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I think the former. Something that can run some light games and that's good for taking notes with a stylus. Also light sketching and photo editing too.



Does the screen on the Surface scratch easily? I intend on using the pen a lot and was wondering if a screen protector would be recommended? Thanks for your insight btw!

Not used it enough to tell, but seems sturdy enough. I've not heard about issues with scratching on SP3 or 4 since I've been reading up on them so you should be fine.
 
The most important specs I was looking forward to in this release was:

1) A9X chip
2) 4GB RAM
3) Four way speakers

I've been saving up for a while my first tablet ever and I was pretty much full steam ahead with the purchase of the 9.7 Pro until I learned about it only having 2GB RAM and underclocked processor. I do feel a bit gipped that Apple decided to stick to only 2GB, I mean this is supposed to be the next generation of the 9.7', isn't it? This feels more like an iPad Air 3 and with them slapping a name "Pro", they justify charging hundreds $ extra for it. If it had 4GB RAM, it would be an easy pick up for me, but now my momentum has slowed a bit, looking at reviews here and there to justify me paying extra for what is essentially an iPad Air 3 still

People need to understand that "Pro" is just a name. This is the successor to the Air 2. It truly is the Air 3, just as the original Air was the iPad 5, successor to the 4. The 12.9" Pro is a niche device. Apple sell most of their iPad to people who aren't going to use them for much besides web surfing and Netflix, and they're not going to notice any difference between the performance of the two "Pro" models.
 
I'm not very excited, those are nice changes, don't get me wrong, but they're not unexpected either. I mean since the original iPad Pro came out, everyone was expecting (and/or hoping) those components would trickle down to the iPad Air, which they did.

I'm not sure what else Apple could have done, they're nice changes but they don't really blow my doors off, so to speak.
 
Makes more sense to buy the 12.9" Pro right now with discounts (can be had cheaper than the new ipad). I'd wait on the new ipad til the reviews are in. I'd also expect the sound to be better on the bigger ipad because more space.

That said, the screen sounds cool for the 9.7" but that invites some worries too about problems down the line. And finally the 2gb ram vs 4gb. It's a significant difference not just for safari tabs (I never have that many open) but just for running apps together, apps reloading, etc.

I just got a Sony A7rii camera along with a few lenses and have been diving into that. So I'm looking for the ipad best for showing off pics (not so much editing or working as I use a mac for that). A wider color gamut 9.7" vs a bigger, more immersive 12.9". It's still hard to decide.

In the end, I have the ipad pro case and cover I got stuck with back in Dec as I didn't return in time. I'll most likely get the bigger ipad on discount. I think 4gb Ram for the smaller one would have pushed me in that direction. Too bad. And too bad they worried more about the camera that I hardly use on a tablet vs RAM.
 
I'm getting it- I may even preorder. I was planing on keeping my iPad 4 as it still works well, but my weakness has gotten the better of me and I'm definitely getting the 9.7 Pro sooner than later.
 
I am also going to preorder it. Like others, excited is not the word that I would use. I like the 256 GB, new screen, and the keyboard. I use my iPad Air 1 daily and the new 9.7" will be a nice upgrade.
 
I think it is awesome. I am getting a Cellular 256GB model. What I am not sure about is selling my 12.9" Pro. I am still thinking about it.
 
Considering it has a downclocked A9X and half the RAM as the 12.9" IPP, I'll stick with the larger one. More screen real estate is more important to me than a better camera.
 
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It's still LPDDR4, which is twice as fast as the 2GB LPDDR3 in the Air 2. That's a nice speed update in my book.

Ooh. I missed that. This thing will fly! :eek: (but iOS will still find a way to stutter on the lock screen ;))
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Staples has another killer deal going on this week. I just ordered a 128GB 12.9 iPad pro for $799... That's $50 more than a 9.7 Pro.

I wonder how long it will take for Staples to have deals on the 9.7" Pro. Does anyone know how long it was before the 12.9" Pro went on sale?
 
I think it makes it harder of a choice for users like me who have no intention of buying the $100 pencil and just want an iPad (no previous iPad here just lots of iPhones); or the overpriced $150 keyboard (just get an separate bluetooth keyboard for $50 or whatnot)

It then becomes ok 32gb IPP 9.7 for $599 or a 64gb air 2 refurb you can get from Apple right now for $419. That's $180, no small change. And the refurbs are new casings and come with a 1 year warranty too. There is no 32gb Air 2 and the 16 is too small for my needs.

