Apple iPad Pro 10.5 First Impressions: The Post PC World Isn’t Here Yet

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 First Impressions: The Post PC World Isn't Here Yet

For the past two years or so I’ve been openly contemplating what would happen if Apple evolved the iPad into a true productivity PC. That day hasn’t arrived yet. But the new iPad Pro lineup —and a coming revision to iOS—shows us how Apple can get us there. Someday.

For now, however, Apple has an iPad problem.

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When the original tablet was introduced in 2010, then-CEO Steve Jobs said that he had wondered whether there was “room” for a product between a phone and a laptop. But in doing so, he inadvertently revealed Apple’s real goal, which was about selling more hardware, not fulfilling actual customer needs.

Then the firm announced the original iPad Pro in late 2015. And once it again, it did a horrible job of explaining why it was necessary or, in this case, even deserved a Pro moniker.

The result is well-known: Apple has sold fewer iPads, year-over-year, for 12 consecutive quarters. That’s three straight years of falling sales. Not slowing sales. Falling sales.

That fact needs to be put in perspective, of course. iPad sales are still about double those of Mac sales. And these devices are high quality enough that they last for many years. In this age of throw-away consumerism, maybe we should commend Apple for bucking the trend.

But then Apple also has a hubris problem that prevents it from shifting strategies quickly: The original iPad was heralded as the start of a post-PC world that never came. Which is particularly amazing when you consider how badly PC sales have fallen in recent years. Here’s this wounded and struggling animal, the PC, and Apple’s new wonder weapon can’t even deal a decisive death blow. Seems like a missed opportunity.

Not helping matters, Microsoft and it PC maker partners have paved their own path to a future that does include PCs by innovating with 2-in-1 PCs, gaming PCs, and premium PCs, sub-markets in which there has been tremendous growth. So Apple has been forced to veer from its original iPad vision and offer an iPad Pro 2-in-1 of its own.

It hasn’t helped. At least so far.

Part of the reason is that the original iPad Pro was ill-conceived. It had a huge and technically advanced screen, of course, though Apple later admitted that customers prefer a 9.7-inch form factor, introduced in early 2016, over the original 12.9-inch behemoth. But because of the screen size of that smaller device, the on-screen keyboard is not full-sized as it is on the 12.9-inch version.

Those first iPad Pros were more powerful than other iOS devices, thanks to a more powerful processor, graphics, and additional RAM. But they were also held back by the modest software improvements in iOS, which provided basic multitasking features like a side-by-side apps view but little else.

So Apple is finally addressing these and other issues. In part via new and much-improved iPad Pro devices. And in part via iOS 11, which significantly improves the system’s multitasking and productivity capabilities, but will not arrive in final form until September.

iOS is still a toy (read: mobile) OS, especially in version 10.x form.

Which is an agonizing three months away for those, like me, who wish to see how well Apple’s vision of the future of computing works today.

It does not work well at all. This will please PC fans, I hope. Because while I keep dreading the day that Apple—and for Google, with Chromebook—will wake the f#$k up and just do it already, these companies have both run into major and I assume unexpected roadblocks in delivering on their promises to put the PC out of its misery already.

Witness the new iPad Pro as the latest example of this half-heartedness. I ordered a new 10.5-inch version, which replaces the old 9.7-inch version, an Apple Pencil, and a Smart Keyboard, which also works as a big and heavy cover for the device. For now, this setup will work much like iPad Pros have to date, using a fairly lackluster iOS 10.x version that doesn’t fully take advantage of this hardware and its unique capabilities. But as I’m a registered Apple developer and have access to the pre-release code now, I’ve already moved it to iOS so I can get a more complete idea of where things are going.

And it’s not there yet. Will not be there, in fact, at any time in the next year. So there’s your breathing room, PC fans. Even with the advances in iOS 11, the iPad Pro is no laptop replacement.

The issues with this device are many, but they boil down to two basic ideas, which I’ll tie back to opening comments about Apple having an iPad problem. I just don’t see what the point is here.

First, the iPad Pro is too small to be a productivity device, and it lacks key features—most obviously a touchpad or similar pointer—to ever replace a laptop. A Chromebook is a much better solution for anyone who needs to type at all, and that’s pretty damning all on its own.

Second, the iPad Pro is simply too big to be enjoyable as a consumption device. The screen is amazing, and the speakers sound incredible, but holding this thing to read is like carting around a hardcover bible or coffee table book: It’s big, heavy, and awkward. It’s like a large print edition of the iPad.

As always, I should qualify these statements. It’s a well-made, high-quality device. (Which it should be at these prices.) And I can see how the 10.5-inch iPad Pro improves over its predecessor, which contrary to claims does not share the same basic form factor as the iPad Air and Air 2. (Those tablets were, in fact, smaller, by about half an inch.)

I haven’t owned a full-sized iPad since the original iPad Air, though I did own all previous full-sized iPads, including the original, the iPad 2, the iPad 3, and the iPad 4 (which was at first just called the new iPad). Since then, I’ve stuck largely with the iPad mini, which works well as a reading and video watching device, with its small form factor and light weight. So this will be a bit of an adjustment. OK, more than a bit.

But the screen, paradoxically, is perhaps the iPad Pro’s biggest asset. Pardon the pun. It offers a resolution of 2224 x 1668 resolution, which works out to be 264 PPI, the same pixel density that Apple provides on the bigger 12.9-inch version. This bigger screen sort of fixes the on-screen keyboard issue, too: On this device, the on-screen keyboard is full-sized, just as it is on the 12.9-inch version.

That screen can’t help with the Smart Keyboard, however. Here we see a less-than-full-sized keyboard, with that weird fabric covering, and no touchpad or other pointing device. I would have preferred a 12.9-inch model, if only for a more comfortable typing experience. But I can’t afford such a thing, and for now, what I really want to do is just experiment with the new productivity capabilities. So the 10.5-inch model will have to do. Maybe iOS 12 will include a mouse pointer in 2018.

The device is elegant in the way that all Apple hardware is elegant, and if you’ve owned any iPad in the past, this will look and feel familiar. Maybe too familiar.

So what’s the point?

In a perfect world, I would just return this thing. It’s borderline pointless, and when you add up the costs—$650 for the tablet, $130 for the Smart Keyboard, and $100 for the Apple Pencil—you’re edging nicely into premium laptop territory. But I have slightly different requirements than most consumers.

Looked at from a purely Microsoft-focused perspective—an admitted niche—the iPad Pro is the most sophisticated mobile platform on which to run the software giant’s productivity apps and services. In particular Office 365, which is expanding so quickly these days I can barely keep up. So there’s some testing to be done there.

But I also have a long-running—and by “long running,” I mean 20+ years—history of keeping competitive devices on hand for testing purposes. I’ve always had one or more Macs, for example, and my now-aging MacBook Air will need to be replaced at some point. With an eye towards this post-PC future that never seems to arrive, I will need to keep this thing around for testing purposes. I won’t call it in investment. But it’s a bit of a necessity.

(On that note, I skipped the first-gen iPad Pro devices on purpose, knowing that gen-2 would be much improved. When Apple announced the MacBook Pro with Touch bar, I figured I’d jump in at gen-2 there, as well. But they released gen-2 so quickly after the first models, that I will keep waiting. Not made of money, etc.)

There’s also that Apple Pencil I’ve barely mentioned. I’ve been spending a lot more time in recent weeks experimenting with various smartpens on various platforms and will be writing more about this going forward. I’m decades away from my years as an artist, and many years away from the last time I took notes by hand, with real pens and pencils. But maybe it’s like riding a bike. I at least do have those experiences to fall back on.

