Regarding this 'who is the iPad Pro for' question...

[paulmeyers42]

Isn't the most obvious answer to this question, that it's for people who actually like to use iPads?

If your iPad is sitting collecting dust, and you're much more comfortable with an iPhone / Mac combo, then there's probably a good chance the IPP is not for you because iPads in general are not for you.

I've been a huge fan of the iPad since its launch but clearly not everyone has been. It's been around long enough, and enough people have tried them, to know whether or not it fits in their lives. For many many people, it doesn't. That's fine, it doesn't have to. But for people like me, who actually like using it, it provides a much higher potential for consumption and productivity.

If you don't like iPads, that's fine, it's not for you and the IPP is not for you. If you like iPads (meaning you use it a lot for a variety of tasks) you'll probably like the IPP.

 

[Eric5273]

For most companies that are of normal size, sales growth of a product is a big factor when evaluating if a product is dying or not. But Apple has become so huge that they are starting to bump into the limitations of sales that are possible. There are only so many people who live on the planet who have enough money to buy an iPad. If you took the iPad and separated it into a separate company from Apple, that company would still be one of the largest companies in the world.

 

[jonnyb098]

It's a bigger ipad for the majority who use ipads as purely consumption or entertainment. This isn't rocket science. Pencil and kb cover are optional but are considered Pro as well.

There's not a big distinction between a Macbook Pro and regular macbook. What can you do on the Pro macbook that you can't do on a non pro macbook? Usually a "pro" device is faster, and has a few more premium features.

These features might get people to actually start buying them again. But more than a few hundred and no way. At over a thousand? Definitely not. I feel like I way overpaid in the past on ipads considering how they wound up collecting dust. The thought of spending 829 again on an ipad? Ugh. Nope. Not happening. And here's Apple with their 1079 ipad. It's not gonna happen for many.

And yet, I tried one out. Even for someone who recklessly spends on apple gadgets, it didn't take long to realize it was just a bigger ipad that would eventually collect dust as well. This was a nobrainer take it back for a refund decision.

Only Apple can still sell tens of millions of iPads and its considered a "dying" product. The replacement cycle is much closer to a laptop than a smart phone. Also the iPad was the fastest adopted consumer electronic device IN HISTORY next to the DVD player......so the bar was set very very high. There are still tens of millions of users with older iPads still in use and well over 100 million in total out there. So if its dying....it will be a long slow death. Otherwise I suggest you understand what year over year growth actually means. Its all a matter of perspective. They're still selling millions of a product contributing to a positive growth. It accounts for almost 10 percent of their revenue. Nothing to scoff at.

 

[AFEPPL]

Well at least until the next version of iOS is released and anything before the Air cant upgrade and apple make them obsolete or useable...

 

[Night Spring]

Well at least until the next version of iOS is released and anything before the Air cant upgrade and apple make them obsolete or useable...

If that happens, maybe people will finally buy new iPads, thus increasing the number of units sold.

 

[AFEPPL]

or it could be the start of the end..?
Its a fine untrodden line. people might not get that much out of them compared to the life span of say a tradition device and thus turn their back..

this is the problem with iOS and apples stupid policy of not allowing downgrades.

 

[bensisko]

Well at least until the next version of iOS is released and anything before the Air cant upgrade and apple make them obsolete or useable...

Yep - and every single person who owns an iPad 2/3/4/mini1 will complain up the wazoo that Apple's latest OS doesn't support their iPad... Greedy Apple!!! Remember when they said Siri wouldn't work on the iPad 2 and people got all upset?

It's a rock-and-a-hard place sort of thing. It's bad for developers too - they keep making more and more powerful hardware, but developers want to appeal to as many people as possible, which means cutting features that require more powerful hardware.

 

[Eric5273]

BTW, PCs are also experiencing sales declines. Based on the logic expressed above, one would have to assume that since both PCs and tablets are experiencing sales declines, that the personal computer in general is a dying product. If that is the case, then what exactly is replacing it?

I think a more logical interpretation of this is that people are just tired of replacing their computers and tablets every year or two and are instead waiting longer before replacing these items.

