Apple 9.7-Inch iPad Pro Review: Tablet vs. Laptop Showdown

The latest iPad can handle many common PC tasks, though not without trade-offs in usability and comfort

Joanna Stern

The Wall Street Journal

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Biography Joanna Stern
@JoannaStern
JoannaStern
[email protected]

Updated March 30, 2016 5:00 p.m. ET

91 COMMENTS

Quick homework assignment: Jot down the answer to the question, “What do I need my PC to do?”

Take your time. Depending on how you answer, you’ll be buying either a full-fledged laptop or a skinny iPad.

Last week, Apple AAPL 1.30 % made a bold assertion when unveiling its new 9.7-inch iPad Pro. The 600 million people currently using a Windows PC that’s at least five years old would find the new iPad to be the “ultimate PC replacement,” says Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of world-wide marketing.

I almost spit out my iced coffee. Sure, next, I’ll just drive a tricycle to work. Except then came the price: $600 for the tablet, plus $150 for the keyboard case. That tallies up to the most affordable “laptop” Apple’s ever sold.

ENLARGE

The $100 Apple Pencil turns the iPad into the ultimate note-taking device. Photo: Drew Evans/The Wall Street Journal

It’s a different ballgame than the $900 jumbo iPad Pro released in November. This smaller tablet competes directly on price with midrange Windows laptops. As I’ve said time and time again, $600 is the least you must spend to avoid a sluggish, cheaply built lemon.

So I took Apple’s challenge. Pitting the iPad Pro against a $600 11.6-inch Dell Inspiron laptop—and even a $430 Toshiba TOSYY 4.25 % Chromebook 13—I found it to be capable of many common PC tasks, though there can be significant trade-offs in usability and comfort.

A real laptop is still the ultimate PC replacement, but you may find the iPad Pro’s strengths outweigh its traditional computing weaknesses. It all hinges on what you wrote down in response to that all-important question.

When an iPad Pro Is Enough

Obvious: The new iPad is better than the old iPad. Not obvious: When it comes to the basics—taking notes, Web browsing, listening to music, video calling—the iPad Pro is better than most laptops. Seriously, an always-on computer the size of a toaster tray is twice as fast as laptops twice its size.

ENLARGE

This is the first iPad available in a rose gold hue. Photo: Drew Evans/The Wall Street Journal

With Apple’s A9X processor and 2GB of RAM, the Pro was snappier at surfing the Web and handling multiple browser tabs than the Dell, which runs Windows 10 with a Core i3 processor. (Even a $700 Core i5 Dell trailed the iPad by a minute at exporting 1080p video.) Microsoft MSFT 0.63 % ’s own most comparable product, the $500 Surface 3, was so sluggish and behind on battery life it immediately fell out of the running. The Toshiba Chromebook, on the other hand, was as snappy as the iPad Pro when scrolling and handling multiple websites.

While the new Pro’s 9.7-inch display can look cramped next to the larger laptops, it is crisper and easier on the eyes. The new True Tone screen—which reduces the bluish tint in some lighting to look more like white paper—is nice when reading a book or sifting through that never-shrinking inbox.

The under-1-pound iPad pumped out louder and fuller sound through its quad speakers than either of the 3-pound laptops I tested, and the front-facing camera made for clearer video calls than Dell’s webcam.

All that, plus you never have to reboot it and it gets longer battery life. I was able to work on the iPad for about 7 hours before it gave out. In our battery test, which loops series of websites with brightness set around 65%, the iPad lasted 8.5 hours, an hour longer than the Dell and Toshiba Chromebook (though 2 hours less than my trusty MacBook Air). If the Pro wants to be more laptop than tablet, however, it needs a charging port rearrangement. You try working with a wire sticking out of the side of the screen!

ENLARGE

Apple’s new True-Tone display makes the screen look more natural and less blue. Photo: Drew Evans/The Wall Street Journal

Of course, it’s first and foremost a great tablet. You can use the 12-megapixel rear camera to film 4K videos of your puppy eating toilet paper, but you can also use it for truly “pro” actions you never would’ve thought of. I snapped a photo of an insurance claim form with a $4 app called ScannerPro, filled in the text fields with a $10 app called PDF Expert, signed my name with the Apple’s $100 Pencil stylus, then wirelessly printed out the completed form. Wireless printing isn't a problem for iPads, though it remains a pain on Chromebooks.

