Apple Unveils New Versions Of iPhone 6, Apple TV (Photo : Getty Images)
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro from Apple got mixed reviews from techies, although the general consensus of the new tablet is positive.
Forbes notes that a lot of the reviewers said the hardware is technically competent, but it paled in comparison to the smartphone, smaller tablet or the laptop - which Apple CEO Tim Cook said is dying - as an all-around performer.
One reviewer, Walt Mossberg of Time-served, found the Pro expensive and too light and small in comparison to its screen, making it difficult to balance the tablet on his lap for typing. He was also disappointed with its optional keyboard case but was happy with the cleverly made flat keys that do not look like individual units.
Similarly, Patrick Moorhead of Forbes found it easy to use the Pro with both hands, but using it with one hand for an extended period of time is a challenge. He was satisfied with the audio experience ad appreciated the new speaker system while he played games and watched movies.
John Gruber of Daring Fireball agrees with Cook that the new device is better than most laptops, including MacBooks. He notes that it is faster than the MacBook or MacBook Airs. Gruber cites Geekbench's online results of speed test that showed the iPad Pro is faster in a single-core testing compared to the new Surface Pro 4 with Core-i5 processor.
Financial Post's April Fong found the new tablet to be a slick, sophisticated beast, but says she would rather stick with her iPad 2 which she had for years because it is good for surfing, viewing Netflix films and writing emails at home. But changed her mind when she got a smartphone with a bigger screen.
Since then, the iPad gathered dust and Fong did not find the need to purchase a new one. That kind of thinking - which iPad Pro hopes to reverse with its inclusion of a stylus - is the reason why global tablet shipment declined 12.6 percent in Q3 compared to the last 12 months.
Cook even went to the extent of calling the Surface Book of Microsoft as "diluted" and commenting that the iPad Pro removed the need to buy PCs.
