Apple Releases New 'What's a Computer?' iPad Pro Ad

[Michael Goff]

You're absolutely right. Most people never do anything but sit on the sofa and grow fat and stupid texting auto-corrected, grammatically incorrect gibberish composed without punctuation. But for anyone who can write and type — that rare breed of person who actually does stuff — it's not even possible to edit simple text on iOS without wanting to commit suicide after five minutes.

And people called me a troll. You definitely can't be serious.
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http://www.littletinyfrogs.com/article/474688/Restore_Maximum_Power_State_to_Surface_Pro_4

Thank you.

I don't have much time today before work, but I'm definitely going to be testing what it's like tomorrow. Maybe that'll help with battery life as well. I quickly slammed it down to 40% on battery. It should still run just fine.

 

[MarsViolet]

Wow.....really man? Really? Apple isn't marketing to the uber geeks. Get over it.

It's a sad day when Apple fanatics mock people for doing stuff.

 

[niun]

And people called me a troll. You definitely can't be serious.
[doublepost=1470165183][/doublepost]

Thank you.

I don't have much time today before work, but I'm definitely going to be testing what it's like tomorrow. Maybe that'll help with battery life as well. I quickly slammed it down to 40% on battery. It should still run just fine.

Yeah if you have time take a gander at battery saving bits on the Surface Pro's. There are quite a few tweaks to get maximum battery life out of the things. I think MS missed a trick with the power options being dumbed down.
I'm currently on around 7 hours running normal day to day tasks / software etc..

I'm hoping the next update will eliminate most of the remaining power hungry processes.
Although it is MS.. Who knows what dark arts they could unleash.

 

[Michael Goff]

Yeah if you have time take a gander at battery saving bits on the Surface Pro's. There are quite a few tweaks to get maximum battery life out of the things. I think MS missed a trick with the power options being dumbed down.
I'm currently on around 7 hours running normal day to day tasks / software etc..

I'm hoping the next update will eliminate most of the remaining power hungry processes.
Although it is MS.. Who knows what dark arts they could unleash.

You're talking about Anniversay Update, right? It runs pretty good on my Surface.

 

[niun]

You're talking about Anniversay Update, right? It runs pretty good on my Surface.

Excellent, I'm installing it now. There is still a slight panic involved when applying an update although so far I've not encountered a single problem.

Once you get that stigma of being a dodgy OS it tends to stick.

 

[Michael Goff]

Excellent, I'm installing it now. There is still a slight panic involved when applying an update although so far I've not encountered a single problem.

Once you get that stigma of being a dodgy OS it tends to stick.

Understandable. I just got into the habit of updating everything, so even when there was a bad insider update I took it anyway.

 

[ghanwani]

A bit of cynicism...

The reason why the Macbook Pro/Air line has been allowed to age so much is because they are about to introduce a radical new design at a higher price point and the only way they can show it was a blow out success is to ensure that there is pent up demand for the product. If the only alternative has 2 generations old hardware, it practically guarantees the new design will fly off the shelves no matter what.

 

[plexdk]

Wow so much hate here..

I use my iPad pro for music production, there are a lot of nice software synths, especially Moog has released their new Model 15 synth, which is super nice - and requires a lot of horse power. Thats creation for me. I also use it for quick mail replies, i corrected a slide show for work the other day, and so on.

My friend who is a graphics designer in an app project we do, is using the iPad pro for doing quick sketches with the Pencil and adobe's apps + freehand graphic design for the app. That's also creation.

I use the macbook for software development, and music creation (logic, ableton, etc)...

Each device for their purpose, iPad is better at some, macbook is better for other stuff. And I bet apple's employees feel the same way. just because of an ad telling you that you might be able to cope with an iPad, doesn't mean they will throw macOS out. They do also use macs for heavy professional tasks... Eat a chill pill, or 10, and relax.

For -some- people the iPad is the computer they need, especially if they don't have any or have one thats 10 years old. If its not you, then they are not talking to you. It is -just an ad-. Haters don't have to convince everyone else on this forum of their subjective opinion, that their needs are the only valid ones. Everyone has different needs.

Peace out

 

[ghanwani]

Wow so much hate here..

I use my iPad pro for music production, there are a lot of nice software synths, especially Moog has released their new Model 15 synth, which is super nice - and requires a lot of horse power. Thats creation for me. I also use it for quick mail replies, i corrected a slide show for work the other day, and so on.

My friend who is a graphics designer in an app project we do, is using the iPad pro for doing quick sketches with the Pencil and adobe's apps + freehand graphic design for the app. That's also creation.

I use the macbook for software development, and music creation (logic, ableton, etc)...