For us unartistic folk, that Pencil turns the iPad into a killer Moleskine. MSK 0.20 % Unlike the larger Pro, the 9.7-inch screen feels just right in the crook of your arm when jotting down meeting notes. (One gripe: I’m constantly losing the Pencil in my bag. Surely the most valuable company in the world can figure out a decent holder.)

When You Need a Real Laptop

Despite all that’s good about the Pro, it suffers from a major problem: It is faster than you can actually work on it. That is, while it has raw power, it lacks the tools to let you easily and comfortably do more—tools we take for granted on real laptops.

Typing on the claustrophobic Smart Keyboard tailored to fit the 9.7-inch screen is like sitting in the middle airplane seat, elbows pulled together. (The 12.9-inch iPad Pro’s spaciousness allows for a much more comfortable keyboard.) Not only are the keys cramped, they aren’t backlit—a trait that’s more necessity than luxury if you have to work in dim locations. The screen only adjusts to a single angle, and good luck using it on your lap without it toppling over.

Though the iPad Pro’s keyboard connector beats dealing with pesky Bluetooth connections, I was far more productive when I attached the $150 Brydge Air. A rip-off of the MacBook keyboard, it solves most problems—thanks to shortcut keys, you don’t even have to touch the screen to adjust volume or brightness.

The iPad Pro has other hardware challenges, too. While the $600 Dell comes with 128GB of storage, the iPad starts with a measly 32GB. You can get up to 256GB—for $900. And unlike the laptops, which have three USB ports each, the iPad lacks even a single one. (Apple’s new $40 USB dongle, which allows you to attach Ethernet adapters, microphones and USB hubs, could be a decent workaround.)

The less immediately solvable issue is iOS. You can now place apps side by side, but multitasking is still very much a work in progress. You can’t put two of the same app windows side by side—say two Safari pages or Word documents—and many apps, like Google Docs, don’t support the feature at all. I could work much faster on my Chromebook and Windows laptop because I could easily rearrange apps and windows without constantly touching the screen. There are many cases where a trackpad is still better than a finger.

ENLARGE

With iOS 9, you can place apps side by side but you can’t place two of the same app next to each other. Photo: Drew Evans/The Wall Street Journal

The lack of a file management system is another massive roadblock. On a traditional laptop, we just know where our stuff is—how to save it, find it, share it, etc. In iOS, when I want to email a PowerPoint presentation, I can’t just attach it from the Mail app. I have to go into the PowerPoint app, search for the document, tap the share button then send it over to Apple’s Mail app. And don’t get me started on handling PDFs!

Also, some of the best software lacks features on the iPad. For instance, Quicken doesn’t let you write checks or pay bills. Google Docs is missing my editor’s favorite feature: word count.

The iPad’s iOS and apps are simply too close to a phone operating system for the Pro moniker to sit well. Bottom line: Apple needs to find the happy middle ground between mobile devices and desktop systems.

Can you replace your PC with the 9.7-inch iPad Pro? Absolutely. Is it the “ultimate” replacement? Absolutely not. The iPad is a different kind of computer—simpler, more versatile and portable than a laptop. A real laptop, however, can help you get traditional work done faster. For now.

Write to Joanna Stern at [email protected] or on Twitter @joannastern

Corrections & Amplifications

The new iPad Pro has quad speakers. A previous version of this story incorrectly identified them as dual speakers. (March 30, 2016)

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91 comments

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George Heyworth user

It's so, so simple, Apple will not cannibalize it’s PC & Tablet business by providing a real mashup of the two.Hence, we are left with these kinds of analysis. Until then, read the next analysis which will basically say the same thing. It's not about the fastest tablet PRO, PRO or the the lightest MacBook Pro - it's about business and Apple's intentional product segmentation.

One day, the consume will figure it out. Apple will make the move when other hardware vendors really challenge the model.

Until then - let the masses buy both!

Kyle Bieneman subscriber

So let me get this straight: $900 for the 256 GB model, $100 for the stylus, $150 for the keyboard, and $40 for the USB dongle, in order to make it competitive with a $600 Dell? Boy, $1,190 buys you an awful lot of laptop...

james benning subscriber

"The 600 million people currently using a Windows PC that’s at least five years old would find the new iPad to be the “ultimate PC replacement,” says Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of world-wide marketing."

Well of course he would say that...it's his JOB!

shivaji kumar subscriber

IPad Pro seems like an odd teenager: neither a kid nor an adult.

I was very happy with Macbook Air until my needs and evolution of Macbook Pro retina made me switch to that.

