iPad Pro Review Roundup: Powerful Creative Canvas, but Not Quite a PC Replacement

[tampageek]

By touting iPPro as a replacement for MAC's, Tim is implying that iOS is somehow superior to OS X. IMHO, that is where the problem is.

Just because the iPhone is 's best selling product doesn't mean it can replace laptops and OS X. Which once again raises the question ...why do I need to replace my laptop with a tablet that's about the same size and costs more?

 

[djcerla]

By gen 3, the iPad Pro will be so much more powerful than the best Intel i7 chips it will not even be funny.

This is a revolution in the making,QUOTE]

Oh please, let's bookmark this comment

Single core performance is very close TODAY. By gen 3 Aplle will be comfortably ahead in multicore performance, too.

X86 is officially on life support.

 

[Marx55]

Which demonstrates that Apple should release a Mac tablet.

 

[sseaton1971]

iPad pro will never do all things which Mac does.
Similarly, there are many things which iPad does and Mac can't like touch based operations.

Exactly my point.

These are different devices and workflow is different. You and I probably cannot relearn, but kids who grew on iPads and iPhones, can.

This has nothing to do worth relearning. I am certainly capable of adapting to anything that comes my way, and this is not even about preference. This is about some things just can't be done (or at least not easily and efficiently) on an iPad Pro. With that said, perhaps the iPad Pro will evolve to be able to do the same things as a laptop can do today.

As I stated, an iPad Pro will not become my main computing device as of now... but that doesn't mean that I won't get one!

 

[The Mercurian]

I'm pretty sure you're capable of reading between the lines in regards to that phrase.

I'm pretty sure you missed my point

 

[MacDarcy]

True on the line I highlighted, but you have to recognize that the majority of people that buy computers are NOT the people that frequent tech sites. I'm sure many people here like to believe otherwise but it's the plain truth that techies and tech-enthusiasts are in the minority.

There are still a great deal of people with big clunky desktop setups at home that do no more than type up emails, create simple documents and spreadsheets and watch YouTube videos. And then you have the corporate people that need an iPad Pro for much of the same things that people do at home. The real truth about enterprise is they don't get all "complex" with computers as some people think and an iPad Pro would be a perfect desktop replacement for either home or use for many people .

I agree with some of what you say. Many people just use the puters for media consumption. That's why the iPhone has taken over in many respects. But many people gravitated to Apple as a creation tool. Artists. Filmmakers. Musicians. Etc. Not to mention gamers. The computer is still an essential tool. Apple may have abandoned its power mac, for the more than powerful enough IMac and macbook pros...but I don't think the iPad pro is close to replacing the MacBook Pro or IMac for creative types. But I do see your point about some people opting for an iPad instead of a laptop for home. In this regard, I think the iPad pro may be too pricey for those people. They are probably already using an iPad or iPad mini for around the house. As an artist, the iPad pro does interest me as a digital sketchbook. But if the apple pencil worked on my iPad mini, I'd not buy one.

 

[HenryDJP]

I'm pretty sure you missed my point

Actually no I didn't and I wasn't alone.

 

[jpgr15]

<deleted>

 

[jaydee24601]

Sounds DREAMY for teachers (me) and to thousands of students (especially those who study the creative arts -- and those who will utilize Adobe Creative Suite, textbooks, note taking, academic research, documentation, and annotation)!

 

[Northgrove]

It would be a nice surprise if Apple made iOS 9 into a less major release because they had set aside a team for iOS 10, making it an unusually big release, with an almost 100% focus on desktop use for iOS. iOS X! The convergence has been going on for a while now, but I'm still hoping for a final major push to get there. I've also been waiting for iOS apps on OS X presented on the desktop in a similar fashion as Windows 10 universal apps. Force Touch could be right click.

 

[HenryDJP]

I like Apple - a lot actually. It doesn't mean I can't be critical of them. Consumers are supposed to demand the best - if they didnt' we'd all still be using Windows 95/Mac OS 9.2.2

Saying "Apple Shoved Crap In our Faces" is not being critical of the company. That's a trolling type of a statement. If you want to be taken seriously put out valid points. And don't forget, you don't have to buy so nobody is shoving anything in your face.

 

[dk001]

As a PhD student I'm pretty excited about this product.

Perfect for annotating slides/notes (which all of my professors provide before class and I currently annotate using my iPad and a crappy stylus). It's also perfect for reading research papers and reviewing and editing papers (both things I do with my iPad now - but a bigger screen and non-crappy stylus will help).

I currently carry both an iPad and a 15" MacBook Pro. That won't be changing as my major is Computational Engjneering so I need to write code all day long. Different devices for different purposes.

Students are going to LOVE this new machine... And there are a LOT of students out there...

