Little over five years ago, I interviewed Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella for TechRadar. In a briefing room at Delhi’s JW Marriott hotel, I was sitting with another journalist and scrolling on my iPad Pro. Nadella walked into the room, tapped on my shoulder, and cheekily said, “You need to start using a real computer, my friend.” Soon after, my article was picked up by tech blogs all around the world. Next thing we know, Apple gave a rebuttal — an advertisement for the new iPad Pro — arguing what a computer is. A sarcastic swipe at Windows and the personal computer, it reignited the decade-and-half-old Mac vs PC debate, only this time it was an iPad.
Till today, that has been the pitch for the iPad. Its prodigious computational power — owing to Apple silicon and general hardware improvements of the last five years — has given it an edge over most Windows notebooks. The iPad Pro models are more powerful than most high-end notebooks though equally expensive when one takes the keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories into account.
Earlier, it was only an iPad Pro that could replace a notebook or PC for my work requirements, but today, even the entry-level iPad can do the same. And that’s why Steve Jobs’ original pitch for the post-PC era makes sense even 12 years later. Sure, critics can say that considering the hardware advances that Apple has introduced in modern iPads, it has been lethargic with respect to improving iPadOS. With more sophisticated software, the iPad can potentially do so much more in its compact form.
But Apple’s mantra of staying close to the iPad’s roots and its simplicity also makes it the best computer for school kids. Its user interface is as good for the elderly as it is for any young professional who wants to browse the web, create Microsoft Word documents or excel sheets, send emails, watch videos on YouTube and Netflix, and connect with families and friends remotely via video conferencing.
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Better for kids, elders too
The 9th generation iPad is the most affordable model in India with a starting price of Rs 33,900. It is slim and compact with a powerful A13 Bionic chip and features a decent display, especially for any laptop in that price range in the market. It also has a good 1080P rear camera, and more importantly, an excellent 12-megapixel ultra-wide front camera that is better than those in laptops under Rs 50,000. Better for online learning, the iPad can, therefore, easily be used as a tablet. When paired with a good enough keyboard like the Logitech K480 and its pop mouse, it will prove to be a better computer than anything that has Windows. It will even make for a desktop if paired with an external monitor.
The iPad is now home to a legion of apps for image editing, gaming with Apple Arcade, and everything under the sun. The first-generation Apple Pencil is also a very sophisticated tool for kids who are into drawing and illustration. This is ample firepower for even basic video editing on apps such as LumaFusion and iMovie.
iPadOS also comes with parental controls for limiting screen time, be it games, watching videos, or browsing the web. Safari has evolved quite a bit and now provides a desktop-like experience, which means you can open web apps easily without worrying about a dedicated iPadOS app.
For the elderly, the iPad makes more sense. Why? First, the large touchpoints and simple user interface make it very easy to use. Second, it is portable and lightweight, so you can carry it around without any hassle. Third, the iPad has a ton of accessibility features that help with usability for the elderly, especially ones with impaired eyesight and hearing. And finally, the good-quality screen adds to the overall experience.
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A long-lasting product
In an age of planned obsolescence, the iPad stands out. It doesn’t slow down easily over time. Apple provides great software support. Like the iPhone, the iPad gets software support for five to six years, whereas Android offers support for only about three years. Moreover, with updates, the iPad doesn’t lose its performance, which is an issue with Windows computers. The latest iPadOS 16 supports even the 5th generation iPad and 3rd generation iPad Air. It even supports the first-generation iPad Pro that was launched in 2015.
iPadOS has been designed in a way that doesn’t slow the device down and protects it from security issues, which is a boon for the technologically unsophisticated. The iPad also has excellent 9-10-hour battery life, which is, invariably, twice as much as what a Windows notebook would provide.
If you have a bigger budget
A bigger budget gets you an iPad with more horsepower, a better screen, better battery life, better cameras, and support for the 2nd generation Apple Pencil. Depending on the size you like, you can choose either the 5th generation iPad Air or the 6th generation iPad Mini. The iPad Air has the M1 processor, which the 2020 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini also have — fiendishly fast and features 6GB RAM. It is perhaps overkill, but the better screen and the cameras along with Apple Pencil 2 support make the iPad Air ideal for a hardcore user.
The iPad Mini is smaller at 8.3 inches, almost like a Kindle but works on the A14 chip that debuted with the iPhone 12 series. Again, it supports the new Apple Pencil and generally is a very well-rounded product to use on the go. The iPad Air can be bought for as low as Rs 52,900; the iPad Mini for Rs 46,300 on Croma. That is a hell of a kit for that price, but yes, you would need either the Logitech K480 keyboard and pop mouse or the iPad keyboard case to use it properly as your main computer.
It can all be done — with a bit of adaptation. Once that is complete, it will be a better computer — faster, more portable, simpler to use, more secure, and, in the long run, cheaper since you’ll not want to change it even after five years.
P.S.: This article was written on an iPad Pro.
Sahil Mohan Gupta is a Delhi-based technology journalist. He tweets @DigitallyBones. Views are personal.
(Edited by Humra Laeeq)