That’s fine. You all need to hear the mistakes in my playing, not see how bad my hair is on any given day.
I just gave my ipad pro w/ LTE to my daughter this summer. I got it just before Covid with the intention of taking the newly built (at the time) light rail line from home to work. The ipad was supposed to be my e-reader on the train. Covid happened and I became a work from home type. I love the ipad but the additional cost and monthly data plan got used a handful of times over the years that I had it because I rarely leave home now. I’d say if you have a use case that would justify it, go for it. To be honest though, I’m back on a wifi only one now, if I need internet on my ipad while I’m out and about, I just use the hotspot on my phone for that.
If you aren’t in the Apple ecosphere and not interested in trying that out, I’d look at the new Windows Surface pro tablet or the Samsung Tab S10 ultra. The Microsoft one is 13" which is the top end on Apple devices while the S10 is 15". Having eyes that are becoming older, I appreciate the extra screen real estate myself (I went with the 13" M4 ipad pro, but I prefer the Apple ecosystem). Price wise, the 2 are pretty similar starting at $1K in the US. The Surface runs Windows 11 if you’re already used to using that, and the Tab is on Android. They both have some sort of pen accessory available, which I love my pencil on the ipad and would recommend.
1 Like
I have the older S9 plus and every time I use it (daily), I ask myself, why I paid so much money for it!
If the iPad M1 did not exist, I would think it’s great. Now I think: “Meh - I want an iPad!”
1 Like
I don’t disagree, typing this out on my M4 ipad now. I’m trying to answer the question from the perspective of someone that doesn’t want Apple, and provide some of those options. If it were me with those requirements, I’d probably go with the Surface.
1 Like
The new Surface seems to be good, using an ARM SoC. But of course you can only use Windows store apps, as far as I know!?
So it’s no full Windows tablet, in my opinion…
I have the feeling that @BeerBaron also does not want to spend a fortune, looking at his requirements…
1 Like
Using it for playing tabs, having a good screen to read off of is important imo. I would save a little longer and buy something with a bigger, nicer one if I had to. One benefit I think with the Surface is that you can plug it into a dock and use a tv / bigger monitor also. Technically you can do it with an ipad but it isn’t a great experience.
1 Like
Ah … didn’t know that. That would be kind of a killer criterium for me!
The Samsung S9 can be connected via USB-C or HDMI (via a cheap 10€ adapter) to a TV/monitor, no problem.
And you can cast, but that s#cks, cause of latency.
Also, there is always Samsung Dex … don’t use it much, but when I use it, it’s great!
I’m sure, the A9 can do that too…
1 Like
It mirrors the ipad screen and doesn’t change the aspect ratio is what I mean by not a great experience, FYI. If you can live with that then it isn’t a big issue.
1 Like
I am not opposed to Apple. I’ve just always felt “meh” about them. I think they’re quality, but I have yet to find a product line where they represent the best value. I’m open to the possibility that tablets are that product.
1 Like
If you never have a tablet before anything would wow you at this point, especially when you are due for a new phone upgrade.
I have almost every iPad models since the first one so my needs and expectations are different for sure. I have my MacBook Pro to my daughter as I’m no longer need it.
Not gonna lie $350 Magic Keyboard case is a bit steep but it’s 10 times better than an $89 knockoffs I bought for my 10th gen. I just check it’s on sale for $199 I might spring for that. 
I looked at the magic keyboard for my new one but tbh, I prefer this one. I need one that I can undock and use to take notes with, with my pencil. The Apple one doesn’t really allow for that and keep it covered. There’s about a 2 second lag when the keyboard comes out of sleep mode but is otherwise perfect.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CTGWZ3DL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
1 Like
Correct. I have a good laptop. I have a good phone. I also have sheet music notepads and pencils. If we’re looking at $600+ for an iPad, I’ll stick to those.
If I need a screen the size of my laptop… I’ll use my laptop. If I want to output to TV… I’ll use my laptop.
I want something handy enough that my wife will use it instead of her phone screen. I want something I can more easily carry in a gig-bag than my laptop if I go to a jam
My issue with 3rd party is like you mentioned the wake wait and keys traveling and general lagging.
Logitech came closest to the Magic Keyboard just different form factor.
This. This is the key use case for a tablet. In addition to any charts you have lined up before hand, with an internet connection or hotspot to your phone, you immediately have access to chord charts for virtually any song that is thrown out, and at a screen size much more readable than your phone.
1 Like
When it comes to tablets there’s just really no real competition to the iPad. All of the others I have tried (more than one) were much worse in comparison and had far worse support from their vendors. The only close competitor might be the Surface but even then I would still go iPad.
1 Like
It’s not the quantity of apps but quality of apps and there’s no match to Apple App Store. Their apps are regularly updated and for the most part optimized to each model and size of the iPads.
In addition, the iOS apps get developed and update first because it’s one OS and just a handful of size to be optimized, and the OS are usually updated within a few days of release unlike Android OS and android users.
It’s just a huge task. One OS, 50 brands, 500 models to update even one app is just a big huge task. Even if they start at the same time the iOS will get there’s first.
1 Like