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iPad Pro First day - Thoughts
- Thread starter harpyeagle
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This is truly a great iPad... my kids have now named it Dino Pad
So I was able to see this in person. At first I thought it was comical big. I can't saying "omg, wow...haha". But as i started to use it, here are my observations:
The 8th observation is the pencil and I put it down here because it needs more description. The short version is, its better than the surface pro. How do I know this? Because 1) I own a surface pro 3 and used the new pens for it - have been using the surface pro for about 18 months. 2) After using the Ipad Pro, I immediately when across the shopping mall hallway to find the Microsoft store and tried every single tablet. Then ran back to Apple store to compare.
Here are my observations about the pencil:
I just want to say, I hated this idea from the beginning and was so against it when they announced it but now I'm sold. I still think its ridiculously big. I'm not sold on the Ipad Pro more than I'm sold on that Pencil. I want it.
- I liked the weight distribution. It was heavy but was actually done well.
- I liked landscape mode WAYYYYY Better than portrait. Maybe it was the weight distribution but I felt really uncomfortable reading webpages in full screen portrait. I actually enjoyed it more in landscape. It didn't really help that in portrait mode, it didn't really take advantage of the bigger real estate (more margins on the side depending on the website). Landscape more didn't have this problem.
- The screen was so big but it was extremely immersive, i felt like i got sucked in.
- The speakers sound fuller but not louder than I expected - I was hoping it was louder to replace some bluetooth speakers for the shower, nevermind about that.
- I'm not a big fan of the multitask. I have seen it work, it does it job but I feel like the surface pro's version is much better. It works to a certain extent.
- The keyboard was meh. I mean it works but I was only able to type 55WPM on typeracer when i tried. On the new surface pro keyboard, i was able to get 80 without trying and even that is slow.
- I did notice that after using the Ipad Pro for about 30 minutes. it made the Ipad Air 2 feel like a toy. It made the ipad mini something i would give my toddler. So unreal.
The 8th observation is the pencil and I put it down here because it needs more description. The short version is, its better than the surface pro. How do I know this? Because 1) I own a surface pro 3 and used the new pens for it - have been using the surface pro for about 18 months. 2) After using the Ipad Pro, I immediately when across the shopping mall hallway to find the Microsoft store and tried every single tablet. Then ran back to Apple store to compare.
Here are my observations about the pencil:
- The surface pro when you press down, is actually very softer than on the Ipad Pro, so this causing the pen to fell weird. I didn't know notice this but on the Ipad Pro, the screen is harder and this combined with a RUBBER tip actually made some friction - just a barely to help with the writing.
- The pencil and it's responsiveness is actually dependent on the software. For Example, 53 didn't line up correct with the tip to pixel. OneNote and Notes did. We noticed another app had lag while adobe and other optimized apps did not.
- I was able to write as small as I would be able to write in a notebook with accuracy. There is definitely some software correction going on because i noticed i made some mistakes and it corrected it ever so slightly. It didn't polish it up, it just noticed what I was doing and corrected it.
- The notes app combined with the Pencil tip, was the best writing experience I have had on a tablet. This is coming from a person that has owned, a galaxy note, galaxy note 8, surface pro 2, Surface pro 3. And to make sure i wasn't seeing anything I drew what I would typically draw, my engineering notes. and then i tried to to same on the surface and even though I was able to do it on the surface, it looked fugly.
- The surface pro treated the pen like it was a infinite leaking pen and if you dragged your pen, it would pick up all the errors in the flow. The Apple pencil did not to this. The writing looked cleaner.
- The best part of the ipad pro, was laying the ipad flat, putting my left hand on the tablet like it was a table and using my right hand to write. Since the Palm/ARM (in this case) rejection was so good, i was able to relax and write like how an i was a 8 year old would write.
I just want to say, I hated this idea from the beginning and was so against it when they announced it but now I'm sold. I still think its ridiculously big. I'm not sold on the Ipad Pro more than I'm sold on that Pencil. I want it.
When someone said 'this thing is huge' I always thought 'well yeah it's a 12.9 inch ipad'. Just saw one. Wow it's huge.
Have you noticed that your iPad Pro's screen is a bit more grippy compared to the Air?
My iPad Pro's screen definitely feels like it has a bit more friction compared to the glassy smooth
screen of the Air.
