So I start a new job where I get a MacBook to work with. I can’t use it privately but I travel a lot. The company gives me a budget for equipment so I wouldn’t have to pay for anything I buy extra, e.g. a second screen or an iPad.
I was thinking of buying an iPad because I could use it as a desktop replacement when traveling and as a second screen as well. However, I also can’t use the same AppleID on my work and private device, so I was wondering if it’s possible and reliable to use the iPad as a second screen, e.g. through connecting it via cable.
I do mainly coding and would just need a second screen for googling stuff and reading documentation. Would be very happy to hear about your experiences.
There’s an app called Duet (https://www.duetdisplay.com/) you could try. I’ve used it for a couple of years and it works well.
Thanks! Have you tried it with a cable? And how is the display quality? Are there any lags? That’s something I’m a bit worried about
Honestly, it works perfectly with a cable and it’s not laggy at all (at least not for writing code, which is what I do for a living). I also use SwitchResX to go beyond the normal resolution my IPad Pro supports. My only complaint is that sometimes it doesn’t connect first time and I have to restart the software on my Mac.
The only downside is the cost, but i am pretty sure there’s a free trial for it.
No, you have to be signed in with the same apple ID on both.
Unless you also need a tablet for other reasons, I’d just buy a portable monitor. Way cheaper and you don’t have to deal with Apple’s shenanigans.
Yeah I was thinking about a portable monitor but then I’d still have to bring my private laptop when traveling (I do need it sometimes). That’s why I was wondering if an iPad could do both especially since I’ll get fully reimbursed.
Yeah I mentioned the cable because I know sidecar won’t work and probably the picture would be better I guess?
What kind of flakiness did you experience? Was it about picture quality or connectivity? I use universal control every now and then and sometimes it just doesn’t recognize the devices. That’s annoying but I guess I could live with this.
Thanks a lot, very insightful! So that’s basically the same as with universal control, it’s annoying but I think I can live with it.
Congrats on the screen! Looks beautiful, my primary screen and my partner’s are also LG, as well as most of the TVs I bought. If I should feel that the 13” iPad isn’t enough I’d probably go for this one as well.
Sorry if I’m just being dumb, but if the iPad comes out if your work’s budget, wouldn’t it be owned by them? So both the MacBook and iPad would be work devices. So you should be able to use the same AppleID on both, no?
I think that’s not a dumb question at all. The thing is just that I have a budget and I can order whatever until a certain amount and I’ll get reimbursed, but the stuff will be mine.