Note5+MBP covers all my needs. I mean, my personal computing needs.

Dan Morris subscriber

If Apple created a Finder type OS for the iPad, it would function much better and not be a phone OS, which is clunky. I'd never surrender my MacBook Pro for my iPad. The iPad is only for taking on trips when you don't feel like you want to lug the MacBook.

Hugh Sansom user

Joanna Stern is too kind in her assessment of iPad. Apple is rapidly falling years behind its competitors.

You cannot replace your PC with an iPad Pro unless you are a very low-end user. The iPad is utterly inadequate for most professional purposes were fast switching between applications is essential.

"lack of a file management system is another massive roadblock"

That says it all. Most professional users have to relate multiple files of multiple types using multiple applications -- fast. iPad is complete unable to do that. And Apple has deliberated hobbled file management, not in the interest of users, but as part of the company's in loco parentis approach to consumers.

MARK BOSSINGHAM subscriber

Good story. But odd that Docs for iPad Pro doesn't have word count. Docs on my Apple 5s and newer Android phone both have that feature. And of course it's available on my Chromebook Pixel.

Danford Anderson subscriber

Several good points were made in this report that would help someone vet their purchase plans. Good job there.

There were two points made simultaneously that surprised me. First, the keyboard on my iPad Pro is hands down the best keyboard I have ever used. I was nothing short of shocked that Joanna said it was too this or that. It has excellent feel and I make far fewer typos compared to any other keyboard. And saying it was not usable on your lap was just plain false. I don't try to balance my iPad Pro w/keyboard on one knee (what Joanna calls a lap) but neither do I try to balance my MacBook or Dell (work computer) on one knee. However, if I really want to type while balancing a device on one knee, it will be the iPad Pro with keyboard. It's lighter and the backside of the cover/keyboard is not slippery.

Scott Johnson subscriber

I'm not sure I'm ready to give up my MacBook Air yet either. Although for travel, it's getting more and more intriguing. As it is, I kind of laugh at PC people fiddling with their power bricks, their super-expanded battery backpacks, the 3 inch thick 10 lb beasts, etc.

By the way, you can easily attach an email with iOS, hold your finger down in the body of the email you are creating, a small menu pops up, Add Attachment is on the right hand side of it. That has been there for a few revisions now. Jobs was animately against that, once he was gone, some common sense features started showing up.

Martin Kubalanza subscriber

Apple could solve my purchase issue by offering a Mac Pro with a touch screen

Assume they do not offer one as iPad sales would drop off

Jamilla Graves user

My iPad Air 2 has a rebooting issue. A Genius Bar effort to fix it last week failed. So, I could pay another $100 and upgrade to the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

Pro: I would have the latest iPad again. I would still have my three-year-old MacBook Air when I want to use a Mac. Maybe I would use a tablet for writing more than incidentally for the first time. The iPad Pro is lighter than my portable computers.

Anti: I have never used the potential of my iPad Air 2, so would moving on up make a difference? I would lose half my storage in the switch, from 64 GB to 32 GB. My HP Spectre X2 combo is only a few months old and still new to me. For example, I haven't used the stylus. Why add another cutting edge gadget?

Perhaps Apple should target the new iPad Pro toward consumers who are buying their first or second tablets instead of those already invested in gadgets. As a first or second tablet it would surely be a hit.

Thomas Hoff subscriber

This article is a joke. The iPad uses a phone operating system. Nothing serious can be done on in iPad. Simple tasks only. Its a media consumption device. The writer loves everything apple, but anyone who runs any real programs knows you need a real Operating System. You also need a mouse, real keyboard, wired Lan, USB attachments, removable storage, etc. Another waste of time article.... The Tech reviews in WSJ offer no value...

Gary Blakely subscriber

I cannot believe that Joanna Stern wrote this article without telling you that the iPad Pro is a limited function computer as opposed to a MAC or a PC.

Limited function computers won't run advanced software applications such as software development platforms, CAD/CAM, database managers, things like Adobe Illustrator, etc. For instance, if you want to write iPhone apps you can't do it on a iPad Pro because Apple xCode will not run on it.

In the Apple world there is IOS which is a mobile operating system intended for iPhones and iPads, and iPad Pros.Then you have OS-X which is a full function operating system intended for MACs.

Apple named their new iPad a "Pro" as part of a deceptive (IMHO) marketing plan intended to confuse the consumer into thinking that the iPad pro was a competitive product to the Microsoft Surface Pro, which is a full function computer.

