“I recently bought an Apple iPad Pro in order to evaluate and test it. As somebody who really enjoys using his iPad Air 2, I was excited to get my hands on the latest iteration of Apple’s iPad product line. Indeed, the new iPad offers a lot of very exciting new technological advances over my iPad Air 2, so surely it must be better, right?” Ashraf Eassa writes for The Motley Fool. “After spending a few days with it, I decided to return the iPad Pro and continue plugging along with my trusty iPad Air 2.”
“It’s a marvelous piece of engineering,” Eassa writes. “Sadly, it’s just too big and unwieldy to really replace something like the iPad Air 2 for traditional ‘tablet’ uses. In using the iPad Pro as a ‘replacement’ for my iPad Air 2, I found myself frustrated with how large and heavy (the latter was really a problem) the device is compared to the Air 2… Now, to be fair, I did not buy either the Apple Pencil or the Apple Smart Keyboard along with the iPad Pro; the Apple Pencil seems to be perpetually back-ordered and the Smart Keyboard frankly seems like a rip-off at its current price. However, I did spend some time with the Apple Smart Keyboard at my local Apple store and I can say the typing experience was just not very good compared to what you get with a MacBook or a high-quality Windows laptop.”
MacDailyNews Take: Gee, a writer who’s too cheap to spring for a physical keyboard, complaining that the iPad Pro doesn’t work for his needs. Now, let’s leave the cheapness aside: You cannot “test” a keyboard for a few minutes in a retail store and properly decide if it will be useful to you nor can you use its subsequent absence to decide against a device from the point of view of a writer who types a lot.
Excuse us while we totally discount Eassa’s opinion.
“It’s neither as good as the iPad Air 2 as a tablet nor is it as good as the Mac as a productivity device, at least for my uses. Maybe future iterations, which should be thinner and lighter, could do the trick,” Eassa writes. “That being said, even though the iPad Pro isn’t for me, I would love to see some of the great technologies Apple introduced in the iPad Pro in a next-generation iPad Air 3.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: For every one person for whom the iPad Pro doesn’t work, we can find at least ten for whom it does:
1. In Depth: A month with Apple’s iPad Pro – December 18, 2015
2. Om Malik: iPad Pro has replaced my 12-inch MacBook – December 7, 2015
3. ZDNet reviews Apple’s iPad Pro: A genuine 3. alternative to a laptop for business users – November 20, 2015
4. Apple’s super-sized ‘iPad Pro’ shines for work, play and creativity – November 19, 2015
5. TIME Magazine reviews iPad Pro: ‘The best computer Apple has ever made’ – November 16, 2015
6. I’ve ditched my MacBook for an iPad Pro; here’s why – November 16, 2015
7. iPad Pro: Day 2 and already making my work better, easier, and faster – November 13, 2015
8. A designer’s take on the iPad Pro – November 13, 2015
9. Wired reviews Apple’s iPad Pro: ‘The best tablet, and the best case for tablets, anyone’s ever made’ – November 11, 2015
10. Gruber reviews Apple’s iPad Pro: A MacBook replacement for many
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Without using the Pro with the Pencil, there is no basis for any critique, really. The Pencil is the game-changer for the iPad ecosystem. And I’ve only begun to work it out, but, so far, it’s performed miraculously and certainly with no equal out there. When I need it, I use the Apple bluetooth keyboard, but I don’t type that often, using it mostly for graphic work. And for that, it is a stratosphere above anything else.
So now a stylus is essential and if a person has no need for one they can’t critique a tablet computer?
You’re an idiot. The iPad Pro is a tablet computer. The stylus is a feature of it, nothing more. The entire device is designed for multi-touch. Not everyone needs a stylus you moron.
As a tablet, he’s saying it doesn’t work well for him because it’s too big and heavy. Imagine someone have this problem with the biggest and heaviest tablet in the world…
“So now a stylus is essential … ”
What a ridiculously, stupid statement.
No. A stylus is not essential. You can still interact with the tablet without one, and it will work fine. Just like any other iPad.
But the iPad Pro has been optimized to also be a drawing instrument – and for that you need a Pencil.
