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

[Rogifan]

Steven Sinofsky (former Windows chief st Microsoft) linked to The Verge review calling it “grumpy”. Patel responded that The Verge team couldn’t have produced the review using the iPad itself and so how can Apple call it a Pro device. Here’s the thing what does Pro mean? My guess is it means different things to different people. But instead of getting hung up on the name why not just use the device that works the best for what you need to do instead of complaining about why a hammer isn’t a screwdriver.

 

[VictorBlade]

My first computer was the IBM 5150 PC purchased for $3200 back in 1983 (worth $8500 in today’s dollars). Since then I’ve been back-and-forth between windows and Mac platforms more times than I want to remember. I was an early adopter of the Tablet PCs and bought my first pen enabled Tablet PC in 2004. I’ve owned about 10-15 of them over the years including all of the current Surface Pros and Books. I’ve also been a big iPad fan and have owned each generation of iPad since inception including all the iPad Pro models (now writing this on a 10.5). I know I’m not the typical user (have been in business and tech my whole career). But I do understand the unique use case for each desktop OS and tablet OS and their devices. And I think I know when devices excel within their intended use cases and when they fall short. I enjoy using devices in their “sweet spot” of designed usage. I love iPads and Surfaces and have both (for slightly different purposes- with lots of overlap).

In light of all that, I've been eagerly awaiting the new iPad Pro! But I hate to say I was really disappointed to watch the Verge review- and I sadly agreed. I really want all that is great with the new iPad to increasingly live up to the promise to “replace” my at least some other devices (or at least keep getting better). But to plug in an SD card via USB-C and only get a crippled routine to copy to camera roll??!! OMG! I’ll stick with Surface for real work, and enjoy the 10.5 for browsing and light note taking.

I just canceled my order for the 12.9 1TB cellular model with all accessories. What a dud compared to what it could be.

 

[Feenician]

If you were an alien who landed on this planet and the first and only thing you read was Macrumors you would have to assume we’re a civilization fundamentally based around SD cards. It’s pretty bizarre. Maybe I’m the weirdo, but the number of times I’ve plugged an SD card into anything at all in the last 10 years is, precisely, once. I get that there’s other use cases though, mainly in photography.

 

[VictorBlade]

Yes, photography and videography- essential for me. And the need of a file system to be truly productive.

 

[himanshumodi]

I got criticized for calling out the fact that the iPhone X wasn't indeed bezel-less. LOL. People love falling for the marketing.

I agree... but I also wonder if it will get more edge to edge than this... i mean, besides the notch, which will hopefully get removed once someone figures out how to get a camera system in the screen. I do hope that Apple doesn't do the curved screen thing of Galaxy phones. The reflective glare on the edge really puts me off.

 

[BvizioN]

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.

I have a hard drive (actually quite a few)
But I always seem to find ways to transfer files to my iPad without having to wire a monster external disk to it.

 

[00sjsl]

I have a hard drive (actually quite a few)
But I always seem to find ways to transfer files to my iPad without having to wire a monster external disk to it.

I was thinking more of moving files outside the apple ecosystem. Sure its possible now but businesses are quite subtle about how they eliminate people's options. Its analagious to how one has to be alert to stealthily increasing cable prices (well in the UK where there's still some competition).

 

[BvizioN]

I was thinking more of moving files outside the apple ecosystem. Sure its possible now but businesses are quite subtle about how they eliminate people's options. Its analagious to how one has to be alert to stealthily increasing cable prices (well in the UK where there's still some competition).

From my personal experience with iPad (or iPhone) moving files in and out has not been an issue. I do a lot of powerpoint, excel, photography assignments and stuff. And I work with Mac/iPad away from work and PC at work. Once I work on a certain file, I back it either on Google Drive or DropBox and pick it on the other device/platform whenever I need to. Sure, large files can be an issue. If I transfer them to iPad I use the SD reader for iOS devices (still don't see the point of connecting a camera to iPad just to transfer files, unless using a camera app for photo shooting)
But I do realize, what suits me may not be ideal for someone else. This is just from my personal experience.

 

[PickUrPoison]

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.

Of course the iPad is a notebook/desktop replacement for some. Who says otherwise? But you’re trying to judge it as a replacement for all (“what it replaces”).

If a user can do everything they want/need to do on a $329 iPad, why would/should they spend $1,000+ on a Mac? Whether it can also replace a Mac for you or others is not relevant. If an iPad won’t do what you need, by all means buy a notebook, desktop or workstation. Or spin up a dozen or hundred CPUs and/or GPUs in the cloud.

Why do you say the car/truck analogy is dead? Do you even understand the point Jobs was trying to make? —> Not everyone needs a truck anymore. (And car owners aren’t claiming they can transport 4’x 8’ sheets of plywood—but if you need that, buy a truck).