In any event, there is much to test, much to think about, and much to write. But what you need to know right now is that the iPad Pro (2017) is almost certainly the best full-sized iPad that Apple has ever made. And while it is a step towards the post-PC future, it’s only a step, and a belated one at that. And it doesn’t go far enough to warrant any worries that doom is upon us.

So thanks for moving so slowly, Apple. Now I can turn my attention to more pressing matters.

 

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  • will

    Premium Member
    14 June, 2017 - 9:24 am

    <p>The new iPad Pro and iOS 11 are big improvements, but I often wonder about the statement "post PC world". The reason is because Microsoft is driving to get Windows as mobile as possible, while also working for desktop users. Apple is working to get iOS as powerful as possible while still keeping it a mobile, lightweight OS. Two side of the same coin. </p><p>I have no idea what Apple has planned for next year, but what if they release a docking ability for a monitor/mouse/keyboard for the iPad Pro? A smart dock that acts as a second screen on your desk and now you use can apps full screen. I mean this device is more processor wise than several laptops today and they have upped the storage quite a bit. Feels like the next possible step. But who knows…</p><p>But then are we really in the "post PC" world if a mobile device now becomes a desktop class system with keyboard &amp; mouse support? Maybe</p>

  • Ugur

    14 June, 2017 - 9:35 am

    <p>Apple could do a major hit against pcs if the'd release macbooks with all commonly expected peripheral ports again, best in class trackpad and keyboard again, highest end gpu and other internal spec options for current standards again and on top allow folding the screen back and add touch and pencil support.</p><p><br></p><p>With iPad Pros, no, this will not become a run away blockbuster success that will suddenly make ARM tablet unit sales numbers increase massively again.</p><p>(The only thing i think could would be if ARM tablets also allowed running all my desktop apps and games at good performance and also had mouse and trackpad support and then would also need way more RAM and peripheral connectors)</p><p><br></p><p>The reality is Apple does not really care whether transform computing, like you said. They care about how they can make most money. If they wanted to transform the industry or at least get a way bigger market share in unit percentage, they would do all those things for laptops and then also release a mac pro which has highest end specs and upgradability and not belated 3+ years later after their last fail design mac pro but right the next year and every year since.</p><p>And they'd at least when they see the surface studio then at that point change their iMac design to allow using the screen at any angle and with touch and pen, too.</p><p><br></p><p>If they'd do all that, yes, they would really do way way better in all those segments in unit share.</p><p><br></p><p>But they don't care about transforming these segments or even just go with current times, they don't care about unit share, they only care about profit share, what can they do which makes most profit per unit.</p><p><br></p><p>They thought they could introduce a more expensive iPad version, add pen and keyboard support to it and call it pro and charge way way more for that total package then. Well, obviously most people don't agree that that's a convincing enough offering at that price point.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>If the iPad Pro with keyboard and pencil and 256 GB storage would cost half of what that bundle costs now, then it could still not allow to use all the desktop apps and games, but hey, it would be a nice enough offering for the price that lots of people would upgrade their older iPads to it and/or buy it as excellent additional ARM tablet.</p><p>But Apple does not care about whether only 10 or 20 percent of ARM tablet users are iOS tablet users.</p><p>They'd rather sell half the amount at twice the profit.</p><p><br></p><p>At these prices, which as you rightly said get into convertible/laptop with desktop OS level, yeah, then one has to wonder what this device offers compared to my other devices which do run desktop OS.</p><p><br></p><p>Me personally, i use smartphones, ARM tablets, convertibles/laptops and desktops and all for their strengths and yeah, there is just few argument or use case for paying prices like for the iPad pro with keyboard and pen while still having such restrictive OS and connectivity when then for paying just a tad more i could have a real quality convertible/laptop which can run all my desktop stuff, too.</p><p><br></p><p>I thought about whether i should get one of these or not, with excuse for dev testing on it, but at these price ranges i don't see a huge audience for it compared to people using their (non "pro") older iPads.</p><p><br></p><p>Then the only exception for me to get it would be if i'd sell some of my older ARM tablets, but then it's more handy to have a few of those in the house for different people to use rather than have less in amount but more expensive single ones.</p><p><br></p><p>If one just has more device categories as most people in the western world have, then ARM tablets will in actual use still get relegated to more consuming oriented tasks by most people and then those are high prices to ask for that.</p><p><br></p><p>I have to think long and hard about if i have any use case which i can't do on my large screen phone nor would want to do on a convertible/laptop/desktop with more capable OS and is at the same time better doable on Apple's more expensive iPad "Pro" version options than on any older iOS and Android ARM tablet i already have.</p><p><br></p><p>I see this and the next year as big deciding years to see whether Apple will get serious about their computers again, for this year they announced some speed bumps, now next year i want to see highest end internal gpu options for macbook pros, the new mac pro and see if they add touch and pen support to their laptops and desktops (and maybe even make their laptops fold over option). That's their last chance at getting bigger unit share in computers again.</p><p>After all the reassuring statements, if they screw it up again with the next two iterations, hardly anyone will believe them anymore and the last believers will jump ship for a good while and be hard to win back then.</p><p><br></p><p>(Their main saving grace is that MS with the surface devices for all is quite close to "the computer most want for this category", but still not fully there yet. </p><p>If MS would for the SP add card reader, second USB A and one USB-C/Thunderbolt 3, that would be very convincing for that category to A LOT of people.</p><p>If they'd offer a version of the surface studio at same price but fast ssd only and on top allow using it as external display, too and then on top also have spec options for highest end internal desktop grade specs, yeah, that device would rule it's category supreme, too.</p><p>If the surface laptop would have the base config price for the medium config option (and that be the base config) and it would have an usb c/thunderbolt port, too and allow folding the screen over for pen usage, heck i would have bought it right away. If they'd on top add high end gpu options, i'd buy the high end spec at high price as my next main laptop.</p><p>So yeah, MS is close, but not fully there either.</p><p>But hey, in Windows land one at least has many other choices, too =) )</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>iPad Pro at these prices with pen and keyboard, yeah, no =)</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>At first i had wondered why you hadn't mentioned any of the things new to iOS 11 like the new dock usability, drag and drop and the files app. Then i remembered half of those things don't work properly yet and in general, while nice to have, none of those elevate the iPad Pro to me to a level where i would say "yes, finally, now with these i actually don't need my desktop apps and games anymore!"</p>

  • nbplopes

    14 June, 2017 - 9:37 am

    <p>I would like to have your opinion how this works comparatively say to say a Surface Pro in the same price range, factoring out the fact that it does not support a trackpad at the moment. I mean, imagine that we did not have a trackpad in Surface Pro's.</p><p>I ask this, because trackpad support in the iPad with iOS11 seams to be a trivial business at the moment. Meaning that the lack off support is only down to Apple's methodology approaching the touch language. So I'm personally I'm more interested in the possibilities when the support is available than right now even though I understand its a bit of a rhetorical experiment.</p><p>Take for instance using Ulysses or iA Writer for blogging with WordPress. Take photo editing and embed in a document with iOS 11. Take say a Skype call while editing a document.</p><p>I'll be probably buying one of these or the 12.9 inch when iOS11 arrives so I'm really curious.</p>

    • Ugur

      14 June, 2017 - 10:04 am

      <blockquote><a href="#125446"><em>In reply to nbplopes:</em></a><em> The problem the iPad Pro faces is that it only caters to a) people with so much money they don't care whether something at a particular price is a good offering for the price (a small audience) and b) to people who have very particular needs from a computing device, which is that it has some functionality they want to use which is not met by their smartphone or cheaper older ARM tablet they have/could buy but is at the same time some functionality not requiring a desktop OS.</em></blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><blockquote><em>Yes, if one has zero need for desktop OS apps and games, then one could do fine with an iPad Pro, but then one could likely also do fine with an Android tablet or iPad without "pro" in the name.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

