iPad Pro A college student's review of the iPad Pro.

[yaxomoxay]

I've done online classes before. They're a joke as they can't foster class interaction. You might be able to get away with them for one dimensional course such as stats 101 that don't need any major interaction but to claim a DEGREE is done online means it's not a real degree. That probably hurts those who have been duped into paying for them but it has to be said. FWIW, there's a difference between being in a job interview where they say "tell me about your degree" and you mention it's done "online" than you boss encouraging you as those are different situations. In truth, I'd rather have an arts degree than an online "degree" of any type.

You must be trolling. You must.
In my experience (13 years in high-tech aerospace industry and 2+ years in public sector) I have never, and I mean never, seen a boss/supervisor/manager/director/mayor/city manager question the validity of an online degree. And I have seen a lot of people come and go. They just don't give a crap how you got your degree.
They all care if you get results (something you must not be acquainted with), and they know that how you get your degree is of no indication of your future performance. Again, the real world prefers someone who busts his ass by working a full time job while earning an online degree over someone who coasted in a bubble for many years (which you clearly prolonged by becoming what you've become).
Most of the times hiring supervisors care about real life situations, not philosophical stuff.

The fact that you can't even stand someone taking notes on a XXI century device rather than with feathers and scrolls makes you quite unqualified for evaluating online classes.

 

[nefan65]

Plus it depends a lot on the circumstances. In general terms, I'd rather have someone who earned his degree online while he was busting his ass at work (gaining real world experience) than someone who coasted at a good brick and mortar university for six years.
[doublepost=1458226942][/doublepost]

The fun part of it is that they complain about younger generations, then they say that they don't set the example to students because they're "just statistics".

I've done online classes before. They're a joke as they can't foster class interaction. You might be able to get away with them for one dimensional course such as stats 101 that don't need any major interaction but to claim a DEGREE is done online means it's not a real degree. That probably hurts those who have been duped into paying for them but it has to be said. FWIW, there's a difference between being in a job interview where they say "tell me about your degree" and you mention it's done "online" than you boss encouraging you as those are different situations. In truth, I'd rather have an arts degree than an online "degree" of any type.

I've been in countless interviews, both sides and have never been asked, or asked "Tell me about your degree.". I agree if you're a med student or law student the interaction, and all of it is invaluable. I also agree that being with others to discuss things, etc. is helpful and value added, but at what cost? Surely not $15,000 - $20,000 of added tuition, room/board, etc.

Like someone else said, I'd prefer someone who busts their rear, got their degree online in their spare time vs. someone who spent 4 years on campus barely getting through, partying.

Like the old saying goes; "Those that can't do, teach...".

 

[ssong]

I gotta say, great review and I can totally sympathise as I'm a final year uni student myself and went for the iPP for exactly the same reasons. But now that I'm looking to make the transition from uni to work I've experienced some issues that the iPP simply can't solve at the moment.

My current position requires me to use LinkedIn recruiter and several chrome plugins on a day to day basis. On my iPP recruiter is barely usable and chrome plugins are a no go. So I've had to resort to a friends used laptop to deal with most work tasks.

I occasionally had to do graphics illustration and photo editing and although there are a lot of great apps on iOS, I've had some issues with the lack of .ai support which makes me miss a full operating system.

Given that most people think of it as a potential laptop replacement. I think it's a viable option as long as you can control your expectations on what a 'replacement' is meant to replace.

 

[upritbass]

They're a joke as they can't foster class interaction.

Ok, now I'm sure he's just yanking chains and not a real professor. First he claimed that students are just statistics, then that his classes have 200 students, and now he's worried about class interaction? And on top of that he's married to the dean (which no self-respecting university would allow because of the serious conflict-of-interest).

 

[Farrellcollie]

I have found, in my life in academia (I am a lawyer who is also a full time faculty member), that it is not unusual at all for faculty members to be married to each other or administrators including department chairs, deans and higher.

 

[off_piste]

I have found, in my life in academia (I am a lawyer who is also a full time faculty member), that it is not unusual at all for faculty members to be married to each other or administrators including department chairs, deans and higher.

I saw that at my law school too. However, I seriously question the competency of this professor based on his posts.

 

[dogslobber]

You must be trolling. You must.
In my experience (13 years in high-tech aerospace industry and 2+ years in public sector) I have never, and I mean never, seen a boss/supervisor/manager/director/mayor/city manager question the validity of an online degree. And I have seen a lot of people come and go. They just don't give a crap how you got your degree.
They all care if you get results (something you must not be acquainted with), and they know that how you get your degree is of no indication of your future performance. Again, the real world prefers someone who busts his ass by working a full time job while earning an online degree over someone who coasted in a bubble for many years (which you clearly prolonged by becoming what you've become).
Most of the times hiring supervisors care about real life situations, not philosophical stuff.

