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

[rowspaxe]

Might software developers be in the process of taking advantage of the larger screen, power and stylus to bring much more powerful and capable 'professional' apps to the Pro?

Such as...? I think video and 3d apps are constricted due to lack of mouse control, off board storage or a browsable file tree.

The device hasn't even hit the market yet. It's way too early to judge exactly what it is, what it's truly intended for and what it will become.

This is what so many said about the apple watch. Developers cannot develop away product limitations. I like the ipad pro but i see it--for productivity--mostly as a graphics tablet. No doubt there will also be demand for it as a consumption device as well--i'm talking to you, immersive gamers!

 

[engineerben]

Is there really a non design/art "pro" use for the ipad pro? If the pencil is exceptional--it may be the best written notes device? Absent any graphic application, I am not sure who needs/wants this for productivity.

Excellent question.

What I'd like to be able to do is keep all my handwritten notes in one place. I'm terrible about sketching something on paper and then losing the paper. This would be a dynamite way to maintain notes.

A second use case would be sketching on the Pro (or Air, if they eventually support the Pencil on the Air) and projecting the sketch in a meeting. I've tried this on my iPad 2 (not Air 2, mind you) but the results are poor. I'd like to sketch ideas and then send the sketch to the participants as a PDF. The Pro (and the Air, and, for that matter, the Microsoft products) can do this.

Everything else - the faster CPU, the keyboard cover, the (still limited) multitasking - is just gravy.

 

[Cole Slaw]

Well the 32/128 storage option is the familiar old Apple up-sell tactic.
Surprised they didn't go with their old time favourite storage option, 16 gigs, instead of 32.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Well the 32/128 storage option is the familiar old Apple up-sell tactic.
Surprised they didn't go with their old time favourite storage option, 16 gigs, instead of 32.

Also super frustrating that now the cell option is only on the absolute most expensive model. Just pure pure gouging, even for Apple. :-(

 

[Krevnik]

Is there really a non design/art "pro" use for the ipad pro? If the pencil is exceptional--it may be the best written notes device? Absent any graphic application, I am not sure who needs/wants this for productivity.

Paper is quickly becoming one of my favorite note-taking apps, even though it really isn't focused on it. I tend to put all notes for a project into a collection, and then export it to PDF when the project is done. So I have an archive of all the notes, but I can "clean house" every so often as well. I do a lot of hand-writing and sketching while thinking through things, so having some things on an iPad, and some on paper is not ideal. Combine Paper and Pencil, and it should get pretty interesting.

Also, I'm looking at the Pro for situations like board game nights. I run some games, and having notes / PDFs for the game, plus a place to put notes (split screen) is very tempting. PDFs get a little too small if my Air isn't in portrait for what I'm using, so being able to get that amount of space in split view is helpful.

The screen size is getting into small laptop territory, but has one advantage: portrait orientation for writing. My current favorite app for writing is Ulysses, and the iPad app is pretty much what I'd call full-featured for this. And being able to use a portrait-orientation app would have some benefits there in terms of how much text you can have on screen at once.

One thing that I can think of that would be different though is that I tend to use my Air in landscape mostly, and sometimes in portrait when doing long-form reading. The Pro is something I'd likely use more in portrait and occasionally in landscape. Something that both the Surface Pro and Surface Book don't really address that well.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Is there really a non design/art "pro" use for the ipad pro? If the pencil is exceptional--it may be the best written notes device? Absent any graphic application, I am not sure who needs/wants this for productivity.

Anything you enjoy doing with an iPad now is possibly even better on the larger screen. I enjoy using my Air 2 as an additional display of NFL/NCAAF games, as well as my morning email scan/reply device.

Lots and lots of uses beyond design/art pro stuff - It will also be nice to have it larger for audio creation apps.

Oh - And emulators (either jailbroken or side loaded officially) will be even more glorious as the IPP will now basically the same screen size of an actual TV that might have been used around NES/SNES/GENS era.

 

[Serban]

Ipad pro has more accesories more specs more real estate, its the pro from ipad family

 

[s2mikey]

Also super frustrating that now the cell option is only on the absolute most expensive model. Just pure pure gouging, even for Apple. :-(

That alone was a deal killer for me, even though there are other things that are keeping from buying one. Just can't do it. Too many monster(meaning powerful, elegant) laptops in that price range.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Ipad pro has more accesories more specs more real estate, its the pro from ipad family

I think we got it Serban.

You buy into Apple's "Pro" branding whereas I'm talking about actual uses of the devices, for which "Pro" can be any model, just depending on who's using it and how.

Moving on...

