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Sold my pro in favour of cheaper 2018 iPad
- Thread starter gadget123
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I'm so sorry! And I'm glad she has you in her life. (And vice versa.)
Since we're discussing the 2018 iPad here, I thought I'd share what accessories I use that help make it the (just about) perfect mobile companion and digital notebook. Maybe it will give others some ideas, or encourage others to post their setups. 
Here's my 128GB 2018 iPad, Logitech Keys-to-Go (iOS version), MoKo Pencil case/sling, and Apple smartcover. The Pencil case color matches the smartcover (MoKo sells the case in other colors to match smartcovers). The elastic keeps the smartcover closed.
I don't always carry the keyboard with me, but when I need to take it, fits just fine and can fit under the elastic of the Pencil case. Super portable.
Here's a view with everything open. I wrapped my Pencil with a woodgrain Con-Tact paper. $3 for a roll that is enough to cover every Apple Pencil ever made. The back of my iPad is covered with clear Con-Tact paper with cutouts for microphone and camera. It protects against scratches and offers a little bit of grip (the bare iPad can feel a bit slippery)
I use GoodNotes (as well as OneNote and Google Keep) for my digital notebooks. One thing that sets GoodNotes apart for me is its support for hyperlinks in PDF documents. That allows me to create my own custom notebooks with "active" tabs to switch between months and projects. These PDFs are easily created in KeyNote (iOS or macOS version, I prefer macOS) and exported to PDF. The website etsy has tons of people selling their own organizers and planners for GoodNotes using this technique.
I can access my GoodNotes notes on the iPad itself (duh) as well as on my iMac. Both my OneNotes and Google Keep notes are accessible to me on all of the devices I own.
The screen on the iPad is covered with a Mr Shield matte, anti-glare screen protector. Not only does it cut out the glare, but also the fingerprint smudges that are so visible on the newer iPad screens. An added bonus, it offers a little bit of resistance for the Pencil to feel a little more natural. (the resistance isn't as much as something like PaperLike protectors, but it is enough to help)
Here's my 128GB 2018 iPad, Logitech Keys-to-Go (iOS version), MoKo Pencil case/sling, and Apple smartcover. The Pencil case color matches the smartcover (MoKo sells the case in other colors to match smartcovers). The elastic keeps the smartcover closed.
I don't always carry the keyboard with me, but when I need to take it, fits just fine and can fit under the elastic of the Pencil case. Super portable.
Here's a view with everything open. I wrapped my Pencil with a woodgrain Con-Tact paper. $3 for a roll that is enough to cover every Apple Pencil ever made.
The back of my iPad is covered with clear Con-Tact paper with cutouts for microphone and camera. It protects against scratches and offers a little bit of grip (the bare iPad can feel a bit slippery)I use GoodNotes (as well as OneNote and Google Keep) for my digital notebooks. One thing that sets GoodNotes apart for me is its support for hyperlinks in PDF documents. That allows me to create my own custom notebooks with "active" tabs to switch between months and projects. These PDFs are easily created in KeyNote (iOS or macOS version, I prefer macOS) and exported to PDF. The website etsy has tons of people selling their own organizers and planners for GoodNotes using this technique.
I can access my GoodNotes notes on the iPad itself (duh) as well as on my iMac. Both my OneNotes and Google Keep notes are accessible to me on all of the devices I own.
The screen on the iPad is covered with a Mr Shield matte, anti-glare screen protector. Not only does it cut out the glare, but also the fingerprint smudges that are so visible on the newer iPad screens. An added bonus, it offers a little bit of resistance for the Pencil to feel a little more natural. (the resistance isn't as much as something like PaperLike protectors, but it is enough to help)
OK, are you messing with us here? The new 2018 iPad is worse than the 10.5" iPad in just about every way that I can possibly think of. It's almost half as slow, has half the RAM, has a worse display (true tone, p3 gamut, and pro motion), worse speakers, worse camera, lower storage—I could go on. Why in the world would you honestly go from such a capable machine to such a lower spec'd machine? It's fine if you need to sell it for money or something, but I can't think of a good reason. Maybe marginally better battery life of 30 minutes or something? Fractionally smaller? I'm really having a hard time here trying to figure out why. Sorry if I'm coming across as rude, it's not my intention, I'm just genuinely confused here. Just because it's newer doesn't mean it's better. That's like having a 2017 MacBook Pro 13" and replacing it with a 2018 MacBook Air 13" except they have the same battery life and the Air is actually thicker.
Since we are talking about accessories and 2018 and older iPads. I want to share this case by poetic. It makes the iPad look and feel like the newest pro 
. I love it. The pencil is kept right on the side. Perfect and it has unlock and lock on the smart cover. I do have the 2017 rose gold pro. It's beautiful. 