Here's an observation for you.
My son started at a local university last year and took his Samsung 10 and stylus. He said in his classes he saw a few tablets, a lot of paper tablets and a few notebooks. A year later, he sees more laptops and less tablets. He's moved over to a Chromebook.

 

[SHNXX]

As a PhD student I'm pretty excited about this product.

Perfect for annotating slides/notes (which all of my professors provide before class and I currently annotate using my iPad and a crappy stylus). It's also perfect for reading research papers and reviewing and editing papers (both things I do with my iPad now - but a bigger screen and non-crappy stylus will help).

I currently carry both an iPad and a 15" MacBook Pro. That won't be changing as my major is Computational Engjneering so I need to write code all day long. Different devices for different purposes.

Students are going to LOVE this new machine... And there are a LOT of students out there...

what applications do you use for note-taking and annotating PDFs?
the iAnnotate last time I tried it was the worst piece of **** ever.

 

[Stella]

But doesn't the iPad Air 2 already do all of that, and at almost half the price?

Yes... But given the larger display may be more comfortable to work with ( if using a desktop and keyboard).

You could point out - what's the point of an iPad Pro if you don't need the stylus?

 

[Nausicaa]

Do these people not even take hand written notes? Geez.

Here's another solid review I just read focused on note taking:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9780/taking-notes-with-ipad-pro

 

[jpgr15]

<deleted>

 

[JohnApples]

Agreeing with the general consensus here. It looks amazing, but that iOS is crippling it's potential.

I know people will whip out their "101 reasons why OS X shouldn't be on iPad" list, but I think that the Pro at least needs it's own modified, souped-up version of iOS to truly be a "pro" device.

 

[ThorntonArt]

Want…but don’t need. I do complicated 2d art (Photoshop), moderate 3d art (ZBrush, Modo), and some app/game dev (Unity3d).

Surface Pro meets my actual pro needs.

For 2d artists with a somewhat simple workflow (of which there are many) this will be awesome. I bet that stylus has the best feel on the market.

 

[citysnaps]

You're right - the anti iPad Pro crowd would like to see it fail - but not so they can say they were right - but so Apple will wake up and stop shoving crap on us. It's a giant iPad running virtually the same OS as an iPhone 5S - you don't see a problem with that? Apple is lazy and greedy.

How is Apple shoving crap on you? They introduced a product you have no need for. Is Apple threatening you in some way to purchase it, causing that anger to be unleashed? You may not believe it, but you do have a choice and free will to purchase or not.

It would be like somebody walking into a Costco looking at all the large screen TVs with gimmicks and saying, "I sure hope Samsung wakes up and stops shoving crap on us." Simply because they don't need a 110" curved TV with unnecessary features. Or ragging on Tesla or some other manufacturer for offering something you don't need, but that others will gladly embrace.

Many other people will like what the iPad Pro offers and will purchase one. Simple as that.

 

[zosobao5150]

Not a laptop replacement for most users until the following occur:
1) An easy method to convert x86 software to ARM based is developed. This would allow companies such as Adobe to begin bringing more full-featured pro programs to this ecosystem.
2) Must allow for easy transfer and utilization of hard drives and networks when docked. For both document storage and even storing/running actual programs.

Until then....this is just a bigger ipad.

 

[MacFan1957]

And don't get me started on that (ugly) 99$ stylus which doesn't seem to be well thought out, Jesus Christ.

I reckon that you'd only need to read about 5 minutes (possibly less) of blog comments per day to see something impossibly stupid. The Apple Pencil is almost certainly the most advanced stylus ever created but hey, its "ugly". Makes you want to give up reading for good!

 

[HenryDJP]

Dude, read the post again and don't quote me as saying something I didn't. You've done it in like two different posts now. Not once in my OP did I say Apple "shoved crap in our faces".

You're right - the anti iPad Pro crowd would like to see it fail - but not so they can say they were right - but so Apple will wake up and stop shoving crap on us. It's a giant iPad running virtually the same OS as an iPhone 5S - you don't see a problem with that? Apple is lazy and greedy.

Apparently you have memory issues in regards to your own posts. And once again, nothing you're saying is being critical of Apple. You've posted ZERO valid points and you have lost a ton of credibility. Don't bother replying because I'm done trading comments back and forth with a member who uses terms like "Shoving Crap" and expects to be taken seriously as being critical.

 

[Tech198]

Sometimes I hate always being right

...and this still won't stop me replacing my Air 2..

 

[jpgr15]

<deleted>

 

[Tech198]

I guess Apple needs to open their OS up more.... much more, in order for be a positive "replacement"..

At least tvOS has got 3rd party apps. Maybe the iPad Pro will follow suite?