The fact that you can't even stand someone taking notes on a XXI century device rather than with feathers and scrolls makes you quite unqualified for evaluating online classes.

If the only differentiator between 2 interview candidates were the degree and one of those was an online degree then the choice is already made up. It's the same for degrees from for profit "universities" like Phoenix. I really can't entertain those as effective teaching tools for the recipients.

You point out you've never come across that but that's simply anecdotal based on your experience. You elevate your narrow view as being the typical view of those degrees. I'm telling you it's not but keep believing what you believe.

As I say many times, iPads are more trouble than they're worth and banning them helps enhance the experience for those who would get lost within them and would also impact those around them, but I seemingly can't open your mind to that.

 

[CEmajr]

Great review OP. Really gives me a great idea of how the IPP could/couldn't work for me at the university.

Currently a Civil Engineering major and the biggest impediment to relying fully on the iPad Pro is that every semester there are at least a couple of professors who refuse to allow electronic devices during lectures. Since I'm going to have to carry a notebook anyway that takes away the note-taking aspect for me.

I do carry an iPad Mini 4 to use for the many textbooks that I have stored on it instead of having to physically carry them everyday. The other issue with electronic textbooks and notes though is even the professors who allow tablets for note-taking will not allow them for exams. For some courses you're allowed to use the textbook and/or notes due to the tables and references contained within them. In these cases you have to either have the physical textbook or you're out of look.

Last reason, specific to my major is that we use AutoCAD in many design courses. This can't be used on an iPad and even the OS X version is inferior to the Windows version.

I think in the future more and more professors will begin to accept and embrace the use of tablets during class. For now in my case it's just not practical, not to mention the high price compared to just buying a Macbook or Macbook Air.

I live off campus and my setup as of right now is to leave my heavy 13" Macbook Pro 2011 at home (it almost acts as a desktop now), bring the iPad Mini to campus each day, and also leave all the physical textbooks at home unless there is an exam or class where it's necessary. Dropbox does come in handy by giving me access on the iPad to any school related documents on my Macbook Pro. The engineering school on my campus has a pretty nice setup of computer labs with Windows machines that I use if the iPad can't get the job done.

I can definitely see where under ideal circumstances in the right major with the right professors, a student could drop all of the paper and books and go all iPad Pro.

 

[Ghost31]

Ha. I'll jump in on this one. I have my BS in C/S, and did via the traditional route due to my age [Online stuff wasn't around when I got my degree]. Unless you're applying to a Fortune X company, NO ONE cares where you got your degree. Most all of the local uni's in my area offer online degrees, and they say you have your B.S./MSTRS from University of X. Same as if you went to class on campus.

Sounds like you're worried about job security?

Just wondering, are you talking about a computer science degree?

 

[yaxomoxay]

If the only differentiator between 2 interview candidates were the degree and one of those was an online degree then the choice is already made up. It's the same for degrees from for profit "universities" like Phoenix. I really can't entertain those as effective teaching tools for the recipients.

Again, you're talking about some non-real world hypothesis. "The only differentiator" could be anything. Degree, alma mater, hair color, tooth health, sweat, color of eyes, and tattoos. In the real world having a perfect match is almost impossible.

You point out you've never come across that but that's simply anecdotal based on your experience.

Why, are you talking about a research that was awarded the Nobel prize?

As I say many times, iPads are more trouble than they're worth and banning them helps enhance the experience for those who would get lost within them and would also impact those around them, but I seemingly can't open your mind to that.

This single quote shows how captious you are. Here you want to enhance the experience, and say that you wanto to prevent some (unknown) impact. Two posts ago you said that your students are just a statistic. Make up your mind. Do you care about them, or not? To me it seems that you're trying to find any possible excuse to avoid showing the species of dinosaur that you are because you can't figure out the tools.

Now I have to go back to work on a textbook on PDF Expert.

 

[alecgold]

You're a student and do as you're told with flexibility within the boundaries set by the professor. Most professors have more important things to do than waste time on some kid who got all the attention at high school and thinks they're still special at college. There are too many students so stop this pretentious nonsense and do as your professor says. If professor says no recording then accept it. If you can't accept it then leave the class and don't come back.

Professors have a few important things to do. One of them is doing research, another is teaching. Both should be top priorities for any professor. And that some are lesser at teaching doesn't make teaching a lesser priority.

