Can iPad Pro replace laptop?

[Wildkraut]

So yes, when Tim says that the ipp could replace a laptop or computer for many many people, he's exactly right.

Yeah of course it "can" replace a computer for many many people, but the iPad Pro comes with nothing so special (except the Pencil), which makes it a so much better computer replacement than an the iPad 2,3,4,Air,Air2.

If a computer is replaceable for somebody, then he can replace it already with any iPad version since years. Except for the Pencil related stuff, then he needs the iPad Pro. I find its a great companion, no question. But I go so far and say, everybody who tries to "fully replace" a computer for serious productive work with the iPad (any version), will fail and run into task completion problems someday, and will have to find some strange awkward cloud workarounds, or simply accept the limitations.

Apple needs to fix iOS and add features that exist since years in many OS, before making such an bold statement, in context of "Pro" device. I know its all about marketing, but thats also fooling people.

It's one of the reasons why professionals are moving away. Once Apple was known for being THE Computer Manufacturer who creates Hardware and Software for Creative People, Creators, Crafters, etc. Now they are simply decorating their stuff with "Pro" without delivering Pro devices at all. They are slowly destroying their good reputation and becoming an normal simple mobile device manufacturer like Nokia, Palm, Motorola(big players that doesn't exist anymore).

iOS for iPad and iPhone is okay, but in context of "replace a computer" together with "Pro" this is gonna hit them back, if they don't change this quickly.

Common features like these are still missing for an "Pro" device:
Advanced printing dialogs.
Local file storage access by any App(Per App permissions)
Allow people to access external storages.
Create Xcode for iPad or at least build some App Dev Cloud Environment to compile/debug App on Apple servers.
Build in SMB/AFP to save dialog of any App, etc.
Add Automator

At the moment you can't even draw a nice piece or Art with ProCreate App and print it out to your Photo Printer. Selecting Glossy Photo Paper in Settings incl. 2400dpi Quality, borderless is not possible at all.

Look at todays iOS Apps like PDF-Printers, jailed File-Managers, Cloud File Sync Apps, etc.
These things are just workarounds(desperate help calls) to senseless iOS limitations.

They really have to change this, before making an such bold statement again.
As a companion the iPad is great, but its mainly still *just* a consuming device.

The competition is not sleeping.

 

[Night Spring]

Yeah of course it "can" replace a computer for many many people, but the iPad Pro comes with nothing so special (except the Pencil), which makes it a so much better computer replacement than an the iPad 2,3,4,Air,Air2.

That might be true if you are talking about the 9.7 version. But for me the extra screen space of the 12.9 makes a huge difference as far as doing work on it. Also, iOS 9 has many system level improvements that makes working on iPads easier, so we need to strike the original iPad off that list, because that only goes up to iOS 5.
[doublepost=1462034079][/doublepost]

Allow people to access external storages.

This is doable through third party apps like FileBrowser and GoodReader, though you'll probably say they are workarounds, and not good enough for how you want to work.

 

[sracer]

nothing so special? The 12.9 screen size is sufficient. Back when netbooks were the fad, there were models with 7" screens. These were full notebooks running desktop operating systems and yet for many they weren't able to replace traditional notebooks. Screen size is not irrelevant.

 

[Wildkraut]

nothing so special? The 12.9 screen size is sufficient. Back when netbooks were the fad, there were models with 7" screens. These were full notebooks running desktop operating systems and yet for many they weren't able to replace traditional notebooks. Screen size is not irrelevant.

Well, Netbooks failed not because their screen size, they failed because of their super slow and weak Intel Atom CPUs tech, built together with super slow spinning hard-disks, with low and slow 256MB/512MB/1GB RAM, but running an memory hungry dinosaur OS namely WinXP. Netbooks were Frankenstein devices, puzzled together of old recycled hardware technology, with old software on top.