      • nbplopes

        14 June, 2017 - 11:10 am

        <blockquote><a href="#125456"><em>In reply to Ugur:</em></a></blockquote><p>Generically speaking I find people on the Windows camp including the Microsoft Press too eager to jump with all guns against Apple. Sometimes quite right, but other times they don't know what hit them until its too late. </p><p>http://bgr.com/2017/06/09/ipad-pro-2017-a10x-fusion-benchmarks/</p><p>I have been noticing this trend since I bought the Surface Pro 3 with a Core i7. I've notice that inexplicably the iPad Pro back than would surpass this laptop in performance, not not such a few instances. Granted I would not make software development on the iPad Pro, and to be honest I don't think that will happen in the next 10 years. Still a lot of tasks considered demanding, such as gaming with high quality graphics, photos editing and 3D modeling it would surpasses, especially considering the SP3 would start throttling in such a shortchanged time of work, 2 or 3 minutes. We are talking about a device that cost me all in all (SP3 + Keyboard + Dock) close to $2000 2 years ago.</p><p>Just the fact that Apple does not make much noise about the above would make anyone think that Apple itself does not fully believe yet that is ready to take on such Marketing fearlessly. Not because of lack of power but the issue is one of Apps that can explore that power. So they seam to be talking with developers. What is missing is really some Hero application that undeniably shows its power, but if you consider that applications with the power Photoshop will be able to run on sub $1000 devices without hiccups of any sort … you can imagine what is coming soon enough. This goes really deep, deeper than I imagined in the first iPad Pro. This is just the beginning. </p><p>Another indication is how the price list of Apple has changed a bit. Granted they seam to have rolled back a bit …it came too soon. The first iPad Pro is not at all a success as they expected, iOS was not ready, neither were developers. But look at it, they are pricing laptops starting at $1500 creating space for this category inside Apple product line. They expect it to get traction soon so there is a method here, far deeper than you might think at first sight.</p><p>I apologize to the vote down, but considering what I see, I think the question makes sense.</p><p>I think the lack of trackpad supper is mainly a conjuntural and considering iOS 11 capabilities its seams to be technically trivial. I actually believe that Apple already knows when it will launch such support. But the fact is that if they supported it right now, a lot of App optimizations for touch, and probably iOS 11 would not be what it is today and touch the darling interaction language of the iPad, would already probably have been compromised.</p><p><br></p><p>Would say that Apple aiming for a device with the performance of todays SP4s at $1700 dual core but at $800 is just looking at the rich people or actually changing the landscape?</p><p>Just do a research on the new iPad Pro performance … holy s*** at $800.</p><p>Time will tell.</p><p>Cheers.</p><p>PS: So you can now understand why even MS is pushed to go against Intel and support ARM. Its not just the problem they had with Surface Books and Intel processors. The thing goes deeper than that.</p><p><br></p>

        • Stooks

          14 June, 2017 - 4:15 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#125511"><em>In reply to nbplopes:</em></a></blockquote><p>"&nbsp;I actually believe that Apple already knows when it will launch such support. But the fact is that if they supported it right now, a lot of App optimizations for touch, and probably iOS 11 would not be what it is today and touch the darling interaction language of the iPad, would already probably have been compromised."</p><p><br></p><p>The day the first iPad launched I knew that mouse support was going to be an issue. I think Apple knew this as well, but "Steve" set the words in stone for them and Steve's words were everything to them.</p><p><br></p><p>Your point is that they held back mouse support so touch support got better? So when they do finally drop mouse support and lots and lots of people use it 90% of the time during content creation means what?? They blew their opportunity for how many years?</p><p><br></p><p> I would seriously consider using a iPad as a laptop replacement for lots of task, the second it get's mouse support. Until then my iPad Air 2 is one fantastic consumption device! Neflix is fantastic on it.</p>

          • nbplopes

            14 June, 2017 - 6:01 pm

            <blockquote><a href="#125654"><em>In reply to Stooks:</em></a></blockquote><p>They have not blew anything yet. Why are people in such a rush to replace the PCs?</p><p>I think the coming years will be interesting in this context.</p>

            • Stooks

              14 June, 2017 - 8:38 pm

              <blockquote><a href="#125701"><em>In reply to nbplopes:</em></a></blockquote><p>"Why are people in such a rush to replace the PCs?"</p><p><br></p><p>The idea is a good one for a few reasons. The iPad is thin and light and has fantastic battery life. If it could replace my heavier, bigger laptops, especially when I travel then it would be great. Who would not want that if it could actually be that replacement? The Surface is a great device but it is not a great tablet at all.</p><p><br></p><p>Plus Apple has pushed it as a "Laptop Replacement" since the launch of the Pro.</p>

      • nbplopes

        14 June, 2017 - 12:16 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#125456"><em>In reply to Ugur:</em></a></blockquote><p>https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/tablets/apple-ipad-pro-10-5</p&gt;

  • cyloncat

    14 June, 2017 - 9:43 am

    <p>Why do I get the feeling that the perfect post-PC device will be a PC? In all but name, perhaps, but perhaps still a PC after all. If a post-PC device must have a full-sized keyboard, touch screen, trackpad, mouse, voice input, on-screen pointer, ports, external display support, and mobility, then what differentiates PC from post-PC? Is the new Surface Pro a post-PC PC?</p>

  • bbold

    14 June, 2017 - 9:44 am

    <p>As an old Apple user for many years, I keep picking up the latest iPads and iPad Pro's only to find that they are great entertainment consumption devices. NOT for real work, NOT for anything else other than games and music, light emailing, etc. I think the whole 'laptop replacement' PR stuff is just a joke to reel in new iPad users. Once they have the device, they feel obligated to 'make it work' for work. I have seen countless Apple sheeple at Starbucks, for instance, with their $1K setups, trying to make it all work with their floppy fabric keyboards, and it just seems silly and looks painful. When I whip out my SP4 or Surface Book, I feel like I can do anything on it. The hugest problem MS has, as we all know, is the lack of Apps (for most people) which will hold its adoption rate back (specifically with the new Surface Laptop.) If MS can improve the app ecosystem, I think they will finally start to see sales climb. For now, it's more or less the same playing field.. iPads = great for entertainment consumption, SP4/SB/SL = great for business and work, Chromebooks = great for students.</p>

    • Delmont

      14 June, 2017 - 10:12 am

      <blockquote><a href="#125449"><em>In reply to bbold:</em></a></blockquote><p>"As an old Apple user for many years, I keep picking up the latest iPads and iPad Pro's" So, you're made of money to keep wasting?</p>

    • wolters

      Premium Member
      14 June, 2017 - 10:35 am

      <blockquote><a href="#125449"><em>In reply to bbold:</em></a></blockquote><p>Agreed…there needs to be more "tablet" apps for Windows devices if they want to compete. I'm still primarily a "Win 32" user on my Surface and I generally use Facebook, Twitter, Feedly, etc in Chrome, so I don't fire up those apps much. But with the onset of Windows 10s, this has to happen. </p>

    • will

      Premium Member
      14 June, 2017 - 10:49 am

      <blockquote><a href="#125449"><em>In reply to bbold:</em></a></blockquote><p>It's interesting how Apple has the apps, thanks to the phone, but the productivity side of tablets is lackluster. Microsoft has the tablet but the apps are lackluster. </p><p>Its ironic how that is the world we live in. If you zoom out Microsoft people want mobility and apps. Apple people want productivity and power.</p>

    • lvthunder

      Premium Member
      14 June, 2017 - 12:09 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#125449"><em>In reply to bbold:</em></a></blockquote><p>It all depends on what you call 'real work'.</p>