. I love it. The pencil is kept right on the side. Perfect and it has unlock and lock on the smart cover. I do have the 2017 rose gold pro. It's beautiful. 
Most of the options you’ve listed on the pro that are better are mostly based on someone’s personal usage. The processor speed and ram literally make no difference in basic day to day tasks, True Tone is subjective, some love it or hate it. Camera, most people have their phones that are superior even to the pro models anyways. Speakers is one that most people miss no matter what they use it for, but that doesn’t make it worth the price jump if you happen to be someone that won’t take advantage of the rest of features the pros have to offer
A pro for me would be overkill for Netflix, YouTube and some social media lol. Speakers sure but it’s not like the base iPads are terrible
I regret that I have only one Thumbs Up to give to this post.
You address the root issue. It is too easy to get caught up in the raw specs and lose sight of how those specs will impact (if they do) the use of the device. It requires a little more thought than, "the higher number the better".
For example, when the 1st gen iPad Pros were released, no one was complaining about the latency of the Pencil. But as soon as the 2nd gen was released with ProMotion, suddenly, people were claiming that the 1st gen Pros were laggy messes and the Pencil was unusable. Then ProMotion became a "must have" feature for people.
Of course Apple is going to tout that in their marketing, but it then gets parroted by customers, which in turn helps convince others that they too need ProMotion.
You're not getting it. OP said he owned a 10.5" iPad Pro and replaced it with a 2018 iPad. That's what doesn't make any sense to me. Why get rid of all of those nice features for no reason when you already paid for it?
That is exactly the route I'll probably take with my 10.5". Sure I could probably move to the 2018 iPad, but I like the features of the Pro. Plus, I don't plan on upgrading my Pro until 2019 or 2020.
Here is my setup and I love it because it functions like a little computer at my desk, but it’s grab the pad, throw it in my purse and go when I need to.
And for as much as I love all things Apple (and especially all NEW things Apple), this 2018 iPad does all I need it to do.
I DO miss the ASK because it was honestly the best keyboard ever, but I like being able to use a traditional Mac-style keyboard when I’m doing the bulk of my typing, and then having a lighter weight pad to tote with me when I go somewhere.
The other thing is that with the ASK, even though I loved it, it did put the iPP at a weird angle, which wasn’t adjustable. With the stand I have now, I can adjust the angle, and, if I want the iPad to be sitting up higher, I can put the stand on a thick book or a shelf of the desk or something to raise it up to eye level while I’m typing.
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iPads hold heir value very well, he probably got back almost what he paid for it and rather hold onto that money for a different pro down the road
I've actually found that to be true for iPhone and Mac but not iPad. It seems like they lose nearly half their value every year. Also the OP never mentioned doing that, at least that I saw.
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Does your Pencil battery drain all of the time? I have a similar KHOMO case from Amazon and the Apple Pencil really likes to think it should turn itself on since it's so close to the display so it's dead every time I want to use it which is really annoying. I am very much looking forward to the new iPad Pro and Pencil because of this fault.Since we are talking about accessories and 2018 and older iPads. I want to share this case by poetic. It makes the iPad look and feel like the newest pro
I didn't notice any batter drain? I always kept my pencil close to the iPad, I am unaware any alternatives.
The new iPads are beautiful, and if I had an extra $1000 to throw around I would definitely get one. However the 2018 iPad works fine for me, and I use it for hours every day at school taking notes. I've never experienced any slow down at all using Notability, so its good enough for me.
That’s a nice looking case for the 2018 regular iPad. Can I ask the brand and model?
Looks like the moko cases on amazon, mine looks identical but in space grey, works the same as the Smart Cover as well.
You’re probably right. Looks like Moko, with textured finish I haven’t seen. Actually there seem to be quite a few that look like Moko (ESR, DTTO, JetTech). So could be any of those.
Heck I don’t even remember the brand - paid about $12 for it I think (Amazon), but I love it! It’s actually got a back on it, so it’s not quite like the Apple smart covers.
My son now uses my 9.7” iPad Pro and I just bought a 2018 iPad 9.7”. I just didn’t see the cost benefit of buying a new pro.
I would’ve spent over $1000 after taxes for an 11” 256gb model. I just walked out of a Best Buy with a 128gb 9.7” 2018 for $357.
I would’ve spent over $1000 after taxes for an 11” 256gb model. I just walked out of a Best Buy with a 128gb 9.7” 2018 for $357.
A few reasons. He needs the larger capacity more than I do and the A10 runs smoother than the A9x from my experience.