Anyway the screen size matters somehow of course, but from 9.7" to 12.9" its nothing that enables you to archive or complete something that could't be done before with e.g. iPad 3/4/Air/Air2. It's more of a luxury add-on, comfort, wanna wanna thing. But YES the screen size wowed, I welcomed it a lot, specially together with the brightness, sharpness and vivid colours.

But if you really manage to replace a computer with the iPad Pro 12.9" or 9.7", you could already have done that with any prior iPad device (Except for Pencil tech). The screen size of 9.7" compared to 12.9" was no show stopper at all.

And if you didn't manage to "fully replace" a computer with iPad 4/Air/Air2, you won't manage to replace it with an iPad Pro of any size, too. If you force try it, you will fail at the long run, and even more if you collaborate with others.
The dead-end street situation will come for sure.

 

[Night Spring]

But if you really manage to replace a computer with the iPad Pro 12.9" or 9.7", you could already have done that with any prior iPad device (Except for Pencil tech). The screen size of 9.7" compared to 12.9" was no show stopper at all.

Could have done, certainly. Wanted to -- no. Actually, even an iPhone can replace your computer if you want to just consider the functionality, but not many people try to do that, because they know trying to write a long document or work with spreadsheets on a screen that small is insane. I've been doing bits and pieces of my work on 9.7 iPads going back to the first one, but I've never wanted to make them my full time work device. The 12.9 I actually prefer over my MBA.

 

[jeremiah256]

Yeah of course it "can" replace a computer for many many people, but the iPad Pro comes with nothing so special (except the Pencil), which makes it a so much better computer replacement than an the iPad 2,3,4,Air,Air2.

If a computer is replaceable for somebody, then he can replace it already with any iPad version since years. Except for the Pencil related stuff, then he needs the iPad Pro. I find its a great companion, no question. But I go so far and say, everybody who tries to "fully replace" a computer for serious productive work with the iPad (any version), will fail and run into task completion problems someday, and will have to find some strange awkward cloud workarounds, or simply accept the limitations.

Apple needs to fix iOS and add features that exist since years in many OS, before making such an bold statement, in context of "Pro" device. I know its all about marketing, but thats also fooling people.

It's one of the reasons why professionals are moving away. Once Apple was known for being THE Computer Manufacturer who creates Hardware and Software for Creative People, Creators, Crafters, etc. Now they are simply decorating their stuff with "Pro" without delivering Pro devices at all. They are slowly destroying their good reputation and becoming an normal simple mobile device manufacturer like Nokia, Palm, Motorola(big players that doesn't exist anymore).

iOS for iPad and iPhone is okay, but in context of "replace a computer" together with "Pro" this is gonna hit them back, if they don't change this quickly.

Common features like these are still missing for an "Pro" device:
Advanced printing dialogs.
Local file storage access by any App(Per App permissions)
Allow people to access external storages.
Create Xcode for iPad or at least build some App Dev Cloud Environment to compile/debug App on Apple servers.
Build in SMB/AFP to save dialog of any App, etc.
Add Automator

At the moment you can't even draw a nice piece or Art with ProCreate App and print it out to your Photo Printer. Selecting Glossy Photo Paper in Settings incl. 2400dpi Quality, borderless is not possible at all.

Look at todays iOS Apps like PDF-Printers, jailed File-Managers, Cloud File Sync Apps, etc.
These things are just workarounds(desperate help calls) to senseless iOS limitations.

They really have to change this, before making an such bold statement again.
As a companion the iPad is great, but its mainly still *just* a consuming device.

The competition is not sleeping.

But you are not describing a laptop replacement, you're talking about a straight up laptop. This is the mistake that Microsoft has made and Apple, via iOS, and Google, via ChromeOS, are trying to avoid.

Watch the keynote ad for the iPad Pro and listen to how they describe it. It is their vision of the future of computing. A future where they believe the default device will always have a fast connection to the cloud, where that cloud will do the heavy lifting, and the user will not worry about certain things, like a traditional filing system, because the cloud will be intelligent enough to find and manage it for you.

