Apple sets release this week of iPad Pro

Thin i will wait for apple to release the Ipad-pro 10 Plus before I give them my hard earned money.

I don't think tablets+keyboards will replace PCs or notebooks anytime soon, for a simple reason: detachable keyboards lack the trackpad and Apple tablets are not compatible with mouse. I agree with critics that say that iPads are not "serious" for businesses, because of these details. Hope Apple fix it.

LostinNagoya

I don't know why anyone would want to use a mouse on an iPad, there doesn't seem much point. If you prefer a keyboard, Bluetooth works fine. However, it's just another thing to carry around. I use Swype (software keyboard). You can type by swiping a finger across the onscreen keyboard and it is FAST.

I just had to quit using my new iPad mini, since the iOS upgrade hosed everything. I've been an Apple fan for decades and now I have to move on to Windows. They're upgrading software to cripple hardware only a year old now so you have to buy a new model. Apple is a disaster now.

Apple's lost it, just make it bigger and faster doesn't make it better.

iOS 9 upgrade was poor. trashed lots of my apps. and I resent that even my old iPad 2 struggles to run new stuff any more.

Ohh geez like I wanted all my life an expensive iTouch big screen with a mobile systems operative! Yeah good deal Lol!!!!

Apple is becoming more like Windows in terms of usability. Trying to install XCode yesterday I first had to update OSX, then reboot, then wait ages to download the file, wait to verify the downloaded binary, installing took some time, then there was another long wait to "install components" etc. By the time it finally started it was time to go home. That kind of carry on reminded me of the last time I tried to install Visual Studio on Windows some years ago. In that case I had to reboot the machine six times after installing various "prerequisites" one after the other, so OSX still isn't quite as bad, but they are getting there.

Tim Cook was claiming the new iPad will replace the PC, but I still see it as an overpriced toy. Can I develop, compile and run my own programs on it? If not, I don't want it.

I usually get the iPads on payment plans which work out about 3,000 a month. This iPad Pro though will likely be around 5,000 I'm guessing.

Tim Cook was claiming the new iPad will replace the PC

I don't see it. I have a new MacBook Pro that I carry with me pretty much everywhere I go, and it's light enough to always carry, and powerful enough to do pretty much anything, and comes with a proper keyboard and touchpad. If I didn't want/need this level of power, then the MacBook and the MacBook Air are both smaller and lighter, but still proper computers. I don't see the attraction of the ipad pro.

My PC desktop keyboard is a Realforce made in Japan by Topre, a precision instruments maker. You just can't get that quality with Apple mobile devices, which are churned out of some industrial park in rural China. The shattered screens I so often see on Crapple devices among my fellow iphone-using train commuters testify to that.

The desktop computer is still superior in terms of ergonomics, power, value, durability and upgradability. Mobile devices give me migranes when I'm forced to use them for work applications. No thanks.

The shattered screens I so often see on Crapple devices among my fellow iphone-using train commuters testify to that.

I've never seen a shattered iphone6 screen. I shattered a bunch of iphone 4 and 5 screens myself. But the screen on the 6 is really tough - I've dropped my phone onto concrete a couple of times even, and it still hasn't broken (knock on wood).

Still use my 1st Generation iPad...it's still fine for simple mails, browsing, reading, accessing databases and libraries. For anything beyond that I have a range of Macs and PCs, depending on the needs....

Bertie

I don't know why anyone would want to use a mouse on an iPad, there doesn't seem much point. If you prefer a keyboard, Bluetooth works fine. However, it's just another thing to carry around. I use Swype (software keyboard). You can type by swiping a finger across the onscreen keyboard and it is FAST.

Sure, there's not much use of a mouse. But try using any app like Excel or Numbers without a trackpad or a mouse, then you´ll see my point. I have a Macbook and I had this idea of using an iPad for my business. After trying for weeks, I gave up. iPad is just an expensive toy that cannot be used if you're handling money and depending of being fast and accurate. I am not an Apple hater, I use iPhones and Macbooks, but I concede that iPads are a waste of money.

I just had to quit using my new iPad mini, since the iOS upgrade hosed everything. I've been an Apple fan for decades and now I have to move on to Windows. They're upgrading software to cripple hardware only a year old now so you have to buy a new model. Apple is a disaster now.

What did you do wrong? Mine updated without any issues at all. Just certain apps or everything?

@LostinNagoya,

Must concur. My Macbook Pro goes everywhere with me, is fast, super reliable, and tethers rapidly with my iPhone. Bought an iPhone Mini three years ago, have had no issues with OS upgrade, but just don't find a tablet that useful. Most of the time, the iPad lives in a drawer, unless it's being a Kindle.

What did you do wrong? Mine updated without any issues at all. Just certain apps or everything?

IMO, this is a full lie. I have been upgrading because I am a developer and I can say, for sure, that what is written never happens in iOS. IOS upgrades never make a device only one year old absolete. I still have a Macbook with a very old Mountain Lion version and it works flawlessly. I also just received the (developer's) iOS 9.2, and it does make some apps work slow, but it never crashes or makes my iPhone useless.

gogogo: "Apple's lost it, just make it bigger and faster doesn't make it better."

You say that about every Apple product, and with every Apple product you are wrong. You said Apple watch would be 'another bomb just like the iPod', and, sorry, but what company is number one in the world again? Apple most certainly has NOT lost it. I agree with the latter part of your statement, though -- simply making something bigger does NOT make it better, as has been seen with Samsung. That's why the Pro has many functions that smaller iPads do not. I wouldn't buy the new Pro for a number of reasons, one being the size, but it will most certainly sell... and sell well.

From the description, it sounds like they made the product to be more like a laptop now... I dont see the point here, because people who want a laptop will buy a laptop. But that is just me.