  • Bats

    14 June, 2017 - 10:04 am

    <p>The post-PC is not yet here? LOL…did he tell Harry McCracken that?</p><p>LOL…I don't think Paul understands what the term "PC" is short for. It's an acronym that means, "Personal Computer."&nbsp;Ya know, it's that thing that helps the thing make and get things. We have personal computers in our pockets. They are called Androids. Some have personal computers in their homes and they are either called Macs or Windows based computers. We even have portable computers that we can carry in our ScottEVest clothes and they are called tablets.</p><p>When Paul says that the post PC world is not here because of his analysis of the iPad, he is dead wrong. However, Paul shouldn't be blamed for that conclusion as much as a toddler shouldn't be blamed for touch a pot of boiling water. Paul simply doesn't know.&nbsp;</p><p>I read this post, and it's pretty much about technical specs. In the real world, who really cares about technical specs? It's all about getting things done and being able to accomplish work (real work) in whatever device you choose. Clearly, in this day of age, that can be done on a Chromebook, Android phone, iPad, iPhone, etc….</p><p><br></p><p>I loved the story Paul told about Harry McCracken on both Windows Weekly and What the Tech podcast. Sometimes I wonder, why did he tell it, because his answer as to why he uses an iPad for productivity absolutely destroys his claim that "real" work can't be done in anything other than a Windows Computer. Despite that, Paul still claims that Windows PC's are still needed? LOL. Again,….did he tell that to Harry McCracken?</p><p><br></p>

    • Stooks

      14 June, 2017 - 4:07 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#125457"><em>In reply to Bats:</em></a></blockquote><p>McCracken is a total Apple fanboy. He would rather give up the ability to do something if it can't be done on the iPad without a mouse. </p><p><br></p><p>He has stated on Twit that he is a purest and that he does not even want the option of mouse support on the iPad even if it does not impact anything he is doing. That is ignorance at its best.</p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    14 June, 2017 - 10:09 am

    <p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I’ve been spending a lot more time in recent weeks experimenting with various smartpens on various platforms and will be writing more about this going forward."</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I look forward to this. Maybe later this year we can expect some Thurrott-penned original artwork 🙂 </span></p>

  • MikeGalos

    14 June, 2017 - 10:11 am

    <p> I know I'm&nbsp;risking the wrath of those who hold the late Steve Jobs in a religious fervor but he was the biggest&nbsp;reason Apple is stalled in the transition of iOS devices to real personal computers. At least according to the industry gossip of the time.</p><p>When Macintosh first came out a lot of software vendors addressed it by doing direct ports of their text-based MS-DOS and Apple ][ software over and Macintosh was plagued by early applications that didn't use the mouse at all and weren't in any way WYSIWYG or GUI. It was only through some fairly massive and creative evangelism by Guy Kawasaki and his team that real, designed for a GUI software got on the market eventually.</p><p>Steve Jobs, reportedly, never forgot that lesson and when iOS was written he was afraid the same thing would happen, ironically, this time with Mac software vendors porting their smaller mouse/keyboard&nbsp;applications over to iOS with touch acting as just a virtual mouse. As a result, he not only insisted that the OS not support a mouse but that the internals be designed to make sure that nobody could easily add mouse/trackpad support back in.</p><p>Well, at least that was the industry gossip that went around at the time, As with all industry gossip, It may or may not be true, but the inability of Apple to retrofit mouse support into iOS even after years of it being a clear need gives those rumors some weight.</p>

    • PincasX

      14 June, 2017 - 10:45 am

      <blockquote><a href="#125461"><em>In reply to MikeGalos:</em></a></blockquote><p>No idea about the gossip claims but I don't think Apple has the "inability" to add mouse support so much as a lack of desire. I think the question is not adding support a decision a legitimate "touch only" design choice or misguided adherence to the a decision that was made when the product was first being developed. </p>

      • MikeGalos

        14 June, 2017 - 2:42 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#125490"><em>In reply to PincasX:</em></a></blockquote><p>In favor of the "intentionally designed to make it hard" is the addition of a pen(cil) which Jobs called out as a clear sign of bad UX even more than a mouse. But he didn't insist on explicitly killing pen support in the design of iOS unlike mouse support since there were no pen-enabled OS X applications to block.</p>

        • PincasX

          14 June, 2017 - 3:00 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#125610"><em>In reply to MikeGalos:</em></a></blockquote><p>Maybe I'm misunderstanding you when you say:</p><p>"<span style="background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);">the inability of Apple to retrofit mouse support into iOS"</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);">That reads like you are saying Apple would like to get mouse support but doesn't have the expertise to do so but I don't think that is what you mean. </span></p>

          • Stooks

            14 June, 2017 - 3:57 pm

            <blockquote><a href="#125612"><em>In reply to PincasX:</em></a></blockquote><p>They could do it but they don't like the taste of humble pie. It is a pride issue. </p><p><br></p><p>It is clearly the BIGGEST reason that the iPad has not even scratched the surface of replacing laptops with the iPad.</p><p><br></p><p>It is shocking how obvious the lack of mouse support is impacting their efforts. Stupid is as…..</p>

            • PincasX

              14 June, 2017 - 6:00 pm

              <blockquote><a href="#125644"><em>In reply to Stooks:</em></a></blockquote><p>I was simply trying to understand what Mike was saying and wasn't weighing in on Apple's choice to exclude a mouse. So I'm not sure what your comment had to do with what I said but based on your word vomit through the commit sections you just want to make it super clear that you don't like Apple. Noted.</p>

              • Stooks

                14 June, 2017 - 8:33 pm

                <blockquote><a href="#125700"><em>In reply to PincasX:</em></a></blockquote><p>I don't like Apple? I own a 2015 Macbook Pro, iPad Air 2, iPhone 7 and a Apple TV, but I don't like Apple.</p><p><br></p><p>I want mouse support for the iPad. If it had mouse support I would use it a lot more. I simply can't stand using the screen and lame touch multi-tasking when I have the keyboard attached.</p><p><br></p><p>I feel like Apple is just being arrogant about it, just give us the option. Clearly I am not the only one asking and clearly every move they have made with the Pro so far has not stopped the sales decline quarter after quarter. When I heard Paul say on Windows Weekly he was going to get this new Pro, I practically said out loud "nothing has changed he wont like it".</p>

  • TigerBalm7

    14 June, 2017 - 10:15 am

    <p>Thx for the review Paul. Apple's marketing is so effective I have to remind myself why the new iPad Pro isn't worth it:</p><p>-Still not a PC replacement – wrt true productivity</p><p>-I mainly use my iPad as a media consumption device. For this type of usage, the iPad pro is too expensive ( &amp; this is just considering the iPad alone)</p><p>-Too heavy and big for a tablet, compared to my iPad mini 2</p><p><br></p><p>The new features are welcomed, but I'll continue holding on to my mini 2. </p><p><br></p>

  • johnbaxter

    14 June, 2017 - 10:16 am

    <p>The first public beta of iOS 11 is out. Stay away from the dev releases now. </p><p><br></p><p>I haven't seen anyone else for whom the first developer beta destroyed a machine as badly as your iPad Mini was hurt, but I doubt many developers are installing the dev beta on iPad Mini machines. You may want to keep the Mini on iOS 10 (if you can restore it to useful life).</p><p><br></p><p> I'm familiar with more than one dev who took the dev beta plunge on their working iPad at WWDC without harm.</p>