Not sure if it's just my unit or if all are like that. One of the articles online (Pixar) said that
the Pro's screen has a bit of "tooth" to help with the pencil, so perhaps it's that that I'm noticing...
My iPad Pro's screen definitely feels like it has a bit more friction compared to the glassy smooth
screen of the Air.
Not sure if it's just my unit or if all are like that. One of the articles online (Pixar) said that
the Pro's screen has a bit of "tooth" to help with the pencil, so perhaps it's that that I'm noticing...
After using it all day yesterday... the one thing I would really like is an iPad Pro Mini. Because I'm already a big fan of the mini. I used to use just an iPad 2/3 then mini 2 for travel and out-of-office work but went back to the Air and now rMB, mostly because of software. the iPP doesn't change too much but if there were a mini version with Pencil and KB, I'd give it another go.
no 3d touch is a big turn off, along with no magnet for pencil placement. It's obvious 3D touch is coming to the iPads next year, like how Apple waited an year for touch id implementation on the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3
It's huge indeed. I'm hoping to use it with a Pencil (if I ever get it, grr) for digital artwork over the next year, and fingers crossed that the iPad Air 3 will have pressure sensitivity as well so I can sell the Pro and bump back down to a more reasonable travel size.
It is pretty fantastic to read a magazine or a comic full-sized though -- I definitely like that. I'm just struggling trying to figure out how to tote it around. I always carried my Air in a mini backpack/purse. Ain't happening with the Pro.
It is pretty fantastic to read a magazine or a comic full-sized though -- I definitely like that. I'm just struggling trying to figure out how to tote it around. I always carried my Air in a mini backpack/purse. Ain't happening with the Pro.
As someone who isn't historically an Apple fan and only previously having an itouch 1st gen and an Air 2
first impressions ...its comically huge, everything just feels better, easier to type, so much so that I don't think i will bother buying the keyboard, typing this on an Air2 and its a drag now, Netflix and sound are very impressive, swiping and split screen are good but feel it is still to come into its own but then thats down to app developers
bad points are that it is a big ipad 2, I sort of feel like it should have something different or updated even the home button would be nice, the price I feel if they dropped the price then a LOT more would take the risk of buying it as a creative or business tool
anyway if your going to get upset at Apple prices its a waste of energy as its not going to change
now I have to persuade my penny pinching girlfriend not only have I bought a £680 'slightly bigger' tablet but now I want a £70 erm....pencil from Santa
first impressions ...its comically huge, everything just feels better, easier to type, so much so that I don't think i will bother buying the keyboard, typing this on an Air2 and its a drag now, Netflix and sound are very impressive, swiping and split screen are good but feel it is still to come into its own but then thats down to app developers
bad points are that it is a big ipad 2, I sort of feel like it should have something different or updated even the home button would be nice, the price I feel if they dropped the price then a LOT more would take the risk of buying it as a creative or business tool
anyway if your going to get upset at Apple prices its a waste of energy as its not going to change
now I have to persuade my penny pinching girlfriend not only have I bought a £680 'slightly bigger' tablet but now I want a £70 erm....pencil from Santa
That'll be interesting to see. First, they have to get the weight penalty down. Otherwise, with so much more screen area, the iPad Pro would gain a *lot* of weight.
I was just at the apple store, it's definitely way too heavy to hold for any period of time, basically has to be on a desk, then I might as well use my laptop
Thank you for your honest review. I have been contemplating for 24 hours now. After watching videos the review video of the front page of this forum, I have decided right hold out of it as bad as I want it. Oh well, I'll keep reading the forum until I can be sure of my decision. I will be reading with an open mind.
In my personal opinion, the Air is also too big to use while actually holding. The Mini is more interesting for that role (or, it would be if the 6S+ wasn't so damned good).
What I find interesting is that the Pro and my 12" MacBook weigh about the same as a 13" MBP. To me, the combination is a lot more interesting than just having the Pro.
On another note... I've been looking at the MacBook. I currently have the MacBook pro retina. When I heard the pro was coming out I decided to go for that rather than the MacBook. It's more versatile. I am using my Samsung tablet right now. I draw and take notes. If I was to get the pro, I wouldn't be holding it as much. It will be on the keyboard. There are people like me who will benefit fro the pro. Either you can get the MacBook or get the pro and you can do a little more with it.
