iPad Pro for Writers - Six(ish) Months On

Why I’m so glad I bought an iPad Pro even though I wouldn’t today. Join the Writer's Mailing list too: eepurl.com/gQTqTT
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58keys on buying the right iPad for you: • Choosing the Best iPad...
iPad Pro: www.apple.com/...
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[@StormOracle]

First William, I’m so glad I found you. I enjoy your natural and relaxed speaking style. I get tired of presenters who think they need to shout to hold our attention (yes, I’m older-LOL). I just bought both the IPad Pro 12.9 M1 AND the 16” MacBook Pro M1. Both of my old ipad and MacBook are 2015 and I need more power. The MacBook I use for production as I have an online show and create graphics. I use the iPad for writing, presentations, and travel because it’s so light weight and portable. Thank you again for sharing your insight.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thank you. May I ask how you find the 16-inch MacBook Pro? That larger screen is very appealing but I used to have an old 17-inch PowerBook, a very long time ago, and it was so big that I never carried it around. It was an expensive desktop computer. Although a very good one.

[@rspurdum]

Thanks for your review. I've used the iPad Pro (11") for a couple of years now and I use it every day... for reading, writing (the Magic Keyboard is phenomenal) ... and so much more. I even use it for all of my music as I play cornet in a British Style Brass Band. I have a bluetooth pedal which turns the pages for me as I play. All in all, this is an indispensable piece of equipment that makes life better for me.

[@WilliamGallagher]

That's amazing - a Bluetooth pedal? I love that.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Only yesterday I heard about these pedals for turning pages, I'd not known they existed before. Shame I'm not a musician, really. I will admire you instead.

[@grant575mixmaster]

Thankyou William. I am writing down my experiences in the army for my family. I really enjoy your presentation style. I hope you continue to do many more helpful videos in the future.

[@WilliamGallagher]

That’s so interesting: you’re giving your family an entire world they can’t experience any other way. I love that.

[@johnnyragadoo2414]

I completely agree. In my case, the iPad doesn't run certain software I really like to use and a Macbook isn't that much more to lug around if you like backpacks. Nice insights!

[@WilliamGallagher]

I just nipped out of my office - only downstairs, really - and realised that I had automatically picked up my iPad to take with me. That could be because the MacBook Pro is busy on the desk, but it was the automatic-ness that surprised me. It's like we know what device we need for what, even if that is't conscious. But yes, backpacks: I had one for my old, deceased iPad Pro and it will now carry both the new iPad Pro and the MacBook Pro. I'm only hyper-conscious that this small bag is carrying such a lot of costly equipment. I may be known to hug it to my chest in crowds.

[@grahamhind2482]

Great video, well worth watching and full of sound advice. ‘Six months later’ or any kind of retrospective I find really helpful as long as it is honest, which of course your videos are.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thank you: that means a lot.

[@thecalledshot]

I recently watched one of your other videos on selecting an iPad and spent some time shopping. Today, I took the plunge and bought the 12.9 iPad Pro with a magic keyboard and stylus. Lucky for me, my nephew is an Apple genius, so he was able to hook me up with a friends and family discount. I’ll pick up the new toys tomorrow. I’m currently using an older MacBook Pro with Scrivener as my mobile writing tool, but I also have a Mac Mini at my home office desk, two other old iPads and an iPhone 11 all running Scrivener synced with Dropbox. Seems rather excessive, I know. But the two old iPads do not have the horsepower to work reliably. Your video inspired me to explore options worthy of the very valuable time I spend writing. I appreciate your thoughtful, practical and witty KZbin channel. By the way, I recall that you had an iPad on your wall and you mentioned it, but I could not tell what you were using it for. Was that a weather app display, or what?

[@WilliamGallagher]

Kirk, I hope - and expect - that you will relish your new gear. And yes, I did have an old iPad on the wall as a dashboard: it was mostly to have clocks on different timezones but I did also have a weather app there. Back in November, I switched to using a spare Mac as a dashboard -- and last week the monitor broke. So right now I have neither. And I'm missing them.