You're a nice example why the board of the university of Amsterdam got three new members after student protests. It was all very civil and without riots, but the students (and professors, lecturers and lots of other staff) wanted a more democratic university, that wasn't just run for profit with megalomaniac new high-rise building plans. Your attitude is a perfect example why this started in the first place. "You do as you're told" did work perhaps in your time on university (although I doubt it) but these days it doesn't even work anymore in kindergarten. Yes a professor should run a tight ship, have a good concentrated class, but that is done with good didactic skills and not 1891's dictator tactics. In the dip-pen and ink time there was just as much distraction as there is on an iPad. 20 years ago students where reading newspapers, pocket novels or playing chess in colleges I attended to. These days students are much more quiet and from what I see much more dedicated and hard working.

And you can twist and argue all you want, but the bottom line is that you're paid by the students and/or the taxpayer. Just like I'm paid by my clients. That payment comes on the agreement to do your job to a minimum standard and you have/develop a good skill set and have high moral, social and ethical standards.
From your posts you seem to be lacking the didactic skills and your social standards seem not what I expect from a professor/lecturer at a good university. If arguing that your wife is the dean so you don't get sacked is an example of your ethical and moral standards you should be ashamed.

And I do admit I suspect I have fallen for a trap set by a troll, wasting my time on a useless discussion.

 

[tubeexperience]

I would rather get a Surface Pro 3/4 than an iPad "Pro".

 

[alecgold]

Thank you for getting back on topic!
Just one question: why?

 

[Ghost31]

I would rather get a Surface Pro 3/4 than an iPad "Pro".

Ohhhh ouch. The way you quoted "pro" must have stung Tim Cook hard

 

[sledgehammer89]

Yep. Here is my breakdown:

• iPad Pro: Notes, reading/marking up research papers (playing games
• Macbook Pro: Programming, paper writing, presentations

The iPad Pro display is large enough for your MacBook tasks. It only lacks Xcode and mouse support.

 

[h00ligan]

I'm glad you were able to move. If I didn't do photo work professionally I'd take one as a main machine in a heartbeat. I've toyed with the idea of doing the iPad pro and desktop but I can't sit at a desk for long periods for at least another year - and the workflow of Lightroom mobile has way too many issue to be a primary source. Also getting files to the iPad is pain .. Photo smith fixes a lot of these issues but not enough -

I'm using a surface pro 3 right now - I don't particularly like it but there's literally not a solution from Apple that would work for me right now -

Yet I am stil considering selling the air 2 and getting an iPad pro to go with the surface pro - maybe then I get 2/3 of what I need - then sell the surface later and shift back to a huge iMac when space finances and ability to sit like that are back (double spine surgery already, another coming, and mild brain surgery coming)

It's a shame companies like Adobe and on1 don't have real software the iPads are clearly fast enough to run proper versions of this stuff, if they come out with it I will figure out the import issue - maybe just use my eye fi.

128 gig iPad pro with a NAS at home could easily run desktop class Lightroom - I wish they'd just do it. Smart previews would allow editing off the NAS from wherever and then my issues would be over.

I wonder when we will see commercial photography apps actually arrive for the iPad. This mobile stuff is a good start but not there yet.

I was really hoping the pro would run OSX or a hybrid. Maybe I need to try one to see if it works for me but I just don't think the software is there yet.


SOrry for the ramble

 

[sparksd]

You must be trolling. You must.
In my experience (13 years in high-tech aerospace industry and 2+ years in public sector) I have never, and I mean never, seen a boss/supervisor/manager/director/mayor/city manager question the validity of an online degree. And I have seen a lot of people come and go. They just don't give a crap how you got your degree.
They all care if you get results (something you must not be acquainted with), and they know that how you get your degree is of no indication of your future performance. Again, the real world prefers someone who busts his ass by working a full time job while earning an online degree over someone who coasted in a bubble for many years (which you clearly prolonged by becoming what you've become).
Most of the times hiring supervisors care about real life situations, not philosophical stuff.

The fact that you can't even stand someone taking notes on a XXI century device rather than with feathers and scrolls makes you quite unqualified for evaluating online classes.

Some companies hiring for engineering positions require that the qualifying degree be ABET-accredited. (edit - I meant to note also that many on-line programs are accredited)

 

[Foggydog]

Five pages behind , but I wish to chime in. I currently have a 2009 MBP, and use it for nothing pro. At seven years, it is getting a bit long in it's life. I could send it to apple for several hundred and get a SSD hard drive, but even so, I am slightly worried that my Mac is getting to far along.