It will be more of a work tool, very little media and very little gaming (some basic small games like Clash of Clans type games, not memory hog 3D graphic intensive stuff)

So, is $180 worth the A8x vs A9x, 2 vs 4 speakers and the bit different screen tech? It's a much much tougher question. If it was $50 it would be a no-brainer go for the IPP 9.7 but $180 is not small change.

But then I would like it use it outdoors too and be able to see the screen well, which the new screen should be better (brighter and less reflective).

It's just such a tough choice when it's almost $200 and not a HUGE difference under the hood. The 4gb of RAM to future proof it for 2 years would've sealed the sale, but it's no better than the Air 2. $180 can go to the next iPad purchase too.

I was dead set on the 9.7 IPP until some of the downfalls started slipping out that it's not such a huge upgrade in all areas.
 
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I think it is awesome. I am getting a Cellular 256GB model. What I am not sure about is selling my 12.9" Pro. I am still thinking about it.

I'm in a similar boat. I have 128 LTE 12.9 and love it, but I'm considering a 9.7 for my "everyday carry". I still keep going back to my Air when I'm on the treadmill at the gym, or pulling up a novel or YouTube video, reading in bed, etc.

I'd like to keep the 13" for sketching and painting at home as well as AstroPad/DuetDisplay, and then use the 9.7" as my travel / everyday iPad but still be able to draw/sketch on the go.

I still need to sell my old iPad 3 and iPad Air too though. :D
 
2gb of ram
underclocked CPU
$1,000 after tax here in Canada

I think I might just get an air 2 instead for half the price.
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Depends on what you want it for. I actually think the surface pro 4 is a really good product. But sadly, the cons outweigh the negatives. A lot of us here have given a surface pro a try hoping it would be the all in one solution we always hoped for, only to find that we get all the problems of an actual PC.

If you want a laptop that's sometimes tablety, surface pro is the way to go. If you want the best tablet experience in the universe, there's nowhere else to even look. iPad has no competition in that area

Surface Pros from someone who uses one:

pros:
* does a hell of a lot more than an iPad
* isnt overpriced like an ipad

cons:
* runs windows and is buggy as hell
 
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I'm excited as I've been waiting for a couple months to finally upgrade from an iPad 2. The pencil isn't something I'll use, but who knows if down the road I find a use for it and buy it. The large version is too big for what I plan to use it for, and the Mini 4 is too small. So really for me it came down to the Air 2 or the Pro 9.7. Coming from an iPad 2, I'm opting for the newest model. If I had an Air 2 though, I wouldn't be upgrading (although to that point, I'm not sure what they could have released that would have made me upgrade from the Air 2 given what I use the iPad for - web surfing, emails, watching YouTube videos, etc.)
 
2gb of ram
underclocked CPU
$1,000 after tax here in Canada

I think I might just get an air 2 instead for half the price.

Faster processor (than Air 2)
Better screen
Better camera
4 speakers
Pencil support

Yeah, I guess you are better of getting an Air 2 for half the price and get a slower tablet with old tech screen and 2 speakers and no pencil support. To each his own.
 
The one thing that bothers me about the new iPad Pro is the keyboard cover. What Apple should be doing, IMHO, is to make the keyboard area larger to accommodate a trackpad like section, so that the keyboard covers the screen when folded as a single layer, compared to the double layer format they're using now. Given the new connector, making the iPad usable with a trackpad shouldn't be a big issue and it would absolutely make the iPad a computer replacement.

Otherwise, as I experience today using my iPad Air and BT keyboard, the things you need to do in moving your hands from your keyboard to the screen and then back again is awkward (at best). The same thing should be done with full size iPad Pro keyboard, which is really what I'm pining for.

Apple could then make the keyboard a keyboard case, so that there is a back cover that makes the camera protrusion a non-issue.
 
I'm excited enough to buy & try it, I'm not over the moon about it.
 
I've been reading these forums and I realize there has been a lot of negative around the new Pro due to the camera bump, price, and RAM, but I was curious how many are \ genuinely excited for this device?

