MS

Hello, I’m Michael Sliwinski, founder of Nozbe - to-do app for business owners and their teams. I write essays, books, work on projects and I podcast for you using #iPadOnly in #NoOffice as I believe that work is not a place you go to, it’s a thing you do. More…

📱 iPadOnly

I’m using the iPad as my main computing device since 2012. It started with the retina iPad 3, a year later I wrote the #iPadOnly book on an iPad 4 and as I upgraded my iPads, now I’m working on the iPad Pro 13. Basically, I’m showing how an iPad is a real computer.

✈️ 📱 📲 ⭐️ What’s in my backpack and tech pouch in 2024?

Monday, January 1, 2024 /backpack24/

Hello and Happy New Year 2024! Today is day 1 and I’m starting off this year with an update to my travel pouch and backpack, now that I’ve upgraded my trusty iPhone 13 Mini to USB-C powered iPhone 15 Pro. This changed helped me to streamline my setup and get rid of many Lightning dongles:

What’s in my backpack and tech pouch in 2024?


🖋 📱 🔗 ⭐️ Journaling Shortcut version 3 - simplified, improved and with Apple Notes support

Monday, October 16, 2023 /journal3/

I love Journaling and have been since 2016 using a custom Workflow and later Siri Shortcuts. Every once in a while I’ve been tweaking my Journaling Shortcut, most recently last year. However, everything can be improved and this summer as I’ve been preparing a stand-alone Gratitude Siri Shortcut I’ve decided to also upgrade my Journaling shortcut and most importantly - add Apple Notes support. Here’s what’s improved and why you should start journaling if you haven’t already:

Journaling Shortcut version 3 - simplified, improved and with Apple Notes support


📱 ⭐️ Why I must work on the iPad - the most versatile computer ever - M1 iPad Pro 13” review after 2 years

Thursday, September 14, 2023 /ipadv/

People still ask me why after more than a decade I’m still working mainly on the iPad. They ask me how I can do it. The thing is, not only I can do it, but I must do it. I wouldn’t be able to work on anything else. My iPad Pro 13” is the most versatile computer ever and I can’t live without it. In most cases it’s just a much better computer than any laptop or desktop out there and in this post I’m going to prove it:

Why I must work on the iPad - the most versatile computer ever - M1 iPad Pro 13” review after 2 years


🏠 📱 ⭐️ Home Office desk rearrangement - flipping monitor position, MacBook Air placement and iPad Pro setup

Thursday, May 4, 2023 /office23flip/

I keep fine-tuning my home office and after rearranging it for 2023 and working like this with the M1 MacBook Air I decided to move some things around and make some more premium room on the desk for my iPad Pro and the result is this:

Home Office desk rearrangement - flipping monitor position, MacBook Air placement and iPad Pro setup


📱 📲 ✈️ What’s in my travel tech pouch?

Wednesday, May 3, 2023 /pouch/

Two years ago I posted the contents of my backpack and all the tech gear I have there. Until recently that’s how I was carrying all my cables and tech. However recently I re-examined my setup and bought some new pouches and from now on this is how I’m carrying all my gear:

What’s in my travel tech pouch?


📱 🏠 💻 ⭐️ Why I need a Mac when I’m working mostly on my iPad?

Monday, January 16, 2023 /ipadmac/

Recently I wrote about my new 2023 home office setup where the key part of it is the M1 MacBook Air. Some people reading that article got a wrong impression that I’m no longer #iPadOnly. They thought I ditched my beloved 13” iPad Pro. That’s not true. Quite the contrary, the iPad is still my main computer. In fact, I’m writing these words on my iPad. I’m doing most of my creative work on the iPad. But… the M1 MacBook Air is an important back-stage/secondary computer and that’s why I need it in my home office:

Why I need a Mac when I’m working mostly on my iPad?


📱 A decade later - 5 apps which are still on my iPad and rocking it!

