I immediately lose any respect for any supposed iPad Pro enthusiast if they ever state that they have no idea where Apple should take the iPad Pro in the future. That statement reveals that they actually don’t use the iPad Pro for “Pro” purposes.
Because if they did, they’d have an immediate list that they could whip out at a moments notice. I know I do. And it looks like this.
Docking Station
The old 10.5” iPad Pro introduced in 2017 had a little dock available by Logitech which allowed it to charge via the smart connector just like the current iPad does in the Magic Keyboard. It was glorious because it was small and had a much smaller footprint on your desk than the Magic Keyboard. Apple needs to do something similar for people who want to use their iPad Pro for work.
The Magic Keyboard always struck me as quite redundant. It’s best used at a desk. But if I’m at a desk, I’d rather just use my full sized keyboard with number pad and a 32” monitor. So the Magic Keyboard causes the same waste of desk space as a laptop computer. You end up with two keyboards sitting on your desk when you’re only using one.
I want a dock that has no keyboard which will allow charging and maybe even data transfer to monitors or hard drives.
I almost have what I want with the Kensington StudioDock. I can plug my monitor and external drives into this dock and then whenever I place my iPad Pro into it, everything is connected.
My only real issue with the StudioDock is that it locks you into one size of iPad. I purchased the 11” iPad Pro version because that’s the iPad that I own. However, I’ve recently been thinking about upgrading to the 12.9” version for the extra screen space. The only reason I haven’t is because I don’t really want to purchase another $400 StudioDock.
I’d love it if Apple came out with their own dock for the iPad Pro which had more flexibility with iPad sizes.
Kickstand Case With Removable Keyboard
As I mentioned earlier, I never liked the Magic Keyboard because the keyboard was just in the way if I was using a good full sized keyboard. But I didn’t really like it when traveling either. Why? Because if I wanted to use my iPad as a tablet for reading, I had to remove it from the case. This meant my iPad was completely unprotected if I accidentally dropped it. And you’d also lose the ability to prop up your iPad if you wanted to watch a video.
The unveiled case for the newly introduced iPad last week had exactly I want for the iPad Pro. It’s a slim and lightweight case for the iPad which has both a kickstand and a detachable keyboard. You can remove the keyboard and use it in tablet mode or prop it up on a counter and watch a video. Brilliant!
I’m so happy to see Apple finally embrace the kickstand. Nothing makes my iPad Pro more enjoyable than a kickstand. And yes, I use it on my lap all the time. You get used to it with some practice. But my favorite place to use it is when I’m in my recliner watching TV with my feet up.
Wireless Monitor
My family is pretty accustomed to throwing any manner of items on the family television when they want everyone to see pictures, videos or websites. We do it via the Apple TV AirPlay. I can’t help but think that if a $150 device can accomplish this that a $1,599 monitor should be able to as well.
Maybe it’s time that Apple introduce a monitor specifically tailored to the iPad. One which allow you to utilize much more desktop space and not require any cables at all. If Apple created a charging docking station, you could simple place your iPad Pro into the docking station and the monitor would spring to life extending your Home Screen. No wires necessary.
Conclusion
The brilliance of the iPad is its modularity. Unlike a laptop, you can choose what keyboard or trackpad you use or even if you want one at all. It can be ultra light and portable or it can be plugged into a dock to use a big keyboard and monitor for a serious work session.
Apple needs to lean into the expanded universe of peripherals for people who want their iPad to adapt to different situations. Work is no longer done solely in offices. People are working from home more which means devices are having to adapt to multiple environments on a regular basis. Whoever offers the more versatile devices is going to cash in on this shift.
Docking Station
The old 10.5” iPad Pro introduced in 2017 had a little dock available by Logitech which allowed it to charge via the smart connector just like the current iPad does in the Magic Keyboard. It was glorious because it was small and had a much smaller footprint on your desk than the Magic Keyboard. Apple needs to do something similar for people who want to use their iPad Pro for work.
The Magic Keyboard always struck me as quite redundant. It’s best used at a desk. But if I’m at a desk, I’d rather just use my full sized keyboard with number pad and a 32” monitor. So the Magic Keyboard causes the same waste of desk space as a laptop computer. You end up with two keyboards sitting on your desk when you’re only using one.
I want a dock that has no keyboard which will allow charging and maybe even data transfer to monitors or hard drives.
I almost have what I want with the Kensington StudioDock. I can plug my monitor and external drives into this dock and then whenever I place my iPad Pro into it, everything is connected.
My only real issue with the StudioDock is that it locks you into one size of iPad. I purchased the 11” iPad Pro version because that’s the iPad that I own. However, I’ve recently been thinking about upgrading to the 12.9” version for the extra screen space. The only reason I haven’t is because I don’t really want to purchase another $400 StudioDock.
I’d love it if Apple came out with their own dock for the iPad Pro which had more flexibility with iPad sizes.
Kickstand Case With Removable Keyboard
As I mentioned earlier, I never liked the Magic Keyboard because the keyboard was just in the way if I was using a good full sized keyboard. But I didn’t really like it when traveling either. Why? Because if I wanted to use my iPad as a tablet for reading, I had to remove it from the case. This meant my iPad was completely unprotected if I accidentally dropped it. And you’d also lose the ability to prop up your iPad if you wanted to watch a video.
The unveiled case for the newly introduced iPad last week had exactly I want for the iPad Pro. It’s a slim and lightweight case for the iPad which has both a kickstand and a detachable keyboard. You can remove the keyboard and use it in tablet mode or prop it up on a counter and watch a video. Brilliant!
I’m so happy to see Apple finally embrace the kickstand. Nothing makes my iPad Pro more enjoyable than a kickstand. And yes, I use it on my lap all the time. You get used to it with some practice. But my favorite place to use it is when I’m in my recliner watching TV with my feet up.
Wireless Monitor
My family is pretty accustomed to throwing any manner of items on the family television when they want everyone to see pictures, videos or websites. We do it via the Apple TV AirPlay. I can’t help but think that if a $150 device can accomplish this that a $1,599 monitor should be able to as well.
Maybe it’s time that Apple introduce a monitor specifically tailored to the iPad. One which allow you to utilize much more desktop space and not require any cables at all. If Apple created a charging docking station, you could simple place your iPad Pro into the docking station and the monitor would spring to life extending your Home Screen. No wires necessary.
Conclusion
The brilliance of the iPad is its modularity. Unlike a laptop, you can choose what keyboard or trackpad you use or even if you want one at all. It can be ultra light and portable or it can be plugged into a dock to use a big keyboard and monitor for a serious work session.
Apple needs to lean into the expanded universe of peripherals for people who want their iPad to adapt to different situations. Work is no longer done solely in offices. People are working from home more which means devices are having to adapt to multiple environments on a regular basis. Whoever offers the more versatile devices is going to cash in on this shift.
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