Should I buy an iPad Pro now? (A personal case)

[Alexander_JY]

Hi All,

I know this is probably the most asked question in the forum, but I still want to get some constructive advice tailored to my personal needs.

Why do I need an iPad Pro?
1) My need for an iPad Pro is mostly, if not all, for academic use:

- I browse many PDFs, online articles, Word documents, and PPTs every day.
- I need to annotate the types of files above using an Apple Pencil and save my markups.
- Note taking, both through handwriting and typing.
- File saving and categorizing. This is one of my concerns as iPad does not seem to have a central place for file saving (like Finder for Mac) with multiple categorized folders. Where should I store my annotated files and notes?
​

2) Multi-tasking

- I do research and write at the same time, so it would be ideal if the iPad effectively supports multi-tasking.
- The high volume of reading also requires an agile switch between webpages, files, and apps.
​

I am hesitating to purchase because first, I'm not sure if the current iPad Pro can fulfill my needs above, and second, I've heard news here and there that Apple will release new iPad Pro models this year, and now it's almost a quarter into 2018.

Could you give me some advice as to whether I should get one right now? I truly appreciate your help!!

 

[LovingTeddy]

1) If you browse many PDF, Online Articles, Word Documents and PPT and you wanted to use Apple Pencil. iPad Pro is the only option for you. I have iPad Pro and 2017 iPads and I have Apple Pencil (For short period of time before I returned) and Wacom Fineline 3 stylus. One thing I can say is using Apple Pencil to take note is very good. Depends on your work flow and if you are into Apple’s ecosystem, you can look alternatives. Like Microsoft Surface or any Windows based tablet that has pen writing capabilities.

2) All of your annotated PDFs, Word documents, PPT etc can be saved into some clouds storage. All of my files are saved to Google Drive and/or Microsoft OneDrive.

3) iPad Pro is very fast and responsive for mulit-tasking. With split screen muitlitasking and one floating window, you can easily open 3 applications without problems. I constantly typing my notes on Microsoft Word and Adobe Reader opened up on my 12.9inch iPad Pro. It works great.

4) With regarding of iPad refresh. The iPad Pro probably won’t see any update until Jun. The current iPad Pro was released on Jun of 2017. We are about three months away from the refresh, if Apple release the new one at WWDC. If you can wait that long, then by all means. Otherwise, I would suggest you pick up one right now. Currently iPad Pros are very powerful and it can last you for next couple years without problems.

 

[Steve121178]

Yes

 

[charlituna]

you NEED an iPad for school but you want to wait until possibly as late as Oct so you have the newest. sounds like you don't really need it at all. so don't buy it.

 

[wyntormoon]

Hi All,

I know this is probably the most asked question in the forum, but I still want to get some constructive advice tailored to my personal needs.

Why do I need an iPad Pro?
1) My need for an iPad Pro is mostly, if not all, for academic use:

- I browse many PDFs, online articles, Word documents, and PPTs every day.
- I need to annotate the types of files above using an Apple Pencil and save my markups.
- Note taking, both through handwriting and typing.
- File saving and categorizing. This is one of my concerns as iPad does not seem to have a central place for file saving (like Finder for Mac) with multiple categorized folders. Where should I store my annotated files and notes?
​

2) Multi-tasking

- I do research and write at the same time, so it would be ideal if the iPad effectively supports multi-tasking.
- The high volume of reading also requires an agile switch between webpages, files, and apps.
​

I am hesitating to purchase because first, I'm not sure if the current iPad Pro can fulfill my needs above, and second, I've heard news here and there that Apple will release new iPad Pro models this year, and now it's almost a quarter into 2018.

Could you give me some advice as to whether I should get one right now? I truly appreciate your help!!

I don't draw, can barely draw stick figures, but the Pro is SUCH A NICE device. I bought the pencil also. It runs fast, the Retina display is AMAZING and I have been using it more than my MacBook Retina. I thought I was going to miss the multitasking also, but I've found out that I'm going back and forth pretty fast with the dock, so that was a good surprise. I write and with the Smart Keyboard, even on the 10.5 its seemless. I thought it was going to be tight but it's not. I'm actually typing as fast as what I use to when I was working and doing processing claims. GET ONE, you'll love it. My opinion.

 

[Alexander_JY]

@LovingTeddy @Steve121178 @charlituna @wyntormoon

Hi! Thank you all so much for replying! Although there's no definite answer, based on past updates, when would it be most likely that the new iPad Pro gets released? Despite the fact that I kind of need it urgently, I don't want to make a purchase right before the new model arrives.

Thanks!!

 

[LovingTeddy]

@LovingTeddy @Steve121178 @charlituna @wyntormoon

Hi! Thank you all so much for replying! Although there's no definite answer, based on past updates, when would it be most likely that the new iPad Pro gets released? Despite the fact that I kind of need it urgently, I don't want to make a purchase right before the new model arrives.

Thanks!!

Well...Apple just announced the media event on March 27. Rumors is indicating the release of budget iPad. I believe the currently iPad 9.7 will get refreshed.

With regarding of iPads, as I said in the pervious post. Current iPad Pro were released on June of last year. If Apple is doing for the annual release, then we are going to see it on June.

However, the first generation iPad Pro 12.9 inch was released on September of 2015 and the iPad Pro 9.7 was released on March of 2016. Both iPads were refreshed on June of 2017. If you do the math, both iPad Pro refresh were over a year. If the rumor is true where Apple is doing major redesign, then it is possible that Apple push the iPad Pro release until September.

At this point, were are at either three months away or half year away. If you are urgently need a iPad Pro, then just get the current one. There is nothing wrong with the current iPad Pro. I can confidently say current iPad Pro will last you at least for 3 years.

