Current Hardware - August 2024

• I'm using an M2 12.9" iPad Pro as my daily computer. I'm also still using my previous iPad Pro, an M1 12.9" as a secondary monitor for referencing materials as well as for media playback. I had not intended on an iPad purchase but the M2 was $500 off and I went for it because it uses the same accessories as the M1: Pencil, magnetic stand, cases. It's better and cheaper than the 2024 Air and I plan to use it for the next 6-7 years. Two iPads are more than I need but the M1 has a weird thing going on with the edge of the screen. Probably a manufacturing defect but it's long out of warranty and I suspect trade-in value would be much lower because of it. So, I'll keep it as a back-up and for the secondary screen use. It now lives permanently attached to the magnetic arm.
• An M1 Mac Mini is a file/media server.
• Keyboards: I've got way too many but rotate through most of them. I enjoy changing it up fairly often.
  • Apple Magic Keyboard - Great typing experience though it lacks a function row, isn't as stable as other options and the edges of the keyboard can be a bit irritating on my wrists.
  • ESR Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case - A recent addition and close to being on par with Apple's Magic Keyboard with significant trade-offs. The typing experience is fantastic and I love the row of function keys. The slightly heavier base provides a bit more stability than Apple's offering. Also, the base is a softer, more pleasant feel without the irritating edges of Apple's Magic Keyboard. That said, the trackpad is subpar and the hinge mechanism is a bit too flexy. And to save battery the backlight does not stay on long enough.
  • Logitech Combo Touch - I think this is my most used of the three keyboard cases I have. The rubber case protects the back and side of the iPad. The kickstand style does make it less lap able but I always have pillows and/or a cushioned lap desk so it works out pretty well. It can still be a bit awkward but I do love that kickstand and the ability to pull of the keyboard. The keyboard is backlit and provides an excellent typing experience on par with Apple's Keyboards.
  • Keychron K3 - A "low profile" mechanical keyboard. I generally like it and it gets used often.
  • Logitech K811 - Perhaps my favorite all time backlit keyboard, sadly discontinued by Logitech. I bought mine refurbished around 2015 and it's still working great.
  • Logitech K380 - Similar to the K811 but not backlit. An excellent keyboard that gets used often.
  • Keychron K2 - My first Keychron, love it but I'm not using it as I'd prefer the K3. I keep it at my desk but I rarely use the desk.
  • iClever BK06 foldable portable keyboard - Love it. Wish it was backlit. Folds down the center as is angled for wider positioning of the hands. Feels a bit odd at first but after a but of use feels more natural.
• Apple Magic Trackpad - Love it and often use it on the side when using the lap desk.
• Logitech Lift Mouse - Wanted to love it but the scroll wheel isn't what I thought it would be. Nice clicky buttons that can be programmed using Accessibility options in the settings app.

Current Apps

• Affinity Publisher - Page layout and design - One of my most used apps. There is no substitute for page layout on the iPad.
• Affinity Designer - Vector focused design - Best for vector design and an app I use often.
• Textastic - I love this app. Used primarily for coding html and css. It's got a built in FTP client. Perhaps best described as BBEdit for iOS and iPadOS. It's fantastic. Also, used for writing in Markdown
• iA Writer - Another Markdown editor. I use this alongside of Textastic because it has a beautiful design. The latest update in September 2024 also adds a feature I've long wanted, dropdown file navigation.
• File Explorer for file management on sftp and WebDAV servers I use. Textastic has an excellent built in sftp transfer but there are issues between it and my current webhost of choice so I use FE instead. It's fine as FE is better in terms of drag and drop support. I keep it open permanenty next to the Files app.

2021 Updates

2021 M1 iPad Pro 12.9 and M1 Mac Mini attached to a 27"Asus 4K display. Most used keyboard, Logitech K811 which I’ve had for a couple years. I think this is one of the best keyboards I’ve ever used. Bluetooth pairing between the Mini and iPad is easy and switching between them as fast as hitting a single button. The keyboard backlight turns off automatically when not in use and turns on instantly when my fingers are placed on it. The slightly concave keys feel great and unlike the Apple Magic keyboard from around 2012 (my previous favorite) this keyboard has backlighting.

2018 Updates

I upgraded to the 2018 iPad Pro 12.9", the first with FaceID.

Most used apps: Textastic for html editing and ftp. Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer and Pages are my primary tools for designing or laying out documents. iA Writer for blogging and transcripts. Also trying out Drafts 5 for some of that work. The most recent test is Kodex which I'm trying out in conjunction with Textastic for coding html/css. It lacks the ftp feauters that Textastic has but I prefer it for actual text editing. It's much faster and has a very nice visual sidebar for scrolling documents. It also uses the iOS system for file management. In other words, it really looks like it belongs on the iPad. So many other apps have their own custom interface for file management (Textastic being one of them) and while they usually work pretty well I've come to prefer the "native" look of the Files app interface.

