Mac or Pad

[Einst_Stein]

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My iPad and iMac and Macbook Air are all about to retire. They are all over 10 years old. Because I also have Windows PC for my other works,  I know how they work for photos. I decided to stay with Apple.

I am considering new iPad Pro, Macbook Air/M1, or Macbook Air/i7.  I will get the new iMac later. 

I am seeing some posts about buying new Apple. At this moment, a lot of concerns about i7 vs. M1.  Some other concerns about Mac vs. Pad is the file management. 

In general, iPad Pro is still not convenient on file management, This makes it less favorable as the main photo management machine. But is is convenient on the go. Perhaps iPad is supposed to be (only) the remote terminal of a iMac?

Now, if iPad is only a portable terminal, how does it compare with, say, Macbook Air?

 

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[zeitz]

I have had an iPad Pro for about 6 months, using Photoshop through the Adobe Cloud.  I find the iPad to be a big disappointment.  The hardware is wonderful, but the operating system is basically a cell phone.  I can't imagine the iPad as being my only image processing device.  I do use Sidecar regularly with the iPad, but the connection is odd.  The fact that iPad is USB-C and not Thunderbolt 3 is odd.  It is like Apple is afraid to make the iPad good because it will cost them MacBook sales and maybe even force Apple to offer touch screen for Macs.

I am already set to switch over to an Apple M1 computer when my MacMini lease is up in June.  M1 has been a huge success, and Apple is going totally going in that direction.

[stunsworth]

I have an 2020 iPad Pro and think it’s wonderful. However I wouldn’t have it as my sole machine if I was doing a lot of photo editing. The integration with the iCloud Files app makes sharing files much easier than it used to be - and gives it a file system - and you can attach a USB C drive, but a Mac is still more flexible.

After saying that I’d guess I use the iPad 90% of the time, maybe more.

[LocalHero1953]

Not wishing to restart the Mac/win debate, but look at the MS Surface Book: It's a full Win10 device with a GPU and good for photo processing, a tablet, and touchscreen/pen device in both modes. My wife has a Macbook Air that I occasionally borrow, but the absence of touch is a killer.

[zeitz]

1 hour ago, LocalHero1953 said:

My wife has a Macbook Air that I occasionally borrow, but the absence of touch is a killer.

There are many things in life I don't understand.  But why Apple is so adamantly opposed to touch on a Mac is totally mystifying. 

[Gerbs]

I just got an iPad Pro, and although it is useful for my purposes, I don't think the name Pro is deserved at all. You cannot calibrate the monitor, so in my opinion it has no business being used for photography. I've been a Windows guy forever, and have been aware that Apple is known as the artist's tool.  Well, if you can't calibrate the monitor, you can't be an artist's tool for serious work. There's not even an adjustment for gamma. To get it close, I had to trick it into being in night mode, and then use a bunch of other adjustments to try to get it close to a calibrated monitor on my desktop system. Good for web surfing, watching entertainment, listening to music, checking email, goofing with social media... but stick with a full computer for serious photo work, if quality matters. And since you use a Leica, I think quality matters.

[Ingo]

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If I understand Apples roadmap/plans correct we will get apps in future, that will run natively on OSX and iOS thanks to the new M1 chips. This will make my life much easier when switching between MBP and iPad. 

I tried out a Surface Pro a year ago but sold it again. Although I was satisfied in general it was (too) hard for me to change my workflow with the wacom tablet to which I'm used to. But that's of course a personal thing. 

Currently I'm using a MacBook Pro with a 5K monitor for postprocessing plus an iPad Pro on the go for quick culling. 

[Knipsknecht]

I am using iPad Pros for almost four years, and because I used to travel a lot, they became my preferred devices for photo editing, too. As a mere hobbyist I don‘t need thinks like color calibrated monitors or editing programs with all bells and whistles  - I don’t earn money with my boring photos and just take them for my own pleasure.

So, personally I like that I can upload all my pics to the iCloud and for 99% of my editing I just use Snapseed or even just the built in editing tools of Photos. I have the Affinity App, too, on my iPad Pro, but to be honest, the usability is kind of PITA and too complicated for my very basic needs.

So, what does this mean? It simply depends on your personal needs and preferences. If you provide some more information about what you expect from an iPad Pro and/or a stand-alone Computer, you will get better information.

Personally I would always prefer Apple Soft- and Hardware. I have to use Windows Computers and Tablets at work, that’s enough IT-punishment for my taste🤪😉. But of course this reflects personal taste, too😇.

