Tablet Habit

I recently sold my MacBook Pro and iPad 7 to buy the new 2020 11” iPad Pro. I also picked up the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. The reason for this was because I wanted to get the best iPad I could and make it my one and only computer.

To rewind a bit, I used to use a 16” MacBook Pro for both my marketing/videography job and for personal use. After I decided to leave that line of work the MacBook returned to the company. Once that happened I found myself wanting to use my iPad 7 as my main device even though I had the 2017 MacBook Pro as well. Mind you, nothing was wrong with my MacBook Pro, I felt that the iPad was more my flavor of computing.

Now that I am a month into using my 11” iPad Pro full time, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. When people ask me why I decided to move to the iPad over the Mac it comes down to two things. The first being operating system and the second being what the future will be for the platform.

Why iPad OS over macOS

After watching the WWDC keynote this year I realized that while the lines between the Mac and iPad were beginning to blur. Even with Apple silicon, these devices are still vastly different from one another.

The biggest difference for me isn’t the apps or the way certain things interact on the screen. It is automation and making these computer do the things that you want them to. Enter Shortcuts, the mainstay automation app for the iPhone and iPad. Shortcuts is by far and away my favorite app of all time. The reason for this is because it’s allowed me to unlock the full potential of my iOS and iPad OS devices.

To me, that is the difference between a Mac and iPad in a nutshell. If you want to do something for automation on the Mac you can try using an app like Keyboard Maestro. Alternatively, you will need to know how to code something yourself to make it happen. With Shortcuts, you can create your own automation system in minutes using their Lego-style blocks to build atop one another. Shortcuts might seem like a rudimentary way to program for those that know how to code. Yet, as someone that has tried learning to code over the years Shortcuts makes more sense to me than anything else.

In fact, it’s the first app I go to when I have an idea to automate or make something I do simpler. When I was using my Mac I felt as if that aspect of computing was unattainable for me. For example, I didn’t know how to write code to edit plain text the way that I wanted to. As someone that works with text a lot it seemed inferior to my iPad for that reason. With an iPad I can use Shortcuts and make automated changes to the text in a matter of seconds.

I often would write things on my Mac and reach for my iPad so I could run it through my Shortcuts for various things I wanted to do with the text.

This is not to say that Shortcuts is simple or completely understandable the first go around, but I have spent significantly less time learning Shortcuts than I have trying to learn JavaScript or Swift. It is safe to say that I absolutely have a better grasp on Shortcuts than I do any coding language.

Shortcuts allows the democratization of automation for people like me with no coding experience required. For that reason I chose the iPad over the Mac.

That being said, Shortcuts wasn’t the only reason I chose the iPad over a Mac. The other is where I see the iPad and Mac in the future.

iPad and Mac Futures

My other reason for going with the iPad is because of the announcement of Apple silicon. My first thought was that the Mac is going to have a turbulent 2-4 years as they transition from Intel to ARM. I am confident the new ARM Macs will be better for the user in the long run, but we are in a transition period for the Mac. It seems to me that buying a new MacBook isn’t a great idea for the foreseeable future for pretty much anyone. Yes, Apple did say that they intend to release new Intel Macs before going entirely ARM, but the questions of “Should I buy a Mac right now?” and “What is the best Mac for me?” becomes muddied and difficult to answer for even the most knowledgeable.

On the other side of the coin, there is the iPad Pro. The iPad Pro has recently had its 3rd iteration with the addition of one of the best keyboards on the market for any computer. To me, the Mac is on its way to being an amazing machine, but the iPad has already set its own foundation for a fruitful future. I firmly believe that this 2020 iPad can easily be my main computer for 2-4 years without issue, which is something I cannot say about the current Macs out today.

I don’t mean to rain on the Mac parade entirely. I am sure that the transition will be an overall smooth process. In fact, it seems that Apple has really taken everything into consideration before officially announcing Apple silicon. With Rosetta 2, emulation, and more Apple silicon looks to have thought of every hitch there can be during this transition. That being said, even if the new Macs are indeed amazing I personally will still prefer the iPad Pro over a Mac. For me, the experience on the iPad is far superior than that of the Mac.

Final Thoughts

A much as this article was about the differences between the Mac and iPad, I don’t want this to be an additional piece of artillery in the war of iPad vs Mac. To me I like the iPad, to others it is the Mac; it’s that simple.

I am beyond excited about the switch to the iPad and I absolutely adore my 11” iPad Pro. I can’t wait to push this machine to its limit over the next few years and share with you what I learn and create here on Tablet Habit.

Logitech recently announced the Folio Touch for the 11” iPad Pro, and with it comes a much more reasonable price tag, a larger viewing angle, and more. That said, I see some issues about this keyboard being an alternative to Apple’s keyboard cases.

At the time of sharing this, the keyboard is only available for pre-order, but it has an uncanny resemblance to the Logitech Combo Touch which was made earlier this year for the 2019 iPad 7, iPad Air 3, and 10.5” iPad Pro. The case builds are almost identical, the look of the case is the same, and the keyboard layout seems to be similar.

The Combo Touch seems a good indication of what we should expect with the Folio Touch. With that being the case I have some excitement for iPad users but I also have concerns.

Pros

If we are assuming that the Folio Touch is similar to the Combo Touch, this keyboard has a lot going for it. In fact, I would argue Logitech deserves some praise with their latest addition to their iPad keyboards.

