I currently have an an iPad air 2 & I've been debating about upgrading to the pro because I'd like to use the pencil. Will be interested in see what iPads are announced next week.
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New Low-Cost 9.7-Inch iPad May Support Apple Pencil
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If anyone wants to buy an iPad mini, now COULD be the last time to grab one from Apple. I emphasize "COULD" because, there's no telling whether or not they will discontinue the iPad mini line at that time. But given the other trends and given that this appears to be a shake-up of the lower-end of the iPad line as a whole, it is totally possible that the iPad mini 4 could go away that this point and the entire iPad mini line with it.
The iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard and Pencil is ideal for education — too bad that combo is close to $1000.
I think students need a keyboard, and the Pencil really excels with ProMotion. Can Apple do all that “on the cheap”? And if so, what’s the point of the Pro? Just extra RAM?
I think students need a keyboard, and the Pencil really excels with ProMotion. Can Apple do all that “on the cheap”? And if so, what’s the point of the Pro? Just extra RAM?
Good points. That's one of the things I'm wanting to find out. Guess we'll have the answer in a few days.
I hope this is true. Even if it's just a recycle of the (2017) iPad with a CPU bump (A10? I'm not really sure what else would make sense at this point?), Apple Pencil support and a slightly lower price point it would be a pretty compelling device.
Dunno, but at that price point I'd buy the combo if it is at least as fast as the current 9.7" and has 64 GB storage.
Lovely. So rather than debut something actually useful like a new notebook, Timmy's doubling down once again on iPads & "pencils". There used to be a time when Apple took the education market seriously & was in nearly every classroom and students could be seen with Macs of all kinds.
No more. #TimCook'sApple
No more. #TimCook'sApple
Version 2 of Apple Pencil perhaps? I don’t know what they could do in order to make it cheaper unless they announce a price drop! Not sure they will do that tho. I also think it would nice for students to get the choice between iPad or a Mac with a cheaper MacBook or MacBook Air, announcing both at the event would give that choice. But recent reports from the very reliable Mark Gurman say it won’t be ready for Tuesdays event.
It’s a shame they don’t make an Apple Pencil that works with all iPads. I have one for my iPad Pro but would like an Apple made stylus that works with my iPad mini.
New (cheap) iPad = 199
Apple Pencil = 99
Smart Keyboard = 159 (if it has a smart connector)
Apple Care = 79
iPad leather case for students = 159
Still a lot of money to spend for a "cheap" model
Apple Pencil = 99
Smart Keyboard = 159 (if it has a smart connector)
Apple Care = 79
iPad leather case for students = 159
Still a lot of money to spend for a "cheap" model
Probably would have been always easy to do but Apple holding back to force higher cost purchases. Now need boost so allowing with iPad.
If Apple wants to continue its push to make the iPad "a computer for the new generation" as its marketing suggests, a low cost iPad C would fill that spot nicely at $250, far more affordable than a $999 laptop.
This is why I think we'll probably not see a MacBookAir at this event. The MacBook might get updated and lowered in price but the iPad will be pushed as the classroom computer, not an ultralow priced MacBookAir.
After all, ClassKit is for iOS, not macOS. If iPad is the future classroom computer according to Apple, then what's the point of a engineering a competitively priced MacBookAir marketed at students?
My guesses for the event:
iPad C: a plastic shelled iPad in the style of the iPhone 5C. Inexpensive and durable. C stands for Classroom.
A new, cheaper Apple Pencil 2 and iPad Smart Keyboard, both compatible with the iPad C. .
ClassKit and education focused third party apps that take advantage of the new APIs.
iWork update. Pages, Numbers and Keynote ClassKit improvements. Notably, better collaboration amongst students and during teacher presentations.
Apple Books: rebooting Apple's book store adding better support for textbooks. Books Author update.
We'll probably also see new iPad Pros and a MacBook update.
Wild card: Partnership with leading digital classroom boards. It's important to integrate what's written on the board with what students and teacher see on their iPads. More radically, the board could be ditched altogether if the students can see on their iPads what the teacher is presenting on hers.
If Apple finds it important to maintain a classroom board, rather than design their own, they can use an AppleTV attached to existing digital boards, and update tvOS to include a "Classroom Mode". Collaboration between teacher and students' iPads can appear on the screen.
This is why I think we'll probably not see a MacBookAir at this event. The MacBook might get updated and lowered in price but the iPad will be pushed as the classroom computer, not an ultralow priced MacBookAir.
After all, ClassKit is for iOS, not macOS. If iPad is the future classroom computer according to Apple, then what's the point of a engineering a competitively priced MacBookAir marketed at students?
My guesses for the event:
iPad C: a plastic shelled iPad in the style of the iPhone 5C. Inexpensive and durable. C stands for Classroom.
A new, cheaper Apple Pencil 2 and iPad Smart Keyboard, both compatible with the iPad C. .
ClassKit and education focused third party apps that take advantage of the new APIs.
iWork update. Pages, Numbers and Keynote ClassKit improvements. Notably, better collaboration amongst students and during teacher presentations.
Apple Books: rebooting Apple's book store adding better support for textbooks. Books Author update.
We'll probably also see new iPad Pros and a MacBook update.
Wild card: Partnership with leading digital classroom boards. It's important to integrate what's written on the board with what students and teacher see on their iPads. More radically, the board could be ditched altogether if the students can see on their iPads what the teacher is presenting on hers.
If Apple finds it important to maintain a classroom board, rather than design their own, they can use an AppleTV attached to existing digital boards, and update tvOS to include a "Classroom Mode". Collaboration between teacher and students' iPads can appear on the screen.
IPad (WiFi) $259 (32GB), $329 128GB
Pencil $79 for kids version
Keyboard $139 for 7.9 inch version
Total under $500, just over for 128GB version. Now factor in education discounts, not a bad deal for schools.
Pencil $79 for kids version
Keyboard $139 for 7.9 inch version
Total under $500, just over for 128GB version. Now factor in education discounts, not a bad deal for schools.
It won't. Chromebooks bring real world coding and Linux experience to students while iPad offers nothing except for McDonald's kiosk.
They should absolutely drop the price of the pencil. It could be $69 easily. Same with the Smart Keyboard. Then if they allow the lower cost iPad to pair with a keyboard and pencil it could truly compete on the education market. Just not sure how pleasant the pencil would be to use without ProMotion.
Completely different use cases, IMO. Pencil would be great for writing and drawing, a chrome book might be better for typing. Depends on the needs of the curriculum. I could see an iPad running procreate being useful for art classes or an English lesson where students annotate on pdf documents in notability.
I went to university before the iPad. I had a Macbook Pro. I would have greatly preferred an iPad and Pencil.
It should have been supported on all iPads in first place..instead of the whole "Pro" iPad marketting