Apple Launching A9X-Based 12.9" iPad Pro in November for $799+

[doelcm82]

Apple is selling you what they think you need ... not what you actually want. They don't care and reading the forums it seems they can do no wrong.

Lately I've been thinking about Apple and a Lance Armstrong analogy -

"Armstrong’s greatest talent “has been his knack for granting his admirers permission to think highly of themselves for thinking highly of him.”

That's been a complaint that people have been making about Apple for as long as I can remember.

Apple curates its technology, not trying to please everyone. The real bend-gate is that Apple is only flexible to a point. Those who truly want something more customizable jump ship and go elsewhere (if there is something you really want, and there are enough people who also want it, then someone is bound to offer it).

I don't expect Apple to become Dell. That wouldn't work for them. I'm not sure it worked for Dell, come to think of it.

 

[Wiesenlooser]

Strangely enough iPad sales still exceed Windows Surface sales. Maybe some people want their tablet to be smaller, lighter and cheaper than what the two Surface models offer. And maybe at least Windows 8 (since that is all almost all sales decisions could so far have been based of) isn't quite as touch-friendly as iOS.

Microsoft isn't a hardware company like Apple is. They dont have the reputation to get the same sales. Specially since Windows 8 wasn't that great.

However the surface line is actually selling pretty well. Not iPad levels but good and increasingly so. And with windows 10 the surface pro 3 is actually a very capable machine , I've tried it and I was fairly impressed. Also, the kickstand/keyboard solution just leaps apples solution, that only has one angle.

In just a month or so microsoft will show the surface pro 4 family and well, lets say that if they improve on the surface pro 3 (which I don't doubt at all) it is hard to justify the ipad Pro if you want to do some serious work with your tablet.

 

[MacBH928]

no upgrade whatsoever to the flagship iPad?

wow ... I feel like a real idiot waiting a full year for the next upgrade...

 

[bommai]

Does the ad show someone watching a widescreen movie in full screen with cropping on the iPad. Oh the horror!

 

[cult hero]

Of course it has a filesystem, what - I guess - you're looking for is something like a Finder app to browse the contents of it, right? Apple has long gone out of its way to try to simplify file usage, and that's never going to change in iOS.

It's going to have to at some point IF they plan on doing some sort of fusion. The fact of the matter is this: developers still drive this business and while I like my iDevices just fine, they are in no way approaching being able to replace a Mac for development. Not even close. These devices are great for content consumption and the creation of media, but for dealing with code? Nope. Storage is also an issue.

Combined with something like a Textblade, I'd love to be able to make my phone my primary workstation, although I suspect that's a number of years away.

 

[twilo]

Except windows 8 and 10 is also designed for touch as well..... and runs perfectly great with touch.

8.1 > 10 when it comes to touch, but either way both are better than any other x86 OS when it comes to touch UX.

 

[cult hero]

Seriously, what you gonna do with all this A9X power when you're limited to iOS?

Game. Work with photos, sound, video, etc. You know, all the stuff that actually uses that power.

 

[Renzatic]

Game. Work with photos, sound, video, etc. You know, all the stuff that actually uses that power.

Speaking of power, how much RAM does the iPad Pro have?

 

[driceman]

Does this mean the iPad Airs will play second-fiddle to the iPad Pros from now on? Kind of a shame if they don't get as good a processor as the iPhones going forward.

 

[cult hero]

#98
So I buy a $1079 iPad Pro + $69 Pencil thing + $179 cover with keyboard and have $1350 (approx) invested in a device that can;t do what an OS X laptop can do....

And this is good WHY?


Because it makes you *look* like a pro, especially in bling bling.

Or you like the input methods, it suits your needs and is better than a laptop for what you do. The Adobe apps looked impressive and for someone that is potentially an MS Office jockey, great. Work with a stylus? I dunno.

This is a different device. It's not replacing my MBP nor will it be for some time (if ever).

If the price / feature set don't work for you, don't buy it. However, there is a difference between a product you don't need / want and a bad product.

 

[wilhoitm]

So I buy a $1079 iPad Pro + $69 Pencil thing + $179 cover with keyboard and have $1350 (approx) invested in a device that can;t do what an OS X laptop can do....

And this is good WHY?

Because thinks... or they really are going to kill laptops, this is just a hint at the first stab of the dagger! I would be buying the iPad Pro if it also had 3D touch but it doesn't look like it does?

 

[cult hero]

Speaking of power, how much RAM does the iPad Pro have?

Undisclosed currently. Probably 2GB.

 

[farmboy]

Hehe, quite funny to read this comic strip from 2012 today:

FYI, Microsoft had to license the iPad cover patents to make their "innovative" keyboard cover. It's still an Apple invention. Even Logitech would cry foul if you're claiming it's a Microsoft invention, as they marketed an iPad keyboard cover for about five years now.

 

[twilo]

In just a month or so microsoft will show the surface pro 4 family and well, lets say that if they improve on the surface pro 3 (which I don't doubt at all) it is hard to justify the ipad Pro if you want to do some serious work with your tablet.

The only reason you would say that is because of the high price for the ipad pro.. I am really surprised that Apple are going for such a large profit margin, but they can afford to so why not.

Intel's core processors are much more expensive than what Apple is using for the ipad pro, and yet the prices between the SP3 and the ipp are very similar.

