iPad 2018 - Apple pencil question

[Labhras]

Hi all,
I'm considering the new "cheap" iPad both because I don't have a tablet for the occasional Netflix-iBooks-sofa browsing, and because I need a good tablet for note-taking (I'm not in college anymore but I'll be taking few certifications so I need a good note taking app).
I saw various "college setups" using GoodNotes and Notability with an iPad pro.
Basically my setup would be a split screen with a pdf of the book I'm studying on, and then the app for note taking (I think you can open both? I saw a video about it).
(And on this note - do those apps save files on the iPad or the cloud? I'm thinking about the 64gb version)
I'm very interested in the Apple pencil support for this iPad - do you think a similar setup like an iPad pro is feasible for this one? What about lags, pencil flow, etc?
I have a MBA and really don't care about the true tone etc, so the iPad pro is too expensive right now.

Thank you for your advice 🙂

 

[bensisko]

The 2018 iPad comes in two sizes - 32 GB and 128 GB.
Note storage depends on the app, but most will keep a local version and sync with the cloud.

You can certainly open two apps at once (assuming the app supports split-screen... not all do).

I bought my mom the 128 GB 2018 iPad and so far I haven’t noticed any lagging (Pencil or otherwise).

Looks like a good note-taking device!

 

[Labhras]

The 2018 iPad comes in two sizes - 32 GB and 128 GB.
Note storage depends on the app, but most will keep a local version and sync with the cloud.

You can certainly open two apps at once (assuming the app supports split-screen... not all do).

I bought my mom the 128 GB 2018 iPad and so far I haven’t noticed any lagging (Pencil or otherwise).

Looks like a good note-taking device!

What do you think about the 32gb version? Too small?
About the split screen - if it's supported on the iPad pro should it be supported on the new iPad as well?

Looks like a good note-taking device!

That's exactly why I was considering it 🙂

 

[rosyapple]

My iPad 2017 supports split screen, so iPad 2018 should too.

32GB is too small for me. I don't like relying on the cloud for my documents in case I have no internet access. In addition, 128GB allows me the flexibility to put anything i want, from movies, tv shows, PDF textbooks, lecture notes, lecture slides, recordings etc.

I don't like having to compromise not carrying files that I want just because I don't have the disk space.

 

[LovingTeddy]

What do you think about the 32gb version? Too small?
About the split screen - if it's supported on the iPad pro should it be supported on the new iPad as well?



That's exactly why I was considering it 🙂

The difference between 2018 iPad and iPad Pro is 2018 iPad only support split screen. It cannot do split screen and floating windows at same time where iPad Pro can.

For me, even with 9.7 inch, it is too small of screen for split screen multitasking. Let along reading books and taking annotations. I would not want read any PDFs on that small screen.

You see... it is readable, but not great experience. Texts are bit small and it is hard to type on.

It is a lot better with a 14 inch display on my ThinkPad. When i am doing this type of thing, i always hook up with my external 27 inch monitor for doing such thing. Or I am using my 12.9 inch iPad for split screen.

However, I would use Apple pencil to annotating note on iPad with one app only.

P.S. I have to type this on my ThinkPad, because Safari on my iPad won't display things correctly. I cannot copy and paste image URL on the pop up.

 

[bensisko]

What do you think about the 32gb version? Too small?
About the split screen - if it's supported on the iPad pro should it be supported on the new iPad as well?

I initially got my mom the 32, thinking she was only going to use it for Notes, surfing, Facebook, etc. then she started talking about putting photos and other stuff on it and we decided to upgrade it almost immediately.

 

[KrisLord]

What do you think about the 32gb version? Too small?
About the split screen - if it's supported on the iPad pro should it be supported on the new iPad as well?



That's exactly why I was considering it 🙂

Your notes and pdf books won’t be the main user of storage space - so as long as you don’t plan having large video/photo/music collections on your iPad, 32GB is fine.

