I will start with my usual disclaimer when I post about iPad Pro: I fully realize that I am a former detractor of this device. When the 12.9" model was launched back in the fall, I was NOT pleased with it as a product. I wrote a few things here about my non-understanding of its existence, and I even started to wonder if Apple was going nuts.
I bought the 9.7" Pro back when it launched and also included the Smart Keyboard Cover and Apple Pencil in my purchase. After a few weeks I realized that while the quad audio and blazing fast processor were nice, the keyboard and pencil were what made this device "Pro" for me. I began using it as my personal laptop/sketch pad/notebook and ditched my 13" rMBP. This sounds crazy to some people, but it has worked out beautifully for me.
But even then, I didn't realize how amazing this device would be for my actual job too. We are allowed to use our Office 365 logins on up to five personal devices, and when I added that suite of apps to my iPad Pro, I figured out exactly how great this device is for office tasks. Now, I am by no means a power user in Excel or Word--I realize there are shortcomings in those apps that need to be remedied for some users. But for what I do with them, they're wonderful. But the BIG adaptation I have made is using OneNote for all my meetings. I have grown fond of taking handwritten notes in meetings on my iPad instead of on a legal pad or spiral notebook. (In fact, I even make the paper yellow in OneNote so it looks like a legal pad.)
I've also started to use the iPad Pro as a sort of desk phone. Our work phone lines come through Skype for Business, so I can take those calls on my iPad, triage email while I'm doing other things on my work computer, answer texts and personal calls, deal with personal emails, etc. Basically all my communication needs are handled by the iPad Pro if I'm not in a meeting with it.
And after doing all that with it all day long, it's also nice to fold it up and take it with me so I can relax with a book or Netflix or whatever.
A lot of people say, "Yeah, well I can do all that on my iPhone too." And they're right. But the more I use this iPad Pro, the more I think that the ONLY advantage it doesn't have over my iPhone is that I can't put it in my pocket. Don't get me wrong, I love my iPhone too. But I think I love my iPad Pro even more. Maybe up to twice as much. Maybe even more than that. This thing is everything I've ever wanted in an iPad and is getting very close to everything I ever wanted in a laptop as well.
I bought the 9.7" Pro back when it launched and also included the Smart Keyboard Cover and Apple Pencil in my purchase. After a few weeks I realized that while the quad audio and blazing fast processor were nice, the keyboard and pencil were what made this device "Pro" for me. I began using it as my personal laptop/sketch pad/notebook and ditched my 13" rMBP. This sounds crazy to some people, but it has worked out beautifully for me.
But even then, I didn't realize how amazing this device would be for my actual job too. We are allowed to use our Office 365 logins on up to five personal devices, and when I added that suite of apps to my iPad Pro, I figured out exactly how great this device is for office tasks. Now, I am by no means a power user in Excel or Word--I realize there are shortcomings in those apps that need to be remedied for some users. But for what I do with them, they're wonderful. But the BIG adaptation I have made is using OneNote for all my meetings. I have grown fond of taking handwritten notes in meetings on my iPad instead of on a legal pad or spiral notebook. (In fact, I even make the paper yellow in OneNote so it looks like a legal pad.)
I've also started to use the iPad Pro as a sort of desk phone. Our work phone lines come through Skype for Business, so I can take those calls on my iPad, triage email while I'm doing other things on my work computer, answer texts and personal calls, deal with personal emails, etc. Basically all my communication needs are handled by the iPad Pro if I'm not in a meeting with it.
And after doing all that with it all day long, it's also nice to fold it up and take it with me so I can relax with a book or Netflix or whatever.
A lot of people say, "Yeah, well I can do all that on my iPhone too." And they're right. But the more I use this iPad Pro, the more I think that the ONLY advantage it doesn't have over my iPhone is that I can't put it in my pocket. Don't get me wrong, I love my iPhone too. But I think I love my iPad Pro even more. Maybe up to twice as much. Maybe even more than that. This thing is everything I've ever wanted in an iPad and is getting very close to everything I ever wanted in a laptop as well.