Any Chromebook or iPad Pro users?

June 20, 2018, 10:20 AM

jaaron11

I need a portable computer to work primarily on Office documents, email, and web searches. Small size and long battery life are preferred, as I'll be travelling internationally with this machine. A Chromebook or 10.5" ipad Pro with keyboard seem like they would fit the bill, but I'm concerned about being limited to the app versions of Microsoft's products.

Has anybody tried to use either device as a work productivity machine? Any major red flags that I need to be aware of? I'm not tied to either the Google or Apple ecosystems, so compatibility with other devices isn't a major consideration.

Should I just suck it up and buy a Windows machine instead?

June 20, 2018, 10:28 AM

lkdr1989

Personally, I'd just buy a laptop, Lenovo Thinkpad T470s:

https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/...d-T470s/p/20HF003VUS

Has pretty good battery life consider it has 2 batteries totaling about 50WH.

...let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one. Luke 22:35-36 NAV

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16 NASV

June 20, 2018, 11:56 AM

smschulz

quote:
Should I just suck it up and buy a Windows machine instead?

Yes

June 20, 2018, 04:19 PM

Guy1

I have an iPad Pro and a Surface Pro with the detachable key board. I use a Bluetooth headset and dragon on the surface. What you’re talking about doing I would recommend the surface pro or another Small thin laptop

June 20, 2018, 04:41 PM

jaaron11

I should mention that I have a Surface Pro that I use for work. I like the form factor and the power, but I've been less than impressed with the battery life. I don't dare go untethered for more than a couple of hours. With the cost of a new Surface Pro, I'd just as soon have a traditional laptop.

And before anybody asks, no I can't use the work Surface Pro for personal use. I need a second machine.

June 20, 2018, 08:14 PM

sig77

I have the 10.5 inch iPad Pro and I don’t think it is a replacement for s laptop. I love it, but still use a laptop.

June 21, 2018, 01:24 AM

Prefontaine

Neither. MacBook Air is what I’d get for that. I haven’t had to troubleshoot a Dozer since I quit using them. I use a Pad Pro a lot at home but you need a laptop.

June 21, 2018, 05:19 AM

side_shot

quote:
Originally posted by lkdr1989:
Personally, I'd just buy a laptop, Lenovo Thinkpad T470s:

https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/...d-T470s/p/20HF003VUS
+1 thinkpads are workhorses i would look at the x1 carbon
https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/...d=X1_Carbon_(6th_Gen)

Has pretty good battery life consider it has 2 batteries totaling about 50WH.

"They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
--Benjamin Franklin, 1759--

Special Edition - Reverse TT 229ST.Sig Logo'd CTC Grips., Bedair guide rod

June 21, 2018, 05:20 AM

side_shot

quote:
Originally posted by side_shot:
quote:
Originally posted by lkdr1989:
Personally, I'd just buy a laptop, Lenovo Thinkpad T470s:

https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/...d-T470s/p/20HF003VUS

Has pretty good battery life consider it has 2 batteries totaling about 50WH.

+1 thinkpads are workhorses i would look at the x1 carbon
https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/...d=X1_Carbon_(6th_Gen)

June 21, 2018, 05:21 AM

4MUL8R

I use a Chromebook. $250. 14 inch touch screen. There are limitations. Things you just wouldn't think of. Like, your Garmin Fenix watch can't be connected to a Chromebook for updates. Your USB printer can't be connected -- you need a "Cloud Print" printer. You are limited to operating with a really good WiFi connection. Or, your document that you were just working on in the lounge is not accessible on the airplane.

But, for nearly every actual need that I have, the Chromebook is working just fine.

June 21, 2018, 05:40 AM

sigmoid

I use a surface pro and it has been flawless, I would not go back to a laptop, no way
I have found most folks aren’t willing to put in the time to stay current with technology
These new devices are a wonder

June 21, 2018, 05:51 AM

911Boss

I’ll vote for the iPad Pro.

I have the 10.5” with Apple keyboard cover and it runs about 9-10 hours of use on a charge.

Word and Excel apps work fine, email and web are flawless.

It handles 90% of my computing, only go to the MacBook Pro these days to do the photo editing for my real estate jobs.

For the occasional single photo, iPad handles that as well with free Adobe Photoshop/Lightroom apps.

June 21, 2018, 07:29 AM

bryan11

quote:
Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
I use a Chromebook. $250. 14 inch touch screen. There are limitations. Things you just wouldn't think of. Like, your Garmin Fenix watch can't be connected to a Chromebook for updates. Your USB printer can't be connected -- you need a "Cloud Print" printer. You are limited to operating with a really good WiFi connection. Or, your document that you were just working on in the lounge is not accessible on the airplane.

But, for nearly every actual need that I have, the Chromebook is working just fine.

Brecaidra and I have been using Chromebooks for 99% of our internet tasks for several years now including editing and printing of spreadsheets and word documents. There are limits as 4MUL8R describes. Try one out if you can. Add some documents you normally work with to a google drive or dropbox, edit them with a Chromebook, and see how things work.

June 21, 2018, 08:05 AM

RHINOWSO

I have a smaller iPad Pro that I use in conjunction with a MPB.

The iPad Pro works great with the ZAGG keyboard and is great for editing Microsoft Docs (with Office 365 apps), however I don't think I'd like to create and use it solely. I really need a mouse / touchpad to maximize my productivity and the touch screen, while nice for a tablet, isn't very useful in that regard. But there may be solutions for that which I am unaware of.

June 21, 2018, 10:10 AM

PASig

quote:
Originally posted by jaaron11:
A Chromebook

Sent you an email regarding that.

June 21, 2018, 11:19 AM

BB61

I have an iPad Pro and and Air. Get the Air it will be beter for what you want it for.

June 21, 2018, 11:34 AM

jaaron11

quote:
Originally posted by PASig:
quote:
Originally posted by jaaron11:
A Chromebook

Sent you an email regarding that.

Replied. Thanks!

June 21, 2018, 11:37 AM

jaaron11

quote:
Originally posted by BB61:
I have an iPad Pro and and Air. Get the Air it will be beter for what you want it for.

I assume you mean the MacBook Air? It looks like a sleek machine, but I have a problem with Apple charging $999 for a machine with a 5th generation processor and Thunderbolt 2 ports. You can buy a similar size Windows machine for about the same price with an 8th generation processor and Thunderbolt 3 ports. Perhaps if I'd spent time on a Mac I'd see the value of the Apple ecosystem, but for now it seems like they just charge a lot of money for antiquated hardware.

June 21, 2018, 01:18 PM

muddle_mann

I love my iPad but trying to us it for actual work (like normal production work ie, creating docs etc.) is really not it's strong suite. I'd get a machine.