 

[gugy]

Jesus man...this is seriously the strangest sentiment I've probably seen in all my years paying attention to electronics. Apple comes out with a larger iPad. Everyone's question is "who's it for"? Well who the hell were the other iPads for? List all the criteria if you like. Make up charts and diagrams and demographic groups. It's for any of those people that want a larger screen. Boom! Question resolved. So this shouldn't need to be asked ever again right? We're all on the same page?

On paper, the pro doesn't seem like a big deal. I sure as hell didn't think anything of it when it was first announced. 'I have an air 2. I'm happy with it. Why do I care about a larger iPad? I'm ok with the size now. A larger iPad must be for niche markets like artists or something'. Then I saw one in store and was floored by how gorgeous it was. Everything I did suddenly felt like it had a new life and that I wasn't constrained in size. It went from feeling like just a limited mobile device (air 2) to something that feels like a laptop (iPad pro) as far as experience and viewing area. I had my air 2 since launch and I feel like I've already watched more tv and movies on my pro than I ever did on my air 2. It used to be when I wanted a better viewing experience (which was quite often) I'd pull out the 'ol MacBook Pro and watch something on there. Not anymore. THAT is what makes the iPad pro special

yep, I felt the same way.
When I first saw one on BB I was so excited by the big canvas. I want to get one alongside the pencil and keyboard but hell, it's pretty expensive and close to the price of a Macbook. This is the only thing holding me back because it is not a must have for me.
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BTW, PCs are also experiencing sales declines. Based on the logic expressed above, one would have to assume that since both PCs and tablets are experiencing sales declines, that the personal computer in general is a dying product. If that is the case, then what exactly is replacing it?

I think a more logical interpretation of this is that people are just tired of replacing their computers and tablets every year or two and are instead waiting longer before replacing these items.

very true.
I have an iPad2 and 4 and honestly both work very well. The 2, I gave for my young son and the 4 still rocks. The new iPads while nicer and lighter wasn't enough reason for me to spend the $. I am really excite about the Pro but it is too expensive, so I am waiting maybe another year or two.

 

[xsdeus]

BTW, PCs are also experiencing sales declines. Based on the logic expressed above, one would have to assume that since both PCs and tablets are experiencing sales declines, that the personal computer in general is a dying product. If that is the case, then what exactly is replacing it?

I think a more logical interpretation of this is that people are just tired of replacing their computers and tablets every year or two and are instead waiting longer before replacing these items.

I agree. It's also aided by the fact that computing and graphics performance in general have reached a level where the majority of consumers no longer need the fastest available.

I purchased a rMBP 15" in 2012, and replaced it with the 2015 model. As a casual consumer, I mostly use it for web and media consumption, sparesely throwing in a few Lightroom sessions and light document editing.

Honestly, I don't notice enough of a performance boost between the two to justify the cost of replacement. The 2012 model would have served me fine.
(Part of the reason for upgrading was peace of mind in terms of service... my AppleCare expired and I didn't want to take the chance of a non-repairable laptop breaking)

The iPad is certainly different from the top of the line MacBook Pro.. but I think for the general purpose of the two for the majority of consumers, it's a similar story.

*Edit : I own an iPad Pro. I've had an iPad Air and an iPad Air 2, but got rid of them because they felt too small to be really useful to me for consumption purposes. I'm also thinking of selling my rMBP.

 

[Eric5273]

very true.
I have an iPad2 and 4 and honestly both work very well. The 2, I gave for my young son and the 4 still rocks. The new iPads while nicer and lighter wasn't enough reason for me to spend the $. I am really excite about the Pro but it is too expensive, so I am waiting maybe another year or two.

I noticed this with regard to the iPhone. Back a couple of years ago, I was due for an iPhone replacement as I had my iPhone 4S already for 2 years. But some financial issues at the time held me back from spending the money on the new iPhone 5S, so I just waited. And I found that with the newest iOS, my old iPhone did just fine. So when the iPhone 6 came out, I just kept using my iPhone 4S, and I'm still using it today. Only since iOS 9 came out has it begun to get a little slow, so I think later this year I will get the iPhone 7, after 5 years of using my iPhone 4S.

My 13" MacBook Pro is now almost 6 years old, and it still works fine. It has also started to slow down just a little, but it's still somewhat speedy.... nothing like how Windows PCs used to slow down after 3-4 years.

