The ‘iPad Pro’? – I Think Not
Business Insider’s Nicholas Carlson notes that Apple’s latest iPad configuration with 128 GB of storage, is only $70 cheaper than the cheapest Macbook, and that to some people, that seems insane.
As I’ve observed myself many times, including in my ‘Book Mystique column here this week, MacBooks, with their USB ports, keyboards, and mouse drivers, to say nothing of their support for real multitasking, multi-screened views, and user file system access, can do an awful lot more than any iPad.
However, Carlson cites New York tech startup expert Drew Breunig making the point that, as Apple highlighted in their 128 GB iPad press release on Tuesday, that the iPad continues to have a significant impact on the entrprise, with virtually all of the Fortune 500 and over 85 percent of the Global 500 currently deploying or testing iPad, and that Companies regularly utilizing large amounts of data such as 3D CAD files, X-rays, film edits, music tracks, project blueprints, training videos and service manuals all benefit from having a an iPad with greater depth of storage capacity.
But aside from practical considerations, Breunig thinks the biggest reason why the 128 GB iPad will be a robust seller for Apple with business users is because ” This is the iPad Pro.”
I expect he has a valid point, although on substance I remain firmly unconvinced that doubling its maximum storage capacity makes an iPad into a really satisfactory general purpose production platform substitute for a laptop – even a very small one like the entry-level 11-inch MacBook Air (albeit I would strongly suggest coughing up another hundred bucks for one with a 128 GB SSD – CM.).
However, the cited relatively trivial $70 difference between the 128 GB iPad and base MacBook Air doesn’t quite wash, as the $929 (Gulp!) iPad has 4G LTE cellular connectivity, and the $999 MacBook Air doesn’t, so a fairer comparison would be with the $799 Wi-Fi iPad, so it’s really $200.
iPad Pro? Much as I love my iPad, I don’t think any iPad can legitimately lay claim to full ‘Pro’ device credentials. Strictly speaking, the MacBook Air doesn’t make any “Pro” claim, but arguably it at least comes a lot closer to the mark.
