Question Is a 10th gen iPad ok for use like a laptop?

[arnoldhwang]

If I were to use a 10th generation iPad like a laptop, to do things like type documents and visit websites and YouTube, and do other basic stuff, would it work ok? Maybe with a mouse and keyboard to connect to it? I might buy Microsoft office to use on the iPad if I need to type stuff like documents, but I see the iPad doesn’t have usb ports for me to safe stuff on a usb memory stick, so how would i deal with that?

 

[COLGeek]

Can you? Yes. Don't expect to do everything like on a PC though. Multitasking will be very different.

 

[CelicaGT]

Honestly I do not recommend it. Cost wise it does not pan out well, nor in functionality. You'll end up paying more than you think for the iPad, a decent keyboard, and mouse combo. I tried this recently, although the iPad was also for running Zwift (cycling app). Just the general kludginess of the iPad interface, limited storage, multitasking limitations, and the less than stellar file support made it a hassle. I sold the iPad and purchased a new M3 MBA to replace may aging (and Intel) one. If you are on a budget, consider refurb Dell Latitudes available on Amazon (Make sure they are Prime only, fulfilled by Amazon etc). I've had a lot of luck with those. They often are not perfect cosmetically but decent specs and they work well.

 

[arnoldhwang]

Honestly I do not recommend it. Cost wise it does not pan out well, nor in functionality. You'll end up paying more than you think for the iPad, a decent keyboard, and mouse combo. I tried this recently, although the iPad was also for running Zwift (cycling app). Just the general kludginess of the iPad interface, limited storage, multitasking limitations, and the less than stellar file support made it a hassle. I sold the iPad and purchased a new M3 MBA to replace may aging (and Intel) one. If you are on a budget, consider refurb Dell Latitudes available on Amazon (Make sure they are Prime only, fulfilled by Amazon etc). I've had a lot of luck with those. They often are not perfect cosmetically but decent specs and they work well.

I got the iPad as a gift, that’s why im thinking about using it like a laptop

 

[COLGeek]

I got the iPad as a gift, that’s why im thinking about using it like a laptop

There are folks that do this. It just doesn't work the same as with a PC or full-Mac. The iPad interface is really meant to do one thing at a time, not several.

 

[arnoldhwang]

There are folks that do this. It just doesn't work the same as with a PC or full-Mac. The iPad interface is really meant to do one thing at a time, not several.

I looked up an article that says ipados17 greatly improves the multitasking

 

[USAFRet]

I looked up an article that says ipados17 greatly improves the multitasking

Articles are irrelevant.

You have it.
Use it, and see if it meets YOUR use case.

 

[QyInvoLing]

I use laptop for frontend programming and somtimes playing old games(etc. RA2), and I have a M1 version of iPad pro. It can't handle these tasks, so I only use iPad for playing mobile games(etc. genshin&hsr) and watching videos.
Don't buy iPad for expecting it works like a laptop.

 

[BFG-9000]

It depends how you normally multitask with a laptop--even a very old laptop will allow you to play your music in the background while surfing, but an iPad will pause it the first time you run into an embedded video or something. But 4GB of RAM isn't a lot for much multitasking anyway.

Keyboard and mouse you would just choose Bluetooth models.

MS Office shouldn't be a problem as it defaults to storing your documents in the cloud, but you can redirect it to instead store on a local NAS device, which could even be your USB memory stick plugged into your router.

 

[CelicaGT]

I got the iPad as a gift, that’s why im thinking about using it like a laptop

Eh, giver then. Maybe you'll like it. For my workflow it was no bueno.