So no – not essential. But the addition of the Pencil really makes the device shine.
botoncandy:
You’re ridiculous, and stupid. You clearly have not read the posts in question, neither do you understand them.
“Without using the Pro with the Pencil, there is no basis for any critique, really. The Pencil is the game-changer for the iPad ecosystem.”
Therefore, the author is saying that the validity of the iPad Pro to a user… its overall utility, hinges on the use of the stylus. And if a person isn’t using a stylus, they have no business criticizing the device. It’s like saying unless you have a watch strap, which is a game changer for watches instead of having to put them in your pocket or use chains, you can’t critique a watch.
In other words, it’s an essential part of the equation.
Is that too much for you or should we all slow down to your level?
The bottom line is, he said what he said, and I responded to it pointing out the flaw in that argument. The iPad was DESIGNED TO BE A TABLET. A stylus was not offered and in fact, Jobs was highly critical of one. The entire product is designed for multi-touch with meaty fingers. From the software to the hardware itself.
By making a tablet so much bigger and heavier, it is completely and 100% valid for people to criticize this aspect of its use. If you had any grain of research behind you, you’d know the top 10 things people do with a tablet. And it’s almost all consumption related.
In the end, for people shopping for a tablet, size and weight will be a factor.
The pencil is not a stylus. It can be used as one, but it is a pencil. If you don’t draw/sketch, you won’t get this point. It is a game changer for those who do.
M:
My god are u a shill. I wish everyone was as naive and easily manipulated like you. It would reduce marketing budgets.
It’s not a stylus! It’s a pencil! Apple said! Lol
The Note Series has had a great stylus for ages, it could be called a pencil too. You can draw and sketch very well, I have been doing for three years and has been. How is the stylus named a pencil be game changing?
If iPad Pro was adequate for all users Apple wouldn’t sell other iPads, moron. Obviously, there is not one iPad model that serves all people. To think otherwise is simply idiotic.
I totally agree with opsono. I also discount the authors review, why bother with the review after telling us you are not the target audience.
For my part, I haven’t even picked up my iPad since getting the iPad Pro. I use the Apple Pencil together with the recently updated “MyScript – Stylus” keyboard app and I can enter text almost as fast as typing on a keyboard. For a “Pro” user, the iPad Pro is just as powerful a creation tool as a Mac. Both have their place in my workflow, which is still evolving. I expect that evolution to continue as more apps are created for, and add support for the Apple Pencil and all the new features of the iPad Pro.
So as you would have it then, the iPad Pro is strictly for professionals (average people don’t need a stylus and keyboard for their tablet – it’s for consumption). You’ve now just argued that it’s a niche product that doesn’t work and will not appeal to the masses.
If that’s it, then we must expect low sales volume and leave it at that.
“So as you would have it then, the iPad Pro is strictly for professionals … ”
Yes. Hence the name.
He was simply giving his experience and use parameters. I suspect there and others pro or otherwise who have similar or different non main stream uses for this tablet, be it consuming or creating. Reading about one of them hardly, if one is objective precludes the others and is rather disingenuous to suggest he was saying anything of the sort.
“…I also discount the authors review, why bother with the review after telling us you are not the target audience.”
He had a deadline to meet?
“Without using the Pro with the Pencil, there is no basis for any critique, really.”
Can not up vote this enough. The idiot didn’t buy the thing that makes the device work – the Pencil – and then stupidly complains about it.
What an idiot.
I will agree on the size issue with the new iPad Pro assuming all one wants and needs is the smaller device.
However, not testing the Pro with the pencil and a keyboard (anybody’s keyboard) makes for an incomplete test and review in my book.
He gave his reasons, one of which is that he can’t get his hands on the pencil due to extreme back ordered status. Which is Apple’s fault by the way, not his. And he tried the keyboard, just didn’t want to spring $170 for it because that appeared like a rip-off to him. Honestly who can blame him? Would you spend $170 for a heavy origami-style keyboard with no trackpad if it didn’t have an apple logo on it, or would you laugh at it as he did?
Just trying to keep it real.
It should be mentioned that iPad Pro keyboard alternatives such as the Logitech Creative keyboard are also relatively high at $150.
Don’t need a trackpad if you don’t have a cursor.
