New Ipads

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Apple just announced the new Ipads.

1. The new cheap Ipad. Still low on storage (32GB) but if you don’t need more, no problem. Updated to the A12 processor, so it is back to being a very good deal that should please most people that are ok with the older design with huge bezel and smaller screen vs physical size. Still pretty light too at 1.08 lbs. It still has a headphone jack and a lightning connector.
2. The new Ipad Air has the best chip A14, a bigger size (10.9 inches vs 11 for the small Ipad Pro), a touch id on the side button (no Face ID), updated design with small bezel, lighter than the Pro. Starts at 64GB while the Pro starts at 128GB. It has USB-C, no headphone jack and supports the second-gen pencil. The only thing missing from the Pro unless you really find cameras important is the 120Hz promotion screen, which is nice and good for the pencil if I remember correctly, but not at any price.

I didn’t see yet any info on RAM vs older/other models. It could make a difference in how long the device will be supported in the long run.

My take:

Don’t buy an Ipad Pro now. It is absolutely ridiculous that the flagship still has the A12Z processor while they get the Air out with a better processor. They might prepare something bigger for the Pro because right now, the small Pro looks like a very bad deal. I find FaceID much nicer than I thought, it adds interesting features based on attention, but this alone is not enough. It is a nice to have, not a mandatory thing and some people don’t like it.

If you have the money, the Air with its laminated low reflection screen and small bezel is a really nice upgrade to the basic Ipad and should last a very long time.

If you are on a budget, the standard Ipad is still an amazing tablet in the Apple ecosystem.

If you use the pencil a lot, maybe wait for the next Pro?

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Nathan Parker, Myst

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AlexEiffel wrote:

If you use the pencil a lot, maybe wait for the next Pro?

Serious question… does anyone here use the pencil?

I hear very little, if any, news about its use as a productivity tool… even though my iPad Gen 6 can apparently use it. For what?

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Nathan Parker, Myst

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I’ve never used a pencil with any device. Could work for some in freehand exercise or graphics and in art design. Can see where it may be handy in that case.

MacOS iPadOS and sometimes SOS

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Alex5723

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I still have my iPad Air2 running on iPadOS 13.7 with the A8X chip and it runs good, a little slow but no hurry to get from point A to point B. Was looking at the Pro and not eager to spend that kind of money. The new iPad Air coming in October looks pretty nice and the price is ok starting at $599. I’m happy with my old Air2, even though it won’t get iPadOS 14. I’ll still receive security updates no doubt when needed.

I always like to see what’s coming around the corner from the big Apple. Someday I’ll look to retire the sweet old iPad Air2. But if it ain’t broke …

MacOS iPadOS and sometimes SOS

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Nathan Parker

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Myst wrote:

I’m happy with my old Air2, even though it won’t get iPadOS 14

Guess I was wrong. And how did I miss the announcement the iPad Air2 would get iPadOS 14 afterall. Not complaining. Happy.

MacOS iPadOS and sometimes SOS

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Nathan Parker

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Oh, and I forgot to add:

Before buying the huge Ipad Pro, think twice about it and maybe try it.

I dismissed comments about its weight before buying it as weight doesn’t inconvenience me much usually and it is not that heavy, plus I am very strong vs average people.

However, the size of it and the weight combined make you have to keep pulling and pushing on it with your hands as it is unstable in hands and heavy. It can strain your muscles and is really not very comfortable in many situations so that limits the way you can use it comfortably. Ideally, you need good support, but it is hard to find a good case that is light and compatible with portrait and landscape mode and that is comfortable in hands. Right now, I use it naked as I didn’t buy a case yet.

Would I switch my big Ipad Pro for the smaller one? Not sure. I love the big screen and with my eyes getting older, I like to see bigger characters without zooming as much. But I still think it is a consideration not to dismiss without any second thought.

And why did I buy a Pro? Well I did early this year because my old Air battery was not able to keep up anymore and I needed a replacement right now. Ideally, I would have waited for the next generation since this year upgrade was very disappointing, although it was a few nice tweaks (more storage and more RAM) and a lower price to an amazingly great Ipad.

I am usually the type of person who doesn’t want change for the sake of change especially when what we have is good, but not adding maybe the equivalent of an A13 but Ipad version in the 2020 version seemed a strange decision. Not that it matters much in my day to day usage, but I had the impression it could mean a less long period of support. I might be wrong on this as someone rightfully pointed out that maybe RAM would be a more limiting factor for some models. In that sense, upgrading the RAM like they did on the lower storage tiers would have effectively been a real upgrade. But now that we have an A14 Ipad air? Maybe the A12z is still great vs the A14, but marketing wise, it doesn’t look good. For the price difference, the Pro should be much better and maybe much faster. I would be happy if they just lowered the price more, too.

And if you wonder if I used the many cameras or the LiDAR scanner? Not really and I didn’t buy it for that. It’s an Ipad and for taking pictures, I will use the IPhone or my nice camera. To me, this adds unnecessary costs to this device. Your mileage might vary.

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Nathan Parker

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Myst wrote:

I’ve never used a pencil with any device. Could work for some in freehand exercise or graphics and in art design. Can see where it may be handy in that case.

Watch the presentation on Pencil usage.

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AlexEiffel, Nathan Parker, Myst

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Here’s details on the A14 Chip:

https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/09/15/apple-a14-bionic-announcement-hints-at-iphone-12-performance

I use the (first gen) Apple Pencil with my iPad. I don’t do a ton of drawing with it, but it’s handy for marking up PDFs. I’ve also installed Paper and may use it when I need to sketch out notes vs typing. Looking forward to trying out iPadOS 14 to see if the new enhancements are worth using the Apple Pencil more.

Nathan Parker

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AlexEiffel

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