Highly considering an iPad Pro...Worth it?

[Sam5281]

Hey guys

Never owned an iPad. Was never thrilled w/ idea of having to use a non-apple keypad w/ it - also just generally unimpressed. UNTIL the iPad Pro, which has changed my mind - paired w/ the smart keyboard I would use in addition to my MBP for basics: Document writing / web-browsing / communication / emails.

Ease of travel is a huge benefactor for me. Plus had a scary moment w/ my macbook pro today working on the couch w/ it resting on a pillow - must have gotten too hot and forced restart. Luckily I frequently save documents I'm working on - but could have been really bad. (My MBP is a late 2013 / loaded to gills / hardly any files on / use for heavy work - photoshop - lightroom / etc.

My question : W/ the smart keyboard rounds out to around a bit shy of a $1k for 32gb / Wifi / No Cellular. Worth it?

Thanks!

 

[Badrottie]

Not worth for your needs....stick with MacBook Pro. Trust me.

 

[Capt T]

You will still want your MacBook for Photoshop and Lightroom at this point in time. But if you are interested in the iPad pro, try it for the 2 week return period, to make sure.

 

[The Game 161]

Early impressions it is an awesome, very fast device and with the smart keyboard works perfectly with the pro. You can always fold it over as a normal case if needed. Takes a while to get used to the typing on it but works fine.


A fair amount of apps aren’t really been updated for the pro screen but im sure over time they will. Amazing for watching video. Me for example watching the NBA it’s great with these loud

 

[Leo90]

It is worth it and it will replace your MBP in several occasions specially for travelling. However, I recommend getting the 128GB model.

 

[Beavix]

paired w/ the smart keyboard I would use in addition to my MBP for basics: Document writing / web-browsing / communication / emails.

For this purpose the iPad Pro is great. You can even use it as a portable external display for your MBP (with the Duet Display app).

 

[sjleworthy]

If all you do is basics - admin, docs, emails, internet etc etc, it will do it all. And fantastically.

I'd be lost without mine

 

[AppleFan360]

Go ahead and get the iPad Pro. It would make a great add on to your MacBook Pro. On top of wanting all the basics you mention, when travelling, you can even use the iPad Pro as a second screen to your MacBook if needed.

The 128GB version is a good idea but it really depends on how much you load on your iPad Pro. Many get along just fine on the 32GB version without Cellular. If you think you will run out of room quickly, you can always trade up to the 128GB version.

 

[CaptMarvel]

Macbook. Get an Air 2 or wait for an Air 3, and still purchase your Apple Keyboard for comfort. The ability to use it interchangeably with your devices sweetens the deal.

 

[artfossil]

Within two weeks you'll love the iPad Pro.

I also use my MacBook Pro for Photoshop and used to use Aperture but now use Mylio. Mylio works on all your devices and you should check out its integration with Lightroom.

And I can do virtually all of my photo editing with Mylio or Pixelmator on the iPad.

 

[Sam5281]

So general consensus is YES - go for iPad Pro?

Will actually check out and use in store this weekend to make final decision.

I like to keep my MBP on my desk in its stand and paired w/ Thunderbolt it's almost like a desktop. Don't really like traveling w/ my MBP in fear it gets dinged or damaged. Thats why the appeal of iPad Pro is so great...

The other option I weighed in this morning was a re-furbed Macbook Air?

 

[The Game 161]

So general consensus is YES - go for iPad Pro?

Will actually check out and use in store this weekend to make final decision.

I like to keep my MBP on my desk in its stand and paired w/ Thunderbolt it's almost like a desktop. Don't really like traveling w/ my MBP in fear it gets dinged or damaged. Thats why the appeal of iPad Pro is so great...

The other option I weighed in this morning was a re-furbed Macbook Air?

I’ve had mine for two days and certainly loving it so far. The size is huge but you will get used to it. For me the smart keyboard was a must. Amazing how useful it is in terms of a stand to use with the cover on it. Works perfectly as a fold over case as well.