Are they there yet? No. But as iOS itself is not yet 10 years old, and looking at how far they've come so far, I have no doubt Apple, and the multitude of other companies attempting the same, will achieve their goal. And that on or before the 10 year anniversary of the iPad, you will be able to do everything you listed. Not on the iPad itself nor in the same way as you are used to. But the infrastructure will be available and integrated enough that those entering high school right now, will not have the same workflow you use, yet will be as, if not more, productive on a tablet device.

Lastly, but not least, professionals are not moving away from Apple. I started using OS X as soon as it was released, and I was laughed at and told to get a real computer. I had to keep a PC on hand in order to use Visual Studio and many other professional programs. I just returned from a working conference and yes, all the work computers were PCs. But, the vast majority of the personal devices people brought to do work were Macs and iPads. I had the only Surface device.

 

[Wildkraut]

But you are not describing a laptop replacement, you're talking about a straight up laptop. This is the mistake that Microsoft has made and Apple, via iOS, and Google, via ChromeOS, are trying to avoid.

Watch the keynote ad for the iPad Pro and listen to how they describe it. It is their vision of the future of computing. A future where they believe the default device will always have a fast connection to the cloud, where that cloud will do the heavy lifting, and the user will not worry about certain things, like a traditional filing system, because the cloud will be intelligent enough to find and manage it for you.

Are they there yet? No. But as iOS itself is not yet 10 years old, and looking at how far they've come so far, I have no doubt Apple, and the multitude of other companies attempting the same, will achieve their goal. And that on or before the 10 year anniversary of the iPad, you will be able to do everything you listed. Not on the iPad itself nor in the same way as you are used to. But the infrastructure will be available and integrated enough that those entering high school right now, will not have the same workflow you use, yet will be as, if not more, productive on a tablet device.

Lastly, but not least, professionals are not moving away from Apple. I started using OS X as soon as it was released, and I was laughed at and told to get a real computer. I had to keep a PC on hand in order to use Visual Studio and many other professional programs. I just returned from a working conference and yes, all the work computers were PCs. But, the vast majority of the personal devices people brought to do work were Macs and iPads. I had the only Surface device.

Yes, I watched all their keynotes, and the last ones reflects their somewhat unrealistic view of the future.
But it's also their vision of tying users to an ecosystem which you can't easily escape, since you don't own your data anymore. That would be like a Jackpot, or better, like owning a money printing machine.

This doesn't work well yet, and won't work. The success of this vision doesn't depend only of iOS, too.
Here, people struggle mainly with 6Mbit or 25Mbit DSL connections at home, few ones have 50Mbit, rare ones have 100Mbit. I have 25Mbit. Today 7.2Mbit/3G is still the most used mobile connection type world wide.
In other parts of the world the internet connection drops all the time, etc.

So, we won't see people batch processing/editing huge amount of data (e.g. 2-3 weeks of holiday raw photos and large videos) over the internet to the cloud in near future. In relation to this, data types are becoming larger and larger, this lessens the internet speed gain advantage you get in the future, and we will be more or less at same situation as of today.
Just with an higher connection speed, but on the other side larger data types.
Maybe in they get this working with iPad Pro version 30, because its not a 1:1 progress of data type size increment to internet speed increment.

In addition to this, i see more and more privacy concerns with this cloud hype and you don't own your data anymore.
Up to a level its totally fine, but cloud for all and all in the cloud, will fail for sure.
Anyway, this is a very complex topic to discuss quickly with just a few lines.

Regarding professionals moving away from Apple: With these kind of professionals I meant specially the Digital Artists for e.g. 3D, 2D Assets Creators. Video Editors, VFX, Colour Graders, Animators, etc. non Apple Device Game Developers. Watch few making off movies or games and see which kind of machines they run their applications.
Mainly Linux or Windows, but here and there you spot a mac.

