Recently had to replace my iPad. It was an iPad Air 2 from about 2014, so it was starting to really show its age. No longer supported by Apple for OS upgrades, a number of the apps I used regularly were starting to become irritatingly unusable. There is always a moment when you use older tech where you know it’s time to move on. In this case, I did, just not too far down the iPad progression.

Enter the iPad Pro 12.9″, a first-generation model from 2015. It runs iOS 16, has 4GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. I honestly think it’s just a step above the iPad Air I’m replacing. I hit upon this unit on eBay for a modest $130, and coupled with a $15 coupon for “back-to-school savings,” it was only $115. Cosmetically, it’s in very good shape; the only issue is that the microphones don’t seem to work. The screen is huge compared to the older iPad, almost unwieldy.

The main reason I decided to get this was that I was very keen on trying out Procreate using the Apple Pencil. I’ve “drawn” on iPads before, but this is a different experience altogether. Far more control compared to just using a finger, but still lacking in the analog experience. There’s a certain tactility that’s absent, but you do tend to look past that. I’m still very much getting acclimated to the whole thing. The utility of it is beyond compare though. For jotting out ideas and playing around with techniques, it’s a pretty amazing tool.

Old man using “new” technology. The kids will mock, as well they should.