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iPad or iPad Pro

M

Mdv2

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 26, 2008
196
27
My job requires me to fly several times a week and so far I have been using my iPhone 6S and/or my Late 2013 Macbook Pro 13" for leisure purposes such as browsing and watching media content.

I was never a great fan of the iPad as I very much appreciate a psychical keyboard and trackpad and it seems not as sturdy and comfortable to hold an iPad on your lap while laying in bed. However, with so many hand-luggage only trips, the weight and bulkiness of my Macbook is turning into a pain while the iPhone does not function as a substitute either due to the small screen size.

As I will be flying for trip to the US in two weeks, I was thinking of picking up an iPad to replace my Macbook on those trips.

1)Screen size - since the iPad would primarily serve the purpose of watching Netflix and browsing, the 12.9" screen would be a great substitute for my Macbook, but how well does the 9" iPad serve this purpose? Also, I read that the 9" is much more suitable to keep in your hands for a long time while commuting/traveling.

2)Pro/Non Pro - the iPad would be used 90% while traveling. I doubt I would use it a lot at home as I am expecting to keep on preferring my Macbook for home-use. As previously, stated mainly for casual browsing/netflix. Therefore price is of essence. Would anything justify getting a Pro over a regular iPad? Should I consider a Pro to replace my Macbook Pro altogether?

3)Storage - I have a 64GB iPhone and I am nowhere near using most of that capacity. Given that I would want to store some Netflix content for travels without WiFi, would it make sense to get the 128GB or would 32GB be sufficient?

Many thanks!
 
For travel purposes, I would recommend the 9.7 inch model. It's definitely more convenient for portability and will be less cumbersome than the 12.9 inch Pro.

The biggest advantages with the Pro model are the quad speakers, Apple Pencil support, smart connector for a keyboard and it has Tru-Tone display. If you don't have an appreciation for those features, then the Pro model likely would not be for you, as you did mention price point is a consideration.

Otherwise, there is the 2017 9.7 inch iPad which starts at $329.00, which does not have any Pro features.

I Think it's really up to you if you think that the iPad Pro can replace your MacBook Pro, again, it depends on what type of work/productivity you do on your MacBook Pro.

32 GB should be more than enough for your needs. Especially if you are not utilizing 64 GB of your iPhone memory.
 
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For media use,email and internet search,the old iPad Air 2 works great as a travel device,for more advanced work,the pro or the MacBook is better. As you already got a working laptop,I guess the iPad will mostly be used as a second choice device when on the move,so a 9.7 incher is probably the best choice.
 
The new 9.7 sounds like the ticket since price is a concern. I find the size just fine for watching films. But definitely go for the 128GB model as you may want to download a bunch of movies for those longer flights. The 32GB could easily get cramped quickly.

Also, Apple has a good return policy if you don't like the screen size. There are some inexpensive cases/stands that will allow you to easily put it on a tray table. You can also go for a keyboard and although it is not a great productivity device, with a keyboard you can crank out some word documents with ease.
 
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Thanks for the input everyone. I'll probably go for the 9.7" with 128GB.
It would not be a problem using a bluetooth keyboard neither would I reckon to be using the pencil. Any other reasons to consider the Pro over the regular iPad?
 
Mdv2 said:
the weight and bulkiness of my Macbook is turning into a pain
Click to expand...

When you say MacBook, are you referring to the 12" retina MacBook? If not, you really should consider it. It's a really underrated laptop, unless you're dead set on iOS / touchscreen / Pencil functionality.
 
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I definitely was in your shoes earlier this year. I have a MacBook and an iPhone but never was a fan of the iPad until I started traveling.

I would recommend, even if you're the modest of gigabyte user, don't bother getting 32 GB iPad. If you find yourself putting media such as: music, movies and games- you're going to find yourself in need of space.

Something you may consider, wifi in planes limit the bandwith of the internet use. Streaming services such as Netflix, HBO, and Hulu are sometimes restricted, therefore having gigabyte storage can be essential.

As for myself, I went with the iPad Pro 9.7. Rationally, it probably isn't worth the price difference between iPad vs iPP but if you're somewhat of a feature creature, price may not need a factor.
 
I had the big iPad Pro which I used mostly for watching videos in bed. Traded "down" to the smaller size iPad Pro. No regrets. Much lighter and easier to handle. Also have the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. Don't use them much, but it's nice to know they're there, especially when I go away and leave my MacBook at home.

I couldn't replace my MacBook with an iPad -- I use Adobe Creative Suite, and I have Excel spreadsheets which are linked to each other, which the iPad version doesn't support.
 
masotime said:
When you say MacBook, are you referring to the 12" retina MacBook? If not, you really should consider it. It's a really underrated laptop, unless you're dead set on iOS / touchscreen / Pencil functionality.
Click to expand...

I completely agree, especially when the OP says...

Mdv2 said:
I was never a great fan of the iPad as I very much appreciate a psychical keyboard and trackpad and it seems not as sturdy and comfortable to hold an iPad on your lap while laying in bed.
Click to expand...

I absolutely will recommend the iPad to people who I think it will fit, but I don't think it's a fit in this situation. Even an old used 11" MacBook Air would probably be a better fit in this scenario.
 
Thanks all for the input, really useful. Quite sure I'm getting the 128GB iPad. Doesn't seem it's worth spending $300 more on a Pro for my needs.
 
Seems that the 10.5" ipad pro will be announced. Maybe you will like the screen estate more
 
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