iPad Pro The new iPad Pro looks amazing, but what will it still *not* do for you?

[Porco]

Yes, indeed.

Or, EarPods with USB-C connectors are at least what Apple could start selling. One of both. But adding those cables in between: no-go area.
And don't think AirPods (wireless, needs charging, EUR 229,-) are a replacement for users that love EarPods (cable, always works, EUR 19,-).

For me it's about using audio apps without having to think about adapters or interfaces (wireless headphones lag too much) - if I have to do that, why wouldn't I just use a computer? It's a joke the 'Pro' device doesn't do what the cheapest one does... .

Anyway, if I eventually have to deal with it I guess I will. But it's large factor in why I am still using my iPad Air 2 despite loving a lot of what the iPad Pro offers in most respects.

 

[stevocg13]

OP's answer is über easy:

• If you consider the iPad as a tablet, i.e. a big iPhone, the iPad probably misses nothing and incremental iPadOS updates are fine
• If you consider the iPad as a desktop replacement, i.e. you don't have any other computer, the iPad is missing so many features and upgrades to the existing ones that I'm tired even thinking of listing them. But hey, "what's a computer" after all, right?

That's a great way of thinking about it. I haven't seen it presented this way before.

 

[linkgx1]

Proper file management is the big thing for me. Transferring and editing photos can still be a pain, even with USB C.

 

[tgara]

The iPad hardware stopped being a limiting factor for me with the introduction of the 1st gen 12.9 iPad Pro. Since then, the limitation was, and continues to be software, and iOS/iPadOS in particular.

Bingo. As people are expressing in this thread, the limitations of the iPad are rooted in the software, not the hardware.

 

[mr_jomo]

Run full Microsoft Office apps and offer true external display support.

 

[Patriks7]

All in all, it does almost everything I need it to do for most of my tasks. There are a few things that would make the experience even better and probably get me to use it even more:

• Proper second monitor support
• An improved layout, maybe some hybrid between iOS and macOS
• Support for browser extensions

These are just off the top of my head, other than that I use my iPad for pretty much everything.

 

[ericwn]

Yes, indeed.

Or, EarPods with USB-C connectors are at least what Apple could start selling. One of both. But adding those cables in between: no-go area.
And don't think AirPods (wireless, needs charging, EUR 229,-) are a replacement for users that love EarPods (cable, always works, EUR 19,-).

Good god am I glad that this EarPod junk is finally not included anymore. Really low quality earphones, like all the pairs that manufacturers included for free.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

These are just off the top of my head, other than that I use my iPad for pretty much everything.

My iPad is my default machine as well. I only bust out the space heaters when my iPad can’t do the job.

 

[ericwn]

For me it's about using audio apps without having to think about adapters or interfaces (wireless headphones lag too much) - if I have to do that, why wouldn't I just use a computer? It's a joke the 'Pro' device doesn't do what the cheapest one does... .

Anyway, if I eventually have to deal with it I guess I will. But it's large factor in why I am still using my iPad Air 2 despite loving a lot of what the iPad Pro offers in most respects.

I am much more inconvenienced using my ancient Air 2 with a headphone jack than my speedy iPad Pro with wireless headphones.

 

[Porco]

I am much more inconvenienced using my ancient Air 2 with a headphone jack than my speedy iPad Pro with wireless headphones.

That’s great for you. I’m sure it’s lovely. Not sure it’s very relevant for either the topic of this thread or my specific post though.

 

[kazmac]

I wish the iPads had a solid file system and better cooling management. I am still using my Mac for jobs and some writing.

The iPad will fit many of my consumption needs and my art, but not giving up on using a Mac or possibly PC yet. My unique usage case for video conversion may mean that I’ll need a PC, but I’ll worry about that when I need to.

 

[Gozar]

Make me a sammich....

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Make me a sammich....

That’s because iPadOS doesn’t surface the sudo command for us mere mortals. Otherwise:

 

[linkgx1]

That's a great way of thinking about it. I haven't seen it presented this way before.

I like it too. The iPad mainly fails when I have a multi-app workflow. Not just side by side apps, but extensive editing. The less common a file format is, the more barriers I'll have when it comes to trying to do anything beyond basic.

The iPP SHOULD be the perfect device for Lightroom, but I always struggle when trying to get photos from my Fuji XT2 to my iPad....let alone some videos.

 

[Yoms]

Why some of you keep asking about proper external monitor support when it was clearly announced at April's event that this is the case for the new iPad Pro with Thunderbolt 3?

Or am I missing something?

But if you're hoping for that feature implemented on any iPad, grab a tissue because no TB3 = no better external display support.

 

[mr_jomo]

Why some of you keep asking about proper external monitor support when it was clearly announced at April's event that this is the case for the new iPad Pro with Thunderbolt 3?

Or am I missing

Nothing of the sorts was announced

Apple showed a quick shot of one app using the external XDR display in the current, case-by-case, standard approach where the app (Luma fusion) has implemented second monitor support.

You can double reference Apple.com which has the same wording as was used in the launch event for the new iPad Pros.

In their normal, grandiose, circumspect, non-specific, innuendo-soaked style Apple did try to hype the external display and thunderbolt port implications, but as always with new iPad capabilities, nothing new was announced ?.

