iPad Pro Reviews Roundup: Blazingly Fast With a More Balanced Design, But Some Face ID and USB-C Quirks

[FasterQuieter]

I have always loved the iPad for what it is, so the constant laptop replacement talk bores me to tears. The one thing I would like though is better options for external storage/interfaces. I would hardly ever use them, but that would be nice. The most frustrating issue I have with the iPad is not being able to import directly into Lightroom, as Nilay Patel talked about. More robust support for external storage would presumably help with this. It would also be nice to see a Final Cut Pro X version that could read a Mac project file. So you could unhook an SSD from the Mac, plug it into the iPad and continue your project.

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

I like iPads. I bought my first one (iPad 2) without a specific use case in mind other than reading books and browsing the web. My thinking was , this is an interesting new platform, the best way to really know what it can do for me is by owning and using one.

After several years and iPad replacements (I now own an air 2) I can say the following:
It’s been really great for entertainment but not so much for productivity. For me, productivity means databases, excel files, MATLAB, remote desktop connections to enterprise software. None of that works well on an IPad in my experience.

I see many comments in this forum where people claim to use iPads professionally, maybe I’m stuck in the traditional ways of doing things but I can’t see how they do it. The new IPad pros look gorgeous but are now very expensive if they are going to be used mainly as toys. All that claimed “blazingly fast” performance is meant to do what exactly? Playing games and videos?

Seriously, am I missing something? Please enlighten me

Because it depends entirely on what you do for a living? I am self-employed and teach online, using FaceTime/Skype/Google Hangouts/proprietary software and a browser-based whiteboard that I draw on with the Apple Pencil. I also use iBooks and Files a lot for looking at and marking up PDFs. Before getting an IPP, I used a MBP and a Wacom tablet. An IPP is actually a much better tool for the job, particularly if you want to work wherever in the world you happen to be at the moment.

 

[jlc1978]

I wish you could at least use ipad natively as a second screen using thunderbolt 3 (connected to Mac).

I never understood why Apple didn't build in support ii OS X/iOS to use iPads as a display. Duet and Luna provide solutions but it seems a no-brainer for Apple to have natively provided such a solution.

 

[mdlooker]

Nope. Just no. Could not disagree more. The iPad has generally been compared to and mentioned together with the words PC and computer so many times.

It has functionality of a PC. PCs can go to websites.. PCs can play video.. PCs can open documents.. PCs can open different files.. Ipad can do all of these.. so what's so wrong with saying that? But that doesn't take away the unique differentiability the two have.. they HAVE to be different, otherwise why in the world have them both on sale simultaneously? Since when has advertisement been absolute, 100% of the time..with any company? I see where you're coming from in terms of the mention of the comparability but pull out a little bit and see the whole picture of broadening a selling base. Heck, why even have 3 new iphone lines introduced this year? Different flavors, but they all have similar functionality.

 

[69Mustang]

. Jobs’s car/truck analogy made this quite clear.

The iPad obviously is a notebook/desktop replacement for some users—
.

Jobs is dead. So is that car/truck analogy in this instance. If the iPad is a notebook replacement for some, then it can be judged in comparison to what it replaces.

No, it is the fault of power users...

This is wrong. If Apple can market the iPad as a pc/laptop/computer then it can be criticized or praised accordingly.

 

[DNichter]

But when the company making the car says it can handle the tasks of a truck... you end up getting the car compared to a truck.

It seems pretty simple. If you don't want your car compared a truck, don't compare it to a truck yourself. To be fair though, the car maker isn't shying away making the comparisons nor complaining about comparisons being made. The whining comes from car owners.

I think you were confusing my message a bit (rightfully so). An iPad can absolutely replace a laptop for a large amount of people (not all), that's what Apple is stating. They aren't saying an iPad can handle every single task that you can think of ever done on a computer. The people who need more than that (trucks) tend to look at specific use cases where a certain app for spec is needed to accomplish a certain task, and then turning around and saying "See! An iPad (car) can't do that, it can't replace a laptop at all." That's kind of what I mean. We are looking too hard at specific use cases. If it doesn't work for an individual, then absolutely use something more traditional. It's not an all or nothing kind of deal. Hope that makes sense.
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I had a 69 SS 396 El Camino in my early 20’s. I hauled a large refrigerator with it over a 50 mile trip. Can I complain on both sides of the discussion?

Yes, for sure. That's completely valid and pretty badass haha.
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If and when that time ever comes I will jump all over the future iPad Pro. I just can't justify spending $1800 on 1tb of storage, which is what I'd have to do if I went the iPad route right now.

Yea that's crazy to me too. I just don't personally need a TB of anything on my device at one time.

 

[00sjsl]

Some people do get attached to old stuff and struggle to adapt to the new stuff. Just the way people are.

Having access to an external hard drive would provide the reassurance that it would be possible to leave the apple ecosystem if it becomes necessary. The cloud service only approach risks lock in.

