Get the Pro 12.9 or wait?1

[Cappuccino]

Hi I'm planning to get the iPad Pro 12.9 because I want a big screen. I was wondering what are the chances that apple is going to release a bigger screen? It's unlikely right? Also what are apple planning to release this or next year for the iPad? Any news? Really appreciate the help!

I know that know one knows, I like listening to rumors.

 

[Kazukian]

I suspect the A10X processor and a solid state home button.

Have an iPad Pro, really like it, but it's pretty big, do you have a 9.7" iPad?

For the $, maybe consider a MacBook or a (god help me for suggesting it) a Surface?

 

[Cappuccino]

I suspect the A10X processor and a solid state home button.

Have an iPad Pro, really like it, but it's pretty big, do you have a 9.7" iPad?

For the $, maybe consider a MacBook or a (god help me for suggesting it) a Surface?

Now you got me wondering. Wtf is a Surface? What is the full name? Since you mentioned it then is the Surface better than the Pro or something? and how much are MacBooks? What is the latest model?
Sorry I'm newb still. I have the iPad Mini 4 currently and I'm using iPhone 6S plus.

 

[Eug]

I would most definitely wait. However, it depends on how long you're willing to wait. I'm expecting an iPad Pro 12.9" refresh by early 2017, with Apple A10X. Note that the A10 Fusion in the iPhone 7 is already as fast as or faster than the A9X in the current iPad Pro.

Surface is a full-fledged combo laptop/tablet made my Microsoft and which runs Windows 10.

 

[freeskier93]

Now you got me wondering. Wtf is a Surface? What is the full name? Since you mentioned it then is the Surface better than the Pro or something? and how much are MacBooks? What is the latest model?
Sorry I'm newb still. I have the iPad Mini 4 currently and I'm using iPhone 6S plus.

C'mon man, we can't spoon feed you everything. Just go on Apple's website to compare the iPad and MacBook.

The Surface is Microsoft's Windows 10 tablet. I've been using Macs for over a decade (I have fond memories of the iBook G3) and am seriously considering a Surface Pro 4 to replace my 2010 MacBook Pro. I've also had an iPad before but for me iOS is to limited to be a laptop replacement. The only thing I don't like about the Surface is battery life so I'm thinking of waiting to see what the Surface Pro 5 has to offer.

 

[Eug]

Yeah, IMO the iPads are mainly internet consumption machines and iOS seems to be focused around that. That means as production machines they are more limited aside from specific use cases. The iPad Pro may have some specific pro uses as well but overall I feel that the iPad Pro is struggling to find a purpose so far. Not that these guys are representative but they are illustrative: I have two friends, both Apple fans. One is a web designer and he uses his iPad Pro both as a development & design tool and as a display to demo his work to clients. The other is an end user like me but he just cannot figure out what to do with his iPad Pro. A big video watching and surfing tablet? Nah, too clunky. Office productivity? Nah, it has too many limitations, so he has a MacBook for that.

For some people the solution is sonething like Surface Pro, which can function both as a tablet as a consumption device and as a laptop for productivity. Right now though for me personally most of my mobile usage is consumption so I prefer using an uber light iPad Air 2 for that. But for the times I actually need real mobile productivity, I prefer using my MacBook Pro.

There will likely be some convergence of iOS and Mac OS X, but we aren't there yet.

Meanwhile, this message was written on my iPhone 7 Plus, a truly portable device that I have with me all the time. I carry neither my iPad nor my MacBook Pro with me most of the time.

 

[Kazukian]

Cappuccino, just suggesting the iPad Pro is pretty expensive, in that price bracket, there are many options.

Love my iPad Pro 12.9, but not so sure I would buy one again.

 

[TheStu]

For some people the solution is sonething like Surface Pro, which can function both as a tablet as a consumption device and as a laptop for productivity. Right now though for me personally most of my mobile usage is consumption so I prefer using an uber light iPad Air 2 for that. But for the times I actually need real mobile productivity, I prefer using my MacBook Pro.

I got a used Air 2 a month or so ago, and I have barely put it down. It's able to go into more places than my rMB, which has just sat on my desk ever since I got the Air. So, I bought a used 12.9 Pro, and am going to try it out (someone was selling it for a song, so I can almost certainly flip it for a profit if necessary). But I'm pretty sure I'm going to be selling my rMB instead since the Air 2 can already do 98% of what I would do on a personal laptop, and I don't do that remaining 2% all that often.

Meanwhile, this message was written on my iPhone 7 Plus, a truly portable device that I have with me all the time.

'
Waiting for the darn Jet Black 7+ to get into stock, so it can be mine.

 

[Cappuccino]

I suspect the A10X processor and a solid state home button.

Have an iPad Pro, really like it, but it's pretty big, do you have a 9.7" iPad?

For the $, maybe consider a MacBook or a (god help me for suggesting it) a Surface?

Nope. I have the iPad mini 4. It's so god dam small. I regret buying it lol. I want the 12.9 mainly for entertainment and Sythesia. Oh and I like to draw too

I would most definitely wait. However, it depends on how long you're willing to wait. I'm expecting an iPad Pro 12.9" refresh by early 2017, with Apple A10X. Note that the A10 Fusion in the iPhone 7 is already as fast as or faster than the A9X in the current iPad Pro.