I've wanted fine type stylus support for years and was so excited when Apple announced such a good implementation in the 13" Pro. Sadly that was a little too big for some users so I've been waiting for an Air 3 update and Apple finally delivered! Compared to the Air 2:

  • 2x Performance with the A9X
  • Improved screen clarity with 25% greater saturation and less glare
  • Improved speakers
  • Drastically improved camera
  • Faster NAND storage
  • Apple Pencil support.

It seems to me that Apple fully delivered and I can't wait to finally get one! This is the iPad I've always wanted!

A brief note about RAM: yes, I'm disappointed with the 2GB. However, the Air 2 has 2GB which was considered the next "longevity" model, OS X only requires 2GB, and the iPhone just got 2GB so I really don't see 2GB becoming a bottleneck any time soon. My Air 2 just flew and this device is 2x the speed so it shouldn't have any difficult with future iOS versions.

What do you think about the Pro?

Im genuinely excited because I have been waiting to buy an iPad and also one with an official apple keyboard. Cant wait.
 
Im genuinely excited because I have been waiting to buy an iPad and also one with an official apple keyboard. Cant wait.
I'm not a fan of their smart keyboards personally. I think there are better third party ones out there for less money.
 
I've been reading these forums and I realize there has been a lot of negative around the new Pro due to the camera bump, price, and RAM, but I was curious how many are \ genuinely excited for this device?

I've wanted fine type stylus support for years and was so excited when Apple announced such a good implementation in the 13" Pro. Sadly that was a little too big for some users so I've been waiting for an Air 3 update and Apple finally delivered! Compared to the Air 2:

  • 2x Performance with the A9X
  • Improved screen clarity with 25% greater saturation and less glare
  • Improved speakers
  • Drastically improved camera
  • Faster NAND storage
  • Apple Pencil support.

It seems to me that Apple fully delivered and I can't wait to finally get one! This is the iPad I've always wanted!

A brief note about RAM: yes, I'm disappointed with the 2GB. However, the Air 2 has 2GB which was considered the next "longevity" model, OS X only requires 2GB, and the iPhone just got 2GB so I really don't see 2GB becoming a bottleneck any time soon. My Air 2 just flew and this device is 2x the speed so it shouldn't have any difficult with future iOS versions.

What do you think about the Pro?

i might get it, but with greatly reduced enthusiasm. 1.8x performance is a best case scenario in non-threaded tasks. it has a much more modest overall performance differential comparing the 3 cores in the a8x to 2 in a9x. combined with 2gb ram, it feels like this isn't the type of upgrade that should justify a price increase. i guess for people who are into iPad photography its a good update, but i'd also think they might have appreciated some more ram for image processing tasks if thats their bag.
 
My next iPad and I'm super excited.

A Mini 2 my primary driver, so coming from 1gb already. Under processor don't matter in the slightest degree. Only off-putting thing was the camera bump, especially since I'd take a lesser res camera in exchange for squeezing it into the chassis - but that's ok since I'll throw a smart cover on it which means the back will not often rest by itself.

It's a shame they don't a have a Mini with Pencil support in the immediate future, but that's ok.
 
Makes more sense to buy the 12.9" Pro right now with discounts (can be had cheaper than the new ipad). I'd wait on the new ipad til the reviews are in. I'd also expect the sound to be better on the bigger ipad because more space.

That said, the screen sounds cool for the 9.7" but that invites some worries too about problems down the line. And finally the 2gb ram vs 4gb. It's a significant difference not just for safari tabs (I never have that many open) but just for running apps together, apps reloading, etc.

I just got a Sony A7rii camera along with a few lenses and have been diving into that. So I'm looking for the ipad best for showing off pics (not so much editing or working as I use a mac for that). A wider color gamut 9.7" vs a bigger, more immersive 12.9". It's still hard to decide.

In the end, I have the ipad pro case and cover I got stuck with back in Dec as I didn't return in time. I'll most likely get the bigger ipad on discount. I think 4gb Ram for the smaller one would have pushed me in that direction. Too bad. And too bad they worried more about the camera that I hardly use on a tablet vs RAM.

It does make more sense to buy the 12.9 right now, but I feel like it's too big for me.
 
Dual iPad Pro setup = power user

Joking aside, I was actually wondering what using two iOS devices at the same time would be like and if indeed it would work. I was thinking though of 9.7 Pro with my existing mini 2 (which I still love for reading, browsing and distraction free writing).
 
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