If the iPad is your "third device" - don't buy the Pro.

[utilitas]

If the iPad is going to be your primary computing device (or you don't have a laptop), the iPad Pro makes a lot more sense and you COULD justify some of the added expense and features.

I think you are right with this. I think the Pro is the best option if you have a stationary PC/Mac at home and need something portable for private use. If you need a portable device for work and private use, I'd go with a laptop for now. But for private use and as a primary portable device the iPad is great I think. Currently I need my Windows Thinkpad for my studies. Programs like Citavi etc. are just not available for iOS and writing a thesis on an iPad is something I would also try to avoid for now. But I am thinking about selling my Thinkpad after I am done with studying. For private use I think it is a way more suitable option because the performance is outstanding and apps for light working such as MS Word are awesome on iOS and offer enough features for that purpose.

 

[blairh]

Perhaps I made a mistake posting this rec in a forum full of die hards... it's really just a plea to people to not give in to the price gouging when they may not use the device all that much.

Any opinion you express in a forum will probably be combated. I think you are taking this all way too personally. You don't need to plea anything. You made an opinion. And some will counter it. Nothing more.

 

[flur]

Currently I need my Windows Thinkpad for my studies. Programs like Citavi etc. are just not available for iOS and writing a thesis on an iPad is something I would also try to avoid for now.

I alternate between my iPad and my MBP for writing, and definitely worked on both my theses on the iPad. I write novels on the iPad, LOL. Scrivener and Word are available, so you absolutely can write long, structured docs on it.

 

[MEJHarrison]

I'm getting the new 11" with 256GB and will be picking up a new Series 4 Apple Watch at the same time. This will be my fourth device (13" MacBook Pro, 27" iMac and iPhone XS Max). Personally, I can't wait.

 

[jterp7]

If the iPad is going to be your primary computing device (or you don't have a laptop), the iPad Pro makes a lot more sense and you COULD justify some of the added expense and features.

If you're like me and you already have a capable laptop and phone, then there's the 2018 iPad (it's an iPad!) and you can do pretty much everything an iPad can do for $329 (or lower, $299 at Micro Center today). It kinda sucks that this model doesn't get any of the marketing hype when it's really one of the best value products in the entire Apple line.

The iPad Pro is finally differentiating itself enough that unless you are using it for iPad things that make you money, there's not much reason to get one. It's kind of like the $4999 iMac Pro in this sense.

EDIT: I understand many people here will get the Pro as their third device for whatever reason. This is just a suggestion for folks who want an iPad and may not use it all that much (and in light of the price hikes).

speaking of MC, they still have the 10.5 base at $500 which is 150 off. For those of us who dont need it right away could probably wait for a better deal (as always).

 

[Azathoth123]

I’ll be getting a 12.9” iPad Pro soon. I have a 27” iMac, an iPhone X, a 9.7” iPad Air 2, an iPad Pro gen 1, and a Mac Mini, and I use the iPad Pro far more than any other device, so on a per-use basis, the cost is justified. I think you need to evaluate which of your devices get the most use, and those most-used products should be (or can be) upgraded more often than devices that see less use. Having older eyes, the 12.9” screen size is truly a blessing that smaller iPads just do not deliver.

I will agree that even the powerful new Pro is not a desktop/laptop replacement. If you need a MacBook or iMac to run Office or other desktop software as a necessary part of a business workflow, the iPad isn’t going to cut it because it wasn’t designed/intended to do that.

The cost isn’t that high for the Pro models, high-end Apple hardware has never been cheap, but since I purchased my gen 1 Pro 3 years ago, 3-yr inflation has been about 10% (ballpark), so the price increase is actually reasonable for the hardware improvements. Inflation is rarely mentioned WRT to upgrade costs, but it truly the gift that keeps on giving

Do what you enjoy. If you want new hardware, go for it (if you can justify it). When my dad was in his declining months, no one at the ‘home’ was saying ‘Boy, I’m sure sorry that I went to Paris all those times, think how much money I could have saved.” Life’s too short to dance with ugly hardware.