Am I the only one who thinks the Pro is a joke?

[UltimateSyn]

That's the only thing that's making me want the Pro (well, it being faster is also desirable too). Still have time to return my (Apple refurbished) 128GB Air 2, but it would require a £321 price premium for the 128GB Pro

Well £321 is a fairly steep hike but consider all the things you would get:

• Double the CPU power
• Double the GPU power
• Double the RAM (combined with CPU/GPU means further support for iOS updates, if you're thinking longterm)
• Triple the audio output
• Support for Smart Connector devices such as the Smart Keyboard
• Support for Apple Pencil with apparently amazing stylus input
• 78% more screen real estate

Personally, I value the sum of all those to be well over $350.

 

[SnowLeopard OSX]

I agree, completely. Apple either completely dropped the ball on this one, or they cut corners mercilessly and ended up embarrassing themselves...

The iPad Pro would be a respectable product if it was the first Apple mobile device to run OS X on it. If they managed to re-create a touch Mac OS X desktop environment on the pro, THAT would be an outstanding product.

But right now, it's nothing special. If they did what I just mentioned, they could actually compete with the Surface. And these products could even be in their own little class of "mobile devices with desktop operating systems".

They'd be at the cutting edge of the increasing merge between mobile and desktop.

 

[rowspaxe]

i kinda take it personally at having my new kit being called a joke. what does that make me?

Oversensitive? C'mon, its just a forum

 

[Sharkey311]

That's the only thing that's making me want the Pro (well, it being faster is also desirable too). Still have time to return my (Apple refurbished) 128GB Air 2, but it would require a £321 price premium for the 128GB Pro

That is another thing that salves the price point sting for this iPad Pro for me: I have a 64GB iPad Air 2 that I can either sell or trade in at Best Buy and put that money towards the new iPad Pro. I'll probably end up paying around $500 for the 128GB iPad Pro after all is said and done.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It think "Pro" is really just now short for "Pro-vide us more money"

 

[rowspaxe]

I feel pretty much the same way about the Pro as I do for the Apple Watch. I wouldn't call it a joke, and I can understand why some people would want it, but I'm personally not even tempted.

In fairness, the watch is kind of funny, especially after Cook called "lifechanging"

 

[whodatrr]

Apple is, at its core, a hardware company. They'll always try to get us to buy more stuff. And they do a very good job of it.

But all these latest devices feel like Apple may be jumping the shark. While it's OK to simply position watches and big iPads as options or accessories, the way they try to make them seem like indespensable innovations is fatiguing.

In fairness, the watch is kind of funny, especially after Cook called "lifechanging"

 

[Cakefish]

Well £321 is a fairly steep hike but consider all the things you would get:

• Double the CPU power
• Double the GPU power
• Double the RAM (combined with CPU/GPU means further support for iOS updates, if you're thinking longterm)
• Triple the audio output
• Support for Smart Connector devices such as the Smart Keyboard
• Support for Apple Pencil with apparently amazing stylus input
• 78% more screen real estate

Personally, I value the sum of all those to be well over $350.

Well we have to bear in mind that the number of pixels the display has to drive is 1.8x the Air 2 so that GPU advantage won't be as noticeable with things actually being displayed on screen as Apple's 2x performance claim would suggest.

The stylus and keyboard don't interest me in the slightest as I already have a powerful Windows laptop.

I'm having no RAM issues with my Air 2 so it's only really the much improved speakers, extra display real estate and sizeable CPU boost that I'd be befitting from. I just don't know if that's worth the 67% price increase.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Apple is, at its core, a hardware company. They'll always try to get us to buy more stuff. And they do a very good job of it.

But all these latest devices feel like Apple may be jumping the shark. While it's OK to simply position watches and big iPads as options or accessories, the way they try to make them seem like indespensable innovations is fatiguing.

Couldn't agree more - The TV ad's and the rhetoric around the newest products is borderline nauseating...and I'm an Apple guy my entire life. Tone it down Apple.

 

[rowspaxe]

In fact, i feel the opposite. I'm surprised they had the balls to go the distance, especially when the iPad sales were tapering off considerably (apparently)

I feel they had to introduce something in the product that was fun and aspirational--something to excite shoppers in the Apple store. The watch is receiving a muted reception but I suspect pencil will provide in store brand enthusiasm.

 

[rowspaxe]

I agree, completely. Apple either completely dropped the ball on this one, or they cut corners mercilessly and ended up embarrassing themselves...

I think we can all agree with this with regard to the smart cover: its positively "sub-samsung".

 

[turbineseaplane]

I feel they had to introduce something in the product that was fun and aspirational--something to excite shoppers in the Apple store. The watch is receiving a muted reception but I suspect pencil will provide in store brand enthusiasm.

Lol. So true. Every time I go to the Apple Store the huge empty space in the store is the watch area.

 

[whodatrr]

And another thing - the Pencil! After saying styluses were a joke for decades, they introduce it like it's a radical innovation. And they sell it as a separate product.

Three Years from now, Apple will introduce a radical new concept - the 2in1 Hybrid device!

Sad to say, but there's Apple with Jobs, and Apple without him. Apple seems to be on an innovative decline, while somewhat surprisingly Microsoft is the one taking big risks. Yes, Win 8 was bit of a failure, but kudos to them for tying something radical. And Win 10 seems to be getting that Vision right, as does the Surface and some of the OEM products.

Apple stood out early one in Jobs' 2nd term, because Microsoft was in a terminal loop and PC manufacturers were all about pumping out cheaper products at lower margins. Jobs lead the way by being the first to make PCs that people really wanted to buy for their attractive form and noticeable ease of use, while the others were just pushing ugly boxes with improved speeds and feeds. But today, quite a few vendors have that playbook.

