Lets pressure Apple to make iPad 10.5" multitasking better!

[Shirtin]

I think there is enough space for two full apps with full functionality on the 10.5". Apple raised the price on the pros to $150 and we deserve to get "Pro" software. Apple says the future of computing is on iPads so shouldn't we make a big fuss over it? This will be our last shot to make a difference or maybe iPad is destined to be a entertainment device.

I have been an iPad user and owned the 3,4, air 2, and now 10.5 pro. As I see the current landsape, the pro models are not worth price difference when compared to 2017 iPad. As a value proposition i rather get 2 iPad 2017 over 1 iPad Pro 10.5"!

 

[MisterMillz]

While I’m with you about the split screen, I must depart from you after that. The 2017 iPad doesn’t come close to any generation of iPad Pro. The fact you can’t use the Apple Pencil is a big deal in itself and the main/first reason I dropped my air 2 for the Pros last year. Maybe next revision we may see “full size” split windows on the 10.5.

 

[MrGimper]

I think there is enough space for two full apps with full functionality on the 10.5". Apple raised the price on the pros to $150 and we deserve to get "Pro" software. Apple says the future of computing is on iPads so shouldn't we make a big fuss over it? This will be our last shot to make a difference or maybe iPad is destined to be a entertainment device.

I have been an iPad user and owned the 3,4, air 2, and now 10.5 pro. As I see the current landsape, the pro models are not worth price difference when compared to 2017 iPad. As a value proposition i rather get 2 iPad 2017 over 1 iPad Pro 10.5"!

If your requirement to use 2 full-size apps in split-view is as high a priority as it appears, then your answer is to replace your 10.5 with the 12.9

 

[maflynn]

I think there is enough space for two full apps with full functionality on the 10.5".

What functionality is the 10.5 missing specifically?

 

[Shirtin]

While I’m with you about the split screen, I must depart from you after that. The 2017 iPad doesn’t come close to any generation of iPad Pro. The fact you can’t use the Apple Pencil is a big deal in itself and the main/first reason I dropped my air 2 for the Pros last year. Maybe next revision we may see “full size” split windows on the 10.5.

Why not a third party stylus? Its not like you use the Apple Pencil when navigating ios or do you?

 

[maflynn]

Why not a third party stylus? Its not like you use the Apple Pencil when navigating ios or do you?

I've used styluses with my iPads (pre-pro) and its a blunt instrument, like a thumb. I never really cared for how they worked. The pro offers precision, angles, pressure sensitive, something that cannot be provided in a non-pro iPad

 

[spiderman0616]

There are so many advantages on the Pro hardware over the standard 2017 iPad. Yes, it comes at a price, but I could never go back at this point.

Apple has done something that very much needed to be done in the iPad line: they've simplified it and given greater differentiation to the different models. If you had said last year that there wasn't much different between and iPad Air 2 and a 9.7" iPad Pro, I would have had a much easier time agreeing with you. As much as I loved my 9.7" Pro, I had a hard time recommending that model to anyone who didn't really need the horsepower, even though it had the quad speakers and the Pencil support.

However, now we have a Pro line that has its own set of screen sizes and features:

1) Fully laminated screens. The 2017 iPad doesn't have this, and it makes a big difference in both how it looks and how it feels and sounds when you tap on it. iPad Air 2 had it. 2017 iPad does not.

2) 10.5" size replacing the 9.7" size. On paper it doesn't sound like a big difference. Up close and personal, it's very different. Marketing wise, it also forces the consumer to take a second look at the Pro, where as before they might have said, "Meh, the iPad Air 2 is close enough and it's cheaper." Much less the case now.

3) Pencil support and ProMotion. Again, on paper, it sounds pretty "meh". When you see it in person, it's incredible.

4) Smart Connector. I don't care if the only things that ever take advantage of it are the Smart Keyboard and the Logitech case. It's a big deal if you want to use a keyboard with your iPad. No battery charging necessary, no finicky Bluetooth connection to deal with, etc. You just pop it on and start typing.

5) 4 GB of RAM, which is one of the biggest reasons I upgraded from the 9.7" Pro to the 10.5" Pro--it unlocks all the features of iOS 11.

I know that a lot of this stuff is only going to be noticed/used by power users, but isn't that the whole point? There is DEFINITELY more differentiation between the models now, and at the same time Apple has gotten rid of most of the old hardware (save for the iPad mini 4) that was cluttering up the product line. If you want an iPad, you get an iPad. If you want an iPad Pro, you get one of the two sizes of iPad Pro. If you want a small iPad, get a mini while they're still being made.

EDIT: I do hope they update the iPad mini 4 at some point. For the sake of consistency with what they've been doing with other models, they could just call it "iPad mini" and make it be a small version of whatever the standard model iPad is. Updates to the iPad and iPad mini would happen concurrently, and updates to the two iPad Pros could happen concurrently.

 

[profets]

I think there is enough space for two full apps with full functionality on the 10.5". Apple raised the price on the pros to $150 and we deserve to get "Pro" software. Apple says the future of computing is on iPads so shouldn't we make a big fuss over it? This will be our last shot to make a difference or maybe iPad is destined to be a entertainment device.

