[Gange]

I'm considering a new Ipad and would like some help decyphering the fruity marketing lingo.

I have a second generation Ipad which I liked a lot, it almost took over all use from my stationary computer. However a while back it started to lag and later it was no longer possible to install apps because the OS was too old and the device did not support another upgrade.

I would prefer the USB port and performance of the Ipad Air but because of their policy of SW downgrading the performance of old devices and not supporting at all after a couple of years I'm considering just getting the cheapest version. Better a less expensive brick than an expensive.

Are there any other good features, than USB and better performance, of the Air?

Intended us: Ireal backing tracks, tuning exercises and other nifty music apps that I don't know about yet, filming for documentation purpose, surfing the interwebz.

How would do you reason?
Memory size?

 

[dexdex]

Well, things all depend, which is no surprise.

I have ended-up using 2 iPads since about 5 years. Apple should start to love me, actually both of us.

1. 1st generation Pro 12.9 inches, 32 GB, used mainly in my bands as music book, with ForScore, and sometimes as a TV set to watch stuff late at night. Heavy like a brick, it is not very comfy for other uses. Side note, I just upgraded the brick to 14.0.1. Still doing fine.

2. Mini, 64 GB, which I just changed from a 2nd to a 5th generation, for most other uses. Mail, messaging, web, e-books both private and professional (I’m teaching), watching videos now and then. I can synchronize all my school stuff, which is mainly on Teams and OneNote. Very handy piece of hardware. Writing this answer with it.

As my better half also has an iPad, and both having iPhones, we have charging cables all over the place, and the USB-C would rather make it more complicated in my case, though I think it is a wise move for the future.

We also have 2 MacBooks and an antique iMac. I obviously do all my audio and video stuff on those devices, as well as the heavier text work or score writing (Musescore) needing a keyboard and a large display.

 

[whaler]

Get the big screen iPad Pro. The screen is the same size of a sheet of manuscript so it’s perfect for reading charts.

 

[Sigmund451]

I have the 7th generation 2019 model which replaced a 7 year old generation 4. It is light years better in all areas. Its not a terrible price and you can get good reconditioned models as well. In addition its a little lighter. But no USB port.

 

[nvilletele]

Get the big screen iPad Pro. The screen is the same size of a sheet of manuscript so it's perfect for reading charts.

Listen to this wise man. He speaks with wisdom.

 

[Sigmund451]

That is wise advice if your primary use will be reading music.
If you use it for a lot of emails, surfing and hand held applications then the large screen is a bit unwieldy and best managed with a keyboard.
I think actually handling the devices in advance of purchase may be of benefit,

 

[liggy]

Picked up a 3rd gen 12.9” Pro recently. Mainly for photo editing. Not much different than the current gen except for a $500 discount on the 1TB model. Much better for reading music.

I have been running the 10.5” Pro previously and this one has way better pencil support and just works. Love it.

 

[Gange]

Yeah, the Pros are sexy, but far too much money for me so I'll stick with sheet music. I've had no problem reading changes from the ordinary ipad, though.

Would you think that 32GB is enough? How much memory is consumed by system software?

 

[dexdex]

Until now, my iPads were 32GB, I never ran out of memory. You might get into trouble once you start tackling big audio, worse, big video projects.
My 12.9' pro is a 32 GB, I don't even think about capacity. The new Mini 5 now has 64, which is the smallest configuration available, and I haven't reached the 32 GB mark.
But, as I said before, I do all my memory heavy stuff on computers.

 

[dexdex]

Storage check of my Mini 5, tout en français....

 

[JimD]

This one gets a good review.

https://www.theguardian.com/technol...iew-tablet-faster-cost?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

 

[liggy]

Yeah, the Pros are sexy, but far too much money for me so I'll stick with sheet music. I've had no problem reading changes from the ordinary ipad, though.

Would you think that 32GB is enough? How much memory is consumed by system software?

For your stated use case I would think 32-64 would be plenty.

The newer versions support external storage via USB-C in any event.
I definitely prefer the 12.9 after using it for a while.

Then again my eyeballs are 61 years old so there is that...

 

[Gange]

Storage check of my Mini 5, tout en français....

View attachment 270598

Apps, Système, Photos, Messages, iCloud drive... French maybe isn't that hard to learn after all... :-D