It does not even worth to buy a MacPro anymore, its inner tech is old, speed wise surpassed already since years, non-upgradeable, too.

Apple is simply becoming more and more a mainstream consumer device manufacturer, and don't care much of professionals anymore.

Regarding Microsoft, they are doing impressive stuff lately, I'll keep watching.
Just catched me seriously browsing the surface site few days ago.

Greetings!

 

[Kal-037]

I did so with mine. In fact it's actually better than any computer i've owned, (better than my Mac, as it allows me to do so much more accurate art and is so much better to type on the screen than physical keyboards.) Yes I am one of those who has never been a fan of keyboards but since the first iPad i've been hooked... I love this thing. Apple has been sub-par and has had some pretty lame "innovations" (+ terrible QC issues) for the past couple years but this device alone has redeemed them, in my eyes.




Kal.

 

[jeremiah256]

@Wildkraut and others. I apologize in advance for a long post. Maybe I need to start a blog.

"Yes, I watched all their keynotes, and the last ones reflects their somewhat unrealistic view of the future.
But it's also their vision of tying users to an ecosystem which you can't easily escape, since you don't own your data anymore. That would be like a Jackpot, or better, like owning a money printing machine."

This is not just Apple's vision of the future. Facebook is trying to become the new AOL. The place you talk to you friends, store your photos and videos, read your news, even free internet (very restricted services) in certain markets. Amazon failed with it's mobile phone push (as did Facebook and Microsoft), but is succeeding with Alexia and other cloud initiatives. Microsoft's Office 365 service is an incredible deal. All cloud focused, all recognizing mobile (tablet and smartphone) accessibility is as, if not more, important than traditional computer formats.

"This doesn't work well yet, and won't work. The success of this vision doesn't depend only of iOS, too. Here, people struggle mainly with 6Mbit or 25Mbit DSL connections at home, few ones have 50Mbit, rare ones have 100Mbit. I have 25Mbit. Today 7.2Mbit/3G is still the most used mobile connection type world wide. In other parts of the world the internet connection drops all the time, etc."

I understand the limitations at this time, but Google and Facebook are pushing initiatives for ubiquitous and fast internet connections world wide, and Google in particular, with Google Fiber, is challenging the monopolies in the USA. Our limits in the west are not due to lack of technology, but lack of political will up until now. The third world is coming online and they are skipping the legacy technologies that we used.

"So, we won't see people batch processing/editing huge amount of data (e.g. 2-3 weeks of holiday raw photos and large videos) over the internet to the cloud in near future. In relation to this, data types are becoming larger and larger, this lessens the internet speed gain advantage you get in the future, and we will be more or less at same situation as of today.
Just with an higher connection speed, but on the other side larger data types.
Maybe in they get this working with iPad Pro version 30, because its not a 1:1 progress of data type size increment to internet speed increment."

You are making the assumption the average person needs much in terms of batch processing. You mention photography. Removing red eye, do some cropping, and picking the best photos is what the average person wants. Few are taking photos in Raw format. And guess what? Google does this for free, 24/7, with their Google Photos app. Not robust enough for you, but more than enough for Joe Smoe when he comes back from the family vacation with 100's of photos and just wants to post on Facebook. AI and the cloud will and does provide additional services (music discover, Amazon reminding me to re-order dog food, etc.). And those with the technical knowledge can already set up Instances/VMs for cheap, creating and destroying servers and services as they need.

"In addition to this, i see more and more privacy concerns with this cloud hype and you don't own your data anymore. Up to a level its totally fine, but cloud for all and all in the cloud, will fail for sure. Anyway, this is a very complex topic to discuss quickly with just a few lines."

Yes, it's very complex and you're right, privacy is becoming the issue all cloud providers will have to address, thanks in part to the FBI and their ham-fisted actions. But that path is clear: as long as only you own the keys and can move and control who (or what) can access your data, you are safe.