I don't know if Joanna Stern is a part of this Apple deception or if she is unaware of this major difference.

joby Mammen subscriber

@Gary Blakely Exactly. The iPad has limited functionality because of ios. Apple must try putting OS X in this bigger iPad, like Microsoft has Windows 10 in their tablets like Surface Pro.

KISHOR APTE subscriber

Buy any of the $300 Windows 10 laptops available on Bestbuy. If you have 4 GB of memory and touch screen- it will beat an iMac/iPad anytime.

Disable auto update- or schedule updates to your laptop so that they happen when you are not working.

Rich Corbett user

Having spent the last couple year learning to live with only an iPad on the road so as not to haul around my "very old" notebook computer and peripherals, I've adjusted with the help of the Brydgekeyboard ... but it has not been easy. There are too many regular tasks that are just plain cumbersome on the iPad no matter which apps are used. Sure it is ok for email, light web surfing, video and reading, but office apps are far short of useable. There are ways to accomplish most functions, but the efficiency losses in not having multiple windows and programs running is not the best way to get things done. Still the instance on, lightweight and interface with a smartphone are not overlooked on my part either.

As longer battery life, lightweight, fanless and instant on notebooks continue to improve ... this might be the year to switch back to a minimal duty notebook from the iPad? I'm waiting for the next Macbook Air ... or maybe even a Dell XPS model???

@Rich Corbett - My HP Spectre X2 is fanless. But, one is ahead of the curve in other ways that are not so friendly. For example, the only ports are USB-C, so you have to buy adapters. There's a 3D camera, but virtually no apps to use with it. It does last for seven or eight hours in computer mode. Probably longer in tablet mode, which I rarely use.

STEVEN FALLON subscriber

iPad is only sometimes better at browsing. Lately, Safari has been VERY glitchy on both my iPad and my Macbook pro. I have installed other browsers on the Macbook pro because Safari is flat out unreliable.

Also, the theory that iPads never need to be restarted is false. I have to occasionally re-start it. It hangs up about once a week and a re-start is needed.

I am a recent convert to the Macbook, and the jury is still out. Its hardware and battery are better. However, the operating system is not as rock solid as promised. I work in both mac and windows, and both have advantages and disadvanges.

Firozali A Mullar user

To fine-tune its machine learning and provide better search results faster, Pinterest turned to an unexpected source: human intelligence. It hired crowdsourcing companies such as CrowdFlower to marshal people to quickly do “micro-tasks” such as labeling photos and assessing the quality of search results. In an hour, the workers collectively could test hundreds of search terms to see if results matched well enough.

For all the recent advances in AI, human beings remain more adept than machines at distinguishing, say, a tile mosaic from a similar pattern on a blanket. “It will be a long way out before machines will be able to do this,” says Pinterest data scientist Mohammad Shahangian.

Pinterest’s experience reveals a sometimes forgotten truth: AI and machine learning depend on people as much as on math. Google’s search engine and ad system use thousands of human “raters” to assess the quality of its AI-driven search results and help identify scam ads. Facebook’s facial recognition software asks people to label their photos to improve accuracy. Deep learning, a branch of AI responsible for recent breakthroughs in speech recognition, language translation, and image analysis, can require extensive human training on hand-picked data sets.

William Zipprich subscriber

I own the iPad Pro cellular version. An excellent bit of kit. If Apple could introduce some form of a trackpad w/click and open up the file system, then the device would be perfect. I tip my hat to the Surface guys but their argument about running all that horrid and ancient Win 32 stuff is not persuasive. I think super tablets are the future and we all would be smart to understand the emerging paradigm.

@William Zipprich perfect for watching videos or surfing the web - not anything serious...

PATRICK SCHULTZ subscriber

Interesting. What is the mouse situation with the ipad though? Does the keyboard for the ipad have a trackpad? Even better, of course, would be an actual external mouse, but I don't know what the USB situation is with the ipad these days?

I personally found typing on a keyboard while having to tap the screen to move the cursor etc. a total pain.

RON LOCKHART subscriber

Im a Mac guy and use both a MacBook Pro and an iPad. To me, the "missing piece" for an iPad is the lack of a file system. There is still no way to save a document in an organized manner as there is with either a Mac or PC. This shortcoming becomes particularly true when there is no Internet, say on an airplane. Until that problem is solved, the iPad will never replace my computer. The rest of your review just covers the mechanics of using an Ipad: keyboard size, USB and Ethernet, all of which can be accommodated, although not as seamlessly as with a laptop. Give me an accessible file system and the game changes!