 

[maxsix]

For the portability and ease of use I have an iPad mini 4. It's nice but a bit small, the remedy for me is my new iPad Air 2.

That's the size limit when considering taking it with me. Again, just personal preference because I have my new 12" MacBook which fulfills my preference of form factors. I use a keyboard a lot. When I had iPads 2 and 3 I tried four difference accessory keyboards. They were just not to my liking, and I bought the best. But I'm so used to the wonderful keyboards on all Apple laptops, that my desire for tablet a few inches bigger than the iPad Pro is non existent.

Now to be somewhat contradictory, I'm planning to buy the new spacious Galaxy View Tablet. A very nice 18.4" it will stay at home, but be just fantastic for Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime the three services I use. When you see how nice the stand is and the design you'll see why it appeals.

http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/28/samsung-galaxy-view-official/

 

[XTheLancerX]

It really should have had some sort of version of OS X with a touch-oriented UI. Mac App Store and everything. Comes with the stylus, and then maybe the keyboard could still be a separate purchase but it has a trackpad. When the keyboard is being used, the device switches to regular OS X UI, like the tablet mode thing with Windows 10.

iPad Pro should have been a Surface competitor, but this is barely even a regular iPad competitor. Who wants to spend $800 on something that is barely even more capable than a $500 product? And then have $350 of accessories to add if you want the full pro features?

Try again, Apple. This product is a fail.

 

[engineerben]

For the portability and ease of use I have an iPad mini 4. It's nice but a bit small, the remedy for me is my new iPad Air 2.

That's the size limit when considering taking it with me. Again, just personal preference because I have my new 12" MacBook which fulfills my preference of form factors. I use a keyboard a lot. When I had iPads 2 and 3 I tried four difference accessory keyboards. They were just not to my liking, and I bought the best. But I'm so used to the wonderful keyboards on all Apple laptops, that my desire for tablet a few inches bigger than the iPad Pro is non existent.

Now to be somewhat contradictory, I'm planning to buy the new spacious Galaxy View Tablet. A very nice 18.4" it will stay at home, but be just fantastic for Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime the three services I use. When you see how nice the stand is and the design you'll see why it appeals.

http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/28/samsung-galaxy-view-official/

Not contradictory at all - it'd be a terrific device to use for those purposes! Enjoy!

 

[masands]

I don't think the hardware is a joke. In fact like all Apple products they have done a pretty good job with the hardware. However, the software is a joke. They seriously need to improve iOS for it to be considered a "Pro" OS.

It won't take much. It needs basically things like a system wide file system, Safari download manager and some kind of background processing for apps.

In fact it's time the iPhone and iPad got their own separate OS's. Just like we have WatchOS and tvOS, we need a iPhoneOS (simple iOS like it is now) and a iPadOS (works more like MacOS).

 

[Skylitfly]

So, while I appreciate that the iPad Pro is a larger tablet with a lot more power. What is it going to run that makes it "Pro"? It will still be running apps from the App Store (a lot of these apps still don't take advantage of the potential of the iPad Air 2.) so I really don't understand how it is "Pro" in any way, shape or form?

Most other tablet in the class of the iPad Pro run desktop OS and desktop applications. And have great storage capacities.

Also the fact that apple decide to make a 32GB and 128GB is just a slap to the consumer. Why no 64GB? 32GB is barely enough nowadays yet you either have to get by with 32GB or pay big bucks for the 128GB.

This product to me (purely opinion) seems like a money grabbing gimmick.

Well... It really depends. App store offers many apps suitable for professional usage. And iPad Pro is just a bigger canvas to utilize them. Multitasking is arguably way better experience on iPad Pro than any other iPad. It's way more powerful than any other iPad making it possible to create more demanding apps in the future. Even thought Air 2 isn't exactly slow, the iPad Pro takes it to an another level in terms of pure tablet device.

It will be used by Pros in professional environments. I guarantee it. Therefore I think naming it the iPad Pro is not a joke at all. It's reality.

 

[Undo]

Is there really a non design/art "pro" use for the ipad pro? If the pencil is exceptional--it may be the best written notes device? Absent any graphic application, I am not sure who needs/wants this for productivity.

I think I understand what you mean, and I should have been more clear. In my mind, being more productive involves more than being better at producing content on a device. It also involves using a device to perform better at providing both goods and services in other areas that the device supports.

With that in mind, I can imagine doctors using an iPad Pro + Pencil instead of a clipboard + pen. The Pro can be preloaded with reference material and patient records, and with 3D models of the human body to help the doctor explain diagnoses and treatments, as demonstrated during the iPP keynote announcement.