People are telling you, “I don’t need a truck, I just need a car.” Your response is, “But the car is no truck.” Yeah, we get that. But not everyone needs a truck. Do you get that?

 

[Astra92]

This video captures pretty much how I feel right now

 

[MacBH928]

The problem is software... this is just a beefed up iPhone really.. remember the iOS that was supposed to compete with nokia, palm and Blackberry.

This exact same thing happened with OS 9 and Jobs mentioned this where the OS was built for something specific and they just kept adding to it forever and it became this bulky heavy mess. Then they scrapped it for the future which was OS X. Video is on youtube.

This is NOT the post PC era and the iOS can not do what my computer does no matter how powerful the chips are inside.

 

[Absrnd]

This is NOT the post PC era and the iOS can not do what my computer does no matter how powerful the chips are inside.

I see a lot of comments like this, while Apple does impose restrictions with files,
usability comparable to a laptop is not really Apple's fault, it is for a part the App developers fault.

Look at the new Photoshop app, it shows you can make a very powerful/usable app for the iPad,
and if other bigger companies app developers would be more like Adobe, and develop apps for the iPad, by not taking away tools, but trying to give the same experience for the iPad.

For the most part office use iPad apps are still watered down applications from the Mac version.

 

[timber]

When the iPad came out, it was trying to justify its existence between a phone and a laptop. It never really did (since it always functioned exactly like an iPhone) but at $499 it was a cool device to have for multimedia consumption. Now, Apple is arguing that it can replace laptops altogether and has raised the prices to reflect that. So people are actually encouraged by Apple to compare it to a laptop and not just a tablet. So it is perfectly valid to ask for features that are available to laptops. People understand the differences between the different input methods and not many complain about that. What people ask for primarily, is a proper file system which will also enable full access to external storage. This will change the iPad experience tremendously.

Well, that is exactly my opinion. A proper way to access and use files would make all the difference in the world.

 

[Abazigal]

Steven Sinofsky (former Windows chief st Microsoft) linked to The Verge review calling it “grumpy”. Patel responded that The Verge team couldn’t have produced the review using the iPad itself and so how can Apple call it a Pro device. Here’s the thing what does Pro mean? My guess is it means different things to different people. But instead of getting hung up on the name why not just use the device that works the best for what you need to do instead of complaining about why a hammer isn’t a screwdriver.

Serenity Caldwell of iMore did her 2018 iPad review using only her iPad.

Federico Viticci of Macstories would likely say "Challenge accepted".

Shame he didn't get a review unit. Guess we will have to wait that bit longer to see what he has to say.

 

[69Mustang]

Of course the iPad is a notebook/desktop replacement for some. Who says otherwise? But you’re trying to judge it as a replacement for all (“what it replaces”).

If a user can do everything they want/need to do on a $329 iPad, why would/should they spend $1,000+ on a Mac? Whether it can also replace a Mac for you or others is not relevant. If an iPad won’t do what you need, by all means buy a notebook, desktop or workstation. Or spin up a dozen or hundred CPUs and/or GPUs in the cloud.

Why do you say the car/truck analogy is dead? Do you even understand the point Jobs was trying to make? —> Not everyone needs a truck anymore. (And car owners aren’t claiming they can transport 4’x 8’ sheets of plywood—but if you need that, buy a truck).

People are telling you, “I don’t need a truck, I just need a car.” Your response is, “But the car is no truck.” Yeah, we get that. But not everyone needs a truck. Do you get that?

You incorrectly assume my quote is binary. My quote implies nothing about being a being a replacement for all. You also incorrectly assume my quote is from a customer perspective.
The Jobs quote is dead because it has nothing to do with what I'm talking about. Almost nothing you wrote has anything to do with what I'm talking about. Perhaps you're confusing me with someone else. If not, you completely misunderstood what you read.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Serenity Caldwell of iMore did her 2018 iPad review using only her iPad.

Federico Viticci of Macstories would likely say "Challenge accepted".

Shame he didn't get a review unit. Guess we will have to wait that bit longer to see what he has to say.

She works for Apple’s communications department now.

Federico is an iPad only guy isn’t he.

 

[Abazigal]

She works for Apple’s communications department now.

She does? Darn, must have missed the memo.

On a side note, I am just looking through a massive tweet storm by Steven Sinofsky, where he gives context on the changing paradigms of computing. Did you know that the mouse was once derided as a toy of dubious value for business users?

https://twitter.com/stevesi/status/1059663467676762112

Fascinating read. It stands to reason that if workflows could evolve to suit a GUI and mouse, so too can they evolve to suit a touchscreen. I am more convinced than ever that the way forward for the iPad is not by making it more like the PC of yesteryear.