 

[upritbass]

I'll never understand the endless comments about the iPad Pro being huge or heavy. I've never heard anyone say that the 15" MBP is huge. Heavy maybe, but not huge. Are there any threads complaining about the 13" MBA or 12" MacBook being huge or heavy? The iPP is the lightest, highest resolution portable computer available.

Your use case sounds perfect for the iPP. Get it!

 

[Night Spring]

I'll never understand the endless comments about the iPad Pro being huge or heavy. I've never heard anyone say that the 15" MBP is huge. Heavy maybe, but not huge. Are there any threads complaining about the 13" MBA or 12" MacBook being huge or heavy?

Well no, but you don't hold a MacBook in your hand like you do with iPads. So size doesn't quite present the same issue with MacBooks as wth iPads.

That said, I AM enjoying my iPad Pro. Typing this post from my iPP on a bus.

 

[jamesrick80]

I love my ipad pro but I have a couple major issues that I hope apple addresses in the next iOS release in the Fall. For one thing, using the arrows on the ipad pro smart keyboard or any other physical keyboard does not work in certain apps. Also, you cannot navigate through apps with the keyboard arrows and then press enter to select that app to open it. This is something that android does well. In android especially samsung tablets, you can use the physical keyboard arrows and navigate to any apps and you actually do not have to ever touch the screen. You can also navigate through any information on the screen in any app with the arrow keys unlike iOS. I often have to touch the screen with my ipad pro, and no one wants to constantly pick up the apple pencil to do these simple tasks.

My other major issue is the lack of mouse support, something else that android has. On the ipad pro, mouse support is necessary especially in word processing apps when using the smart keyboard. I often need to highlight things quickly and cut/paste it somewhere else in the document or insert text in specific areas of the doc. This is where mouse support is necessary. I hate picking up the apple pencil just to get to the right insertion point in microsoft word. Surprisingly, everything Im having issues with is on android but their are barely any decent tablet optimized apps and I cannot be without the apple pencil nor my beloved iOS tablet apps. I just hope iOS will improve on these issues. So if you don't have a issue with my issues, go ahead and buy the ipad pro; i still love it.

To be a true laptop replacement, the ipad pro needs to be able to be used without touching the screen at all. I can use the latest samsung android tablet with physical keyboard, mouse, and android shortcuts and never have to touch my screen if I did not want to.

 

[Night Spring]

I often need to highlight things quickly and cut/paste it somewhere else in the document or insert text in specific areas of the doc.

I agree with many of your other points, but this is one thing I see people often complain about, and I just don't understand. You can select text with shift+arrows, and that is how I always prefer to do it, even on a desktop. I can understand it's a personal preference, but I just don't see how it is any faster doing this with a mouse.

 

[nightcap965]

To be a true laptop replacement, the ipad pro needs to be able to be used without touching the screen at all. I can use the latest samsung android tablet with physical keyboard, mouse, and android shortcuts and never have to touch my screen if I did not want to.

Stick with a laptop if you want to have a keyboard and mouse intermediate between you and the device. The iPad is designed for touch, it is that sense of direct contact which makes the experience immersive.

 

[jamesrick80]

Stick with a laptop if you want to have a keyboard and mouse intermediate between you and the device. The iPad is designed for touch, it is that sense of direct contact which makes the experience immersive.

But the ipad pro was also designed to be a true productivity device. Without mouse support, its not. True productivity should be a seamless experience. I should not have to do so many maneuvers with my fingers to get something to happen. I'm a grad student so I type alot of documents up, trust me it can get tiresome reaching your arms out so much especially in google docs. Immersive does not matter when it comes to productivity, I love the media features of the ipad and thats the only time I need the immersion.

 

[nightcap965]

But the ipad pro was also designed to be a true productivity device. Without mouse support, its not. True productivity should be a seamless experience. I should not have to do so many maneuvers with my fingers to get something to happen. I'm a grad student so I type alot of documents up, trust me it can get tiresome reaching your arms out so much especially in google docs. Immersive does not matter when it comes to productivity, I love the media features of the ipad and thats the only time I need the immersion.