Anything that types letters has a cursor. The only question becomes how that cursor is placed into position. Doing it with a press and mice your finger around, like its been on the iPhone and iPad since inception, it a frustrating nightmare. The pencil isn’t much better, because it forces you to go back and forth to the screen for heavy editing.
We all know the so called iPad Pro is a complete and utter joke!
There isn’t a solitary thing about this device that warrants the use of the ‘Pro’ moniker.
To charge almost double the price over an Air 2 is simply shameful. I and many others have enough sense to stick with our Air 2 devices. Not including 3D Touch and the faster TouchID is unbelievable, but all too common of Apple products released under Tim Cook.
This clown has to be removed as CEO before Apple is completely destroyed!
We only know generic Apple bashing idiot posters like you are a complete and utter joke. Add in the Tim Cook hating to predictably top it off and it completes the effect of zero MDN post cred.
Collect your Samsung paycheck and then f**k off.
Apple fanboys are so insecure that any criticism of Apple, Apple products, Apple services, Apple leadership, etc sends them into a apoplectic fit. Apple fanboys live perpetually in a state of impotent rage and self-imposed martyrdom. They know that there will be no relief from Apple criticism thus life is unrelenting misery. I only hope that in your next life your sad and pathetic existence isn’t such unremitting hell.
Actually, the juvenile hate being spewed by mommy’s basement dwellers like you on an Internet site for something you dislike is the most pathetic thing I can think of. Go get a life. It’s pretty short, you know? Get out of that dungeon of yours, take in the sun and breathe some fresh air, junior.
Thanks for confirming my post, fanboy.
You sure are deluded there, little boy.
I’m trying to bring rationally, objectivity, and enlightenment to people like you.
You’re welcome.
And you think you are succeeding in that tiny mind of yours? LOL
First you have to show some asswipe. Love idiots like you who go the “holier than thou” route when they’re the biggest fools and imbeciles of all.
what are you doing on this web site , i don’t got to your google site to insult !!
Sit down with a pro and the pencil for an hour and you will realize how different the pro really is. Pro doesn’t mean “every profession”. For those in graphic design or anyone that loves to draw (or use an image editor), the iPad pro is a game changer. I didn’t realize that until I had the pencil, and it became very clear within the first minute of using it. Before that, I thought I made a mistake and considered returning it.
Apple really screwed up by not having the pencil available when the ups shipped.
From what I have read the Pencil is crucial to the use of an iPad Pro (as in your example so much so that you would have returned it, if you had not used one). Then why don’t Apple just include it with the device and design it in a way the Pencil can be secured with easy access?
Apple Haters are so insecure that they constantly rant repetitively the same nonsense without any redeeming critical value or fundamental sound reasoning. It’s an excuse for these little toadies to get their jollies with unfounded and irrational Apple-hating diatribes that only show their own rage at life and the lack that is their own lives.
Apple Haters are loathsome sub-human types who’s pathetic and sad existence requires them to lash out in hopes of a reaction to feed their desire to spread misery everywhere they go. For them there is no next life since as a lifelong member of bottom feeding souls they will not move on but instead stay as a confirmed member of the Cockroach Club in the next life.
Clueless pariah named Fred who pretend these are legitimate posts will join them as the lowliest facilitator of unwarranted scatological-originating attacks. Pity these refuse of the human spirit. There is no hope for them. One only hopes they will return to the sphincter hole from which they sprang and plopped out.
Is it me or is it weird to return something for being “too big and heavy” when you knew the size and weight when you bought it? I can’t imagine myself doing that.
No it’s not just you. And it’s a stupid criticism anyway. I have an iPad pro. I use it every day. It’s NOT too heavy, and you certainly wouldn’t want it any thinner because you’d be giving up durability, battery life and you’d have the same issue you do with the Air 2 with sound vibration.
If the author found iPad Pro so amazingly wonderful despite its size and weight he would have kept it. However, his experience was less than ideal and the thought of having to spend more money for Apple Pencil and separate keyboard convinced him the added expense and additional weight would not provide any significant benefit. I guess that every other human on the planet that does not own iPad Pro has made a similar evaluation.
