shownotes_20151112

Intro
  The iPad Pro went on sale in Apple Retail Stores.
    Really frustrating because it was not consistent with what Apple put in their PR.
    "Apple® today announced iPad Pro™ is available to order online on Wednesday, November 11, from Apple.com and will arrive at Apple’s retail stores, select carriers and Apple Authorized Resellers starting later this week"
    Now technically I guess "later" is anytime after they started selling them, which was midnight PT on Wednesday morning
    More frustrating was that the Apple Pencil and Apple Smartkeyboard cover were not available at launch.
      They say they'll be shipping in 1 to 2 weeks
      There are also rumors that they may arrive in Apple Retail stores over the next few days.
    iPad Pros will also be available from some Apple Authorized resellers but it's unclear as to when.
    They buying experience was good enough in terms of ordering, seeing availability, and in store pickup.
    I was able to pick up the Logitech Create Keyboard for iPad Pro (http://www.logitech.com/en-us/rpromotion/create)
  The iPad Pro
    First impressions
      It's BIG. 12.9-inches
      Compared it to my 2011 13-inch Macbook Air and the width and height if the screen are very similar.
      Screen looks great of course.
      Felt slightly lighter in my hand than expected, but not flimsy.
    Set up
      OK, but always seems to be a pain. Getting all the accounts logged in and 2-factor set up
      Also loading all the apps and organizing them. You have tons of "desktop" space though. 5 x 4 in landscape per page.
    Usage
      Split screen apps are a little cramped. Really like two 3/4 with iPad screens side by side in landscape. Still it works and is nice to have.
      The on screen keyboard is a "full" keyboard and feels more like typing on a Macbook. In fact there is a row of number keys (with special characters)
        That means there is room for a 'Caps Lock' key, but it's fiddly.
        The old double tap shift also still works for caps lock.
      The labels are in the corners, like a physical keyboard, but they still feel strange to me.
      Delete key is inline with the number key row and half height, which I'm not sure I like. Is wider than on a smaller iPad.
      You also get the extra editing row (cut copy paste).
      Speakers sound great and are by far the best to ever grace an iPad. They can go loud.
      Most apps look great, but some that are just list views like Dropbox or iCloud Docks look a little odd in landscape.
        Games are amazing and this would make a great mobile game console when paired with a couple MFi game controllers.
        I was able to use Safari, Slack, Tweetbot, OmniOutliner Pro and feel mostly like I do when I'm on my Macbook Pro.
        The Logitech keyboard was a big help in making the iPad feel like a notebook.
    Accessories
      I only got to play with the Apple accessories briefly while at the Retail store
      The Pencil is amazing. Feels great in the had and draws with no noticeable lag
        I was tempted more than once to just run out of the store with one of the demo models
        Adobe Sketch app was the best for playing with since it seemed like the had an older version of Paper by FiftyThree
      The Apple Smart Keyboard Cover also impressed me.
        The keys had a 'clack' to them even if they had a shallow travel
        It was a better typing experience than I had expected, but to be honest I wasn't expecting much.
        It's not as good as an Apple wireless keyboard or Macbook Pro or Air, but to me felt better than the new Macbook keyboard.
      The Logitech Create iPad Pro Keyboard
        $149 US, so slightly less than Apple's
        Sturdy fabric like hard case.
        Keys feel very like the ones on Apple's Macbook Pro keyboard.
        They are backlit, but it's a little bit uneven in my opinion.
        Unlike Apple's it also has a row of iPad control keys to control brightness, search, emoji, keyboard backlight, media controls, volume, screen lock and home button.
          They're convenient, but not 100% necessary.
          Many of your OS X Mac keyboard shortcuts will work on the iPad Pro. Including command+tab to switch apps, command+space for Spotlight search, and Command+Shift+H to go to the home screen.
        Does add quite a bit of bulk. With it it's basically a touchscreen Macbook Air that runs iOS
          Same weight and thickness (on the thick side)
  So who's it for?
    I would say it really is now more about the kind of mobile computing experience you want to have vs. which one can do more.
    For sure if you're used to an OS X workflow the transition will be tricky, but I think there are far fewer barriers now that the iPad Pro is here.
    You'll have to re-work your workflows and gear, but there are things you can get done.
    It lends itself to some users better than others.
      Writers, bloggers, teachers, doctors, laywers, business people.
      I also think once the Pencil arrives it will be a valuable mobile tool for a lot of artists.
      Verticals like engineering, drafting, and construction too.
Closing
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