Got my mitts on an ipad pro 9.7. Not feeling the love

[chin311]

I agree, I'm sticking with my Air (1st gen), barely use it anymore anyway other than traveling and media watching etc.

The last year or two of iPad releases have been a big yawn. Unless you really wanted a LARGER 12in+ iPad, nothing significant has changed. The Air 2 2GB would be nice but don't see why they didn't throw the new PRO to 4GB...

 

[Oyeve]

Which model iPhone is your daily driver at the moment?

I gotta tell you, after a search of your posts, all of your comments about Apple products are generally derogatory, things like: "I don't use an iPhone because I'm not a tool." kind of posts, I guess I perceive your holding yourself out as an unbiased reviewer as somewhat disingenuous.

Of course you're entitled to your own opinion, but be honest, you don't seem to like Apple products at all, looked back at 100+ posts, got bored and stopped, but I can pretty well predict what you'll post about Apple products, not saying that's a bad thing, but, come on, at least be honest.

I use both OS's from multiple manufacturers, have a Windows tab and phone too, they all have their positives and negatives.

Currently my daily for work driver is an iPhone 6s, my personal driver is an s7-edge. I have all of these devices because my field requires that I do. You are right in that I am not very fond of apple but I fail to see what any of this has to do with my original post.

 

[Artdeco]

And you're missing the point again... I can't find any of your posts that say a single positive thing about Apple products, don't understand why repeatedly posting what you don't like about Apple stuff does for anyone.

Kind of "Negative Nancy" posting.

I don't like Apple's pricing schemes, and a few other things, but the ecosystem and they way their stuff works together is pretty damn slick.

The reviewers are impressed with some of the features of the 9.7 IPP, and you immediately dismiss them. i.e. Best screen, best sound, etc... And it's more than. $50 price difference, where did that come from?

I take more of a long view, seeing these features more refined in the next generation and trickle down into other devices in the coming generations.

Seems you admittedly dislike Apple stuff, are required to work with their stuff at your job, and only post the negatives.

And if you don't see that posting things like "I don't use an iPhone because I'm not a tool" doesn't suggest a bias, I guess this is a pointless convo...

Carry on...

 

[Commodus]

I agree, I'm sticking with my Air (1st gen), barely use it anymore anyway other than traveling and media watching etc.

The last year or two of iPad releases have been a big yawn. Unless you really wanted a LARGER 12in+ iPad, nothing significant has changed. The Air 2 2GB would be nice but don't see why they didn't throw the new PRO to 4GB...

Yeah, total yawnfest. All they are is dramatically faster, with noticeably better cameras, thinner and lighter designs, pen input, a smart connector, more storage, improved speakers...

We went over that in previous discussions, though. What I want to ask is: what would qualify as "significant" to you besides 4GB of RAM? More ports? 4K displays (at the expense of battery life)? Cosmetic changes? It's not that Apple couldn't have done more, but I find that many of these complaints are vague... they're asking for an intangible "it feels different" update while glossing over legions of nuts-and-bolts improvements.

 

[quikah]

We went over that in previous discussions, though. What I want to ask is: what would qualify as "significant" to you besides 4GB of RAM? More ports? 4K displays (at the expense of battery life)? Cosmetic changes?

An operating system that would allow you to do real work. iOS is a real hindrance to using the iPad Pro as a productivity device. It looks like it is great for drawing though (not an artist myself, so can't really judge in that regard).

 

[ControlD]

Yeah, total yawnfest. All they are is dramatically faster, with noticeably better cameras, thinner and lighter designs, pen input, a smart connector, more storage, improved speakers...

All true, yet at the same time I still think for most tablet users those differences will be hard to see. I think the Pro is a fairly niche product at this point, but it is being sold right along side of the Air 2 at Walmart. When I use the two side by side they feel almost identical because all I am doing is using the normal apps that come with all iPads. The average Joe (99% of tablet users) isn't going to notice a huge speed increase or the better screen or the better speakers in normal usage cases (watching Netflix with headphones, surfing the web, playing Angry Birds). The Air / Air 2 already does these things quite well. Hell, my iPad 3 still does those things just fine to be honest.

