Transition from PC to Apple (Pt 2)

Published August 23, 2021

As I continue to transition from a Windows PC to an iPad, I’ve enlisted the assistance of a helper app to bridge the gap between the two. The app I’m using is called Remote Desktop Mobile. This app allows me to access my desktop from the iPad. There are other apps that offer the same functionality, but I chose this one because it was simple.

Setting up Remote Desktop Mobile

On the Windows machine, I went into settings and enabled the feature to allow remote access to the computer. I also jotted down the computer’s name.

On the iPad, all I had to do was open the Remote app, click the + button to add my Windows PC. I inserted the IP address/hostname and user name. That was it. Now, when I access the app, my PC shows as an available option. I tap the icon, insert my username and password, and am logged into the PC.

Screen Display

Initially, I had an issue with the screen resolution. The fonts were microscopically small. I spent some time roaming around the settings and found the Display screen on my PC that allowed me to adjust the fonts from the Remote App.

Once the text became readable, everything worked amazingly well. I was able to do a few things by accessing the remote desktop from the iPad that I could not do on the iPad alone. Namely, use voice dictation on Google Docs. As I accessed my PC remotely, I could dictate using Google Docs without issue.

There are a few settings in the Remote app that I didn’t play around with. I’m guessing if I configured them properly, I could use the desktop mic and audio as if it were coming from the PC. That might allow me to use Dragon NaturallySpeaking remotely (not sure), but that is not my goal. My goal is to fully transition from the desktop over to the iPad. Having remote access to the desktop has made the transition smoother.

Before downloading the app, I used to run back to the Windows computer when I needed to edit images. Now, I’m finding that the more I become familiar with apps like LumaFusion and Affinity Photo, I’m accessing my old Paint Shop Pro less and less.

Another PC to iPad Challenge

Since I’m hand-coding a couple of websites, I often need to view the source code of my web pages. On a PC, viewing the source code is as simple as right-mouse clicking on the web page and selecting “View Source” from the menu options. However, on an iPad, viewing the source is a cumbersome task. Instead of constantly accessing my desktop to view the source, I decided to search for a solution.

After a few searches and mouse clicks, I stumbled upon a solution. This article outlines how to set up a shortcut in Safari and/or Chrome to enable page source viewing. I was hesitant at first because I had to copy and paste code into the shortcut, but have found that it works just fine. It’s just something else I have to get used to as I transition.

The PC to iPad Journey

Yes, there are a few bumps, bruises, and workarounds that I have to perform in order to use the iPad instead of the PC, but I’m happy with the transition. The portability and freedom of the much smaller iPad is worth going through the sticking points. I believe the more I use the iPad I’ll eventually find the necessary workarounds and/or apps to make it easier for me to do what I do. Hopefully, by this time next year (or maybe sooner), I’ll have fully transitioned.

Last Modified: 4 September 2023