Wow Andrew that is unlucky say the least. To be honest, considering the update that came so fast you might be on to something. Similar to iPad 3, that also came just before iPad 4 with only 6 months of difference. I know that, because I still have the iPad 3, always works, still it is sluggish from day one and only got worst from that.

Having said this, tell me which company would solve the problem you had the way the did? I mean, you payed for it, but also get the service, they assume the responsibility in ways that go beyond common practice. Now, with others, by experience, you pay for it on premium devices, but hardly get such level experience, meaning you would be stuck with a fix and a 2 week return probably. Wow, they gave you a 2017 model, plus a AirPod and the Pencil for the iPad Pro? I would say they know your work, but than again I know a guy that just a couple of days that had a problem with his Macbook they did precisely that, gave them a brand new 2017 model (without the AirPod or the Pencil).

Paul I have exactly the same opinion as yours regarding the current iPad Pro, even with iOS11. For me when the screen is front of me, touch is nice enough and you get use to it, but I still need the trackpad for editing text. To be honest, the iPad Pro, even if they support the trackpad, in my line of work as a developer, would still not suffice. But I can see my wife, a maths teacher, sons at school, law maker, doctor …. basically anyone who needs a general productivity device and nothing more using it when that comes.

When I used the SP3 I got quickly comfortable using both touch and the mouse. I would scroll with touch mostly for instance. I would even by reflex reach the screen of laptops … without touch. It happened several times in presentations. Still, once stopped using the SP3, and used a laptop without touch, got out out the habit pretty quickly with no diminishing productivity or feeling any discomfort. Don’t know what this tells about that.

Having said this, please do not duck down what it looks like to be the secret weapon of this iPad Pro that might change everything once again (if the trackpad/mouse issue is sorted in some convincing way). That is performance. I mean real performance for general productivity, surpassing at times the performance of $2000 thin and light laptops. I think this year Apple will talk about the iPad Pro again once iOS 11 is released to the public. It seams that they just wanted to get it out now, to get them out to developers to see what is capable off. Notice that its is not even based on the latest gen ARM for general productivity devices. Just a feeling, if not this year, it will be next.

Meaning a $649 might be expensive for a tablet, but not for a high performance general productivity device that rivals the power of traditional laptops at $1700. And if that is the case, I think its a certain that apps will come that take advance of it … fully.

The signs are all out there. The rising prices of Macbook Pro’s to create space for a new category so on and so forth, the fact that Apple did not really made. fuss about its outstanding performance for the moment and let under tech hiss flow with much oush, looks like something is cooking … boiling actually.

I think its likely we will have another Windows PC problem.

Will see.

PS: If this Apple move fails, IMHO this will be the first bing blunder of TC. I mean, go to the point of creating a new pricing scheme for a new product category and than let if fail without nothing up in his sleeve apart from iOS11?