I’ve desperately wanted a new iPad Pro 12.9 inch for a while now. I have an iPad Pro 11-inch from a few years ago, and it is great. However, it is not brilliant for long-term writing or when I need a couple of panels open for research. It also doesn’t quite work as well as the bigger version when reading magazines or comics.
I’m aware this is an horrendously first world problem. To add to this overly privileged personal debate – I have been looking at the Apple Vision Pro as well.
The case for a new iPad Pro
I bought the first 12.9-inch iPad Pro when it first came out. I had to borrow money to get it, convinced it would change my life. I spend most of my time writing, reading, dabbling in art, and watching Netflix. (Plus console gaming.)
Writing is obviously the main one, as it makes the money I need for largely unnecessary gadgets. I tried using just the iPad for work, but with multiple clients, research, notes, and so on, it was a bit fiddly. Using my 11-inch iPad Pro from 2018 works better as it is faster and shows the potential. Stage manager works on it for a start. I occasionally use it for work, and it has improved as it has more software it can work with. But I still return to the clunky 2015 big boy for reading, some art, and light gaming.
The 11-inch is great, but I prefer something bigger. My iPads are old, and I can potentially work on the new one, and leave my laptop at home. I will also up my art game, be able to read more easily, and so on. All pretty justified – one device for everything I do.
The case for the Apple Vision Pro
I bought an Oculus 2 thingy, purely for writing. I was travelling a lot and missed my big monitor when writing. When doing non-fiction, I have notes, multiple internet pages, other research, and whatever writing software I use all open simultaneously. Everything is so much easier on a big monitor.
A VR or AR headset would let me have a big screen wherever I go.
The Oculus showed me the potential, but it was too blurry and uncomfortable. I found myself squinting a lot, and after an hour, it was a relief to remove it. It is now mostly for games and exercise.
The Apple Vision Pro, however, has 4K per eye. This means my poor eyeballs won’t have to strain slightly. I would also be good for all the other things I do like reading and watching stuff. Not so much the art, though. There is also an issue about what software will actually be available. At present there is no Netflix, for example. Is Word available?
There was never really a debate…
What obviously clinches the whole thing is that the Apple Vision Pro costs $3500. The iPad Pro will be a third of that, and I can do everything with it. The Vision Pro’s big advantage is that it will remove the need for a huge monitor – but I can buy a huge monitor and an iPad Pro for less.
What this boils down to is that I’m a gadget lover, and I want a new toy. From a writer’s perspective on this purely hypothetical debate (I can’t currently buy either) – the iPad wins.