[@lewisdoyle]

Great video!! I really enjoyed this and it was good to see a review from a use case perspective rather than a tech review. I'm middle aged and it's also nice to hear from someone that has a bit more life experience (meant in the most sincere and nice way!). Thanks and I've subscribed.

[@WilliamGallagher]

I'm looking at you now. Hmm. Life experience. Hmm. Can't disagree. And thank you for the compliment. Still, hmm.

[@lewisdoyle]

@@WilliamGallagher And definitely consider more reviews like this, on how you utilise the features of all your Apple tech. I'll be keen, even through my own 'life-experienced' eyes 😆

[@holgermischke]

I totally understand not wanting to sell the iPad. Any apple device I ever got I kept. I think your video was very helpful because your opinion is not only based on technical facts, but also deals with the emotional side. Because the purchase, ownership and operating of apple devices definitely has an emotional aspect.

[@WilliamGallagher]

I traded in an iPhone last year and it was absurdly hard. How am I admitting that to you?

[@aarondavis9208]

The use of the 11” pro goes up when you use the keyboard Smart Folio vs the Magic Keyboard because it’s so so much lighter and so easy to carry anywhere

[@WilliamGallagher]

I've heard that before, yet I just don't like the feel of typing on the Smart Folio. I've only tried it in an Apple Store, but then I only tried the Magic Keyboard in an Apple Store and immediately had to have it.

[@PeteWilson1313]

"I remember it well, it all started on a Friday..." Now, that's the start of a story. I got a refurbished iPad Pro 12.9 on the last day of 2020. A year later, I still love it. Even though it's not M1, it's still fantastic. It's bright, it's powerful, and the battery life is excellent. I have the 1TB model, so this should last me a long time. I still struggle with the cost of adding a Magic Keyboard, so alas, I don't have one of those. I use a regular Bluetooth keyboard, and it works perfectly fine. I'm all in favor of more long term use reviews. It's all well and good to buy the latest and greatest when it comes out, but do you still love it after 6 months worth of payments? :)

[@WilliamGallagher]

When you put it like this, the "it all started on a Friday" bit, I am suddenly imagining a flashback beginning, the screen going a little wobbly for a second and halcyon-days-music on the soundtrack. Well. Look what you did there. I'm not going to admit that I envy you the 12.9-inch screen, I'm not going to admit that I really envy you the 1TB storage, I'm just instead going to freely admit that it's because of comments like yours that 58keys will include more longish-term hardware reviews. Thanks.

[@Lee.Freeman]

I live off grid in a remote forest in south-east Australia. I only have 100W of solar power feeding several small battery banks. I have both iPad pro 12.9 and 11 inch 2018 models.They are fantastic in keeping me in touch with the world, photo editing, social media, media, consumption, writing, email, podcasting… i also love that they are so reliable and use so little power. Fortunately I receive ellular 4G. Thankyou for the review. I’d like an ipadmini as well .. Dear Santa,…

[@WilliamGallagher]

Goodness. Tell me your batteries also power, I don't know, a cooker. And I can tell you're a writer: isn't it said that great stories and great locations only happen to people who are able to tell them?

[@Lee.Freeman]

@@WilliamGallagher Hi William. They are just small, 300W, powerbanks but also charge my tool batteries. For cooking I use a woodstove and also have a gas cooker. This is a beautiful and rarely mentioned corner of Aust. A shame we can't post pics here. Cheers 🍺🦘

[@WilliamGallagher]

@@Lee.Freeman Yes, I'd love to see some. But I will settle for being relieved that you can cook as well as use your iPad.

[@bhoqeem1975]

If it is for typing stories, browsing and light entertainments, ye might wanna try Kindle Fire HD 10. It's a solid device for writing novel. Ye can always pair it with any keyboard and mice--even Apple's magic ones.

[@WilliamGallagher]

I don't like the Kindle Fire, I'm afraid: I feel it throws away that huge benefit of the screen being readable in direct sunlight, and doesn't add enough to replace it.

