It’s been one week since I received my new iPad Pro. (It is a replacement for my 3rd Generation iPad pre-ordered in spring 2012. Apple stopped updating IOS in 2016).
Initial impressions after one week of usage.
The screen is BIG. Much more responsive than my old iPad. I’m enjoying, so far.
The iPad model I got has 5G cellular support. Needs a nano-SIM. The older iPad has a minor-SIM. I visited a Rogers store to get a new SIM. The Rogers rep switched my current plan to the new SIM. All I had to do was to install the SIM and things worked immediately.
I got an Apple Pencil to play with. I’m finding it useful as an alternative to finger-touch in the UI. Minimizes hand movements over the LARGE iPad screen. The handwriting-to-text works okay, but it’s usually easier for me to use the screen keyboard. I am interested in exploring photo-editing on the iPad. Will see if the pencil helps there.
I also got the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio. Turns the iPad into a laptop, sort-of. Too heavy for normal day-to-day usage, plus I already have the MAC Air laptop. The iPad/folio combo weighs 3.07 lbs (1.51 lbs + 1.56 lbs) versus 2.75 lbs for the MAC Air. I also prefer using the iPad in portrait mode rather than landscape, at least for casual browsing.
Will have to experiment more with iPad apps as replacement for laptop use. The keyboard folio has a USB-C connector. So, the iPad+folio can share a power connection. I wonder if peripherals attached to the keyboard port are accessible to the iPad. Could be useful as a workstation configuration.
I’m also interested in the ability to drive several Apple devices from the same keyboard/touchpad. Announced for in the recent WWDC event for MAC Catalina and IOS 15.
The iPad PRO has a single UBS-C (Thunderbolt) connector. My MAC Air (2018 model, purchased spring 2019) uses the same connector. Both device can use the same power adapter.
One annoying aspect to the USB-C connector is that I needed to purchase a new set of dongles for the device (picture below):
- USB-C to Digital AV adapter: I own one that I use with the MAC Air. I use to attach USB-A devices — memory sticks, DSLR Camera, wired mouse, etc.
- USB-C to Headphone Jack: My favourite ear buds are wired with an old-style 3.5 mm plug. The Lightning to Headphone Jack that I use with my iPhone is not usable.
- USB-C to SD Card Reader: I have the old-style 30-pin SD Card Reader with the old iPad. I use most often to transfer pictures from a DSLR camera.
- USB-A cable with USB-C connector: I have a couple of battery packs that I use during summer vacations to a cottage with no electricity. They provide power to a USB-A cables. A standard USB-A to Lightning cable works fine for my iPhone, but a different cable is needed to recharge the iPad Pro.
