# Can the iPad Pro Replace the Laptop in Everyday Life? > [!metadata]- Metadata > **Published:** [[2018-01-17|Jan 17, 2018]] > **Tags:** #🌐 #productivity #ipad #workflow #mobile-computing I like tech products that are light, easy to carry, and with long lasting batteries. It is because of my affinity towards nifty gadgets that I had decided to replace my original MacBook Air with the new 2016 MacBook. Yes, not a Pro, not another Air, but just the MacBook. The one with only one USB-C port, and a headphone jack (thank goodness?). Some time back, I switched to the iPad Pro bandwagon too. First the 9.7-inch one, and then the 2nd generation 12.9-inch one. Complete with the Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pencil. Why? Because I strove to lead the hippie lifestyle. Because I was convinced that I could replace my laptop with the iPad. Alas! ![[nick-morrison-FHnnjk1Yj7Y-unsplash-258616341-1666943459671.webp]] While I loved the 10+ hours of battery backup I get with my current iPad Pro, there are still a couple of things that piss me off, vis-a-vis the laptop I own: 1. Believe it or not, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is actually larger and heavier than the laptop I own! 2. Sometimes, I just miss the trackpad. It feels so much easier to use than the touch interface of iOS 11. 3. There are still a few set of tasks that I find much easier to achieve on the laptop – screen sharing the Mac Mini at home, ssh login into clients’ servers, making presentations etc. In the upcoming weeks, I plan to write about my experiences about using the iPad Pro as my primary computing device. Well, I will still continue to use the MacBook when I am in the office. But for every other scenario, especially when I am traveling, I am going to compulsorily leave the MacBook behind, to force myself to tackle all usual scenarios with just the iPad. It's going to be a few very interesting upcoming weeks. --- ## 2025 Update: The Terminal Problem Is Solved Seven years after writing this article, I'm happy to report that one of my biggest frustrations—SSH login into servers—has been completely solved. The [[Blink Shell vs Termius - iOS Terminal Comparison|iOS terminal app landscape]] has evolved dramatically. Modern terminal apps like [[Blink Shell vs Termius - iOS Terminal Comparison|Blink Shell]] now offer: - **Mosh protocol support** - Connections survive network changes, device reboots, and multi-day disconnections - **Native VS Code integration** - Running `code` command launches full VS Code Web with all settings, themes, and extensions - **Seamless tmux gestures** - Tap to switch panes, two-finger scrolling, and touch-optimized workflows - **Perfect for mobile development** - Persistent connections when switching between WiFi and cellular My current iPad → [[Uses#Computing|Mac Mini]] development workflow uses Blink Shell with Mosh, providing the reliable remote access I desperately wanted back in 2018. The combination of persistent connections and VS Code integration has transformed the iPad into a legitimate development device. The terminal app evolution represents exactly the kind of progress needed to make "iPad as primary computer" viable for technical workflows. While challenges remain, this particular pain point has been thoroughly addressed.