As for my iPad Pro, this is actually my first iPad. I used to use my girlfriend's iPad 2 quite often, but never owned my own iPad until now. And this is going to replace my MacBook as I don't plan to get a new one.

I suspect there are more and more folks that are beginning to realize that Apple products have really long life cycles and can be used for more than 1-2 years. Prior to owning Apple products, I used to replace my cell phone every 1-2 years and used to get a new Dell PC every 2-3 years. But with Apple offering their software upgrades for free for all of their devices, I can keep using them much longer. I don't mind spending $1100 on an iPad when I know that I can use it for 4-5 years.

 

[baypharm]

Ah, so you're one of those people that get hung up on the word "pro" and use that as a launchpad to talk about how crappy the iPad is for you. Cool beans. Never mind the fact "Pro" is just used as a distinction between it and the other iPads in the iPad line, not to actually say it's something it's not. "Pro" isn't Apple saying "hey this iPad is a MacBook". It's saying it's a level of more advanced hardware than the other iPads. And it is.

Anyway, that sucks that you weren't able to fit it in your life. Maybe it's just not the right product for you and it doesn't have to be anyway. Apple sells other things that would fit you better. Lately though, I've talked to quite a few people that thought the iPad pro wasn't for them and it turned out it was because they just weren't willing to change their work flow a little bit. I look forward to seeing what iOS 10 will bring. I think it's gonna be a juicy update

I was really hoping it would work out Ghost. I loved the big screen and resolution was awesome. I agree with you though about the ios update maybe that will finally be the tipping point for me.

 

[aevan]

No, the Pencil doesn't provide anything an older iPad can't do. It's just a more accurate and natural input method. You can't compare the iPad with and without the Pencil to a bus that's stuck on the ground and a plane that stays in the sky.

You obviously are not an illustrator, or haven't tried drawing with other styluses, but let me tell you: you cannot do professional level artwork on any previous iPad. You cannot do professional art that you can get paid for on previous iPads. No comic book artist did any inking on an iPad Air. Not one. There are several good ones already using the iPad Pro. No famous deviantart artist did anything for Patreon on an iPad Air. Already several great ones are earning money by doing art on the iPad Pro. I'm sorry - but you just don't know what you're talking about. Saying it's "just a more accurate and natural input method" is like saying a plane is just "a more faster and easier way to get somewhere" - when compared to a bus and a boat. So, the comparison is quite adequate.

I can understand that to you a painter's inking brush may look the same as a children's crayon because they can both write on paper. But one can get the job done, the other can't - and that's a whole world of difference. You are simply wrong.

 

[Channan]

You obviously are not an illustrator, or haven't tried drawing with other styluses, but let me tell you: you cannot do professional level artwork on any previous iPad. You cannot do professional art that you can get paid for on previous iPads. No comic book artist did any inking on an iPad Air. Not one. There are several good ones already using the iPad Pro. No famous deviantart artist did anything for Patreon on an iPad Air. Already several great ones are earning money by doing art on the iPad Pro. I'm sorry - but you just don't know what you're talking about. Saying it's "just a more accurate and natural input method" is like saying a plane is just "a more faster and easier way to get somewhere" - when compared to a bus and a boat. So, the comparison is quite adequate.

I can understand that to you a painter's inking brush may look the same as a children's crayon because they can both write on paper. But one can get the job done, the other can't - and that's a whole world of difference. You are simply wrong.

It may be a little harder and more time consuming, but you can. I've seen plenty of YouTube videos of people creating amazing works of art on the iPad Air.

 

[prospervic]

These features might get people to actually start buying them again. But more than a few hundred and no way. At over a thousand? Definitely not. I feel like I way overpaid in the past on ipads considering how they wound up collecting dust. The thought of spending 829 again on an ipad? Ugh. Nope. Not happening. And here's Apple with their 1079 ipad. It's not gonna happen for many.

No, not for many. Just for YOU. Despite reports of the IPP outselling the Surface over the holiday, and despite the happy customers on this forum, you still claim it's a failure?
I know many, many people who use their iPads everyday for "real" work, as well as fun. If your iPads are "collecting dust", then clearly THIS IS NOT THE PRODUCT FOR YOU. No reason to hate on it.
Be happy with your MacBooks. The rest of us will do just fine.

