From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

I service many different things on my job, and carry round a lot of
paper manuals. It has occured to me that it would be far better to get a tablet of some sort to have all the manuals on as .pdfs, to reduce the
amount of paperwork in my van.
Looking at the various models, the "2025 iPad 11, A16, Wi-Fi, 128GB"
version at just over -u300 seems perfect.
What I would like to know - how good is it synching with my Macbook when
I get home? I'll be having various emails through the day, which I
usually get on my Macbook when I get home - could it be set to
automatically sync between the two, so I now have copies of the emails
on both devices, and, vice versa if I get a wifi point during my day, so
check the email away from the Macbook?

Also, the magic keyboard - worth it? There seems to be a range of prices
for that, from -u45 up to -u250 - what are the differences?
Thanks, Alan.
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 2026-04-27, Alan Lee <alan@darkroom.plus.com> wrote:

I service many different things on my job, and carry round a lot of
paper manuals. It has occured to me that it would be far better to get a tablet of some sort to have all the manuals on as .pdfs, to reduce the amount of paperwork in my van.
Looking at the various models, the "2025 iPad 11, A16, Wi-Fi, 128GB"
version at just over -u300 seems perfect.
What I would like to know - how good is it synching with my Macbook when
I get home? I'll be having various emails through the day, which I
usually get on my Macbook when I get home - could it be set to
automatically sync between the two, so I now have copies of the emails
on both devices, and, vice versa if I get a wifi point during my day, so check the email away from the Macbook?

If your email account(s) on both iPad and MB use IMAP, syncing should
occur by default when the iPad gets connected to a WiFi network with
internet access at home or away.
--
Cheers, Alan
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 27 Apr 2026 at 07:39:01 BST, "Alan Lee" <alan@darkroom.plus.com> wrote:

I service many different things on my job, and carry round a lot of
paper manuals. It has occured to me that it would be far better to get a tablet of some sort to have all the manuals on as .pdfs, to reduce the
amount of paperwork in my van.
Looking at the various models, the "2025 iPad 11, A16, Wi-Fi, 128GB"
version at just over -u300 seems perfect.
What I would like to know - how good is it synching with my Macbook when
I get home? I'll be having various emails through the day, which I
usually get on my Macbook when I get home - could it be set to
automatically sync between the two, so I now have copies of the emails
on both devices, and, vice versa if I get a wifi point during my day, so check the email away from the Macbook?

Also, the magic keyboard - worth it? There seems to be a range of prices
for that, from -u45 up to -u250 - what are the differences?
Thanks, Alan.

I don't have a MacBook, i use an iMac. But the principle should be the same. You need to have Books enabled on iCloud on both devices.(obviously with the same AppleID). Any manual in PDF or EPUB format loaded into Books on one will automatically sync to the other. (And to an iPhone, if you have one).

If you wish you can set up albums for different types or classes of manual.

I am long, long retired but I keep manuals this way for everything I can, from the car down to a sous vide cooker. Usually they are searchable too - a huge bonus.

And Alan B is quite right about IMAP. Do many people use POP these days? SO inconvenient.
--
Classic computing: Computers do what you tell them to do,
not what you want them to do.
Modern computing: Computers do what they want to do,
no matter what you tell them to do.
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 27.04.26 08:39, Alan Lee wrote:

I service many different things on my job, and carry round a lot of
paper manuals. It has occured to me that it would be far better to get a tablet of some sort to have all the manuals on as .pdfs, to reduce the amount of paperwork in my van.
Looking at the various models, the "2025 iPad 11, A16, Wi-Fi, 128GB"
version at just over -u300 seems perfect.
What I would like to know - how good is it synching with my Macbook when
I get home? I'll be having various emails through the day, which I
usually get on my Macbook when I get home - could it be set to
automatically sync between the two, so I now have copies of the emails
on both devices, and, vice versa if I get a wifi point during my day, so check the email away from the Macbook?

Also, the magic keyboard - worth it? There seems to be a range of prices
for that, from -u45 up to -u250 - what are the differences?
Thanks, Alan.

Use IMAP for your mail and you can have both devices synchronised simultaneously all the time.

Everything can be synchronised simultaneously by using iCloud which
comes free with your devices. You simply need an internet connection
either with your phone or an iPad version that has mobile connection.

It is really that simple.

J||rg
--
"Roma locuta, causa finita" (Augustinus)
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

Alan Lee <alan@darkroom.plus.com> wrote:

I service many different things on my job, and carry round a lot of
paper manuals. It has occured to me that it would be far better to get a tablet of some sort to have all the manuals on as .pdfs, to reduce the amount of paperwork in my van.
Looking at the various models, the "2025 iPad 11, A16, Wi-Fi, 128GB"
version at just over -u300 seems perfect.
What I would like to know - how good is it synching with my Macbook when
I get home? I'll be having various emails through the day, which I
usually get on my Macbook when I get home - could it be set to
automatically sync between the two, so I now have copies of the emails
on both devices, and, vice versa if I get a wifi point during my day, so check the email away from the Macbook?

Also, the magic keyboard - worth it? There seems to be a range of prices
for that, from -u45 up to -u250 - what are the differences?
Thanks, Alan.

As others have said, as long as email uses some kind of web server (i.e.
gmail, hotmail, microsoft) you'll be fine.

In terms of keyboard, I would only recommend it if you will be doing a lot
of typing. For navigating and writing notes or annotating your manuals I
would recommend an Apple pencil instead.