If the IPP was in the $500-600 range the comp to the Surface Pro line will be much harder to make.

 

[Pilgrim1099]

Wacom is doomed...

Keep smoking the weed. Professional creatives out there still use Wacom. Even me.

Wacom is not doomed.

It's Tim Cook that is.

 

[Pilgrim1099]

Speaking of power, how much RAM does the iPad Pro have?

That's the problem. The apple site doesn't mention it whereas Surface Pro has about at least 4 GB of RAM to start with on top of the existing internal storage.

I expected better out of iPad Pro but they screwed up royally by not adding memory expandability and OS X compatibility to run full desktop class applications on the go.

Huge mistake on their part. Microsoft got it right.

 

[manu chao]

What is frustrating is that at every Apple keynote / Launch we are told about even faster CPU's, faster GPU's, e.g. "desktop class CPU" and "Console class graphics" and then they use a mobile OS? Wouldn't the Pro be ripe for a full OS, since it is described as being able to doing things a desktop or notebook cannot do [be interested what exactly those things might be?]

No, a device that is mainly used via its touch-screen would be useless with OS X. The question is not whether the iPad Pro should run OS X but whether OS X should be morphed into a version that can be operated fully by touch (which is a huge endeavour, it took Microsoft many years and it still isn't nearly fully there) or be able to run a fully-touch based OS on top (or as dual boot).

This could be compared to the command line and a GUI/mouse based interface. The original Mac OS in 1984 was such a complete move, an OS that could be fully operated without having to resort to the command line. Now, we've learned that offering a command line in addition to a mouse-driven GUI can be done with no real downside (see OS X), the only downside being that some 'extreme' troubleshooting is only possible via the command line.

Akin to that, a touch-based OS running on top of a mouse-based OS is certainly an interesting option but unless that mouse-based OS would only be needed in very rare situations (as the command line is only needed in very rare situations but for some tasks it adds a lot of productivity and features), you either end up more with a dual-use device that still has the problems of syncing your data as you have today when using both a tablet and laptop (or any computer) for your work or with a device that feels compromised in touch mode.

 

[Wiesenlooser]

The only reason you would say that is because of the high price for the ipad pro.. I am really surprised that Apple are going for such a large profit margin, but they can afford to so why not.

Intel's core processors are much more expensive than what Apple is using for the ipad pro, and yet the prices between the SP3 and the ipp are very similar.

If the IPP was in the $500-600 range the comp to the Surface Pro line will be much harder to make.

Sure. I dont think the iPad Pro in and of itself is a bad product. I just think compared to the surface pro line it is really expensive for what you pay for. Unless you are really allergic to windows (and again even myself as a longtime mac user have to say it isn't half bad) and a big iOS fan ofcourse.

Also, if this is really meant for productivity I think the surface pro line has an advantage because it can run all windows programs. There is no such thing as a full grown photoshop for iOS.

 

[Apples n' Stone]

The woman stated "With the increased memory". 3GB/4GB RAM confirmed?

 

[Analog Kid]

I'd been on the fence about the iPad pro, but between the $1000 cost and the extra weight, I don't think it's what I'm looking for. iPad Air still seems like the sweet spot for me.

I wonder if the iPad Pro can ever wind up comfortable enough to hand hold for long periods of time. There's only so light you can make all that glass, and even at the same weight there's leverage issues. iPad Pro seems more like a tabletop device.

 

[jamespb78]

The charging method for the Pencil seems a bit ridiculous.

Yeh, I can see how plugging the pencil in for 15 seconds would be a REAL bummer.

 

[Renzatic]

That's the problem. The apple site doesn't mention it whereas Surface Pro has about at least 4 GB of RAM to start with on top of the existing internal storage.

I expected better out of iPad Pro but they screwed up royally by not adding memory expandability and OS X compatibility to run full desktop class applications on the go.

Huge mistake on their part. Microsoft got it right.

Yeah, you need at least 4GB ram to do decent photo editing, and at least 8GB for video. 2GB just isn't enough for a "pro" machine.

Now I do think there's a lot to like about the iPP, but compared to the SP line, it's more an accessory meant to be paired alongside a more powerful computer than something that can stand alone on its own.

 

[Pilgrim1099]

Wacom pens dont need batteries though which is a massive advantage compared to the competition.

I noticed a possible palm rejection on the keynote video but it's contradictory. They never mentioned it was.

Palm rejection is a huge bonus to have and Microsoft nailed it.

Plus, the Apple Pencil doesn't appear to have any information on pressure sensitivity levels which is important. I know that my Wacom has over 2,000 levels which is great enough to get professional results out of it.

I expected better out of the iPad Pro.

 

[nutjob]

"As soon as you have a stylus, you're dead."

- Steve Jobs

 

[Renzatic]

FYI, Microsoft had to license the iPad cover patents to make their "innovative" keyboard cover. It's still an Apple invention. Even Logitech would cry foul if you're claiming it's a Microsoft invention, as they marketed an iPad keyboard cover for about five years now.

You're going to have to back this up with some links, since Apple hasn't made anything like the Surface keyboard up til now.

The Smart Cover isn't even remotely similar, unless you consider a cover flap that attaches via magnet to be in roughly the same ballpark.