I have been an iPad user and owned the 3,4, air 2, and now 10.5 pro. As I see the current landsape, the pro models are not worth price difference when compared to 2017 iPad. As a value proposition i rather get 2 iPad 2017 over 1 iPad Pro 10.5"!

No, there is not enough space for two full apps. If this is what you would prefer, then then 12.9" iPad is likely a better option for you.

The 9.7, 10.5 and 12.9 all have the same PPI but different screen resolutions. This allows apps which have updated for auto layout to take advantage of scaling to different sizes based on the screen space available.

 

[spiderman0616]

Why not a third party stylus? Its not like you use the Apple Pencil when navigating ios or do you?

A third party does not have the integration of Apple Pencil, and that's going to become even more obvious in iOS 11. Right now there are only two truly good smart stylus type devices on the market: the Surface Pen and the Apple Pencil.

I have tried several third party options--the best one I've tried is the Pencil by 53--my son has one for his iPad Air 2, and it's ok, but still so finicky and buggy that he has stopped using it at this point. Also the tips on those things are absolute garbage and wear out very quickly.

 

[Shirtin]

I concede that the apple pencil is for pro users and sets it apart from the regular iPad 2017. As a counterpoint one has to spend an extra $325 in order to use one over the iPad 2017.

The improvements of the pro line over the regular are note worthy but are not game changers. I could argue that having two 2017 iPads could be more useful one for streaming shows/movies and the other for multitasking.

 

[KittyKatta]

I have been an iPad user and owned the 3,4, air 2, and now 10.5 pro. As I see the current landsape, the pro models are not worth price difference when compared to 2017 iPad. As a value proposition i rather get 2 iPad 2017 over 1 iPad Pro 10.5"!

The "Mult-iPad Lyfe" is a real thing. It was the original "Tablet Windowing" that iPad users had to resort to when multitasking didn't exist. So, just because iOS is improving the iPad doesn't mean multiple iPads aren't a good solution for some users. I'm running iOS11 multitasking yet I still do it. When everyone is out then I often steal the 12.9" for watching videos while I work on my Pro 9.7. Its the best way to get things done.

(Side Rant: I could never go back because the 2017 "iPad Retro" is a product that shouldn't exist. If you're going to streamline your product line then why would you bring in a product full of compromises rather than simply reduce the price of the iPad Pro 9.7 and establish parity for both hardware and accessories (Pencil/Smart Keyboard). This would make it easier for developers to push that envelope and for users to understand.)

Why not a third party stylus? Its not like you use the Apple Pencil when navigating ios or do you?

Why not? The entire (fake) argument for "gorilla arm" was about fatigue from holding your arm out in order to touch screen elements. So if you've got a pencil in hand then not only does it make sense to use it to touch the screen, its more precise and would reduce the amount of "touch fatigue" that people worry so much about.

 

[spiderman0616]

Why not? The entire (fake) argument for "gorilla arm" was about fatigue from holding your arm out in order to touch screen elements. So if you've got a pencil in hand then not only does it make sense to use it to touch the screen, its more precise and would reduce the amount of "touch fatigue" that people worry so much about.

Agree. If I have my iPad Pro out in keyboard mode on the table, often my Pencil is right next to it, and I'll use that to navigate in certain situations.

I also don't agree with the "gorilla arm" argument--the Smart Keyboard is closer to the screen than a standard laptop keyboard. It takes almost zero effort to get from the keyboard up to the screen because your hands are already right there.

As far as 2017 iPad being a garbage product--I don't think that's the case. It's priced as a budget iPad and has put some distance between "iPad" and "iPad Pro". From a marketing and simplicity standpoint, this was very much needed, as the 2016 lineup was confusing to a lot of customers. There is definitely a market for the standard iPad--in fact, there are multiple markets for it. Would I ever buy one? Hell no--no fully laminated screen, no deal.
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I concede that the apple pencil is for pro users and sets it apart from the regular iPad 2017. As a counterpoint one has to spend an extra $325 in order to use one over the iPad 2017.

The improvements of the pro line over the regular are note worthy but are not game changers. I could argue that having two 2017 iPads could be more useful one for streaming shows/movies and the other for multitasking.

But you're stating this as if the ONLY reason for the price difference is the Pencil support. You continually move the goal posts. You get a LOT more than just Pencil support for the extra money.

 

[alee]

The 4 GB of RAM on the Pro will make the apps stay resident (e.g. not reload when you switch to it) so that you can properly multitask with apps staying resident longer. This will be important in iOS 11.

But if you want to carry 2 iPads, go right ahead. I'm not going to.

 

[Traverse]

The 10.5" isn't missing any functionality, the UI is just condensed. You can't really make the 10.5" better. It's no the screen size, but the pixel resolution.

 

[MrGimper]

The 10.5" isn't missing any functionality, the UI is just condensed. You can't really make the 10.5" better. It's no the screen size, but the pixel resolution.

Indeed. The only thing they could have done is put the 12.9" resolution on the 10.5". They didn't.

 

[DNichter]

The current way it multitasks is fine for me. I think it's an overblown issue.