WilliB: "From the description, it sounds like they made the product to be more like a laptop now... I dont see the point here, because people who want a laptop will buy a laptop. But that is just me."

It's more like a laptop than previous models, but it's really only like a lap top if you bother to make it somewhat stationary, connect the keyboard and/or peripheries, etc. It's still more mobile than a laptop and requires less to carry, take out, power up, etc. It would be far more valuable for presentations or simple show-and-tell like activities than a laptop. I can see this being huge among graphic artists, architects, designers, and also in the medical industry instead of carrying around charts and x-rays to show patients, etc. The larger screen makes it more ideal than previous models for showing. Ultimately, though, if you feel you have no need for the larger size, other additions, or a tablet in general than it's better not to buy it.

@LostinNagoya - I agree... can understand maybe an app not working properly, but hardware being unusable because of an iOS update... not at all likely. My iPad mini was upgraded without any issues at all... but if people don't backup things as is suggested and something goes wrong they only have themselves to blame for losing everything.

Haaa Nemui: Actually, upgrades have made previous operating systems unusable, as was the case with Windows when they tried to force everyone to switch to Windows Seven (anyone using Windows 10 or whatever would no longer be able to access the internet, email, etc.). With the last update for Macs I think you lost the ability to use Microsoft Office and instead have to use Pages and Apple's own, similar package, but everything else works just fine so long as your system meets the requirement for upgrades. I have the original iPad and it stopped being upgradable some time ago, but still works fine with the stuff it's got on it.

LostinNagoya,

But try using any app like Excel or Numbers without a trackpad or a mouse, then you´ll see my point.

Sorry, but I use Numbers on an iPad and don't find it crippled at all. I even use it on my iPhone 5S and it's good. I like the way everything syncs seamlessly, iPad, iPhone and iMac.

I guess our uses vary.

I do a lot of text work, so I don't like to take my hands off the keyboard when I'm using a desktop, so I don't use a mouse that much. I certainly don't miss it on the iPad, nor the keyboard.

There's not much incentive to think of this as a laptop replacement when it can only run apps. Industries use industry-specific software that are not apps but full-blown computer programs. Plus many 2-in-1 laptop/tablet combos can do the job.

With the last update for Macs I think you lost the ability to use Microsoft Office and instead have to use Pages and Apple's own, similar package

I'm using Office on the El Capitan with no problems.

@smithinjapan - you basically repeated what I just said. OS updates do not make hardware unusable but sometimes an app may break. Yes... hardware sometimes becomes too old to upgrade. Also... nobody using Windows 10 has been forced to use Windows 7.

Yes, many older hardware's don't suppor the newer OS.

Got an old model Cel-phone , no OS updates but some app still support it. Use it for calls and tethering (cheap and works great) for my Nexus 7(latest OS, etc).

Just depends on what you want out of it, a Model T won't perform beyond its specs.

Um, I am using a MacBook from Mid 2010 right now while typing this. Upgraded to ElCapitan during the first version, and man oh man, this baby hums. Office works fine too, and it is old also.

Only had one annoying issue. Could not transfer my non-purchased from the apple store eBooks to this laptop.

So, for many people spurting out feelings here and not actual facts, yo might want to have someone help you out as you are not savvy enough to do so.

I do not think this new iPad will replace laptops. Two very different devices, and plus, where will you put the separate keyboard on a plane?

I believe Apple--knowing the specialized nature of the iPad Pro--does not expect strong sales of the device. The iPad Pro will likely be popular for people doing image processing, though.

This is FAST.

Streaks past the Surface 4.

Look at the benchmarks:

http://www.macrumors.com/2015/11/11/ipad-pro-tidbits-a9x-apple-pencil-tmobile-more/

This is going to be snapped up by graphic artists, way better and much cheaper than Cintiq.

It's still iOS; the most graphic intensive programs won't run on it.

For instance, my animator friends who use Cintiq on their animation stands aren't even considering it unless it could run their programs that cost them thousands of dollars.

lostrune2,

Not so.

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/52969/duet

There are others.

There are also some excellent graphics apps running on iOS.

Question is:

Are those commercially viable and integrate with current software.

A worry with many anime and graphic studios.

It"S ME

They are commercially viable and integrate with current software.

And as the benchmarks show, the iPad Pro is FAST.

Here's another app:

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/53952/astropad

Astropad transforms your iPad into a professional graphics tablet for your Mac. Use your iPad to draw directly into Photoshop and any other Mac creative tools you know and love. Built for the needs of creative professionals, Astropad is true to your source material with color corrected output and Retina resolution. What you see on your iPad is the same as on your Mac.

Nah, the iOS won't run my animator friends' programs. Those are full programs, not apps, that cost them thousands of dollars and occupy GBs of space on the hard drive (programs plus data, so much code went into it and why so expensive) that would quickly eat up iPad Pro's disk space.

As for that benchmark, that's pretty fast, but it's just one benchmark, and it's for offscreen resolution.

If ya check the source article, on original native resolution, it's still fast but not as much:

http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/iPad-Pro-charts.008-980x735.png

More importantly, for any computer except game consoles, it's not the GPU but the CPU that matters more, and as the article points out:

Let’s go over the basics first: Geekbench reports that the A9X is a dual-core chip running at about 2.25GHz. The A8X used three CPU cores to boost performance, but the A9’s “Twister” CPU architecture and the big boosts in clock speed that Apple is squeezing out of it (up from 1.84GHz in the iPad Air 2) both apparently made that third core unnecessary.

The A9X can’t quite get up to the level of a modern U-series Core i5 based on Broadwell or Skylake (see the 2015 MacBook Air and Surface Pro 4 results), but it’s roughly on the same level as a Core i5 from 2013 or so

So its CPU is still a couple years behind. Programs rely more on CPU than GPU.