Each device for their purpose, iPad is better at some, macbook is better for other stuff. And I bet apple's employees feel the same way. just because of an ad telling you that you might be able to cope with an iPad, doesn't mean they will throw macOS out. They do also use macs for heavy professional tasks... Eat a chill pill, or 10, and relax.

For -some- people the iPad is the computer they need, especially if they don't have any or have one thats 10 years old. If its not you, then they are not talking to you. It is -just an ad-. Haters don't have to convince everyone else on this forum of their subjective opinion, that their needs are the only valid ones. Everyone has different needs.

Peace out

I think an ad like this is misleading to the uninformed consumer. It is overselling what the iPad can deliver. It can be an only computer for those that do not have a computer today. But for anyone that actually has a desktop or laptop today, it a huge step back in functionality and versatility. Many people may be tempted by the ad and go out and get one only to find that it costs $350+ to add the keyboard and pen and it still leaves them with less functionality than a traditional laptop. This is formula for buyers remorse.

 

[Fenway]

Wow so much hate here..

I use my iPad pro for music production, there are a lot of nice software synths, especially Moog has released their new Model 15 synth, which is super nice - and requires a lot of horse power. Thats creation for me. I also use it for quick mail replies, i corrected a slide show for work the other day, and so on.

My friend who is a graphics designer in an app project we do, is using the iPad pro for doing quick sketches with the Pencil and adobe's apps + freehand graphic design for the app. That's also creation.

I use the macbook for software development, and music creation (logic, ableton, etc)...

Each device for their purpose, iPad is better at some, macbook is better for other stuff. And I bet apple's employees feel the same way. just because of an ad telling you that you might be able to cope with an iPad, doesn't mean they will throw macOS out. They do also use macs for heavy professional tasks... Eat a chill pill, or 10, and relax.

For -some- people the iPad is the computer they need, especially if they don't have any or have one thats 10 years old. If its not you, then they are not talking to you. It is -just an ad-. Haters don't have to convince everyone else on this forum of their subjective opinion, that their needs are the only valid ones. Everyone has different needs.

Peace out

Well Said.
When I first got my Macbook Pro - Last Year - to replace windows PC and a laptop, i was asked the following by the Apple Salesgirl:
"What do you want to do with it?" and then "What do you need it for?" and then "What about a year from now?"
I then settled on rMBP. It does what I need it to do - for the most part. My iPad Pro 9.7 is a satellite to it. But for let's say, my girlfriend, she uses it for a comp replacement, as her needs are different. In a few years the iPad will evolve to replace the laptop in every way, i'm sure. They are getting there, not yet, but soon.

 

[Jack Burton]

I'm not arguing agains niches, or against Apple making a product for them. I was just arguing that they were, indeed, niches. I was simply arguing we shouldn't judge general purpose computers by what a niche does.

If VR is going to grow like all the pundits are predicting, VR won't be niche. VR capable machines will be the next general purpose computer. The minimum bar for performance.

If they are right, get ready for lots and lots of vomit. If they are wrong, get used to iPad Pros, LOL.

 

[thekeyring]

Yeah. This sounds about right. The issue is that we have millions of useless apps and those handful of essential apps that we must have are missing. For me, it's an IDE. For you, it's graphics related apps.

If they put the right tools on the iPad to actually make it realistic to build an entire app on it without any other machine, then developers could do the rest and build out those essential apps.

I was hoping that they'd bring developers on stage during the iPad Pro event and announce things like Photoshop but, actual Photoshop. So now we can get Photoshop for Windows, macOS and iPad. (The last being optimised for touch and Pencil support, of course.)

Replace Photoshop with any app you might consider 'Pro' ... TV Paint, XCode, Toon Boom, etc etc.

The thing is, it's unclear what exactly Apple's vision is for iPad related to Mac. After all, it's not simply that they cannot convince developers: Apple themselves haven't released FCP X, Logic Pro, or Xcode for iPad. Why? If it's meant to be a serious machine for writing reports on Microsoft Word, why can't it also be a serious machine for coding, like a MacBook Air?

That and text selection / manipulation absolutely sucks on iOS (and doesn't have to!)

I remember watching the iPad 3 launch, when they completed the iLife suite for iPad thinking 'Right. iWork, PhotoBooth, iLife... Next year has got to be the Pro apps, right?'

I assumed choosing an iPad over, say, a MacBook Air would be about form factor. Yes the iPad needed rebuilt apps to suit it's touchscreen but that would be it.

 

[Appleaker]

I've always loved computers with a mobile operating system, 2 ports, dual core processor, and no cursor - Just to mention some of the benefits.
Time to throw away my 5K iMac and move on with the times!

