iPad Pro Will an iPad Pro be a benefit to me - help me make a decision

[utopianbl]

hi folks I have read far and wide in trying to decide whether to purchase the iPad Pro as my next Apple device.

As a background - I have an Apple dominated house, with Airport running my Wifi, a 2011 rMBP, wife has an Air, Apple Watch, iPhone 6, iPhone 6+, 2nd Gen iPad, iPods etc etc.

The reason I have to buy the iPad is for productivity. I'll be using it for light work related activities as well as consumption of content.

I have some particular questions on what I'd like to use the iPad for, and hoping you can assist me with - possible or not possible type answers...

1) connect external SSD for back up of data, photos, transfer of files etc?
2) ability to download high res RAW images from SD card from my Canon prosumer and retain these RAW formats for later user and distribution (rather than convert to JPEG or GIF or some other transitionary lower res format).
3) any ability to use function keys when using Excel? I know there is no support for VBA, but what about advanced formulas such as arrays and indexes?
4) any ability to be able to produce content such as websites and blogs?
5) ability to use trading tools such as ICE or X Trader to view/execute in the market place?

Any assistance is appreciated as ever.

 

[tekchic]

Sounds like you need a full computer.

 

[Badrottie]

iPad Pro is NOT your answer. You will need Microsoft Surface 3 for everything you listed.

 

[usarioclave]

Remember, and iPad Pro is just an iPad, but bigger.

For #1, you can do it, but you'd need one of those iOS backup devices. I have no idea how they work, but to really back everything up you need iCloud. You can offload your pictures and other documents via cloud sync.

For #2, that's pretty much an iOS weakness. AFAIK there's no way to edit raw in iOS, though there's probably an app out there that does it.

Instead of a Surface, which seems to be the odd default answer for all the iPP haters, just use your macbook for all those. If it's too slow, drop an SSD into it.

 

[Night Spring]

Have to agree with all the other posters. With those requirements, I'm not sure why the OP is even contemplating the iPad Pro. What do you think an iPad can provide that your MacBook doesn't?

 

[nicho]

Have to agree with all the other posters. With those requirements, I'm not sure why the OP is even contemplating the iPad Pro. What do you think an iPad can provide that your MacBook doesn't?

touch interface, one would assume.

 

[The Game 161]

Sounds like everything you want, the macbook you already have will do.

the ipad pro is just a bigger air really when it comes to real productive work.

 

[utopianbl]

thanks everyone - here are my reasonings from a productivity perspective

1) form factor when travelling. I'm a minimalist travel - a suit, a coffee and an iphone in hand I usually do 18 hours out of station treks for work. Currently I'm carrying a small briefcase with my rMBP - I'd like to go naked and just carry the iPP in hand. I know this doesn't sound like much - but in my in and out lifestyle I need to prioritize mobility.
2) overnight I've been able to confirm Xtrader, WebICE and some of my other trading tools are indeed compatible with the Pro. This is a huge win.
3) I was at the store this morning and I was able to get some fairly advanced formulas to work in Excel on the iPP

Now then, I'm no graphics designer - and I'll be using the Pencil for GTD charts and workflows, along with sprucing up images with touch precision. Which is another benefit.

All of this being said - what everyone here is saying is very correct. My rMBP does most of what I need right now - except for point 1 from above. Also its the geeky consumer techie in me that is trying to get my hands on the iPP.

Unfortunately SP or SB is not an answer. I did test drive the SP3 last month and returned it. I need to be in the apple ecosystem cause of the icloud. Besides I use Windows 10 on my work desktop - and I really don't like its usability.

 

[silverblack]

thanks everyone - here are my reasonings from a productivity perspective

1) form factor when travelling. I'm a minimalist travel - a suit, a coffee and an iphone in hand I usually do 18 hours out of station treks for work. Currently I'm carrying a small briefcase with my rMBP - I'd like to go naked and just carry the iPP in hand. I know this doesn't sound like much - but in my in and out lifestyle I need to prioritize mobility.

A 12" Macbook in gold is what I could picture you in.

 

[zhenya]

I agree. I think the 12" Macbook is the best answer here.

 

[Night Spring]

thanks everyone - here are my reasonings from a productivity perspective

1) form factor when travelling. I'm a minimalist travel - a suit, a coffee and an iphone in hand I usually do 18 hours out of station treks for work. Currently I'm carrying a small briefcase with my rMBP - I'd like to go naked and just carry the iPP in hand. I know this doesn't sound like much - but in my in and out lifestyle I need to prioritize mobility.
2) overnight I've been able to confirm Xtrader, WebICE and some of my other trading tools are indeed compatible with the Pro. This is a huge win.
3) I was at the store this morning and I was able to get some fairly advanced formulas to work in Excel on the iPP

Now then, I'm no graphics designer - and I'll be using the Pencil for GTD charts and workflows, along with sprucing up images with touch precision. Which is another benefit.

All of this being said - what everyone here is saying is very correct. My rMBP does most of what I need right now - except for point 1 from above. Also its the geeky consumer techie in me that is trying to get my hands on the iPP.

Unfortunately SP or SB is not an answer. I did test drive the SP3 last month and returned it. I need to be in the apple ecosystem cause of the icloud. Besides I use Windows 10 on my work desktop - and I really don't like its usability.

If you are willing to sacrifice ease of use for portability, then you *might* bè able to make the iPP work for you. You just confirmed that Excel and your trading tools work on the iPP. However, I'm still concerned about the three other things you listed as your requirements.

As far as I know, you can't work with RAW images on the iPP.

If you want to connect external drives, they would have to be wifi drives, which connect to iPads over wifi. These drives are problematic, because you can't connect to a wifi drive and Internet at the same time.

By produce web content, you mean update blogs, or coding websites? If you want to update blogs, you need to check if the website you want to update allows updating from an iPad. There are some coding apps for the iPad, but I'm not sure if you'll be able to preview webpages properly as you work.

I agree with the other poster who suggested the retina MacBook. You might even want to wait and see if Apple comes out with a better version of the 13 inch MBA. To me, it sounds like most of what you do requires larger screen estate, so you might be happier with a 13 inch screen.

 

[mi7chy]

For Excel you really want a trackpad or better yet a mouse which isn't an option on iPP. If you want to stay in the Apple ecosystem I like the suggestion to wait for the refreshed MBA over the rMB since the keyboard is terrible like the Atari 400 membrane keyboard from 1979, you'll have ports for external SSD, full Excel compatibility and raw photo support.