I can imagine corresponding uses for scientists, engineers, property developers, interior designers, field service techs, salespeople, recording artists, students, etc. as they meet with prospects, clients, partners, and leaders in all sorts of non-desktop settings for idea/sales pitching, brainstorming, problem-solving, peer review, tutoring, etc.

I think most people who type are more productive on a physical keyboard, which is why Apple offers the Smart Keyboard. And even without the Pencil and Keyboard, a “pro” might find the bigger touch screen is more helpful in demonstrations, points of sale, and any of the other uses cases I mentioned.

I believe there is a lot of potential for “pro” uses of the iPP beyond graphic/art creation (if I understand you correctly).

 

[Macalway]

if i'm not wrong, one important aspect of this new larger design is the 'dual iPad mode' (which is sort of what it really is, rather than multitasking)

I'm rather curious how this will go down. Will I want to use it primarily like this when not consuming media content? Or even when consuming it?. How will it be used?

Interesting stuff.

Now it's possible this is another gimmick, and doesn't work right, etc.

We shall see.

 

[sjleworthy]

if all apps jump on board it'll be great, not just a select few.

 

[Macalway]

if all apps jump on board it'll be great, not just a select few.

Uh, I think all apps work this way. It's not multitasking, but dual mode. No extra code or anything. That's the point.
(I may be wrong though. Hope not)

Also, IF this is the case, it certainly will highlight inter-app communications, which is somewhat laking (or cumbersome) presently.

As a matter of fact (hope i'm not getting ahead of myself here ), this new model is going to bring out a number of deficiencies in iOS, as it's now on a desktop level, with desktop prices.

 

[Serban]

A preproduction unit from apple come to our office...the screen is nice, the hardware bla bla there are nice as you expect...BUT THE SPEAKERS POWER ??? wtf
i think Beats come alone here from hardware standpoint like the macbook
i think beats helped apple to achieve that sound power for that little macbook and now for this ipad...
i have a libratone lounge..is almost near that sound quality and power...

 

[JPIndustrie]

A preproduction unit from apple come to our office...the screen is nice, the hardware bla bla there are nice as you expect...BUT THE SPEAKERS POWER ??? wtf
i think Beats come alone here from hardware standpoint like the macbook
i think beats helped apple to achieve that sound power for that little macbook and now for this ipad...
i have a libratone lounge..is almost near that sound quality and power...

sounds like exactly what I thought -

Apple doubling down, correcting a lot of complaints and things that could be improved upon. I can't wait for mine and to do real work on it.

 

[Badrottie]

It is not a joke because you might know that IPad is not selling very well Apple is not ready to let it dies yet.

 

[Kal-037]

It's not a joke unless it has a punchline. I see no punchline.

 

[OwenMeasures]

So, while I appreciate that the iPad Pro is a larger tablet with a lot more power. What is it going to run that makes it "Pro"? It will still be running apps from the App Store (a lot of these apps still don't take advantage of the potential of the iPad Air 2.) so I really don't understand how it is "Pro" in any way, shape or form?

Most other tablet in the class of the iPad Pro run desktop OS and desktop applications. And have great storage capacities.

Also the fact that apple decide to make a 32GB and 128GB is just a slap to the consumer. Why no 64GB? 32GB is barely enough nowadays yet you either have to get by with 32GB or pay big bucks for the 128GB.

This product to me (purely opinion) seems like a money grabbing gimmick.

Personally I think the iPad Pro is also a money grabbing exercise from Apple, I am sitting here waiting for something that will really make me want sell my rMBP.

 

[s15119]

So, while I appreciate that the iPad Pro is a larger tablet with a lot more power. What is it going to run that makes it "Pro"? It will still be running apps from the App Store (a lot of these apps still don't take advantage of the potential of the iPad Air 2.) so I really don't understand how it is "Pro" in any way, shape or form?

Most other tablet in the class of the iPad Pro run desktop OS and desktop applications. And have great storage capacities.

Also the fact that apple decide to make a 32GB and 128GB is just a slap to the consumer. Why no 64GB? 32GB is barely enough nowadays yet you either have to get by with 32GB or pay big bucks for the 128GB.

This product to me (purely opinion) seems like a money grabbing gimmick.

yes, you're the only one.

 

[Night Spring]

Personally I think the iPad Pro is also a money grabbing exercise from Apple, I am sitting here waiting for something that will really make me want sell my rMBP.

Never did buy a rMBP -- beautiful screen, but heavier than I wanted. I can say, however, that my MacBook Air is sitting in my closet collecting dust since I got the 12.9 iPad Pro. I still have my iMac which I use a few times a week, mostly for file management tasks. For everything else, I use my iPad Pro.