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It's pretty clear that if one is able to have any level of patience and control, you can live a much less expensive Apple lifestyle by being one generation behind on literally all the products.
 
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It's pretty clear that if one is able to have any level of patience and control, you can live a much less expensive Apple lifestyle by being one generation behind on literally all the products.

Very true. Too bad my brain is wired 100% the opposite!
 
It's pretty clear that if one is able to have any level of patience and control, you can live a much less expensive Apple lifestyle by being one generation behind on literally all the products.

I pretty much agree BUT if one stays alert they can get a good deal.

I got my 12.9 first gen Pro at Best Buy for $549 open box, it was the base model but I ran out of the store after purchasing it so as not to get arrested for stealing. And it was in mint condition and it was only a few months after release. :)
 
I pretty much agree BUT if one stays alert they can get a good deal.

I got my 12.9 first gen Pro at Best Buy for $549 open box, it was the base model but I ran out of the store after purchasing it so as not to get arrested for stealing. And it was in mint condition and it was only a few months after release. :)

Last summer, Best Buy had the 9.7 Pros for $375 (32GB) and $525 (128GB). So if you have patience and good timing, there are deals to be had on the newest models, more so than even 4-6 years ago on Apple products.
 
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The key, as mentioned above by a few, is that you need to get a good deal up front or you will be feeling the pain when you sell it.

Just buying new at normal prices is more of a suckers game than ever before with Apple stuff.

They have "resale value" no question, especially when compared with other ecosystem hardware, but the upfront markup by Apple erodes very very quickly in terms of value returned to you down the road.
 
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Last summer, Best Buy had the 9.7 Pros for $375 (32GB) and $525 (128GB). So if you have patience and good timing, there are deals to be had on the newest models, more so than even 4-6 years ago on Apple products.

I got on the 375 deal :D
 
That or buy the latest model and keep it forever. With how fast the new iPads are, that actually seems feasible now.

lol people said 2gb was fine and True tone and p3 screen and pencil/kb support and a 6s cam that it was a future proofed 9.7 pro

But now there is a massive dump of 9.7 pros on resell market :D

It also could be the most future proof hw, it's still up to apple when they decide to sunset support after a few iOS versions

I think macs/x86 are a lot more future proof

Also the average lifespan of a mac exceeds a long life iPad

Not uncommon for people to hold onto their laptops for approaching a decade

I think if one can hold off and restrain 2-3 years is sweet spot of ownership for an iPad model

Phone 1-2 years
 
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I wouldn't mind the extra screen real restate. Especially since I use my iPad mainly for video and web browser. But its not enough for me to shell out money for a new iPad.

My 9.7 pro is only a year old and with no issues.
 
I wouldn't mind the extra screen real restate. Especially since I use my iPad mainly for video and web browser. But its not enough for me to shell out money for a new iPad.

My 9.7 pro is only a year old and with no issues.

I feel like with tanked resell value I could honestly get around the same amount a year later on my 9.7 pro even when a 10.5 gen 2 is released/announced next year
 
lol people said 2gb was fine and True tone and p3 screen and pencil/kb support future proofed 9.7 pro

But now there is a massive dump of 9.7 pros on resell market :D

It also could be the most future proof hw, it's still up to apple when they decide to sunset support after a few iOS versions
Did the Pro 9.7 somehow stop working? Are they super slow when it comes to web browsing, email, ebook reading, Netflix streaming, Spotify, etc? Even the Air 2 and the budget 2017 iPad 9.7 model performs those tasks just fine. Just because there are people who are easily tempted by the next shiny new thing doesn't make older devices stop working all of a sudden.

Heck, I'm betting a lot of those people selling the Pro 9.7 now would buy the next new model that replaces the 2017 Pro 10.5.

Future proofing doesn't work. Something new is always around the corner. All you can do is buy something that meets your needs today.

P.S. Yes, I'm tempted. I acknowledge it's purely want and not need, though. I'm still holding hope that Apple ups it to 326 PPI by the next iteration or two.
 
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I'm not an Office 365 subscriber, so that alone is making me want to stay sub 10" screen sizes (or whatever the cut-off is to have to start paying for Office on iPad)
 
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Did the Pro 9.7 somehow stop working? Are they super slow when it comes to web browsing, email, ebook reading, Netflix streaming, Spotify, etc? Even the Air 2 and the budget 2017 iPad 9.7 model performs those tasks just fine. Just because there are people who are easily tempted by the next shiny new thing doesn't make older devices stop working all of a sudden.

Heck, I'm betting a lot of those people selling the Pro 9.7 now would buy the next new model that replaces the 2017 Pro 10.5.

Future proofing doesn't work. Something new is always around the corner. All you can do is buy something that meets your needs today.

Excellent point

if 2017 iPad wasn't announced with A9

I'd honestly be a little worried about 9.7 pro getting the shaft sooner rather than later support wise unnecessarily

If they hose 2017 iPad users that is a significant portion of iPad base. 329 was an attractive sell to the average user
 
Did the Pro 9.7 somehow stop working? Are they super slow when it comes to web browsing, email, ebook reading, Netflix streaming, Spotify, etc? Even the Air 2 and the budget 2017 iPad 9.7 model performs those tasks just fine. Just because there are people who are easily tempted by the next shiny new thing doesn't make older devices stop working all of a sudden.