2017 Updates

The iPad Pro took over as my primary computer in June of 2017 when the 12.9" was updated. It's like the Air 2 only much faster and of course the larger screen. I use several keyboards with it. Initially, the Apple Smart Keyboard which is sturdy and relatively weather proof with a typing experience I really like but which lacks backlighting and media playback control. I also used a Brydge keyboard which allowed for the iPad to be used very much like a MacBook Pro but with the benefit that it can be easily lifted from the keyboard and used as a tablet. No Mac laptop can do that. I also use the above mentionend Logitech keyboard when I want to have the iPad raised at a higher level. This works well for extended periods of typing so that I'm not looking down.

As for my most used apps, on the Mac: Pages, Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and InDesign, for design work that can't be done on the iPad. General purpose computing is accomplished with a variety of Apple apps: Numbers, Mail, Safari, iTunes, Calendar, and Photos. Messages and Slack for communications. These days the Mac is mostly just used for InDesign and as my iTunes/Plex media server.

Other apps that see daily use are Safari, Newsify, Workflow, Messages, Slack, Numbers, Reminders, and Notes. As an amateur astronomer SkySafari gets alot of use along with Numbers for recording observations with the iPad that are later transfered to FileMaker Pro on the Mac.

2016 Updates

In the summer of 2016 I sold my MacBook Pro and made the iPad Air 2 my primary computing device. It was more than powerful enough for all of my non-design work such as website updates, transcriptions, email, word processing, and general office duties. I started keeping a journal of sorts chronicling the switch to an iPad centered workflow.

With Mavericks and iOS 7 the convenience of always in sync everything was a fantastic feature making switching between devices mostly frictionless. It got better with El Capitan and iOS 9 both of which performed exceptionally for me. I'm currently using iOS 11 and macOS Sierra, both have been fantastic.

Practically everything seems to sync in one way or another. iCloud has been fantasic in recent years. While I rarely have need to work on any device other than my iPad Pro I know that all of my important files are synced sholud I need to work on another device.

I’m VERY happy with my standing desk and intend to continue working there when my work requires a Mac.

A few other bits of gadgetry worth mentioning. Keyboards. Apparently, I collect them. My latest is the Logitech K480 which is great with the iPad. It's a bit heavy because it also serves as a base for the iPad Air 2 which fits into a slot above the keys. It has a handy dial for pairing with multiple bluetooth devices. I've currently got it paired with the iPad and iPhone. Handy. I also picked up the Logitech Keys-to-go for shorter, on-the-go typing. Super light weight and works great for quick trips to the library or coffee shop. Nothing I want to type on for long periods though.

The iPhone X has been great for keeping up with email, twitter and RSS as well as reading books. Other tasks for the iPhone usually include scanning documents with Scanner Pro, remote control for iTunes and AppleTV. The hotspot feature has also been a real plus for getting things done while on the road.

For entertainment I use an Apple TV that gets 3+ gig of video/music content from my 2012 MacMini. Media is stored on an WD My Book 4 TB drive.

My introduction to Apple

My Color Classic and iPad Pro, June 2017.

In the Fall of 1993 I needed a computer for school and luckily had a Mac fanatic for a neighbor. The moment he discovered I was looking he pointed me in the right direction and I've been a Mac guy ever since. I used my first Mac, a Color Classic II named Murray nearly everyday until 1997 when it had become obvious that the old guy, who had handled the basic text of the 1993 internet, would not be able to cope with the modern internet. The iddy biddy hard drive did not have enough space for much of anything not to mention the memory or processor. There was no way I was going to keep up with web browsers and other modern software. So I tucked Murray into a closet and upgraded to a new Mac. (Yes, I've named most of my Macs and yes some of us were on the net back then, some even earlier!)

A simplified timeline of the Apple devices I've used

This isn't every Mac I've owned since Murray but I've worked my way through at least 14 Macs running everything from Mac OS System 7.1 to OSX to the current operating system which is still OSX but is now referred to as macOS. As of August 2024 the released version is 14 Sonoma with 15 Sequoia set to be released in the fall of 2024. In the 30 years I've been using Macs I've learned word processing for school and then moved onto desktop publishing and design for the community groups I worked with. From there it was the internet and my first website hand coded in 1997. I've tried my hand at publishing a newspaper and filming/editing documentary films on my Macs using everything from Adobe Indesign to Pages, iMovie to Final Cut Pro. In 2010 Apple introduced the iPad and I ordered one the day they were available. I'd not yet purchased an iPhone so this was my first iOS device. Being in a remote location I had no phone line and no internet so the iPad with cellular was also my only in-home internet access. It meant no more trips to town to check email and do work.