Writing Experience

When I was using the Combo Touch for the iPad 7 it was a dream to write on. The keys were comparable to the Magic Keyboard keys and it felt like an actual keyboard. Coming from the nylon-covered Butterfly keys on the Smart Folio Keyboard these keys felt like a gift from the Keyboard Gods. Logitech is one of the ruling families in the Game of Keyboards, and rightfully so. After over 20 years of making and refining keyboards, it is almost expected that Logitech would have the beloved reputation they have.

From looking at the photos online the keyboard layout looks like it’s going to be a much more uniformed look than the sporadic half-key madness that you get with the 11” Magic Keyboard. I am sure the keys will be a little smaller than a regular keyboard and the spacing may be a little cramped much like the Combo Touch. That said, when I was using the Combo Touch it only took me a few minutes to make the necessary adjustments to get used to the keyboard entirely. By the end of the day, I was flying with that keyboard without any problems. I will say that getting used to the Magic Keyboard has taken me longer than the Combo Touch did, which gives Logitech an advantage in this category.

Price

One place you will notice a significant improvement compared to the Magic Keyboard is your wallet. With the cost of the Folio Touch being just over half of the Magic Keyboard, you can use the money you are saving to buy yourself a pair of AirPods or an Apple TV, which are both great additions to your household if you are considering them.

Seriously, the fact that you can get a full keyboard case for your iPad and a pair of AirPods for the same price as the Magic Keyboard is incentive enough for some to go out and buy this over Apple’s keyboard and trackpad solution. For me though, price isn’t the only factor. Some of the factors I also consider in a keyboard have me hesitant to outright recommend this keyboard for those currently shopping around.

Viewing Angle

Because of the Surface-like kickstand, Logitech offers with this case you can have your iPad go from a near-90-degree angle all the way down to the iconic easel-mode the old Smart covers offered iPad users. Along with the viewing angles comes the ability to flip your keyboard back under the iPad to tuck it away as you watch a video or share a presentation, which makes for a much cleaner look.

As a full-time Magic Keyboard user, I desperately miss the easel-mode iPad users were able to have with the origami-styled Smart Keyboard Folio and Smart-covers. When I find myself wanting to use my iPad in that mode I take it out of my Magic Keyboard case and either prop it up on my tomtoc Portfolio Case or my AirPods case to give it some sort of slant to write on.

I have to admit, seeing Logitech offer a solution to this problem Apple created with their latest keyboards does make my heart grow green with envy. However, this kickstand doesn’t hold up to the heavy issues I have with it.

Cons

Aside from the fact this keyboard case from Logitech doesn’t offer a secondary plug to charge your iPad like the Magic Keyboard, there are some much more pressing issues I have with this keyboard.

The Footprint

By far the biggest issue I have with the Folio Touch over the Magic Keyboard or the Smart Folio is that the footprint it has is simply egregious. When you compare the Magic Keyboard or the Smart Folio it pales in comparison to the footprint the Folio Touch’s footprint.

To explain, the total footprint size of the Magic Keyboard, whether you are using the iPad or setting it down it is the size of an iPad. The Logitech Smart Folio is also comparable to the footprint a Magic Keyboard offers. The Folio Touch, on the other hand, has to accommodate for the iPad and kickstand, which is more than half the size of an iPad plus the keyboard cover of the Folio Touch. In a rough estimate, the Magic Keyboard has the footprint of a single iPad while the Folio Touch has a footprint of 1.5-1.75 iPads.

As someone that intends to use my iPad in cafes and other public areas once that is allowed again, real estate at a coffee shop isn’t exactly plentiful. To be honest, one of the big reasons I stopped using the Combo Touch was because I felt it was a “desk only” keyboard, where the Magic Keyboard and the Smart Folio Keyboard could be an everyday case for my iPad.

Reading Mode

The second issue I have with the Folio Touch is that the keyboard isn’t detachable from this case. This means if you want to use it in reader-mode you not only have to deal with the thick covering on the iPad but also the bulky keyboard flipped behind the iPad. I can only imagine the weight the keyboard is but I don’t think it is outlandish to compare it to the weight of a MacBook Air, and I know I wouldn’t be comfortable holding that for long reading sessions.

A Lesser Trackpad

Finally, when I was using the Combo Touch the “diving board” style keyboard left a lot to be desired. If you don’t know what that means, it basically boils down to the fact that you cannot click on the top border of the trackpad because it doesn’t have any give to connect to the membrane/switch to activate a click. It is much more infuriating to use that kind of trackpad after using the Magic Keyboard trackpad which does not have that problem. So long as I am clicking on the trackpad the Magic Keyboard depresses and activates a click.

Buy or Don’t Buy?

If you are asking me, I think that the Logitech Folio Touch is an interesting addition to the keyboard cases for the 11” iPad Pro. That being said, if you just want a keyboard that works with your iPad, the Smart Folio Keyboard is a great option. If you want a keyboard and trackpad option, I still think that the Logitech is a behemoth of a case and offers a lackluster trackpad compared to the Magic Keyboard.

I know that the cost is considered highway robbery to many, but as someone that has handled both the Magic Keyboard and a case very similar to the Folio Touch the differences are night and day and the added cost of the Magic Keyboard is worth it for me.