Tuesday, December 6, 2022 /apps10/

More than 10 years ago I switched completely to using the iPad as my main computer and I posted a series of screenshots of apps I was using then. Heck, I dedicated an entire section of my #iPadOnly book to apps from that era. What strikes me now is that after a decade, there are still many apps that not only have stayed on my iPad but continue thriving on it. And most are authored by indie developers. Here’s my tribute to them:

A decade later - 5 apps which are still on my iPad and rocking it!


📱 🏠 Dedicated iPad corner stand-up desk in my home office

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 /ipad-corner/

As I was tweaking my home office recently (which I constantly do, as you know!) and installing my latest Lego F1 Set and figuring out what I’d do with old trusty Thunderbolt Display, I came up with an idea for a dedicated iPad stand-up desk. This way I can work standing (which I’ve been doing since 2012!) on my iPad Pro and enjoying the double-monitor productivity, which will be even more enhanced in iPadOS16 - this is how the setup looks like:

Dedicated iPad corner stand-up desk in my home office


📱 🖋 🔗 New Journaling and Planning Siri Shortcut to help you stay focused and productive!

Thursday, September 15, 2022 /journal22/

After 6 years of consistent journaling on my iPad I have a special gift 🎁 for you: an updated, tweaked and polished new Siri Shortcut that will help you journal and plan your day just like me. Thanks to this Shortcut I journal consistently and also experience much more productive days than ever before. To boot, this Siri Shortcut is completely free and you can even tweak it to your liking and it doesn’t require any additional paid app. Just take it and let me know what you think:

New Journaling and Planning Siri Shortcut to help you stay focused and productive!


📱 🖋 🔗 Start journaling today with this simple (and free) Siri Shortcut!

Thursday, July 7, 2022 /journal-basic/

Start regular journaling today! I’ve been journaling daily since 2016 and over the years I’ve tweaked my system. I posted my most advanced version of journaling workflow using Siri Shortcuts and iA Writer over a year ago. However, as I recently prepared a more basic Journaling Shortcut in Polish for my monthly column at the iMagazine, today I’m sharing with you all the English version of the basic Journaling Shortcut. It doesn’t require any additional app. Only Siri Shortcuts which comes with every iOS or macOS now. Just get the shortcut and start journaling today:

Start journaling today with this simple (and free) Siri Shortcut!


🍎 💻 📱 7 lives of a decade-old trusty Apple Thunderbolt Display

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 /display/

📱 iPad Pro 13” with white Magic Keyboard after 3 months - my subjective review!

Monday, November 29, 2021 /ipad13pro/

📱 The M1 13” iPad Pro with white Magic Keyboard is not as huge as I thought! My first impressions.

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 /ipad13/

📱 Why I dig the updated multitasking on the iPad in iOS15 beta

Friday, June 18, 2021 /ipados15/

🤩 📱 On iPad Pros podcast geeking out about using the iPad for work

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 /ipadpros/

📱 📲 What’s in my backpack? 🎒

Monday, March 1, 2021 /backpack/

📱 Curlicues - note taking on infinite canvas with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil

Thursday, January 28, 2021 /curlicues/

📱 ✔️ Updated and simplified list of iPad apps that help me work #iPadOnly and get lots done on my iPad Pro 11”

Tuesday, January 12, 2021 /ipadscreen/

🚀 📱 📲 Rolling the virtual dice when playing board games! 🎲🎲

Monday, December 21, 2020 /rolling/

📱 ✔️ 🖋 🔗 Simplify journaling, daily planning and time tracking with just one Siri Shortcut and iA Writer

Thursday, December 17, 2020 /journal20/

📱 📲 Gadgets for a geek like me for 2020 Christmas Holiday season

Monday, November 30, 2020 /gifts20/

🚀 📲 📱 🔗 Psst… don’t tell YouTube that I created a page to watch videos without being tracked 🤫

Thursday, November 5, 2020 /youtube/

📱 🔗 How to download video and audio from YouTube using youtube-dl on the iPad

Thursday, October 15, 2020 /youtube-dl/

📱 A decade with an iPad - what a delightful computer!