Only clueless Apple Hating sub-humans like yourself who repetitively scratch under their lice infested armpits and throw their own feces at passers-by on sites like this.
What is wrong with you? Do you actually think you help Apple’s credibility by spewing stuff like this? If you love Apple so much, do them a favor and shut up.
Mind your own business generic non-regular poster! Apple’s credibility stands on it’s own and nothing you, I or idiot Fred says changes that. But I don’t harbor fools, trolls, mindless Apple Haters, disseminators of misinformation and thinly disguised Fandroid on this site and you shouldn’t either.
Oh and Merry Christmas!
I took you for a rude, shallow, hate-spewing jerk, and your last post seems to clear that up for us.
Merry Christmas to you as well.
You set the standard for pompous and self-righteous doofusosity. The only thing that hasn’t been cleared up is your acne.
Oh and changing identities from A-Thought (really should be No-Thought) to OhBrother shows just what a slippery trollish character you are.
first of all, I use that name when I want to point out how extremely insulting a poster is being. it’s my way of rolling my eyes.
second of all, what makes you think you have the right to check into people’s identities and violate their privacy? What business is that of yours? You’re not the site admin.
You are a destructive person that IMO should be blocked from a website like this.
First of all you’re the asshole here. What person who is essentially decent & nice would need to do what you are doing using multiple memes as subterfuge? Next you’re “technique” betrayed itself under notifications in the upper right corner of the page. It wasn’t hard to figure out at a casual glance and I have a great sixth sense. Third if I WANTED to check you out I have every right to do so.
You should be blocked from ALL websites stat. You’re posting is nasty and more harmful then useful as your language riles up the regulars (like me) which is exactly what trolls do. Troll. Please do us all a favor here on MDN and make like a tree. You add nothing.
Multiple memos as subterfuge? I’ve been open about how I post.
Man a lot of anger at someone simply because I post some arguments against the iPad Pro, and point out that name calling is rude and immature through a little taste of the medicine.
Here’s a good use of time – go back through the posts, count the number of disrespectful and disgusting names you’ve called people, add it up in a column, and then strongly consider apologizing for being rude and immature, which would prove you’re grown up. Or just name call some more, and then the wise will assume you’re not and ignore you.
It’s how you post which apparently you don’t have knack for. 99% of my posts believe it or not are polite and contributory. But oh yeah if I smell troll the vitriol is unleashed. Please disappear, you’re not welcome or wanted here as an established a-hole poster who will only keep getting down voted and then think they’re getting treated unfairly. There’s a reason for that and I suggest you look in a mirror to find that reason.
So the problem is with how I post, not you. OK.
So in response to you saying to people on this blog that they are “clueless Apple Hating sub-humans” who “repetitively scratch under their lice infested armpits” and “throw their own feces at passers-by” – these are your words – I ask you why you’re acting that way, and you unleash on me, and I’m the one with the issue?
Please try to make some sense if you reply.
Just keep your nose clean and be decent and we’ll be fine. Consistent down voting says a lot about you and you’re so-called opinions.
Who do you think you’re kidding? consistent downvoting at best says a few people don’t like my arguments against the ipad pro, and at worst says it’s just you downvoting me. It says nothing about who is acting cordial and who is not.
On the contrary, people who call others ‘lice infested’ and say they are a ‘born asshole’ are jerks in any universe.
Denial is a terrible thing in people like A-Thought or No-Thought. Maybe someday you’ll grow out of your Peter Pan phase.
Wow, this is what you call biased. The best you can do in response to a guy who says the keyboard doesn’t work very good is attack his character for being cheap? That’s called an ad hominem argument and other than being emotional and rude, has absolutely no merit. His opinion of the keyboard has been echoed by numerous sources after their own personal trials, probably 3-to-1 over others who have said its passable or good. Provide some data to the contrary.
And the statement that “for every one person that iPad Pro doesn’t work for, you can find 10 that it does”, is completely misleading. I have read articles on iPad Pro, SP4 and similar productivity-oriented devices daily for the last 4 months. And I can tell you there at a minumum another 20 articles that state that the iPad Pro does not work well as a productivity device or laptop replacement.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. This is MacDailynews after all. Name hints at the possibility of bias.
