iPad Pro 12.9 - a failed experiment?

[joeblow7777]

It's a tired cliche. Move on.

Btw, anybody who doubts Steve Jobs would still be a brilliant visionary today as he was 5 years ago has a lot to learn. Maybe if Apple had followed Steve's guidance to the letter then they might actually be in a better position than they are today. Everybody at Apple owes everything they have, or will have to that man.

Not a cliche, just a fact. Why don't we take it further and discuss what Alexander Graham Bell would do if he was making phones today?

As I said, I have the utmost respect for what Jobs did. He was a visionary who changed personal electronics forever! But you don't move forward in technology by looking back. Jobs died in 2011. His ideas and vision died there too. It's 2017. When does the talk of what Steve would have done end? After ten years? Twenty? Fifty??

 

[Coolpher]

Steve Jobs was a great man in his time but since then there are other people that had to fill his shoes and carry the company forward and into the future

 

[nutriousmitten]

Not to go too far off track, but as visionary as Jobs was, Apple has become so big and corporate culture so much more complicated that creativity would/does have to pass through some many layers to reach the surface.

Now, if Jobs was around and as fiery as ever (and he was there when Apple was a big company), he and only he (and that includes the legacy guys like Ive and Schiller) would be able to bypass a lot of those steps and red tape and get an idea fast tracked...and with unlimited funds he could pull something off....and "courage" to try something really different, isn't a buzzword for removing something like a headphone jack. There's now no-one there with that juice, but who's really complaining when the company is worth billions of dollars and growing. Ideas for products and software though that may have made it through in the old Apple, are likely getting stifled by politics, ego, and layers of company hierarchy etc.

And to that end, and to pull this back on topic, I don't know if Jobs would released all of what Cook and Co. have released in the past years, and that includes the IPP 12.9, certainly with the OS that its running and the somewhat limited stylus (which he hated) support. My Galaxy Note 5 S Spen has more functionality throughout the Android OS then the Pencil does in iOS, which, if you're not a sketch/professional artist that needs to digitally create (of course it blows away the Note stylus in that functionality, whether on the Note Series, or the Note Series Tablets) it really doesn't appeal to many users as it's really just something else to navigate with.

 

[sracer]

It's a tired cliche. Move on.

Btw, anybody who doubts Steve Jobs would still be a brilliant visionary today as he was 5 years ago has a lot to learn. Maybe if Apple had followed Steve's guidance to the letter then they might actually be in a better position than they are today. Everybody at Apple owes everything they have, or will have to that man.

Yes, it "Steve Jobs wouldn't have allowed it" is a tired cliche. People need to stop using it. It is pretty presumptuous to claim to know what Steve Jobs would do or wouldn't do in a situation. But then again, worshiping a man is a greater issue than being presumptuous.

 

[martint235]

Not a cliche, just a fact. Why don't we take it further and discuss what Alexander Graham Bell would do if he was making phones today?

As I said, I have the utmost respect for what Jobs did. He was a visionary who changed personal electronics forever! But you don't move forward in technology by looking back. Jobs died in 2011. His ideas and vision died there too. It's 2017. When does the talk of what Steve would have done end? After ten years? Twenty? Fifty??

Sorry he but hasn't. He's changed it for now. When you look at the IBMs and RIMs of this world, I expect a new company to be leading the way within the next 5 years. That means Apple has had a pretty good run

 

[Ben Harley]

Why are you calling it a failed experiment?

 

[bufffilm]

It's a tired cliche. Move on.

Btw, anybody who doubts Steve Jobs would still be a brilliant visionary today as he was 5 years ago has a lot to learn. Maybe if Apple had followed Steve's guidance to the letter then they might actually be in a better position than they are today. Everybody at Apple owes everything they have, or will have to that man.

joeblow7777 is right though...it's rather pointless to suppose what direction Apple would have been steered to had Jobs survived his cancer.

You can take down his picture now...keeping it dusted is nice, but i think it's time to move on. 😀

 

[joeblow7777]

Sorry he but hasn't. He's changed it for now. When you look at the IBMs and RIMs of this world, I expect a new company to be leading the way within the next 5 years. That means Apple has had a pretty good run

I think you've misunderstood what I meant. I never said that Apple will always be on top, but pretty much every personal electronic device that we use today owes something to Jobs/Apple, and since future technologies will evolve from current ones, the effects of these contributions will ripple through time indefinitely.