 

[gugy]

I noticed this with regard to the iPhone. Back a couple of years ago, I was due for an iPhone replacement as I had my iPhone 4S already for 2 years. But some financial issues at the time held me back from spending the money on the new iPhone 5S, so I just waited. And I found that with the newest iOS, my old iPhone did just fine. So when the iPhone 6 came out, I just kept using my iPhone 4S, and I'm still using it today. Only since iOS 9 came out has it begun to get a little slow, so I think later this year I will get the iPhone 7, after 5 years of using my iPhone 4S.

My 13" MacBook Pro is now almost 6 years old, and it still works fine. It has also started to slow down just a little, but it's still somewhat speedy.... nothing like how Windows PCs used to slow down after 3-4 years.

As for my iPad Pro, this is actually my first iPad. I used to use my girlfriend's iPad 2 quite often, but never owned my own iPad until now. And this is going to replace my MacBook as I don't plan to get a new one.

I suspect there are more and more folks that are beginning to realize that Apple products have really long life cycles and can be used for more than 1-2 years. Prior to owning Apple products, I used to replace my cell phone every 1-2 years and used to get a new Dell PC every 2-3 years. But with Apple offering their software upgrades for free for all of their devices, I can keep using them much longer. I don't mind spending $1100 on an iPad when I know that I can use it for 4-5 years.

Yep, people are keeping their Apple stuff longer. My whole family still have the iPhone 5S and maybe we might wait for the 7s to upgrade. So that is a 3 or 4 year ciycle. Like I said, all my iPads are older and my current MacPro 12 core is from 2011 and works well and still very fast.
So in others words everything is working well and honestly update for me would be for either status or to get some good new features but for most part all my products in terms of functionality and performance still doing well and I think like me a lot of people are on the same boat. So, I am not surprising sales are dropping because these are quality products and people just are not updating as fast as Apple would like to.

 

[baypharm]

BTW, PCs are also experiencing sales declines. Based on the logic expressed above, one would have to assume that since both PCs and tablets are experiencing sales declines, that the personal computer in general is a dying product. If that is the case, then what exactly is replacing it?

I think a more logical interpretation of this is that people are just tired of replacing their computers and tablets every year or two and are instead waiting longer before replacing these items.

Oh there are for sure new technologies on the horizon that will make PCs/tablets obsolete. Will it occur during our lifetimes? Depends on how long we live
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Isn't the most obvious answer to this question, that it's for people who actually like to use iPads?

If your iPad is sitting collecting dust, and you're much more comfortable with an iPhone / Mac combo, then there's probably a good chance the IPP is not for you because iPads in general are not for you.

I've been a huge fan of the iPad since its launch but clearly not everyone has been. It's been around long enough, and enough people have tried them, to know whether or not it fits in their lives. For many many people, it doesn't. That's fine, it doesn't have to. But for people like me, who actually like using it, it provides a much higher potential for consumption and productivity.

If you don't like iPads, that's fine, it's not for you and the IPP is not for you. If you like iPads (meaning you use it a lot for a variety of tasks) you'll probably like the IPP.

Not quite so. Having deployed literally tens of thousands of Ipad Airs in clinical settings since it was introduced, I can tell you first hand that using the IPP is a different experience. It's larger - more awkward to hold for extended periods. Space is already at a premium on a cart. Most (not all) of our existing clients have been unwilling to upgrade due to the size and the costs involved. Especially when - for them - iPad Air 1 does everything they need it to do and does it well. We even had had clients who did not like the ipad Air 2 anti-reflective coating wearing off. So for them we went back to the original iPad Air. Perhaps for consumers this does not apply or they adapt either willingly or unwillingly.

 

[aevan]

It may be a little harder and more time consuming, but you can. I've seen plenty of YouTube videos of people creating amazing works of art on the iPad Air.

You're wrong - it's a lot harder and a lot more time consuming. People also create amazing works of art using only their bodies, or rocks, or whatever they can get their hands on. Doesn't mean a rock is the same as a brush.

By your analogy - there is no real difference between an iPhone camera or a Nikon D4 DSLR - because there are a lot of really amazing photos online made by an iPhone.