Reality is not important to the narrow minds, bigots, and fanboys that worship at the altar of Apple.
FRED , let it go , nobody care about what you are saying , really , go and play with your Samsung Galaxy ……
I think you have me confused with someone who cares about your narrow-minded abd bigoted ideas.
Those who protest are usual the most guilty of those qualities. What a sanctimonious boorish boring ignoramus bringing nothing to the table you are.
Well according to your logic, since you protest that others are sanctimonious, boorish ignoramuses who have nothing to offer, that makes you most guilty of those qualities.
Such brilliant repartee! I take it you’re a Rhodes Scholar? Or at least a Baskin Robbins ice cream job scooping Rocky Roads Scholar.
And..further proof.
That you’re a born asshole? Yep.
And further..
Have you noticed who has done the name calling here? I haven’t done it once. I merely repeated what you said to others. To which you got angry, so in actuality you’re angry at yourself for the attitude you’re exhibiting. Perhaps you’ll figure this out. Or perhaps you ‘ll just continue name calling…
Have you noticed all the down voting on you consistently here? It’s because your crass and unwelcome here and when you criticize it’s in transparently classic troll technique.
Come back when you’ve learned some manners (which means never). I don’t harbor fools like you lightly who feign innocence and practice self-serving armchair amateur psychology, when in reality it’s you who needs some real soul-searching analysis. Please disappear.
Let’s consider. You name call, I point this out, you name call more, and you get up voted and I don’t. I further point out that name calling is rude and crass, you get angrier and name call more and call me an ‘arm chair psychologist’ and so forth, and get up voted and I don’t.
Given those facts it’s at least possible, if not likely, that either..
You’re upcoming yourself and downvoting me in order to avoid the point I’m otherwise clearly making, that name calling is rude and unproductive; or
others on MacDaily are upvoting you because they, like you, don’t want someone around who has a valid argument against the iPad pro, so it’s an attempt to push me out. I choose to believe MacDaily posters are bigger than this, so I think the former is more likely.
Not a very productive way to have a discussion sir.
And I’ll leave when I’m ready. Despite your attempts to strong-arm, this is a free internet. I still believe there are others on a site like this that would prefer to discuss, not name call.
You just can’t help yourself can you? Thou doth protest too much troll.
Thou dost act like God too much, calling people troll and other names by fiat, as though you alone can define these things on anyone who happens to challenge your name calling and rudeness. But alas, you’re not God. You’re just a rude human being.
I could call you troll and every other name with equal force, but I choose not to act like God when I know I’m not.
Yada yada yada. If you walk like a duck, talk like a duck, protest like a GD duck, yer a trollish duck. With a mighty big inferiority complex to boot. Appreciate the overreaching deity compliments but I’m not the one trying to Lord over conversations with Foghorn Leghorn style blowhardedness. Please disappear back into the 2015 ether where you belong.
Of course it does not work as a “productivity” device. It’s not made for it. It is for people who need a easy to work with drawing device. A tool that work outside an office. Stop pretending the SB4 is in the same thing. Without out cell service, GPS, and a mobile OS the SB4 is nothing but a laptop. It’s the same crap that MS has been trying to sell as a “tablet” for a decade. Stop insulting the majority of workers, the ones who don’t have a desk job.
I don’t think Mr. Cook would share your enthusiastic opinion of the iPad pro not being a productivity device. He’d probably appreciate you putting the blinders on to give it every chance though.
And the SP4 (not SB, apparently you’re real familiar with it) is not just a laptop. I’ve been using one for two years, and use it 70% of the time as a tablet, and it functions nicely that way. (and I don’t have a “desk job”.) Then when I need more power, it’s right at my fingertips. iPad users have to run to their second device. I know; I used to be one.
Sorry to burst your bubble.
Apple Hating blinders seem to be strong with this one. Just another Microsoft loser playing pretend on an Apple flavored site. You understand this simply paints you as radically clueless and pathetic, right?. Appreciate many have been where you are and prefer the more heady and useful productive atmosphere of the Appleverse. BTW how’s the Continuity thing working for you on that SP4?
no hate here. mhateful people just assume that. I’m just raising points.
