I travel with an iPad that works like a touchscreen MacBook – here’s my setup

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.

ZDNET Highlights

• Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity is becoming common.
• Don’t rely on finding power in public places; Bring a power bank.
• Always use a reliable, trusted VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi.

I am a person who loves the thrill of traveling abroad, sitting on a balcony or in a café and doing something. Not only do I enjoy sitting in front of my keyboard with a coffee and a tostada, but I also love technical challenges and pushing my gear a little further.

Too: The world’s smallest 1TB SSD drive is the travel tool I didn’t need

I’m in Spain at the moment, so it’s a good time to reflect on my travel work kit and workflow, showing you what worked, what didn’t work, and some things I did that made my life a little harder.

Traveling with my iPad Pro

First of all, this time I am traveling with me ipad pro Unlike me Macbook ProA 13-inch tablet was much easier to carry in a backpack — while I walked the last 75 miles of the Camino Frances — than a 16-inch laptop,

Too: 6 settings I changed on my iPad to significantly increase battery life (by hours)

But this brought a challenge. I have never been able to transfer my Mac workflow to the iPad. For several small, but important reasons, I need a complete operating system.

And you can’t run MacOS on an iPad. or you can?

Accessing MacOS in the Cloud

I am using a cloud subscription service called macincloudWhich, as the name suggests, gives you access to MacOS in the cloud. Setup is very straightforward, and you can customize the hardware, software, and subscription to suit you.

And it works surprisingly well. I use an app called jump To connect to my Mac in the cloud, and assuming you have a good internet connection (a bit of a caveat), it works great. Like all remote services, it always feels like tending a bottle garden, but instead of a bottle garden in front of you, it’s next door, and I’m working on it using chopsticks through an open window.

Too: 9 essential Mac apps everyone should be using in 2026 – and why I guarantee them

There are also some odd bugs I’ve had to work out (many related to the user interface, and having to pick out the best one between my fingers on the screen, apple pencilor on the trackpad magic keyboard,

But it works, and it’s a service I can highly recommend to anyone needing a remote MacOS system.

I assumed that the hotspot on my iPhone would be perfect for fixing iPad connectivity. I tested this scenario before leaving and it worked fine, but as soon as I tried to use it on the ground in Spain, I found that the connection was not stable enough. I was confused about some settings and tried a few tricks to get it to work better, but it wasn’t playing ball, and I’m not sure why.

Too: How to Clear Your iPad Cache (And Erase Lag Forever)

There were moments I regretted I’m not bringing my satellite dish,

But while going to hotspots was forbidden, everything was fine on Wi-Fi, and one thing is that where I am in Spain there is no shortage of cafes with spectacular views and good Wi-Fi.

problem solved.

Bringing an anti-theft bag for my kit

I like to have one bag for all the kit pieces. My grandfather had a saying, “Everything in its place, and a place for everything,” and a tech bag helps with that. is my favorite Pacsafe Anti-Theft Sling BagWho has proved himself by making life difficult for a pickpocket. It’s perfect for carrying my iPad Pro around.

Too: This anti-theft tech bag thwarted a pickpocket’s attempt live – here’s how it did it

Wi-Fi and 5G are becoming more and more common, even in remote areas, and they are given much less thought than they were five years ago.

Pre-charging and power bank

Connectivity may be common, but what is not is electricity. If you’re going to work in public places, never depend on access to an AC outlet or USB charging. Some places don’t like you doing this because they think you’ll just join in, set up an office, and stay there sipping coffee all day.

Also: 9 Tech Gadgets I Can’t Live Without in 2025 (And They Don’t Include AirTags)

Other times, the infrastructure is broken. I’ve lost count of the number of broken USB ports I’ve ever encountered.

The simple solution is to charge in advance, and if you need more power, take power Bank,

Using eSIM connectivity and VPN

For general iPhone connectivity, nothing beats the convenience of an eSIM.

Gone are the days of worrying about finding a local SIM card, fitting it and activating it. I’m having great success with Sally (iOS,Android), nomad (iOS,Android), Airalo (iOS,Android) And maya mobileI recommend purchasing a small amount of data and testing it before purchasing a larger amount or taking an unlimited plan, just to make sure it works, and if it doesn’t, try another provider,

Also, my home provider offers roaming capabilities (though it comes with some caveats and limitations), and I use a smart SIM service (currently UK based only, but I’ve heard it It will soon be implemented in other countries like America as well) is an eSIM with low data backup from a company called Honest. It uses multiple carriers to provide you with connectivity in places that might otherwise be dead zones.

This has worked well for me both in the UK and abroad, and once it is implemented in other countries, it could be a game changer.

Too: Best Travel VPNs 2025: Expert-tested for streaming and avoiding censorship

I also use a VPN, swapping between Nord VPN (iOS,Android) and ProtonVPN (iOS,Android) It depends on what I’m doing. These are an important layer of protection against spying and hacking for anyone using public Wi-Fi.

Ultimately, my mistakes

It’s not often that I make a mistake or mistake, but it happens, and I like to be honest. Kind of a last minute decision I decided to swap out a tested microUSB cable to charge my spot x satellite messenger Long, untested, which I later found out wasn’t working.

Too: Why is my USB port orange? I Learned What Every Color Really Means, and It’s Wild

I’ve decided it’s time to move away from things that don’t use USB-C for charging, and I have my eye on the new garmin inreach mini 3 satellite messenger As a replacement.

I also packed a defective power bank, and then connected my iPhone to said power bank, and was left wondering why it wasn’t charging.

So things like that. Annoying, but nothing to stop. Thankfully!