I journey with an iPad that acts like a touchscreen MacBook – here is my setup

Comply with ZDNET: Add us as a most popular supply on Google.

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity have gotten increasingly more commonplace.
• Do not depend on discovering energy in public areas; convey an influence financial institution.
• All the time use a trusted, dependable VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi.

I am somebody who loves the joys of rocking up abroad, sitting on a balcony or cafe, and getting some work achieved. Not solely do I get pleasure from sitting in entrance of my keyboard with a espresso and a tostada, however I really like the technical challenges and pushing my gear a little bit bit additional.

Additionally: The world’s smallest 1TB SSD drive is the journey gadget I did not know I wanted

I am presently in Spain, so it is a good time to mirror on my journey work equipment and workflow, present you what labored, the issues that did not work, and the couple of issues I did that made my life a bit more durable.

Touring with my iPad Professional

First up, this time I am touring with my iPad Professional versus my MacBook Professional. A 13-inch pill was so much simpler to hold about in a backpack — whereas I walked the final 75-ish miles of the Camino Frances — than a 16-inch laptop computer would have been.

Additionally: I modified 6 settings on my iPad to considerably lengthen the battery life (by hours)

However that introduced a problem. I’ve by no means been in a position to switch my Mac workflow to the iPad. For quite a lot of small, however vital causes, I want a full working system.

And you’ll’t run MacOS on an iPad. Or are you able to?

Accessing MacOS within the cloud

I have been utilizing a cloud subscription service known as MacInCloud, which, because the identify suggests, provides you entry to MacOS within the cloud. Setup is fairly easy, and you’ll customise the {hardware}, software program, and subscription to go well with you.

And it really works surprisingly effectively. I take advantage of an app known as Bounce to connect with my Mac within the cloud, and assuming you may have a good web connection (a little bit of foreshadowing there), it really works nice. As with all distant companies, it all the time feels a little bit like tending to a bottle backyard, however relatively than a bottle backyard in entrance of you, it is subsequent door, and I am engaged on it utilizing chopsticks by means of an open window. 

Additionally: 9 important Mac apps everybody ought to be utilizing in 2026 – and why I vouch for them

There are additionally a couple of odd bugs that I’ve needed to work round (many associated to person interface, and having to decide on one of the best between my fingers on the display, the Apple Pencil, or the trackpad on the Magic Keyboard).

Nevertheless it works, and it is a service I can extremely advocate to anybody needing a distant MacOS system.

I would assumed that the hotspot on my iPhone can be excellent for fixing the iPad connectivity. I would examined this state of affairs earlier than leaving and it appeared to work advantageous, however as quickly as I attempted utilizing this on the bottom in Spain, I discovered that the connection wasn’t secure sufficient. I faffed about with some settings and tried a couple of tips to make it work higher, but it surely would not play ball, and I am unsure why.

Additionally: Easy methods to clear your iPad cache (and wipe out lag for good)

There have been moments after I regretted not bringing my satellite tv for pc dish!

However whereas hotspot was a no-go, it was advantageous over Wi-Fi, and one factor that there is no scarcity of the place I’m right here in Spain are cafes with nice views and first rate Wi-Fi.

Downside solved.

Bringing an anti-theft bag for my equipment

I wish to have a bag for all my bits of equipment. My grandpa had a saying, “every little thing as a replacement, and a spot for every little thing,” and a tech bag helps with that. My favourite is the Pacsafe anti-theft sling bag, which has proved itself by making life troublesome for a pickpocket. That is excellent for carrying my iPad Professional round.

Additionally: This anti-theft tech bag foiled a pickpocket try dwell – here is the way it did it

Wi-Fi and 5G have gotten increasingly more commonplace, even in additional distant areas, and are far much less of a consideration than they had been even 5 years in the past.

Charging upfront and taking an influence financial institution

Connectivity may be commonplace, however one thing that is not is energy. If you are going to be working in public areas, by no means depend on gaining access to an AC outlet or USB charging. Some locations simply do not such as you doing that as a result of they assume you are going to plug in, arrange an workplace, and dwell there all day sipping a single espresso. 

Additionally: The 9 tech devices I could not dwell with out in 2025 (and so they do not embody AirTags)

Different occasions, the infrastructure is simply damaged. I’ve misplaced depend of the variety of damaged USB ports I’ve come throughout.

The straightforward answer is to cost up upfront, and when you want extra energy, take a energy financial institution.

Utilizing eSIM connectivity and a VPN

For normal iPhone connectivity, nothing beats the comfort of the eSIM. 

Gone are the times of getting to discover a native SIM card, faff about becoming and activating it. I have been having nice success with Saily (iOS/Android), Nomad (iOS/Android), Airalo (iOS/Android) and Maya Cell. I like to recommend shopping for a small quantity of knowledge and testing it first earlier than shopping for an enormous chunk or going for an infinite plan, simply to verify it really works, and if it would not, strive one other supplier.

Additionally, my house supplier affords roaming capabilities (though this comes with some caveats and limitations), and I take advantage of a sensible SIM service (UK primarily based solely at current, however I hear it is going to roll out to different nations just like the US quickly) from an organization known as Trustworthy that could be a low-data backup eSIM. It makes use of a number of carriers to offer you connectivity in spots that may in any other case be useless zones. 

This has labored effectively for me each within the UK and overseas, and as soon as it rolls out to different nations, it may very well be a recreation changer.

Additionally: Greatest journey VPNs 2025: Skilled-tested for streaming and avoiding censorship

I additionally use a VPN, swapping between Nord VPN (iOS/Android) and Proton VPN (iOS/Android) relying on what I am doing. These are an important layer of protection in opposition to snooping and hacking for anybody utilizing public Wi-Fi.

Lastly, my errors

It isn’t typically that I make a mistake or blunder, however they do occur, and I wish to be trustworthy. Just like the final minute choice I made to swap a examined microUSB cable to cost my Spot X satellite tv for pc messenger for an extended, untested one which I later found wasn’t working. 

Additionally: Why is my USB port orange? I discovered what each coloration actually means, and it is wild

I’ve made the choice that it is now time to maneuver away from issues that do not use USB-C for charging, and I am eyeing the brand new Garmin inReach Mini 3 satellite tv for pc messenger as a alternative. 

I additionally packed a useless energy financial institution, after which linked my iPhone to stated energy financial institution, and was left questioning why it wasn’t charging.

So stuff like that. Annoying, however nothing present stopping. Fortunately!