I did it: First impressions with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil...I know...I'm a bit late to the party. And...as anyone who has read my blog knows...this purchase was a complicated one. I've written about how I did not NEED the iPad Pro...I wanted it. I've wanted it since it came out. Since everyone (by everyone I mean the guys whose podcasts I listen to) has written about it...I wanted it. I resisted the purchase for many, many months...torturing myself (and my wife even more) in the process. Now...I have it! And...I cannot begin to say how glad I am that I got it! I've only used it for a few days. Barely a week as of this post. That said, here are some of my first impressions...The Smart Cover keyboard...very easy to use. The keys feel surprisingly good on my fingers and I can type pretty fast using it.Split view...This was one of the main reasons I wanted to get the iPad Pro. Split view works nicely on the iPad Air 2 but I was finding that using it was creating a strain on my already bad eyes. My first attempt at trying out split view on the iPad Pro...saw Twitter on the left side and the Notes app open on the right. I love it! It's so much nicer on my eyes! No more straining...very relaxed reading and work (when I say work...I mean writing) experience. There is so much more space dedicated to each app in split view.The speakers...I'm also trying out the speakers. There are 4 and they sound very cool! Much more dynamic than just 2 speakers on the iPad Air 2.Apps...The first apps I tried, after syncing up the iPad Pro were the Ulysses app...an amazing writing tool...open on the left of the split screen and the native Notes app on the right...to see what "it" (the workflow I have dreamed of) would be like. I was (and continue to be) blown away by how sharp the text looks! And...I'll say it again...my eyes are so happy!Writing...the main reason I "caved" and got this iPad Pro is because I wanted to write on it. I've heard several people (see above) talk about how amazing the writing experience is with the iPad Pro. Well...I just spent about an hour on it...using the Ulysses app and my Apple Pencil as an extension of my fingers...using it to select/cut/paste...as I begin to prune a piece of writing that will eventually become a book I want to publish. Side Note: The pruning is an attempt to get the piece down to a long form article...25 pages...for publication. It was fun trying this workflow out...it helped me figure out the app and the pencil more and it gave me more experience with the Smart Cover keyboard as well. I really think I'm going to like using the pencil in this multi-layered, interactive way...while I write.The Apple Pencil...Speaking of the Apple Pencil...I have also asked a few (who I would call) experts...namely [Myke Hurley] http://mykewasright.com () about apps that I could begin to dabble with this new tool. He mentioned Paper by 53, Notability, and Good Notes. I've placed Good Notes onto my home screen as a challenge to figure out ways to use it daily. So far, I've used the app as a digital daybook...with 5 entries in it to date.I will of course be writing more about this in the weeks to come!