[@michaelmeanwell5931]

Great review, as always, William. I have a different opinion. I have the 12.9 M1 iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard and agree that the keyboard gives the device greater functionality - so much so, that I plan to replace my 2015 27” iMac with the new one due this year, and continue to use the iPad as my laptop when away from the office. As you said, the iPad Pro can handle most Mac tasks and I find the desktop Mac a far superior workhorse to a laptop, so I get the best of both worlds with the iPad Pro.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thank you. I did think that I might retire my desktop Mac mini when the MacBook Pro arrived but so far, not so much. But I am slowly getting back to travelling and having the MBP is allowing me a lot more flexibility. But then I also know I'll lust after the next large-screen iMac too.

[@michaelmeanwell5931]

@@WilliamGallagher That’s the annoying thing about Apple … there are too many products to lust! One more thing - I’d like to add my name to the list of people who’d like to see more of your hardware reviews and how they benefit scribes, including the latest iPhones and also the Watch which I find indispensable for recording ideas in the fly (with Just Press Record app) and listening to audiobooks and podcasts, not to mention all of the fitness and health apps, of course.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Noted - and thank you. There will now be more hardware, specifically because of comments like yours. So helpful, much appreciated.

[@TheAllgoodNews]

You're wonderful. Thanks 🙏 for the great experience and knowledge 👍

[@WilliamGallagher]

Goodness, how nice of you to say. Thanks

[@cazza42]

I found it helpful as I am considering upgrading my old iPad 4. However, having watched your video about the MacBookPro I have just invested in one for myself and the iPad upgrade is now on hold. I would like to see more of this type of "6 month later" videos, definitely! Thank you for asking.

[@WilliamGallagher]

And thank you for commenting, that's very useful and very encouraging, too. Would you let me know how you get on with the MacBook Pro? I'm still in the honeymoon period with mine, though I'm not sure that will ever end.

[@cazza42]

@@WilliamGallagher of course. I have only had it one week, but I am loving it!

[@keepitsimple954]

Very useful, indeed. Thanks, William, for sharing your experience wich us.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thank you very much.

[@majorgunn]

Software comment and or using the original keyboard might have been useful , to me at least... I get it you like it, but assuming you have the keyboard, I don't know at this point anything the wiser.. don't want to use additional software, or pay for an extra keyboard, so you are fine chap but the review was missing the bits I needed..

[@WilliamGallagher]

Not sure what I can tell you. Without this keyboard or some other, you are typing in the glass. You can and I have, I’ve written thousands of words on the glass of this and other iPads, but a keyboard is close to infinity better. As for the software, I don’t remember all I used in that video but Pages must have been one of them and that’s either preinstalled or waiting for you to download it. Pages is excellent, even if I also use many others.

[@majorgunn]

Thanks William, I sprung for one today. Appreciate the reply. And I did get the keyboard with it. Happy Writing. Michael@@WilliamGallagher

[@justinrichardson6575]

Thanks William, another great video! I'm seriously considering getting an iPad Pro, exact same spec as your, so this kind of review is most useful indeed. I have an ageing MacBook Air and I'm wondering if an iPad Pro could replace it as a competent writing device...

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thanks. A current iPad Pro would be faster than an old MacBook Air, but then the Air has a keyboard built in. Depending on the age, it could even be a very good keyboard. I’d say the Magic Keyboard is very good but it does add an awful lot to the cost. So previously I’ve used many different external keyboards and been happy. I’ve also used a couple of keyboard cases and been very, very unhappy. Would you let me know if you go for an iPad Pro?

[@justinrichardson6575]

(Hi again William! Update: I went for an M1 iMac!)

[@WilliamGallagher]

@@justinrichardson6575 Excellent choice. Hang on, I sound like a restaurant waiter who automatically says that whatever you’ve ordered. But those 24-inch iMacs are gorgeous machines.

[@justinrichardson6575]

Haha! I like having a huge screen, great for writing and for watching KZbin! So please keep the content coming…

[@CrimFerret]

I think the Ipad Pro is a tough sell mostly because Apple limits what it can do to avoid having it compete with the Macbook. By all rights it should be just as good a computing device but it's not because of the software limitations. You'd almost be better off getting the Macbook and an Ipad Air to get the best of both worlds if you want to be in the Appleverse. The magic keyboard is ridiculously overpriced, but then so are most Apple branded accessories. Given it costs as much as a base model Ipad, it's kind of a hard sell.

