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Maybe. I’m rocking a 2017 iPad Pro with LTE as my “second” device. After five years the keyboard is getting increasingly flunky - the fabric on the keys are sta

Maybe. I’m rocking a 2017 iPad Pro with LTE as my “second” device. After five years the keyboard is getting increasingly flunky - the fabric on the keys are starting to wear off and it just always looks a little dirty. I’m on my second case - as my first one, which was a nice one that holds the Apple Pencil while also working with the keyboard, stated to spontaneously disintegrate. You can still find replacement pieces for these, but it’s getting harder - I couldn’t find the same nice case anymore and the keyboards can take a little while longer to replace. Remote Desktop and Blink mean I can connect to most systems. Although, the keyboard is weird - and the fact that it is missing an escape key and function keys can be really annoying, especially in vim. But, far and away, the biggest problem is battery life. It’s down to the point where I only get about 5-6 hours on it. I used to get all day and then some. Turning on a VPN makes it drop quickly. Battery replacement on these devices is quite hard. All that being said, it’s a wonderful device. Especially with LTE. Just open it up and internet everywhere. It’s really game changing if you’ve never had an iPad with it. I just hope the battery makes it another few years.

factsarelolz 4y ago
Apple charges $99-179 for a battery replacement in the US. Do you think that is too much to extend the life of your iPad for another few years or do you think that you wouldn’t get the extra value out of the extended life due to the chance that apple stops supporting it iOS wise?
- gumby 4y ago
  I bought an ipad air in 2014 and it received software updates until the ios being released next week. So that's 8 or 8 1/2 years of support -- not bad! The Air 2 really felt like the perfect ipad at the time and in many ways still does. I have a new 2021 ipad air because I wanted and use the pencil 2 for taking notes. But even though the new one is only about 25 g heavier and has narrower bezels, when I pick up old one (yes, still use it) it just feels lighter and more convenient.
gumby 4y ago
I bought my first iPad with LTE a couple of years ago. I signed up for LTE service only twice (each for a month while traveling). What I subsequently realized was that if I have my ipad with me out of the house I will also have my phone with me, and tethering to the phone was trivial and worked just as well. So when I eventually replace this ipad I don't imagine I will buy 5G support.
- factsarelolz 4y ago
  I agree. I had the same realization and couldn’t not fathom spending 10$/mo on a data only line for the iPad. Saved 120$/yr If the iPad and your iPhone are on the same iCloud or iCloud family account simply turning on the hotspot on your iPhone will allow your iPad to automatically connect if the iPad is configured to auto accept or you get a prompt to connect to the hotspot. If I have my iPad I have my iPhone and if I have both I probably at minimum have my slim anker portable charger and an extra cable and anker wall charger.

factsarelolz 4y ago

Apple charges $99-179 for a battery replacement in the US. Do you think that is too much to extend the life of your iPad for another few years or do you think that you wouldn’t get the extra value out of the extended life due to the chance that apple stops supporting it iOS wise?

gumby 4y ago
I bought an ipad air in 2014 and it received software updates until the ios being released next week. So that's 8 or 8 1/2 years of support -- not bad! The Air 2 really felt like the perfect ipad at the time and in many ways still does. I have a new 2021 ipad air because I wanted and use the pencil 2 for taking notes. But even though the new one is only about 25 g heavier and has narrower bezels, when I pick up old one (yes, still use it) it just feels lighter and more convenient.

gumby 4y ago

I bought my first iPad with LTE a couple of years ago. I signed up for LTE service only twice (each for a month while traveling). What I subsequently realized was that if I have my ipad with me out of the house I will also have my phone with me, and tethering to the phone was trivial and worked just as well. So when I eventually replace this ipad I don't imagine I will buy 5G support.

factsarelolz 4y ago
I agree. I had the same realization and couldn’t not fathom spending 10$/mo on a data only line for the iPad. Saved 120$/yr If the iPad and your iPhone are on the same iCloud or iCloud family account simply turning on the hotspot on your iPhone will allow your iPad to automatically connect if the iPad is configured to auto accept or you get a prompt to connect to the hotspot. If I have my iPad I have my iPhone and if I have both I probably at minimum have my slim anker portable charger and an extra cable and anker wall charger.