What makes the iPad Pro .... Professional?

[s2mikey]

Is that not how generational shifts work?

First you try to force the new tool to fit the old workflow, and then the new tool creates a new workflow. Both parts are painful and full of denial, but the new model is ultimately much better than the old.

I teach with my iPad in the classroom. Pray tell me what good mouse and keyboard support is when I am walking around the room with iPad in hand? And I prefer the simplicity and fluidity of iOS compared to a more bloated and cumbersome desktop OS. I was writing on PDFs in notability using my finger long before the Apple Pencil came out, but there's no denying the pencil has made a very significant improvement in the whole writing experience.

So yes, I agree with the user that the onus is ultimately on the user to make the device pro. That you find it paradoxical says more about you than it does about the people who are using their iPad meaningfully in their everyday lives.

Yes. I fully agree that if the iPad gets too laptop-like then it will cease to be a great TABLET and that's what us iPad users want. If I wanted a laptop or laptop functionality then guess what? I'd buy a laptop. I don't like the idea of blurring the lines between laptop and tablet. Let them both be the best devices they can be without compromise or trying to be something they are not. Both device types have a place in the tech world.

Mouse and keyboard for an iPad? Nah, no thanks. As for what makes an iPad a pro model? Good question. Do you have to have a special license to buy and own the pro models?

 

[kingalexthe1st]

Yep, and where I work they do the same. My point remains the same, if its being used for work (regardless if we're talking iPad, MBP, MBA), then its a professional product

In that case I'll rename my pen, the Biro Pro. Same goes for paper, staplers and definitely my coffee mug

 

[Marshall73]

Be it my G2 12.9, the 10.5 or the Air I'm not able to detrimentally determine any difference between them in the performance arena. Both the pros are more fluid without question, but that's the refresh rate on the screens.

Right, come on, what utter tosh, it is clear to see how slow the iPad Air 2 is compared to even the G1 iPad pro's let alone the 2nd gen. Is the iPad Air 2 as slow as the iPad 3? no, but the lag is there and clear to see even through your rose tined spectacles.

 

[Act3]

Right, come on, what utter tosh, it is clear to see how slow the iPad Air 2 is compared to even the G1 iPad pro's let alone the 2nd gen. Is the iPad Air 2 as slow as the iPad 3? no, but the lag is there and clear to see even through your rose tined spectacles.

I've compared by air 2 and the first pro. Lag? Lol. Non existent on either.

 

[gobikerider]

Lol. no i got the 10.5 first as i preferred that size, but one of the kids iPads died so he claimed that.
When i went back to my local apple store the 10.5s where out of stock so i ended up with a 12.9

I wasnt but 14 when I got my first iPad and that was only because my school was making it a requirement. I remember being 10 and watching the original unveiling thinking how cool it was.

I've compared by air 2 and the first pro. Lag? Lol. Non existent on either.

yah no lag but the Air 2 is definitely slower to load larger applications

 

[Act3]

I wasnt but 14 when I got my first iPad and that was only because my school was making it a requirement. I remember being 10 and watching the original unveiling thinking how cool it was.

yah no lag but the Air 2 is definitely slower to load larger applications

True but once loaded the first time , it opens and closes apps just as fast as long as it remains in memory. Microsoft word app is a good example.

 

[gobikerider]

True but once loaded the first time , it opens and closes apps just as fast as long as it remains in memory. Microsoft word app is a good example.

Well yah I mean that same logic can be applied to even older iPads as well or at least the A7 ones, once in memory apps resume almost instantaneously other then maybe a big 3D game.

 

[Mainsail]

This discussion about the Air 2 vs the Pro reminds me of my college days when guys brought big and expensive stereo systems to their dorms. I had a cheap system, but really didn't know better. My roommate and I would buy used records albums at a second-hand store for next to nothing. They were in good but not excellent condition. We were both paying for our own college costs, so funds were tight. People would come over and listen to our system and records and tell us we needed to upgrade. Well, that wasn't going to happen. I would listen to other systems and kind of shrug like..... ok sounds better...I guess....but, my ear is not very desearning, and this really isn't going to change my life. Meanwhile, there were guys taking out student loans and using some of the money to upgrade part or all of their stereo system.....which seemed to me to be a real dipstick thing to do.

Anyway, I don't say this to dismiss the Pro or knock the decision to pick it over the Air 2 or 5th Gen iPad. I am just saying that people value things differently. The difference in performance between the Air 2 and Pro might be very noticeable and important to work related tasks for some folks, while completely inconsequential to other users. It really depends on how you use your iPad and what features you value.

 

[Act3]

Well yah I mean that same logic can be applied to even older iPads as well or at least the A7 ones, once in memory apps resume almost instantaneously other then maybe a big 3D game.

amount of memory does come in to play and makes huge difference on how long a device can hold apps in memory... i think one of the biggest updates to the ipad was when they put 2 gig of memory in them. Same can be seen with the 6s over the iPhone 6

 

[Shanghaichica]

I don't think the iPad Pro is any more pro than previous generations. However whilst you can get a stylus and a keyboard case for say an iPad Air 2, they don't work as seamlessly across the whole of iOS as the pencil and the Smart Keyboard case. I say this as a current iPad Air 2 owner who bought a £70 Bluetooth stylus which is ok but it can only be used in certain apps and doesn't work as well as the Apple Pencil.

I think there are other things like photo and video editing. Technically they can be done on an air 2 but the horsepower in the pros make these more efficient.

 

[throAU]

Anyway, I don't say this to dismiss the Pro or knock the decision to pick it over the Air 2 or 5th Gen iPad. I am just saying that people value things differently. The difference in performance between the Air 2 and Pro might be very noticeable and important to work related tasks for some folks, while completely inconsequential to other users. It really depends on how you use your iPad and what features you value.

The big thing is the pencil and keyboard (and the cpu power).

For me, it is a large part of how i use the device. An iPad air will not do the job. Maybe a new generation non-pro ipad might with a pencil and keyboard, but by that point you're not too far off just buying an ipad pro anyway in terms of cost (and getting faster cpu, more ram, better screen, better speakers as well).

if an Air works for you, go for it.

 

[subjonas]

I really don’t understand the confusion. For Macs, “Pro” has always been the name given to the line of higher specced (and therefore higher priced) devices. SAME FUNCTIONS, just faster/bigger/etc. It has nothing to do with professionals. Pro Macs can be used for fun, non-pro Macs can be used professionally. The same is true for iPads. Why the confusion now?

 

[throAU]

I really don’t understand the confusion. For Macs, “Pro” has always been the name given to the line of higher specced (and therefore higher priced) devices. SAME FUNCTIONS, just faster/bigger/etc. It has nothing to do with professionals. Pro Macs can be used for fun, non-pro Macs can be used professionally. The same is true for iPads. Why the confusion now?

Because people want to justify their position/superiority/whatever with the purchase of a device and in their minds, the spec of whatever doesn't meet their imaginary criteria for superiority over some other device.