iPad Apple's Forgotten Purpose: What Happened to the iPad's Original Intent?

[DerKommissar]

Thank you for this.
So many get hopped up on the hype of the higher-end iPads that they ignore or dismiss the value and capabilities of the base models. (not just the 10th gen, but the 9th before that as well)

The hyperbole of marketing and the eco-chamber of FOMO work exceedingly well to paint the base model as a blurry, laggy mess, that shouldn't even be allowed to exist.

The price of the keyboard folio is the biggest reason for not upgrading from the 9th gen. I'm over my need for a physical home button (primarily because of my extensive use of a Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2022) 😁

I'm a rando caveman who is old enough to remember how Apple shocked the tech world when they announced the 1st gen iPad. All the "experts" and pundits predicted an MSRP of $999. The MSRP started at $499.

I preordered a 1st gen iPad and keyboard doc on the first day that preorders were accepted. That 1st gen iPad was amazing. I still have it and use it (see my post on vintage TV re-fit).

The base iPads are even more amazing. Apple is not known for selling products that are bargains, but these base iPads are legitimate tech bargains.

Some of the MR regulars here may recall that I was on a slow but steady path to exit Appleland (mostly due to the lack of reasonably priced products and restrictive functionality). But just as I think I've made the final move, Apple surprises me. So as long as I can still get bargains, I'm still in it. 😂🤣😂

I also have the 1st gen iPad, but it's in a box somewhere waiting to be vintage enough to sell. You can get a refurb keyboard folio from Amazon for between $100 and $120 depending on the day. I replaced my 2017 iPad Pro with the 10th gen, partly because with a refurb keyboard and refurb usb-c pencil from Amazon (and EDU discount from Apple), the total package was around $500- less than the price of the Air alone. You really ought to be able to do that with non refurb products.

 

[I WAS the one]

Mac Mini runs all of the same applications as a $12,000 M2Ultra MacPro

I love Mac Minis.

 

[Ghost31]

That's not what the original aim of the iPad was at all. Take a look at these screenshots from the announcement of the first iPad (thanks 2010 for the 360p resolution):

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The iPad wasn't meant as a miniaturised laptop. In fact Steve Jobs explicitly made a point of this by roasting netbooks, saying that they were just cheap laptops that run clunky PC software. If he were still alive, the idea of putting Mac OS, which has no considerations whatsoever around optimising it for tablet use, like so many people on MacRumors seem to want, he'd have a fit.

He didn't want the iPad to be a secondary device, he wanted it to be people's first choice for many tasks, namely the above ones, and in my opinion the iPad is still unambiguously better at these things than a phone (except music) and a laptop.

In a nutshell, he basically wanted it to be the perfect consumption device. And for millions of people it is. The aim of replacing a laptop only really came in the mid 10s when the iPad Pro came out, and that's still a work in progress. And as for affordability, as some have already pointed out, the base iPad, the spiritual successor to the original, is less than half the price of the original when it first came out, adjusted for inflation.

Dead on. I remember the first iPads couldn’t even download your personal music and had to be synced with a regular computer. It actually took quite a while for them to release a feature called iTunes over Wi-Fi or you could actually just download whatever you wanted. That’s how gimped the original iPads were so I don’t know how people are assuming the original ones were these amazing devices that could do just as much as the pros today. It wasn’t until years later that the iPad could be used as a standalone device and that’s when all of the comparisons happened where people were saying that Apple isn’t a laptop replacement and arguing about it for 100s of replies and multiple threads. The fact that we can even argue whether the iPad is a laptop replacement shows all the progress we’ve made. Back in the day it was simply a companion device.

It honestly looks like people just forget what inflation is and want to jump on the Apple hate bandwagon and complain about things

 

[Ghost31]

The expectation is straightforward: affordability. Why demand a higher price for top-tier specifications when your device runs the same applications as the cheaper alternative? The only "pro" aspect of iPad Pros lies in their internals, yet one can't utilize them professionally without a Mac! Am I alone in perceiving this absurdity? If you've shelled out $2000 for an iPad, it ought to function as a laptop replacement by then!

If I buy a MacBook Air, I can edit in Final Cut just like I can on a MacBook Pro.

 

[AZhappyjack]

If I buy a MacBook Air, I can edit in Final Cut just like I can on a MacBook Pro.

You can, but you won't see the same render times... the MBA will be slower than the MBP... but both will work fine.

Of course, you can also play a round of golf with only a putter... will take longer, but you can do it.

 

[yabeweb]

...Or not because clearly an iPad doesn't suit that person's needs?

