Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Kendo

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 4, 2011
2,362
912
I considered pulling the trigger on a 2nd gen 12.9 iPad Pro but a little worried this design is already obsolete with the larger iPad taking design cues from the thinner bezels on the 10.5 model.
 
I considered pulling the trigger on a 2nd gen 12.9 iPad Pro but a little worried this design is already obsolete with the larger iPad taking design cues from the thinner bezels on the 10.5 model.


You're missing the big picture. There will be another subsequent design update following that one too, so it's only going to get worse and worse. I'd stick to pen and paper, it's the only way to be sure.
 
You're missing the big picture. There will be another subsequent design update following that one too, so it's only going to get worse and worse. I'd stick to pen and paper, it's the only way to be sure.

I get your point. But there are good times and bad times to buy new electronics. Like iPhone 6 had 1GB of RAM and iPhone 6s had 2GB of RAM. Products always change but there are better times to buy them.
 

Large bezels are needed for optimal grip for self defense.

In all seriousness, it took much more than a year for the 12.9 to be refreshed, if Apple does that again you might be waiting for a tablet that might not happen for a while. If not until 2019. If Apple really wants to radically change the 12.9 I doubt they’d do it before oled.
 
I get your point. But there are good times and bad times to buy new electronics. Like iPhone 6 had 1GB of RAM and iPhone 6s had 2GB of RAM. Products always change but there are better times to buy them.

Then it depends on how long you can afford to wait. A major refresh is probably not imminent, but I'm only guessing. If you can afford to wait a year in case something changes, great. If you'd benefit from having a new iPad sometime soon, then doing without it until the next hardware change might "cost" you more than whatever benefits you might reap by waiting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rui no onna
The best time to buy them is when you need them.

This great advice will be promptly ignored. You can count on that.

I can understand there being an iPhone keynote in September and you asking in July if is worth it to wait. Sure. Because its so close, why not?

But the time between the last two ipad updates was 18 months and we have no clear idea when the next iPad will come or even way features it’ll have. My iPad Pro 2nd gen wasn’t worth upgrading to from my 1st gen. I only upgraded because my first one broke. But just imagine if I had gone without an iPad before hand and waited or something only to find out it wasn’t worth it. And losing out on months of using and enjoying a product to wait for something that hasn’t even been released yet.

Don’t wait. If you need it buy it.
 
I get your point. But there are good times and bad times to buy new electronics. Like iPhone 6 had 1GB of RAM and iPhone 6s had 2GB of RAM. Products always change but there are better times to buy them.
Yes, you are right. It depends how much you value the reduction in size and weight. In my case it’s a nice to have, but not worth waiting one year. Changes to the form factor, per se, are irrelevant for longevity. Look at the first iPad air and iPhone 6.

During updates to form factor, Apple does one of these two things:
1) updates the form factor while being lazy with the specs (iPad Air 1, iPhone 6)
2) updates the form factor and gives great specs while increasing the price (iPad pro 10.5, macbook pro, iPhone X etc)

Ps: On the other hand, if I knew the new one to have a usb-c port or sd card slot I would wait but...that’s not going to happen. :(
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sracer
The iPad, like many other computers, is a tool in the first place - in my opinion. Buy what you think you need, when you need it.

Apple has a generous return policy that enables you to easily try the products out yourself and send back what turns out not worth your money.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kendo
Yes, you are right. It depends how much you value the reduction in size and weight. In my case it’s a nice to have, but not worth waiting one year. Changes to the form factor, per se, are irrelevant for longevity. Look at the first iPad air and iPhone 6.

During updates to form factor, Apple does one of these two things:
1) updates the form factor while being lazy with the specs (iPad Air 1, iPhone 6)
2) updates the form factor and gives great specs while increasing the price (iPad pro 10.5, macbook pro etc)

Ps: On the other hand, if I knew the new one to have a usb-c port or sd card slot I would wait but...that’s not going to happen. :(

USB-C may happen one day. SD card is never going to happen. I’m just hoping he new Mac mini still has one.
 
USB c will definitely not happen on iPad or iPhone

Whilst I don’t think it’s going to happen tomorrow you can’t really say that.
If Apple decides to go portless on the iPhone it would make sense to just go to USB C on other devices.

USB C will definitely not happen on iPad whilst iPhone still has a port.
 
  • Like
Reactions: canesalato
Whilst I don’t think it’s going to happen tomorrow you can’t really say that.
If Apple decides to go portless on the iPhone it would make sense to just go to USB C on other devices.

USB C will definitely not happen on iPad whilst iPhone still has a port.

I don’t fully understand your line of thinking here. If iPhone goes portless, why is the iPad MORE likely to go to usb c?
 
