iPad Pro instead of MacBook/Pro?

[Codeseven]

I bought a Refurbished 1st gen iPad Air to take with me while traveling. I didn't want to lug around my 'ships anchor' heavy 2008 MacBook Pro again, besides, it's aging and starting to have issues. I've never owned an iPad before.

Shockingly (to me), I'm finding an iPad is plenty fast enough for my apps, searching the net, getting mail etc, etc, and so far, pretty much doing everything that I was using my MBP for. Now I'm thinking, this is just an older 1st gen Air, the upcoming iPad Pro with it's reported A9 chip, much larger Retina screen, USB C/Thunderbolt and much larger storage is going to be light years even better. I've been waiting to spend 2-$3,000 on a new MBP thinking it's what I need, but maybe I should save $2,000 and move on to the iPad Pro instead.

Some MB or MBP users utilize all the power their laptops provide, but now I wonder how many actually 'need' an expensive high powered laptop but instead, like me, don't realize that an iPad can be so great?

Now I'm reading everything I can about the iPad Pro, can't wait!

 

[zhenya]

This is also the niche that the new Macbook was meant to fill. The iPad is great for many things, but in the long run, doing more complex work on it can become a chore. My iPad is going nowhere, but the Macbook is what I have been waiting for from a laptop for years.

 

[Codeseven]

I feel like there have been three distinct camps, iPad users, iMac users and MacBook users. I think the iPad Pro is going to be a blend of iPad users looking for more and MacBook users needing less.

 

[Conan86]

It really depends on individual use case for the equipment. There are plenty of people who don't really require the power that a MBP has to offer. For basic tasks such as email, media consumption, surfing the net and simple gaming, the iPad has plenty to offer and it can definitely be sufficient as your daily computing device.

For others, a MB/MBP is still the best option as it has more to offer and can be more productive as compared to doing the same task using an iPad.

I'm excited to see how Apple is going to fill the gap between the MB and iPad especially when the new MacBook is already super portable.

 

[Pakaku]

I need a desktop OS I can fiddle with, and without ridiculous restrictions, as my main computer OS.

That's why I can only take the iPad Pro seriously if it takes advantage of the form factor and ends up a Cintiq Companion competitor. I want real pen support with real pressure sensitivity, across all apps. Not some finnicky third-party solution which probably only works with a few apps.

And, y'know, some real USB ports would be nice.

 

[sracer]

Without knowing what the (as of yet mythical) iPad Pro will actually be, it is impossible to determine how well suited it will be for a particular person. I know what I'd need it to have in order to draw me to it, but that will be different for each person.

Then there's the possibility that there is no iPad Pro coming this year. Apple may very well be waiting until it can produce a true hybrid device... which is perhaps 2 years away.

 

[Codeseven]

Definitely user needs dependent.

Is the division between iPad and MacBook more about the operating platform as opposed to power and features, i.e. , iOS vs OS X? I already miss not being able to use a couple of my favorite programs because they don't offer an iOS version (Reaper, S-Gear).

Both the iPad and MacBook are mobile devices and as such I would think they would both be expected to be used in a less demanding way than a say a desktop iMac. I don't have a desktop computer (my last itineration of which was a Windows PC I built years ago, the LAST Windows run device I will ever own if I can help it) so I depend on my MBP for all my computing. I like that I have the option of bringing it with me but I've always had the mindset that it must be as powerful as possible so it can handle anything I might want it to do. The same attitude I used to have when I built the Windows PC. But now with how powerful even a simple cell phone has become I'm realizing 'I' may not need a powerhouse desktop or laptop anymore.

I've always pictured iPads in the hands of kids or teens playing games. I'm amazed at how powerful just my first gen Air is. I'd love to see the iPad Pro live up to the hype. For me, it could become my new do it all computer.

 

[iPadDad]

Hi Codeseven,

You should see the difference between the iPad Air 2 and the one you have, the difference in performance is insane!

But yeah it's getting very close to launch date for the iPad Pro, I would also wait.

 

[Codeseven]

Hi Codeseven,

You should see the difference between the iPad Air 2 and the one you have, the difference in performance is insane!

But yeah it's getting very close to launch date for the iPad Pro, I would also wait.

Ya, I'll bet it's huge. I purposely didn't get anything better/more expensive than a Refirb 1st gen 16Gb Air just to get a feel for what an iPad is and how it works. When the Pro comes out I'll be up to speed, credit card in hand

 

[sracer]

Ya, I'll bet it's huge. I purposely didn't get anything better/more expensive than a Refirb 1st gen 16Gb Air just to get a feel for what an iPad is and how it works. When the Pro comes out I'll be up to speed, credit card in hand

If the Pro ends up being little more than a larger iPad Air, then I'll probably give it a pass and go for the Air 3.

 

[Codeseven]

If the Pro ends up being little more than a larger iPad Air, then I'll probably give it a pass and go for the Air 3.

Coming from a 15" screen on my old MBP, the Air's screen seems pretty small in comparison. I'll welcome a larger screen on the Pro (if 12.9" is true). It'll still be so much smaller, thinner and lighter than what I'm used to lugging around. But even if the Pro screen is not bigger, it's the other features like the A9 processor, USB C/Thunderbolt 3, etc. that I'm interested in.