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Summary
So youre thinking of buying an iPad.
Or maybe youre not.
Perhaps youre just wondering what youd use an iPad for.
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek
Lets take a look at whether theres room for another slab of glass and aluminum in your life.
Whats So Good About an iPad Anyway?
Most people dont buy tablets, they buy iPads, and for good reason.
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek
Perhaps youre the sort of person who would like an iPad to replace their computer entirely.
You prefer the slimmer, lighter, and more portable form factor.
An iPad is essentially a big iPhone, and thats not necessarily a bad thing.
Sergio Rodriguez / How-To Geek
You probably already know how to use an iPhone, so the transition to iPadOS will be painless.
This goes for Apples first-party apps too, like Notes and Mail.
A bigger screen brings benefits to more than just the user interface.
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek
Its better for watching movies, streaming from apps like YouTube and Netflix, or reading books.
An iPad is effectively a big iPhone, after all, and that has its downsides too.
There are iPad-optimized apps and more screen real estate, but youre still running a modified version of iOS.
You cant format a USB drive with your iPad, use aprofessional-grade video editor, or run virtual machines.
Youre stuck with whatevers on the App Store, and the rules by which those apps are bound.
you’re free to do alotmore with a MacBook, assuming you oughta.
macOS is where the professional software is, like full-fat versions of Final Cut Pro and Photoshop.
The form factor is arguably more productive, especially with a larger screen.
iPad models with enough grunt to rival a Mac are dangerously close to the MacBook Airs price point.
Will You Use an iPad?
Is there an iPad-shaped hole in your life right now?
An iPad makes a solid shared computing experience.
They wont slot into Apples ecosystem quite like the iPad does, but theyre a fraction of the price.
Check outour best iPad round-upto figure out which model is right for you.