 

[Rogifan]

Serenity Caldwell of iMore did her 2018 iPad review using only her iPad.

Federico Viticci of Macstories would likely say "Challenge accepted".

Shame he didn't get a review unit. Guess we will have to wait that bit longer to see what he has to say.

Yes I remember Serenity’s review. Probably one reason Apple hired her. I’m looking forward to Federico’s review. He is all in on iPad and uses it to its fullest potential. I wish tech writers would actually spend the time finding out how iPads are used in the real world. Nilay Patel didn’t do that. He just said my laptop can do X and the iPad can’t (or can’t in the same way) so you can’t call it a pro device. It seems like the only reason The Verge review is getting all this love is because it magnifies all the flaws of the device. Well a review should be more than that, unless a product is so bad all it has are flaws but that’s not the iPad Pro.


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She works for Apple’s communications department now.

Federico is an iPad only guy isn’t he.

Yes he is. He produces the best reviews of iOS with a big focus on iPad. He’s also been the biggest cheerleader for Shortcuts. I don’t understand why he wasn’t given a review unit.

 

[tkermit]

I am just looking through a massive tweet storm by Steven Sinofsky, where he gives context on the changing paradigms of computing. Did you know that the mouse was once derided as a toy of dubious value for business users?

https://twitter.com/stevesi/status/1059663467676762112

Fascinating read. It stands to reason that if workflows could evolve to suit a GUI and mouse, so too can they evolve to suit a touchscreen. I am more convinced than ever that the way forward for the iPad is not by making it more like the PC of yesteryear.

I would take anything he says with a huge grain of salt. This is the guy who brought us Windows 8.

 

[Nippi2000]

Fantastic review by The Verge. Simply unbelievable that after so many years in the making of iOS it's so limited in many aspects. As a photographer his description of how to deal with file imports to Lightroom CC made me cringe. Because he nailed it with pinpoint precision how awkward the workflow could be at times with the iPad.

 

[ateslik]

Can’t even download movies or any file I want with Safari out of the box. What am I gonna do with this much space on a TABLET?

get the Documents app by Readdle. Then use savefrom.net in it's browser. Actually, any download link on the web works in their browser on an ipad. So it's not "out of the box", but still very easy and possible.

 

[HoosBruce]

Remember when the latest and greatest iPad started at $499?

lol at you and anyone who upvoted this. it's absurdly unreasonable to think that any tablet that packs this much tech and power inside and can do so much would be priced anywhere near the $499 price tag you yearn for. Could it be $50-100 cheaper? Sure, maybe, but $300 is ridiculous.

 

[Rogifan]

Fantastic review by The Verge. Simply unbelievable that after so many years in the making of iOS it's so limited in many aspects. As a photographer his description of how to deal with file imports to Lightroom CC made me cringe. Because he nailed it with pinpoint precision how awkward the workflow could be at times with the iPad.

So then maybe a laptop is best for him (and you).

 

[aylk]

This time the dongles and adapters are industry standard and you can buy cheap ones from many companies other than Apple.

Doesn’t seem to support your conclusion that it’s a money making scheme for Apple.

I work for a medium organization, our IT department replaces a full stock of Apple adapters every month (between display adapters, headphone adapters, USB C to USB A cables, lightning cables, etc. Using Apple branded adapters is the best way to ensure hassle free support under warranty).

The cost for the organization is approximately the same as the cost of buying a bunch of new computers every month, money that otherwise we would spend somewhere else. But you have to keep your workforce productive, so it's deemed an investment.

PC sales have been flat for a while, Apple have to come up with other strategies to ensure unlimited revenue growth to satisfy shareholders. Their incredible industry leading profits comes directly from your pockets.

 

[cmaier]

I work for a medium organization, our IT department replaces a full stock of Apple adapters every month (between display adapters, headphone adapters, USB C to USB A cables, lightning cables, etc. Using Apple branded adapters is the best way to ensure hassle free support under warranty).

The cost for the organization is approximately the same as the cost of buying a bunch of new computers every month, money that otherwise we would spend somewhere else. But you have to keep your workforce productive, so it's deemed an investment.

PC sales have been flat for a while, Apple have to come up with other strategies to ensure unlimited revenue growth to satisfy shareholders. Their incredible industry leading profits comes directly from your pockets.

Ok, but that doesn't address my point. They switched to USB-C this time, not to a proprietary connector. So you no longer have to buy a "full stock of Apple adapters." You can buy from Anker, from chinese no-name companies, Amazon Basics, Belkin, monoprice, RAVPower, etc.

That belies the argument that Apple did this to make more money on cables and dongles. If that was their goal, they certainly wouldn't switch to a connector that everyone can compete with them for.