"Regarding professionals moving away from Apple: With these kind of professionals I meant specially the Digital Artists for e.g. 3D, 2D Assets Creators. Video Editors, VFX, Colour Graders, Animators, etc. non Apple Device Game Developers. Watch few making off movies or games and see which kind of machines they run their applications.
Mainly Linux or Windows, but here and there you spot a mac.

It does not even worth to buy a MacPro anymore, its inner tech is old, speed wise surpassed already since years, non-upgradeable, too."

I remember the uproar when Apple smurfed Final Cut. And agree, everyone has been wondering what Apple's game plan is with regard to Mac Pros and MBP's.

"Apple is simply becoming more and more a mainstream consumer device manufacturer, and don't care much of professionals anymore."

I'm not totally disagreeing with you, but I think it's more nuanced.

I recent watched a podcast with Bill Atkinson, a pioneer at Apple and creator of HyperCard. With regard to HyperCard, he said he was not trying to create an app for programmers, but an application for the common person to create as solution to any problem they wanted to solve, with minimum technical skill. I think Apple and others believe we are heading toward a HyperCard world. Our way of communicating and operating in this future world revolves around simple, easy to use mobile devices, leveraged by the cloud. You are not going to worry about saving. You are not going to care about where something is stored. And instead of buying a MBP because three times a year you need professional level processing, you will rely on the cloud and its ability to scale as needed. Hard core techie professionals may still need workstations, the majority will not.

"Regarding Microsoft, they are doing impressive stuff lately, I'll keep watching.
Just catched me seriously browsing the surface site few days ago."

I think Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft have great leaders in place right now. We are living in a golden age of innovation.

 

[Wildkraut]

@jeremiah256: I've probably need a blog, too. One more thing, these Google Facebook Networks won't work outside the USA, specially in the EU(where I am) where the infrastructure is already controlled and setup by other companies. They can't simply come here and setup an new technology infrastructure. Specially after the recent NSA scandals. We would never go with an nationwide American Network. Not even AOL managed this with all their Flyers/CDs/TV ads. EU is very different, law and mind wise.

But now we a high jacking the thread, better stop. heh

 

[lauramayer]

I

Yeah of course it "can" replace a computer for many many people, but the iPad Pro comes with nothing so special (except the Pencil), which makes it a so much better computer replacement than an the iPad 2,3,4,Air,Air2.

If a computer is replaceable for somebody, then he can replace it already with any iPad version since years. Except for the Pencil related stuff, then he needs the iPad Pro. I find its a great companion, no question. But I go so far and say, everybody who tries to "fully replace" a computer for serious productive work with the iPad (any version), will fail and run into task completion problems someday, and will have to find some strange awkward cloud workarounds, or simply accept the limitations.

Apple needs to fix iOS and add features that exist since years in many OS, before making such an bold statement, in context of "Pro" device. I know its all about marketing, but thats also fooling people.

It's one of the reasons why professionals are moving away. Once Apple was known for being THE Computer Manufacturer who creates Hardware and Software for Creative People, Creators, Crafters, etc. Now they are simply decorating their stuff with "Pro" without delivering Pro devices at all. They are slowly destroying their good reputation and becoming an normal simple mobile device manufacturer like Nokia, Palm, Motorola(big players that doesn't exist anymore).

iOS for iPad and iPhone is okay, but in context of "replace a computer" together with "Pro" this is gonna hit them back, if they don't change this quickly.

Common features like these are still missing for an "Pro" device:
Advanced printing dialogs.
Local file storage access by any App(Per App permissions)
Allow people to access external storages.
Create Xcode for iPad or at least build some App Dev Cloud Environment to compile/debug App on Apple servers.
Build in SMB/AFP to save dialog of any App, etc.
Add Automator

At the moment you can't even draw a nice piece or Art with ProCreate App and print it out to your Photo Printer. Selecting Glossy Photo Paper in Settings incl. 2400dpi Quality, borderless is not possible at all.

