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MJedi

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 16, 2010
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Apologies in advance for the long post.

I got the iPad Pro 4 weeks ago, and I’m still on the fence on whether to keep it or not. The holiday return deadline is on January 15, so I have to decide soon. I bought it knowing all of the pros and cons people in this forum have experienced. I am not an artist, nor do I spend my day in meetings where I would write notes. I did get the Pencil because I thought it would be good to have. I use a 15-inch MBPr (Late-2013) for work, and for managing our family photos using Aperture. I also have an iPhone 6s Plus, which has become my primary “computer” for Web browsing and social media.

Recently, I find myself not wanting to use my Mac at the desk at home (which I connect to an external monitor.) It’s probably because I sit in front of it all day at work, and I don’t want to do the same thing at home. This is one reason I started thinking about using an iPad so I can still browse away from the desk. I chose the iPad Pro because it’s bigger and faster. I also imagined I could just bring the iPP alone when we go on trips, and leave the Mac at home. I would get the new SD card adapter to download DSLR photos to the iPP.

The first 3 weeks I had it, I wasn’t convinced the iPP was what I needed. I used it a lot, but there was still something not right about it for me. I got the Apple Smart Keyboard when it finally became available. Having the keyboard pushed me a bit to keep the iPP, but not by much. And using it with the keyboard made me realize I might be looking for a smaller laptop, like the 12-inch MacBook. Typing that just now, I think I might feel the same way about not wanting to use another Mac after work. And if I can get over that feeling, why not just use my MBP away from the desk? Perhaps using an iPad is different to me because it doesn’t feel like work.

I’m still not sure after writing all that.

For those that kept or returned the iPP, what were the instances that led you to that decision?

Thanks for allowing me to ramble.
 
I agree with @lk400. It doesn't hurt to return it while you can. You could always grab another one later. Maybe even on sale.

I almost wish I felt the way of OP, so that I could return mine and wait for the 2nd generation. However, in a relatively short time the iPP become my go-to device (overtaking my 27" imac), so its not something Im going to be able to do.
 
So I loved mine when I first got it, but let some folks convince me that I would be better off just using a laptop; I ended up exchanging my iPP for a SP4, which I regretted pretty quickly. I had decided that I wouldn't get another iPP until after I saw what the new rMBP was going to look like in the Spring, but missed my iPP and ended up buying it and all the peripherals again. Let me see if I can explain the process I went through and the decisions I made:

I returned the iPP because I convinced myself that I didn't "need" it and would be just as happy using a laptop. A lot of conversations here and with some of my friends also made me curious about the Surface Pro, so I decided to get that. I hated it; I won't get into all the reasons why but suffice to say it was, IMO, a crappy tablet and a mediocre laptop.

I went back to my rMBP and iPA2 as my laptop/tablet combo, and I began to miss the "all-in-one" experience that I'd had with my iPP. For example, I tend to use my tablet to watch video and surf around the house, but sometimes I want to type out something longer than is comfortable on the iPA2 keyboard and so I would switch to my laptop. Or I would use my laptop around the house but it's not as comfortable. The iPP did both well, and having given it up really helped me to realize that. Another thing that I missed on my iPP were the fantastic speakers; I often watch videos without headphones, and going back to the iPA2 speakers was really noticeable.

The giant screen also is a huge benefit that you can take for granted until it's gone. Boy I love this screen. I watch a lot of Netflix and similar services and it's just a hugely positive experience on the iPP.

I won't tell you not to return it; for me, it was a great way to confirm that it was actually something that I wanted. I appreciate my iPP a lot more now that I did the first time around, and I know for sure that it's something that works well for me. Maybe you'll find yourself in that position; maybe you won't. Just bear in mind that it's still sort of hard to get peripherals and stuff, so you might regret returning it when you try to get everything bought again.
 
So I loved mine when I first got it, but let some folks convince me that I would be better off just using a laptop; I ended up exchanging my iPP for a SP4, which I regretted pretty quickly. I had decided that I wouldn't get another iPP until after I saw what the new rMBP was going to look like in the Spring, but missed my iPP and ended up buying it and all the peripherals again. Let me see if I can explain the process I went through and the decisions I made:

I returned the iPP because I convinced myself that I didn't "need" it and would be just as happy using a laptop. A lot of conversations here and with some of my friends also made me curious about the Surface Pro, so I decided to get that. I hated it; I won't get into all the reasons why but suffice to say it was, IMO, a crappy tablet and a mediocre laptop.

