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Which is the best iPad Pro ?


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    2,370

Porterhouse

macrumors 6502
Aug 13, 2011
381
179
USA
I carry my around from couch to bed or around the house; the pillow makes it easy to do. It also straps in via each of the four corners, giving it a little more protection.
 
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tgara

macrumors 65816
Jul 17, 2012
1,154
2,898
Connecticut, USA
I understand that, but I was responding to this "Sadly this is impossible with the smart keyboard attached. I‘d love to move the cursor with a key." If you have the ASK attached you can use the cursor keys so I wasn't sure what was being asked.

The irony of the virtual keyboard trick is that Apple is sort of admitting that people do need a way to move the cursor around, kind of what a trackpad or mouse would do!

Actually, I think that trackpad feature has been around for the last couple of years and some form or another. I remember reading about it for iOS 10 I think.
 

augustya

Suspended
Feb 17, 2012
3,331
464
Another option is a lap pillow. I bought the Flipy and it held the 12.9 perfectly on my lap!

61PQ5AT5bCL._SL1176_.jpg

Do you have a website link for this ? For the Flippy ?
 

lsh

macrumors 6502a
Feb 6, 2012
744
202
Cincinnati, OH
For me, part of the portability was holding it in my hand. I never got the hang of the 12.9 balance one handed - it was balance more than weight. I found it better by removing the ASK.

Also, when holding in my hand, the reach sometimes at the bottom and sometimes at the top was annoying. Also annoying was the head bob.

Finally, I tried apps split and I didn't get the experience I wanted. Either the apps didn't support it or the vertical split wasn't a great one for my use. For instance, watching a movie while doing email. So I'm sure it depends on your use case. I wanted something more than PIP for the size.

I depend on my mbp touch, especially since I have windows only apps as well as some apps that are just more feature loaded on the mbp - such as complicated excel workbooks. So I'm not a candidate to replace the mbp.

Still, this discussion has challenged me to further exploit the functionality and I may change my choice next release. I now expect more from my puny 11 iPad.

A good use case in the family is my 1st yr college daughter who had a Yoga with touch screen in HS. She'd LOVE a touch screen for notes, but she has a MBP. The yoga was great when she had school staff to keep fixing it. If we find a back pack proof case, maybe we'll have a 12.9 in the family.
 

MisterSavage

macrumors 601
Nov 10, 2018
4,850
5,749
When I use my iPad in bed, I just prop it up against some bunched up blanket, or a spare pillow. Sometimes I use my cat. Ha ha. Kidding. But Don’t think i’d ever buy a special pillow specifically designed to hold an iPad tho...but that’s just me. Whatever works is cool.

I used to be that way and now I love it! It's great to when watching tv.


Do you have a website link for this ? For the Flippy ?

This is the Amazon link.

https://www.amazon.com/Multi-Angle-Tablets-eReaders-Smartphones-Magazines/dp/B00MFWDVGG

Any links for the cheaper stands/pillows?
I was using a Wedge Stand for my 9.7. It's too small for a 12.9. I gave mine away so I can't compare it to my 11.

https://www.wedgestand.com
 

Sumter

macrumors 6502
May 21, 2014
376
342
Day 6 with 12.9, had some fleeting thoughts regarding getting a 11 instead due to heavier weight with ASK... Solved by using the iPad caseless around the house (where I feel the need for lighter iPad). Instead my husband is convinced to switch from his 11 to 12.9. Now we have two 12.9 in our household.
 

Nrwrit3r

macrumors 6502a
May 25, 2010
695
84
Former 10.5 owner here, went to the 12.9 - I originally bought both the 11 and 12.9 to compare. The weight difference is imperceptible to me (primarily when both iPads have the smart keyboards on them). The screen of the 12.9 equates to a laptop for me, whereas the 11 is more of a tablet. Despite owning a 2018 15” MBP, I find myself using the iPad for a lot of reading (for academic work), as well as web browsing. I also will be using this to do word processing (love the individual focus of 1-2 apps!)

I think either one is a really good device, but there’s something about the screen size of the 12.9, combined with ability to put it in a new position on the Smart Keyboard, which makes it extremely comfortable to work with in any setting (especially on my lap, whereas the 10.5 was much more flimsy on my legs).

Either way, I use the iPad outside of its keyboard case as much as possible when reading! ANd when I need a keyboard or a case to store the iPad in my backpack, the keyboard case is attached.
 

iMas70

macrumors 65816
Sep 4, 2012
1,444
207
MA
I took a good look at the 11" and 12.9" iPad Pros while I was in the Apple Store today. I really like the look of the 11" and I REALLY like the look of the 12.9". Enough to have me thinking about getting that instead of the 11. Even though it looks great, it might be to big for what I use it for. One is flying my drone. I don't think the bigger version will fit in the bracket. The other is mounted next to me in the car. It would be great to use the larger version to monitor Waze but as with the drone controller, I'll have to see if it will fit the mount. And then there is the normal day to day use. Yes I'd appreciate the larger screen but it's noticeable bigger than the 11".
 

