It sounds ever ever so similar to the Note Pro, right down to the limited multi tasking. Surface got a mention when Microsoft popped into the show to intro Office for IOS.

BTW the dumbing down of OS/X stuff to make it easier to let IOS match OS/X now tells us Apple is even harder considering dumping Intel and giving us IOS/X.

The note pro is awful, the sales of the thing are the worst in the industry for any tablet of its size. This new Next generation iPad Pro is putting never before seen technology in the hands of consumers. With such an ability advantage over last generation tablets like the note pro.

Microsoft even showed up to demonstrate how great office will look on this new next generation device with unparalleled multitasking. But I agree with you that the Note Pro has limited multi tasking but it's a last generation product.

Alan meet thisguy, thisguy meet Alan.

You two look like you're going to get on well

You trying to say I'm vague and make little sense? Apple products have a major look advantage with class leading abilitys!!!!!!

No doubt 'updated' with Windows 10. No thanks.

Oh, and just to be clear I'm not anti-Microsoft, my main work system runs Windows 7 64-bit, and I don't swap to Apple because of the incredible expense, and because I have this system working just he way I want and usually very smoothly.

I also own an iPad, and find that very convenient for others tasks. The iPad Pro, would actually be very useful to me in another part of my work, where I could use the screen size but don't want or need a full laptop. Horses for course.

Oh jeeze, are you the resurrection of Steve Jobs? Mindless fanboi alert!

This "unparalleled multi tasking". You do realise its still not a patch on what is available on Windows or OS/X? Its still cut down and restricted compared to a desktop, or W8/8.1/10 on a tablet.

And I'm waiting to see this "never before seen technology". Apple hasn't ever released anything that hasn't been seen before.

Please, explain yourself ... currently your rantings are quite entertaining.

The new iPhone will probably break industry sales records with weeks of waiting time, if you want one of these next generation devices Before Xmasget your orders in soon. Consumer satisfaction for these phones is industry leading as proven by record breaking sales increase 75% whilst the industry as a whole went into negative sales figures comparable.

Clonmuit you always attack anyone who makes a positive comment about the iPhone, why do you never question users like AlanWaric who has a pathalogical hatred for Apple and constantly slags them off in every post he makes?

I have seen your Apple is doomed posts only for Apple to break sales records with industry leading next generation products. It must really bother you.

I've never written an "Apple is doomed post". I have an iPhone (okay, an older 4S), the shuffle is for me the greatest little music player ever created and the iPod/iPhone integration as I have in the car is brilliant.

Your problem appears to be that your making sensational baseless claims.

"unparalleled multitasking" - nope, iOS doesn't offer that. Its a cut down version of whats available on desktops (and by extension Windows tablets)

"never before seen technology" - again, nope. Nothing in the iPP is new. Its all been seen before. The only difference is that the iPP is being promoted by the greatest marketing company in the world.

You sound like an advertisement!

What technology is this?

And don't mention the force touch as there is a Huawei phone that already has it.

What came to mind.

It's a "next generation machine" that can only run apps? The Surface, and many other tablets, run the full desktop Windows 8.1 or 10. The Surface, even the old basic first gen RT, could run a second display as a dual desktop machine, something no iPad can do, even this latest "Pro" machine. The first gen Surface RT could run two apps side by side, a feature the iPad only got this year. User accounts? expandable memory? Still waiting. The iPad even blurs the image when you resize the split screen, how lame is that?

And when Apple copied the Surface keyboard cover shame they couldn't fit on the proper touchpad so you can use it like a laptop. Still, maybe another year or two....

If you want a real laugh check out the old base model Surface RT2 as it plays a HD video on its own screen while at the same time playing Halo on a HDTV. Shame your latest "next generation machine" can't do that....

/Back in my day trolling at least tried to be believable.

I think you've made some good points. If you are looking to replace your laptop with a tablet type device then the surface pro is a good option.

However, I do not even think the iPad pro is aiming for that market. iPads have become used more and more in business, and this just expands that market.

But that video was a base model Surface RT, not a Surface Pro, and yet that does so many things this new iPad Pro still cant do. I'm typing this on a Linx 10 tablet running full Windows 8.1 that cost me £150, less then the optional keyboard for the iPad Pro, and even that does so much more than the new iPad, albeit not the pen input.

Edit: The keyboard for the iPad Pro is $170, so it's not quite as much as the Linx tablet.

I'm not sure what point you are trying to make. I've said that I think the iPad pro is not aimed at the 'tablet pretending to be a laptop' market, particularly as apple already make very capable and popular laptops.

I see more and more iPads being used in the business environment with dedicated apps written and that would be the market they are aiming for.

Then how is that "Pro" anything? If you are using dedicated apps then you're probably doing low level stuff. They tout the pen input, but it can only run cut down app versions of software from Adobe for example. If you are doing pro level artwork then you'll want the full version of your graphics programs, and you'll want to be able to plug in standard external hard drives, USB sticks etc. If you're just using the pen to click buttons or jot down some notes then a £3 capacitive pen and a basic iPad will do just the same.