 

[DNichter]

Having access to an external hard drive would provide the reassurance that it would be possible to leave the apple ecosystem if it becomes necessary. The cloud service only approach risks lock in.

Depends on the cloud service, majority work across any device.

 

[00sjsl]

"Maybe we just need to wait for third party apps to support it?

Everything comes round full circle. In the early DOS days the hw drivers were in the apps.
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Depends on the cloud service, majority work across any device.

That's certainly true of CC and the like, but the default apple ones don't AFAIK.

 

[Digital Skunk]

The issue with what you’re wishing for here is that it goes back in technology as far as what Apple would ever want you to do. Wanting to backup your iPhone into your iPads memory would completely defeat the purpose of what iCloud was invented for. Apple wants you to use iCloud as a replacement for having to physically plug in your devices, so no, the chances of backing up your iPhone into an iPads memory is extremely slim to none.

Hence the reason for Apple not offering a true desktop replacement with the iPad. More so than this point, Apple won't turn iOS into a Mac competitor, so while backing up to an iPad isn't so far-fetched, (and more likely than you think) the real issue will be how Apple has aligned its offerings with the iPad Pro reaching deep into MacBook Pro/Air territory but not offering the benefit of a full laptop experience.

Apple may want us to back up to the cloud, but that's less practical than backing up to an iPad, and expensive with 256GB iPhones. (Not so unlikely with a 1TB iPad). But Apple still gives us the choice to backup to computers running iTunes on both Macs and PCs.

 

[DNichter]

Everything comes round full circle. In the early DOS days the hw drivers were in the apps.
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That's certainly true of CC and the like, but the default apple ones don't AFAIK.

Correct, but that's my point. You don't have to use iCloud.

 

[Astra92]

A bunch of people with trucks complaining that a car can't handle the same tasks that a truck can.

Thing is, with the new iPad Pros, they're calling a car a truck, but hamstringing it with the software worthy of a vespa. This is the same issue that came up with the lack of higher capacity RAM options on the 2017 MBPs. This is a "Pro" device that stretches into MBP pricing territory that does not yet match the versatility of the MBPs.

And yes, at those higher prices I do believe it should supply a competing capability.

 

[Rogifan]

Just saw a tweet from Myke Hurley saying if you want a review of the new IPP from people who use iPad as their daily driver wait until after Wednesday. Man some of the responses to his tweet...ouch. Why does the iPad offend some people so much? It’s not like Apple is putting a gun to people’s heads telling them they have to use an iPad. If iPad doesn’t work for you there are other options that work perfectly fine. I mean are people’s workflows hampered because they can’t pinch to zoom on a Mac laptop screen? I don’t think so.

 

[DNichter]

Thing is, with the new iPad Pros, they're calling a car a truck, but hamstringing it with the software worthy of a vespa. This is the same issue that came up with the lack of higher capacity RAM options on the 2017 MBPs. This is a "Pro" device that stretches into MBP pricing territory that does not yet match the versatility of the MBPs.

And yes, at those higher prices I do believe it should supply a competing capability.

See my post # 281. I don't think Apple is saying an iPad can accomplish any task that's ever been done on a computer. I think they are recognizing that for a lot of people, an iPad can be a worthy replacement, and it absolutely can. If it doesn't work for you and your needs, that's totally fine, they still have MacBook's and the like. There are a lot of benefits to iOS though, which can fit what a lot of people need a computer for.

It's really crazy to me that people can't figure out this distinction. It can replace a computer for SOME people, not ALL people.

 

[69Mustang]

I think you were confusing my message a bit (rightfully so). An iPad can absolutely replace a laptop for a large amount of people (not all), that's what Apple is stating. They aren't saying an iPad can handle every single task that you can think of ever done on a computer.

Here's the problem I have. You show nuance in your explanation of Apple, but get binary and all encompassing when explaining the criticism. No one is claiming Apple says the iPad can "handle every single task that you can think of ever done on a computer.". But that's how you're framing the criticism. It's an unrealistic portrayal of an argument not being made.

As I said before, if Apple can market the iPad as a pc replacement for some, it can be judged as... a pc replacement. Surely you don't think that marketing is beyond scrutiny?

 

[lec0rsaire]

'still not a laptop replacement'

It definitely is a laptop replacement just not for everyone. They are no good for developers for example but most people aren’t devs.

They can do just about anything that people do on a computer albeit in a different way. iOS is not macOS. If Finder is the make or break feature then the iPad will never be a laptop replacement.

It’s not that iOS can’t have Finder, it’s that it can’t have Finder and remain a closed system. If you’ve ever jailbroken an iPhone and used SSH to transfer files you have already seen the file system.

 

[Astra92]

See my post # 281. I don't think Apple is saying an iPad can accomplish any task that's ever been done on a computer. I think they are recognizing that for a lot of people, an iPad can be a worthy replacement, and it absolutely can. If it doesn't work for you and your needs, that's totally fine, they still have MacBook's and the like. There are a lot of benefits to iOS though, which can fit what a lot of people need a computer for.