That being said, according to many, Apple has been in its "last 5 years" of relevance since Jobs died in 2011...

 

[JamiLynee]

So...anyone else disillusioned by their 12.9 and moving back to something smaller?

After using the 9.7 for a few days, the 12.9 just seems huge, and I can't think of a use that justifies it. All I wanted was a music writing app on the level of StaffPad (which I loved on my old surface book), and I assumed by now we would have something similar- but all we have feel like toys in comparison.

I don't use split screen often, but I take a lot of notes, and I'm surprised to find both of those are very capable on the 9.7, at least for my use.

The gain in portability has been a nice experience too, it strangely feels like I'm using an iPad for the first time.

Anyone else experiencing something similar?

In light of the 9.7 doing the same function, we downsized around Christmas. Never looked back!

 

[dingclancy23]

We need to bear in mind that these are just screen sizes. At the heart of all this is iOS. There is an iOS device from 4 inch screens to 13 inch screens, and each serves a different purpose for the user just because of its varying form factors.

The iPad Pro 12.9 is marketed as a standalone product category that can replace the laptop, but it is actually a 13 inch manifestation of iOS that is also on your phones. So what Apple is saying here is that the 12.9 Pro is the iOS device designed with this screen size so that that it can become a PC replacement.

So the failure and success of iOS is attached to the failure and success of the iPad and iPhones. They are essentially one category and if you look at it that way, it is a growing category, it just means that larger screened iOS devices are not as hot right now, but we should not mistake this as not being the future.

I believe Apple and everyone is finding the size that fits best for them. That is the reason for the 10.5' inch iPad. Even if this "experiment"-al size does not work out, there will be thinner and lighter 12.9' devices that could work for most people in the future.

Maybe in two years there will be a thread titled - "Is the 15.4 inch iPad Pro a failed experiment"?

 

[M. Gustave]

All I wanted was a music writing app on the level of StaffPad (which I loved on my old surface book), and I assumed by now we would have something similar- but all we have feel like toys in comparison.

I didn't read the whole thread, sorry, but have you tried Symphony Pro? I think it's pretty good, I even have it on my iPhone.

 

[David58117]

I didn't read the whole thread, sorry, but have you tried Symphony Pro? I think it's pretty good, I even have it on my iPhone.

Yep, that, Notion, musicJot - all feel like toys compared to StaffPad. I guess to be fair though, StaffPad is a more expensive..

 

[vbctv]

I love my 12.9 iPad Pro. I have the Smart Keyboard, pencil & back cover with it. I just wish they would make more accessories for it. The only thing that keeps me from using it more than my Mac is the lack of uTorrent & Localhost ability. Everything else is there. I know Mamp is available on iOS but it's only a viewer, not a full version. And if someone would make a app & dongle to hook hard drives up, I know the ability is there but no one has done it yet...

 

[Dave245]

I don't think it's just about the hardware, rumours say that Apple is planning more iPad Pro features for IOS 11, I guess we will have to wait and see at WWDC but I've read that Apple plans to allow more Pencil support across the iPad Pro, for example allowing users to annotate within Safari and a lot more apps. Now that would be useful and I hope they do it. I also think we are likely to see them adding more features over time to make it the PC replacement they have been saying.

At the moment I do think it's a replacement for some people, but for serious editing work you will still need a Mac. I wonder if they will someday make a Final Cut Pro app for the iPad Pro, that would be interesting.

 

[Vivian125]

So...anyone else disillusioned by their 12.9 and moving back to something smaller?

After using the 9.7 for a few days, the 12.9 just seems huge, and I can't think of a use that justifies it. All I wanted was a music writing app on the level of StaffPad (which I loved on my old surface book), and I assumed by now we would have something similar- but all we have feel like toys in comparison.

I don't use split screen often, but I take a lot of notes, and I'm surprised to find both of those are very capable on the 9.7, at least for my use.

The gain in portability has been a nice experience too, it strangely feels like I'm using an iPad for the first time.

Anyone else experiencing something similar?

