So, given that the Apple store lets you borrow anything for 2 weeks I decided to try the ipad pro 11.
I had the 2 fist gen pros (12.9 and 9.7) and a mini 5 (plus some older devices). So this was quite a big jump. But as you could read from the title I returned it in the end.
Let’s start first with what I really liked. Many people would probably think the huge speed increase, pro motion, sound and face id. None of that was a big deal to me.
The mini 5 is not that much slower and even the 1st gen pros are still very fast. Pro motion is not a big deal either. In the shops I could hardly notice. At home I could but only if I looked for it. It’s a bit like laminated vs non laminated, it’s not a big deal…. Sound was actually slightly better in my 9.7 (more bass) so definitely not a selling point. Face Id was ok, but I prefer touch id.
What I really like were the bigger screen, the nicer look (iphone 5 like and small bezels), the USB C port and the new pencil. The last 2 are the things I am going to miss most. So why did I return it ?
Well, I have many tablets but contrary to what most people do, I don’t use them laying on a couch. I actually don’t lay on a couch at all. I use them for many other things at home, but above all, they are my on the go device. The device that takes my second SIM card when I leave home. For whatever reason, from shopping, to teaching, to going to a meeting, to the doctor etc. I take advantage of every time I have to wait to get some work done, including via remote desktop. I use them like a laptop. So the keyboard is essential to me.
Well, the ipad pro 11 is not lappable and that’s a deal breaker for me. The keyboard jumps and dances around while trying to write on my legs, so it’s a no go. I also tried the logitech keyboard and it’s barely more lappable with an even worse (very steep) viewing angle, and it’s a nightmare to put the ipad in and out compared to the Apple one. So it would basically be a home device and at home I already have many devices, including many ipads. It really didn’t make sense. But I miss the look, the larger screen, the pencil etc. So I asked myself, how about the 10.5? Is it lappable ? I tried it and it was. So I bought a 10.5 pro used (found one for a great price, 256 LTE in mint condition with keyboard for $530, same as the 11 I had bought at the Apple store, but almost a third of the price). It had the notorious bright spot but it’s not a big deal, I can only see it in white background (I have put as much dark mode as I could) and only in daylight.
The 10.5 is very lappable. I also bought the logitech slim combo, but that thing is not lappable at all, so I am returning it.
The keyboard of the 9.7 while usable on the lap, is a bit cramped, but the logitech create 9.7 is an excellent keyboard, lappable, light, protective, backlit, so for now the 9.7 will remain my on the go device when it’s not for work. However for a meeting or when I know I am going to work for a while the larger screen and especially the lack of refreshes when I heaving multitask (week point of the 9.7) will be greatly appreciated.
Will I buy the 11 one day ? Not the current one. Only if they improve the keyboard, making it more stable and possibly also backlit.
I had the 2 fist gen pros (12.9 and 9.7) and a mini 5 (plus some older devices). So this was quite a big jump. But as you could read from the title I returned it in the end.
Let’s start first with what I really liked. Many people would probably think the huge speed increase, pro motion, sound and face id. None of that was a big deal to me.
The mini 5 is not that much slower and even the 1st gen pros are still very fast. Pro motion is not a big deal either. In the shops I could hardly notice. At home I could but only if I looked for it. It’s a bit like laminated vs non laminated, it’s not a big deal…. Sound was actually slightly better in my 9.7 (more bass) so definitely not a selling point. Face Id was ok, but I prefer touch id.
What I really like were the bigger screen, the nicer look (iphone 5 like and small bezels), the USB C port and the new pencil. The last 2 are the things I am going to miss most. So why did I return it ?
Well, I have many tablets but contrary to what most people do, I don’t use them laying on a couch. I actually don’t lay on a couch at all. I use them for many other things at home, but above all, they are my on the go device. The device that takes my second SIM card when I leave home. For whatever reason, from shopping, to teaching, to going to a meeting, to the doctor etc. I take advantage of every time I have to wait to get some work done, including via remote desktop. I use them like a laptop. So the keyboard is essential to me.
Well, the ipad pro 11 is not lappable and that’s a deal breaker for me. The keyboard jumps and dances around while trying to write on my legs, so it’s a no go. I also tried the logitech keyboard and it’s barely more lappable with an even worse (very steep) viewing angle, and it’s a nightmare to put the ipad in and out compared to the Apple one. So it would basically be a home device and at home I already have many devices, including many ipads. It really didn’t make sense. But I miss the look, the larger screen, the pencil etc. So I asked myself, how about the 10.5? Is it lappable ? I tried it and it was. So I bought a 10.5 pro used (found one for a great price, 256 LTE in mint condition with keyboard for $530, same as the 11 I had bought at the Apple store, but almost a third of the price). It had the notorious bright spot but it’s not a big deal, I can only see it in white background (I have put as much dark mode as I could) and only in daylight.
The 10.5 is very lappable. I also bought the logitech slim combo, but that thing is not lappable at all, so I am returning it.
The keyboard of the 9.7 while usable on the lap, is a bit cramped, but the logitech create 9.7 is an excellent keyboard, lappable, light, protective, backlit, so for now the 9.7 will remain my on the go device when it’s not for work. However for a meeting or when I know I am going to work for a while the larger screen and especially the lack of refreshes when I heaving multitask (week point of the 9.7) will be greatly appreciated.
Will I buy the 11 one day ? Not the current one. Only if they improve the keyboard, making it more stable and possibly also backlit.
