A recent poll on mac rumors yielded these results:
Buying 10.5 IPP for content consumption: 40%
Buying 10.5 for laptop replacement: 19%
Buying 12.9 for content: 20%
Buying 12.9 as laptop replacement: 21%
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/which-do-you-prefer-12-9-or-10-5.2049850/
While the sample sizes are small, I think it is safe to say iPads are still primarily used as consumption devices.
There are many features specific to my iPad Pro that have nothing to do with my work, but everything to do with content consumption, fun, and entertainment:
- Quad speakers are great for movies and music. Especially music.
- true tone display is great for reading
- pro motion looks appealing for reading and movies
I think Apple is making a mistake by excluding consumption features from their non-pro device. They should be basing their iPad strategy on what people want. And people want excellent consumption machines.
I bought a used iPad 9.7 pro when I saw iPad 9.7 lacked quad speakers and has what I will call a 'non-amazing' screen. The 9.7 IPP has been the consumption device of my dreams.
I can no longer bring myself to spend 850-950 dollars on a consumption device ( which I personally view as a luxury toy) that I'm going to replace in one or two years. There is just no value proposition for me. It's not that I can't afford it- I bought the first retina iPad new, bought an iPad mini 4 new. But those devices just didn't get enough use to truly justify their high price tags, especially my first iPad, the retina. The issue is that I feel I am being ripped off, a feeling I don't get with iPhone or MacBook pro. I don't need keyboard support, pen support, or a processor capable of swiftly editing 4K video. I just want an amazing screen and loud speakers for a reasonable price.
I get that apple wants to have have a 'simple' lineup that doesn't 'confuse' , but honestly .. They and we need to consider the notion that people who buy apple products are not necessarily unintelligent, are frequently intelligent, and could wrap their heads around a three-tier iPad lineup: iPad, iPad Pro, and iPad SE.
I use a 2015 MacBook Pro 13" 16GB RAM for work. The iPad Pro isn't a pro machine as far as my individual uses are concerned. The iPad can't drive two external displays. It cannot run windows in a virtual machine. Excel is not as good on iOS as MacOS.
Apple should keep pursuing their crazy dreams of a tablet replacing my 16GB RAM MacBook Pro. They just need to bring back sane pricing on a consumption-oriented tablet with great consumption features.
Apple could consider adding a backlit keyboard, external monitor support via lightning, dual or even triple lightning ports, external gpu support, and other features to the iPad pro model to make room for a consumption iPad that reflects how most iPads are used.
Buying 10.5 IPP for content consumption: 40%
Buying 10.5 for laptop replacement: 19%
Buying 12.9 for content: 20%
Buying 12.9 as laptop replacement: 21%
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/which-do-you-prefer-12-9-or-10-5.2049850/
While the sample sizes are small, I think it is safe to say iPads are still primarily used as consumption devices.
There are many features specific to my iPad Pro that have nothing to do with my work, but everything to do with content consumption, fun, and entertainment:
- Quad speakers are great for movies and music. Especially music.
- true tone display is great for reading
- pro motion looks appealing for reading and movies
I think Apple is making a mistake by excluding consumption features from their non-pro device. They should be basing their iPad strategy on what people want. And people want excellent consumption machines.
I bought a used iPad 9.7 pro when I saw iPad 9.7 lacked quad speakers and has what I will call a 'non-amazing' screen. The 9.7 IPP has been the consumption device of my dreams.
I can no longer bring myself to spend 850-950 dollars on a consumption device ( which I personally view as a luxury toy) that I'm going to replace in one or two years. There is just no value proposition for me. It's not that I can't afford it- I bought the first retina iPad new, bought an iPad mini 4 new. But those devices just didn't get enough use to truly justify their high price tags, especially my first iPad, the retina. The issue is that I feel I am being ripped off, a feeling I don't get with iPhone or MacBook pro. I don't need keyboard support, pen support, or a processor capable of swiftly editing 4K video. I just want an amazing screen and loud speakers for a reasonable price.
I get that apple wants to have have a 'simple' lineup that doesn't 'confuse' , but honestly .. They and we need to consider the notion that people who buy apple products are not necessarily unintelligent, are frequently intelligent, and could wrap their heads around a three-tier iPad lineup: iPad, iPad Pro, and iPad SE.
I use a 2015 MacBook Pro 13" 16GB RAM for work. The iPad Pro isn't a pro machine as far as my individual uses are concerned. The iPad can't drive two external displays. It cannot run windows in a virtual machine. Excel is not as good on iOS as MacOS.
Apple should keep pursuing their crazy dreams of a tablet replacing my 16GB RAM MacBook Pro. They just need to bring back sane pricing on a consumption-oriented tablet with great consumption features.
Apple could consider adding a backlit keyboard, external monitor support via lightning, dual or even triple lightning ports, external gpu support, and other features to the iPad pro model to make room for a consumption iPad that reflects how most iPads are used.
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