So, now out comes the iPad pro last year. 12.9 inch screen, retina display, 128G storage, and mostly I will be using it for my business which is a trucker, owner/operator. It comes with the pages app and besides watching movies on my Mac, I'm thinking that the iPP will do about everything I need. It is light, thin, and the reviews for the Logitech smart keyboard are very favorable.

So for me, I'm looking forward to getting one very soon. Oh, the Apple rep I spoke to also said that they have a USB flash of 128 G that I could use as a backup in case my iPP ever has a problem with the iOS .
Being on the road and using my verizon wireless data plan, the cloud never seemed like a viable option except for text, and some music. By saving movies to the cloud then streaming them, my data plan disappears very quickly, so the flash storage seems like it would fit the bill.

Any thoughts that may help my decision greatly appreciated.

 

[sparksd]

Five pages behind , but I wish to chime in. I currently have a 2009 MBP, and use it for nothing pro. At seven years, it is getting a bit long in it's life. I could send it to apple for several hundred and get a SSD hard drive, but even so, I am slightly worried that my Mac is getting to far along.

So, now out comes the iPad pro last year. 12.9 inch screen, retina display, 128G storage, and mostly I will be using it for my business which is a trucker, owner/operator. It comes with the pages app and besides watching movies on my Mac, I'm thinking that the iPP will do about everything I need. It is light, thin, and the reviews for the Logitech smart keyboard are very favorable.

So for me, I'm looking forward to getting one very soon. Oh, the Apple rep I spoke to also said that they have a USB flash of 128 G that I could use as a backup in case my iPP ever has a problem with the iOS .
Being on the road and using my verizon wireless data plan, the cloud never seemed like a viable option except for text, and some music. By saving movies to the cloud then streaming them, my data plan disappears very quickly, so the flash storage seems like it would fit the bill.

Any thoughts that may help my decision greatly appreciated.

Not sure what he meant regarding the USB flash other than something like a wireless solution (a wireless filehub with USB support works - I have one for extra storage and streaming movies). I tried a Leef iAccess Lightning-based microSD reader but ended up returning it because it worked so poorly (went through 3 of them).

 

[Foggydog]

What the rep was saying is that USB storage is wifi instead of needing to be plugged into the tablet. So, I could move all my movies to the USB device, and still play them on my iPP via wifi.

 

[friedmud]

The iPad Pro display is large enough for your MacBook tasks. It only lacks Xcode and mouse support.

It's not powerful enough yet for my particular needs. I do 3D scientific simulation... when I'm on my laptop I push it to the max. iPP is powerful, but not there yet.

 

[Foggydog]

I here you Friedmud, but for me, I really think the iPP will make a great replacement. Actually, I have been eyeing the iPad air 2 for some time now, but the size for me seemed to small since I like watching movies on my mac. But this iPP really looks to fit the bill.
I am going to read more reviews and learn as much as possible.

 

[friedmud]

I here you Friedmud, but for me, I really think the iPP will make a great replacement. Actually, I have been eyeing the iPad air 2 for some time now, but the size for me seemed to small since I like watching movies on my mac. But this iPP really looks to fit the bill.
I am going to read more reviews and learn as much as possible.

I think it could be for many people... just not for me

Unfortunately, I still require a Unix system (with Terminal) and as many cores, as much RAM and as much HD space as possible (I click every upgrade option when ordering my Macs!). It will be a while before any sort of "tablet" can be a replacement for me.

BUT: In the meantime I don't mind carrying both my iPP and MBP. They are both awesome at their individual tasks!

 

[off_piste]

What the rep was saying is that USB storage is wifi instead of needing to be plugged into the tablet. So, I could move all my movies to the USB device, and still play them on my iPP via wifi.

Here are some options for extra storage:

http://www.macworld.com/article/290...or-adding-storage-to-your-iphone-or-ipad.html

Also, you may consider getting a plan from T-Mobile. The 6gb plan ($30-35?) has unlimited data from streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. I know TMobile doesn't have as great of coverage but if you're mainly on interstates and in cities it may work for you.

 

[off_piste]

I think it could be for many people... just not for me

Unfortunately, I still require a Unix system (with Terminal) and as many cores, as much RAM and as much HD space as possible (I click every upgrade option when ordering my Macs!). It will be a while before any sort of "tablet" can be a replacement for me.

BUT: In the meantime I don't mind carrying both my iPP and MBP. They are both awesome at their individual tasks!

Out of curiosity, could you run Jumpdesktop w/keyboard and mouse support? That would allow your Mac Pro to do all the heavy lifting while you control it remotely. The only thing your iPad or MBP would have to do is receive and display the screen.