[@WilliamGallagher]

I see your point and I can't really disagree, except I like iPadOS and if my iPad stopped being quite the heavily-used device it was once I got my MacBook Pro, it still fills a lot of roles for me.

[@SLass-sm7fn]

Strongly agree…the iPad Magic Keyboard is bit and byte delicious, but the current state of iPadOS does not, for me, make a full meal. So I went off the menu last year and ordered a 4th gen Air. But it seems to just serve as the occasional appetizer in my workflow due to that half baked operating system. And an M1 in even a 12 inch seems gluttonous. But I do admit to checking Apple’s refurbished page and if the right price point presents I just might go whole hog. Yes to more hardware reviews…and how’s storage holding up in your new MacBook Pro Max? Stay well.

[@WilliamGallagher]

I'm being careful with my storage, but less because of problems, more to avoid any possible ones. Still haven't entirely worked it out, but I'm getting good at archiving off very large files to an external drive once I'm definitely done with them. As for the iPad, I know the entire world agrees with you about iOS but I'm oddly fine with it. Can't explain that, but I'm not hankering for, say, Final Cut Pro on the iPad.

[@tripley66]

Actually, I would listen to a video of you reading one of your recipes on the iPad Pro. But to the point, yes these are helpful. I got an 8th generation iPad which led to me getting the MacBook Pro (aka Gallagher). What your reviews do for me is wondering if I did the correct thing and in the right order. I do use my iPad sometimes as a sidecar to Gallagher. Keep on reviewing. Send biscuits.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Some day your biscuits will come. I have yet to use Sidecar for anything other than a kind of test: do you find it useful? As for whether you did the correct thing and in the right order, of course you did. You've now got both: I meant what I said in the video about how if I'd got the MacBook Pro first I don't think I could've justified the iPad to myself. Yet having both is tremendous.

[@tripley66]

@@WilliamGallagher Something from Bettys would be fine as well. Yes, I have both, I use both. Sidecar is there and can be used. Still working on the issue of a monitor for Gallagher.

[@edde738]

Thanks for the video. I appreciate the perspective. It has helped me decide to do the same.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thank you.

[@williamgray1236]

Love your review, you right up my ally

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thank you, that's very good of you to say.

[@davemeadows6688]

Love your content and yes I’d love more reviews. So you prefer reading on the iPad Pro more than a kindle?

[@WilliamGallagher]

I go back and forth ridiculously. I just gave my Kindle Paperwhite to someone in the family and that was a good idea, it was a good thing to do, but it leaves me needing to buy another one for myself. And for some reason I haven't yet. I've just read a couple of books across both iPad and iPhone, and it's been good. But not as handy as Kindle, no.

[@davemeadows6688]

@@WilliamGallagher I read on my Kindle Paperwhite. Not really tried on my iPad. I have both the 11" and 12.9" Pro (I love them both equally and couldn't decide between the 2 so ended up keeping both!!) I also tried the Kindle Scribe but like you returned it. Great device to read and write on but trying to use my iPad and Apple Pencil more. Isn't the iPad a little heavy to hold after a while? Maybe better propped up or with a case?

[@WilliamGallagher]

@@davemeadows6688 Most of the time my 11-inch iPad Pro is in its Magic Keyboard case. But that means it's landscape and I prefer reading portrait so I take stout at night and yes, it seems heavy quite quickly. I envy you the 12.9-inch version, though: I had one of the originals of that and it felt very immersive.

[@davemeadows6688]

@@WilliamGallagher I have the mini, 11" and 12.9. I think the 11" is the sweet spot. Yes the 12.9 is a fantastic display but does get a little heavy. I use it mainly as a monitor in my office to watch TV on via the Sky app (been watching the golf all day today). The 11" is more portable and great to carry around. As for the mini, that comes with me when I have to go into the office. It's a great size to pop in my bag. Hardly notice it's there. I am fortunate to own all 3 but if I had to keep just one I think it'd be the 11".