--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 27/04/2026 09:50, J||rg Lorenz wrote:

On 27.04.26 08:39, Alan Lee wrote:

I service many different things on my job, and carry round a lot of
paper manuals. It has occured to me that it would be far better to get a
tablet of some sort to have all the manuals on as .pdfs, to reduce the
amount of paperwork in my van.
Looking at the various models, the "2025 iPad 11, A16, Wi-Fi, 128GB"
version at just over -u300 seems perfect.
What I would like to know - how good is it synching with my Macbook when
I get home? I'll be having various emails through the day, which I
usually get on my Macbook when I get home - could it be set to
automatically sync between the two, so I now have copies of the emails
on both devices, and, vice versa if I get a wifi point during my day, so
check the email away from the Macbook?

Also, the magic keyboard - worth it? There seems to be a range of prices
for that, from -u45 up to -u250 - what are the differences?
Thanks, Alan.

Use IMAP for your mail and you can have both devices synchronised simultaneously all the time.

Everything can be synchronised simultaneously by using iCloud which
comes free with your devices. You simply need an internet connection
either with your phone or an iPad version that has mobile connection.

It is really that simple.

Just to add...

Remember that the iPad won't be able to send[1] or receive emails until connected to your WiFi at home, public WiFi or a mobile phone hotspot: something to note if you have clients demanding urgent responses.

If you have an iPhone then using it as a mobile WiFi hotspot for the
iPad is trivial.

[1] Emails you write will be queued-up until it has WiFi again and then
sent.

As for whether the keyboard is worth it depends on how much you expect
to write and how often? You can always use the on-screen keyboard to
give a quick acknowledgement saying you'll give a fuller reply later,
for which it is fine.

If you "hunt and peck" on a standard keyboard then the on-screen one
will be fine.

If you do intend to write more substantive replies then a third-party standalone Bluetooth keyboard might be the answer because you could prop
the tablet up on the van dashboard and (touch) type on the keyboard on
your lap. The iPad cases/covers with keyboards built in can't so easily
be used this way.

Regards,
--
Bruce Horrocks
Hampshire, England
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

Bruce <07.013@scorecrow.com> wrote:

On 27/04/2026 09:50, J||rg Lorenz wrote:

On 27.04.26 08:39, Alan Lee wrote:

I service many different things on my job, and carry round a lot of
paper manuals. It has occured to me that it would be far better to get a >>> tablet of some sort to have all the manuals on as .pdfs, to reduce the
amount of paperwork in my van.
Looking at the various models, the "2025 iPad 11, A16, Wi-Fi, 128GB"
version at just over -u300 seems perfect.
What I would like to know - how good is it synching with my Macbook when >>> I get home? I'll be having various emails through the day, which I
usually get on my Macbook when I get home - could it be set to
automatically sync between the two, so I now have copies of the emails
on both devices, and, vice versa if I get a wifi point during my day, so >>> check the email away from the Macbook?

Also, the magic keyboard - worth it? There seems to be a range of prices >>> for that, from -u45 up to -u250 - what are the differences?
Thanks, Alan.

Use IMAP for your mail and you can have both devices synchronised
simultaneously all the time.

Everything can be synchronised simultaneously by using iCloud which
comes free with your devices. You simply need an internet connection
either with your phone or an iPad version that has mobile connection.

It is really that simple.

Just to add...

Remember that the iPad won't be able to send[1] or receive emails until connected to your WiFi at home, public WiFi or a mobile phone hotspot: something to note if you have clients demanding urgent responses.

If you have an iPhone then using it as a mobile WiFi hotspot for the
iPad is trivial.

I do this on holidays, unless the provided Wi-Fi is actually good enough (rarely). Works a treat - just watch data usage though, especially when you start syncing a few GB of Raw photos (whoops).

[1] Emails you write will be queued-up until it has WiFi again and then sent.

As for whether the keyboard is worth it depends on how much you expect
to write and how often? You can always use the on-screen keyboard to
give a quick acknowledgement saying you'll give a fuller reply later,
for which it is fine.

If you "hunt and peck" on a standard keyboard then the on-screen one
will be fine.

If you do intend to write more substantive replies then a third-party standalone Bluetooth keyboard might be the answer because you could prop
the tablet up on the van dashboard and (touch) type on the keyboard on
your lap. The iPad cases/covers with keyboards built in can't so easily
be used this way.

Regards,

I have a case with a magnetic keyboard that sticks to the cover, so could
be used like a laptop, or removed and used separately. It was only about
-u30, and is not that bad. It even has USB-C charging, so easy to connect to the iPad.
--
Andy H
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 27/04/2026 13:21, Chris wrote:

Alan Lee <alan@darkroom.plus.com> wrote:

I service many different things on my job, and carry round a lot of
paper manuals. It has occured to me that it would be far better to get a
tablet of some sort to have all the manuals on as .pdfs, to reduce the
amount of paperwork in my van.
Looking at the various models, the "2025 iPad 11, A16, Wi-Fi, 128GB"
version at just over -u300 seems perfect.
What I would like to know - how good is it synching with my Macbook when
I get home? I'll be having various emails through the day, which I
usually get on my Macbook when I get home - could it be set to
automatically sync between the two, so I now have copies of the emails
on both devices, and, vice versa if I get a wifi point during my day, so
check the email away from the Macbook?

Also, the magic keyboard - worth it? There seems to be a range of prices
for that, from -u45 up to -u250 - what are the differences?
Thanks, Alan.

As others have said, as long as email uses some kind of web server (i.e. gmail, hotmail, microsoft) you'll be fine.

In terms of keyboard, I would only recommend it if you will be doing a lot
of typing. For navigating and writing notes or annotating your manuals I would recommend an Apple pencil instead.

If, like me, your manuals are downloaded or already on your MacBook then it's a simple matter of putting them in a folder on your iCloud drive when they will be available on all apple devices you have.
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2