Notes are plain text and don’t really take up any significant space. My 256GB iPad Pro has 99MB of notes on currently, and its my main note taking app (although I’m not studying anymore)

 

[LovingTeddy]

Your notes and pdf books won’t be the main user of storage space - so as long as you don’t plan having large video/photo/music collections on your iPad, 32GB is fine.

Notes are plain text and don’t really take up any significant space. My 256GB iPad Pro has 99MB of notes on currently, and its my main note taking app (although I’m not studying anymore)

I have both 32GB and 128GB. All my LTE iPad are 32GB and all my WiFi versions are 128GB.

I have hard time fill up 32GB iPad let alone 128GB. All my photos are uploaded to Google Photos. I have NAS drive attached to my network. I have all my videos storages in there.

32GB are fine if you off load all your content to cloud storage.

 

[antisomnic]

So I have a 2017 iPad and I am thinking of upgrading to the 2018 so that I can use the Apple Pencil and I am reading a lot that if you have the 2017 it's not worth upgrading. I really want to use the apple pencil but I'm afraid it'll just be a novelty. Thoughts?

 

[Labhras]

The difference between 2018 iPad and iPad Pro is 2018 iPad only support split screen. It cannot do split screen and floating windows at same time where iPad Pro can.

For me, even with 9.7 inch, it is too small of screen for split screen multitasking. Let along reading books and taking annotations. I would not want read any PDFs on that small screen.

You see... it is readable, but not great experience. Texts are bit small and it is hard to type on.

It is a lot better with a 14 inch display on my ThinkPad. When i am doing this type of thing, i always hook up with my external 27 inch monitor for doing such thing. Or I am using my 12.9 inch iPad for split screen.

However, I would use Apple pencil to annotating note on iPad with one app only.

P.S. I have to type this on my ThinkPad, because Safari on my iPad won't display things correctly. I cannot copy and paste image URL on the pop up.

I can totally see where you're coming from - but here you're talking about typing an essay in word while checking the book. What I had in mind was - note taking with the apple pencil - with one of the apps I mentioned - and then exporting in pdf the notes in order to review-print-whatever. By writing directly on the screen I use all the space available.

I'd use it for iBooks, notes, maybe a Netflix movie (but that's streaming) or a couple of movies that I'd have on iCloud. I plan on using it as a writing/learning tablet more than an entertainment one.
The one exception would be having it play a movie while I'm working on my macbook lol

 

[neutrino23]

So I have a 2017 iPad and I am thinking of upgrading to the 2018 so that I can use the Apple Pencil and I am reading a lot that if you have the 2017 it's not worth upgrading. I really want to use the apple pencil but I'm afraid it'll just be a novelty. Thoughts?

Go to the Apple store and try it out for 30 minutes or so. I’m not an artist but I love the Pencil. I use it a lot for note taking and sketching ideas.

 

[Labhras]

So I have a 2017 iPad and I am thinking of upgrading to the 2018 so that I can use the Apple Pencil and I am reading a lot that if you have the 2017 it's not worth upgrading. I really want to use the apple pencil but I'm afraid it'll just be a novelty. Thoughts?

i think it depends on what you'd use it for.
Take my example, I have a setup with handwritten notes in mind, I only have to see if it's feasible with the iPad 2018. If you want it for drawing only but it'd go unused after a couple of months...
Did you try in real life?

 

[nortonandreev]

I had the 2017 iPad last year, but I sold it because I didn’t use it for anything. Then I decided that taking notes with the Apple Pencil might be beneficial, so I decided to get the 2018 iPad when it’s released. However, I couldn’t resist getting the 2018 iPad 9.7 when I saw that it supports the pencil. I got it today and I really like how the pencil works. I got the 32 GB, but I plan to upgrade to the new iPad Pro, so I didn’t want to spend more money. I also like the new gold color a lot.

If you plan to use split screen - I don’t think you’re going to be very productive. Screen is too small for this purpose.