[@aj2103]

Can you make a video about good apps for writing on iPad? I’m broke and cant pay for a subscription writing app (broke to the point i had to pause my audible subscription, i know first world problems) I would greatly appreciate tips for young writers trying to get more serious into writing

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thanks. I want to say I will: let me dig into it first. Because I can tell you right away that the free Apple Pages on iPad is very, very good. I'm working on a guide to it and have to keep adding bits as I find even more useful things in it. I wouldn't recommend Pages for script writing or for any writing intended to go straight on to a website. It can do both and I have done both - the guide will show you scriptwriting - but it's not great. For scripts it's fiddly and for online content it can add extra bits of formatting that muck things up. Nowhere near as much as Microsoft Word does, though. What sorts of writing do you do?

[@Martina_E]

@@WilliamGallagher is it good for blogging, science or technical writing?

[@WilliamGallagher]

@@Martina_E Technical writing: yes. Word has more options for academic-style footnotes, endnotes and numbering, but Pages is good. I don’t know about science writing, I’m afraid: I’ve not tried writing equations in it. And as for blogging, that’s ultimately putting text onto a website so as I say above, a plain text editor is better than any word processor for that. Pages, Word, all of them add in invisible extra information that helps them display text nicely, but can get in the way with online publishing.

[@LotusofNarayan]

Dear William, I am a writer. And have a writer's query. After going through yours and of course some other video/blogs etc.I am inching towards buying an Ipad Air M1 256 gb with a "Logitech" combo touch keyboard, here in India. Hoping to not make an expensive mistake, I am writing to ask what would you say? It will be majorly used for writing or so i think.

[@WilliamGallagher]

I don't know which Logitech keyboard that is, but I've liked practically every one I've tried. So given that I think the iPad Air is the sweet spot in the whole range for price and features, I can say you'd be getting a good system. These things are so personal, though, that I'd definitely do exactly what you are doing and check out many people's opinions. Or if you possibly can, try out the iPad Air itself. Would you let me know how you get on?

[@ronb3914]

Yes, I like these, more please. 🙂

[@WilliamGallagher]

Excellent, thank you.

[@michaelthomas1726]

With the advent of Unviversal Control, have you created a workspace/workflow that allows you to use your iPad and MacBook in tandem?

[@WilliamGallagher]

Yes. It's reasonably rare for me to use all three together, but I have. More often now, I have the iPad under my Mac mini's monitor so I drag the cursor down through the Mac's Dock to it. I run Otter.ai transcription on the iPad, sometimes OmniFocus and Fantastical. On the odd time that I've also got the MacBook Pro connected, it's to the right of the Mac mini and I can cursor across to it. I tell you, it's weird how fast you get used to this, isn't it? I find now that most of the time, I don't think of which device I'm using, I just look at the particular screen and the cursor is there.

[@arthurcosta5923]

Really nice video. Thank you!

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thanks.

[@AMilne-bv2hh]

Thank you. Very useful.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Great, thank you: I wasn’t at all sure this one was of any actual use so I much appreciate your commenting.

[@Dragonblaster1]

I’m on my second iPad Pro novel (9th novel overall), using MS Word. No problems so far. I just hope my sleepy publisher responds to my email.

[@WilliamGallagher]

Are you the Alistair J. Archibald who's with Simon & Schuster? I"m now wondering whether it's Simon or Schuster who are sleepy.

[@Dragonblaster1]

@@WilliamGallagher Hi William, afraid not (note spelling of my first name). I'm with Whiskey Creek Press, a part of the StarNow colossus. If you Google "The Chronicles of Grimm Dragonblaster," you'll find me.

[@WilliamGallagher]

@@Dragonblaster1 Well, Whiskey Creek Press sounds a lot better than Simon & Schuster.

[@Dragonblaster1]

@@WilliamGallagher If it were Simon and Schuster, my series would have been a dry monplogue like, "The History of 101 Household Appliances", starting with a three-book dissertation on The History of the Clothes Peg."

[@WilliamGallagher]

@@Dragonblaster1 Cough. I’d read that one.

[@jarethanstey7566]

Great video 👍

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thank you.

[@thecollegeprofessor]

Great video

[@WilliamGallagher]

Thank you, that's very good of you to say.