 

[jonnyb098]

Really, what makes YOU so sure that it will happen? Apple has already run out of time for the back-to-school period. Besides, we were also rather optimistic for a glimpse of new hardware at WWDC. Nope. Nada. Just a p̶i̶n̶k̶ Rose Gold Macbook last spring. Whoopty-do.

Because for starters Apple isn't going to just abruptly cut off 12 percent of their revenue stream. And macs are still very much needed for professionals and for Apple to make iOS software for iPhone which is a majority of their business. I cant believe I just had to explain that to you.........USE YOUR BRAIN PAL.

 

[Appleaker]

Apple ads have been so ****** over the past few years. The people behind the ads need to be replaced.

No I actually thought this was one of their better ads in a long time. It actually showed the features for once. But, yeah their ads are degrading in effectiveness and they are pumping out too many for people to care.
Steve Jobs made a big deal about certain areas of the business being like a start-up, because otherwise you lose your focus and care towards the products/services.

That is the reason Apple have been getting slowly worse in a lot of areas - They are hiring too many people in areas where there doesn't need to be many people. Also it is being run with money at the forefront rather than the product and user.

This sums it up: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/02/ken-segall-apple-steve-jobs-simplicity

 

[ericinboston]

1)The barebones Pro is $599...plus the keyboard they advertise is $99...plus the pen in this ad is $149...so $850 for a barebones, 32GB, iPad that they claim is a "computer". I can tell you with certainty that any $500 laptop or desktop Wintel will run circles around the Pro (or any tablet) as far as number of features out of the box...let alone $850. Sure, tablets have touch screens, but that single feature does not outweigh all the items a traditional computer has (numerous UNIVERSAL methods to add/extend storage, ability to add RAM, add/connect to additional hardware...then the software side such as true multitasking, split windows, keyboard shortcuts, ability to run and use all sorts of developer tools (where do you this iOS is written?), true directory structure for me to use as I please, share my computer's resources, "remote into" my computer from afar, etc). My list of examples is not complete....but we don't all use a computer to simply check email and surf the web. I like the iPad...it's wonderful for checking email and surfing the web and texting and streaming a movie...but that's all it's useful for me. When I want to go FTP files or write code or debug HTML or do audio mixing or video production or convert audio/video files or back up 700GB of data monthly or do some serious MS Office work, a traditional computer is a must. I can't imagine trying to read/edit MS Office docs on a 9 or 12" screen and without a mouse.

The "is a tablet truly a computer?" debate has always leaned towards the answer "no" because of the many tasks a Tablet simply cannot do compared to any desktop or laptop personal computer. Technically, a tablet might be a computer but it certainly is not comparable to a traditional personal computer.

2)Apple (and other computer companies) should be required to mimic the car industry and write a "$850 as configured" blurb on the advertisement because the keyboard and pen do NOT come with the Pro.

 

[Appleaker]

Because for starters Apple isn't going to just abruptly cut off 12 percent of their revenue stream. And macs are still very much needed for professionals and for Apple to make iOS software for iPhone which is a majority of their business. I cant believe I just had to explain that to you.........USE YOUR BRAIN PAL.

The perfect reply to those who think Apple will get rid of Macs this year.. just because of delayed updates and extended refresh cycles. I mean they don't even consider what it would mean to kill off the Mac.

 

[You are the One]

I wonder if at this point Apple is gonna start selling OS X for PCs?

I'd buy it. I could settle for some new non-apple HW running MacOS but never ever will I buy a pc running Windows. If Apple ditches the MBP completely I'll turn to Linux and whatever HW I need. I can live with HW that isn't as fancy as a MBP in design and user experience but Windows... never ever.

The biggest argument against the IPP is the very ad Apple created to showcase it.

1) What does Apple really do on the IPP? No app is showcased; no business work is accomplished. We merely see it function. A functional computer != a productive computer.

Yes, I miss use cases. Discussing PC's contra Tablets without referring to uses cases and related workflows is meaningless.

It seems Apple strategy is focusing in the direction of supporting the use case related to Facebook, Twitter, Mail and watching YT. I think it's sad, but understandable.

They ( ) are into this for the $ and the $ is no longer in computers, it's in internet browsing devices where normal language is substituted for emojis in order to cater to people that have difficulties expressing themselves using words. So what to do? You just rename the device designed for media-consumption to "Computer" and problem solved.

Those that need a device for anything else than media-consumption are no longer an interesting market for

Well, life goes on

 

[DevNull0]

So you're telling me that Apple should stick to its point and swipe devices for browsing the Internet, mail, sharing photo's. I can do all of that at a < 100 dollar device. That's why Apple is losing share in the educational and pro markets. They don't invest in it anymore. Soon they'll lose consumers as well... What other tech company can afford bringing nothing new to the market for so long?

