With my aging MacBook in the shop, and currently being on a PowerBook G4 that can’t connect to my email, it might be a good idea to have a backup computer. (I’m thinking of biting the bullet and getting a new MacBook Pro, and using my old one as a backup.) I thought an iPad would be nice.
Can I install OpenVPN and Microsoft Desktop Connection on an iPad so that I can log into the PC at my office? I have a wireless keyboard, and I think it accepts a mouse. If I can connect to my office PC and have a mouse and keyboard, I should be able to work even on vacation. Can I use Office programs such as Word and Excel? (I have no idea where my Office For Macs CDs are.)
TeamViewer? Not sure if there’s an iPad and Mac version
I’ve used a VMware View client and a RDP client on an iPad (or even an iPhone) However, I haven’t tried openVPN yet. (We’ve used a setup where you login to the firewall first, then you can connect and login to the server) Your finger on the screen acts as a mouse.
Mice are not currently supported by the iPad. It is supposedly a feature in the iPadOS 13 beta, but no guarantee on if or when that’s a fully supported thing.
Word and Excel (integrating nicely with your O365 account) are available for the iPad, but IMO using excel is seeing I reserve for situations where it’s literally my last resort. It’s rough.
My iPad had Word, Excel and Astrill VPN on it. I think you should go with the MacBook Pro idea, though.
An iPad is not a laptop. You are going to be sorely disappointed if you attempt to use one for office productivity tasks.
The idea isn’t to replace a laptop. One way or another, I’ll have one; either my 17", or a new one with the 17" as a backup. I was just wondering if I could use an iPad if I had to.
This was confirmed by the Mac tech today, when I asked him about it when I picked up my computer. He says it looks like September.
He also said that with a keyboard and the upcoming mouse support, I can connect with Open VPN and Microsoft Remote Desktop. I think I want an iPad to take with me when I’m travelling, when I don’t want to pick up the laptop, or when I’m out of the house; and it would be nice if I had connectivity and function to my office in case of an emergency.
It’s possible to use Windows even without the mouse – it’s odd at first, but gets easier with practice. Firstly, there are the keyboard shortcuts. Secondly there is “mouse keys”, using the numeric keyboard as the mouse. Mouse Keys is part of “ease of access”, which is an “accessiblity” feature of Windows.
I used to do it many years ago, I can’t remember why.