Heck, I'm betting a lot of those people selling the Pro 9.7 now would buy the next new model that replaces the 2017 Pro 10.5.

Future proofing doesn't work. Something new is always around the corner. All you can do is buy something that meets your needs today.

P.S. Yes, I'm tempted. I acknowledge it's purely want and not need, though. I'm still holding hope that Apple ups it to 326 PPI by the next iteration or two.

We’ll see when iOS 11 drops about how the 9.7 performs with more and more people reporting in after upgrading the software.
 
We’ll see when iOS 11 drops about how the 9.7 performs with more and more people reporting in after upgrading the software.
Given early reports are that the Air 2 is working remarkably well on iOS 11, I don't see how the Pro 9.7 would become awful to use.
 
Given early reports are that the Air 2 is working remarkably well on iOS 11, I don't see how the Pro 9.7 would become awful to use.

Yeah iOS 11 in particular I wouldn't be worried about at all

It's got a swipe up dock, drag apps into a multi tasking pane

I dont understand what people think iOS 11 is pushing that will be excessively push 9.7 pro

It's maybe future iOS if they transform it even further into MacOS, that could get problematic.
 
I have both now and have not decided to keep the 10.5 yet. Although, I really like the 10.5, ie.. the larger real estate on the screen, the ProMotion, the extra brightness, I am not sure if it is worth the almost extra $1000 to upgrade, which includes the new smart keyboard. That is the biggest negative and also it does seem slighty heavier to work with compared to the 9.7. Decisions... :)
 
I have both now and have not decided to keep the 10.5 yet. Although, I really like the 10.5, ie.. the larger real estate on the screen, the ProMotion, the extra brightness, I am not sure if it is worth the almost extra $1000 to upgrade, which includes the new smart keyboard. That is the biggest negative and also it does seem slighty heavier to work with compared to the 9.7. Decisions... :)

That's a lot of dough for a few nice changes, and motion handling that will spoil virtually every other apple display

But the 9.7pro experience as mentioned is still very very nice

I think unless iPad is your main machine/you got funds you're itching to let go of, it might be money better stashed for caving on a refreshed iPhone potentially
 
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256GB iPad Pro 9.7 user, no not thinking of upgrading - I like the keyboard, pencil and cases I have, too much to change considering the slight form factor increase. A funny thing with running the beta is that the features of iOS 11 I am thinking of selling on my MacBook Pro Retina 2015 model as I find it underpowered for big tasks and not as convenient for day to day tasks compared to the iPad Pro.
 
Also the average lifespan of a mac exceeds a long life iPad

Not uncommon for people to hold onto their laptops for approaching a decade

I think if one can hold off and restrain 2-3 years is sweet spot of ownership for an iPad model

Phone 1-2 years
Agreed. 2-3 years is sweet sport for iPad. I've been going on a 2yr cycle since iPad Air and now I'll be sitting tight and wait for 2018 with my IPP 9.7". I am also looking forward for pencil v2 (have not bought in yet). Hopefully, that one I will be able to keep for 3 years.

In terms of iPhone, 2 years is ideal for battery/speed purposes but I usually hand down my iPhone and it lasts easily a full 4 years without breaking a sweat

iPad is a champ of hand-me-downs: all of my old iPads are still in use (even the 1st gen, connected to a TV as a Netflix player)
 
I agree - it is a lot of dough for a few nice changes. They definitely are noticable. I use this as my main machine and my wife uses the Macbook Air. Funny - how when I go back to my 9.7, I do notice that it does not have ProMotion. Seems like such a small feature, but it is nice. Still not sure if it is $1000 nice. I think if I did not have the 9.7 Pro, then I would definitely upgrade.

That's a lot of dough for a few nice changes, and motion handling that will spoil virtually every other apple display

But the 9.7pro experience as mentioned is still very very nice

I think unless iPad is your main machine/you got funds you're itching to let go of, it might be money better stashed for caving on a refreshed iPhone potentially
 
Agreed. 2-3 years is sweet sport for iPad. I've been going on a 2yr cycle since iPad Air and now I'll be sitting tight and wait for 2018 with my IPP 9.7". I am also looking forward for pencil v2 (have not bought in yet). Hopefully, that one I will be able to keep for 3 years.

iPad is a champ of hand-me-downs: all of my old iPads are still in use (even the 1st gen, connected to a TV as a Netflix player)
The year over year CPU/GPU improvements from the original iPad to the iPad Air 2 have been massive. I don't think it can continue progressing at the same pace. Seems like the Air 2 is poised for actually making it at least 4 years with good performance.

I expect in future, the motivating factor for upgrades will likely be for new features rather than because your old iPad is running too slow. I reckon A8X and A9 are already in the "good enough" camp for normal day to day use.
 
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Future proofing doesn't work. Something new is always around the corner. All you can do is buy something that meets your needs today.

While in most cases, I do think future proofing means spending more money on specs you most likely won't need (and that's assuming your device doesn't break down by the time you get to the "future"), I still think some purchases make more sense than others.

For example, the latest surface products don't feature USB C and Microsoft is willing to sell you an adapter... but the future where USB C will be ubiquitous is around the corner... So if you buy one of those devices, it's annoying that you will have to be carrying that dongle everywhere in the next year or two. Makes more sense to get a laptop with at least a USB C port, for future proofing.
 
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