  • glenn8878

    14 June, 2017 - 10:19 am

    <p>I feel like your analysis falls short of what it actually is and not what it should be or ever be. iPad Pro will never be a PC laptop. It should best be viewed as how far it should achieve it's objectives without ever being a PC or MacBook. The extra complaining about the size is not helpful especially when the iPad Pro is the same size as the original iPad so how did it become too large for consumption and in light of iPhones becoming larger as well. Seems more likely the iPad Pro 10.5" is about the right size without bumping to the even larger version. </p><p>So lets examine what it can or cannot do without a mouse. It won't be suitable for formatting a document for publication. Cut and pasting is less elegant, but still achievable. Moving around pictures in documents is hard. But typing out notes and reports is easily done. And rudimentary formatting is easy. </p><p>Certainly the iPad isn't powerful enough to be host two large screens while in a dock. So get an actual Laptop for that. </p><p>In a roundabout way, iPad Pro is a mobile device and suitable for perhaps most productivity tasks on the go, but we already have the iPhone 7. </p>

  • PincasX

    14 June, 2017 - 10:23 am

    <p>When the original iPad came out it was certainly lacking on the productivity front. Now when people say it can't be used for productivity they really mean "I can't use it for productivity" and that is fair enough statement. I couldn't use an iPad to replace my work PC but for my personal computing needs? I am guessing it will do just fine. I'm actually going to give it a shot with the new pro. I think for a lot of consumers that iPads (or tablets in general) would work just fine for their needs. I would imagine Apple will continue to chip away at the list of things limit iOS when it comes to productivity but I doubt it will ever cover 100% of what a PC can do and I don't really think that is their intent. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    14 June, 2017 - 10:30 am

    <p> "<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">When the original tablet was introduced in 2010, then-CEO Steve Jobs said that he had wondered whether there was “room” for a product between a phone and a laptop. But in doing so, he inadvertently revealed Apple’s real goal, which was about selling more hardware, not fulfilling actual customer needs."</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Paul, I'm not sure that's entirely fair. Sure, Apple does want to sell more hardware, but I think the iPad was legitimately part of Job's long-time vision of a simpler computing device for non-technical users. And while Apple's never shied away from pushing premium devices (and accessories), I believe the company has always had a focus on user design and experience (which sometimes unfortunately devolves into easily mocked self-reverential puffery). </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">At the time there really was a question about the space between a phone and a laptop. I think the iPad proved that there was a need there. I don't think Apple </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">created </em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">the need as much as they </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">uncovered </em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">it. Your continued use of the iPad Mini is proof of that need.</span></p>

  • Tony Barrett

    14 June, 2017 - 10:31 am

    <p>It's got an Apple logo on it – that's all Apple's customers need to know. </p><p><br></p><p>By the way, post PC has been here for ages, and it has a robot for a logo. MS are really struggling to push Win10 forward with any real momentum now. Only new PC sales are doing anything to the numbers, although as usual, MS are relying on their enterprise – strike that – cash cow customers to start upgrading en mass soon, purely because MS have given them no choice.</p>

    • Stooks

      14 June, 2017 - 3:48 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#125484"><em>In reply to Tony Barrett:</em></a></blockquote><p>For the Enterprise customers Microsoft does not care. You pay the same whether you are running Windows 7 or 10. According to NMS Windows (as a whole) has actually gone up in market share in the last year by 1-2%…from 89% to 91.64% now. Mac market share has almost dropped 33% according to those some numbers.</p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    14 June, 2017 - 10:33 am

    <p>I don't think we should be using the term "post-PC" <em>literally</em>, as in a world without PC's; I think we're there now that the PC is no longer the center of people's computing lives.</p>

  • Nonmoi

    14 June, 2017 - 10:48 am

    <p>Too early a review, since iOS 11 has not officially released yet, the verdict should hold until end of this year.</p><p><br></p><p>PS. What is worse than a single Type A? a single Lighting port.</p>

  • Angusmatheson

    14 June, 2017 - 10:57 am

    <p>Fantastic article! 1) I totally agree that for most of us this will not replace our computers. My father bought one of these iPad pros to see if we can use them to replace the laptops everyone carries at work. And I think it will be a failed experiment (I did these same thing with iPad minis about 5 years ago.) For me, I can't see this replacing my laptop. 2) In the mythos that the tablet is going to replace the PC, I think Microsoft has suffered more. Apple sold a lot of tablets (fastest growing product ever) and made profit on all of them, and the iPads are still, I suspect, still being used and loved. Keeping people in the iOS ecosystem. However Apple kept the Mac the Mac, while windows sacrificed windows phone 7 and windows 7 – to create windows 8 which was a hybrid tablet/desktop OS which was planned to keep Microsoft in the tablet market and not let traditional windows disappear. Knowing what we know now, that was a terrible mistake. Letting windows 7 evolve into the future PC, would not have been consumed by a tsunami of tablets. And windows phone 7 could then have continued without the full restart of windows phone 8. Microsoft didn't realized that the PC had time, and the existential threat to the PC wasn't tablets, but smart phones. 3) I wonder about 2-1 sales. Are they decreasing iPad sales, or are they taking from traditional PC sales? That matters because if the surface experiment reduced Apple sales (Mac or iPad) that is great for the PC market, however if it simply took from OEM sales, that is terrible. Because of surface, I suspect, the OEMs embraced chrome OS faster. Microsoft had taken the most profitable part of the market and the OEMs all seem to be struggling (thriving in a declining market is hard. And 2-1 have certainly not stopped the decline in PC sales (PC and iPads are both declining, so it is hard for Microsoft to crow about declining IPad sales.) Now I think Microsoft is ready for the future and this post PC world. Products like office 365 and Azure assure its place in the future. The question is where is windows in that future? I think basically jobs was basically right. Smart phones are cars. computers (Mac and PC) are trucks. Maybe tablets are SUV. They do the job of a truck sometimes, but not all the time. Aren't quite as small as a car which causes problems other times. But some people love them and wouldn't want to live without them.</p>

    • nbplopes

      14 June, 2017 - 12:14 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#125501"><em>In reply to Angusmatheson:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/tablets/apple-ipad-pro-10-5</p&gt;

      • Stooks

        14 June, 2017 - 3:34 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#125537"><em>In reply to nbplopes:</em></a></blockquote><p>Why do you keep linking that article? The writer is amazed by benchmarks???? </p><p><br></p><p>Buy any new device today for portable computing and the last thing people will complain about is speed, especially for the tasks they will do on a portable computing device. Sure it maybe fast/faster in some bench marks but any new device with a SSD is going to be fast enough.</p><p><br></p><p>The reasons the iPad can not replace a laptop for most are NO different since before these new iPad's and before iOS 11. Nothing has really changed. There are many reasons, the strongest is lack of mouse/trackpad support and no ability to use an external monitor.</p><p><br></p><p>I could get around no ports as I hardly use them on a laptop. I can get around file storage as I use the heck out of onedrive and I can use it on my iPad. I can't get around the lack of software, like Visio and the lack of of mouse support. </p><p><br></p><p>Trying to use something like OmniGraffle for the iPad (which is worse than the Mac version) to replace Visio……with my finger……..ummmm no.</p>

