Using iPad Air as laptop replacement

slinxy · 16 May 2026 at 22:00

Hey guys…
I’ve finally replaced my own personal 5th gen iPad with a m4 iPad Air.. the difference is like night and day…
I’ve just been putting it off for so long as I’ve previously had use of work iPads, but I need to sign my life away with this employer to be able to get an unmanaged one and I needed a new one as I’m doing a certification that requires one for testing.. never mind that the screen on my old one is cracked to hell.

Anyway I’m thinking of getting a pro pencil and a keyboard, likely the Logitech version and using it as a replacement for my MacBook Air 11” rather than buying a new 13” mba.
I’ll will have access to remote access a full fat macOS computers on this setup.

Has anyone else done this setup or have the Logitech keyboard? How does it fair to the Apple version? As the weight and lack of protection of the Apple version is kinda off putting, but the lack of a full [] keys on both keyboard is off putting too for scripting.

Reuben klang · 22 May 2026 at 17:58

Not had that set up but have used the logitech keyboards previously. The apple keyboard while completely taking the **** with the prices blows them out the water.

Not much help on the software side of things though.

Jimbeam3678 · 22 May 2026 at 18:46

All depends what you want to do with it, I'd say it's 95% there. I would definitely get the Apple magic keyboard its far far better than any of the others.You can them cheaper on Ebay most of the time.

kitkat9933 · 24 May 2026 at 10:04

It’s 90% there but I find too many gaps still. What are your use cases ?

Jimbeam3678 · 24 May 2026 at 11:36

kitkat9933 said:
It’s 90% there but I find too many gaps still. What are your use cases ?

You had to say 90% didn’t you :cry:

It really is close, every now and again though something comes and you think grrrr why iPad WHY!

kitkat9933 · 24 May 2026 at 13:55

Jimbeam3678 said:
You had to say 90% didn’t you It really is close, every now and again though something comes and you think grrrr why iPad WHY!

I tried it for a while and mostly was okay. Biggest issue I found was no real local IDE with terminal support and things like that.

slinxy · 25 May 2026 at 20:51

I’m going to see if I can borrow the apple keyboard case from work for a week and see how I fair… I’ve tired it at the Apple Store and for some reason I can normally bind type but I keep missing hitting keys, not sure if the keys are slightly smaller or if it was a new keyboard that’s not been worn in yet.

My other option for the amount of time I would be using it without having a MacBook near me of some sort is just to take one of the desktop apple Magic Keyboard and mouse with me that I’ve already have serval of… and use the iPad keyboard fund towards the replace mba that I actually need.

Jimbeam3678 · 25 May 2026 at 21:36

Honestly I loved my iPad with magic keyboard and I was going to buy another one but the cost put me off. I opted for a MBA 13" and it's honestly incredible far more useful than the iPad Pro. Sure they the screen isn't quite as good but its certainly £600 worse!

slinxy · 27 May 2026 at 06:26

kitkat9933 said:
I tried it for a while and mostly was okay. Biggest issue I found was no real local IDE with terminal support and things like that.

Vs code server and the app on the iPad?

uvarvu · 27 May 2026 at 13:14

I've been doing this for years, iPad Pros are far more versatile than a MacBook for my needs and the displays are better. For software development, I'm planning to try a free tier instance of ONA (formerly GitPod).

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kitkat9933 · 27 May 2026 at 14:53

slinxy said:
Vs code server and the app on the iPad?

That doesn't work offline though and is not as good as a native experience.

slinxy · 27 May 2026 at 15:10

uvarvu said:
I've been doing this for years, iPad Pros are far more versatile than a MacBook for my needs and the displays are better. For software development, I'm planning to try a free tier instance of ONA (formerly GitPod).

Pricing · Ona

Learn more about Ona's different offerings: Core and Enterprise plans for teams of every size.

ona.com

I have remote access to serveal servers including some of my own. The cloud is just someone else's computer

slinxy · 6 Jun 2026 at 05:47

I have decided against getting a keyboard for the iPad.

I have tried using the Magic Keyboard for the 13” version and the keys are too small, over time I may get used to it but that’s the thing, I can’t see myself using it enough consistently to get used to it. Let alone the smaller keys on the 11” version.

If I see it on sale, I may get one but I’m happy to take the small desktop Magic Keyboard with me when I think I may need a keyboard, Bluetooth keyboards are common now a days and I do have an apple usb c adapter with a standard usb A connector that would take a usb keyboard also.

Jimbeam3678 · 6 Jun 2026 at 09:33

slinxy said:
I have decided against getting a keyboard for the iPad.

I have tried using the Magic Keyboard for the 13” version and the keys are too small, over time I may get used to it but that’s the thing, I can’t see myself using it enough consistently to get used to it. Let alone the smaller keys on the 11” version.

If I see it on sale, I may get one but I’m happy to take the small desktop Magic Keyboard with me when I think I may need a keyboard, Bluetooth keyboards are common now a days and I do have an apple usb c adapter with a standard usb A connector that would take a usb keyboard also.

If change your mind, Ebay is awash with discounted and brand new Magic Keyboards. Look for ones specifically from Hong Kong - they are discounted as the sellers think they have Mandarin characters on the keyboard when in reality they are all English keys with one Mandarin key which allows switching between languages.