Edited December 21, 2020 by Knipsknecht

[iRandom]

10 minutes ago, Knipsknecht said:

I am using iPad Pros for almost four years, and because I used to travel a lot, they became my preferred devices for photo editing, too. As a mere hobbyist I don‘t need thinks like color calibrated monitors or editing programs with all bells and whistles  - I don’t earn money with my boring photos and just take them for my own pleasure.

So, personally I like that I can upload all my pics to the iCloud and for 99% of my editing I just use Snapseed or even just the built in editing tools of Photos. I have the Affinity App, too, on my iPad Pro, but to be honest, the usability is kind of PITA and too complicated for my very basic needs.

So, what does this mean? It simply depends on your personal needs and preferences. If you provide some more information about what you expect from an iPad Pro and/or a stand-alone Computer, you will get better information.

Personally I would always prefer Apple Soft- and Hardware. I have to use Windows Computers and Tablets at work, that’s enough IT-punishment for my taste🤪😉. But of course this reflects personal taste, too😇.

I agree with you on the need for calibration. I too am a hobbyist and very rarely print. When I do it comes out fine. I can see why a professional would want it.

I also find I now tend to prefer the simpler photo apps since I tend not to do much more than culling, keywording and a few simple adjustments. You may want to take a look at Pixelmator as a simpler alternative for Affinity. I've not tried the iPad app but I do like the MacOS app for the occasional thing I used to do in Affinity (and PS before that).

I tried using an iPad for a little bit, but I found that I prefer having a big screen for when I work with my photos. Including culling. I also find that I prefer a 13" MBP to an iPad for portability. I'm probably just set in my ways since I've been using computers since the TI-99/4A and am comfortable with the form factor. My setup for the past year has been a MBP with an external monitor. I'm really liking having the second screen. I'd like to add an iPad for sidecar and pencil support but I'd probably not use it once the novelty wore off.

[Einst_Stein]

45 minutes ago, Knipsknecht said:

I am using iPad Pros for almost four years, and because I used to travel a lot, they became my preferred devices for photo editing, too. As a mere hobbyist I don‘t need thinks like color calibrated monitors or editing programs with all bells and whistles  - I don’t earn money with my boring photos and just take them for my own pleasure.

So, personally I like that I can upload all my pics to the iCloud and for 99% of my editing I just use Snapseed or even just the built in editing tools of Photos. I have the Affinity App, too, on my iPad Pro, but to be honest, the usability is kind of PITA and too complicated for my very basic needs.

So, what does this mean? It simply depends on your personal needs and preferences. If you provide some more information about what you expect from an iPad Pro and/or a stand-alone Computer, you will get better information.

Personally I would always prefer Apple Soft- and Hardware. I have to use Windows Computers and Tablets at work, that’s enough IT-punishment for my taste🤪😉. But of course this reflects personal taste, too😇.

It has nothing to do with earning money or not. It's about the pursue of perfection. Art is nothing but pursue the perfection in your mind.   

As of today, it's clear enough to me which of iPad Pro or Macbook Air is the better choice.

[LocalHero1953]

On 12/18/2020 at 6:09 PM, Einst_Stein said:

...............

Now, if iPad is only a portable terminal, how does it compare with, say, Macbook Air?

 

I agree there is a value in having two different devices, one for travel and data/photo entry, and another for all-you-can-eat editing. I use my Surface Book for this purpose, ingesting images using Lightroom CC (the Surface Book has an integrated SD card reader), and doing some preliminary culling and editing there. These are automatically synced to the main catalogue on my desktop PC, where I do more detailed editing and printing using Lightroom Classic. I could see an iPad Pro being useful in such a workflow, as long as you recognised its editing limitations. 

Edited December 22, 2020 by LocalHero1953

[Einst_Stein]

8 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I agree there is a value in having two different devices, one for travel and data/photo entry, and another for all-you-can-eat editing. I use my Surface Book for this purpose, ingesting images using Lightroom CC (the Surface Book has an integrated SD card reader), and doing some preliminary culling and editing there. These are automatically synced to the main catalogue on my desktop PC, where I do more detailed editing and printing using Lightroom Classic. I could see an iPad Pro being useful in such a workflow, as long as you recognised its editing limitations. 

I believe Surface Book is a wonderful choice. Bu somehow some nice SW only support Apple, such as Phocus Moble. I don't know how Apple managed to achieve that. It's certainly unfair!

Edited December 22, 2020 by Einst_Stein