It has a keyboard so you can use it like a laptop but it hasn't got a trackpad that a laptop would. You can only use apps while your PC can only use the full versions, so you have to learn two different versions. It hasn't got the full file management functions that a PC or Surface does. Any business wanting to use it with proprietary software will have to get it written as an app from scratch. Now they have two totally different versions of their software to support. With a Surface they can just install their desktop software on it.

What sort of uses do you think this will be used for?

Why do I see so many businesses using iPads? They clearly think they are a benefit.

You seem to be making a very good argument for how pointless the surface pro is. If all you are going to do is run the desktop software, not designed for touch or a tablet, why buy it.

I'm not sure anyone has trouble going between an iPad and a Mac. I do it all the time.

The good thing about the Surface, even the RT, was that it had two totally different and separate UI, a traditional desktop for use with the keyboard and mouse, and the tablet Metro UI for use as a tablet. So on the train on the way to work it's a tablet you can easily use holding in one hand. Get to the office and it's a laptop with proper, full, menus and controls. IMHO W10 is a step backwards from that dual mode, hence I tried it on my tablet but went back to 8.1.

But with the iPad Pro you don't get that. It has a tablet UI, full stop. And you can only run apps, hence Adobe demoing a cut down, app version, of its software. The Surface can run apps and programs. You have the choice.

So what kinds of business uses do you foresee the iPad Pro being used for? Who will use it?

I can't think of many businesses that would be able to use it. The iPad has been growing it's business market without really trying.

As I said, there are many businesses that have developed dedicated apps for their enterprise, they are consumer facing, they do not need windows based desktops to do their work.

Any business that does high powered processing would not be using a tablet/desktop hybrids so the surface wouldn't provide the answer.

I've just bought a surface pro to support a contract I'm working on, but I've got it because of its tablet properties, not because it can run a desktop.

So again what sort of uses do you see the iPad Pro being used for? From what you say about businesses that have developed consume facing apps the ordinary iPad will work fine. What is the Pro for? You say they don't need the desktop but what features of the iPad Pro will they need? What advantage does it offer? What actual uses?

And your comment about the Surface Pro is spot on. If you never need the desktop then it is still a great tablet, just like the iPad Pro. But one day you may suddenly need to run a program and you will be able to. On the iPad Pro, you wouldn't.

I've already told you, I cannot think of a sector which couldn't use it. However, I'm not going to list every business sector just for you to try and tell me that they don't need the device.

Stating the obvious, the iPad pro is a bigger, more powerful iPad which also allows the use of a better integrated keyboard and stylus. Apps will be able to be extended to carry out more processing. Just like when any other device that improves performance comes out.

I'll make it easy for you, let the market decide. Either enterprise will buy it or they won't.

Although I wouldn't buy one, I think the iPad Pro will be successful. I am speaking as someone who has a Surface Pro 3.

I was in a hospital last week, and the staff were using an iPod Touch to record patient observations. These went via wifi to the consultants, who would then prioritise treatment. Why use an iPod Touch? I guess because it is a standard device with lots of apps available.

The iPad Pro will no doubt have lots of business use, not because it is the 'best' tablet/notebook device, but because organisations will choose to standardise on iOS devices rather than PC/Windows for example.

If you can't actually suggest specific areas and functions where this will be used then that suggests you know there aren't uses for which either a standard iPad will work perfectly or where a Windows tablet would do a far better job. I've given reasons why a Surface Pro is far better. Can you name any reasons to buy a iPad Pro instead?

Why should businesses spend time and money writing apps for this when they will already have Windows software that they can install and have one IT team supporting one system? Why anyone would choose to use the cut down app versions of Adobe software when they almost certainly already own the full spec PC version they can install?

Lots of businesses use the standard iPad, or as Stig said a iPod Touch, for simple data entry. But that's hardly a Pro use, nor does it need the power of the faster machine.

I'll repeat again, it's simple, it is a more powerful and versatile version of the iPad. Why wouldn't business buy it. However, if you can be bothered to use google, you will already see specific businesses such as designer and architects are talking about it in a positive manner.

I know the owner of a large scale design/printing company that does football programmes. They already use iPads which they use extensively to review designs with there customers (they use macs for all the design work). I'm playing golf with him next week so I'll ask him if he plans to purchase any. I'm happy to bet any money you like that they will purchase a number of them.

As I said, let's see if business buy it and then you can tell them they are wrong.

So what makes it "Pro"? What can it do that a standard iPad can't? It has the stylus, but can't run the industry standard graphics programs, only cut down app versions of some of them.

Your example of a design company using them to show artwork to clients is hardly Pro. The bigger screen will be nice, but a bigger screened standard iPad would do just the same.

I'm not asking you to name every possible use, just a couple of examples. You believe businesses will buy it, so clearly you must have some idea of what they will use it for.

Forgive my ignorance on this subject but The Pencil .. is it just a lump of plastic?