I went back to my rMBP and iPA2 as my laptop/tablet combo, and I began to miss the "all-in-one" experience that I'd had with my iPP. For example, I tend to use my tablet to watch video and surf around the house, but sometimes I want to type out something longer than is comfortable on the iPA2 keyboard and so I would switch to my laptop. Or I would use my laptop around the house but it's not as comfortable. The iPP did both well, and having given it up really helped me to realize that. Another thing that I missed on my iPP were the fantastic speakers; I often watch videos without headphones, and going back to the iPA2 speakers was really noticeable.

The giant screen also is a huge benefit that you can take for granted until it's gone. Boy I love this screen. I watch a lot of Netflix and similar services and it's just a hugely positive experience on the iPP.

I won't tell you not to return it; for me, it was a great way to confirm that it was actually something that I wanted. I appreciate my iPP a lot more now that I did the first time around, and I know for sure that it's something that works well for me. Maybe you'll find yourself in that position; maybe you won't. Just bear in mind that it's still sort of hard to get peripherals and stuff, so you might regret returning it when you try to get everything bought again.

I, too, bought it and returned it. But then missed it when I went back to doing everything on my Mac and so bought it again. However, this time, I went from the entry-level version to the 128GB/cellular one. I figured that this way, I could really use it to its full potential. And I'm glad that I did. I totally "get" the OP not wanting to use the same device everywhere. I'm a lawyer, and find the IPP is a great work device. Will get my pencil in a couple of days, and expect to get a lot of use of out of that for annotating PDFs and writing notes.
 
I own both the rMB and the iPad Pro.

The rMB brings the full functionality of OSX in an iPad form factor and ergonomics.
The iPad pro brings the simplicity of iOS in a large screen laptop form factor, with some "Pro" features that have an emphasis on creative work.

Ultimately it boils down to your workflow. Is it easier to do your work with the current software ecosystem of OSX, or does the iOS ecosystem provide enough tools to do what you need with the benefits of a touch screen and stylus?

For myself, I'm a coder / web developer, and I cannot do without OSX. On the other hand, I still prefer the iPad Pro for casual consumption. I've been trying to merge both use cases, but if you can choose only one, choose whatever fits your work style the best.
 
I own both the rMB and the iPad Pro.

The rMB brings the full functionality of OSX in an iPad form factor and ergonomics.
The iPad pro brings the simplicity of iOS in a large screen laptop form factor, with some "Pro" features that have an emphasis on creative work.

Ultimately it boils down to your workflow. Is it easier to do your work with the current software ecosystem of OSX, or does the iOS ecosystem provide enough tools to do what you need with the benefits of a touch screen and stylus?

For myself, I'm a coder / web developer, and I cannot do without OSX. On the other hand, I still prefer the iPad Pro for casual consumption. I've been trying to merge both use cases, but if you can choose only one, choose whatever fits your work style the best.
Im on this boat as well. I have the rMB and an ipad pro and cant seem to find a use for both. I also have a imac 5k. I use the ipad pro or rMB mostly when sitting in front of my tv playing xbox one etc, and just use to it to watch youtube videos, browse macrumors, or stream NBA games while playing video games. For my use, I cant justify the extra money for the rMB because I don't do any strenuous work while im on the go and have an imac 5k while at home
 
I would return it and wait for the 2nd generation so Apple can add the items that it left out like the better front/rear cameras and the new touch ID sensor. For $800+ the IPP should've had the latest and greatest, nothing from last year imo.
 
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Very tempted to buy it but cannot justify an iPad Air 2, iMac, and an rMBP.

Something needs to go to consolidate!
My IPA2 has been taken over by my 3 year old so thats gone, so it comes down to the rMBP or the iMac. The rMBP will be easier to sell so it may be the odd one left out.
 
For $800+ the IPP should've had the latest and greatest, nothing from last year imo.
I don't know; if you're always waiting for every device to have the absolute latest and greatest found in every other device, you're never going to pull the trigger. I don't know when anyone would ever use the rear camera on this thing, and the front camera/Touch ID sensor work perfectly fine for my needs. I would say, rather than waiting for it to have the best of what is out now, is to figure out what you need and decide to buy based on that rather than sticking to an arbitrary insistence on what it should have based on principle.
 
I was looking to replace my 5 year old MacBook Pro and was considering either a 12" MacBook or the iPad Pro, or was also considering keeping my old MacBook Pro and just getting an iPad Mini 4 to complement it.