Continuity works fine on my iPhone and the iPad I used to use. But now the kids use the iPad. Because on my windows tablet I don’t really need Continuity. It’s my tablet, my laptop, and my workstation, all in one device, and my data is with me online or offline, all the time. Kinda makes the Apple Continuity concept irrelevant from a productivity standpoint.
Not quite the same thing but whatever floats your boat. Constructive criticism is fine as long as you don’t write it in assholese.
Agreed..we can disagree without having to be disagreeable through the use of name calling and character attacks…
He represents the background noise of purchase statistics.
People do all kinds of things, including pulling their own teeth. So this is not any real surprise.
He wouldn’t be able to pass the marshmallow test.
Uhm, I am developing almost exclusively on the Apple platform since 1985. I bough the iPad Pro because I wanted to develop a very specific app for it, leveraging the unique capabilities of the product. But working with the iPad Pro brought be to the same conclusion as the person writing the article. It is way too heavy and clunky to carry around as a mobile device. When shelling out over $1400 for a complete product (128G, WiFi + Cell, pen, keyboard) you don’t want to risk it just inadvertently sliding out of your hand. While I enjoy working with it on a table, this is certainly not a “mobile” device anymore. And if it is not mobile, I might as well use my MacBook Pro which is a lot more versatile.
And yes, I did get the Logitech Creative keyboard (much better than Apple’s) and no, I didn’t get the pen as there is no way to pick it up in any Apple Store (no, I am not going to sleep in front of them trying to get one early in the morning).
I bought the iPad Pro + Logitech Keyboard + pencil.
I never use the pencil but I am surprised how often I use the keyboard (had two Zagg keyboards on my earlier iPads, never used them).
I was worried about the weight before I bought it, but it’s no big deal. As for the size, well, that’s why I bought the pro.
I could never go back to my iPad 3
I have the 128 GBs Wifi iPad Pro and love it!
I have been waiting for bigger iPads since I purchased the original iPad back in 2010.
Instead, over the years, they got smaller instead of bigger.
The larger screen for sketching, drawing and painting on has been a real game changer for the way I sketch draw and paint as it allows me to a little more movements of my arms to draw instead of always using more wrist movements when painting and sketching on my smaller, standard size iPad 3.
I don’t need an Apple Pencil as my purchase months ago of an Adonit Jot Touch w/pixelpoint has been work great with my iPad Pro.
My Adonit Jot Touch works with all of the same apps that have been updated to work with Apple’s new stylus device.
AND, most of these updated apps have been, also, updated to use updated SDKs from all of the well established, third party, smart stylus makers.
I, also, have no use for a separate Bluetooth keyboard as over the course of iPad evolution, I have forced trained myself to use the iOS software keyboard and I have gotten pretty good at using it to type long passages of text with little difficulty.
Plus the iPad Pro for using as a Wacom Cintiq-like drawing tablet with my Mac now has made the iPad Pro another game changing feature for me!
Exactly. The iPad Pro is not for writers, it is for other types of professionals. It is for people who do drawing for their jobs. People who work with photos. Theses are not necessarily artist. Construction can benefit. The ability to see what the plans are, make quick changes, show customers and workers what is going on, take photos, and do this while out of reach with wi-fi is a game changer. Yes you can do this with other iPads, however size and detail are important. A problem is writers never talk about: camera, cell service, and GPS. I have read people saying they could never see anyone using an iPad camera because they would look stupid. Being able to take a photos of problems with a home a customer can’t see; then showing them to customers on a device that they easily see; then demonstrating the choices they have; then getting them to sign an agreement to start the work; then sending the office the information to get the job started all on one device at the same place is what can put you way ahead of your competition. That is not stupid.
“Exactly. The iPad Pro is not for writers, it is for other types of professionals. It is for people who do drawing for their jobs”
Right. And at some point I might buy one for that purpose, but not till then. I do HTML5 motion graphics and I see see need for me to get back into the production of original artwork and making posterization and special effects based upon photographs, thus creating a new piece of artwork which can be a great basis for a high end motion graphic.
It would be great for that, and for all of the things you listed, but those are niche areas, very important ones, but still niches.