Look at todays iOS Apps like PDF-Printers, jailed File-Managers, Cloud File Sync Apps, etc.
These things are just workarounds(desperate help calls) to senseless iOS limitations.

They really have to change this, before making an such bold statement again.
As a companion the iPad is great, but its mainly still *just* a consuming device.

The competition is not sleeping.

You are right, but in my opinion the 12,9" iPad Pro have another feature you missed.

The form factor. It's easier for some people to "work" on a bigger screen. I bought 3 iPads over the years for my family. My old father love his iPad and don't use his iMac anymore, which (iMac) he use only 10 times per year. I even bought him an iPad mini for traveling. It's amazing how old people use iPads and have a connection to modern technology. His first iPad was the iPad 2 by the way. He uses his iPad very day. He is so sweet .

For me, I need my iMac 27" and MacBook Air for work to get things done, but I can work done on an iPad too. Not all work, but it's a good traveling device. It's a good device for work an private use.

 

[jlc1978]

Watch the keynote ad for the iPad Pro and listen to how they describe it. It is their vision of the future of computing. A future where they believe the default device will always have a fast connection to the cloud, where that cloud will do the heavy lifting, and the user will not worry about certain things, like a traditional filing system, because the cloud will be intelligent enough to find and manage it for you.

Interestingly enough that vision is a return to the old big iron / dumb terminal model that used prior to the PC. The devices have become more powerful and big iron right now is primarily a storage device rather than a computational device. The limit right now is the ability to maintain a high speed connection akin to the old wired connection to the mainframe. Until that last mile connection is fixed so that tablets can have a permanent high speed connection at a reasonable price cloud's potential will not be realized.

 

[Booji]

[doublepost=1462105040][/doublepost]

But you are not describing a laptop replacement, you're talking about a straight up laptop. This is the mistake that Microsoft has made and Apple, via iOS, and Google, via ChromeOS, are trying to avoid.

Watch the keynote ad for the iPad Pro and listen to how they describe it. It is their vision of the future of computing. A future where they believe the default device will always have a fast connection to the cloud, where that cloud will do the heavy lifting, and the user will not worry about certain things, like a traditional filing system, because the cloud will be intelligent enough to find and manage it for you.

Are they there yet? No. But as iOS itself is not yet 10 years old, and looking at how far they've come so far, I have no doubt Apple, and the multitude of other companies attempting the same, will achieve their goal. And that on or before the 10 year anniversary of the iPad, you will be able to do everything you listed. Not on the iPad itself nor in the same way as you are used to. But the infrastructure will be available and integrated enough that those entering high school right now, will not have the same workflow you use, yet will be as, if not more, productive on a tablet device.

Lastly, but not least, professionals are not moving away from Apple. I started using OS X as soon as it was released, and I was laughed at and told to get a real computer. I had to keep a PC on hand in order to use Visual Studio and many other professional programs. I just returned from a working conference and yes, all the work computers were PCs. But, the vast majority of the personal devices people brought to do work were Macs and iPads. I had the only Surface device.

Very good post. Yes, its the future. The thing about Apple, is that they are always there to build the future. Not everyone gets it at first, but with the way iOS has been evolving, you can see where Apple is going with it.

I'm a big believer in the model, and its happening so fast. I really want to get rid of my full blown laptop, but its still a few years off. In the mean time, I love being part of the evolution. I recently upgraded from an Air 2 to a Pro 9.7 to be part of this.

I'm trying step by step to try to do more on the iPad and I'm starting to get more comfortable with it. My other experiment is with Chromebooks. The funny thing is, my Asus Chromebook Flip cost a third of the price, and its the one device I'm more comfortable with leaving my main laptop (13" rMBP) at home, simply because my company uses Google services.

