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Kensington's All-in-One iPad Pro Docking Station Now Available to Pre-Order
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ImperialForces
macrumors regular
Wait a few months and there'll be a decent quality knock-off for less than half the price. Kensington is probably trying to recoup their dev costs up front with early adopters (folks with more money) before the clones arrive.
I appreciate that. I mean, I own both an iMac and an iPad Pro and I get they're different.
The thing I'm getting hung up on lately is that I use the iPad for *most* things these days, mostly because it's convenient. I can take it anywhere in the house, whereas the Mac is tethered to the desk in my office. I use the Mac for things like system admin or heavier audio/video processing. But if I happen to be at my desk, all the other stuff I use the iPad for also works (Ulysses, photos, email, web, etc.)
But I've noticed that since I bought the Magic Keyboard for the iPad, it's exceedingly rare for me to have the iPad off of it. Adding the trackpad and the excellent keyboard basically transformed it to the computer I use most. The thing I keep coming back to though is if that's the case and it never leaves the keyboard, then buying iPad plus Magic Keyboard plus Pencil costs more than the M1 Air, which does all the same stuff and theoretically more AND surprizingly weighs LESS than the iPad Pro plus Magic Keyboard. I can't say if I had to replace the iPad if it'd be worth it to get another over a MBA.
I suppose it makes some sense if you actually DO use your iPad daily off the dock and read like a Kindle or use the pencil a lot. But for most people, I think the better option would be the MBA. Only other reason I can think of is the touch interface on an iPad removes a level of obfuscation and was MUCH easier for my elderly mother to learn to use, so usability might be at play.
I dunno. I've been going around this in my head too much lately. The lines are blurring a lot on iPad vs. MBA for me.
But still a way better angle than anyone working directly on their laptop that’s just sitting on a table.
Darth Tulhu
macrumors 68020
And this is fair. Apple never originally intended for the iPad to be a standalone device.
But over the years this has changed, and many people use it as their ONLY computer, and pick it OVER a Mac. So use both!
I think that die-hard Mac users have a hard time admitting they're Mac Supremacists, and they struggle with the concept of someone actually CHOOSING an iPad over a Mac.
Diversity is the spice of life, and there really is no need for anyone to rack their brain about which device other people prefer. No one is coming to take their Mac away. And iPadOS and macOS have been desegregated for a bit now.
I'm looking at their product page and the stand allows both landscape and portrait orientations but I see no height adjustment. It's a premium product for sure but for the few people who use their iPad as a laptop replacement this would be a very nice stand and dock.
If Apple would provide better monitor support it would bring the iPad closer to being a laptop replacement. And by better monitor support I mean allowing the iPad to display a larger variety of aspect ratios to avoid black bars.
If Apple would provide better monitor support it would bring the iPad closer to being a laptop replacement. And by better monitor support I mean allowing the iPad to display a larger variety of aspect ratios to avoid black bars.
True, but not THAT much better. It's crazy low! Does it allow the iPad to tilt like a laptop?
Well. I’d say a lot better having it something like 30cm above the table than 1cm.
I hope for Kensingtons sake that it does!
I do like the idea of this product, but it is at least slightly overpriced. Similarly fast hubs seem to be priced in the $120-$150 range, so add that into a relatively sleek stand with dual wireless charging, and the Kensington uncharge, and the price isn't really surprising, though probably too expensive for what it is.
While I don't get the need for this for many, this is close to the exact product I want in my house in the evolution of my family's computer usage. Right now, several people in my house share a 2015 iMac for various tasks. I can easily envision a future where each of those people, instead, have their own iPad Pro/Air, which they can then dock, with an external monitor (give us some better external monitor support, Apple, please!). When you need the big screen to do some work, it will be there, but when you're doing something else, you can have all the modularity of the modern iPad.
I know that's not for everyone, and everyone's use case may vary, but that's definitely the home computing future I imagine.
While I don't get the need for this for many, this is close to the exact product I want in my house in the evolution of my family's computer usage. Right now, several people in my house share a 2015 iMac for various tasks. I can easily envision a future where each of those people, instead, have their own iPad Pro/Air, which they can then dock, with an external monitor (give us some better external monitor support, Apple, please!). When you need the big screen to do some work, it will be there, but when you're doing something else, you can have all the modularity of the modern iPad.
I know that's not for everyone, and everyone's use case may vary, but that's definitely the home computing future I imagine.
I love the concept, but the price is eye watering. I would line some assurance either apple won’t change to an incompatible design for several years, or if they do there will be a prorated buy back program offered.
A bald man is sexy, you are all good
I stopped saying "who is going to buy??" any more because.... there is always a market for that. I'm looking at a new Sony's $6500 camera, here they are, YouTubers pre-ordered.