Are saying that the ipad pro wouldn't benefit from a mouse pointer? Or that wireless mouse(mice) are more of a burden to carry around than they are helpful?
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iOS with a pointer, OS X with touch or a hybrid OS merger?
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Are saying that the ipad pro wouldn't benefit from a mouse pointer? Or that wireless mouse(mice) are more of a burden to carry around than they are helpful?
Yes, more of a burden than a help.
The iPad pro, more than any iPad before, is designed to be used in a setup that would allow for a mouse or trackpad -- that is, on a desk or other workspace. But it's still not great, compared to using a MacBook/Pro.
The lack of any iOS software designed for a pointing device seals it.
Maybe there's a general use-case for a pointing device for accessibility? (Since it should allow precise selection from a wide variety of devices to support a wide variety of situations.) I don't know about that. I've heard it's already top-notch, so maybe Apple already has something better.
I agree, it completely would, at least the option.
I used the jailbreak that allowed me to use a mouse pointer from my Magic Mouse on my iPad Air 2. It worked great with Photoshop touch, highlighting text and a few other things. Now that they are actively pursuing the keyboard, I think it would be great if they at least integrated an option to use a Bluetooth mouse.
disclaimer: this is not directed toward anyone specifically in this thread... (general observation)
The bottom line is that some will "get it", others won't. Along the same lines as "the iPad is nothing more than a large iPhone". Or "a tablet shouldn't have a keyboard accessory".
Some of the very same people who derided others for wanting and using a keyboard with their iPad are now extolling the virtues of Apple's keyboard cover for the iPad Pro. These same people dismissed multiwindow as a gimmick, but now see the usefulness on the iPad. It is no different when it comes to pointing devices.
Those of us who HAVE used tablets with keyboards, multiwindow, and mice have the benefit of first-hand experience... so I cut the nay-sayers slack for their current nay-saying.
I'm confident that Apple will add support for mice/trackpads at some future point.
Besides a larger display there isn't really that much of a difference in functionality from a ipad pro with a keyboard and an ipad air with bluetooth keyboard. And to say it's more of a burden to carry around a mouse doesn't make sense to me seeing that a lot of laptop owners use wireless mice with their laptops.
If you're only looking for a tablet then I understand but if you want the functionality of a laptop you need laptop like hardware which for many includes using a mouse.
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Yes!
I would love to carry my ipad around to do some light design(vector/raster) work with a mouse. I'm not asking for a full desktop experience but a mouse pointer within a design app is a lot more accurate than a stylus.
Going into this discussion, I would have said that if Apple built some kind of convertible, it would be a version of Macbook with a removable screen. But after reading Sracer's and Denichidesign's comments, I'm starting to see the utility of a pointing device in addition to direct touch in the iPad line.
I generally use a Logitech keyboard with my IP2, and when editing a long document the most annoying thing is to have to swipe around on the screen that's tilted at laptop angles. Trying to select text with your finger suspended in midair is challenging, to say the least. A pointing device would obviate that problem and let the iPad work as a "baby" laptop while not compromising its tablet capabilities.
The pencil will help with pointing precision issues, but to move around a big document it's still swipe-swipe-swipe-swipe...
I generally use a Logitech keyboard with my IP2, and when editing a long document the most annoying thing is to have to swipe around on the screen that's tilted at laptop angles. Trying to select text with your finger suspended in midair is challenging, to say the least. A pointing device would obviate that problem and let the iPad work as a "baby" laptop while not compromising its tablet capabilities.
The pencil will help with pointing precision issues, but to move around a big document it's still swipe-swipe-swipe-swipe...
I just upgraded from a Mini 1 (same hardware as the iPad 2) to an Air 2. Incredible difference.
I am saying that I don't want developers to suddenly start getting the idea that it's somehow okay to create iPad apps with a desktop UI, fully expecting the user to have to plug in a wireless mouse just to navigate the interface properly.
The iPad is a giant touchscreen, focus solely on optimising your apps for touch and direct input. That's good enough.
Yeah, my IP2 has been about everywhere (64G w/3G), and I've used it for presentations, note taking, a few games, halfhearted attempts at drawing - it has a cracked screen and dented case, but it keeps working and, for me at least, serves as evidence of Apple's overall build quality - if any device can take this kind of abuse for four years and keep smiling it's hardware to be reckoned with. Time to upgrade, though...
Interestingly, my wife has an iPad2 she uses mostly for playing Words with Friends. It's still running IOS6 because she hated the way her phone (iPhone 5) looked when we upgraded it IOS7. I've offered to update her iPhone for two years now, but she likes the iPhone 5...
Way off topic...
That (necessity of a mouse) won't happen. Android has had mouse support for quite some time and even in the "wild west" of what is the Google Play store there aren't any apps that require a mouse.
A "touchscreen is good enough" hasn't prevented many, many people from buying keyboards for their "giant touchscreen". Support for external keyboards hasn't resulted in apps that require an external keyboard. Perhaps the most "pro" thing that Apple could've don't was to add mouse support to iOS. But since that won't require new hardware it took a backseat to the Apple Pencil and Keyboard cover (which DO require new hardware).
update (another thought):
iOS 9 includes keyboard shortcuts, like Cmd-Tab to bring up the task switcher. THAT feature only makes sense with an external keyboard.
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