 

[sparksd]

Interestingly enough that vision is a return to the old big iron / dumb terminal model that used prior to the PC. The devices have become more powerful and big iron right now is primarily a storage device rather than a computational device. The limit right now is the ability to maintain a high speed connection akin to the old wired connection to the mainframe. Until that last mile connection is fixed so that tablets can have a permanent high speed connection at a reasonable price cloud's potential will not be realized.

A number of issues will need to be fully addressed before cloud services really penetrate the "average consumer" market:

• Availability
• Reliability
• Affordability
• Bandwidth
• Security
• Customer support
• Confidence in supplier stability
• Ease of use
• Multi-platform support

 

[sracer]

Well, Netbooks failed not because their screen size, they failed because of their super slow and weak Intel Atom CPUs tech, built together with super slow spinning hard-disks, with low and slow 256MB/512MB/1GB RAM, but running an memory hungry dinosaur OS namely WinXP. Netbooks were Frankenstein devices, puzzled together of old recycled hardware technology, with old software on top.

I mentioned netbooks because one of their limiting factors was about screen size. Your theory as to why netbooks failed is irrelevant to the point.

Anyway the screen size matters somehow of course, but from 9.7" to 12.9" its nothing that enables you to archive or complete something that could't be done before with e.g. iPad 3/4/Air/Air2. It's more of a luxury add-on, comfort, wanna wanna thing. But YES the screen size wowed, I welcomed it a lot, specially together with the brightness, sharpness and vivid colours.

If screen size is as irrelevant as you believe, then why aren't Chromebook makers creating 9" and 7" models? Chromebooks are about being inexpensive and portable. Both of those goals are served better with those smaller screen sizes.

 

[Wildkraut]

A number of issues will need to be fully addressed before cloud services really penetrate the "average consumer" market:

• Availability
• Reliability
• Affordability
• Bandwidth
• Security
• Customer support
• Confidence in supplier stability
• Ease of use
• Multi-platform support

Yes and the day they fully manage to address this, will be a very sad day.
This will lead to less people tweaking and hacking hardware or software, and also lead to less experts in the industry.
Thanks Raspberry Pi & Co. users, for taking the role of the crazy ones and keep pushing the human race forward!
This kinda reminds me of WALL-E.

 

[richpjr]

The thing about Apple, is that they are always there to build the future. Not everyone gets it at first, but with the way iOS has been evolving, you can see where Apple is going with it.

I'm not sure it's always a question of people getting it vs their early versions simply aren't ready for the masses, at times. But they do seem to have more vision than other companies.

 

[sracer]

I'm not sure it's always a question of people getting it vs their early versions simply aren't ready for the masses, at times. But they do seem to have more vision than other companies.

It's like people who watch a TV show and read all sorts of things into poor writing that makes the writers sound like geniuses, even though what actually appeared onscreen was pretty weak.

Up until splitwindow in iOS 9.x there was nothing in iOS up to that point to indicate that Apple had a long-term vision for tablets.

 

[richpjr]

It's like people who watch a TV show and read all sorts of things into poor writing that makes the writers sound like geniuses, even though what actually appeared onscreen was pretty weak.

Up until splitwindow in iOS 9.x there was nothing in iOS up to that point to indicate that Apple had a long-term vision for tablets.

That has a lot of promise. One thing that would really make the iPP much more usable to me would be allowing multiple instances of an app running - I regularly have multiple Word documents open and to have both side by side in a split screen would be incredibly useful to me.

 

[tonyp145]

I used to work in consumer market segmentation and I think some of that logic might be helpful here. Users range from casual users who do almost nothing "professional" on their home computers/tablets up through Mainstream Users (e.g., real estate agents), Power Users (graphic designers) and into Developers. If you think of it like a pyramid you can see the pyramid narrowing as you get to the Developers. Power Users and Developers really need a full OS with a full file system implementation and all of the tools you would expect to find on a well-specced MBP or iMac -- or in a corporate setting Windows PC. For these folks, the iPad is a nice content consuming device when they aren't working or they can use it to bang out an email or read/write Word and PDF documents. It's a wonderful personal device and a great supplement to their work computer, but not a replacement.

