# Moving (back) to a real computer - The Mac

- Author: @gurupanguji
- Date: 2024-01-19
- URL: https://gurupanguji.com/blog/2024/01/19/moving-back-to-a-computer/
- Categories: essay
- Tags: computer, mac, technology

---


<!-- wp:image {"id":1926,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media","align":"center"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="/assets/images/blog/image-2.png"><img src="/assets/images/blog/image-2.png" alt="Meme of Drake saying no to an iPad Pro 11 while saying Yes to a MacBook Air" class="wp-image-1926"/></a></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>After 13 years with an iPad, I finally gave up my dream of a non laptop form factor portable machine. I switched to a refurbished 13" Macbook Air to replace my 11" iPad Pro.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"id":1923,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"center","className":"is-style-default"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-style-default"><a href="/assets/images/blog/image-1.png"><img src="/assets/images/blog/image-1-1024x976.png" alt="MacBook Air 13&quot; Refurbished Midnight" class="wp-image-1923"/></a></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>In retrospection, the iPad Pro was a fantastic consumption device but was never the device that I wanted for myself. The hardware was <em>never</em> the reason. My MacBook Air is almost an exact replica of the iPad Pro hardware with a bigger but lower refresh rate screen.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Ultimately, iPad OS never became the OS that could achieve what I wanted from my personal device. iPad OS never got better fast enough to meet some basic requirements I have for the device:</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>a real terminal</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->

<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>ability to run browsers</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->

<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>basic app development setup (which in Apple's case was run XCode)</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item --></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The iPad Pro worked very well as a consumption device for me. I loved watching shows and it was a great travel device being able to hold much media offline. However, it never entered the zone of a device that helped me "make."</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>I am excited to be back in familiar territory where I can install a browser, use the terminal to ssh and do enough coding to cause some damage.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->