Thursday, August 20, 2020 /ipad/

📱 Backlit keyboard and more joys of using the Magic Keyboard - an accessory that makes the iPad Pro true to itself

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 /backlit/

🎬 📱 🎥 Magic Keyboard review - Team Productivity Show #4

Monday, April 20, 2020 /magic/

📱 🚀 The #iPadOnly book is an oldie but a goodie… and is free for you to read online!

Wednesday, April 8, 2020 /ipadonlyfree/

📱 🎬 How to correctly use a computer - the new iPad Pro with the new keyboard

Thursday, March 19, 2020 /newpro/

🏠 📱 What’s on my desk? Here’s my re-designed stand up desk for 2020.

Thursday, January 23, 2020 /desk/

🏝 😎 📱 A child to a remotely-working dad: you’re just writing random stuff!

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 /dad/

📱 My good old iPad 3 retina - the 2012 tablet that made me go #iPadOnly - is now on my wall and it works great!

Thursday, December 19, 2019 /ipad3/

📱 🎬 MKBHD goes iPadOnly and I really like his way of using the iPad!

Wednesday, August 14, 2019 /mkbhd/

✔️ 📱 🖋 🔗 How intermittent journaling and some smart Siri shortcuts help me enjoy more intentional and productive days

Tuesday, February 5, 2019 /journaling/

🏝 📱 Why in any company you should be using version control for anything - how we use Github not only for code, but also for writing!

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 /github/

📱 🎬 Video review - why I’m calling the 11” iPad Pro a “retro iPad”?

Thursday, November 15, 2018 /ipadretro/

📱 How my younger self convinced me to go with the smaller 11” iPad Pro

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 /whichipad/

📱 📲 Quirks and issues when migrating to a new iOS device (case of iPad Pro 11” & iPhone XS)

Tuesday, November 13, 2018 /newdevice/

📱 ✔️ 🖋 Workflows that build regular habits and help me get stuff done quicker

Thursday, February 1, 2018 /workflows/

📱 iPadOnly podcast recording set – how to travel & record podcasts with great quality and minimum equipment

Monday, September 18, 2017 /recording/

📱 Essential iPad Pro accessories for an #iPadOnly life

Wednesday, August 30, 2017 /ipadstuff/

📱 👨🏼‍💻 Being #iPadOnly on 10.5” – is the new iPad Pro with iOS11 finally a serious setup for work?

Monday, August 7, 2017 /ipadwork/

📱 How setting up a new iPad Pro for work is an exercise in minimalism and focus

Wednesday, July 12, 2017 /newipad/

📱 7 Reasons why switching to the iPad as your main computer is not just about the iPad Pro and iOS11…

Monday, June 19, 2017 /ipadnow/

📱 ✔️ A complete list of iPad apps that let me be #iPadOnly

Wednesday, March 8, 2017 /ipadapps/

📱 👨🏼‍💻 How “baby” iPad Pro became my computer of the year 2016

Monday, November 28, 2016 /babyipad/

📱 👨🏼‍💻 There are two iPads: a big one, and a small one. But which one is better for me?

Thursday, October 13, 2016 /twoipads/

📱 👨🏼‍💻 It’s been 4 years since I went #iPadOnly but the real era of iPads has just begun

Thursday, August 4, 2016 /scrivener/

👨🏼‍💻 📲 📱 New features in iOS10 and macOS Sierra that will help boost your productivity

Tuesday, July 5, 2016 /sierra/

👨🏼‍💻 📱 What my new iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard taught me about productivity

Monday, April 18, 2016 /ipadprokeyboard/

📱 Using a software keyboard on an iPad Pro in a vertical mode. With Smart Cover!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015 /ipadprokey/

📱 💻 Can the iPad Pro substitute a laptop? Well… Yes. And No.

Monday, November 23, 2015 /ipadpromac/

📱 Using my age-old Zagg keyboard with my iPad Pro

Tuesday, November 17, 2015 /ipadproz/

📱 After unboxing the iPad Pro - first impressions: it’s huge (duh!)