 

[xxray]

• On my MacBook Pro, sometimes I’ll have it charging, while listening to music through USB-C (DAC headphones setup), while having a flash drive or hard drive connected, and maybe throw in an iPhone or iPad connected to charge or backup. That’s me using all 4 ports on my MacBook Pro. The iPad Pro has 1 port.
• Right now, I backup my iPad and iPhone locally to my MacBook Pro, and backup my MacBook Pro to a hard drive with Time Machine. Where am I supposed to back up my iPhone and iPad to if the iPad is my main computer?
• Can’t add local files to Spotify or Apple Music like you can on a Mac.
• Can’t manage library in Apple Music like you can on a Mac.
• I bought software to use NTFS flash drives on my Mac. There’s no way I can use NTFS storage with an iPad.
• Can’t download certain things that I do on my Mac on my iPad.
• Safari tabs and apps refreshing when I don’t want them to - losing data/progress because of this.
• iPadOS apps not up to feature parity with macOS apps - easiest example for me is Excel.
• No Safari extensions on iPadOS.
• Some simple workflows are more cumbersome and time-intensive on iPadOS than Mac. For instance, I can’t just CMD + S to save a Numbers file I’m updating on iPadOS like I can on the Mac. Have to go through a series of taps to do it.
• Can‘t reformat a flash drive.
• No proper external display support.

I would love to go iPad Pro 12.9” + Magic Keyboard + Apple Pencil and make it my all-in-one tablet/computer and no longer spend money upgrading both a computer and an iPad every 4-5 years, but it just would not serve me well.

I plan on keeping my current 2017 10.5” Pro until it either dies or becomes frustrating to use, but I’m really not sure what I’ll do after that. At this point, I need the Mac, and I don’t need the iPad, but I really enjoy the iPad. But for my usage, buying a Pro model doesn’t make sense especially given the continuously rising prices of them, but I also don’t think I’ll buy another iPad without ProMotion as I’m so used to it and non-ProMotion iPad displays look so jittery to me. Maybe I can make this Pro last a few more years and Apple will do enough software-wise for me to go iPad-only by that time. Doubt it though.

 

[pdoherty]

This one is easy:

Some websites still don't work well one iOS. Office apps are watered down versions of the desktop apps. Too much app siloing which makes saving and moving files unnecessarily cumbersome. Can't sync all of my iCloud files on my iPad on the device like I can on MacOS. Multitasking doesn't work well in many apps (like Zoom mentioned above). Can't format an SD card. Can't password protect an SD card or any file natively like on MacOS.

The hardware is truly amazing. But who cares if you have to battle the software every time you use it. I would love more than anything to go just iPad only because of how great the hardware is. But, Apple just won't let go all the way with the software. And because of that I have no interest in buying another iPad. Every single iPad I've purchased has been either returned or sold and I'm not buying another one until the software fully meets my needs.

Apple, if you're listening, your grand plan to get people to buy both a Mac and an iPad is not going to work long term.

Definitely not when they sell iPad models that can cost 3-4X what the base model one costs, while doing little to differentiate them other tHan better/more speakers, 120Hz refresh and the new miniLED screen.

 

[pdoherty]

I completely agree with this. I find it ridiculous that Apple does not allow the ipad to fully work with an external monitor. The black side bars are frustrating.

But.. If Apple did allow fully monitor support it would be another reason not to buy both an iPad and a Mac.

Which is a good thing. How long do they think they can double dip into their customer’s wallets and not have them get pissed off and leave?

 

[Poison Astro]

• Can’t add local files to Spotify or Apple Music like you can on a Mac.
• Can’t manage library in Apple Music like you can on a Mac.

I hope that will change because it’s easy doable but limited by Apple.

 

[pdoherty]

I just wish it had a headphone jack.

Yep - another annoying removal of functionality in the name of unnecessarily-thinner (and more fragile/problem-prone) designs.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Which is a good thing. How long do they think they can double dip into their customer’s wallets and not have them get pissed off and leave?

Unfortunately probably for quite some time.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I'm excited to snag a new Pro on Friday. But there are things that still frustrate me that I don't know will be addressed:

• The Zoom app. It won't let you manage breakout rooms, and chat is plastered over the top instead of off to the side. Ridiculous.
• The Squarespace web site, despite being specifically cited by Apple at WWDC as a site that will work "just as it does on the Mac," does not, in fact, work as it does on the Mac. Can't post without going to a Mac.
• And a couple of obvious ones: true monitor support, and Home Screen widgets (which are allegedly coming).

What about you? Anything you're still hesitant about with the new Pro?

I already have an M1 MBP. If I didn’t have an M1 MBP I’d probably have gone for the M1 iPad.

What doesn’t the iPad do for me? Allow me to use applications like Mac OS - while iPad one application at once is nice at times, most of my daily workflow involves 4-5 applications up on a 4K monitor at once.

Allow me to do that + play Starcraft II and Shadow cloud - an iPad would take over my MBP any day.

Until then, I use an iPad for reading, consumption, and sometimes for writing posts like this with a Bluetooth keyboard.

 

[pdoherty]

I am much more inconvenienced using my ancient Air 2 with a headphone jack than my speedy iPad Pro with wireless headphones.

What’s stopping you from pairing bluetooth headphones on an iPad that has the physical headphone port?

 

[ericwn]

What’s stopping you from pairing bluetooth headphones on an iPad that has the physical headphone port?

Nothing apart from the overall crap performance by today’s standards. The snail pace of the device bothers me way more than being forced to work around the headphone jack money grab.