Apple’s iPad Pro has an unclear message at a big price

People from around the world shifted their attention to Apple on Wednesday afternoon as the company unveiled its latest round of hardware and software. Products given spotlight at Apple’s event included the Apple Watch, the new iPad Pro, a revamped Apple TV, and the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. The iPad Pro is probably the most unique item shown in San Francisco that day. It has a large 12.9-inch display and is meant to be paired with a stylus and wireless keyboard. The company that typically plays it safe is entering uncharted territory that has already been discovered by others.

Apple has finally decided to follow the trend in increasing productivity with the Pencil and Smart Keyboard. But you’ll need to spend big to get the same productivity that can be had elsewhere for much less. These two accessories, both sold separately from the iPad Pro, are priced not even remotely aggressively. The Pencil and Smart Keyboard cost $99 and $169, respectively. And the stylus is one that requires charging. Now remember that Apple wants you to use the stylus and keyboard with the iPad Pro. Otherwise you might as well buy the smaller, more affordable iPad. Or perhaps you should look at another form factor.

Realize that the iPad Pro runs iOS. So your productivity efforts, despite the operating system being tailored for split-screen use, are still going to be limited. File management on an iOS device is laughable compared to Windows, OS X, and even Android. Think about what will happen when you need to open a ZIP file or something else that iOS jumbles to figure out. Designers and work-focused individuals are going to be a little hesitant to purchase the iPad Pro due to iOS’ limitations. The processing power and productivity available through the traditional desktop or laptop is much greater than what the iPad Pro offers.

Outside of design, the iPad Pro’s purpose is confusing. There is no real reason for anyone to choose this tablet over Apple’s very own MacBooks. The iPad Pro’s pricing ranges from $799-$1079. The MacBook Air, with its $899 starting price, brings a normal physical keyboard and an Intel Core processor. If having a stylus is that important, Microsoft and Lenovo are among the companies there to help. The Surface Pro 3 matches the iPad Pro’s starting price and comes with a capable stylus. Lenovo, too, includes styluses with many of its devices that have varying prices. In fact, Lenovo’s upcoming Miix 700 will cost less than the iPad Pro and come with a wireless keyboard. The Miix 700’s stylus is a separate purchase, one that will undoubtedly be cheaper than Apple’s Pencil.

Apple has priced itself out of a market before even entering.

The iPad Pro’s position is unclear. Who should be buying this tablet? Is it even a hybrid tablet-laptop? The form factor tells you this is a tablet; however, the accessories make it a hybrid. See the price and the confusion is furthered.

Apple is finally accepting your fingers coming off of the display despite the late Steve Jobs once saying “if you see a stylus, they blew it.” Just let it sink in, though, that using the iPad Pro the way that Apple wants you to will cost over $1,000 while not changing the fact that the product is limited.

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