iPad Pro I went with 12.9 over 9.7 IPP

[Synergie]

Did I make the right decision?

I wanted a laptop replacement (as far as possible)
I wanted the faster clocked CPU
I wanted the 4 Gb RAM
I wanted the USB 3.0 / capability to charge MUCH faster with the 29W charger with lightning to USB-C cable.

I have an SLR camera capable of 4K video. I also have my iPhone 6s Plus.

I am a graphic artist and though I still use my MacBook pro fro heavy editing, I have successfully employed the Adobe apps on the IPP sufficiently enough to do on the go editing and corrections. I use the lightning to SD card reader for transferring the images / videos. Other apps like Pixlr also have full layer support etc.

I have yet to find a capable WYSIWYG web page editor to replace Dreamweaver. I can edit pages on the go with Coda - and it works QUITE WELL TOO!!! But like most, I don't have ANY desire to code a page from scratch in HTML - I want the visual editor and keep the code for editing small things or tweaking.

There is only one thing I envy the new 9.7 IPP for... the 5 MP front facing camera. I would NEVER use a 12.9" iPad to take photos as it would be hugely cumbersome to hold LOL. And like I said, I have an SLR and my iPhone 6s Plus to take images with. But Skype etc would be so much better with higher res front camera... like 3 MP even.... WHY THE ONLY 1.2 MP???? I suppose it's sufficient to make a call to a family member even if it is a bit pixely.

So I am happy with 12.9 IPP but I am still feeling envy with the 9.7 for the 5MP front camera... still that's no reason to give up the larger screen, etc. Side by side in the Apple store, the 9.7 now looks tiny. The 12.9 has more area than my 13" MBP screen.

 

[Algus]

I find I use my 9.7 Pro for more and more professionally. While the keyboard cover is not my favorite keyboard out there (or even my favorite keyboard that I personally own for my iPad), the utility and lack of added weight it offers is substantial. Since I've picked it up, I've found that I rarely touch my MacBook Pro. After upgrading my desktop Mac to run a dual display setup, I use my laptop even less.

I'm not quite ready to trade in the size of the 9.7 for a 12.9'' tablet but I can definitely see why people would want to use these over Airs and even 13'' Pros.

 

[Synergie]

I find I use my 9.7 Pro for more and more professionally. While the keyboard cover is not my favorite keyboard out there (or even my favorite keyboard that I personally own for my iPad), the utility and lack of added weight it offers is substantial. Since I've picked it up, I've found that I rarely touch my MacBook Pro. After upgrading my desktop Mac to run a dual display setup, I use my laptop even less.

I'm not quite ready to trade in the size of the 9.7 for a 12.9'' tablet but I can definitely see why people would want to use these over Airs and even 13'' Pros.

I don't use the smart keyboard. If its just a small amount of typing like for a quick email response or a search term in chrome I use the on screen keyboard. But when I need to type more, it only takes a couple of seconds to switch on the magic keyboard. I can also sit back with the IPP on a shelf or desk, and hold the keyboard in my lap. It feels much better than the smart keyboard because well.. its a full apple keyboard in the same premium aluminum and real keys. It takes literally 2 seconds once you switch it on before it pairs automatically (after the first pairing). Also means I don't have to worry about a bulky keyboard case. I use just the normal smart cover and silicone case. The Apple magic keyboard fits in a backpack with the IPP no problem.

Really for me, it has been a laptop replacement! My only beef can possibly be the camera LOL. Though having photography experience, I KNOW that using an iPad to take photos is not really practical anyway. In fact, just like a MBP I don't see the need for the back facing camera at all. The front facing one however, could have been higher megapixels. Even 3-5. But for what its meant for, it's fine... Skype / Facetime don't need much for that.

I have only been using my MBP for a few things I can't do in the iOS version of Photoshop (custom brushes, batch edits, working with RAW files) and Dreamweaver.

So.... if anyone knows of a web page designer app for iOS that is VISUAL like Dreamweaver, Frontpage etc. please let me know! I have Coda which is a great CODING app... but it's ALL code! I can easily edit pages I have already created on the go, and it supports FTP to do this! It DOES have a preview but all the work is done in straight code.... Adobe needs a Dreamweaver mobile version! Seriously, that's the only real things I am missing on the IPP to have it be a full 100% laptop replacement for me.

I have now switched to the idea of cloud files, where I used to think that was insane and liked having full control over my files. Well, I still do, they are just online somewhere. I use both Google and iCloud and have even music files, documents, pdf etc there as well as my whole photo library. Work on the file on one device and its automatically updated on all devices without needing to sync or copy the files manually between devices. Thought I would hate cloud based file management, now I kind of like it. (of course as long as I have internet access, and good thing my Telus plan is a grandfathered 6 Gb plan for 70.00).

btw I have small hands I'm only a petite 5'1" female and love the 12.9" display. The faster clocked CPU and double the RAM also work better for photo / video editing, graphics projects. I don't think the 9.7" IPP would suit me.

