I hope I can get some practical advice. I'm considering getting an iPad Pro, but have never had an iPad. Ideally it would replace some notebook functions, but I'm unsure how viable that is in terms of real life usage.
My overall setup:
I have an iMac at my office, and a MacBook Pro for use at home and when I'm in court/traveling/out of the office. I run a fairly large monitor off it when I'm working from my home office, so the screen size at home is not an issue. (I'd probably continue to use it at home for most things, even if I got an iPad.)
On the Road functions:
When traveling I mostly use the MacBook for word processing (emails, briefs, motions) and online research. I use Microsoft Word, Dropbox, RocketMatter, Quickbooks online, Adobe Acrobat, Mail and Safari the most.
When in court I tend to use the MacBook as a pre-loaded legal archive/viewer of all the documents and relevant caselaw. (It would be nice to be able to do some quick research on the fly, but there are often shitty or nonexistent wi-fi connections in courthouses.)
I do at least a couple of depos a month and use paper to take notes. (I just can't master the the typing note taking thing.) I usually average at least one trial or long hearing a month. Again, paper notes. Again, I use the MacBook as a document archive/viewer, etc.
The MacBook (and charger) is a hair heavy to transport along with other items. It's not a huge deal, but lighter is always better.
I'm planning on doing some international travel (work and pleasure) in the next couple of years.
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I'm interested in the smaller (9.7 inch) iPad pro because it seems very transportable and has the cellar option for on the fly research. The big iPad pro seems huge to me. (I mean, it's basically a lap desk, so why not just get laptop? Or not?)
However, the keypad for the smaller iPad Pro (test driven in the apple store) seems cramped. (I am a moderately fast but very clumsy typer.)
I'm not really savvy as to how I'd use an ap-based system instead of what I'm using now. I realize many of the programs I use have aps, but that's no guarantee of practical speed in use.
Any thoughts would be welcome. I also have some specific questions:
My overall setup:
I have an iMac at my office, and a MacBook Pro for use at home and when I'm in court/traveling/out of the office. I run a fairly large monitor off it when I'm working from my home office, so the screen size at home is not an issue. (I'd probably continue to use it at home for most things, even if I got an iPad.)
On the Road functions:
When traveling I mostly use the MacBook for word processing (emails, briefs, motions) and online research. I use Microsoft Word, Dropbox, RocketMatter, Quickbooks online, Adobe Acrobat, Mail and Safari the most.
When in court I tend to use the MacBook as a pre-loaded legal archive/viewer of all the documents and relevant caselaw. (It would be nice to be able to do some quick research on the fly, but there are often shitty or nonexistent wi-fi connections in courthouses.)
I do at least a couple of depos a month and use paper to take notes. (I just can't master the the typing note taking thing.) I usually average at least one trial or long hearing a month. Again, paper notes. Again, I use the MacBook as a document archive/viewer, etc.
The MacBook (and charger) is a hair heavy to transport along with other items. It's not a huge deal, but lighter is always better.
I'm planning on doing some international travel (work and pleasure) in the next couple of years.
***
I'm interested in the smaller (9.7 inch) iPad pro because it seems very transportable and has the cellar option for on the fly research. The big iPad pro seems huge to me. (I mean, it's basically a lap desk, so why not just get laptop? Or not?)
However, the keypad for the smaller iPad Pro (test driven in the apple store) seems cramped. (I am a moderately fast but very clumsy typer.)
I'm not really savvy as to how I'd use an ap-based system instead of what I'm using now. I realize many of the programs I use have aps, but that's no guarantee of practical speed in use.
Any thoughts would be welcome. I also have some specific questions:
- How easy is the small smart keyboard to type on for hours?
- Has anyone adapted to the smaller keyboard?
- How much slower is word processing if you have to touch the screen for menu/editing purposes?
- How viable is taking hand written notes with the apple pencil (rapid retrieval of earlier notes is key.)
- How viable is making hand written notes with the apple pencil on PDFs (exhibits, etc.)
- Any thoughts on note-taking with the split-screen function?
- How does the whole celluar data thing work? (I have one of those grandfathered ATT unlimited data plans, but can set up something separate through the office.)
- How does the whole celluar data thing work when traveling abroad?
- Could it viably replace the MacBook/laptop on longer trips for lightish word processing?
- Does it work with PACER?