Rubbish. The nice thing about industry buzz words is that they mean what you want them to mean. If your definition of Productivity Device is heads-down typing and document management, the iPad is the wrong tool. Get a laptop, you'll be happier and your fingers and forearms will thank you.

 

[Night Spring]

But the ipad pro was also designed to be a true productivity device. Without mouse support, its not.

I typed my Masters Thesis in WordPerfect for DOS. There was no mouse. I was very productive.

 

[nightcap965]

I typed my Masters Thesis in WordPerfect for DOS. There was no mouse. I was very productive.

I bought custom keyboards with the function keys on the left where God intended just for my WordPerfect use.

 

[artfossil]

But the ipad pro was also designed to be a true productivity device. Without mouse support, its not. True productivity should be a seamless experience. I should not have to do so many maneuvers with my fingers to get something to happen. I'm a grad student so I type alot of documents up, trust me it can get tiresome reaching your arms out so much especially in google docs. Immersive does not matter when it comes to productivity, I love the media features of the ipad and thats the only time I need the immersion.

How does one "reach their arms out" to interact with the iPP screen when the keyboard (if one is using an external keyboard) is right next to the screen? If I move a few inches to grab a mouse or move a few inches to touch the screen, what is the difference?

But then, I will concede that I prefer to interact with a touch screen. I find it easy and natural to use the keyboard most of the time, interacting with the display when necessary in a short and subtle movement.

And I also concede that I am part of the target market for the iPad Pro and that it is not for everyone.

 

[BSG75]

I've had my IPP for a week, upgrading from an iPad Air. It's definitely much faster and it's nice to have the extra screen space for work/consumption.

I haven't used a laptop since my iPad 2. The iPad has suited my needs perfectly as a hybrid work/consumption device. The IPP is definitely comparable to laptop performance, however it does need iOS versions of pro apps such as Photoshop and Final Cut X, to name a few.

For a number of people price may be a factor in their decision whether or not to go with the IPP. By the time you've bought a smart keyboard and Apple Pencil, you're heading into laptop prices, especially with the 128GB. Again for my needs, I didn't mind paying the price since the IPP works better for me than a laptop.

I didn't get the smart keyboard but opted for a portable bluetooth keyboard, at least for now. I do feel that either the Apple Pencil or some type of stylus is a necessity for the IPP. Currently, I'm using a 53 Pencil and it's worked great when doing Excel on the IPP. Basically, it's the iPad's version of a mouse.

It all depends on your needs and your profession.

 

[nightcap965]

I've had my IPP for a week, upgrading from an iPad Air. It's definitely much faster and it's nice to have the extra screen space for work/consumption.

I haven't used a laptop since my iPad 2. The iPad has suited my needs perfectly as a hybrid work/consumption device. The IPP is definitely comparable to laptop performance, however it does need iOS versions of pro apps such as Photoshop and Final Cut X, to name a few.

For a number of people price may be a factor in their decision whether or not to go with the IPP. By the time you've bought a smart keyboard and Apple Pencil, you're heading into laptop prices, especially with the 128GB. Again for my needs, I didn't mind paying the price since the IPP works better for me than a laptop.

I didn't get the smart keyboard but opted for a portable bluetooth keyboard, at least for now. I do feel that either the Apple Pencil or some type of stylus is a necessity for the IPP. Currently, I'm using a 53 Pencil and it's worked great when doing Excel on the IPP. Basically, it's the iPad's version of a mouse.

It all depends on your needs and your profession.

I went in the opposite direction: no keyboard, but a Pencil. ( I still make heavy use of my laptop.) I downloaded Pigment and now have a thousand dollar coloring book!

 

[Night Spring]

I went in the opposite direction: no keyboard, but a Pencil. ( I still make heavy use of my laptop.) I downloaded Pigment and now have a thousand dollar coloring book!

And I'm using the iPP with no Pencil, and Apple's new Magic Keyboard. I did grab a Pencil while picking up the Magic Keyboard, but I'll be returning it. As fun as Pigment is, I can't justify keeping the Pencil for a coloring book.