        • nbplopes

          14 June, 2017 - 5:57 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#125620"><em>In reply to Stooks:</em></a></blockquote><p>I keep linking that article because I think its important, I think it is interesting that a $800 device surpasses even a Core i7 and tasks known to be strong. You may not think it is. That All I'm saying is that, do not dismiss this because all odds it just keeps getting better and better. Sometimes even surprisingly better.</p><p>This is basically a race. At one side you have MS that is looking to simplify the PC experience while offering a more versatile and predictable experience. On the other side you have a simple and predictable experience and a company making it more versatile every year … and now aiming for to tickle the other one in the performance department. </p><p>Who will cave … we do not know. I'm of the opinion too that this current iPad Pro does not change much due to one or two things, I did not need to buy one, just saw WWDC and arrived to this conclusion quickly. But the reasons are getting to be fewer by the year. And I don't see in the other side less people interested in a productive device at a lower cost per performance and per watt.</p><p>When a device using synthetic benchmarks is 40% faster than than a DELL XPS 13, a 4.5 stars laptop and 17% than the newest HP that everyone is talking about, at $650 you better watch. Why? Because an expensive tablet might just become an relatively affordable high performance laptop replacement, even with the drawbacks for the moment. It may not have the perfect Visio application at the moment, be it might be just almost enough to fire another software Gold Rush. Apple as not yet played this card for some reason. I guess we will see when iOS11 is released, because I suspect it will not jus be a footnote in the iPad Pro's this year, in other words, Apple might have some more tuff to say about it, it is not uncommon. </p><p>Why launch an iPad Pro without yet the perfect OS for it? Because of developers not so much because of potential buyers right now!</p><p> </p><p>That is all.</p>

          • Stooks

            14 June, 2017 - 8:25 pm

            <blockquote><a href="#125698"><em>In reply to nbplopes:</em></a></blockquote><p>"surpasses even a Core i7 and tasks known to be strong"</p><p><br></p><p>On Geekbench??? How do the two even compare with two different types of CPU/Chipset architectures????</p><p><br></p><p>Name an app on that is on both, content creation app since we are talking about "Laptop Replacement" here. I going to bet in 100% of the apps, the app on the computer is has more features is more powerful and runs better once you put some serious effort/work into the app. Use Excel and load up some big spreadsheet and have it do some data analysis and see how the two compare….are those geekbench results holding up?</p><p><br></p><p>If someone can replace a Laptop with an iPad Pro all that means at this point is that they did not need a laptop. In that case it is a "Laptop Alternative". </p><p><br></p><p>If they really need a Laptop the iPad Pro with iOS and the apps that are out there are not a replacement. Sorry is just is not. </p>

            • nbplopes

              15 June, 2017 - 4:11 am

              <blockquote><a href="#125738"><em>In reply to Stooks:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>The unit of time does not change with system. It might be the case that this new iPad is so odd that the tests need to be adapted. But we have no evidence of that.</p><p><br></p><p>I dont like to speculate as far. What i do know is that most people do not use Excel. Like most people do not use Photoshop so do not appreciate his example.</p><p><br></p><p>Look you seam to be thinking that PCs are going away. They are not anytime soon.</p><p><br></p><p>The Market will not replace laptops for this just because its cute if ever. It will be a process. Still the short comings of a PC are being exposed, at least some of them.</p><p><br></p><p>There is no doupt that the short comings of the Intel architecture is already outthere in the wild. Wether you like it or not a PC is Wintel. Wether the future is Warm no one knows. :)</p><p><br></p><p>Have you tried so some serious excel analystivs work on a $500 laptop? Because that seams to be the segment … from 500 to 1200.</p><p><br></p><p>Apple.seams to be focused on bringing that kind of computing power to that segment without compromising mobility or device overall quality. Mindbloging to the point of disbelief as it seams. Just like the iPhone did for smartphones.</p>

  • scribz

    14 June, 2017 - 11:05 am

    <p>I was a great fan of the initial iPad and purchased the first three generations. I recently borrowed my son's 12.9 inch iPad Pro to try out IOS 11 and see, once again, if I could replace my laptop. No. While it's a little better, it's still gimped. I can't download a file to my iPad, only iCloud. I can't then transfer a file to a hard disk. No music except through a sync with iTunes. It goes on and on. Basically, I need a Mac alongside the iPad. My wife reads, checks her email, and browses the web and the iPad works for her. I want to be able to replace my laptop, and that's just not possible. It's a shame. Because with very little effort Apple could have made a machine that destroyed the PC market. Instead, it's still little more than a large iPhone. Without the phone bit. I was what you would probably call a Mac fanboy. Everything Apple. Well, I've seen the way things were going under Tim Cook and I jumped ship last December when I purchased a Surface Pro 4. I love it. It's what I was waiting for on the iPad all these years.</p>

  • red.radar

    Premium Member
    14 June, 2017 - 11:09 am

    <p>I could be mistaken, but doesn't the apple mouse pair with the Ipad?</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

    • skborders

      14 June, 2017 - 1:26 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#125510"><em>In reply to red.radar:</em></a><em> No. the iPad has no mouse pointer capability.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Locust Infested Orchard Inc.

    14 June, 2017 - 12:21 pm

    <p><strong>In mid-2017 the premise of this article's heading no longer resonates with the reality. Had this article Surfaced three to five years ago, I certainly would have been in agreement. The PC world, though it continues to shrink (primarily because the lifecycle of PCs has steadily increased, and shall continue to do so with their ever-increasing power), continues to make strides in innovative products that one couldn't have been foreseen a decade ago.</strong></p><p><strong>I am strongly of the opinion that 'the post Android/iOS World isn't quite here yet'. One may question my seemingly bizarre statement when all data trends point to an increasing usage and reliance of Android devices. But remember this, history has shown that all fads and trends are cyclical in nature, they rise to peak point, plateau off, and then fall to a trough. Whether
    there is a resurgence depends upon something better coming along. In technology, it is almost always the case that which has sunk enters a state of oblivion.</strong></p><p><strong>For now though, Android and to a lesser extent iOS are witnessing the heady days of their prevalence. Though difficult to perceive, now is the time to look beyond that which reigns supreme, for I believe not before long, the gorgeous once-loved Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus shall be consigned to the bottom drawer only to be collecting dust.</strong></p><p><strong>Time shall test the veracity of my sentiments, as it always does.</strong></p>

    • nbplopes

      14 June, 2017 - 12:46 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#125545"><em>In reply to Locust Infested Orchard Inc.:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>All i have to say ia this: https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/tablets/apple-ipad-pro-10-5</p><p><br></p><p>I am not as sure if this is a fad pr not.</p><p><br></p><p>The bottom line of Paul confusing article is that the iPad Pro does not support a trackpad yet.</p>

    • Stooks

      14 June, 2017 - 3:45 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#125545"><em>In reply to Locust Infested Orchard Inc.:</em></a></blockquote><p>"<strong>One may question my seemingly bizarre statement when all data trends point to an increasing usage and reliance of Android devices."</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Not bizarre at all. It is the truth. Outside of Chromebooks in US schools all this smartphone/tablet/Chromebook talk has done NOTHING really to replace computers in the last 10 years. </strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Chromebooks success, in US schools only, is 90% cost/10% ease of administration. The ease of administration part could easily be considered a "cost" item since they just get rid of the support people and push the job on some over worked teacher.</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Apple has abandoned Enterprise. The iPhone is the only serious money maker for Apple. Every other division is falling or stagnated. That Home Pod or whatever is will sell less than the iWatch or AppleTV probably. </p><p><br></p><p>Google just stopped development on the new OS that was going to combine ChromeOS and Android. What happened to the Android on Chrome efforts…..crickets. The Pixel phone, you know the phone that Google was going to be in more control of, their first flagship offering, priced like a flagship, that had some actual advertising for a week or so, just passed 1 million sales, which is pretty much a total failure.</p><p><br></p><p>Google is an ad company (86%+ revenue) that makes tools to collect information. Android is everywhere because 60% or more of Android devices are total junk that still collects tons of info. Who cares if they are secure or ever get updated they are still collecting tons and tons of data to feed Ad sales…..mission accomplished.</p>

  • pwrof3

    14 June, 2017 - 12:44 pm

    <p>I agree that 10.5 is too small, which is why I am excited to try out the improvements to the 12.9" with iOS 11. 13" is the smallest screen size I would want for productivity use. </p><p>I used to use the 10" Surface 3 and I looked like a giant hunched over a tiny rock. Not to mention the back pain associated with having to hunch down to see the screen. This is also why I prefer a traditional desktop as well, but can't take those on the go. </p>