I think Apple would have been better served selling the Pro WITH the pen. I think Apple would have been better served pre-installing some type of killer app that requires the pen. Then when someone is using the two devices side by side the difference will be immediate and concrete.

 

[Commodus]

An operating system that would allow you to do real work. iOS is a real hindrance to using the iPad Pro as a productivity device. It looks like it is great for drawing though (not an artist myself, so can't really judge in that regard).

You can do some real work with it, but I know what you mean. I'm wondering if iOS 10 will bring the iPad a step closer to being a full-on productivity device. With that said, arguments like chin311's are typically focused on hardware, and that was what I was responding to. It's this odd attempt to pretend that nothing has changed by downplaying the many things that have changed.

 

[quikah]

You can do some real work with it, but I know what you mean. I'm wondering if iOS 10 will bring the iPad a step closer to being a full-on productivity device. With that said, arguments like chin311's are typically focused on hardware, and that was what I was responding to. It's this odd attempt to pretend that nothing has changed by downplaying the many things that have changed.

Mouse support in iOS would get it halfway there I think. Steve Jobs even criticized touch screen on laptops during the original iPad unveil, not sure why they suddenly think it is now ok. Touch screen is great as a secondary input on laptop form factor though, one point I think he got wrong.

 

[Artdeco]

I do see one consistent theme here, there are a significant number of people with tablets that don't use them.

When I'm at home, I typically have a tablet in my hand.

 

[Commodus]

All true, yet at the same time I still think for most tablet users those differences will be hard to see. I think the Pro is a fairly niche product at this point, but it is being sold right along side of the Air 2 at Walmart. When I use the two side by side they feel almost identical because all I am doing is using the normal apps that come with all iPads. The average Joe (99% of tablet users) isn't going to notice a huge speed increase or the better screen or the better speakers in normal usage cases (watching Netflix with headphones, surfing the web, playing Angry Birds). The Air / Air 2 already does these things quite well. Hell, my iPad 3 still does those things just fine to be honest.

I think Apple would have been better served selling the Pro WITH the pen. I think Apple would have been better served pre-installing some type of killer app that requires the pen. Then when someone is using the two devices side by side the difference will be immediate and concrete.

I suspect this is why Apple billed it as the Pro and not the Air 3 (or just "the iPad"). It's for the person who knows that they want more out of a tablet than some web surfing and a basic Netflix viewer. My question is: how does Apple handle future updates for people who don't need the Pro's features but still want a 9.7-inch tablet? Do future Airs get hand-me-down features? Will they represent Pros minus pen and keyboard support? Or does Apple cut out the mid tier entirely, and ask you to choose between minis and Pros?

If Apple had to bundle something with the Pro, I'd want it to include the keyboard, not the pen. Part of why Microsoft failed at tablets for more than a decade was its obsession with pen input as a primary tablet interface, even though the truth is that most people couldn't care less about it. Heck, I still think that one of Microsoft's biggest mistakes with the Surface was its insistence on bundling the pen when the keyboard is the real reason you're buying one. I don't know if Apple can include the Smart Keyboard without taking too big a hit on profits, but I suspect more people would get value from that than a Pencil.

 

[sweenish]

Yeah, total yawnfest. All they are is dramatically faster, with noticeably better cameras, thinner and lighter designs, pen input, a smart connector, more storage, improved speakers...

The only camera that matters on a tablet, to me, is the front camera.

I just don't understand this need people have to photograph with a tablet. But again, that's just me.

 

[Commodus]

The only camera that matters on a tablet, to me, is the front camera.

I just don't understand this need people have to photograph with a tablet. But again, that's just me.

Oh, I agree that it's a bit silly to snap photos with a tablet. But people do it, and I don't think it'd be right to stiff them on camera quality. Besides, there are people who use that camera for creative work, whether it's making videos, taking reference photos or scanning documents.