Here is my set up... the magic keyboard is awesome with it and the shortcut keys also work, for brightness, volume, play, pause etc.

 

[bruinsrme]

Wait. in a couple of weeks, you wont want to give up the screen size.
Checked my 9,7 yesterday. Battery was dead. Charged it up and it hadn't been backed up in over 3 weeks.

 

[BrennerM]

Both the iPad Pro 9.7 and 12.9 do a max of 720p video recording on their front cameras. So unless you are taking still pictures and sending them one at a time over Skype, you will get the exact same resolution on a Skype chat from both cameras.

Source: http://www.apple.com/ca/ipad-pro/specs/
(scroll down to Facetime HD camera section)

 

[zhenya]

You realize that the point of a quality camera on an iPad is that it makes documenting things much more practical? Many people have workflows where they need to take pictures of things to insert into notes or reports, and the 9.7 iPP is the first iPad that treats that use-case seriously. It's the first one that can do quality document scans, and having a high quality camera like this makes the iPad an entirely different kind of computing tool than the laptops most of us are used to.

 

[Synergie]

You realize that the point of a quality camera on an iPad is that it makes documenting things much more practical? Many people have workflows where they need to take pictures of things to insert into notes or reports, and the 9.7 iPP is the first iPad that treats that use-case seriously. It's the first one that can do quality document scans, and having a high quality camera like this makes the iPad an entirely different kind of computing tool than the laptops most of us are used to.

Except... I have an iPhone 6SPlus! And with iCloud, when I take a photo or use document scanner app, they show up automatically on the iPad Pro too (as long as I have a connection) and on the go I can connect via my iPhone's hotspot.
And its much easier holding an iPhone to take a photo or scan a document than it is to hold a 12.9" IPP...

@BrennerM That's reassuring that the quality for Skype and facetime are the time despite the MP difference. That's the only thing I really use it for.

 

[zhenya]

Except... I have an iPhone 6SPlus! And with iCloud, when I take a photo or use document scanner app, they show up automatically on the iPad Pro too (as long as I have a connection) and on the go I can connect via my iPhone's hotspot.
And its much easier holding an iPhone to take a photo or scan a document than it is to hold a 12.9" IPP...

@BrennerM That's reassuring that the quality for Skype and facetime are the time despite the MP difference. That's the only thing I really use it for.

As someone who actually uses their tablet in this way, having the camera native on the device I'm actively using is a huge improvement. Yes, I have my iPhone as well, but it is not at all the same thing to put down the device you are working with, take out your phone, take the picture, wait for it to upload to iCloud, go back to the iPad, open the photos app to initiate an immediate sync, wait for the photos to be downloaded, and finally go back to the app where I'm working. Not to mention I'm often in international or remote locations where cell service is expensive or non-existent.

 

[Synergie]

As someone who actually uses their tablet in this way, having the camera native on the device I'm actively using is a huge improvement. Yes, I have my iPhone as well, but it is not at all the same thing to put down the device you are working with, take out your phone, take the picture, wait for it to upload to iCloud, go back to the iPad, open the photos app to initiate an immediate sync, wait for the photos to be downloaded, and finally go back to the app where I'm working. Not to mention I'm often in international or remote locations where cell service is expensive or non-existent.

The loss in screen size, CPU clock speed, and ram is enough to make me say it's fine to jut do BT file transfer or use my SLR and the lightning to SD card reader which is USB 3.0 so it transfers fast! The 9.7 only has the camera as a bonus. The size is way too small to code on, or do any real design work.

 

[SHirsch999]

Except... I have an iPhone 6SPlus! And with iCloud, when I take a photo or use document scanner app, they show up automatically on the iPad Pro too (as long as I have a connection) and on the go I can connect via my iPhone's hotspot.
And its much easier holding an iPhone to take a photo or scan a document than it is to hold a 12.9" IPP...

Not everyone has an iPhone, or any smartphone. Just sayin'....

 

[Synergie]

Not everyone has an iPhone, or any smartphone. Just sayin'....

Surely you jest! (just kidding). Though it's rare for someone not to these days!

But even if you dont have a smart phone, many people also do have a good camera that takes SD cards, and the IPP takes the lightning to SD card reader. For actual photos, I just can't see myself using the ipad at all.

 

[stevemiller]

I think there are valid reasons for someon to choose either size.

In a perfect world though they'd both have the same cameras, screen tech and ram so it's just a size choice and not a matrix of trade offs.

 

[jeremiah256]

Seems like both @zhenya and @Synergie are using the tool that's best for their use case.

