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Comment by steveBK123 | Hacker News Reader

Typing is subpar next to a Mac so by the time you put the case on it and are in similar size/weight class, for same/MORE money .. why bother with iPad ?

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There's no pen input on a Mac, it's only really usable in one orientation and so sucks for reading more than a page or two of a PDF. Tablets are WAY more flexible in form factor. Apple unfortunately cripples the software, but I'd rather have a device that's 100% better at pen input and bunch of tasks that's 30% worse at typing.

Instead of doing creative work on the iPad, it should really be used as an input device for the mac.

How do you mean? The entire iPad? Well this sucks because now you're carrying around an entire laptop and a tablet. Or do you mean using a pen with the Mac? Then it would need fundamental changes to use it well. Using a pen on a traditional laptop sucks more than a touchscreen on a traditional laptop. You need a really really good hinge to have it not be impacted by your arm, or you're forced to awkwardly hover and use minimal pressure. Bare minimum they'd have to add a 180 degree hinge so it can lie flat, or really a 360 one ideally.

With a tablet you get more freedom, not every task needs a real keyboard and sometimes even if it does it's better not attached to the device in wrong orientation.

Hear me out. Do the creative work on the iPad.

The single purpose nature of the iPad makes it pretty good for quite a few tasks. I find it much easier to stay focused. I’m not saying that justifies the cost, but seeing as I have one anyway, it’s what I use for a lot of my writing like tasks.

Of course, you can now multi window in iPadOS but the experience is awful enough that I don’t.

Because it can do both. That may not be valuable to everyone, but it is a beneficial feature for many people. Also, Apple's keyboard case has a fantastic keyboard and trackpad that is a pleasure to type on.

Typing on a Mac is also subpar: I use one mechanical keyboard that can easily switch between Mac and iPad. Same typing experience on both.

It’s not subpar, it’s just different. I find it to be relaxing to be productive on my iPad for a lot of work tasks.

Why would I want to touch a computer when I’m at home when I can use my iPad? Computers aren’t relaxing or fun to use.

> Computers aren’t relaxing or fun to use

[citation needed]

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