emoeller

I’ve been limping along with my max spec’d 2009 iMac waiting for the iMac Pro.  I run specialized programs for geologic modeling, mapping and CAD (mostly windows).  After a lot of time specing out my ideal iMac Pro (10 core) with a RAID storage system it came out to just under $10k.  This compared to just under $5k for a max spec’d iMac with the same RAID.  I then looked at ownership and operating costs over a five year period and decided to go with the iMac.  For me this provides the best cost/benefit ratio for my work now, with the expectation that the future modular Mac Pro will be out and established by then.  My work could be greatly enhanced with AR tools, which do not yet exist (except for the amazing iOS Theodolite app).

Tim has announced that AR will be the next big thing, and that will require a whole new tool kit (hardware & software) to create apps and content.  Apple HAS to own this space if it wants to dominate this opportunity.  Going out past five years AR will transition to VR which will take even more computing and software power.  So regardless of sales now, I see Apple staying in the Pro space going forward.  This means not only Pro hardware, but Pro AR software development programs.  This will also merge into entertaiment and allow Apple’s consumptive devices to dominate.

Setup went fine.  Helped a friend get theirs set up and made my first transfer (debit to debit via APC).  We both pre-verified.  My transfer from my Wells Fargo went very smoothly as did my text message, which was promptly received by my friend.  BUT the transferred amount on her end shows pending.  She checked with Citibank on her end and they advised it can take 3 days for the funds to show up in APC.

I have three iOS devices, and I have hundreds of 32b apps (several of which have key information that I use for work). I updated two of the devices but kept the Air2 at 10.3.3 until I could mitigate getting the data out.

On Monday, while traveling, I plugged this Air2 in at the hotel and up pops the iOS update screen (note that I do not have auto update turned on and didn't initiate the update).  It was a 16 hour day for me and i stupidly hit "install".  When I realized what I had done I immediately turned off the iPad (only way to do that by the way during install is Home and Power), and called Apple.  They said no worries, simply plug the Air2 into iTunes (on my iMac at my office) and restore from backup (either iCloud or iTunes (I use both)).  Since iOS11 had not completely installed the backup would revert to the restored iOS version (10.3.3 in my case).  All of that changed with signing authority withdrawal this morning.

I arrived home at 1 AM this morning but didn't  plugged in my Air2 until 7 am, hit the volume down and power (to restore from backup) and iTunes recognizes the device but gives an error message that Check autoupdate is turned off, and gives me two options:  Cancel or Check.   Check bumps up to iOS11, which I don't want.

Another call to Apple and senior tech Chris advises that because Apple has canceled signing authority (I missed the window by a few hours) for 10.3.3 and earlier there is no way to NOT update to IOS11.  While my 32b apps and data will be restored, iOS11 will not recognize them and there is no way to ever access any of that data.  He also noted that while Apple has not yet started removing 32b apps from the store (unless the developer removed them), it was only a matter of time before those would be removed.  

Chris did note that "if" I could find another device the same iOS 10.x version or later (but NOT iOS11) I could restore the data to that device....

This was stupid for Apple to remove signing authority this quickly for this version, because this version bricks legacy apps and data...  I haven't been this upset with Apple in a long time, it will take me a long time to get over it.  So much for upgrading my iMac this fall....

mulchino55 said:

I'm a professional artist who has held off buying the 12.5" iPad Pro until now. Time to make the leap. 
However, why do the vast majority of reviewers totally ignore Apple's almost religious ban on built-in expandability/connection to an external hard drive or thumb drive? They leave it to third party and albeit awkward workarounds. Was there some directive reviewers got years ago not to place this feature on a wish list? Or is it just me? Yes, Apple wants you to move to a laptop for those features but many of us aren't going down that road. From an artist's perspective, my Mac Mini and iPad Pro is all I need. 
One nit picky comment. Another reviewer mentioned that the new 10" iPad Pro is definitely not big enough to fully show a full size keyboard. Which is it?

It does have a full size on-screen keypad, which I am using now, but the new Apple keypad cover is far superior.  My Air2 had a Logitech Bluetooth keyboard, which was state of the art then, but not now.  The direct connector makes a huge difference.

As a scientist I am now finally able to view and manipulate huge CAD files (I'm using Turboviewer) - something my old Air2 could not handle.

After a couple of days of playing around with the 10.5 iPad I couldn't be more pleased.  When iOS 11 comes out this will be my primary travel computer.

As for the comments regarding the improved camera being a meh, because who uses a camera on an iPad, you will be glad it was upgraded when running AR programs in the near future.  I need it now for running a specialized survey program (Theodolite).

There is one thing though about the Pro iPads that I haven't seen mentioned and that is the Pro software tax.  Microsoft Office isn't free, you have to purchase an Office 365 subscription (but it's probably finally time for me to dump Office anyway).  There is other software also (such as Duet (a fav 2nd screen app, etc)) that has a Pro upgrade cost.  So you might want to check that out when you are calculating purchase budgets.

I watched the presentation last night while I'm traveling in Indonesia.  Ordered the new iPad with keyboard and pencil.  Expected delivery date is June 20th.

i also was curious if the new case will fit the IPad with the  keyboard - it has a pencil holder which is nice.

With what I saw in the Keynote address I expect to be using this as my travel computer once iOS11 is released.