 

[bensisko]

i think it depends on what you'd use it for.
Take my example, I have a setup with handwritten notes in mind, I only have to see if it's feasible with the iPad 2018.

Given that you want to keep a library (PDFs) on the device, I would go with the 128. 32 might be fine initially, but it may get really cramped very quickly. I would give yourself some room for future expansion.

Having said that, the 32 GB is not the end of the world - it may just mean that you'll have to manage your storage instead of putting stuff on it and forgetting about it.

 

[joeblow7777]

What do you think about the 32gb version? Too small?
About the split screen - if it's supported on the iPad pro should it be supported on the new iPad as well?



That's exactly why I was considering it 🙂

Any iPad with more than 1GB of RAM supports split screen, so that’s every iPad since the Air 1.

 

[Precursor]

If I were you, I'd go for 1st Gen 12.6" iPP instead of the cheap one introduced this year. Big differences for a little more/same cost.

 

[Azmazz]

This looks like a great entry-level deal for designers.
I'm just wondering if this ipad is fast enough to draw without lag in graphic design software.
Or if the Pro is worth the price difference.

 

[Labhras]

If I were you, I'd go for 1st Gen 12.6" iPP instead of the cheap one introduced this year. Big differences for a little more/same cost.

I've seen a couple of reviews about 1st gen iPad pro complaining about speed, lag, etc... apparently the cheap iPad is almost faster than 1st gen

 

[Glmnet1]

I've seen a couple of reviews about 1st gen iPad pro complaining about speed, lag, etc... apparently the cheap iPad is almost faster than 1st gen

The old pro is about 10% slower, based on benchmarks. It's also 2.5 years old which is a lot for an iOS device. The only advantages the original iPad Pro has is the screen and the smart connector.

 

[bensisko]

The old pro is about 10% slower, based on benchmarks. It's also 2.5 years old which is a lot for an iOS device. The only advantages the original iPad Pro has is the screen and the smart connector.

It’s also thinner and lighter.

 

[Glmnet1]

It’s also thinner and lighter.

Yeah, I personally don't care about 32g and 1.4mm.

It's also $140 (30%) cheaper if you look at the refurb price for the iPad Pro 9.7". Sure you could buy the Pro used for cheaper if you don't mind used.

All in all I think the 2018 is a much better deal if only for the additional years of iOS support. I never notice the lower quality screen unless I put mine next to a pro at the store. I do hear the sound caused by the gap under the glass but I really don't mind it.

 

[bensisko]

Yeah, I personally don't care about 32g and 1.4mm.

Different strokes.
For me, it’s a pretty significant difference in how it feels holding it. The 2018 iPad feels thicker and has a heft to it as compared to the Pro. For me, it’s very noticeable.

Having said that, i’m Not saying it’s any kind of deal breaker, but it’s a consideration. Given all the factors, I would rather have the 9.7” Pro than the 2018 iPad (even if it cost more) but that’s just personal (which, in the end doesn’t matter because I have a 10.5”).

 

[Precursor]

The old pro is about 10% slower, based on benchmarks. It's also 2.5 years old which is a lot for an iOS device. The only advantages the original iPad Pro has is the screen and the smart connector.

10% is not even a noticeable difference. For note taking or sofa browsing, 12.9" is much better, being close to A4 paper size. I used 1st Gen 12.9" since it came out and switched to 2nd gen when that came out, but didn't notice any difference in speed. The biggest noticeable difference is ProMotion, which the 2018 cheap iPP doesn't have either.

 

[antisomnic]

Does the Apple Store do in store trade ins? I was going to trade mine in at Best Buy but all 3 in my area are out of stock. The Apple store is not however.

 

[bensisko]

Does the Apple Store do in store trade ins? I was going to trade mine in at Best Buy but all 3 in my area are out of stock. The Apple store is not however.

Yes - in the US at least. Generally their value is on par with Best Buy (though some times Best Buy offers additional value).

Verizon also offers trade-ins (as i’m sure AT&T does).