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I am a consultant and have adopted the IPad Pro 9.7 (256GB) as my main out of the office work machine. Typical day:
early AM: Read and respond to emails. Read NY Times on line. Transfer any files that I might need that aren't already on the IPad
Client meeting: This is a very complex meeting, so I opt to type all my notes using the smart keyboard. Works great of course and I note that the smaller footprint of my machine contrasts to others there using laptops.
Conference call: I open Notability and take handwritten notes of the things of interest. Amazing how much time these type of calls waste for the actual information received.
Working on first case: did quite a bit of internet searching and document review. Marked items of interest and save them all in the case notebook on Notability.
After lunch: Meetings with subcontractors. First case involves numerous documents the contractor has mailed to me. I have them all on the IPad and we can look at them together, commenting on items of interest. He has some photos I need, so I load them on the IPad. Second contractor arrives and his case involves several financial items on spreadsheets that I download. I take notes with the pencil, highlight items, and we agree on what we will do on this matter going forward. Save everything to appropriate notebook.
Late afternoon: Using the IPad to pay bills on line, update accounting for days activity, update calendars (personal and business) and finalize schedule for tomorrow, deal with emails, write up my ideas for a briefing I will be doing the next morning to a potential client, and prepare a one page proposal that I will print out and leave with her after the briefing. Chat with two partners located some distance away on an encrypted application.
Evening: I am a nightowl so I catch a show I am following on Netflix using earphones so as not to disturb my spouse.

Bottom line: I still have my old Macbook Air and I use it for heavy duty typing at home, but don't carry it out much at all. The IPad Pro travels around the world with me and only rarely do I even think about needing the MBA. I use the keyboard a lot; the pencil less so. Battery life on this thing is great and it has rapidly become an indispensable work tool.
Very interesting to read how a professional uses a iPad throughout a full workday. Does the small 9.7 inches ever feel cramped in split-view to you?
 
Very interesting to read how a professional uses a iPad throughout a full workday. Does the small 9.7 inches ever feel cramped in split-view to you?

Not the OP, but I don't personally find it cramped. That said, I don't use split view the same way most people might. I mostly have one active app at a time. What I tend to use split view for is more like slide over, but I don't have to dismiss it right away to switch back. So when triaging e-mail, I can have a task list app up at the small width on the side that I'm entering tasks into so I can archive or delete e-mails. If I am mostly interacting with the browser, but want to say, grab a bunch of PDFs, I might have Documents open on the side so I can monitor the downloads and feed it URLs to download. Or have a message app on the side so I can communicate with someone over IM without leaving the app I'm currently working in. Even at home, I might do the same if I'm chatting with someone while messing around.

I don't really use the 50/50 split all that often, because I'm not really trying to split my focus that way. Those that do will enjoy the bigger screen, IMO.

That said, split view is invaluable for those handful of times per day I need it and I wouldn't trade it for anything, really. It is one of the things that I think Windows 8 got right, as it allowed the split screen for metro apps. It did it in such a way that I (almost) could do the sort of things I do regularly today with iOS 9.
 
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I don't use split view very often, but it does not feel too cramped when I do.
The only time it's cramped is when I'm typing notes while reading a book. On the 9.7 inch it kinda small what you can actually read when the keyboard is up, hopefully the 12.9 inch iPad Pro will alleviate that. Physical keyboards aren't my thing. I'm quicker on the virtual keys
 
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I don't use split view a lot. I find it handy for emails, messages, spreadsheets, and docs when I do, but rarely. I would say it's like having 2 iPhone 6 Pluses side by side.
 
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It does that, but unlike the 12.9", or the regular smart cover, it winds up almost vertical, and not very stable unless the surface is flat.

After spending some time with the Smart Keyboard and a "Magic" Keyboard with the Pro, I find I actually find the Smart Keyboard quite good, although it has its own trade offs:

- I can get occasional disconnects from the Smart Keyboard due to the magnets on the 9.7" version not getting a perfect hold. Although a Bluetooth keyboard will get more frequent (but more consistent) disconnects due to going to sleep when the device sits.
- I do miss the function keys from a Bluetooth keyboard and the escape key. Wouldn't mind if there was a FN button to get at them.
- The Smart Keyboard is the obvious choice if you need to use it on the lap (just watch out for disconnects), or where even a little bit of space can make a difference. It was the clear winner on a plane, for instance.

In general, the typing is actually really good, and the best mobile keyboard I've typed on in terms of consistency, despite the slightly cramped layout. I'm actually really having a tough time of it trying to decide between the two keyboards, but so far leaning in favor of keeping the Smart Keyboard. But partly because I also have a Smart Cover that I originally got (and is past the return period) when I want just a video/drawing stand.
 