It's really crazy to me that people can't figure out this distinction. It can replace a computer for SOME people, not ALL people.

Sure, but the iPad pro at that point shouldn't surpass or even come close to the price of Apple's own products for which the iPad is replacing. However, that doesn't help buoy up Apple's bottom line. The pro versus average consumer argument is now muddied by the fact that Apple appears to be offsetting slowing sales with premium prices on hardware. This doesn't help the value case when compared to increasingly capable Windows tablets and pro-level laptop hardware.

 

[mdlooker]

...As I said before, if Apple can market the iPad as a pc replacement for some, it can be judged as... a pc replacement. Surely you don't think that marketing is beyond scrutiny?

This is where I agree.. Apple should, perhaps, adjust their advertisement as though it may not be intended as binary, it's received as such. I understand why the uproar though I see the Ipad as a pseudo laptop.

 

[DNichter]

Here's the problem I have. You show nuance in your explanation of Apple, but get binary and all encompassing when explaining the criticism. No one is claiming Apple says the iPad can "handle every single task that you can think of ever done on a computer.". But that's how you're framing the criticism. It's an unrealistic portrayal of an argument not being made.

As I said before, if Apple can market the iPad as a pc replacement for some, it can be judged as... a pc replacement. Surely you don't think that marketing is beyond scrutiny?

No, it can definitely be scrutinized, but I just don't think they are saying it's a PC replacement for all people and situations. I think they are looking at what the majority of people use a traditional computer for and saying that it can be a replacement for some of those people. That's all. If people want to come up with a million and one situations where it doesn't work for them, that's totally fine, but it doesn't mean that Apple is wrong either - it still CAN be a PC replacement for SOME people. It's like saying the MacBook isn't a real computer because it can't do some of the same tasks a Mac Pro can do. Different tools for different tasks and people. The iPad is just another computer alternative.

 

[Astra92]

Here's the problem I have. You show nuance in your explanation of Apple, but get binary and all encompassing when explaining the criticism. No one is claiming Apple says the iPad can "handle every single task that you can think of ever done on a computer.". But that's how you're framing the criticism. It's an unrealistic portrayal of an argument not being made.

As I said before, if Apple can market the iPad as a pc replacement for some, it can be judged as... a pc replacement. Surely you don't think that marketing is beyond scrutiny?

Exactly this! And on top of that its marketed as a "Pro"-level device. Apple has been watering the mobile "Pro" moniker down with its relative lack of attention towards realistic pro workflows (i.e clumsy, yet revenue-driving dongles abound on MBPs).

 

[DNichter]

Sure, but the iPad pro at that point shouldn't surpass or even come close to the price of Apple's own products for which the iPad is replacing. However, that doesn't help buoy up Apple's bottom line. The pro versus average consumer argument is now muddied by the fact that Apple appears to be offsetting slowing sales with premium prices on hardware. This doesn't help the value case when compared to increasingly capable Windows tablets and pro-level laptop hardware.

Why's that? It's a different product, with a different OS. It's an alternative to a typical computer. I don't want macOS, I don't want Windows, I don't want a traditional PC experience and all the baggage that comes with it. I want something different, I want iOS, I want an iPad. Apple is giving choices for people who want a general consumption tablet ($329) or people who view the iPad as a viable computer alternative ($799). I don't see why people 1. can't see the distinction between being a PC replacement for some, but not all and 2. have such a problem with it being able to replace PC's for some people.
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Exactly this! And on top of that its marketed as a "Pro"-level device. Apple has been watering the mobile "Pro" moniker down with its relative lack of attention towards realistic pro workflows (i.e clumsy, yet revenue-driving dongles abound on MBPs).

Yes, but it's a Pro iPad, it's not a Pro MacBook. There is a difference.

 

[chmarch]

How do you take a screen shot now?

 

[DNichter]

How do you take a screen shot now?

Assuming volume up and power button, like iPhone's.

 

[Rce84]

It is a 2lb laptop that can use touch interfaces and supports multi monitor and full I/O. Yes. It is windows hardware, and software, which both immediately introduce issues. However it has a great keyboard. Like I said, if you want to call the iPad Pro a replacement to the PC, look at the Surface. It is light, fairly powerful, portable, dockable, and provides a full PC environment.

One other thing that I feel should be mentioned: With Surface, most of their accessories work across multiple generations. Keyboards, Surface Pen, Mouse support, etc. This is something Apple seems to be going away from.

I find it really annoying that Apple Pencil doesn't work with the new iPads for no other reason than Apple just trying to milk as much money out of their customers as possible. Raising the price of iPads is bad enough, but factor in the cost of having to add new accessories.....it makes Apple look really greedy, IMO.

 

[69Mustang]

No, it can definitely be scrutinized, but I just don't think they are saying it's a PC replacement for all people and situations.

Who is making this argument?