Life with the iPad Pro 10.5

Ahmad Bilal
Aug 26, 2017 · 5 min read

This morning, when I had to write a rather lengthy email to my feature team regarding investigations on a new feature idea, instead of reaching out for the work MacBook Pro, I pulled out my new iPad Pro 10.5 from its sleeve (a $17 replica of the $150 original Apple iPad sleeve from eBay!). Typically, I would not do something like this on a “mobile” device, but the iPad Pro has changed it. So does this imply that the post-PC era has arrived? Let’s find out.

Before I go into the details, here is the spoiler: iPad Pro is awesome, but it is not for everyone.

I am usually very picky about the devices in my life (I know it sounds geeky, but that’s what it is). So before adding an iPad Pro to my lifestyle, I did quite a bit of research. The key competitor was Microsoft’s Surface Pro. I finally ordered the iPad Pro, had afterthoughts (mainly due to its high price point for a tablet), and cancelled the order. But it kept tempting me enough to order it again and here I am, using it for some “real” work.

A lot has already been said and written about the specifications of the new iPad Pro 10.5, so I will skip on those details. In short, this incredibly powerful and efficient device showcases Apple’s finest hardware like no other. Some of the highlights, like the gorgeous screen, indicate areas where another device manufacturer would have cut corners, but Apple perhaps wanted to show off what they can really do, and not just what an average consumer would be content with. The Apple keyboard is comfortable to type on (probably more than the new MacBook Pro keyboard, in my opinion) and the Apple Pencil is the best inking experience that I have had on a device (including the Surface Pro that I tried in Microsoft Store).

On the software front, iOS 10 is buttery smooth, as any version of iOS usually is on a new Apple device, and it is only going to get better with iOS 11, which will add new multitasking capabilities to the iPad. This is one more step Apple is taking to make the iPad more suitable as a primary device for most users. The app ecosystem is vibrant, and perhaps the only viable tablet app ecosystem around. Microsoft’s app ecosystem (modern apps) is a junkyard, and Android’s app ecosystem still treats tablets as bigger phones with no real differentiation.

Let’s go into the main use cases where I feel that this device shines.

Since I am interested in music, my first motivation for getting the iPad Pro was to use it as an instrument and mobile studio. And that is one of the areas where iPad Pro really shines. There are plenty of high quality music apps in the App Store, and an attractive hardware ecosystem around them. Apple’s GarageBand has matured into a viable mobile music workstation. In addition to that, I ordered a Korg nanoKey Studio, which is a wireless MIDI controller. The companion Korg Gadget app provides a collection of synthesizers, converting the iPad Pro into a room full of analog synthesizers and drum machines. I also connected my Line 6 Sonic Port VX, which is a pro audio interface with the iPad Pro. It still works, and comes with the free Mobile POD companion app, which gives a nice collection of virtual guitar amps. Another app which I added to the mix was SwarPlug, which adds 79 traditional Indian classical music instruments (for a price of $100, but it is worth it if you are into that kind of music) to the mix. This app works great with GarageBand as a virtual instrument through Apple’s support for Audio Units in iOS. All these high quality apps open up the music production experiences which actually cost way more on a PC or a Mac.

The second unique value that the iPad Pro brings to me is in its capabilities as a digital sketchbook. Inking with Apple Pencil is as close as its gets to a high-end Wacom experience, at a fraction of the cost (assuming you already have an iPad Pro). The strong app ecosystem again comes into play here. There are sketching Adobe apps like Adobe Draw and Adobe Sketch, and Autodesk Sketchbook if you need more capabilities. Then there is the awesome natural media experience through ArtRage (also available on desktop platforms). Procreate is another great app for sketching. For more “pro” experiences, there is the very capable vector graphics design app, Autodesk Graphic, and the excellent photo editing app, Affinity Photo. A “mobile” version of Adobe Lightroom is also available, but it has very limited functionality. I also find Paper by FiftyThree to be a great app for quick sketches when the inspiration strikes. The experience of Apple Pencil on all these apps is consistently high quality.

Switching gears to the work apps, there are a few options here. Since I have Microsoft Office 365 subscription, I use Outlook for emails, and the familiar Office apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for work. G Suite apps are also available (I use Google Docs for personal documents). Setting up the iPad Pro for work was a breeze through VMware AirWatch (disclaimer: I am a Product Manager on AirWatch). It configured VPN and work apps with single sign on, and I was connected to work, accessing Intranet sites within minutes. There is no reason why I can’t use the iPad Pro for work when traveling, instead of carrying the heftier 15" MacBook Pro.

Looking back at the alternatives, I seriously considered the Surface Pro for its versatility, but then a few things worked in favor of the iPad Pro. First and foremost is the thoroughly modern user experience of iOS, compared to the less elegant hybrid combination of new and old worlds on Windows 10. Apple’s mobile OS is a clean break from the past. Unlike Windows 10, it can be navigated end-to-end with touch. The iPad Pro also sheds the Intel baggage in favor of Apple’s own efficient and powerful A10X Fusion processor, which beats Intel Core i5, and compares favorably with Intel Core i7 mobile processors in some performance benchmarks, while maintaining excellent battery life. The iPad Pro is also more compact than the Surface Pro. And it doesn’t have what frustrates me the most on Windows 10 — the clunky Windows Update, which not only nags in middle of work, but also takes ages to complete (Microsoft, please fix this mess!).

Summing up, if you are into creative stuff (art & music etc.) and are willing to pay for a premium experience, the iPad Pro will be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It will also help you get work done (unless you are a developer, in which case you should have a ThinkPad running Linux anyway!). But if you just want to use a tablet for browsing and playing games, there are many less expensive options (like the “other” iPad and a host of Android tablets) which will fit the bill, with some extra cash to spend on the new iPhone 8 or Pixel 2. Personally, I think the iPad Pro fits the experiences that I care about the most, and yes, this article was also typed on it!

)
Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade