Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad Pro 12.9 - a failed experiment?
- Thread starter David58117
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The release of the 10.5 will be good news for the 12.9 because now they have the same resolution. If the 10.5 becomes the most popular iPad, all apps will target that size, which means the 12.9 will get the benefit of all apps working well for the screen size.
It is similar to the iPad Mini being a breakaway success because all apps on the 9.7 works 1:1 on the mini.
I think in the future, a computer will look more like an iPad rather than a laptop. And that is what is happening right now. There will be an OS that will be touch enabled that will work from 4 inch screen to a 30 inch screen. So I do not see this as a failed experiment but as a set of data points to make a better computer toward that future.
It is similar to the iPad Mini being a breakaway success because all apps on the 9.7 works 1:1 on the mini.
I think in the future, a computer will look more like an iPad rather than a laptop. And that is what is happening right now. There will be an OS that will be touch enabled that will work from 4 inch screen to a 30 inch screen. So I do not see this as a failed experiment but as a set of data points to make a better computer toward that future.
I have had my 12.9 for over a year now - it was a Christmas present from my wife. Unlike many of you, my primary computer world is Windows based, but my iPad Pro fits in with it well. I am an accountant and the de facto IT person for my small (26 person) firm. There have been a number of times when I had to provide remote support. Using LogMeIn on my 12.9 worked a whole lot more easily than my former 9.7.
Mostly I use it for consumptiion. Kindle reader, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Dish Anywhere and Acorn TV are all much better on the 12.9, especially with the 4 speaker setup. The best part is that I still have the original AT&T unlimited data plan, so I can watch, read, and do whatever I want to do on it, wherever and whenever. The 12.9 goes with me everywhere. It is not too big for me.
Mostly I use it for consumptiion. Kindle reader, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Dish Anywhere and Acorn TV are all much better on the 12.9, especially with the 4 speaker setup. The best part is that I still have the original AT&T unlimited data plan, so I can watch, read, and do whatever I want to do on it, wherever and whenever. The 12.9 goes with me everywhere. It is not too big for me.
A product that does not fit your specific needs != failed experiment.
I owned the first iPad, 2, 3, and 4. The minute Apple released the Mini 2, I sold my regular sized iPad and never looked back. The mini 2 has been my only iPad for years. It doesn't mean the regular sized iPad was a failed experiment.
I thought the regular sized iPad was great for my usage, but the mini 2 allowed me to do exactly the same thing while having a lighter and more portable device.
I owned the first iPad, 2, 3, and 4. The minute Apple released the Mini 2, I sold my regular sized iPad and never looked back. The mini 2 has been my only iPad for years. It doesn't mean the regular sized iPad was a failed experiment.
I thought the regular sized iPad was great for my usage, but the mini 2 allowed me to do exactly the same thing while having a lighter and more portable device.
IPad 12.9" with 4gb ram is the best IPad Apple has produced till now with the 9.7" coming second. It is surely not a failed experiment.
I remember when he product released, the tablets were getting sold out so fast. I believe Apple may have met their target sales on the iPad Pro 12.9 already. It may not have sold a lot like the smaller models but it has done fairly well in the market.
I remember when he product released, the tablets were getting sold out so fast. I believe Apple may have met their target sales on the iPad Pro 12.9 already. It may not have sold a lot like the smaller models but it has done fairly well in the market.
I used my 9.7 for 7 months, then traded with a 12.9 model. I am very happy with my trade. I use my iPad Pro for digital painting and watching YouTube, it is paying off nicely. For me now, after using 12.9 for a week, 9.7 size looks like a toy to me. I haven't tried to take notes in class with 12.9 yet, since I don't have a case yet and I don't wanna scratch its rear on the table. But I believe it'll be better with taking notes. 9.7 was really compact and really easy to bring with me everywhere, but I can get more done with 12.9
My interest in the Pro2 12.9 is primarily because it would be fantastic for comic books.
Having said that, with the lack of iOS enhancements so far with the 12.9", I'd not liking that greatly.
If we don't see anything significant with iOS by Sept on the iPad front, I will delay purchasing an iPad indefinitely.
My ipad2 can still serve me on the comic front (and as ereader) and my Tab Pro 8.4 will continue to do the same for movies and such. I might even grab me a Samsung S3 tablet if the price is right and use that until Apple gets some fire under their a**es.
Having said that, with the lack of iOS enhancements so far with the 12.9", I'd not liking that greatly.
If we don't see anything significant with iOS by Sept on the iPad front, I will delay purchasing an iPad indefinitely.
My ipad2 can still serve me on the comic front (and as ereader) and my Tab Pro 8.4 will continue to do the same for movies and such. I might even grab me a Samsung S3 tablet if the price is right and use that until Apple gets some fire under their a**es.
Last edited:
So what Microsoft has been doing with Windows.
I use the 12.9 as my main computer, and it rarely leaves my desk. Since I have upgraded from the iPhone 4S (with a small 3.5" screen) to the iPhone 7 with the larger 4.7" screen, I find the iPhone sufficient for almost all of my needs when I leave the house or when I go on a weekend trip. The only time I need to bring the iPad is if I go on a longer trip.
This was the same for me. To me the 9.7 is just too small now.
MS is the 2000lb elephant in the room. They aren't going away and they already have the basics in place with their Surface Pro line - touch interface, mouse support, and Windows.
Win10 seems to be well received......even I, an avowed Win7 lover...have test drove it and it's quite OK.
They just need to convince more support from developers and software companies to write apps and thats been slow, but it has been getting better and probably will continue to get better.
In contrast, we have Apple...fantastic hardware for their tablet, but at a crossroads (of sorts) because they've been slow to give the iPad more software features and we don't even know if mouse support will ever come.
The App store needs some overhauling to better allow more revenue to flow out to developers, etc. As long as they treat the iPad as a big iPhone, they will never grow past a certain point. Certainly, that convergence that Apple leadership talks about seems stalled.
And the more Apple takes their time implementing the things that would extend and enhance the iPad, the more time they give to MS to improve their app store and shore up things like battery life, better display, etc.
It's been Apple's game to lose and they not shown us much these last 1.5 years besides giving us rudimentary split-windows and the pencil.
You might be satisfied with that...I am not.
Last edited:
As much as they've touted Continuum, there's been very little meat in those bones (so far).
Windows 10 on a tablet is still a desktop version of Windows 10. They have touch, but I would say is VERY FAR from being Touch FRIENDLY (at most, you could call it touch enabled - but I still feel like I need a mouse or stylus to be able to operate the GUI).
Microsoft has a LONG way to go to make Windows better for non- Desktop machines/uses.
Don't get me wrong - Windows 10 is the best desktop version of Windows yet, but gone is the touch-friendly nature of Windows 8. Windows will never be able to move past being a Desktop operating system until they admit they need a different GUI to support different modes of operation - and they haven't shown that in the OS yet (still not in the Creator Edition - the third major release of Windows 10).
Apple, on the other hand, recognizes that mobile mindset is different than desktop mindset. Apple isn't treating the iPad like a big iPhone - it's treating the iPad as a mobile device (different in category to a desktop device). That's the whole point. The 12.9" iPad Pro ONLY blurs the lines due to it's size - everything else about it places it firmly in the "mobile" category.
Who is right?
It's always going to be a matter of opinion, but for the moment I think Apple is right. I think Microsoft has the potential to be right in the long run (and I do find myself re-investing in Microsoft in the desktop category), but they have a LOT of promises to fulfill with Continuum. Until they make the leap and realize "Tablet Mode" needs to be more than "Alternate App Launcher" Windows 10 will remain a desktop OS.
I had the 12.9 and sold it. It was too cumbersome for my needs going from meeting to meeting.
I had a long time with no iPad until I got the 9.7 on the Target deal recently and it has fit into my specific needs much better. I travel a lot and the meeting to meeting is much better managed by the 9.7 in tight work spaces for writing notes and meeting rooms.
Loved them both but for very different reasons
I had a long time with no iPad until I got the 9.7 on the Target deal recently and it has fit into my specific needs much better. I travel a lot and the meeting to meeting is much better managed by the 9.7 in tight work spaces for writing notes and meeting rooms.
Loved them both but for very different reasons
You're right...the SP is far from perfect. We'll have to see if the SP5 takes it further.
I just hate that Apple seems to languish on the iPad front and seems to be content with getting their cut of $$$ from the App store.
They could have much more, but no one seems to have a bold vision at Apple anymore.
I don't think it's the hardware (Surface) as much as the software (Windows 10).
The irony is not lost on me that there are others who want the iPad and iOS to behave more like a desktop, while I want the Surface and Windows to behave more like a mobile device. To me, the difference is that the iPad/iOS is hard-coded as a mobile device and Surface/Windows is coded as a Desktop machine, but has the potential to be a mobile device (maybe - I don't know that Microsoft understands a "mobile device" and more than Apple's mobile decision understands desktop).
I think, though, you put your finger on Apple's problem with the iPad - it's not file managers and mice support, it's the encouragement in the developer community to develop higher quality, more powerful apps for the iPad. Both Microsoft and Apple are having this issue.
For Apple Developers, I understand the difficulty. You can't just take Photoshop and port it to iOS (it's not even a great option on Windows from Desktop to Tablet) - it requires a whole new method of thinking as far as the UI.
I would bet, though, if Adobe built Photoshop for iPad (it doesn't even have to be a FULL version, just the top 60-80% of features that make sense on a mobile device), sales of iPads would go up overnight. Apple could make X-Code Mobile (again, not FULL featured, but mostly-featured) and increase sales - all without updating one line of code on the OS side.
I'll say this: Microsoft is putting in TONS of money and effort into Windows on a tablet - and it's not good (from a tablet/mobile device perspective). I'm all for Apple making an OS X tablet (especially if it means leaving the iPad as mobile device), but I just don't think many people (beyond a core group that would use it as a laptop anyway) would buy it.
Yes after using the 12.9" iPad Pro, the 9.7 model feels like an iPad Mini.
For me IPad Pro 12.9 for work at the office and IPhone 7 Plus for when not at the office.
For my wife IPad Pro 9.7 for work as she is a teacher and IPhone 6s when she is not working. She does prefer the iPad for surfing but doesn't carry it everywhere so she uses her iPhone 6s.
For me IPad Pro 12.9 for work at the office and IPhone 7 Plus for when not at the office.
For my wife IPad Pro 9.7 for work as she is a teacher and IPhone 6s when she is not working. She does prefer the iPad for surfing but doesn't carry it everywhere so she uses her iPhone 6s.
I believe Apple and Microsoft will be arriving at the same solution. So far I like Apple's solution to focus on having excellent touch interfaces first without bringing over the legacy of a desktop. It is much cleaner that way so it seems that Microsoft is getting ahead in terms of productivity, but Apple has the right idea.
The only thing that is holding Apple back is that unlike Microsoft where they have no choice since they have no mobile OS to speak of, Apple has the Mac, and they are not ready to let that go. Thus they are narrowing the use cases of iOS to mobile computing for now. This results into thinking of another path to computing because one of their design constraints is "it should not replace the Mac."
For example, look at Adobe. Their apps are excellent on the iPad, but their strategy is to provide several apps that do a specific feature of what desktop Photoshop can do, instead of doing a standalone app. This makes their app focused and flexible, and the interplay of the split-screen multitasking is allowing their workflow to shine.
But the downside is that you do not have an all-powerful app that can do everything. In addition, you have to install all the Adobe apps to make it work well. For Apple, this multi-app, pick what you need approach and split-screen multitasking is the iOS way of doing stuff. It is opinionated but also hard to grasp for now. All because of the constraint which is it cannot be a Mac.
Last edited:
I don't think it's a failed experiment at all. The iPad Pro 12.9" is a great device, I use mine on a daily basis, for many it has replaced their old computers. When Apple said that the iPad Pro was a PC replacement, they didn't mean for those who edit Final Cut videos everyday, the people they are talking about are the average user, in fact someone like my dad who uses his iPad 3 to check email, iMessage and so on (he will be getting my iPad Pro when the iPad Pro 2 comes out and I upgrade). With multitasking and picture in picture I think Apple have made a great tablet that can replace a normal computer for many (but not everyone)
I went to 12.9 iPP and I've never looked back. I'd be highly disappointed now if I had to go back to something smaller.
I found the 12.9 great for casual use while on the couch but I ultimately decided on the smaller pro, It's just so much more portable and easier to hold. Now if I want a bigger screen I just use my 15" MBP.
Completely agree. Bringing out a 12.9 in a busy meeting room and finding a spot on a table for notes or your lap was a circus in its own right at my job lol
The 9.7 being the size of a normal sized legal pad for notes is the perfect size for my needs.
Actually a legal pad is 8.5 x 11.75 inches, almost the exact same dimensions as the 12.9 iPad Pro.
Meant note pad type thingy but wasn't sure what they are called so went legal pad lol