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Only just found this thread and not read it all as off to bed (in the UK) but I had the 12.9 Pro since launch but on Friday I bought the 9.7, loved it so much (especially the True Tone feature) that on Monday I sold my 12.9. My main reason for doing this was that the bigger Pro was a bit heavy to carry around and also when using in bed. Another reason was that I thought it was a little too close to my 15" rMBP. My only thing I'm now considering is if I should of gone for the 256 GB (I have the 128 GB). I've always managed with 128 GB ever since it's been available but......256?.....mom.....what do you think?
 
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After spending some time on both iPP's I blogged my experience here:
https://medium.com/@meluhan/living-with-2-pros-ipad-pro-9-7-ipad-pro-12-9-3b94587c4980#.xung4a3n0

Personally I love the 9.7 and the 12.9 and they both have their places for me in my daily routine.

Your blog post is dead on. I just finished a two week business trip with the 12inch MacBook and larger iPad Pro. For all the reasons you listed, I've decided to add a 9.7 pro to the family. Especially plane and portability in meetings.
 
Your blog post is dead on. I just finished a two week business trip with the 12inch MacBook and larger iPad Pro. For all the reasons you listed, I've decided to add a 9.7 pro to the family. Especially plane and portability in meetings.

This is exactly what I thought on a recent business trip. The 13" iPad Pro was cumbersome to carry around and I wished for the 9.7.

For me it is :

iMac & 13" iPad Pro - desk
MacBook & 9.7 - mobile
 
I've noticed my iPad Pro loses wifi a couple of times a day. Tried rebooting, deleting my wifi and re connecting but still happening. My iPhone is always by my side and never looses wifi. I've still time to return for another. What do you think?
 
I've noticed my iPad Pro loses wifi a couple of times a day. Tried rebooting, deleting my wifi and re connecting but still happening. My iPhone is always by my side and never looses wifi. I've still time to return for another. What do you think?
Exchange it
 
Does the Apple Pencil go clackety clack clack against the screen or is quieter than other styluses?

I replaced my iPad 3 with a Pro 9.7 the other day. Worlds apart from each other. Best decision I've made in a while.
 
I've noticed my iPad Pro loses wifi a couple of times a day. Tried rebooting, deleting my wifi and re connecting but still happening. My iPhone is always by my side and never looses wifi. I've still time to return for another. What do you think?

I would call or chat with Apple support, they can perform diagnostics remotely and check your hardware, this will tell you if you need to exchange or if it is a software issue.

Does the Apple Pencil go clackety clack clack against the screen or is quieter than other styluses?

I would say about as loud as pen and paper. It's not an obnoxious sound as the tip is soft on the glass, but there is kind of a muted clackety clack ;)
 
I would call or chat with Apple support, they can perform diagnostics remotely and check your hardware, this will tell you if you need to exchange or if it is a software issue.



I would say about as loud as pen and paper. It's not an obnoxious sound as the tip is soft on the glass, but there is kind of a muted clackety clack ;)

Spoke to Apple Support and they suggested a reset network settings. I've done this and so far so good. Will keep an eye on it for the next couple of days.
 
Spoke to Apple Support and they suggested a reset network settings. I've done this and so far so good. Will keep an eye on it for the next couple of days.


Contacted Apple a few days ago and they suggested I reset all wifi details and set up again. Been fine since then but about 5 minutes ago the wifi vanished again. Emailed John Lewis for a replacement. This has never happened on any of my other iPads and I've had them all.
 
Contacted Apple a few days ago and they suggested I reset all wifi details and set up again. Been fine since then but about 5 minutes ago the wifi vanished again. Emailed John Lewis for a replacement. This has never happened on any of my other iPads and I've had them all.

Exchanged for a new 9.7 Pro. Hopefully this one will be ok. One thing I have noticed straightaway is that the edges of the bezel, where the front meets the back, are lovely and smooth. They were quite harsh on the other one.
 
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Exchanged for a new 9.7 Pro. Hopefully this one will be ok. One thing I have noticed straightaway is that the edges of the bezel, where the front meets the back, are lovely and smooth. They were quite harsh on the other one.

Which color did you get?
 
I cycle the battery the first time I use it if that is what you are asking?

Yeah, that's it. Just got my replacement Pro yesterday and just thought I'd let the battery run down. So far it's at 27%.
 
Contacted Apple a few days ago and they suggested I reset all wifi details and set up again. Been fine since then but about 5 minutes ago the wifi vanished again. Emailed John Lewis for a replacement. This has never happened on any of my other iPads and I've had them all.

Really fed up with this. On my 3rd iPad Pro, on the phone with Sky numerous times and still getting this! (My iPad Pro, iPhone taken with iPad mini)
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1463787700.751286.jpg
 
Glad that I found this thread! I have been debating whether to get an iPad Pro 9.7 inch or not. I have a similar set up and work cases to you DougFNJ and this sounds like exactly what I would need to use on the go. Thanks for the insight.
 
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