Surface is a full-fledged combo laptop/tablet made my Microsoft and which runs Windows 10.

Again I highly doubt apple is going to release another iPad that is greater than 12.9? The iPad pro 12.9 is already super fast. How fast is the A10 exactly? 50% increase? Also what do you mean refresh?

 

[Eug]

Nope. I have the iPad mini 4. It's so god dam small. I regret buying it lol. I want the 12.9 mainly for entertainment and Sythesia. Oh and I like to draw too

Again I highly doubt apple is going to release another iPad that is greater than 12.9? The iPad pro 12.9 is already super fast. How fast is the A10 exactly? 50% increase? Also what do you mean refresh?

I mean I believe that early 2017 will bring an updated 12.9" iPad Pro with a faster SoC.

The A10 Fusion is 40% faster than A9 for CPU, and 50% faster for GPU. I don't know how much faster A10X will be than A9X, but A10 is in the ballpark of similar speed to A9X. Actually, according to Geekbench 4, the iPhone 7's A10 is about 10% faster than the iPad Pro's A9X.

I'm expecting the A10X (assuming it actual exists) will be at least 25% faster than A9X.

 

[Cappuccino]

I mean I believe that early 2017 will bring an updated 12.9" iPad Pro with a faster SoC.

The A10 Fusion is 40% faster than A9 for CPU, and 50% faster for GPU. I don't know how much faster A10X will be than A9X, but A10 is in the ballpark of similar speed to A9X. Actually, according to Geekbench 4, the iPhone 7's A10 is about 10% faster than the iPad Pro's A9X.

I'm expecting the A10X (assuming it actual exists) will be at least 25% faster than A9X.

thats silly why would they update the 12.9? the little upgrade its not worth paying $800 again since its sooo fast already who is going to notice really? Thats my opinion. I thinkI buy the 12.9 to be honest. I see if I win this bid on ebay if not I think again lol

 

[Eug]

thats silly why would they update the 12.9? the little upgrade its not worth paying $800 again since its sooo fast already who is going to notice really? Thats my opinion. I thinkI buy the 12.9 to be honest. I see if I win this bid on ebay if not I think again lol

Huh? If you have one already you're generally not going to replace it in one year. However, if you're buying new for the first time and forking over that kind of coin for a so-called "Pro" iPad, you'll want top of the line. It would look pretty bad to have your Pro machine actually slower than Apple's mainstream phone.

Plus, the 9.7" Pro is in dire need of an update. IMO it was underspec'd at its introduction, given it had the same 2 GB RAM my iPad Air 2 had even though I bought mine way back in 2014 for way less money.

 

[Cappuccino]

Huh? If you have one already you're generally not going to replace it in one year. However, if you're buying new for the first time and forking over that kind of coin for a so-called "Pro" iPad, you'll want top of the line. It would look pretty bad to have your Pro machine actually slower than Apple's mainstream phone.

Plus, the 9.7" Pro is in dire need of an update. IMO it was underspec'd at its introduction, given it had the same 2 GB RAM my iPad Air 2 had even though I bought mine way back in 2014 for way less money.

The speed is already fast and even if it's faster its going to be unnoticeable.

Anyways I just won the bid. 645 pounds brand new on eBay. I hope I didn't get ripped off lol

EDIT - 128GB

 

[Eug]

The speed is already fast and even if it's faster its going to be unnoticeable.

Anyways I just won the bid. 645 pounds brand new on eBay. I hope I didn't get ripped off lol

EDIT - 128GB

The 128 GB iPad Pro 12.9" brand new from Apple costs £819. Why is it on eBay if it's really brand new?

 

[Cappuccino]

The 128 GB iPad Pro 12.9" brand new from Apple costs £819. Why is it on eBay if it's really brand new?

Yep. It's brand new. I fking hope it is. The seller has 50k rep and the description states clearly its new and wrapped in original packaging blag blah blah blah! The buy it now price is 699 but I persuaded him to give me a discount over the phone lmao.

 

[Eug]

Hmm... I note that a refurbished iPad Pro 12.9" 128 GB is £679 direct from Apple, with full 1 year warranty, and free shipping.

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/FL0R2B/A/Refurbished-iPad-Pro-Wi-Fi-128GB-Gold

Personally that would have been the route I would have taken, but I guess you did save £34 against the refurb price, for what he claims is new.

Good luck.

 

[Cappuccino]

Hmm... I note that a refurbished iPad Pro 12.9" 128 GB is £679 direct from Apple, with full 1 year warranty, and free shipping.

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/FL0R2B/A/Refurbished-iPad-Pro-Wi-Fi-128GB-Gold

Personally that would have been the route I would have taken, but I guess you did save £34 against the refurb price, for what he claims is new.

Good luck.

Ahhh I would too but seller claims its new so win win for me but now I am kinda scared. Are there any way I could check if the iPad is new when I open it? If I find out it's refurb I'm negging him and demand refund!

 

[Eug]

The Apple refurbs, at least for the laptops, usually come in plain packaging. New ones are in the pretty packaging.

