Getting first iPad. Pro or Base iPad (2017)?

[linkgx1]

Hi. Right now I'm considering an iPad. I've always slightly wanted one since Steve Jobs first announced it, but it was almost always impractical (was a college student at the time). Since I've graduated though, my lifestyle has slightly changed.

For me, I would probably use it when traveling for mainly media watching and think it would be great for language learning and viewing PDF/textbooks.

My biggest issue is that I'm not exactly sure how I'd use it once I have it. I mean, I use my phone more than my desktop and Macbook Air (my air is work issued).

I would prefer to spend around $350, but that may change with Black Friday coming up soon. If I could get a Pro for $450 or so that would be great too.

Right now I have an Apple Watch (1st Gen), 2013 Macbook Air 13'' (work laptop), and iPhone 6+ (may upgrade to the X).

Any thoughts?

 

[960design]

Get the latest generation iPad: $329US ( $309US education store ) unless you absolutely need the Apple Pencil. The Apple Pencil will cost another $99US on top of the iPad purchase.

I have the 10.5 iPP and while it is amazing in every way and I'm a daily user ( actually part of my job ), I'm not sure I could justify the extra expense for a first time buyer.

Just be careful of the black Friday sales trying to dump older generation iPads that they may still have in stock.

 

[Precursor]

Once you have the iPad, your iPhone usage will change. If you go pro, you might even end up not using your Macbook Air.

 

[Beelzbub]

Base iPad here (2017 model), suites my needs/wants just fine. The display is nice and the sound is good, not that I listen to a bunch of music on it, but occasionally playing a YouTube video, talk radio or sometimes the DirecTV app at my desk watching sports or news, it sounds good for my liking. I have both work and personal email accounts on it, but mostly use it for web surfing, like I’m doing now. I also have VPN access and Remote Desktop which gets used a lot (I work in the IT field) and it works good. I also like having my texts and iMessages on it, when my iPhone is across the room and I’m sitting on the couch able to respond to texts as they come in is nice. It is light weight and slips into my bag easily along with my laptop. And when working remotely I use an app called duet which turns my iPad into a second monitor when plugged into my laptop. When traveling on vacation I don’t take a computer with me anymore, like my laptop, I just take my iPad. And at home, I rarely take my laptop out of my bag anymore, unless it’s work related where I’m going to be doing a lot, I use my iPad for everything. When outside grilling on weekends, being a sports fan, I’ll take my iPad outside with me and turn a game on an have a beer. I also volunteer with a charitable organization where I spend the night as an overnight volunteer where I’m on call if someone needs something, since I’m a light sleeper, Netflix and headphones is a nice combo And iOS 11 runs buttery smooth on this device. Couldn’t be happier with this iPad, it does everything I need and want to do and the battery life is excellent.

 

[linkgx1]

Get the latest generation iPad: $329US ( $309US education store ) unless you absolutely need the Apple Pencil. The Apple Pencil will cost another $99US on top of the iPad purchase.

I have the 10.5 iPP and while it is amazing in every way and I'm a daily user ( actually part of my job ), I'm not sure I could justify the extra expense for a first time buyer.

Just be careful of the black Friday sales trying to dump older generation iPads that they may still have in stock.

Thanks. My goal is to get the latest generation on BF. I'm seeing predictions for under $280, which is definitely in my buy territory.