  • Lars lalaa

    14 June, 2017 - 1:11 pm

    <p>What I‘d like to see from Paul here. Take the iPad Pro on one of your trips around September when iOS 11 comes out, or try it at home. </p><p>Use it as a productive tablet. Let the keyboard at home and get familiar with touch type. Just use the smart cover. Try to write an article on it and trust the auto correction before you adjust later on, get professional and fully touch based and featured software like Affinity Photo and do some photo editing. If you don‘t wanna spend money get Lightroom. Collaborate with Brad on something. Take notes on it. Use Files to organize and share some data. Take advantages of airplay and airprint by printing or using it as a smart home hub. You have to find and use the advantages of a tablet. </p><p>Try do get some stuff done and don‘t give up after your first try of typing on the additional keyboard and a conclusion like „meh. It‘s still not working like a laptop and it‘s not like I used to it for ages“ I think that‘s part of the problem. It‘s simply not a Laptop and it‘s never going to be one. You mentioned the support of mouse and track pad. I doubt this would change any of your concerns because the device would still lack some points of a traditional laptop. The Surface Pro lacks there too btw. Can you write on it better than on a sturdy laptop keyboard or can you use it better on your lap? Not really. </p><p>The reason I don’t recommend the additional keyboard, other than it’s way too expensive, you lose some of the advantages. It doesn’t feel like one piece anymore and it annoys you sometimes in overall use cases. The iPad Pro is rather a more productive phone than a laptop. Before iOS 11 an iPad was kind of a bigger phone, with the update it’s a more productive one. IMO the Post PC World is already here. It‘s called phone. If you look at teenagers. These kids getting stuff done where others don‘t even have booted up their PC’s.</p><p>I ordered the new iPad Pro to replace my iPad Air 2. Mostly because of screen improvements in both size and quality, processing power and pen support. I love to take my iPad in combination with the iPhone on vacation for photo editing, media consumption and overall workloads I can’t do on a phone or things that doesn’t feel as good on phone, and it’s ultra portable. I think Apple took a big step with the update and expand its possibilities. Is it for everyone? Absolutely not. Is it something for you? I don’t think so. Maybe you are too old for it 🙂 and by old I mean you’re just way more familiar with traditional computing. But you can definitely get some more out of it.</p><p><br></p>

  • Michael Babiuk

    14 June, 2017 - 1:36 pm

    <p>I am not sure if Paul was aware of the iOS multitouch "trackpad" cursor ability. When using the virtual keyboard, just place two fingers on the screen simultaneously and one can position the cursor (in a text field) anywhere. When using the Smartkeyboard (as I am right now composing this comment on my iPad Pro 12.9" model, just use one' fingers to relocate the cursor placement marker and then use the smartkeyboard arrow keys for fine placement of the cursor. In my opinion, the whole tablet display is one giant trackpad. </p><p>By the way, I am puzzled by the negative ergonomic opinion that this new iPad Pro screen is too big for content consumption purposes. This tablet only weighs one pound and is only slightly larger than the iPad Air models. Furthermore, recall back when Steve Jobs first introduced the iPad – he did so while sitting in a sofa chair resting the iPad in his lap – for the most part. That is how one normally would watch video content on this iPad – either propped up on a desk or resting in one's lap. One doesn't use a laptop by holding it in both hands while watching any video or viewing web pages either.</p><p>Finally, although Tim Cook feels that an iPad Pro model could replace a PC laptop for a great number of persons, many still maintain Steve Jobs original vision for the iPad as a "go between device" bracketed on one side by the smartphone and on the other side by a computer. That is how I treat my iPads. Indeed, coupled with my 12" MacBook, I have a very nice 3 lb dual display mobile system incorporating the benefits of both iOS and macOS strengths. (The Dual Display capability utilizes inexpensive third party applications and a simple cable connecting the two devices – for best results.)</p>

    • Stooks

      14 June, 2017 - 3:23 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#125586"><em>In reply to Michael Babiuk:</em></a></blockquote><p>Sorry but that "trackpad" feature is a joke.</p><p><br></p><p>I will never get the Apple purest point of view. Just add the OPTION…as in OPTION, you know OPTION for mouse support. Do NOT take away any current touch features to keep the Apple cult members happy.</p><p><br></p><p>However to the cult members that is sacrilegious and they would cry a river if Apple did this. However until they make it easier with mouse support to do multitasking and more refined pointing, the iPad sales will continue to fall and continue to be a consumption device for 98% of owners.</p>

  • RobertJasiek

    14 June, 2017 - 1:45 pm

    <p>The iPad Pro with iOS 11 can be productive for some more than previously but not for me because the following will be missing:</p><ul><li>good backup of files to local, external drives</li><li>a file manager offering all (not just a few) basic features (basic features are enough, but I need them all; if only one essential basic feature is missing, I would need months for a task that should take seconds)</li><li>all the productive software with all their functionality I need (I only need a few softwares for productivity but what I do need does not exist or exists with only 5% functionality on iOS; like Windows has an app problem, iOS has a specialised productivity software problem)</li><li>ports including USB without dongles</li><li>drivers for printers and scanners</li><li>support for monitors, desktop keyboard, mouse</li><li>desktop OS security features (incl. multiple user accounts)</li><li>full day battery life (10h indoors or 5h outdoors is at least 6h or 11h too short, respectively; the iPad optimisation for exactly 10h indoors does not meet my productive needs at all)</li><li>no camera bump because lying flat on a table is essential</li></ul><p>Conclusion: for my needs, iPad Pros are still lightyears away from productivity. The best of Windows tablets / 2-in-1s are very much closer but still also not quite there when missing 1, 2 or 3 essential features (usually 4:3 ratio or matte display).</p>

  • jbuccola

    14 June, 2017 - 2:21 pm

    <p>I picked up the 10.5" version to replace my 9.7".</p><p><br></p><p>As a consultant who spends field time listening / presenting, emailing and consuming, the device with LTE is dead perfect. I no longer lug around a laptop bag (which is much worse than the "heavy book" analogy) and only grab it when I expect to be coding or producing content.</p><p><br></p><p>This has replaced the PixelSense as my favorite screen, and the form factor for this type of work –especially with LTE– is uniquely positioned as a go-to machine for the 80% use case.</p>

  • cseafous

    Premium Member
    14 June, 2017 - 2:23 pm

    <p>I have a feeling that the next revolution won't be post PC but post multiple hardware types. If manufacturers build various touchscreen devices with always connected capabilities and biometric security, then your online profile could be accessed from anywhere. Progressive web apps could be accessed from the screen. Services could be accessed using whatever voice controlled AI is in the room. We may have wearable devices like glasses or contacts for our take everywhere devices instead of the phones, tablets, and laptops we currently carry. This would be of much more benefit to Microsoft and Google than it would be for Apple.</p>

  • Snowsky419

    14 June, 2017 - 2:31 pm

    <p>Wasn't it the third-generation iPad that was originally called "the new iPad" at first, not the fourth-generation one?</p>

  • rohitharsh

    14 June, 2017 - 2:47 pm

    <p>For 70% of the world post PC world is here. Productivity and some other scenarios yes..absolutely the iPad is not enough. Even for me who has a PC which I built myself and a surface book, iPad fills a gap nicely. I don't see why I will carry a laptop if I ever go on a vacation. iPad is perfect for checking and composing my emails and documents . It is perfect size for loging into JIRA and other confluence site and keeping a tab of stuff.</p><p><br></p><p>And for my mom I don't see any other device but iPad as a perfect fit.</p><p><br></p><p>Don't get me wrong. PC will be in my life for a long time and I love the beast I made myself. </p><p><br></p><p>But YoY decline of PC will continue. This post PC revolution is not going to be overnight but more like the roman empire gradually it will wither away.</p>