But as you travel towards the base of the pyramid (where all the, ahem, sales volume lives) there are lots of people who, armed with an iPP, an ASK and maybe a wireless printer could get a lot of work done all day long and not worry that the machine they're working on doesn't have a proper file system or more powerful apps. I think the Pro designation is a way of trying to convince more of these folks that they really don't need a full "PC" to do the things they want to do.

 

[Night Spring]

But as you travel towards the base of the pyramid (where all the, ahem, sales volume lives) there are lots of people who, armed with an iPP, an ASK and maybe a wireless printer could get a lot of work done all day long and not worry that the machine they're working on doesn't have a proper file system or more powerful apps. I think the Pro designation is a way of trying to convince more of these folks that they really don't need a full "PC" to do the things they want to do.

Yes, exactly. But some people toward the top of this user pyramid seem to think that only users at the top qualify as "professionals" and everything not meeting their needs are not "Pro" devices.

 

[jlc1978]

But as you travel towards the base of the pyramid (where all the, ahem, sales volume lives) there are lots of people who, armed with an iPP, an ASK and maybe a wireless printer could get a lot of work done all day long and not worry that the machine they're working on doesn't have a proper file system or more powerful apps. I think the Pro designation is a way of trying to convince more of these folks that they really don't need a full "PC" to do the things they want to do.

There is also a segment above them that is reasonably large as well; one that needs apps with the power and flexibility you get on a Mac, and the IPP is not there (yet). For example, while you can do basic presentations on the IPP the touch interface doesn't really lend itself to more advanced presentations since it isn't easy to cut and paste, insert video, or even have two presentations side by side and cut and paste between them. Similar issues exist with other Office products, such as the lack of mail merge or file linking. As long as the IPP apps are stripped down versions and the IPP lacks the ability to open multiple files from the same app thee will be a significant market segment that will find the IPP very useful but not yet a laptop replacement.

 

[Kal-037]

I have an iPad Pro... therefore I am a Pro. It's in the documentation when one opens up any Apple "Pro" device. I used to not be a Pro at race car driving, sky-diving, film-making, but since getting and iPad Pro... i'm now as good as the guys/gals who have been doing it for 10-15 years. I am entitled to being a Pro if Apple says it on the box. lol


Kallum.

 

[MCAsan]

Can an iPad Pro replace your Macbook? Can an iPad Pro become you only computer?

Those are two very different questions. As a photographer an iPad Pro can definitely replace a Macbook in the field for collecting and culling images. It is smaller, lighter, and cheaper than Macbook Pro units. But for the heavy lifting of editing photos and managing big image collections, I want the serious CPU, GPU, and 5K monitor of an iMac. For the same dollar you can get more in an iMac than a Macbook Pro that you need to hook to a 4K monitor.

So we are migrating to iPad Pro for field work and iMacs at home. Your milage may vary.

 

[tonyp145]

There is also a segment above them that is reasonably large as well; one that needs apps with the power and flexibility you get on a Mac, and the IPP is not there (yet).

True, but these are software limitations, the hardware is capable. The A9X chip is quite powerful and they have married it to a buss system that accesses storage the way a laptop accesses it's hard drive -- as opposed to previous iPads that used protocols comparable to accessing a memory stick (much slower). I have to believe Apple is working behind the scenes to develop apps that will take advantage of all this power (and encouraging other developers as well).

There's sort of a grand tradition in the Apple world (and really all tech) of effectively funding the future by buying on the potential of these machines as much as their present. I've read various threads where people are advising buyers to get the Air 2 over the 9.7 iPP because, unless you have a specific need for the pencil, you really won't see more than a subtle difference between them. That's probably true to a certain extent in May of 2016 but iOS 10 is coming soon and we may start to see these Pro iPads separate from the older models not longer after. Kinda fun to think about huh?