I got my iPad Pro the day it was released and have been using it regularly since then, mainly for work (I'm a Ph.D. student in engineering) and the iPad Pro has been an awesome companion device. I thought that I would pen down some of my thoughts.
I should also mention that I currently use my Surface Pro 4 (mid range, i5, 256 gb storage, 8 gb RAM) and I previously used an iPad Air 2 and an iPad Mini 4.
Firstly, the SP4 is an awesome device and it is a tablet that has functioned as my primary computer since it was released. I have a surface dock that transforms the tablet into a full work station at my office. It is an amazing tablet that does everything I need: solving equations using the surface pen, complex excel spreadsheets, has a trackpad, writing research papers, note taking, image editing and whatever research related software that I need in my particular project. I also tutor a class for a university subject and I prepare for these classes using the SP 4. I then teach using the iPad Mini 4 since I can carry it with one hand.
As a tablet though, the SP4 has many drawbacks. Unless I'm at my desk, the battery life lasts only about half a work day. It's heavy and unwieldy to be used as a portable notebook. I often have to dial down the device settings and even throttle the CPU in order for it to be used while on the move/traveling. If I have to bring the charging brick with me, it negates the point of having a lightweight tablet in the first place.
So instead of carrying a charger, I've found that the iPad Air 2 does a good job as a companion device. I use the Brydge Air or Logitech Keys to Go Bluetooth keyboards. That way, I can move around with my iPad and do most light computing on it (not to mention, access to a cellular network helps tremendously). The battery is awesome and I never worry about not having enough power. The main drawback I've felt with the iPad is that I cannot write full research papers on it (unless there is an app that can do "cite while you write" that I don't know of. iOS endnote doesn't support it) and there is no point buying a stylus for it since the SP 4's surface pen will give me a better writing experience.
So when the iPad Pro 9.7" was released, I bought it mainly for the Apple Pencil but I also got the Smart Keyboard. I can't notice a difference in performance as compared to the iPad Air 2 in the light computing tasks that I do. However, the Apple Pencil allows me to move all handwriting related work away from the SP4. As far as writing and drawing are concerned, the Apple Pencil really trumps the Surface Pen. But the main issue I have is that I don't like the lack of an eraser on the Apple Pencil, but that's a small issue... It's just that I got used to flipping around the Surface Pen when I need to erase something. The portability of the device makes iPad Pro a superior note taking tablet as compared to the Surface Pro.
The Smart Keyboard is a very good accessory. Something that I like because it really helps with the portability aspect of the iPad Pro. I can easily fold the keyboard behind the iPad to use it as a tablet comfortably (unlike the SP4 where I prefer to detach the keyboard because I don't like the keys clicking from behind the tablet). It's thin and light making it very practical for mobility. The lack of shortcut keys, poor but usable lap-ability, and a single standing angle all annoy me a little but are trade offs I'm willing to make. Not using Bluetooth has its perks too.
Conversely, the Brydge Air keyboard is far more comfortable to type on, provides lap-ability and screen angles like a laptop. The downside is that I have to remove the keyboard if I want to use the iPad as a tablet. Which is fine in most situations but very inconvenient if I am on the move.
The point is, I use the Brydge Air or the Smart Keyboard depending on my workload for the day and the amount of stuff I am carrying in my backpack (the Brydge Air is heavier). However, is the Smart Keyboard a reason to upgrade to the iPad Pro? Definitely not since I was perfectly happy using my Brydgeair with my iPad Air 2 most of the time. However, if you own an iPad Pro for other reasons, the additional mobility provided by the Smart Keyboard is hard to pass up.
I definitely didn't need to upgrade to the iPad Pro since the SP 4 and the Air 2 were both capable of doing everything I needed for my work. The main benefit I get using the iPad Pro is simply moving all handwriting work over from the SP4 to the iPad which gives me more portability. Most of my work is stored in cloud storage so I transfer between devices somewhat seamlessly.
Just my two cents worth on these devices. Not all workloads can be transferred to the iPad. If there is a step in your workflow that requires a traditional OS, you are going to need a laptop or a desktop. If this is you, the SP4 is an amazing catch-all device. It will do everything you will ever need done with the main problem being the battery. My wife has a MacBook Air but I would pick the SP4 over the Air (or any Mac) mainly because I get to use it as a tablet with good handwriting/drawing capabilities. Lap-ability isn't great but doable.
If you already have a main computer (e.g. An iMac, MacBook, laptop, desktop), then the iPad Pro or Air 2 is very nice addition for portability (the former if you need to write/draw by hand). My workflow would've been completely fine with a desktop + iPad Pro.
As of now, the iPad Pro/Air 2 are both excellent companion devices. If there is one thing I wish the iPad could do, it'll be to do a "cite while you write" word document. If there is an app that can do that, do let me know. If I can type full length research papers on the iPad, it'll be able to become my primary device since this constitutes the bulk of my workload.