 

[Skika]

Except... I have an iPhone 6SPlus! And with iCloud, when I take a photo or use document scanner app, they show up automatically on the iPad Pro too (as long as I have a connection) and on the go I can connect via my iPhone's hotspot.
And its much easier holding an iPhone to take a photo or scan a document than it is to hold a 12.9" IPP...

@BrennerM That's reassuring that the quality for Skype and facetime are the time despite the MP difference. That's the only thing I really use it for.

Just a thought, even if you are without a connection you can use AirDrop to transfer photos between them.

 

[off_piste]

Just a thought, even if you are without a connection you can use AirDrop to transfer photos between them.

One of my favorite features of Apple devices.

 

[Macalway]

Wise choice.

It's a tough one. I own the 12 and really would like the 9.7, but I actually need the extra real estate, so that's that.

A matter of 'want vs need'

Not a big deal

If you deal with documents with graphics, the 12 is a Godsend

 

[cargobrian]

Well, I had decided to switch over to the iPad Pro 9.7 this week. I will plan on selling the 12.9 pro online this evening.

As for the accessories listed below. Is there any where to sell them other then EBay or Amazon?

iPad Pro 12.9 Smart Keyboard
iPad Pro 12.9 Smart Cover
iPad Pro 12.9 Apple case (back cover)
Magic Keyboard 2
iPad Pro 12.9 29w charger with USB-C - Lightning cable

Please advise


Thank you

 

[Night Spring]

Well, I had decided to switch over to the iPad Pro 9.7 this week. I will plan on selling the 12.9 pro online this evening.

As for the accessories listed below. Is there any where to sell them other then EBay or Amazon?

iPad Pro 12.9 Smart Keyboard
iPad Pro 12.9 Smart Cover
iPad Pro 12.9 Apple case (back cover)
Magic Keyboard 2
iPad Pro 12.9 29w charger with USB-C - Lightning cable

Please advise


Thank you

Why not sell them along with your iPad Pro? The Magic Keyboard could be listed separately, but all other items are of interest only to people who already own an iPP.

 

[cargobrian]

I am selling the iPad via a gazell type of service. They are not interested in the additional items.,

 

[Macalway]

I am selling the iPad via a gazell type of service. They are not interested in the additional items.,

They do have a lot of those services now. Seems a waste to not include those items. Of course you could sell them separately, but that doesn't really add up, does it? (if you are averse to selling yourself, that is)

Land fill

 

[DaniJoy]

Sounds like you made the right choice for your needs. I recently replaced the cintiq companion 2 that I was using as a mobile tablet/laptop for raw photo editing and illustration purposes. I find the 12.9 iPad Pro to be underpowered for my needs, And I'm frustrated there's no good color calibration solution yet that I found, but it's such a nice mobile tablet. the lack of features are made up by portability and liteness. I really hope Apple makes a OS X tablet or a good 2 in 1 laptop someday, and I'm sure future pro's will be faster. I constantly find myself missing desktop software, more powerful hardware, and connectivity ports. I'll probably be going back to Windows once the next gen surfaces come out with the new Wacom pen standards.

Oh btw , u can edit raw on the pro. Photoshop express works well. There are a few other apps that do raw. I use it for uploading to social media when traveling.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

for me the 12.9" is way too big I would sell it in a bit. the problem is that the 9.7" pro is under power.
so hop to sell the 12.9" and wait to see what Apple will come out with. The tablet for me is just a tablet my MBP 15" is the main deal.

 

[cargobrian]

How is 9.7 under powered?

 

[aoaaron]

lol man...

both devices have their pros and cons.

get over it.

everyone trying to justify why the 9.7 or why the 12 is better are really just being silly.

Get whichever one you want. For me it came down to portability being a huge factor. I'm a doctor, I use my iPad on the go, moving from place to place, walking with it a lot of the time. I have a MBP and I still really don't buy into a touch screen being a good replacement for a solid keyboard + world class trackpad... However i can totally see the flip side where someone can put up with the cumbersome size for a way larger screen real estate and potential to use two apps very well at the same time.

both devices are excellent.

 

[Synergie]

lol man...

both devices have their pros and cons.

get over it.

everyone trying to justify why the 9.7 or why the 12 is better are really just being silly.

Get whichever one you want. For me it came down to portability being a huge factor. I'm a doctor, I use my iPad on the go, moving from place to place, walking with it a lot of the time. I have a MBP and I still really don't buy into a touch screen being a good replacement for a solid keyboard + world class trackpad... However i can totally see the flip side where someone can put up with the cumbersome size for a way larger screen real estate and potential to use two apps very well at the same time.

both devices are excellent.

I originally started this topic to say why I felt the larger one was better... For Myself

Hey do you use medacape on it? Also eMedic is a good app for calculators (O2 tank times vs flow rates etc). (I volunteer as a medical first responder and use both on my iPhone).