For an extended period of time it gets uncomfortable and awkward. I tried to hold it one handed for just a few minutes, I didn't plan on doing that but just wanted to see. Two handed is much much better and obviously what most will do including me but like you said after awhile it is too heavy regardless.
Holding the iPad Air 2, with just the apple case is pretty light and comfortable
With the iPad pro I was uncomfortable after just a few seconds, they really need to cut the weight on this
Not sure how, it is only 1 1/2 pounds and look at its size.
Only playing games would I hold it and not for all, mostly the driving games you have to tilt to steer. Browsing, watching videos, reading, etc will all be done with the Pro on a stand.
Never doubt apple's engineering wizardry when it comes to making things thinner and lighter. Just look at the evolution of the original iPad to the iPad Air 2
I'd predict that their focus will be on getting all of the other components light enough to allow 3D touch to go in without a meaningful weight penalty first. Based on the weight that it adds to the phone, I'd guesstimate the penalty at a quarter to a third of a pound in the Pro. IMO, the most likely way to get that weight out in the near future is by cutting the battery down, so it'll take further improved power efficiency. (Which based on battery tests is already a bit of a weakness in the Pro - looks like they probably would have liked to put more battery in but were constrained by weight.)
you're right, the 3D touch would add thickness to it, next it will likely be the same thickness, maybe in version 3 we will start to see noticeable thinness.
ultimately, iOS on the iPad needs to be greatly more functional, multitasking with iOS 9 is a good start, now let's see maybe a trackpad support, further multitasking options and the main thing being a file system
without the pen, the ipad pro just feels like a giant ipad which is great for people consuming content.
The game changer is in the pen - and it sucks, that it is hard to get.
The game changer is in the pen - and it sucks, that it is hard to get.
Have had mine for two days now. Yes I m in bed with wifey cuddled against me and this gigantic modern miracle of technology is resting on her derrière as I type on it lol.
It's a fantastic device. It IS HUGE. Don't let it be told any differently most people who aren't into content creation won't need it but I will be using it for both fun and work, mainly to type Word and PowerPoint documents and the extra screen real estate and snappy processor is excellent.
Its replacing my iPad Air 2 and I couldn't be happier, once the pen is available and I can get hands on the keyboard case I'll be good to go
It's a fantastic device. It IS HUGE. Don't let it be told any differently most people who aren't into content creation won't need it but I will be using it for both fun and work, mainly to type Word and PowerPoint documents and the extra screen real estate and snappy processor is excellent.
Its replacing my iPad Air 2 and I couldn't be happier, once the pen is available and I can get hands on the keyboard case I'll be good to go
I tried one out at an Apple store for about 20 minutes. I'm really torn. I could definitely feel the A9X and 4GB RAM. Everything was so fast and fluid. The screen looked amazing. Loved the pencil. But I use an iPad Air 2 every day and a lot of the time I'm using it by holding it in my hands and typing with my thumbs. I really want the Pro but am afraid it won't be portable enough. At my Apple store they didn't have any iPPs next to iPad Airs. I'm going to check my Best Buy tomorrow to see if they do. I'd like to see the two side by side in person.
I was in the exact same position as you. I REALLY love my Air2. Love that I could hold it for hours on end (even one handed) without feeling any strain on my wrists. To this day, I still marvel just how THIN AND LIGHT it is.
However, after using my Pro for 2 days now, I'm falling in love with the expansive screen. This thing simply draws you in. No words to describe it, you simply must use it to understand. Even simple web browsing honestly becomes a different experience. The first time I held the pro in my hands I had no doubt in my mind that the pro was arguably in a different category of tablet.
It's funny how i used to think that the Air2 felt quite big and unwieldy the first time I held it (compared to the Mini2). In fact, I remember reading reviews of the device when it first debuted, citing just this.
When I tried using my Air2 tonight, I couldn't believe just how small the screen seemed. Almost felt claustrophobic in a way, compared to the Pro. Funny how perception can change so dramatically within a short period of time.
2 observations: 1) The multitasking speed and efficiency is equivalent IMO between the two devices. I really had no complaints while multitasking on my Air2. 2) while I can see a noticeable speed difference between the two, this difference is quite minimal. The Air2, I've realized, is no slouch. It's almost as snappy, almost as quick. I guess the difference will become more pronounced as Apps become more geared towards the Pro.