I was a little skeptical about whether or not the iPad Pro could possibly replace my MacBook and whether I could do everything I need to do on an iPad, but I decided to take a chance and try it out, so I bought the iPad Pro.

In between the time I ordered it and the time it arrived, I made sure to purchase a case on Amazon to protect it, as I have always done with my iPhones. As soon as the iPad arrived, I put it in the new case, and then turned it on and started using it.

After a few days, I started to regret the purchase. I just couldn't find a comfortable way to use the iPad. It was heavy, and my arms would grow tired, making it hard to play games on -- one of the main advantages of having an iPad instead of a MacBook. And using it on my lap was not very comfortable either. So I considered returning it.

Then I decided to try using it without the case. The case I bought was not a particularly heavy one (http://www.amazon.com/LUVVITT-Flexible-Transparent-Shockproof-Technology/dp/B0167G90D8), but I guess it still added too much weight. Using it for a few hours without the case was so much better than with the case. It felt much lighter and I could hold it with one hand and comfortably use it. I could also play games on it like I could on a smaller iPad.

I'm still a bit concerned about using it without a case, but I did buy a nice Incase sleeve to store it in when not in use and when traveling, and I bought a nice stand that allows me to use it more comfortably when sitting on the sofa or while in bed (http://www.amazon.com/Tablift-Tablet-Stand-Uneven-Surface/dp/B00LNWBNJG), so this has helped quite a bit too.

As far as getting my work done in iOS instead of OSX, I have moved my files that I use to keep local on my MacBook Pro up to the cloud and with a good file manager and the right apps, you can actually get quite a bit done in iOS.

As far as my advise to you, it really depends on what you use the iPad for. If you are doing real work with it, then the iPad Pro is great, and I think you just have to shop for the right case, stand, or any other accessories that may make using it most comfortable for you. And then make sure you find the right apps. There are so many apps out there, that finding the right one is not always so easy, but after I spent over a week reading reviews of different apps, I found what I needed.

On the other hand, if you are just using your iPad for consumption, web browsing, email, and/or games, then I would suggest returning it and getting an iPad Air 2 or iPad Mini 4 instead. Since it sounds like you are keeping your MacBook Pro, then you don't really need the power of the iPad Pro and can still use your mac for the heavy lifting.
 
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Very tempted to buy it but cannot justify an iPad Air 2, iMac, and an rMBP.

Something needs to go to consolidate!
My IPA2 has been taken over by my 3 year old so thats gone, so it comes down to the rMBP or the iMac. The rMBP will be easier to sell so it may be the odd one left out.

Replacing an iMac with an iPad Pro makes zero sense.

It's either get rid of the rMP or iPad Pro IMO. Those two devices are used for most of the same thing. Desktop is a whole different use case seeing as it's not portable. There's no overlap with iPad Pro and iMac.
 
I don't know when anyone would ever use the rear camera on this thing, and the front camera/Touch ID sensor work perfectly fine for my needs.
I think it looks ridiculous when someone uses an iPad for photography, but I use the rear camera fairly heavily. There are two uses:

1) The iPad replaces paper for me. In cases where something is on paper and I'd need to mark it up, I use a "scanner" app to digitize it. That uses the rear camera.

2) I work in medicine, and our system allows us to put photos into the patient's chart. For things like wounds and rashes, it's useful to take a photo and put it into the chart. Since I usually have the iPad out already, I end up using it to take the photo most of the time.

I'd guess that the "scanner" aspect is the only one that most other people are using it for; even then, the current camera works fine for that purpose.

As for TouchID, I agree, it works fine. The new TouchID is impressive in how much faster it is, but it's not like the current TouchID was slow. It's certainly faster than pounding out a long password.
 
The touch ID on the Pro is so fast that often times I tap the home button just to turn on the screen so I can see my notifications and it unlocks when I did not mean for it to do so. I now have to remember to use a finger other than my thumb when I'm doing this.
 
The touch ID on the Pro is so fast that often times I tap the home button just to turn on the screen so I can see my notifications and it unlocks when I did not mean for it to do so. I now have to remember to use a finger other than my thumb when I'm doing this.

Huh, as a 6S Plus owner, I have opposite experience. The Touch ID on the Pro is much slower by comparison and I have usually try twice if not more times to get it work. First world problems for sure, but your description is what I experience on my iPhone but def not my Pro.
 
End of the day, it all boils down to a choice between iPad pro, MBPr 13" or MBP (am not counting the MBA here at all as it doesn't fill in this category from a screen resolution standpoint). Each have their own strengths and misses.

