Like all Apple products I’ve ever owned / used - it just works. I am currently using my iPad in an experiment in portable computing. I work in finance and couldn’t justify the cost of an iPad Pro, nor did I need that level of graphics power. Instead (and always enjoy a challenge) I opted to get the least expensive iPad (2018) with 32GB Ram. I knew I needed only a few apps - primarily word, excel, Microsoft One Drive for iOS and Google Drive. What I have up and running and with using less than 10 of the 32 GB of storage:
Microsoft One Drive
Google Drive (temporary - migrating from Google to One Drive, so necessary at this time)
Safari - native iOS app performs beautifully on my company’s web-based platform
Microsoft Word - needs office 365 account for maximum benefit
Microsoft Excel - needs office 365 account for maximum benefit
Host of other apps - native and third party (like the Amazon App) but not any games, and I don’t store any music, podcasts, movies, or other storage-intensive media.
I have used Google Chrome for iOS and it works well, but I prefer the user interface of Safari, so I stuck with that. On iPad, either browser works well and I can see benefits for one over the other and vice-versa, but for my purposes, Safari is fine.
I have my iPad connected via Bluetooth to a portable keyboard that I also acquired on Amazon’s website, which makes this work more like a notebook computer overall. I also have a stylus from Amazon that works beautifully since I don’t have a mouse, and I’m not sure I could use one now anyway... when using (now my daughter’s) MacBook Pro, I find myself reaching for the screen to navigate by touch (d’oh!).
I have the iPad sync’d to my iPhone for messages and for calls - WiFi calling and calls on my iPhone. Calls are clear, iMessage works great - for iOS and texts forwarded from non-iOS devices. I have my iPhone set up for a WiFi Hotspot when needed.
The only thing I “miss” is not having my music and media stored locally. I have this partially addressed by having most of my music in the cloud and music plus all other media stored on an external hard drive that I access through a portable router.
Benefits - this weighs less than half what my MacBook Pro weighed, and travel is much easier. Still have to remove the iPad for TSA when going through security, but it’s so much lighter. This has actually been a Godsend of late; my wife had an accident and broke her ankle. I’ve been driving her to appointments for work since I can work remotely, and once again, the iPad is amazing. Paired with my keyboard and iPhone HotSpot and it’s like I’m in the office, only much more convenient.
It’s faster than my desktop PC and faster than my former MacBook Pro. Hard as it may be to believe, the iPad feels like it was made to access Google drive and Microsoft One Drive, and I can access files nearly 3x faster than my desktop PC when connected to the same internet. In fact, the iPad is on WiFi and the desktop is wired, and the iPad wins.
I can do all my work in the scaled-down iOS apps, or I can use Office.com and log in through Safari and access One Drive and Word and Excel online. There are a couple of features not available in the scaled down iOS versions but they’re not significant enough to deter me from doing all my work on the iPad when necessary.
Intuitive controls - gestures and swipes work as they do on a MacBook Pro touchpad. This made the transition way easier.
Inexpensive Accessories - Amazon has a host of accessories that work brilliantly with the iPad and have made this transition entirely possible and within a very tight budget.
Drawbacks: Charger cable is kind of short. I can buy a third party cable, but I like the way the Apple OE cable performs. I work around it and use the battery and although the cable is short, the battery does last all day for WORK. Streaming Hulu when I should be working? Not so much.
Learning Curve: It does take some getting-used to when ditching a Magic Mouse or touch-pad. Allegedly, a future update will give iPad the capability of communicating with a Magic Mouse 2, but I’m not in a hurry to get a mouse.
Not having media on-hand all the time. It’s more of an inconvenience than a drawback.
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This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
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Conserves energy compared to similar products.
As certified by
EPEAT EPEAT addresses the sustainability impacts of electronic products. An EPEAT registered product must meet required criteria and can meet optional criteria. The criteria depend on the type of product and can include energy efficiency, reduction of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-Gases), and end of life management. Products meeting 50% - 75% optional criteria are “Silver” and those meeting more than 75% are “Gold”.
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Reviews with images
Amazing deal
I love it! Okay lemme start off by saying that I got this iPad through a link from fatkiddeals on twitter for about $250 or so, so shout out to fatkiddeals! They are the GOAT. I already have a laptop but I hate carrying my laptop to school & only really use it at home. I wanted something more portable for school and this iPad has been perfect for both school and home use. Mine came in brand new and in perfect condition, no scratch no nothing. I got a screen protector and a beautiful case from amazon to maintain it. When fully charged, the battery life can last forever and this is coming from a college student who uses this iPad for pretty much everything, from college work to games and social media lol. It’s honestly perfect and snagging that deal would be one of the best decisions i have made in a while. It’s so portable and convenient, it’s like a laptop and phone in one (well you can make it a full laptop by getting a keyboard if you would like). So far, the only reason I have had to open up my laptop again is because mcgraw hill ( for one of my classes) cannot be accessed on my iPad and has to be accessed on a laptop/computer. Other than that, this iPad serves its purpose and more. I was kinda scared at first when purchasing it because I had seen one bad comment about that screen but I took the risk and it was totally worth it. Don’t miss out y’all, cop that!!! I have two friends who have asked me for the link to this iPad so if you are looking for something to use for school work/ career work/ just for leisure time then this is perfect for you :)
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2019
I love it! Okay lemme start off by saying that I got this iPad through a link from fatkiddeals on twitter for about $250 or so, so shout out to fatkiddeals! They are the GOAT. I already have a laptop but I hate carrying my laptop to school & only really use it at home. I wanted something more portable for school and this iPad has been perfect for both school and home use. Mine came in brand new and in perfect condition, no scratch no nothing. I got a screen protector and a beautiful case from amazon to maintain it. When fully charged, the battery life can last forever and this is coming from a college student who uses this iPad for pretty much everything, from college work to games and social media lol. It’s honestly perfect and snagging that deal would be one of the best decisions i have made in a while. It’s so portable and convenient, it’s like a laptop and phone in one (well you can make it a full laptop by getting a keyboard if you would like). So far, the only reason I have had to open up my laptop again is because mcgraw hill ( for one of my classes) cannot be accessed on my iPad and has to be accessed on a laptop/computer. Other than that, this iPad serves its purpose and more. I was kinda scared at first when purchasing it because I had seen one bad comment about that screen but I took the risk and it was totally worth it. Don’t miss out y’all, cop that!!! I have two friends who have asked me for the link to this iPad so if you are looking for something to use for school work/ career work/ just for leisure time then this is perfect for you :)
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2019
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Wahaman
iPad delivered the next day and setting it up was so easy!!!
Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2019