Yes, it is. But, if iPad Pro has an aspect ratio of 3:2 then many people would totally find it worth to buy. 4:3 aspect ratio is so 90's and very noticeable especially on the biggest iPad

 

[Donka]

4:3 ratio is what makes iPad work for me. Both portrait and landscape orientations are legitimate options.

 

[Neodym]

if iPad Pro has an aspect ratio of 3:2 then many people would totally find it worth to buy. 4:3 aspect ratio is so 90's

No. For landscape mode (which is probably the "normal" use case for the iPad), 4:3 is better due to increased screen height. I'm glad that Apple stems against that "look-through-a-mail-slot" hype so omnipresent on other (not only) tablet platforms. And I don't care if that is considered 90's, 80's or whateverdecade's ...

 

[Kal-037]

Not a cliche, just a fact. Why don't we take it further and discuss what Alexander Graham Bell would do if he was making phones today?

As I said, I have the utmost respect for what Jobs did. He was a visionary who changed personal electronics forever! But you don't move forward in technology by looking back. Jobs died in 2011. His ideas and vision died there too. It's 2017. When does the talk of what Steve would have done end? After ten years? Twenty? Fifty??

Apple isn't perfect but their doing fine, this video really captures what is really wrong with Apple...

As for iPad Pro being a failure?... no it's a great device that was needed. It's still a niche product but it's gaining traction from what I've seen. I see people with the 12.9" now as much as I do the regular when I usually only saw regular iPads around town. The iPP is honestly one of Apple's greatest achievements. It has power that can crush an intel i5 series laptop, has a screen big enough that artists, animators, and many professionals use to get actual work done like Apple aimed this for.
The iMac 5K and iPad Pro are my favorite Apple devices.
But that's just me.

 

[ascender]

There's definitely a market for the 12.9 and I understand where Apple are going with the platform, especially when you see iOS 11.

Ironically, if I swap my laptop for a 12.9 iPad Pro I can see me wanting to buy a normal 9.7" iPad for use around the home and office for audio, video, reading and web browsing. So for me the 12.9 isn't a device which can replace both my laptop and iPad Air, just the laptop. The smaller iPad really is a great size for so much stuff and I guess their thinking with the 10.5 is to try and make it a little better better for productivity for those who don't want the very big device.

 

[s2mikey]

We need to bear in mind that these are just screen sizes. At the heart of all this is iOS. There is an iOS device from 4 inch screens to 13 inch screens, and each serves a different purpose for the user just because of its varying form factors.

The iPad Pro 12.9 is marketed as a standalone product category that can replace the laptop, but it is actually a 13 inch manifestation of iOS that is also on your phones. So what Apple is saying here is that the 12.9 Pro is the iOS device designed with this screen size so that that it can become a PC replacement.

So the failure and success of iOS is attached to the failure and success of the iPad and iPhones. They are essentially one category and if you look at it that way, it is a growing category, it just means that larger screened iOS devices are not as hot right now, but we should not mistake this as not being the future.

I believe Apple and everyone is finding the size that fits best for them. That is the reason for the 10.5' inch iPad. Even if this "experiment"-al size does not work out, there will be thinner and lighter 12.9' devices that could work for most people in the future.

Maybe in two years there will be a thread titled - "Is the 15.4 inch iPad Pro a failed experiment"?

But, is it really a suitable laptop replacement? I suspect for most power users the answer is no. Why? Because just a larger screen and a few other tacked on goodies isn't enough to make it a true laptop replacement. It's just a bigger iPad with the same positives and negatives. Power users want base level file manipulation. They want extreme power. They want local storage and plenty of it. And more. This is why the big iPad may not be a suitable replacement. Nothing to do with its screen size, IMO.

My next iPad will be the 10.5 version. It's the perfect size, weight and cost for a tablet user like me.

 

[maflynn]

They want extreme power. They want local storage and plenty of it. And more. This is why the big iPad may not be a suitable replacement. Nothing to do with its screen size, IMO.

For me, I've been quite a critic of the iPad being a replacement for a laptop for a number of reasons. Lack of mouse interactions, a visible FS as you mentioned, but more then that, its the apps you need to use. Many apps on the OS X (or windows) are more powerful, feature rich, and flexible. The iPad's ecosystem is catching up in some ways, its an evolutionary process and in that process some folks can easily use the iPad instead of a laptop.

