iPad Pro

While visiting Mesa Arizona recently, I spent a bit of time in Apple stores drooling over the iPad Pro. Instead of a 7.9" screen like the iPad Mini, or the 9.7" screen of a full-size iPad, the Pro sports one of 12.9". That gives it exactly twice the screen area of a normal iPad.

I was so enraptured that Helen bought me one for my birthday as soon as we got home.

So what makes it different? I am currently using it to write this review.

First off, the on-screen keyboard of the absolutely huge iPad Pro is marvellous. All the keys are present all the time, just like a real keyboard. If you use a normal iPad, you'll know what I mean. Suppose you are Canadian, and want to do something as simple as a postal code. On smaller iPads, and your code is V2P7M4, you have to do the following;
Shift v switchtonumberskey  2 switchtoletterskey shift p switchtonumberskey 7 switchtoletterskey shift m switchtonumberskey 4
On the big iPad Pro there is no switching of the screen from letters to numbers, and there is a shift lock key. You go;
CapsLock v 2 p 7 m 4
Instead of 14 strikes, there are only 7, and none of the mental jarring of having your keyboard vanish and reappear repeatedly.

Then only drawback is that every on-screen keyboard has; of no physical feel. For most people this isn't an issue, as they are visual typers. For a true typist, it has an amateur effect. That is why I will be adding a physical keyboard as soon as possible.

Apple makes one, but for the same price Logitech produces one that is both superior, and totally protects the entire iPad Pro. It also comes in snazzy colours compared to the dull slate grey of Apple's version. I want a silver keyboard married to a red case; very snazzy.

An even more critical accessory is something that Apple has named a "Pencil", but most would call a stylus. Paired with the iPad Pro, or with an iPad Pro Mini, it is magical. It is an incredibly precise drawing and painting tool. It is meant for serious artists and graphical designers. I bought one, and am deeply enfatuated, and trying to master the ins-and-outs of Adobe Sketch, and several other similar apps.

Ok, so it is a dandy machine for serious writers or artists, but what else can it do.

Ever watch a movie on a device. The Pro's screen is precisely twice the are of a normal, full-sized iPad. Films look super on it, but that isn't all. Normal pads have tiny, weak speakers, and so movie viewing pretty much demands the use of headphones. The Pro can be used that way, but also has four speakers that can really boom out sound.

The sound system being built-in means that it is a fine music machine that does not require external speakers.

There is also a feature on the operating system that was introduced for this machine and is a strong addition. Two apps can be up on screen and operating side-by-side. Earlier today, I was watching online tutorials for Adobe Sketch, while actually drawing on the other half of the screen. This feature is also possible with smaller iPads, but it shines on the big screen.

The downsides. Two spring to mind. While being big is great, it is also a disadvantage. As an at-home device, or an artists' tool it is superb. For carrying around it is not. The other downside is the cost. An iPad Mini with the same memory costs $659, a full-sized iPad is $999, while the big boy is a hefty $1249. There is also a version with twice the memory at $1499.

When buying devices, I usually spring for the largest amount of memory available, but baulked at the price tag and scaled back. There is also a low-memory model available for a mere $1049, but in the two days I've had mine I've already exceeded memory limitations of the cheaper model. I consider that version a non-option.

Putting together the price and large physical size inspires a desire to protect the device in a significant way. As I already mentioned, I will be wrapping mine up in a keyboard case. This increases the overall price, as well as the net size and weight. In comparison, my iPad Mini rides in my pocket with no case or cover of any kind.

The 12.9" iPad Pro is not a device meant for everybody. The true audience consists of people wishing to draw, and for that it is smashing.