HelloMikee

macrumors 6502a
Jun 16, 2009
987
478
San Diego
I got the 11 coming from the 1st gen 12.9 and I love it. It’s like the ultimate iPad mini lol. Most of my iPad use is media consumption though with a bit of light photo editing.
 
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hemon

macrumors 6502
Oct 4, 2014
323
114
I HATE that: I cannot decide me… 11 or 12.9?! I have both for testing. The 12.9 ist just a little bigger than the 11. That's because I think, it could be practically no or a not important difference between both models if I travel. Do I really need that big screen? Intuitively I feel that I am more prone to use the iPad for read and notate PDF or for surfing if I have the bigger screen.

Now that the 12.9 is so small I feel that the 11 is the new iPad Mini, which for me was too small compared to the bigger iPad.
 

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jazzer15

macrumors 6502a
Oct 8, 2010
538
119
I returned the 12.9 (unopened) for the 11 after using a relative's 12.9 for a little while. I am reasonably sure the 11 is better for my use in conjunction with my iMac at home and my work PC laptop and monitor for office/home work use (unfortunately, I must use my office computer for VPN). Nonetheless, there is still a little lingering doubt and I wish I had spent a little more time with the 12.9 before making the switch.

People who have gravitated toward the 12.9 have said they would rather have the extra screen real estate and the larger size isn't that big of a deal. I am wondering how much of a difference in screen real estate there really is for certain use cases and since the 11 inch has a 3:2 aspect ratio rather than 4:3. For example I rarely have a need for split screen and use my iPad a lot for on the go media consumption and for some photo editing. My camera takes pictures natively in 3:2 aspect ratio and 3:2 is closer to the 16:9 ratio that most videos use, which should result in smaller black bars (assuming apps are optimized for the new screens -- like Netflix just did). Also, web pages often aren't formatted in a way to take advantage of the extra space, leaving large blank spaces on the sides.

Anyway, I'm just thinking out loud here as I was not able to do a side by side comparison. Any thoughts?
 

cdames00

macrumors regular
Mar 19, 2012
122
77
I’ve basically had every Size and generation combination of iPad so far. The new 12.9 Pro has become my daily driver; allowing me to replace a 10.5 Pro and a 2016 MacBook Pro. The 12.9” is always going to be slightly bulkier, but the added benefit of the screen size is a good trade off for me. I do still have 2010 MacBook that runs just fine for everyday computing if need be as well.
 

MrT-Man

macrumors regular
Jan 22, 2008
128
26
I've been using the 12.9 for a few days, coming from a 10.5, and strictly for use as a web browsing/media consumption device (mostly at home). I've now adjusted and I'm quite happy with it.

As I think someone else said, I find the key is to use it without a case. With no case, the weight isn't all that different than my 10.5 with a case. But if you add a case to the 12.9, it feels a little too heavy and bulky.

Bed use is ok. If I'm on my back, I stand it up on my chest in portrait mode. If I'm on my side, I put it sideways in portrait mode and cradle it in my arm. Seated use is awesome -- I just rest it on my lap, and it's really amazing for reading newspapers and magazines. Netflix is awesome.

For me, personally, the 11 would only make more sense if I was commuting or travelling a lot with it. But for home use I have no regrets going with the 12.9.
 
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BaddAdvice

macrumors 6502a
Jul 9, 2016
508
609
Agreed. And, conversely, both can be used for either - choices, choices, choices!

Sorry - this in in reply to DNichter’s reply above - forgot to hit “Reply”
 
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MrXiro

macrumors 68040
Nov 2, 2007
3,850
599
Los Angeles
I love my 11in for easier portability etc, but was in the sotore today and that 12.9 looks really nice. I might have left with one if my wife didn’t kick my ass right there on the spot :(. Ohh well I still have my 11in one.

Lucky for me my wife couldn't tell the difference between the 11 and the old 9.7 so she didn't even notice I got a new iPad. :D
 

skaro

macrumors member
Oct 7, 2004
45
34
I've had both the 12.9 and 11 for a few days and like some others in this thread have been changing my mind about which one I want to keep.

The 12.9 is fantastic and so much better than the original version, but once you put the folio keyboard on it just feels too big for me. The 11, even with its folio keyboard, still feels light and very portable. It also feels less conspicuous - I feel like if I used the 12.9 on a train or plane it's not very subtle! So I *think* I'm keeping the 11!

The bars on non-upgraded apps are much more noticeable on the 11 but hopefully it won't take devs too long to update apps.
 
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