I'm enjoying my new 10.5 iPad pro, its shaping up to be a fantastic machine, but even with its power, it cannot hold a candle to my laptop or iMac.

When I was picking up my iPad the other day, I was so tempted to get the 12.9" version because the 10.5 looked tiny in comparison and I thought I made a mistake. Once I got home, I realized this is really a great size and its working well. I originally thought the 12.9 was just too big and seeing how I'm using the 10.5, I think my opinion was validated. I know for others its a great size, but for me, the 10.5 is a better form factor. YMMV

 

[TrueBlou]

It’s definitely not a device for everyone that’s for sure. Well, I suppose if it was then it’d be the only choice 🙄

Personally I prefer the 12.9” over any other iPad. I’d hate to have to compromise on a smaller screen now. Even using other people’s iPads feels small and confined to me now.

It’s great for a lot of things, not all of which are going to be used by everyone. Take split-screen, that’s something I never used at all until the 12.9 came along, now I use it almost every day.

It’s a great drawing surface too. So much so that even my wife, who steadfastly refuses to own an iPad bigger than the Mini, regularly half inches my iPad Pro to do some of her design work.

Until the advent of the 12.9” I just couldn’t find myself using an iPad as anything more than a consumption device. I found keyboards too cramped, screen real estate lacking and just generally unpleasant to use productively.
Now I’m far more inclined to leave my MacBook behind when I know I won’t need it because I can get so much done on my iPad. Indeed even when I take my MacBook the Pro comes with me, the 12.9” high resolution screen performing admirably as a second, wireless screen.

It’s an awesome size for reading PDF’s full of graphics and for that matter comics look stunning on that big screen, erm so I’m told 😛

So at the end of the day it’s, as usual, all down to personal preference. I often see people using the 12.9”, so I don’t think it’s a failed experiment at all.
Really all I believe it is, is a niche product for a certain segment of the market and for those people, nothing else comes close to being good enough.
For everyone else, there’s three other screen sizes to choose from. One of which is going to suit their use and desires better.


Ah, nothing like one of my trademark pointless posts in the morning 😀

 

[kazmac]

Prior to this 2nd gen 12.9", I thought the original was a niche product. With the advent of ProMotion and boosted latency for the Pencil however, I think the 12.9" is anything but a failed experiment and am looking forward to seeing how much more productive I can be once iOS11 rolls around.

I forget if the iPP incorporates the machine learning, but I am very pleased that I've learned how to use minor workarounds for posting at my blog. Initially, my 12.9" did not like the CSS dynamic blog theme I am using at Google's blogger website, but by the second time I created posts a lot of the issues vanished. Of course, it being Google there will always be some minor snags when I do not post on my Mac, but I am pleased and did not fire up my iMac at all yesterday.

Everyone's usage and needs might be different, but I am loving my 12.9". When it comes time to upgrade my iPhone, I'll probably get an SE and 10.5 (or Mini Pro if they should somehow consider that) as my commuting set up. For now, home use the 12.9" is fantastic (and I'd travel with it if I had an easy commute). Now to find a back cover that works with the ASK.

@maflynn Congrats on the 10.5 iPP purchase. Enjoy it!

 

[aevan]

It's easy, really. If you're an illustrator, 12.9" is not a failed experiment, it's practically 'a must'. I wish it was even bigger, to be honest. While smaller iPads are nice for quick sketches, for illustrations, you need some space to draw, maybe even put some reference next to Procreate when working in landscape. It's great.

I grow tired of all those comments on YT, podcasts, forums, etc: "No one needs this unless you're an illustrator, or creative professional" - as if these categories are not really important. Imagine if I said something like - "no one really needs musical instruments. Unless, you know, you're a musician - but guitars are a failed experiment, really."

 

[maflynn]

It’s an awesome size for reading PDF’s full of graphics and for that matter comics look stunning on that big screen, erm so I’m told 😛

I'm blown away by the size/crispness of the 10.5, so I can only imagine how the 12.9 is. I love how comics are being rendered on my 10.5.

I'm happy with the 10.5, but I can see why the 12.9 is such a great product