But until I have a need to produce a $1000+ piece of artwork for a customer project……..no
“see see need for” meant to say see no need for”
“UNTIL I see a need for me to get back into”
Wow, I should never write a post while working on a piece of artwork!!! FOCUS
You can disagree with the author of the article, but the tone here is way too condescending. Apple claims it’s a device that does certain things, and it’s good that a non-tech reviewer puts it through its paces to see if it meets those claims. I know some people who bought the iPad Pro and who like it, and others who have returned it because it’s just too big and unwieldy. There are choices, and it’s important to have informed opinions. Not everyone has the option to try it out in a store.
I have the keyboard and love it. I don’t find it hard to type with at all and I disagree with Walt Mossberg in that I find it easy to use on my lap while on my couch. The iPad Pro with keyboard easily balances on my lap.
Have you ever noticed that there is a “Writer’s” Bias for articles about iPads ? –“it’s easier to type on a laptop” i.e. the reviews are by professional writers, who type all day –not by artists, teenagers, or other groups that use the iPad . . . if you talk to kids, they prefer the virtual keyboard, or recently you see more using voice recognition for input . . . artists love the iPad Pro . . . basically, as a user, you need to figure out what your purpose is with the iPad (art, games, video, music, etc.) and get reviews from people in that niche . . . rather than from a professional writer who puts out generic reviews.
It’s really simple people. If you don’t think you need the Pencil then you really don’t need the iPad Pro because, yes, it is heavier. It’s for artists. And for what it offers them it’s well worth the extra weight.
There’s more the iPad Pro than just the Pencil.
1. Viewing things, especially websites, eBooks, email, is much more comfortable on the 12.9″ screen
2. If you use the multi-tasking features a lot, the iPad Pro is a much better device. Multi-tasking was made for this device
3. If you consume a lot of content, especially music / video, the 4 stereo speakers of the iPad Pro will come in handy, especially if you don’t have external speakers
4. If you use an external KB a lot, the beauty of the iPad Pro’s size is that it can support a full-size KB layout which makes typing much more comfortable vs using a 9.7″ iPad
5. The CPU / GPU performance is much greater vs smaller iPads. This opens up the ability to have apps that are more powerful vs iPad Air 2. Granted, this is dependant on developers more than anything, so it will take a little time before we see such apps but you get the point.
On a side note, I rather Apple would’ve called this iPad Plus simply because this a device that be great for content consumption as well as creation. I’ve never agreed that this product was strictly just for Pro users.
As an artist, I’d surely spring for a Pro. It does something no Mac or Pad does. I also need my Mac (truck) and mobile (iPhone).
I’ve had the iPad Pro for almost 5 weeks now. Have had the Pencil and the Apple Smart Keyboard for around 2 weeks. I absolutely love ’em all and now my 13″ rMBP sits in my home office as a desktop computer driving the 27″ Thunderbolt Display. I’ll take the MBP with me on long business trips but, other than that, this iPP rig is all I need to take out with me.
I understand that the iPP isn’t for everyone. Yes, it’s big and somewhat unwieldy for “normal” tablet usage but it wasn’t designed to be used in that manner. The potential user has to look at it and assess what he/she can do with it. For me, it was a no brainier. I’ve had the iPad 2, 4 and Air and they hardly ever got used except for content consumption and replying to emails every now and then. And I absolutely hated and still hate typing on the display’s virtual keyboard. I’m a guitar player (which is the industry I’m in) and have callouses on my left fingers so they don’t work for touch input at all.
For me, the iPP is the perfect road tool and I don’t miss carrying around the MBP at all. It’s also getting a lot more usage at home with the Apple Pencil for taking notes, drawing diagrams and mockups, annotating PDFs, editing photos, using business graphics apps like mind maps, flow charts, and outliners, etc. – all stuff I never really even think of doing on the MBP. So it all depends on what you want to use it for.
Many people review the iPP just from their own narrow perspectives of what they do or would use it for and make blanket statements that it’s too big or “useless” or whatever and apply that thinking to everyone else. Well, these are just personal opinions of theirs and they certainly don’t apply to me. I tell people that I love it and it’s perfect for what *I* want to do but I never tell them they should go out and get one because I don’t know how they would use one.