Are you sure that should have been directed to me? Because I agree with you and nothing I've posted here contradicts that.

 

[RedOrchestra]

I mean they don't even consider what it would mean to kill off the Mac.

Apple doesn't need to kill it off in one-fell-swoop ... they can just milk it with existing models and let it die off on it's own ... just like the various iPod devices. We'll see.

 

[VPrime]

Can you distribute your finished product straight from iOS? Can you test your app straight on iOS? Basically, can you realistically go through the entire development process without touching macOS, Windows, or Linux?

I have a POC I've worked on. It's purely an HTML 5 thing, but I don't have the time/resources to build it out to be everything I'd want for an iOS IDE.

Not quite yet. But we're working on it.
We do have an MVP in place, where users do not need a mac at all. But there is some manual levers being pulled by us behind the scenes.
There are a few games in the app store that have never used a mac or anything other than the iPad.

 

[shaunp]

my primary machine has been an ipad pro since its release. it's been going surprisingly well.

If that's suits your needs, great. The problem is Apple think everyone has the same requirements and nobody could possibly need anything more powerful. I bet my house that their engineering departments could not do their day jobs on an iPad Pro. You'd think they would at least listen to their internal users? I challenge Tim Cook to run VM's on an iPad Pro - I typically use around 40GB RAM for my lab, around 600GB of storage and often max out 6 cores of Xeon.

 

[lightmyway]

For me, it's the lack of apps. If there was After Effects, Toon Boom, etc for iPad, I might be interested. Right now, it's just not the right tool for what I need.
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Genuinely interested: What do you use your iPad for that you can't do on a Mac?

Sure - here are a few.

1) Filling out contracts - a big part of my job is filling out contracts, which I use the Pencil for in PDF Expert.

2) Annotating documents - my wife had a big paper due last week two states away, and I helped edit it for her with the Pencil. It was so easy, and I could not have done it on the Mac.

3) Listening to music without headphones - the iPP speakers sound fantastic, and the few times when I still use my Mac I am annoyed that I can't listen to music with the same quality. I love listening to music while I work.

4) Having a large screen on a lightweight device - I was very skeptical of the 12.9" screen size, but it is one of the best things about the iPP, not only the size but the quality. My wife has the one-port MacBook, and the Retina screen is so much better than my MacBook Air, but still can't hold a candle to the iPP.

5) Working without wifi - having LTE has enabled me to work on iPad away from home in a way that my Mac simply can't.

6) Scanning - I use Scanbot to scan documents for work, which I can't do on a Mac.

7) Siri - I know this is coming to Mac in Sierra, but it has been a big part of my workflow on iPad.

8) Small footprint computer - I will be working on my iPad with Smart Keyboard in keyboard mode, and then take a break for lunch or a shower and fold it into display mode, easily fitting on the ledge in my bathroom or the kitchen counter while I make my meal. I never brought my Mac into the bathroom and rarely into the kitchen.

Many people use iPhone + Mac to pull off some of the tasks I listed, and I used to as well. But switching to iPad has made it easier. One of the unexpected benefits has been not mind-switching between two OSes. Most people in this forum use iPhone + Mac throughout their workday, and it's hard to describe, but there was a mental relief to only working in one OS throughout the day once I switched to iPad, occasionally still using my phone.

Most people here focus on some tasks that seem harder to them to do on the iPad, whereas working on the iPad has made me notice the tasks that are harder to on a Mac. That's why I said 2/3rds of things are easier on the Mac, and 2/3rds are easier on the iPad.

 

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[shaunp]

"Just when you think you know what a computer is, you see a keyboard that can just get out of the way. And a screen you can touch... and even write on. When you see a computer that can do all that, it might just make you wonder hey, what else can it do?"


but noooo.. we refuse to bring touchscreen to Macs..

Apple, we need proper filing system before i ever even consider getting rid my computer

I"m not a fan of replacing computers with iPads by any stretch of the imagination (VM's on an iPad anyone???), but I do see a need to hide the filesystem

I wonder if at this point Apple is gonna start selling OS X for PCs?

The best possible result is probably to have Dells running OSX, because Apple clearly doesnt GAF about macs. The Mac lineup is embarrassingly bad at the moment.

Indeed. If they can't be bothered to update the hardware then license it. Best of both worlds as Apple can't be bothered to update the hardware.
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A keyboard that gets out of the way... A screeen you can touch and even write on. Hmm, I cant think of any real computer that can do that

Welcome to 2012.

And I can't think of a single tablet that can enable me to run VM's. I need 64GB RAM, at least 6 CPU cores and 1TB of SSD.