Apple Launches New 9.7-Inch iPad With Apple Pencil Support, $299 for Schools and $329 for Consumers

[2010mini]

No graphic designer would ever, ever use an iPad

This is because you know every graphic designer on the planet? The current limitation on the iPad has to do with Adobe, not the iPad itself. But that is changing. Oh there are some Graphic Designers who use the iPad as PART of their tools.

 

[definitive]

Hmm...

That said, why did they bother releasing the previous $329 iPad with no Pencil support, a relatively short while ago, if they were going to go this direction anyway?

Because it's Apple, and they were "brave", and people would buy it no matter what.

This is because you know every graphic designer on the planet? The current limitation on the iPad has to do with Adobe, not the iPad itself. But that is changing. Oh there are some Graphic Designers who use the iPad as PART of their tools.

Yes, it can be used as PART of the tools, but not as the main tool, and that is the issue which several people in this thread have brought up.

 

[dabocx]

Pricing is still a bit off the mark for most schools. I am a K12 Sysadmin and we are getting Dell Chromebooks with a 4-year warranty and white-glove service (setup, unbox, delivery, inventory) with the Google license for 276. With the volume that schools buy that price difference adds up.

 

[Eightarmedpet]

No graphic designer would ever, ever use an iPad

Yes they would. Perfect for quick wires and scamps.

 

[eyeseeyou]

Hmm...

Two thoughts, mostly related:

• I'm a huge fan of using the apple pencil for notes. This is great that the apple pencil is basically supported across the line (sorry iPad mini). I know lots of people who saw me use the iPad + pencil this way, wished they could have the same setup, but gave up the idea when they realized it meant buying the expensive iPad Pro plus a $100 stylus. A few years out, all people who already have recent iPads would need is the $100 pencil now to get on board- still expensive, but not unreachable.
• That said, why did they bother releasing the previous $329 iPad with no Pencil support, a relatively short while ago, if they were going to go this direction anyway?

Good points you’ve brought up.

Imo, although the Apple Pencil is great for taking notes, I feel that what separates it from other stylus’ isn’t that it’s compatible with this iPad but that it is pressure sensitive functionality which really is only useful in illustration applications. That being said you can take notes with much lower cost stylus’ on any iPad.

Regarding the 2017 $329 iPad, I’d assume these can be found in the near future at a discounted price at which point, unless you really really need an Apple Pencil, seems like the better option.

 

[LotusLord]

Pricing is still a bit off the mark for most schools. I am a K12 Sysadmin and we are getting Dell Chromebooks with a 4-year warranty and white-glove service (setup, unbox, delivery, inventory) with the Google license for 276. With the volume that schools buy that price difference adds up.

I was thinking this the whole time. While I'm not in education the pricing on Chromebooks and the educational focused software on them seems to make them an attractive package. That said I'm sure there are some school districts that this will work for.

 

[RedDeliciousPinkLady]

Great question..
The pencil has to be one of the more overpriced accessories they sell

Overpriced yes, but I've dropped this thing from spine-tingling heights at least once or twice a month and two years and two months later i've only ever had to change a tip out once. Definitely the most durable apple product I've ever encountered. only a backend eraser or complete functionality failure would get me to upgrade to anything new.

 

[UnusedLoginID]

New iPad is at $309 on the Education site. Somebody did not read the memo from Tim Cook this morning they must have changed their mind last minute.
AppleCare is $69, wasn’t it $99 before?

 

[Black Tiger]

Probably an opportunity for Apple to produce an Apple branded Bluetooth keyboard which will probably have media keys unlike the ASK just to annoy everyone lol.

They already make such a keyboard. Magic keyboard. And it’s definitely better than the “Smart” Keyboard with its missing function keys.

 

[garylapointe]

One of the main applications aimed at the new iPad is augmented reality, fueled by the device's Retina display, powerful chip, enhanced cameras, and advanced sensors with a gyroscope and accelerometer. The tablet was built for mobility and durability for students, sporting an aluminum unibody construction.

Is this body significantly different than the (previous) regular iPad body?

 

[Naraxus]

And Apple falls further and further behind in education....

 

[eyeseeyou]

They already make such a keyboard. Magic keyboard. And it’s definitely better than the “Smart” Keyboard with its missing function keys.

I was envisioning an iPad /tablet specific Bluetooth keyboard.

The magic keyboard is nice but is made for desktops.

 

[klover]

Definitely will buy if it's a laminated display (a la Air 2 and Pros). Anyone know if this is the case?
Would be odd to use pencil on a gapped display.

 

[FS1819]

Makes me wonder what useful new function (save Face ID) Apple will add to this year's iPad Pro for differentiation

 

[Solver]

Great question..
The pencil has to be one of the more overpriced accessories they sell

If you can’t afford a pencil you can always buy a crayon.

 

[Altis]

To retain the $329.00 price point the 2017 9.7 iPad did, I highly doubt this new 9.7 iPad with Apple Pencil support has the laminate display Included.

The non-laminated display would make using the pencil feel quite unrefined due to the large gap between the glass and the display, which as you say is likely the case.

 

[zachcsnyder]

if it turns out to have a laminated display, which i highly doubt especially looking at the angled press shot, this could be a pretty killer value device for reading and watching video. maybe next year

 

[garylapointe]

New iPad is at $309 on the Education site. Somebody did not read the memo from Tim Cook this morning they must have changed their mind last minute.

School price? Or educational discount price?

 

[apolloa]

Hahahaha I see Apples profiteering in full effect still then...
Seriously should of been around 200 or even 250 for schools.

 

[Mac Tyson]

Disappointing.

$249 for schools
$299 for consumers
$49 Apple pencil

Should've been the price points.

There's no smart connector for the ASK.

 

[jerryk]

Yeah, I changed jobs recently and went from a 2017 27" 5K iMac that was pretty well decked out to a 2015 MacBook Pro 15". I swear I'm not anywhere near as productive now. Half the RAM, half the SSD speed, and half the screen real-estate. And the external display is only a 1080p crappy Dell so I never use it. But hey, a 25% raise is a 25% raise. I'm half considering just buying an iMac for myself to use at work because I'd still come out ahead. I think they're on a four year computer upgrade cycle though, so I should be eligible to upgrade in autumn 2019. Sigh…

Could have been worse. They could have stuck you with a 2016/2017 15 MBP" with a keyboard that might malfunction at any moment.

 

[HugoCatarino]

It supports Apple Pay but has no NFC with reader mode.

I thought that starting form now Apple would start rolling out NFC with reader mode support, but apparently not...

 

[jerryk]

Google is have a laugh over Apple attempt to unseat Chrome in schools.

 

[SoN1NjA]

including the A10 Fusion actually surprised me, I thought it would retain the A9 at a lower price point.

That would equate to the new iPad's only change being Pencil support

 

[radus]

What about Pencil-Support for annotations directly in the ebooks.app ?