For 3rd party shops though, all bets are off.

 

[Kazukian]

The speed is already fast and even if it's faster its going to be unnoticeable.

Anyways I just won the bid. 645 pounds brand new on eBay. I hope I didn't get ripped off lol

EDIT - 128GB

Great price, hope it works out, I really use mine all the time, my favorite bit of tech so far.

 

[Cappuccino]

Great price, hope it works out, I really use mine all the time, my favorite bit of tech so far.

Came today! Can confirm its brand new!!!
It's sososososososos beautfull omg!!

 

[Cappuccino]

The Apple refurbs, at least for the laptops, usually come in plain packaging. New ones are in the pretty packaging.

For 3rd party shops though, all bets are off.

it came today and the packaging was pretty i remember it was the same when i bought my ipad mini4 .
im loving it right now its soo pretty! now waiitng for the case.

i am thinking of getting the apple pen but what about the 3rd party ones? are they any good do you know any good recommendations? I like the point to be pointy like the apple pen

 

[HiroThreading]

Yeah, IMO the iPads are mainly internet consumption machines and iOS seems to be focused around that. That means as production machines they are more limited aside from specific use cases. The iPad Pro may have some specific pro uses as well but overall I feel that the iPad Pro is struggling to find a purpose so far. Not that these guys are representative but they are illustrative: I have two friends, both Apple fans. One is a web designer and he uses his iPad Pro both as a development & design tool and as a display to demo his work to clients. The other is an end user like me but he just cannot figure out what to do with his iPad Pro. A big video watching and surfing tablet? Nah, too clunky. Office productivity? Nah, it has too many limitations, so he has a MacBook for that.

For some people the solution is sonething like Surface Pro, which can function both as a tablet as a consumption device and as a laptop for productivity. Right now though for me personally most of my mobile usage is consumption so I prefer using an uber light iPad Air 2 for that. But for the times I actually need real mobile productivity, I prefer using my MacBook Pro.

There will likely be some convergence of iOS and Mac OS X, but we aren't there yet.

Meanwhile, this message was written on my iPhone 7 Plus, a truly portable device that I have with me all the time. I carry neither my iPad nor my MacBook Pro with me most of the time.

Yep, I agree with most of this.

Another anecdote, but I have a friend with an iPad Pro 12.9, and he really does make the most of its functionality. He does a 2D graphics work such as drawing, photo editing, corporate graphics design (websites, images, logos, text and so on), and so for him the iPad Pro's large screen and the Apple Pen has been a revelation.

That same friend also used to own a Surface Pro, but he just couldn't find any particular use-case where it was significantly better than a laptop or a tablet.

thats silly why would they update the 12.9? the little upgrade its not worth paying $800 again since its sooo fast already who is going to notice really? Thats my opinion. I thinkI buy the 12.9 to be honest. I see if I win this bid on ebay if not I think again lol

You don't know Apple then.

If Apple has faster hardware available for its iOS devices, it will go ahead and release them.

...I wish the same applied to its Mac line... -_-

 

[sxr7171]

I got a used Air 2 a month or so ago, and I have barely put it down. It's able to go into more places than my rMB, which has just sat on my desk ever since I got the Air. So, I bought a used 12.9 Pro, and am going to try it out (someone was selling it for a song, so I can almost certainly flip it for a profit if necessary). But I'm pretty sure I'm going to be selling my rMB instead since the Air 2 can already do 98% of what I would do on a personal laptop, and I don't do that remaining 2% all that often.

'
Waiting for the darn Jet Black 7+ to get into stock, so it can be mine.

You mean the new 2lb one? Wow. That's a great machine. The huge advantage of laptops beyond the obvious keyboard is how you never have to hold it. The keyboard props it on your lap or your chest in bed. The iPad can only be propped on a flat surface like a table. The rest of the time it's a proper wrist killer.

 

[Eug]

^^^ I sometimes use one of these on the couch on in the bed for my iPad Air 2. It cost $3 at the dollar store.

The only problem is if you use wired headphones, if you move too much, you can pull forward the iPad. However, that problem is solved with Bluetooth headphones.

Although lately, I've been using my iPhone 7 Plus a lot too.

 

[sxr7171]

^^^

That sorts out the weight issue but the angle looks very hard to use.


With a laptop the keyboard props all the weight on your chest/stomach. You still need a hand to balance it. A pillow can sort that out too though.

Everyone I know who went iPad went back to laptops. Usually a macbook of some kind. The nice 6-7" of prop up for the screen puts it perfectly in front of your eyes. No neck contortions to see. I think the ergonomics are unbeatable short of that one $6000 reclining chair that holds your device up for you. Maybe there is a floor stand that can position an iPad right in front of you while reclined fully.

I used to use a Macbook Air the only disadvantage of the design is how sharp the edge is. It can dig into your chest. Nothing a small shawl or blanket can't fix.

For me the extremes of the 4.7" iPhone and 13.3" laptop are perfect. Sometimes I used to use the iPhone for hours on an armchair (too lazy to get my laptop) I've quit that habit because I could tell it would be bad for my wrist.