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The USB-C port of the new iPad Pro is a big problem. In addition to charging the device and announcing Apple's decision to move Lightning away, it also allows the iPad to use the wide variety of USB-C dongles and doodads available.
On paper, it would appear that the USB-C port would allow the iPad Pro to finally make its way into the realm of laptops by adding useful features like allowing you to hook up to the wired or internet-enabled Internet. Use a monitor and keyboard.
And technically, it can do these things, but not all at the same time unless you have a USB-C hub. It's a bit harder than you think since the iPad Pro supports the USB-C, but not Thunderbolt 3 with which it shares a port design. The majority of available hubs use Thunderbolt 3. So I could plug it into my monitor, keyboard, or Ethernet, but I could not use the Thunderbolt 3 hub I'm currently connected to. My inexpensive USB-C hub with Ethernet and USB 3.0 ports worked perfectly when plugged in, but USB-C hubs alone are not as common or as high-quality as Thunderbolt 3 hubs.
Using a keyboard with the iPad Pro is wonderful: the Smart Keyboard case is as expensive as a high-end USB-C keyboard and less pleasant to type. So, when you sit at a desk or carry a full sized keyboard in a cafe, you do not feel as odious as expected, especially when you plug it into the iPad Pro and it works. .
The monitor is another matter. I connected the iPad Pro on a Dell 4K monitor and the image on the iPad immediately appeared on my monitor. Then I opened Netflix and the video itself appeared on the big screen. Unbelievable!
Then I switched to another application, stupidly baduming that my Netflix video would continue to be played on a larger monitor, rather than just reflecting the iPad.
Instead, Netflix was closed and Chrome was now open. Duh! It's not an extra monitor, it's just a mirror. And it's annoying. Although there are many situations where it is useful to reflect your smaller screen on something bigger, not including the possibility of using an additional display area seems like a missed opportunity.
This is one of the many quirks that make iOS limitations more apparent as a productivity platform, especially compared to Chrome OS and Windows. But there is one that I can not overcome. Windows and Chrome OS support mouse input, but not iOS. When using Chrome and Slack in split screen mode on the iPad with my beautiful keyboard and this 4K monitor, I still had to reach for the iPad to do anything. Switch between applications, navigate in Slack. All this required tactile input.
That left me helplessly wondering aloud several times "what's the point?"
On the other hand, there was a magical experience. I took my USB-C card reader, I plugged it into the iPad, which immediately recognized my SD card and offered me to import my photos. It was faster than under Windows or macOS.
So, yes, some aspects of the iPad Pro's USB-C support are outdated. Monitors and hubs are not working well, which is disappointing. However, when the iPad Pro supports the USB-C, it's really special and I hope that finally, finally, Apple will bring a mouse support to its touch operating system.
This is the first iOS product to integrate the USB-C standard, so I'm not surprised at the perfection of its implementation. We can only hope that Apple will take a serious interest in the promise of USB-C and continue to improve its operation on its tablets.
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