Saturday, November 14, 2015 /ipadpro1/

📱 Web browsing is dead on mobile? Or how I planned my vacation on my iPad without the web…

Thursday, October 22, 2015 /browsing/

👨🏼‍💻 📱 Who is iPad Pro for? Me or you?

Tuesday, October 13, 2015 /who-ipad/

📱 Hello, I’m Michael and I have 5 iPads…

Tuesday, September 15, 2015 /myipads/

📱 👨🏼‍💻 Two apps on the iPad… How will iOS9 influence the “iPad Only” work?

Thursday, July 23, 2015 /ios9-ipadonly/

📱 My iPad setup. And accessories. How I get things done on my iOS devices.

Thursday, July 9, 2015 /ipadsetup/

📱 😎 Dad, let’s go to the “iPad store” please! (Or how our children embrace touch devices…)

Saturday, March 14, 2015 /ipad-store/

👨🏼‍💻 📱 This tablet “works” - why iPad is perfect for work, study and entertainment

Thursday, March 12, 2015 /tablet-works/

📱 📲 ✏️ Will a new 5,5” iPhone convert people to not only #iPadOnly, but more #iPhoneOnly?

Tuesday, September 9, 2014 /iphoneonly/

📱 📽 🎬 Why I’m working only on my iPad? Quick, pecha-kucha, 6min explanation by yours truly - Productive! Show #76

Wednesday, July 30, 2014 /why-ipadonly/

📱 💻 👨🏼‍💻 ✏️ iPad Pro? No, we don’t need a hybrid but better processes and apps (and more RAM)

Monday, May 26, 2014 /ipad-pro/

📱 📽 🎬 My favorite iPad keyboards & stands - Productive!Show #67

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 /ipad-accessories/

📱 📽 🎬 My slim iPad Air gadget bag - Productive!Show #64

Thursday, February 6, 2014 /ipad-air-bag/

📱 ✏️ iPad is just a PC? A kinda PC without keyboard? Or is it?

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 /ipad-pc/

📱 📽 🎬 Unboxing the iPad Air and first impressions - Productive! Show #57

Thursday, November 7, 2013 /ipadair-show/

📱 📖 ✏️ You don’t need permission to change the world: how I co-authored, self-published and best-seller’ed my first book

Thursday, August 8, 2013 /author/

📱 📽 🎬 New Show - #iPadOnly book - which iPad (mini or Retina) to choose as your main computer to be most productive?

Friday, July 19, 2013 /which-ipad/

📱 📽 🎬 #iPadOnly book show - interview with my co-author: Augusto Pinaud - Productive Show #54

Thursday, July 11, 2013 /ipadonlyshow/

📱 📖 How I wrote the #iPadOnly book with Augusto Pinaud

Friday, June 21, 2013 /ipadonlybook/

📱 ✏️ Mini or Maxi? Which iPad is good for you?

Tuesday, April 16, 2013 /ipadmini/

🌎 📱 It’s been only three years since unveiling and now it’s my main machine: The iPad

Thursday, April 4, 2013 /ipad-3-years/

📱 ✏️ Part 18 - My life in the cloud thanks to the iPad

Friday, January 18, 2013 /ipad-cloud/

📱 💼 ✏️ Who can do their day job effectively on the iPad?

Friday, January 11, 2013 /ipadonly-jobs/

😎 📱 ✏️ Syncing family in the cloud - two ways to set up iCloud with your spouse

Tuesday, November 13, 2012 /ifamily/

📱 💻 ✏️ Part 16 - why I (still need a Mac Mini - iPad as my main computer

Monday, October 22, 2012 /part-16-why-i-still-need-a-mac-mini-ipad-as-m/

📱 ✏️ Part 15 - why iPhone matters - iPad as my main computer

Monday, September 17, 2012 /part-15-why-iphone-matters-ipad-as-my-main-co/

📱 ✏️ Part 14 - AppleTV air-plays magically - iPad as my main computer

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 /part-14-appletv-air-plays-magically-ipad-as-m/