  • Stooks

    14 June, 2017 - 3:18 pm

    <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"iPad sales are still about double those of Mac sales."</span></p><p><br></p><p>And yet iPad sales have fell each quarter for 3 years now. Looking at NMS numbers Mac market share has gone down 33% since February of 2016. (9.75% to 6.12%).</p><p><br></p><p>Apple is a smartphone company at this point and the iPhone has a ever shrinking market share, with 14% world wide now??</p><p><br></p><p>Until Apple caves and adds Mouse support at a min, these new finger/arm torture features that try to give you better multi-tasking are a complete joke. There is simply no way I would use an iPad for any kind of creation beyond typing a short, simple email.</p>

  • Jaxon Burgess

    14 June, 2017 - 3:37 pm

    <p>In my view the PC won't go away until we no longer have a need to create critical business or personal documents, and I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future. Yes, I know the capability is there, but the business and government worlds are a long way from being ready for it. The entire medical/pharma, banking/escrow and government industries are still stuck on faxed signature or notarized documents, and that ought to tell us something about how far we are from not having to create the original documents on PCs. I think we have as much chance of going back to IBM Selectrics as we do of moving to some non-PC version of an Apple machine. Sure, I can create documents in the cloud using phone or tablet, but honestly it's much more of a PITA than doing it on a PC. I've owned my iPad Pro. I've used it as my only device on business trips. I've sold it. For casual communications it was fine. For business, the best experience was selling it.</p>

  • Waethorn

    14 June, 2017 - 3:50 pm

    <p>I might get a MiPad3 for using with my POS system in my shop. It's about half the price of an iPad mini, and runs Android.</p>

  • Michael Rivers

    14 June, 2017 - 7:52 pm

    <p>Apple's refusal to let us use a mouse with the iPad reminds me of when they wouldn't allow 2-button mice on Macs. It's just stupid, pointless arrogance.</p>

  • dcdevito

    14 June, 2017 - 10:23 pm

    <p>We're getting closer though, and with a full ecosystem under its belt Apple will do some damage. The advanced feature set in iOS 11 will make this device a powerhouse. The apps will make or break a productivity platform. </p><p>Microsoft has no ecosystem. Only Office. Windows 10 S is not the answer to their problems. </p><p>I just made enhancements to a few docs, collaborated with folks on them and faxed (yes, fax) out some docs…all from my iPhone. My monster gaming rig sat in my office at home and I never used it while doing that. </p><p>Yes Virginia we are in a Post PC world. </p>

  • rmlounsbury

    Premium Member
    15 June, 2017 - 11:39 am

    <p>I think for what the iPad Pro is the device is fine and the updates coming in iOS 11 cover the most common use cases for the device. It isn't a power user device to be sure but I'm not entirely sure that is it's intent at this point in time either. To me it is a casual or secondary computer to your primary machine (and some can argue what the point of that is but everyones scenario is different). </p><p>One of the biggest things holding back the iPad Pro from becoming any sort of realistic replacement for a MacBook/PC laptop is simply the lack of any sort of developer tools in iOS. I suspect the bulk of MacBook users are in the realm of software development and most likely either web or iOS but there are no development tools to be seen on iOS outside of the educational Swift Playgrounds. If Apple can figure out how to make this platform developer friendly I think you'll see a higher level of adoption. The biggest limiting factor at this point would be screen size. </p><p>The other change along time coming on iOS that would probably help push adoption of the iPad Pro is a refresh of the home screen and more control over the grid layout and perhaps a more robust widget system vs. the odd ball setup they have today.</p><p>Also, multi-user on iOS for the iPad would be a huge bonus as well. Today if I want to share an iPad with my wife we both have to use the same icon layout and accounts. Being able to login as different users my wife could have her layout and accounts and I could have my layout and accounts. </p><p>For my needs I'll probably have an iPad Pro 10.5" to go a long with a MacBook Pro 13". The MacBook Pro is the main workhorse but for situations where I don't need the power and just want to GTD with email or other light weight items I'd just go iPad Pro. </p>

  • Prebengh

    15 June, 2017 - 4:49 pm

    <p>Paul is saying that the new Ipad Pro 10.5 with IOS11 is not a PC replacement.</p><p>With the current Ipad Pro and IOS 10 more and more people do use the IPad as their only computer.</p><p>My firm belief is that when IOS11 arrives it may not make the IPad a PC replacement for all, but I am confident that for many, many more people it will be their PC replacement.</p>

    • Kenya

      17 June, 2017 - 8:01 am

      <p><a href="#126043">In reply to Prebengh:</a></p><p>I agree 100%. </p>

  • Jorge Garcia

    16 June, 2017 - 2:57 am

    <p><span style="color: rgb(42, 46, 46);">Ruining a near-perfect consumption/mobile OS by layering on more and more "productivity" features is a mistake if you ask me. You will never get to the right level of productivity, and you will ruin some of the already good consumption aspects in the attempt. IMO, there should simply be two separate computing modes…tablet mode (basically iOS 10) and "Mac-ish mode", still iOS, but mouse/keyboard friendly, drag and drop, and full windowing, and a few other things. I mean, MS learned this lesson the hard way (in reverse) with Windows 8…and what did they settle on? A two mode approach.</span></p>

    • Jorge Garcia

      18 June, 2017 - 5:36 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#126154"><em>In reply to Jorge Garcia:</em></a></blockquote><p><span style="color: rgb(44, 44, 44); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Regarding the iPad Pro itself, I think the better way for Apple to go, if they REALLY want to get their usual "casual crowd" to cough up for a laptop, is to make what I'd call an iBook. It would be a very thin and light clam-shell that runs two modes of iOS…one mode that looks and feels like tablet iOS, and another mode that looks and feels a lot like MacOS, but is just iOS in disguise. If it could charge off of a regular iPhone lightning cable, and was priced around $700-800 (doesn't need great specs) then that would be a massive "casual" consumer hit IMO. I believe that a lot of people who can't/won't pull the trigger on the full "Mac experience" would do so for an iBook, just to have a trendy, semi-productive "laptop" that "goes with" their iPhone. If that sounds retarded, remember most consumers are. I personally would not care for this device.</span></p>

  • Kenya

    17 June, 2017 - 8:09 am

    <p>I think the post pc isn't about “taking MS out” , its about getting thing done on the go without the need for carrying around pc. Google and Apple have proven you don’t need a full blown os and hardware to get things done. The average person can use an iPad or chromebook as their daily device. </p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As someone who has every generation surface/surface pro, still have a surface pro 4, and every gen of iPad, just upgraded to 10.5. I’m grabbing the iPad first because I know it will just work when I power it on. </span></p><p><br></p><p>The iPad 10.5 with pencil and Smart Keyboard the device is really good for light on the go productivity. But more practically I use it to:</p><ul><li>Review documents and markup documents on the go. I have the LTE version so I can use my Office 365 functionality always connected. Word, Powepoint, Excel all on my device.</li><li>PowerPoint Presentations, using an adapter.</li><li> Sign documents , Scan them and email them back.</li><li>Use Lightroom and now Affinity Photo to edit photos on the go and I have a wireless hd storage isn’t an issue.</li><li>Light coding – Using online services can have an IDE on the go.</li><li>Can use any Saas product. </li><li>This doesn’t include any of my entrainment activities Netflix, Spotify, Twitter, TV shows (they all have apps), Games.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Its a good device.</p>

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