iPadOS.