📱 ✏️ Part 13 - KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid! - iPad as my main computer

Wednesday, September 5, 2012 /part-13-kiss-keep-it-simple-stupid-ipad-as-my/

📱 ✏️ Part 12 - web sites as apps (appification? - iPad as my main computer

Tuesday, August 21, 2012 /part-12-web-sites-as-apps-appification-ipad-a/

📱 ✏️ Part 11 - Docs and Spreadsheets and Mountain Lion - iPad as my main computer

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 /part-11-docs-and-spreadsheets-and-mountain-li/

📱 📽 🎬 My must-have iPad accessories for the road (Productive! Show #47) vs Steve Wozniak’s bag

Thursday, July 12, 2012 /my-must-have-ipad-accessories-for-the-road-productive-magazine-show-47/

📱 ✏️ How I use Evernote

Thursday, July 12, 2012 /how-i-use-evernote/

📱 ✏️ Part 10 - They Keyboard, or the lack of it - iPad as my main computer

Friday, June 15, 2012 /part-10-they-keyboard-or-the-lack-of-it-ipad/

📱 ✏️ Part 9 - Social Media - iPad as my main computer

Monday, June 11, 2012 /part-9-social-media-ipad-as-my-main-computer/

📱 ✏️ Part 8 - The back-end magic - iPad as my main computer

Tuesday, June 5, 2012 /part-8-the-back-end-magic-ipad-as-my-main-com/

📱 Part 7 - Simplifications and Annoyances - iPad as my main computer

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 /part-7-simplifications-and-annoyances-ipad-as/

📱 Part 6 - Portability and Fun - iPad as my main computer

Friday, May 11, 2012 /part-6-portability-and-fun-ipad-as-my-main-co/

📱 ✈️ Part 5 - Traveling - iPad as my main computer

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 /part-5-traveling-ipad-as-my-main-computer/

📱 Part 4 - Email, clouds and APIs - iPad as my main computer

Friday, April 20, 2012 /part-4-email-clouds-and-apis-ipad-as-my-main/

📱 Part 3 - Designing Flows and a HomeScreen - iPad as my main computer

Monday, April 16, 2012 /part-3-designing-flows-ipad-as-my-main-comput/

📱 Part 2 - Writing - iPad as my main computer

Friday, April 13, 2012 /part-2-writing-ipad-as-my-main-computer/

📱 Part 1 - the Clouds - iPad as my main computer

Tuesday, April 10, 2012 /part-1-the-clouds-ipad-as-my-main-computer/

📱 iPad as my main computer - prologue

Sunday, April 8, 2012 /ipad-as-my-main-computer-prologue/

📙 📱 Productive! Magazine iPad app tops Appstore charts! Thank you!

Friday, February 25, 2011 /productive-magazine-ipad-app-tops-appstore-charts-thank-you/

📙 📱 Productive Magazine #6 iPad app with #5 inside :-)

Thursday, December 23, 2010 /productive-magazine-6-ipad-app-with-5-inside/

🍎 💻 📱 Dear Apple - iPad is NOT a personal device like iPhone

Monday, November 15, 2010 /dear-apple-ipad-is-not-a-personal-device-like/

📙 📱 🎬 Productive Magazine iPad App - perfect reading experience on the iPad

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 /productive-magazine-ipad-app-perfect-reading-experience-on-the-ipad/

🍎 📱 💻 I have to admit this - 5 reasons why iPad is the future of computing

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 /i-have-to-admit-this-5-reasons-why-ipad-is-th/

📱 💻 IMDB - how Apple’s iPhone or iPad interface makes ugly web site beautiful

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 /imdb-how-apples-iphone-or-ipad-interface-make/

📱 Avatar - massive usage of Apple iPads and Touch Computing

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 /avatar-massive-usage-of-apple-ipads-and-touch/

🍎 📱 7 ways the new Apple iPad will increase your productivity

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 /7-ways-the-new-apple-ipad-will-increase-your/