 

[shabby]

Am I missing something?

About $50 from your wallet.

 

[tidy]

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[poofyhairguy]

What I want to ask is: what would qualify as "significant" to you besides 4GB of RAM?

That is like saying "besides her being a supermodel, why do like your girlfriend?"

 

[Beer4Me]

I really dont see the difference between this and an air 2. Other than the pen, whats the point? I'm not being an ahole, its for a future user and was only 50 bucks more than an air 2. Am I missing something?

Click-bait thread, and I suspect it will likely get locked. Your previous posts clearly mark you as an avid Android fanboy, so why would you ever have anything positive to say about Apple or their products?

 

[Lyfer]

Try coming from an older iPad like me. This is my first unit with LTE also and I love that I can get all my calls and text to my iPad as well. But I can see it not making since if you got an iPad Air.

 

[Commodus]

That is like saying "besides her being a supermodel, why do like your girlfriend?"

No, it's not, really. 4GB would be nice, but 2GB on iOS is not world-ending stuff. Now, if the 2017 model is still on 2GB, you'll have a point...

 

[deathBOB]

Click-bait thread, and I suspect it will likely get locked. Your previous posts clearly mark you as an avid Android fanboy, so why would you ever have anything positive to say about Apple or their products?

Probably not, this forum is about 50% Apple shit posts.

 

[Commodus]

Whatever happened to the "retina" idea? I thought 300ppi was the number apple was pushing, but I notice that their larger ipads are all a bit below that.

Apple's definition of Retina is "pixels are virtually indistinguishable at typical viewing distances." That means that lower DPI on larger displays is okay if you're going to be sitting further back. It's okay on an iPad or Mac, for example, because you won't be all that close to them. Now, some would dispute those claims (you can definitely tell the difference between an iPhone 6s's 750p screen and a 1080p or Quad HD phone if you're looking closely), but that does help explain things.

 

[Oyeve]

Whatever happened to the "retina" idea? I thought 300ppi was the number apple was pushing, but I notice that their larger ipads are all a bit below that.

The screen is fine. The whole ppi thing is moot at this point with any recent devices.

 

[sweenish]

Oh, I agree that it's a bit silly to snap photos with a tablet. But people do it, and I don't think it'd be right to stiff them on camera quality. Besides, there are people who use that camera for creative work, whether it's making videos, taking reference photos or scanning documents.

I know that there have to be some decent cases to be made, and I think you covered a few good ones here. It's just that, at a personal level, I loathe it.

But I haven't personally witnessed a a good use of a tablet camera. Just tech illiterates that still can't manage even iOS.

 

[Mopetar]

Whatever happened to the "retina" idea? I thought 300ppi was the number apple was pushing, but I notice that their larger ipads are all a bit below that.

Retina is a function of ppi and viewing distance. For example, if you're 3 feet away from a tablet, you won't notice the difference between an iPad with a retina display and one without. The argument is that tablets aren't held as close to the face as phones, so they can get away with less.

You probably won't notice too much of a difference, though some people have better eyes and can pick out the difference. The only case where it really matters is for character based Asian languages where having 400+ ppi offers a big improvement in readability of character symbols over the current retina displays.

 

[poofyhairguy]

No, it's not, really. 4GB would be nice, but 2GB on iOS is not world-ending stuff. Now, if the 2017 model is still on 2GB, you'll have a point...

I think it comes down to use case. I go past the 2GB on my iPad Air 2 all the time, 2GB can barely take a dozen tabs in a web browser. To me the biggest upgrade they could do is 4GB. I use about 20 tabs on average if I can.



What makes it relevant is the big iPad Pro has 4GB so they can do it. This was a cost saying measure, and I am tired of giving Apple a pass on those when its obvious (iPhone SE, iPad Air 2 in 2014) they can really give us value when they want to.

 

[tidy]

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