John Treano subscriber

I like the larger iPad Pro. I think it's the best iPad they've produced so far but I think they are still very tedious to use.

Compared to my iMac 27" Retina 5k with all of the upgrades and options - absolutely no contest in speed and ease of use. I use the iPad Pro mainly as a ebook reader, mail checker and other stuff like weather, etc. All serious work is done on the iMac. Surfing is a failure on the iPad for me. I like big bold type on a big screen.

Tom Moran subscriber

I almost never use my MacBook Air any more. Always either my iPad or desktop Mac.

What I don't understand is why doesn't Apple make an iPod that has a phone chip? Then, with ear buds, I have a mobile phone and computer in one device. I no longer need to "go into the office'" and can work from anywhere.

iPad, I meant.

@Tom Moran - I answer my iPhone on my iPad at least half the time.

Phil Baker subscriber

One of the main uses of a computer for me is writing and editing word documents. It's impossible with an iPad, as there's no easy way to cut and paste, it's impossible to share and read marked-up documents, and there's no way to file and retrieve them other than using cloud storage or some strange way that iOS works, and is not easy to figure out.

@Phil Baker - The Word suite for the iPad works well. And, one can also save Pages documents for Word compatibility.

John Gower subscriber

I wish Microsoft had a better App ecosystem for Windows so that I could have purchased the Surface or Surface Book rather than the new iPad 9.7. I purchased a Surface Book for my son, a student, and I'll admit I'm terribly jealous.

I'm not a fan of Apple products, but as a student pilot Apple's ecosystem has a lock on the most useful and complete apps for pilots, especially ForeFlight. As a result, the iPad has just enough performance that it is enough of a laptop replacement for me for now. It's also problematic that none of the Surface models, other than the horribly underpowered, Atom-based Surface 3 offer LTE/GPS.

If Microsoft could do a better job of getting developers to move their apps to Windows, this whole iPad Pro vs Surface debate would be so lopsided Apple might as well just give up. Microsoft has already worked at getting professional pilot tools to the airlines, but us little private pilots are left in Apple's grabby hands.

Anthony Aaron subscriber

@John Gower

Apple does not write the software you use -- independent software developers make a conscious choice to use Apple's hardware and iOS as the environment for their software. Talk to them -- and their 'grabby hands.'

@John Gower - My Surface peer, HP's version, the Spectre, has LTE, but you don't get to choose. Verizon has a lock on it.

Steve W. Bell subscriber

Pretty good review. I purchased an iPad pro a couple of months ago and am still in "evaluation" phase.

So far I would say, it's a nice COMPLEMENT to a laptop. I spend a lot of hours daily working on an iMac and a MacBook Pro and it's nice to have a more easy-chair friendly device for other tasks.

I would say the "3 killer apps" for the new iPads all revolve around:

(1) browsing/media consumption.

(2) everything you can do with that pencil. I am using the iPad pencil to create sketches and diagrams for all sorts of things for business purposes, sign pdf's, and "mark up edit" docs.

(3) it's intrinsically great for certain apps like mindmapping.

The $100 pencil is indeed easy to lose, I'm on my second one and the best solution I've found so far is an aftermarket magnetic sleeve which allows it to "stick" to the case. Apple's keyboard is terrible, I'm going to get the Logitech. The iPads are indeed not laptop-friendly so I am looking for a new solution when i get rid of the Apple keyboard.

@Steve W. Bell - Should a person with an iPad Air 2 pay just $100 extra (and another for the Pencil) to upgrade to the iPad Pro 9.7"?

David Smith subscriber

The lack of a user-usable filesystem cripples iOS.

Arthur O'Connor subscriber

The iPad Pro is really a tablet. Instead of comparing against cheap laptops, Joanna should have looked at the Surface 3. Beats the iPad with bigger screen, more memory, Full-size USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSD card reader, Micro USB charging port and a cheaper price.

@Arthur O'Connor

I wouldn't touch the Surface 3 with a ten foot pole. That Atom processor is very, very poor and the performance is horrible. Joanna actually did evaluate it for the article and noted its poor performance.

@Arthur O'Connor But then you're stuck with lousy Microsoft software and support. The only application I regret having on my Mac is Office 365, which i keep for occasional use of their one great app, Excel. It is the only app on my machine which regularly crashes and loses data unless I manually save.

