I have a simple answer when friends ask, “What laptop do you recommend for around £300 to £400?” That answer: “Why don’t you buy an iPad and keyboard instead?” Good battery life, great performance and a top-quality screen go together to make for a product that, in most instances, will be far superior to a Windows 10 laptop at a similar price. All they need to do is add that keyboard and they’re good to go.
As if in acknowledgement of the iPad’s rising status as an all-round productivity tool, Apple has made this easier with the addition of its “Smart Connector” keyboard interface. This three-pin magnetic connector means you can add Apple’s Smart Keyboard for a laptop-like experience. It’s the first time you’ve been able to do this on Apple’s cheapest, non-Pro tablet. (Note it supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, too.)
As with all add-on keyboards, the iPad’s can’t match a “proper” laptop for feel; if I was going to type thousands of words, I wouldn’t use the Smart Keyboard. However, it’s a great choice for quick emails and the keys have a surprisingly nice feel considering their shallow depth.
Usability to the fore
Probably the biggest improvement to the newest iPad, somewhat ironically, is one you don’t have to buy new hardware to experience: iPadOS. To use the marketing term, this is iOS “reimagined” for the world of productivity. In other words, it’s a version of iOS that has been liberated from the shackles that Apple previously imposed upon it.
Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av PC Pro.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av PC Pro.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 (AMD)
By no means the last word in excitement, but the ThinkPad E16 is a good-value choice for business users
Huawei MateBook D16
The best and biggest screen here, plus a powerful Core i9 processor, ensure the MateBook D16 stands out
Acer Aspire Go 14
It's tough to argue with this laptop's value for money or battery life, but speed lovers should look elsewhere
HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)
This sleek 2kg convertible packs everything you need, including a Core Ultra chip and optional Nvidia graphics
Five ways to get cloud computing wrong
Don't let your migration projects go up in smoke. Steve Cassidy runs through the blunders to avoid
Control your computer with your face and head -it's the future!
As if to show nothing is new in the world of technology, eye tracking and gesture control date back decades. But if Apple's on board, maybe their time has finally come, suggests Nicole Kobie
Chip off the old block
Standalone sales of the Z80 CPU have finally been discontinued after 48 years. David Crookes looks back on a chip with a staggering impact
Cloud backup 2024
Whether it's through attack or error, your business data is always at risk. Dave Mitchell explains how cloud services can add extra protection and puts four contenders to the test
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra
A brilliant advert for resinbased 3D printing, with a host of features that make it easy to obtain great results
HP All-in-One 27 cr-0014na PC
A speedy and temptingly priced all-in-one PC with a fine 27in display-but note its 1080p resolution