Now, Apple is the one in the terminal loop of incremental innovations, pitching each iteration as the next big thing.

 

[sracer]

whatever, Apple will make a truck load of money. this makes the ipad pro not a joke, like it or hate it. besides, what of all those people who will buy it for pro uses (myself included)? i kinda take it personally at having my new kit being called a joke. what does that make me?

You take it personally? I guess you're one of those people who has their value as a person attached to their device.

I own plenty of things that many/most others ridicule as being a joke. The latest one is the Surface 2. I love it. It's more "pro" than the iPad Pro" and yet it is the laughing stock of the tech community. Doesn't bother me one bit.

 

[Capt T]

I agree, completely. Apple either completely dropped the ball on this one, or they cut corners mercilessly and ended up embarrassing themselves...

The iPad Pro would be a respectable product if it was the first Apple mobile device to run OS X on it. If they managed to re-create a touch Mac OS X desktop environment on the pro, THAT would be an outstanding product.

But right now, it's nothing special. If they did what I just mentioned, they could actually compete with the Surface. And these products could even be in their own little class of "mobile devices with desktop operating systems".

They'd be at the cutting edge of the increasing merge between mobile and desktop.

http://www.modbook.com

Been around for awhile...if it is that important to you and others there is that choice. Good luck.

 

[rowspaxe]

Three Years from now, Apple will introduce a radical new concept - the 2in1 Hybrid device!

Can I pre-order? A osx/ios hybrid would be "magical"

 

[Kal-037]

In fairness, the watch is kind of funny, especially after Cook called "lifechanging"

But Cook also said the Apple Watch is the most personal and intimate device... Meaning I could send my heartbeat to that one person I've seen with an Apple Watch... Isn't that the reason for the Watch; to get to know someone more "personally?" j/k lol.



Kal.

 

[Kal-037]

The funniest thing right now is that a year ago so many people wanted this device when it was just a rumor, and I had no interest at all... Now it's almost the opposite. Ha ha!... But seriously people, make up your minds. Geez. lol



Kal.

 

[engineerben]

Three Years from now, Apple will introduce a radical new concept - the 2in1 Hybrid device!

Sad to say, but there's Apple with Jobs, and Apple without him.

Right - the iPod years after the PMP300, the iPhone years after scads of smart phones from Blackberry and others, the iPad after multiple iterations of various tablet PCs...Apple under Steve Jobs almost never broached brand new product categories. Instead, they found new ways to do things and and did them in a way that people found valuable. Sometimes they stumble, and time will tell if the IPP is a hit or a miss. Right now, I'm thinking hit, but I've been wrong before.

As for the Mac Hybrid (or whatever they call it, if they call it) my guess is that they'll build one when they can successfully merge the direct touch and mouse interfaces in a way that doesn't compromise either the touch or mouse experience, and not before. And if they do this, my guess is that the general ideas therein embodied will be "borrowed" by lots of other manufacturers, and that there will be fanboys that shout that Apple has invented the hybrid computer (no) and others that say Apple is just copying what others have done years ago.

And on one level, it will be true. And it won't matter.

 

[Serban]

It think "Pro" is really just now short for "Pro-vide us more money"

it is called the iPAD PRO...not macbook pro not imac pro

so it is the most PRO tablet from ipad family, you have pencil and apple keyboard to go with it, display to take advantage of that pen, speakers real estate
Like it was with ipad air name...they name it because of the lightness and weight

I think a lot of people expect being a PRO ipad to be more than a macbook or mac pro
mac PRO is the PRO from mac family
ipad PRO is the pro from ipad family..
Its easy to understand Apple

 

[turbineseaplane]

it is called the iPAD PRO...not macbook pro not imac pro

so it is the most PRO tablet from ipad family, you have pencil and apple keyboard to go with it, display to take advantage of that pen, speakers real estate
Like it was with ipad air name...they name it because of the lightness and weight

I think a lot of people expect being a PRO ipad to be more than a macbook or mac pro
mac PRO is the PRO from mac family
ipad PRO is the pro from ipad family..
Its easy to understand Apple

I thought it was pretty obvious that I was making a joke.

I guess it wasn't obvious enough.

lol

 

[turbineseaplane]

it is called the iPAD PRO...not macbook pro not imac pro

so it is the most PRO tablet from ipad family, you have pencil and apple keyboard to go with it, display to take advantage of that pen, speakers real estate
Like it was with ipad air name...they name it because of the lightness and weight

I think a lot of people expect being a PRO ipad to be more than a macbook or mac pro
mac PRO is the PRO from mac family
ipad PRO is the pro from ipad family..
Its easy to understand Apple

The pencil & keyboard are separate and cost more and really shouldn't be included when talking about the merits of the iPP itself.

With regard to everything else....does "making it bigger" just make it "professional" to you somehow?

Is the iPad Mini the "iPad Amateur"?

 

[Serban]

yes mini is just for some casual use...
for professional...sorry but i can't work with so little real estate
ipad mini is like the new macbook intended for casual and not for real work
yes maybe you can do some work but its not ideal

 

[turbineseaplane]

yes mini is just for some casual use...
for professional...sorry but i can't work with so little real estate
ipad mini is like the new macbook intended for casual and not for real work
yes maybe you can do some work but its not ideal

Seems like the use of "professional" is pretty subjective.

The "work" being done and whether it can be accomplished on a certain device or screen size is 100% dependent upon the job in question.

For some people, the "professional" model (i.e. the one that helps them best get real work done) might be the smallest one that's on the go with them all the time, as one example.

 

[Serban]

so same work has the same level of how is easy to do it on an ipad mini with 7.9" and low specs VS 12.9" with highest specs?
OR
12" Macbook vs 27" iMac ?
keep dreaming...the real estate and better specs is nice to have and ease your work very much