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Broadus

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 26, 2011
1,108
649
Upstate SC
I don’t keep up with most Apple updates, but for months I’ve been looking for a 12.9” and was awaiting this year’s release. I wasn’t anticipating so much controversy but, as I said, I don’t keep up with each release. Is the strong controversy over this release normal for MacRumors? I recall some of the “-gates” from the past, but the back-and-forth over this 2021 12.9 iPP update seems especially intense.
 
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DMG35

Contributor
May 27, 2021
2,527
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I think the controversy comes from the fact that people were expecting something from Apple after they released the M1 iPad that they never said they were going to deliver. Many in here were 100% confident that Apple was going to separate out the M1 iPad Pro and make it somehow special with “Pro software” and “Pro apps.” They were never going to do that it caused A lot of people anger because they thought this year was going to be different.
 

iPadified

macrumors 68020
Apr 25, 2017
2,014
2,257
No. Usually it flies pretty much under the radar of MR members. It is the usual things like it being a toy etc but this time it is different. It is probably because the 12.9 has a screen better than any other Mac (except possible the 32” XDR) and have the same M1 as the iMac 24. There is a lot of confusion about this version because it is on paper a very strong hardware package compared to other Apple products. If I would point to the most feature rich and cool hardware right now, it is the iPad 12.9 inch. The M1 laptops was just same old cases with the CPU package replaced - stale in comparison.

People are very confused As the hardware distinctions between iPad and low end Macs are erased.
 

JayMysterio

macrumors 68000
Apr 24, 2010
1,534
32,961
Rock Ridge, California
That is the ever increasing power of projection. Apple does NOT say it's going to do something, but others insist based on their beliefs that Apple WILL do something. So it's Apple's fault for not meeting the exaggerated expectations of others, despite NEVER saying they would.

Apple now makes M1 iPads to go with their M1 Macs, so by the power of greyskull, that means something.

Seemingly NOT that it means Apple tries to consolidate their efforts / manufacturing so all of their products have a variation of the same thing in it for their convenience. It had to mean to some that the M1 meant something special for THEM. Apple does for Apple first, then gets around to spinning it as an act ( of courage :rolleyes: ) for others.
 

Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
35,673
52,518
In a van down by the river
I don’t keep up with most Apple updates, but for months I’ve been looking for a 12.9” and was awaiting this year’s release. I wasn’t anticipating so much controversy but, as I said, I don’t keep up with each release. Is the strong controversy over this release normal for MacRumors? I recall some of the “-gates” from the past, but the back-and-forth over this 2021 12.9 iPP update seems especially intense.
On MR, the smallest things often turn into a tech crisis for many here. I hate to see the rest of their chaotic life.
 

Broadus

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 26, 2011
1,108
649
Upstate SC
This is probably the most signficant update in years - M1 processor, 8/16GB RAM, 2TB sotrage, 5G, Mini LED (on 12.9) - I don't recall so many improvements in a single update. Not in a long time.
So the controversy is not as much over the device itself but because of the software? I’m pretty obsessive about screens, and this one is reputed to be a significant step up.
 
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Rafterman

Contributor
Apr 23, 2010
7,267
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So the controversy is not as much over the device itself but because of the software? I’m pretty obsessive about screens, and this one is reputed to be a significant step up.

There is some controvery about screen "blooming" on the 12.9 - but I haven't seen too much of that. I suspect a lot of it is seen under abnormal conditions (100 percent brightness in the dark) or some people are just more sensitvie about it.

The software definitely underutilizes the hardware.
 
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Zazoh

macrumors 68000
Jan 4, 2009
1,518
1,122
San Antonio, Texas
From other threads, it seems more MS Surface Pro users were wanting and expecting an Apple equivalent due to the M1 chip.

It will never happen. I can see the MacBook going to a non Unix OS over time, but not the other way around. 15 years maybe.
 

jeremiah256

macrumors 65816
Aug 2, 2008
1,444
1,169
Southern California
Humans extrapolate. It’s natural. With the incredible hardware improvements they made to the iPad Pro? Of course expectations went through the roof.

If I inject Steve Rogers with Super Serum, bombard him with Vita-Rays, then put him to work…selling War Bonds, then yeah, that’s disappointing. The posters saying no promises were made are absolutely right, but that doesn't mean Peggy Carter is wrong to want Steve to get off his duff and do something.

Sorry for the analogy, but as you can see from my current avatar, I'm deep into a MCU rewatch right now.
 

iPadified

macrumors 68020
Apr 25, 2017
2,014
2,257
High expectations - yes. It is just another iPad and it is for people with particular requirements. As being said at the Keynote: those with an "XDR work flow". So at the moment, the iPad Pro is targeted to the Mac Pro/XDR screen owners which rules out nearly are on MR.
 

rkuo

macrumors 65816
Sep 25, 2010
1,308
955
Just because Apple doesn't promise something doesn't mean I can't be annoyed or upset with them. Every year it's the same old song and dance ... hardware is great, software is holding it back. It's plain as day. Literally every review has said this for the past four years. And for the past four years they've made nearly no progress towards fixing it ... this year being possibly the largest gulf ever due to the rapidly advancing hardware and the glacially developed software.

This isn't just a MacRumors nerd complaint. Everyone sees it.
 

inhalexhale1

macrumors 65816
Jul 17, 2011
1,101
745
PA
I don’t keep up with most Apple updates, but for months I’ve been looking for a 12.9” and was awaiting this year’s release. I wasn’t anticipating so much controversy but, as I said, I don’t keep up with each release. Is the strong controversy over this release normal for MacRumors? I recall some of the “-gates” from the past, but the back-and-forth over this 2021 12.9 iPP update seems especially intense.

This update is unique. The iPad now has the same chip as the MacBook Pro and Air. Which is pretty amazing if you think about it. Apple made no promises on what exactly this would give users, but they did hype the M1 powering the iPad Pro in the keynote for it.

The changes to iPad OS were similar to past years, which made that idea of an iPad having the same power as a MacBook Pro feel useless. I don't think anyone expecting something equally as unique with iPad OS this year, as the addition of the M1, was expecting too much.
 

iPadified

macrumors 68020
Apr 25, 2017
2,014
2,257
Just because Apple doesn't promise something doesn't mean I can't be annoyed or upset with them. Every year it's the same old song and dance ... hardware is great, software is holding it back. It's plain as day. Literally every review has said this for the past four years. And for the past four years they've made nearly no progress towards fixing it ... this year being possibly the largest gulf ever due to the rapidly advancing hardware and the glacially developed software.

This isn't just a MacRumors nerd complaint. Everyone sees it.
To be fair, tech reviewers have the same field of view as most MR nerds. Have Apple ever demonstrated Logic and FCP at a WWDC? I do not remember any.
 

Artsketch

macrumors 6502
Oct 22, 2019
330
268
Users complain about the lack of pro software, but most creative software has been here for a long time. Mostly those are non-creative users who use the iPad Pro for other purposes or entertainment.
 
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