It all depends on each individual and that person’s specific needs. It really is the same for musical instruments such as guitars for musicians. You’re not going to convince a jazz or country player to buy a pointy heavy metal guitar and a metal guitarist isn’t going to get a big hollow-body guitar. Ultimately, these are all tools to get certain things done for many different kinds of people. I don’t understand this mentality of: “Well, it’s not good for me so it isn’t good for anyone else either.”
I agree with this review. I’m not interested in even trying iPad Pro because of its size. Too big for me.
I picked up an iPad Pro and the local corporate Apple Store (still have 2 independents) and was amazed at how light it was, not heavy. At this point though, I can’t justify buying one for myself as I want it for content consumption, mostly reading. Also, with the exception of the original iPad I wait for the 2nd gen version of the product. Let Apple work out any bugs and expand the product line with more memory and LTE options.
Forgot to say that I thought it to be lighter than a hardback book, so for reading magazines and comics as well as books it would be nice.
First off, the “reviewer” was clearly not in the demographic for the new
iPad Pro, so his negative perspective is understandable. He shouldn’t have been given the assignment. He clearly didn’t want one. My spouse got the new iPad Pro, AND picked up the pencil in the local Apple Store, last month, and loves it.
I’ve been using the first generation iPad Air for the last couple of years, and love mine. I have no interest in the iPad Pro for myself. I would like a newer, faster model of Air with some cool new features, but until that comes out, I’ll continue to use the one I have. I’m retired and use my Air around the house as a consumption device. I find the iPad Pro too large and heavy for my needs. The pencil is cool and works well, but my fingers are fine for my simple needs.
So, different devices for different needs. The writer deserves all the opprobrium. His article was clearly negatively biased from his opening comment.
I’m buying one as a family computer and to edit photos with the stylus. I have a four year old daughter and the painting apps will absolutely come alive on a pro.
Why all the fuzz about a non-article by a known, certified, bozo?
At least we can allow that Eassa is consistent.
Lets be fair and give him that, at least.
He is ALWAYS an idiot.
I didn’t bother reading the article when I realized it was Motley Fool. Trashy site with trashy writers.
I had the exact same experience and also returned my iPad after a week. I’m on the iPad all day every day so it has to be A perfect fit for me, and the pro was just too big to be comfortable to use. I also couldn’t get used to The new keyboard layout – for me it was a step backwards. The pencil was actually the coolest thing about the pro for me, and it made me want to explore some more art apps – but it’s definitely not needed for most users. I didn’t like the smart keypad because of its single fixed position and attended to fall over if I try to use it on my lap. I also tried the Logitech keyboard which had some cool features like backlighting but it was bulky and harder to use the iPad alone. Although I’ve been excited about the pro since the first key note, it just made me realize how great my iPad Air 2 is — and by Just getting a MacBook air and keeping my iPad Air 2 I can have the best of both worlds instead of a combined gadget that does neither particularly well.
By the time Mr Eassa reaches my age and his eyes start to fail he will wish that he had kept the iPad Pro!
Thought I would want the iPad Pro, but when I saw it person I actually laughed at how ridiculous it is. iOS is at home on a 4.7 inch screen. At 13 inches it becomes silly. I have a MacBook Pro retina that cost less than the iPP plus needed accessories, and it can do far, far more. I do love my Air 2 and should thank Apple for not updating it. I can keep the “current” model for 2 years and not feel left behind.
For those writing that the iPP is for photography pros, in what way? It can’t handle RAW files so I can only see it as useful for showing off finished products – files worked an a computer.
The Pro is a turd. Too big to be mobile, too small for serious monitor dependent work, iOS does not have the class of apps and functionality to be productive. Bad keyboard, stylus based apps s joke. This is what happens when you trust a company to a homo who wastes time on transsexual identification and licks the ass of that assclown in the Whitey House. He is a stinking double talking twink who afraid to bring his gay lover out to even a coffee shop.
And why is the added (necessary) keyboard so expensive? Why isn’t it included as part of the iPad Pro accessories package as part of the iPad Pro cost? And why not call it what it apparently is? A graphics artist’s tool.