iPad Playing out the Probabilities: 11" pro vs 10.5 Air 3

[roadkill401]

I know i need a better iPad as my old original Air 1 is on it's last legs for usability and I want better. I have plugged the numbers and need to figure out what is the better option to buy.

I know that I need to have more than the base model 64gb of drive space, but there is where the questions comes into play. Right now IOS12 doesn't really allow the iPad to freely plug in an external drive to load/access data, so the only method to move storage around is plugging it into a computer and loading what you need onto the internal memory on the tablet.

I have followed the chatter about how Apple is trying to promote the PRO line of tablets as being a laptop replacement, and so far every review that I have read says that the hardware is more than capable of the task but the IOS lets you down in functionality. And the ability to plug in external storage and use it is one of those features front and center to all complaints.

This is where I am stuck. I can for about the same price buy a lower end Air tablet but bump it up to the 256gb local storage and buy an original Apple Pencil, or get a better 11" pro tablet with 64gb memory (I have an Apple Pencil 2 that will work with a new Pro tablet that was given to me).

The new 11" pro has the more universal USB-C port at the bottom that if IOS started to give access to external storage would give me the ability to store external files like movies and music so it wouldn't need to be local to the unit. it would make the 11" the better choice. Otherwise, it looks like the only option is the new Air with more storage.

If Apple is left to be Apple the greedy people they are and not listen to the wants and needs of the customer, what is the likelihood of them letting an iPad use external USB drive storage and thus not require the money making forced upgrades to get decent storage levels? I don't know if I can wait until IOS 13 is released in September to see if the feature is there before I buy.

What are the odds that IOS will let you plug in external storage and freely copy files to and from the iPad?

 

[NCEE2016]

I would personally go with the upgraded iPad Air especially if your coming from original iPad. I highly doubt access to external storage will come anytime soon, and if it does show up I think Apple will save it for the pro devices.

 

[sracer]

I know i need a better iPad as my old original Air 1 is on it's last legs for usability and I want better. I have plugged the numbers and need to figure out what is the better option to buy.

I know that I need to have more than the base model 64gb of drive space, but there is where the questions comes into play. Right now IOS12 doesn't really allow the iPad to freely plug in an external drive to load/access data, so the only method to move storage around is plugging it into a computer and loading what you need onto the internal memory on the tablet.

I have followed the chatter about how Apple is trying to promote the PRO line of tablets as being a laptop replacement, and so far every review that I have read says that the hardware is more than capable of the task but the IOS lets you down in functionality. And the ability to plug in external storage and use it is one of those features front and center to all complaints.

This is where I am stuck. I can for about the same price buy a lower end Air tablet but bump it up to the 256gb local storage and buy an original Apple Pencil, or get a better 11" pro tablet with 64gb memory (I have an Apple Pencil 2 that will work with a new Pro tablet that was given to me).

The new 11" pro has the more universal USB-C port at the bottom that if IOS started to give access to external storage would give me the ability to store external files like movies and music so it wouldn't need to be local to the unit. it would make the 11" the better choice. Otherwise, it looks like the only option is the new Air with more storage.

If Apple is left to be Apple the greedy people they are and not listen to the wants and needs of the customer, what is the likelihood of them letting an iPad use external USB drive storage and thus not require the money making forced upgrades to get decent storage levels? I don't know if I can wait until IOS 13 is released in September to see if the feature is there before I buy.

What are the odds that IOS will let you plug in external storage and freely copy files to and from the iPad?

I highly recommend NOT buying any iPad model based on the hope/expectation of future enhancements to iOS. (been there, done that)

Most thought that when the 2018 iPad Pros were released with USB-C that it would result in all sorts of openness. I warned them that it was merely a format shift (from Lightning) NOT the indications of Apple opening up to support peripherals. Except for 4K video out, there is no additional capabilities from that port.

I also cautioned against any excitement generated by Apple's introduction of the Files app. Folks thought that it was going to finally expose the local file system on the iPad, but knowing Apple, I said it would most likely be Apple's version of the Documents by Readdle app. (which it turned out to be)

If you need an iPad replacement now, then I recommend the 2018 9.7 iPad (especially if you can get the 128GB model for $350 or less). The newly released Air seems like a fine device, but for what it does I can't see it worth the additional cost. But you won't go wrong getting that one either.

If you can hold off upgrading, you should wait until iOS 13 is announced and see what, if anything, it offers in terms of expanding the capabilities.

 

[rui no onna]

I highly recommend NOT buying any iPad model based on the hope/expectation of future enhancements to iOS. (been there, done that)

If you need an iPad replacement now, then I recommend the 2018 9.7 iPad (especially if you can get the 128GB model for $350 or less). The newly released Air seems like a fine device, but for what it does I can't see it worth the additional cost. But you won't go wrong getting that one either.

Agreed. I wouldn't buy any iPad in expectation of future enhancements. You don't have any guarantee that these features will be supported on any of the current models.

Besides, the depreciation hit if you sell the 2018 iPad 9.7 (particularly at current sale prices) or 2019 iPad Air would likely be less than depreciation on the 2018 Pro 11 whenever you upgrade.

 

[tps3443]

Could you guys imagine if the new iPad pros had a full thunderbolt 3? Plug in a external graphics card, that would be crazy