An iPad is only as good as the apps and content running on it. The iPadOS operating system doesn't offer any real capability beyond what iOS offers in iPhones, save for one or two convoluted multitasking conventions that aren't as good in practice as they are in theory. The entire premise of an iPad replacing one's laptop, at least as Apple sees it today, revolves around how much any given app can utilize all of that hardware. Because iPadOS certainly isn't providing desktop class anything above the hood.




That's not what that person is saying. That person is saying that the iPad is being positioned as a computer replacement more than it is an in-between device.

They can position as they want, the same app are there as before so.....
They can't force you to use stuff you don't want to, iPad OS is more powerful than before but does still work the same way it did years ago if you want to.

To some ( me included ) it replaced the computer, to others it's still the same in between, side are is a prime example of them seeing it as an accessories to the Mac.

 

[Ghost31]

You can, but you won't see the same render times... the MBA will be slower than the MBP... but both will work fine.

Of course, you can also play a round of golf with only a putter... will take longer, but you can do it.

In other words, exactly like the iPad line. Nice.

 

[Webcat86]

In other words, exactly like the iPad line. Nice.

well you could put a Nissan Primera on a racetrack and you’d get to the finish line eventually, but everyone else will have long finished.

 

[Ghost31]

well you could put a Nissan Primera on a racetrack and you’d get to the finish line eventually, but everyone else will have long finished.

People and their endless analogies

 

[Webcat86]

People and their endless analogies

Well when you make silly statements like the MBP is just like the MBA because they both get the rendering done eventually, you have to read some appropriate analogies.

 

[redpandadev]

I think people often overlook the value of what they're actually buying when considering cost. In terms of actual functionality, the iPad exceeds that of the Mac you are showing. It fills a different purpose than the Mac - namely, it has a better camera and sensors (rear camera + LiDar) than the Mac. It also has touchscreen & drawing capabilities that the Mac does not have. If we hypothetically add a drawing tablet as an accessory to the Mac you are comparing, we effectively reach the same price ($1500 + $500 Wacom One 13"). It's about functionality and options, not about losing their way. If you're looking for that iPad that you describe in your OP, you should not be looking at an iPad Pro.

 

[Zest28]

Hey everyone,

I've been pondering over something lately, and I couldn't help but notice how Apple seems to have lost sight of the original purpose behind the iPad. Remember when it was positioned as the perfect middle ground between a computer and a laptop? A companion device, ideal for light work, school tasks, or on-the-go productivity?

But now, take a look at the current iPad lineup. The prices have skyrocketed, putting them in the range of high-end laptops, yet they can't even run a basic macOS. It's perplexing. Why invest in an iPad when you can get a more versatile and capable laptop for less?

Think about it: for illustrators, photographers, writers, and professionals alike, the iPad falls short in comparison to laptops. It lacks the flexibility and power needed for intensive tasks. Sure, it's great for consuming content or casual browsing, but when it comes to serious work, it just doesn't cut it anymore.

I miss the days when the iPad was a budget-friendly option for those who didn't need all the bells and whistles of a full-fledged computer but still wanted something more substantial than a smartphone. It's disheartening to see Apple prioritize profit margins over the original vision of the iPad.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you believe Apple should refocus on the iPad's roots and offer more affordable options that cater to productivity needs? Let's discuss.

Are you really complaining how the iPad Pro with one of the best displays in the world and Face ID doesn‘t cost $350?

Go buy the regular iPad for $350, Apple still sell those you know.

 

[whitestar27]

Threads like these remind me of someone who gets a girlfriend who he really wished was different and then later is disappointed she didn't change to meet his expectations. Somehow he expected the iPad to evolve to also run MacOS and is unbelievably disappointed it never happened. I mean clearly nobody could do professional or serious work with iPadOS so therefore it MUST also end up being able to run MacOS. Why haven't they done so yet? All the people doing professional work with an iPad would be quite surprised by this

 

[Yebubbleman]

Are you really complaining how the iPad Pro with one of the best displays in the world and Face ID doesn‘t cost $350?

Go buy the regular iPad for $350, Apple still sell those you know.

How on Earth did you extrapolate that out of the original post? I know reading people's posts on here is more work than most of us have the attention span for, but holy crap! That's not at all the point of the post!

Here's the tl;dr:

iPads were originally designed and marketed towards one purpose that they performed rather well (being a more versatile consumption device than either a phone or a computer) and are now, for the most part (maybe iPad mini excluded), designed and marketed towards a completely different purpose that they arguably do not perform universally as well at (replacing one's MacBook Air or PC Ultrabook).

The iPad Pro is overkill (in both cost and hardware) for a consumption device and it's still abysmal at replacing one's low-to-mid range laptop computer, due to limitations of the operating system.