Jose Fernandez subscriber

i refuse to use Office365. I have thunk and thunk and thunk about it but each time conclude the same: highway robbery. I still Mac Office 2011 and works just fine for all of my ppt, doc and xls documents

@Jorge Mario BergoglioJr You know what Jorge, I am going to go back to using Excel from Mac Office, an older Mac version, forget about it on the iPad/iPhone because you're right: Office 365 is highway robbery. Over time the cost really ads up, and more importantly the principle of supporting Microsoft bugs me.

@John Gower @Arthur O'Connor First, Joanna uses incorrect prices. I suspect Microsoft is getting ready to release the Surface 4 (not "Pro") because the current prices for the Surface 3 are considerably lees than "$500". The 64 Gb WiFi model is $399 and the 128 Gb model is $449. The iPad "Pro" does not come in a 64Gb model. The 128Gb model costs $749 - $300 more than the Surface 3. However, I suspect Joanna (and you) are referencing the 64Gb model of the Surface. Another BIG difference between the two Surfaces is RAM - 2Gb for the 64 and 4Gb for the 128. As everybody knows, RAM makes a considerable difference in system speed. According to Microsoft, you can run Windows 10 on a machine with 1Gb of RAM, but that would be one slow machine.

Apple lemmings frequently cite "more apps" as a big advantage when comparing iPhones with Windows Phones. I am glad you brought up the issue for comparing Windows Tablets (e.g., Surface) with iPads. Advantage: Windows! There are millions more "apps" (programs) that will run on a Surface. You are not stuck with just Microsoft (or Apple Store in the case of iPads). For instance, don't like MS Word? Get WordPerfect! Yes, it is still made and it is still better than Word, IMHO. You can buy it direct from Corel or from Amazon. MS is not involved.

Chris Philips subscriber

I traveled exclusively with an iPad 2 and an Apple wireless keyboard for a couple of years, and it worked pretty well. I especially appreciated the ability to connect via radio and an AT&T account when Wifi wasn't available.

The drawbacks led me to go back to a laptop- a Macbook Air 11- for most of my travel needs. If I could tether to my iPhone I would be a happy camper, but AT&T wants me to give up my grandfathered unlimited data plan to tether.

Until I can attach a PDF to an email (no, you can't- you can email a PDF... different thing entirely) I'll stick to my laptop for work travel.

If one uses Dropbox or iCloud to manage his files, yes- you can. If your files are resident on the iPad, you can't. Yet. Apple may enable that feature in the future, but over the course of nine generations of OS, they haven't, so I'm not holding my breath.

Dana Hermanson subscriber

@Chris Philips

Perhaps I'm not understanding what you mean, but I can attach any type of file, including PDF to my emails on my iPad. Open mail, write or forward email, go to bottom right of screen, select paper clip, select locations, choose Dropbox or whatever location, attach file. Works without issue for me. I use a Logitech keyboard with my mini everyday for many work tasks that used to be done in front of my Mac. Heather Hermanson

Rob Batchelder subscriber

Memo to Phil Schiller: Seriously? - To properly support drag and drop, which is essential in word processing and spreadsheets, Apple should make the pencil work like a mouse when it's not pointing at the screen. This implies some sort of buttons on the pencil, but that should be an easy enhancement. Of course, I expect Apple to arrogantly protest, the same way they did over a second mouse button, and the way BMW protested against drink holders in their cars. Eventually, the market will beat Apple into submission. Then the iPad pro will be useful for front-line business applications - and will have a sporting chance at replacing notebook computers. Until then, it will close, but no cigar.

"Eventually, the market will beat Apple into submission. Then the iPad pro will be useful for front-line business applications - and will have a sporting chance at replacing notebook computers. Until then, it will close, but no cigar."

iOS was good for its time, but we need OS X now. Bite the bullet, Apple.

@Rob Batchelder - "Eventually, the market will beat Apple into submission." When, pray tell? Will the market succeed where the FBI failed?

Alan Nazarelli subscriber

Here is how you get the ipad pro to get to work as a laptop replacement-Get a Surface Pro! Microsoft got this one right. Everything this reviewer points to as missing in the ipad pro, the Surface Pro does extremely well. A little pricier but not considering Apple wants to charge extra for the pen and that flimsy keyboard.

@Alan Nazarelli - You are flogging the Surface Pro much too hard. Truth of the matter, Microsoft's partners are producing improvements on the Surface, including a more versatile stand, superior sound, LTE and a better stylus. I own an HP combo laptop/tablet with all of these. The Dell Surface peers also get good reviews.

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