 

[Abazigal]

Hi All,

I know this is probably the most asked question in the forum, but I still want to get some constructive advice tailored to my personal needs.

Why do I need an iPad Pro?
1) My need for an iPad Pro is mostly, if not all, for academic use:

- I browse many PDFs, online articles, Word documents, and PPTs every day.
- I need to annotate the types of files above using an Apple Pencil and save my markups.
- Note taking, both through handwriting and typing.
- File saving and categorizing. This is one of my concerns as iPad does not seem to have a central place for file saving (like Finder for Mac) with multiple categorized folders. Where should I store my annotated files and notes?
​

2) Multi-tasking

- I do research and write at the same time, so it would be ideal if the iPad effectively supports multi-tasking.
- The high volume of reading also requires an agile switch between webpages, files, and apps.
​

I am hesitating to purchase because first, I'm not sure if the current iPad Pro can fulfill my needs above, and second, I've heard news here and there that Apple will release new iPad Pro models this year, and now it's almost a quarter into 2018.

Could you give me some advice as to whether I should get one right now? I truly appreciate your help!!

I am in a similar situation myself. Currently have the 9.7” iPad Pro but am tempted to get the 12.9 iPad Pro as well, for the larger screen, which I find should be better for reading, mind mapping, multitasking and just getting stuff done in general.

In school, the smaller iPad is great for the portability, but at home, I find the smaller screen quite cramped at times.

From experience, the Apple Pencil is great for annotation. I have my files saved in Dropbox and synced to my iPad via the documents app. You can annotate on word documents using office for iOS, and the changes are auto backed up to Dropbox. Pdf management apps are dime a dozen, from notability to pdf expert.

Note taking is a breeze using the stock notes app.

For file management, your best alternative is still to park them all in cloud storage and sync them to your iPad via a file manager app such as documents.

I think the 12.9” iPad Pro would fit your needs perfectly. Only question is - get one now (it’s almost 9 months old at this point, so not really the newest and greatest), but we don’t really know when the iPad Pro will get a refresh. It could be next month, could be June, could be end of the year, or well next year if Apple considers the current iPad Pro “good enough”. Is really anyone’s guess at this point.

And I really can’t advise you on this.

 

[wyntormoon]

@LovingTeddy @Steve121178 @charlituna @wyntormoon

Hi! Thank you all so much for replying! Although there's no definite answer, based on past updates, when would it be most likely that the new iPad Pro gets released? Despite the fact that I kind of need it urgently, I don't want to make a purchase right before the new model arrives.

Thanks!!

Yeah, best bet not till June/July. Sometimes not till September either. And if they change the design, that’ll be first gen, so either get the one now or wait till the one comes out next year.

 

[Ghost31]

All the rumors (which were obviously leaked by apple themselves) are pointing right ahead to a June launch at WWDC. So we get another 2 and a half months before they come out. And this will be the biggest upgrade we’ve seen in a long time, so if you wanna get one and keep it for years and years before upgrading, i’d suggest waiting for one thats redesigned ala iPhone X style

 

[weeesss]

You also have to factor in how much you can or want to spend on getting one now st a discount or waiting and paying full price for the next one. For me, I already had a 2017 iPad but did not want to spend $650 on a Pro. I got one recently a Pro 10.5 for under $500 but I use it only for personal use like web, entertainment and video editing.

If i needed it now I would buy it. If it is for school or work and you can wait, then I would wait as long as price is not a concern.

 

[bensisko]

Hi All,

I know this is probably the most asked question in the forum, but I still want to get some constructive advice tailored to my personal needs.

Why do I need an iPad Pro?
1) My need for an iPad Pro is mostly, if not all, for academic use:

- I browse many PDFs, online articles, Word documents, and PPTs every day.
- I need to annotate the types of files above using an Apple Pencil and save my markups.
- Note taking, both through handwriting and typing.
- File saving and categorizing. This is one of my concerns as iPad does not seem to have a central place for file saving (like Finder for Mac) with multiple categorized folders. Where should I store my annotated files and notes?
​

2) Multi-tasking

- I do research and write at the same time, so it would be ideal if the iPad effectively supports multi-tasking.
- The high volume of reading also requires an agile switch between webpages, files, and apps.
​

I am hesitating to purchase because first, I'm not sure if the current iPad Pro can fulfill my needs above, and second, I've heard news here and there that Apple will release new iPad Pro models this year, and now it's almost a quarter into 2018.

Could you give me some advice as to whether I should get one right now? I truly appreciate your help!!

Buy a MacBook.
If this is to be your only computer, and “file saving and categorizing” is so important that you put it on a list of NEEDS, then buy a MacBook.

But, of course, don’t buy one right now because Apple will probably release a new one sometime in the next year!

All the rumors (which were obviously leaked by apple themselves)...

Hahahahahahaha!

 

[charlituna]

Well...Apple just announced the media event on March 27.

not a media event, an education event. this could be a software and services event only to talk about Apple Classroom, classroom kit, Swift Playgrounds etc. it would make sense because only educators and education related media were invited so that's not the audience the release new hard ware with

 

[Wackery]

If you need it now, buy it. If you can wait, wait.

 

[parseckadet]

I'm not at all convinced that we'll see an update to the Pro this year. Apple doesn't tend to release new form factors just to redo them a year later, and that's what we would have with the 10.5". Further, the iPad seems to be on an 18 month refresh cycle. Given those factors, I wouldn't expect updates to the Pros until this time next year.

Honestly, what I think will happen next week is that they'll drop the price of the 9.7" iPad without updating the hardware.