Threads like these remind me of someone who gets a girlfriend who he really wished was different and then later is disappointed she didn't change to meet his expectations. Somehow he expected the iPad to evolve to also run MacOS and is unbelievably disappointed it never happened. I mean clearly nobody could do professional or serious work with iPadOS so therefore it MUST also end up being able to run MacOS. Why haven't they done so yet? All the people doing professional work with an iPad would be quite surprised by this

To use your analogy, the girlfriend was the one that kept promising the (arguably unnecessary) change and then under-delivered. The boyfriend was perfectly content with the girlfriend as they were when they first started dating.

 

[whitestar27]

To use your analogy, the girlfriend was the one that kept promising the (arguably unnecessary) change and then under-delivered. The boyfriend was perfectly content with the girlfriend as they were when they first started dating.

No, the point I was trying to make was the theoretical boyfriend picks a girlfriend who doesn't have the attributes he likes. She in no way ever promised him she would change, same as the iPad was never promised to run MacOS, and he is unhappy with her. Did he pick a smoker and is unhappy she wouldn't give up smoking for him even though she never promised to do so? He went into the relationship with unrealistic expectations and was unhappy. OP had the unrealistic expectation that the iPad was going to eventually run MacOS and even though that was never promised he is unhappy it didn't change. Women do this too, pick a man and try to change him.

 

[Yebubbleman]

No, the point I was trying to make was the theoretical boyfriend picks a girlfriend who doesn't have the attributes he likes. She in no way ever promised him she would change, same as the iPad was never promised to run MacOS, and he is unhappy with her. Did he pick a smoker and is unhappy she wouldn't give up smoking for him even though she never promised to do so? He went into the relationship with unrealistic expectations and was unhappy. OP had the unrealistic expectation that the iPad was going to eventually run MacOS and even though that was never promised he is unhappy it didn't change. Women do this too, pick a man and try to change him.

I understand the point you were trying to make. My point to you is that your analogy is NOT applicable here.

The original post was remarking on how unhappy the poster was that the iPad didn't run macOS.

It's that the iPad changed from what was originally. It's even in the subject line for the post!

The original poster isn't wanting the iPad to run macOS. I have no idea where you get the idea that the original poster WANTS the iPad to run macOS when they're basically saying the exact opposite. The point is that the iPad was one thing that was executed well, it's now trying to be another that is being executed poorly. The original promise was that the iPad was a consumption device. Apple then promised that it could be "your next computer", while making it rather lame at being a computer.

 

[whitestar27]

I understand the point you were trying to make. My point to you is that your analogy is NOT applicable here.

The original post was remarking on how unhappy the poster was that the iPad didn't run macOS.

It's that the iPad changed from what was originally. It's even in the subject line for the post!

The original poster isn't wanting the iPad to run macOS. I have no idea where you get the idea that the original poster WANTS the iPad to run macOS when they're basically saying the exact opposite. The point is that the iPad was one thing that was executed well, it's now trying to be another that is being executed poorly. The original promise was that the iPad was a consumption device. Apple then promised that it could be "your next computer", while making it rather lame at being a computer.

And I think you've gotten it completely backwards, with respect.

In one post, OP says something like 'if it's a pro, they could at least have it run MacOS' which is a clue that OP thought iPad was eventually going to run MacOS. Which was never promised or hinted at. iPadOS is far more capable now but still isn't competing directly with a Mac laptop. So it is still in the gap between phones and laptops, which is exactly what Jobs announced it as in 2010. It's got more power user features but it's not trying to replace a Mac so to me it's not fundamentally changed at all. 'consumption' is something people have come up with on their own to denigrate the iPad, IMHO

 

[I WAS the one]

How on Earth did you extrapolate that out of the original post? I know reading people's posts on here is more work than most of us have the attention span for, but holy crap! That's not at all the point of the post!

Here's the tl;dr:

iPads were originally designed and marketed towards one purpose that they performed rather well (being a more versatile consumption device than either a phone or a computer) and are now, for the most part (maybe iPad mini excluded), designed and marketed towards a completely different purpose that they arguably do not perform universally as well at (replacing one's MacBook Air or PC Ultrabook).

The iPad Pro is overkill (in both cost and hardware) for a consumption device and it's still abysmal at replacing one's low-to-mid range laptop computer, due to limitations of the operating system.


To use your analogy, the girlfriend was the one that kept promising the (arguably unnecessary) change and then under-delivered. The boyfriend was perfectly content with the girlfriend as they were when they first started dating.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you, man. You make my day.

 

[I WAS the one]

No, the point I was trying to make was

Your analogy doesn't work.

 

[I WAS the one]

In one post, OP says something like

Yebubbleman got it right the whole time, you didn't. That's the bottom line.