 

[Channan]

You're wrong - it's a lot harder and a lot more time consuming. People also create amazing works of art using only their bodies, or rocks, or whatever they can get their hands on. Doesn't mean a rock is the same as a brush.

By your analogy - there is no real difference between an iPhone camera or a Nikon D4 DSLR - because there are a lot of really amazing photos online made by an iPhone.

Right. An iPhone does the same thing as a DSLR, just not quite as good. A bus rolls on the ground. A plane flies through the sky.

 

[Nausicaa]

I totally agree. The fundamental question for me is, if the iPad Pro were the first version released and none of the others existed, would the same arguments get made re: "who it's for"? I don't think so! I suppose in some sense people *were* saying that about the original iPad, but my point is more that if an iPad Air or Mini makes sense as a product, so does the Pro. They are all a part of the iPad family and thus all have similar appeal. People are way overthinking it, but I guess that's the nature of tech bloggers these days, always has to be some kind of controversy.

 

[aevan]

Right. An iPhone does the same thing as a DSLR, just not quite as good. A bus rolls on the ground. A plane flies through the sky.

Oh, but I agree these two are different. The thing is: so are the iPad Air and iPad Pro. One rolls on the ground. The other - thanks to the new possibilities granted by the Pencil - flies. It's not just the size and speed - it opens up new capabilities. You don't see it - so you assume it's the same thing. It's not. Remember when Jobs compared PCs and tablets to trucks and cars? Well, the iPad Pro is a plane. And you just don't get it, because you (I assume) don't create graphics. And you're being stubborn - instead of accepting someone has more experience in this area, someone who actually lives from creating illustrations who tells you: there is a night and day difference between an iPad Pro and an iPad Air - you hold on to your belief that it's the same. Don't take this the wrong way, but judging by your avatar, I kinda understand how you wouldn't "get it".

 

[Channan]

Oh, but I agree these two are different. The thing is: so are the iPad Air and iPad Pro. One rolls on the ground. The other - thanks to the new possibilities granted by the Pencil - flies. It's not just the size and speed - it opens up new capabilities. You don't see it - so you assume it's the same thing. It's not. Remember when Jobs compared PCs and tablets to trucks and cars? Well, the iPad Pro is a plane. And you just don't get it, because you (I assume) don't create graphics. And you're being stubborn - instead of accepting someone has more experience in this area, someone who actually lives from creating illustrations who tells you: there is a night and day difference between an iPad Pro and an iPad Air - you hold on to your belief that it's the same.

Oooh...so many points to address from this post.

So PCs and tablets are like trucks and cars, but a bigger tablet with a stylus is like a plane? What? No. If the iPad Air is a bus and the Pro is a plane, a PC is a freaking spaceship.

The Pencil doesn't make the iPad Pro do anything more than the iPad Air can do. It just gives you the ability to do something faster and more accurate. I never said it was the same. I understand it helps, but the Pencil doesn't make the difference between a bus and a plane.

Don't take this the wrong way, but judging by your avatar, I kinda understand how you wouldn't "get it".

Is there a right way to take this post? I get this all the time when I don't give absolute praise to Apple products. I must be too stupid, too poor, too much of an Apple hater, etc. because I like Android. Never mind all the Apple products I own that far outnumber my Android devices.

 

[Dranix]

Not the difference between bus and plane, but between bus and hypergate...

 

[rowspaxe]

You're wrong - it's a lot harder and a lot more time consuming. People also create amazing works of art using only their bodies, or rocks, or whatever they can get their hands on. Doesn't mean a rock is the same as a brush.

Dont waste your time--MR is home for the least sophisticated stylus comments on the web--with obvious exceptions

 

[Night Spring]

Remember when Jobs compared PCs and tablets to trucks and cars? Well, the iPad Pro is a plane.

There's one thing about this analogy that doesn't work for me. A plane may be able to fly, but it makes a terrible car. It's no good at moving on the ground. An iPad Pro is as good at regular tablet tasks as any other iPad -- in fact, it's better in many ways. To me, iPad Air and mini are like regular cars, and iPad Pro is maybe a limousine. Larger, so harder to maneuver, but more luxurious.