Personally I would pick up the MBP 13" over the other 12-13" devices available from Apple as it ticks most of the requirement bucket. I have an iPhone 6s plus and after its arrival my usage of my iPad Air has reduced a lot especially for web browsing, gaming and social networking. Now a days i use it mostly to view my photos taken through iPhone and DSLR camera, videos and during long reading sessions.

No one can match the trackpad and keyboards available in the macbook line. So if you want to choose the IPP, the decision should be based on also how much you require the productivity tools available in it rather than just the size. If you think it can replace your iPad Air then better smell the coffee. It can be considered as a replacement for MBP, MBA or MB if you aren't a big fan of or usage much of the keyboard and trackpad available in them. Else if you think the apple pencil will benefit you in your creative adventures with the device then go for it.
 
I would return it and wait for the 2nd generation so Apple can add the items that it left out like the better front/rear cameras and the new touch ID sensor. For $800+ the IPP should've had the latest and greatest, nothing from last year imo.

This made me laugh. Touch ID and front/rear camera are perfectly fine. The 6s second gen is quicker, sometimes too fast to check just the time or charge left.
I'm thinking you found the ONLY two things 'from last year' left. All other facets of the new iPP's hardware is brand new and extremely well thought out for the 1.0 release. I'm not using the keyboard (yet, I love the new iOS 9 keyboard on screen) but I really dig the Pencil.
If you've not had a chance to use one yet, I'm a bit confused about 'the latest/greatest'. Like doubling the RAM, AGAIN! 2-->4GB, one small stereo pair of speakers on bottom but too close for stereo separation -- while iPP uses four - at each corner intelligently recognizing its position being held for a sonic experience that eats every older smaller iPad for lunch. It's new SoC and the higher clocked A9 (over iPhone 6s) - the third ...or even the 3.5rev, 64bit SoC and its eight, or is it 10 core ImagTech GPU never before used on a mobile SoC with the iOS 9 improvements to optimize the software and make the most of the massive canvas ...IMHO, as an owner of each iPad since the drop in 2010, easily make it the best iOS True, Honest productivity tablet so far, and because of the improvements I listed ...and so many more!
The biggest I've noticed since receiving ours is the speed of which developers are optimizing their apps to take advantage of split/slide over and real, side by side or overlay multitasking. Something being begged for since 2010! This alone makes the "last year camera" thing a 'who cares' deal ...cause I'm sure not holding my new iPP up to grab a snap (& it's front FT cam works just fine when I've used FaceTime.
As always, ymmv BUT keep in mind the latest rMBP is also 'last year's tech' but I picked up a CTO from Best Buy before Christmas decked with the TB PCIe drive and the update to its GPU, three year old core tech from AMD --- could've fooled me! It was on sale and ultimately exactly $600 off Apple's CTO price. It was the perfect update for my 2012 15" first gen rMBP which is still just as quick, reliable and good lookin' as the day I bought it. October 2012.
There's always another coming a year from now. Maybe. But when it comes to iPP - you don't HAVE to wait. Especially if you're able to capitalize on its abilities because of your needs/workflow as I believe for MANY, it'll be the transitional computer that eliminates the need for both home lap/desktop and portable tablet. The MS suite, highly productive Adobe Creative Suite apps and Autodesk are three significant software developers devoting massive resources to their mobile 'apps' and in some cases, all extensions that'll NEED a powerful home/business desk or laptop to finish what you started on the iPP slate.
I love mine --- and we use a lot of iPads to run our business including a ½ dozen Air 2s, four of which we picked up for $200 off this year on sale and replaced four of the aging iPad 4s. That's when I made the change, the iPad 4 from late '13 is and has been a workhorse for us, always connected and more durable than the MacBook or iMacs we'd been using for years (CDs before the comps, DATS pre-CD, and of course milk crates of vinyl in the day!)
The power of the iPP mimics that's of my 2012 MBA but looks a helluva lot better - does nearly everything the 13" Air's able to do and in many cases FASTER!

