I bought a Surface Go with pen and was extremely happy with the size and portability. The magnetic is great. The keyboard good enough (and Alcantara makes you want to touch it for the warmth it brings to a cold metallic device). The built-in stand also great.
Downside? It's still Windows. It just isn't instant on like the iPad. It's fast to start but if you haven't used it for a bit, it sleep and waking up isnt instant. I didn't find the right note taking app either. Tried a few.
ALong comes the iPad Pro. Enjoy my 12.9" for reading magazines. Pencil was great for flicking through screens and general navigation. Tried carting it around at work. Too large for my needs though. Not a fan of the old keyboard either.
New model just improves enough to make it a different feel overall. The snap on pen means I won't lose it. The folio cover is simpler to open and snap into place. Do you need infinite positions? In reality, no. Folding over and using a notepad works well. Am using NoteShelf 2. Set it up for quick access on bottom icon region.
I can flip iPad open, pull the pen off and start up app quickly. Scribbling notes is no longer a chore and after a week, I'm no longer taking paper notebook to meetings. I'm still learning how to organise myself. Created a front page as a scratch pad to tasks that need immediate action. Other pages for detailed info. I find I go back and use different coloured pens to add notes and highlighter to cross them off.
Are there other functions I'd like? Yes. Apps that let you insert blanks lines would help but are probably too hard to implement. Handwriting to text still isnt the seemless process it needs to be but I can live with my hand written scratchings. No more lost pieces of paper, easy to re-order pages or add/delete them.
It's keeping me focused. Which is what I wanted.
And the size is perfect: the Surface Go is about the same size and weight. With an inch less screen.
I have used other notebook tablets and they too are larger with smaller screens.
The only thing which Apple needs to do is allow USB-C port to accept USB storage. It would undercut their cash cow of built-in memory and for many people, an iPad would be better than a MacBook. It won't happen. It would be a fantastic all-rounder if only they would allow it. I guess we wait for third party USB C devices (Lexar or SanDisk) to upgrade their existing SD card readers to allow access to files.
Yes this is expensive. But for work it is proving to be a great choice.
I hope Microsoft port
full Office to iPad - tablet Office is good but not perfect and misses a few functions desktop users at work insist on using...
If Adobe can do it for Photoshop, then surely it is possible.