 

[whitestar27]

Yebubbleman got it right the whole time, you didn't. That's the bottom line.

This is very tiresome. Let me quote from your post:
"If they're going to label it as "Pro," they might as well include macOS functionality."

 

[Yebubbleman]

And I think you've gotten it completely backwards, with respect.

In one post, OP says something like 'if it's a pro, they could at least have it run MacOS' which is a clue that OP thought iPad was eventually going to run MacOS.

Wow. You literally take one comment, take it WAY out of context, and then frame your entire counter argument around that one thing, even though the original poster, themselves, are telling you that you misunderstood what was written?

Reading comprehension is a powerful thing!

Which was never promised or hinted at. iPadOS is far more capable now but still isn't competing directly with a Mac laptop.

Do you mean to tell me that there are people, outside of these Apple-centric forums where people are buying 13-inch iPads AND 13-inch MacBooks? Because, I have not encountered that in the wild, and I consult for a very large number of Apple users. Most folks buy one or the other; both, in this economy is not terribly common among the working class.

So it is still in the gap between phones and laptops, which is exactly what Jobs announced it as in 2010.

The only iPad still aiming at what Steve Jobs promised in 2010 is the iPad mini. Even the standard iPad is trying to entice you with a keyboard and a pencil (which Jobs famously hated the idea of) and is, in terms of financial significance (if not functional significance) trying to encroach on the MacBook Air's territory. Apple is not marketing these things along Steve Jobs' original vision anymore.

It's got more power user features but it's not trying to replace a Mac so to me it's not fundamentally changed at all. 'consumption' is something people have come up with on their own to denigrate the iPad, IMHO

It cannibalizes the sales of smaller MacBooks, for those that don't buy every Apple product under the sun and/or for those that don't need the complexity of a desktop computing platform in 2024, despite the fact that it's not trying to be one. Nevertheless, it's often marketed as being similarly powerful, when it's very much lacking.

This is very tiresome. Let me quote from your post:
"If they're going to label it as "Pro," they might as well include macOS functionality."

Again, you are taking one quote, turning it out of context, and then using it to defend an argument that wasn't valid to begin with.

 

[Webcat86]

Wow. You literally take one comment, take it WAY out of context, and then frame your entire counter argument around that one thing, even though the original poster, themselves, are telling you that you misunderstood what was written?

Reading comprehension is a powerful thing!






Do you mean to tell me that there are people, outside of these Apple-centric forums where people are buying 13-inch iPads AND 13-inch MacBooks? Because, I have not encountered that in the wild, and I consult for a very large number of Apple users. Most folks buy one or the other; both, in this economy is not terribly common among the working class.




The only iPad still aiming at what Steve Jobs promised in 2010 is the iPad mini. Even the standard iPad is trying to entice you with a keyboard and a pencil (which Jobs famously hated the idea of) and is, in terms of financial significance (if not functional significance) trying to encroach on the MacBook Air's territory. Apple is not marketing these things along Steve Jobs' original vision anymore.




It cannibalizes the sales of smaller MacBooks, for those that don't buy every Apple product under the sun and/or for those that don't need the complexity of a desktop computing platform in 2024, despite the fact that it's not trying to be one. Nevertheless, it's often marketed as being similarly powerful, when it's very much lacking.




Again, you are taking one quote, turning it out of context, and then using it to defend an argument that wasn't valid to begin with.

Honestly it's pretty weird to want a product to not evolve over 14 years. You could say the iPod touch was removed from the original iPod too, as it was touch screen and allowed apps etc.

What Jobs was against was a stylus, and that was reasonable. Apple Pencil has clearly evolved way beyond a stylus, and I doubt he would continue to be against it — the quality of art and design that it possible thanks to AP is not comparable to using a finger to navigate web pages.

 

[I WAS the one]

This is very tiresome. Let me quote from your post:
"If they're going to label it as "Pro," they might as well include macOS functionality."

You see, you're missing my point. The aim is to incorporate a feature that supports the term 'Pro' the next time I provide alternative suggestions. For instance, something like "they should also consider adding a dual boot feature" or anything else you believe would validate the 'Pro' label. Don't pretend to misunderstand me.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

The aim is to incorporate a feature that supports the term 'Pro'

I suppose this is the crux of the issue, isn't it? What are 'Pro' features? As of now, iPad Pro has a lot to offer professional artists, photographers, writers, videographers, even less creative fields like educators.

Not every job requires a complex file system, a command line, an IDE, etc. It's a different kind of machine for a different kind of professional. It's like how Adidas makes running shoes and tennis shoes - different features and design for different kinds of athletes.