To OP, and if tl/dr --- I'm a 'fan' and responded early without getting totally through the thread but there was a day offered not too far back on MR advice for folks soliciting, by folks with 'experience and REAL usage' of the product. Drive by in the Apple Store doesn't count. Once in your hands --- you'll know in a month, I knew in a week, if it's for you. It's certainly the crown jewel in the tablet lineup today, iOS or otherwise. Nothing comes close to replicating the first edition large form factor v1.0 larger scale iPads. As all other OEMs just plugged their current cellular (phone) SoC, same packaged RAM and anemic - tiny (32GB w/ as slow as can be MicroSD option) - and zero, zilch - no, or very very few -- certainly not from MS, Adobe, Autodesk or creative developers, any immediate support and optimization. That said my Air 2's are incredible. A BIG jump from my Air 1s. Doubling RAM and graphic power as well as the sonics, active stylus to smoke all others I've used for near zero latency as well as the multitudes of apps available for nearly any profession in the creative world, we're starting to see the point a laptop or desktop becomes irrelevant for each family member. Single home iMac for when the situation arises, you're handled.
From your email to browsing, media consumption and gaming, creation by hand, photo or motion visuals and social sites -- there's not a whole lotta tasks outside above folks are using the computer for. Especially 'on the go' and I carry the 15" rMBP, iPad Mini 4 and iPP in my case nearly everywhere I go during the workweek (& most of the weekend!) -- and under 6 pounds total, that's three powerhouse computers compared to a ½ decade ago ....weighing half as much as a single laptop and associated bricks to charge it --- and with the instant on, always connected 10-15 hours of battery achieved TRUMPS all that came before.
In 2012 the rMBP reinvigorated my interest in computing again as something other than mandatory work. The same can be said for HiDPI (retina) displays on the rest of the line. But the iPP will make even the hard core, gotta have my new MacBook crowd to check Facebook and movie times, write a term paper or surf and reference, the iPP is opening a new world (without needing to force iOS and OS X as one, rather building up handoff and continuity into iOS and OS X so they're always aggregating & integrated horizontally and vertically with a much more powerful computing platform to back it up.

I've found a use case for each iOS device - iPhone, mini and Air, as well as the large iPad. Kinda like five years ago when the family used the iMac, mom or dad the MacPro, teens and their Airs, along with a complimentary piece - iPad. The latter has grown past complimenting through to completion of 'most' computing projects 97% of the world is doing. I'm pulling a circa 2006 PC this weekend with 80GB HDD PC of a very high ranking government official this weekend to switch him to a MacBook and iPad. He surfs, does some banking and financials and maybe music once in awhile --- but regardless of what I went over on solely using the iPad --- he felt redundancy was in order and insists lap and tab. He mid 60s and change is weird the older we get but embraced, there's money to save and enjoyment to be had for less with Apple and their hardware.
From the front end no security/mal/adware protections or security suites, fastest storage drives in consumer computing and a display to die for that's been nailed since day one. On the back end - you'll enjoy very nice resale value, even three, four and five years later --- it's trouble free, the time in maintenance is worth the peace of mind when it comes to reliability and less dollars spent to "keep it in peak shape" on a Win rig than the 'Zero' investment you'll make into security and/or updates. Security patches and true, point updates. While Win10 indeed bucked the trend with updates gratis from7 or 8/8.1 - 10 for a year --- it's looking more and more like MS will go subscription for ten OS. Trying to tie '10' into the console (Xbox) Windows phones, tablets, surfaces and books as well as hybrid tablets from OEMs the world over, the NUC boxes and AIOs --- it's just too big an undertaking to optimize for what's literally an infinite world when it comes to hardware mix/match but single software with mandatory, unstoppable update Tuesday that can (& has! Many times....) and will eventually 'break' something or not work, BSOD because of incompatibility with a part you're using. And one that can be very tough to isolate.

My vote. iPad Pro. Need a laptop too? You'll save plenty buying older Haswell models this year as the last years drop 20% and absolutely SMOKE!

Good luck! I love mine;)
 
I returned mine after 3 weeks, then bought it again a few weeks later. I exchanged it for a rMB, which I ended up returning after a few weeks.

I really missed the screen size of the iPP, and for PDFs and general browsing - I think I preferred the iPP form factor over the 12", plus I think the iPP handled those jobs better.

What helped me rebuy the iPP was finding it open box for just over $700. Closer to $700 is easier to swallow, for what it is...
 
Seriously, people tell you to return it so you can appreciate it more then buy it again? People are retarded just keep the Pro and enjoy it.
Who recommended "returning it so [he] can appreciate it more then buy it again"? Just because some people like myself are relaying that experience doesn't mean we're "recommending" it; I'm just telling you what I went through.
 
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Who recommended "returning it so [he] can appreciate it more then buy it again"? Just because some people like myself are relaying that experience doesn't mean we're "recommending" it; I'm just telling you what I went through.

Can't remember which thread, could have even been an Apple Watch thread, but some people did recommend returning the product and see if you missed it. If you did, then buy it again,
 
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