I should also mention that I currently use my Surface Pro 4 (mid range, i5, 256 gb storage, 8 gb RAM) and I previously used an iPad Air 2 and an iPad Mini 4.
Firstly, the SP4 is an awesome device and it is a tablet that has functioned as my primary computer since it was released. I have a surface dock that transforms the tablet into a full work station at my office. It is an amazing tablet that does everything I need: solving equations using the surface pen, complex excel spreadsheets, has a trackpad, writing research papers, note taking, image editing and whatever research related software that I need in my particular project. I also tutor a class for a university subject and I prepare for these classes using the SP 4. I then teach using the iPad Mini 4 since I can carry it with one hand.
As a tablet though, the SP4 has many drawbacks. Unless I'm at my desk, the battery life lasts only about half a work day. It's heavy and unwieldy to be used as a portable notebook. I often have to dial down the device settings and even throttle the CPU in order for it to be used while on the move/traveling. If I have to bring the charging brick with me, it negates the point of having a lightweight tablet in the first place.
So instead of carrying a charger, I've found that the iPad Air 2 does a good job as a companion device. I use the Brydge Air or Logitech Keys to Go Bluetooth keyboards. That way, I can move around with my iPad and do most light computing on it (not to mention, access to a cellular network helps tremendously). The battery is awesome and I never worry about not having enough power. The main drawback I've felt with the iPad is that I cannot write full research papers on it (unless there is an app that can do "cite while you write" that I don't know of. iOS endnote doesn't support it) and there is no point buying a stylus for it since the SP 4's surface pen will give me a better writing experience.
So when the iPad Pro 9.7" was released, I bought it mainly for the Apple Pencil but I also got the Smart Keyboard. I can't notice a difference in performance as compared to the iPad Air 2 in the light computing tasks that I do. However, the Apple Pencil allows me to move all handwriting related work away from the SP4. As far as writing and drawing are concerned, the Apple Pencil really trumps the Surface Pen. But the main issue I have is that I don't like the lack of an eraser on the Apple Pencil, but that's a small issue... It's just that I got used to flipping around the Surface Pen when I need to erase something. The portability of the device makes iPad Pro a superior note taking tablet as compared to the Surface Pro.
The Smart Keyboard is a very good accessory. Something that I like because it really helps with the portability aspect of the iPad Pro. I can easily fold the keyboard behind the iPad to use it as a tablet comfortably (unlike the SP4 where I prefer to detach the keyboard because I don't like the keys clicking from behind the tablet). It's thin and light making it very practical for mobility. The lack of shortcut keys, poor but usable lap-ability, and a single standing angle all annoy me a little but are trade offs I'm willing to make. Not using Bluetooth has its perks too.
Conversely, the Brydge Air keyboard is far more comfortable to type on, provides lap-ability and screen angles like a laptop. The downside is that I have to remove the keyboard if I want to use the iPad as a tablet. Which is fine in most situations but very inconvenient if I am on the move.
The point is, I use the Brydge Air or the Smart Keyboard depending on my workload for the day and the amount of stuff I am carrying in my backpack (the Brydge Air is heavier). However, is the Smart Keyboard a reason to upgrade to the iPad Pro? Definitely not since I was perfectly happy using my Brydgeair with my iPad Air 2 most of the time. However, if you own an iPad Pro for other reasons, the additional mobility provided by the Smart Keyboard is hard to pass up.
I definitely didn't need to upgrade to the iPad Pro since the SP 4 and the Air 2 were both capable of doing everything I needed for my work. The main benefit I get using the iPad Pro is simply moving all handwriting work over from the SP4 to the iPad which gives me more portability. Most of my work is stored in cloud storage so I transfer between devices somewhat seamlessly.
Just my two cents worth on these devices. Not all workloads can be transferred to the iPad. If there is a step in your workflow that requires a traditional OS, you are going to need a laptop or a desktop. If this is you, the SP4 is an amazing catch-all device. It will do everything you will ever need done with the main problem being the battery. My wife has a MacBook Air but I would pick the SP4 over the Air (or any Mac) mainly because I get to use it as a tablet with good handwriting/drawing capabilities. Lap-ability isn't great but doable.
If you already have a main computer (e.g. An iMac, MacBook, laptop, desktop), then the iPad Pro or Air 2 is very nice addition for portability (the former if you need to write/draw by hand). My workflow would've been completely fine with a desktop + iPad Pro.
As of now, the iPad Pro/Air 2 are both excellent companion devices. If there is one thing I wish the iPad could do, it'll be to do a "cite while you write" word document. If there is an app that can do that, do let me know. If I can type full length research papers on the iPad, it'll be able to become my primary device since this constitutes the bulk of my workload.
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