I don’t fully understand your line of thinking here. If iPhone goes portless, why is the iPad MORE likely to go to usb c?
Usb-c makes more sense on the iPad, because (in apple's intentions) is a laptop replacement. It needs to be easily connected with cameras, sd cards, microphones etc. Furthermore, lightning cables, as of today, are still usb2 cables, speed wise, so you cannot, for example, transfer files from your laptop at usb 3 speeds.

On the other hand, lightning gives the iPad compatibly with iPhone accessories (same cables, headphones etc), which is very important
 
Usb-c makes more sense on the iPad, because (in apple's intentions) is a laptop replacement. It needs to be easily connected with cameras, sd cards, microphones etc.

On the other hand, lightning ensures iPhone compatibly (same cables, headphones etc)

I can understand you a bit better here, but I just disagree. With apples push into encouraging everybody to use the cloud for everything under the sun, I don’t think they care too much about compatibility with accessories. I can imagine them going all Portless and wireless usb sticks that connect without a cable becoming a normal thing
 
  • Like
Reactions: zipur
I can understand you a bit better here, but I just disagree. With apples push into encouraging everybody to use the cloud for everything under the sun, I don’t think they care too much about compatibility with accessories. I can imagine them going all Portless and wireless usb sticks that connect without a cable becoming a normal thing
first of all, sorry for having edited my post after your quote, i just wanted to be more clear. =)
Also, I agree with you that Apple doesn't care much about the points I wrote. It's what I think is important and I know I'm on a different page with them. I see cloud as a supplement to local workflows, not an alternative.
 
There isn't anything particularly wrong about the 12.9 model right now. There will always be a new model eventually and if it has smaller bezels then so be it, I don't find the current one unwieldy to use as long as you avoid anything that adds tons of weight like a heavy case or keyboard.

You won't see new iPads until next spring I would guess and it makes sense for them to try to slim the bezels down if they can do it without affecting battery life much.
 
I get your point. But there are good times and bad times to buy new electronics. Like iPhone 6 had 1GB of RAM and iPhone 6s had 2GB of RAM. Products always change but there are better times to buy them.
That is true. But that "good time to buy" is highly subjective and varies greatly by the individual person's wants and needs. My indicator has been RAM. Whenever the next gen iPad bumps up the RAM to the next level, that is when I buy. I've done that since day-1. (it helped me to avoid "clunkers")

That is why I ended up buying a 1st gen 12.9 Pro *AFTER* the 9.7 Pro was announced that it had only 2GB RAM. (that helped me avoid a device that was discontinued only 15 months later) And it is why I won't be looking to buy another one until the 1st gen that offers more than 4GB RAM. FOR ME, things like TrueTone and ProMotion are gimmicks that are not worth spending additional money for by upgrading more frequently.

So for me, it is RAM, for others it will be different.
 
And it is why I won't be looking to buy another one until the 1st gen that offers more than 4GB RAM. FOR ME, things like TrueTone and ProMotion are gimmicks that are not worth spending additional money for by upgrading more frequently.

So for me, it is RAM, for others it will be different.

As someone who upgraded to a 2nd gen from the first I can tell ya, you made a damn good decision to stick with what you got
 
  • Like
Reactions: canesalato
That is true. But that "good time to buy" is highly subjective and varies greatly by the individual person's wants and needs. My indicator has been RAM. Whenever the next gen iPad bumps up the RAM to the next level, that is when I buy. I've done that since day-1. (it helped me to avoid "clunkers")

That is why I ended up buying a 1st gen 12.9 Pro *AFTER* the 9.7 Pro was announced that it had only 2GB RAM. (that helped me avoid a device that was discontinued only 15 months later) And it is why I won't be looking to buy another one until the 1st gen that offers more than 4GB RAM. FOR ME, things like TrueTone and ProMotion are gimmicks that are not worth spending additional money for by upgrading more frequently.

So for me, it is RAM, for others it will be different.

Great advice and nice call with the 9.7 Pro (but unfortunate you couldn't get the 10.5). I've been lucky in that all of my iOS purchases that had real longevity were the ones with increases in RAM (iPhone 5, iPhone 6S, iPad Air 2, iPad 3). Well iPad 3 is the sole exception due to the greatly under powered A5X.
 
i never worry about what designs tomorrow will supersede my device with. if i did that i'd never buy.

my 1st gen 12.9 does everything i want and need, in spades! the only reason for an upgrade for me would be vanity and showing off. My old ipad2 was obviously not up to today's tasks, hence my reason to upgrade to Pro. Maybe in a few years when the IOS renders my 12.9 useless i will consider another upgrade.

Tis all a subjective point.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.