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iPad Pro

macduke

macduke

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 27, 2007
13,519
20,794
I can see Apple introducing something like this in the coming years.

Basic features:

- Full OS X when docked
- iPhone OS when in tablet mode
- Detachable keyboard base with Intel processor, extra battery, SSD and USB

Quick! Somebody patent this.

Did a quick Photoshop and typography job for kicks and giggles:

image-2B0C_4BA92FF1.jpg
 
In the latest post on my blog I speculated about future Apple hardware and software.

The short version is that I think iOS and Mac OSX as we know them will more or less converge down the line, with a resulting experience that will feel more like an iPad than a current Mac OSX-based laptop.

On the hardware size, I believe that iPads will more or less replace laptops as we know them...and sooner than most think.
 
macduke said:
I can see Apple introducing something like this in the coming years.

Basic features:

- Full OS X when docked
- iPhone OS when in tablet mode
- Detachable keyboard base with Intel processor, extra battery, SSD and USB
Click to expand...

Likelihood of becoming a reality: 0
 
I like this idea, and was wondering if they'd consider it... The iPad in this case would need a lot better resolution to make it a viable laptop.

One problem that often occurs with products that try to be more than one thing at once is that they're worse at both things individually. If Apple could really "get it right", I think this would be super. I'm sure somebody somewhere has proposed an idea like this within Apple, but who knows if there are technical/design/marketing issues that make it unattractive.
 
anthonymoody said:
In the latest post on my blog I speculated about future Apple hardware and software.

The short version is that I think iOS and Mac OSX as we know them will more or less converge down the line, with a resulting experience that will feel more like an iPad than a current Mac OSX-based laptop.

On the hardware size, I believe that iPads will more or less replace laptops as we know them...and sooner than most think.
Click to expand...

I respect your idea, but in reality I think we are far from having tablet like computers replace laptops.

Computers (PCs and Macs) themselves have not changed that much over the years. I think laptops will soon replace desktops in most households but we aren't even there yet. Until laptops replace desktops, I doubt you'll see tablets replacing laptops.

Also, I think there will be a line between mobile OS and desktop OS. I won't say forever or always, but I think it'll be awhile before you see Apple try to "converge" them.
 
I don't think its a good idea because the need to switch between operating systems totally ruins the experience, not to mention the higher cost if you use 2 different sets of hardware for the computer and the tablet.

If you really want to enjoy the best of both worlds you need 2 touch screens built on a laptop, like this:

MacBook.jpg


It may be used as a tablet if you rotate both screens back to back and work with only one of them. Besides, Mac OS X is the future of Mac computers, not iPhone OS.
 
yyy said:
I don't think its a good idea because the need to switch between operating systems totally ruins the experience
Click to expand...

This is why Apple would never do it the way that the OP described (and the whole detachable keyboard base thing). There is a better chance that the two OS's will just share more features and/or converge back into one OS eventually in some form or another.
 
The main reason I chose two hardware combinations is because A.) iPad OS won't run on Intel and the inverse is also true, and B.) Apple had a patent for an iMac that you could dock your Macbook into the side of that had additional processors, video cards, storage, etc to make it into a more powerful system when docked.

I do agree that the two OS will eventually converge. But the chip architectures would also have to converge. Though it does seem more and more likely every day that Apple is moving away from Intel.
 
Maybe iPad Air for the name because it reminds me of the MB Air. Anyway, I thought the whole point of having the iPad was to get away from carrying around MacBooks...hmmm. Good idea though.
 
This design reminds me of the Lenovo Laptop coming!

lenovo_ideapad_u1_hybrid_smartbook_separate.jpg


When in Tablet mode, it uses it's own OS, and when docked to the laptop base, it uses Windows 7. Its pretty neat.
 
The hinge would break.
The thing would overheat and no longer play video well.
The cheap trackpad would suck compared to using it in tablet mode.
The...

oh wait that sounds like the MBA :D

Seriously though, wouldn't surprise me if a 3rd party vendor doesn't release a case like this with a BT keyboard. Sure it won't have OSX or whatever but give those who want to carry a keyboard + case in a convenient package.
 
kdesign7 said:
This design reminds me of the Lenovo Laptop coming!

lenovo_ideapad_u1_hybrid_smartbook_separate.jpg


When in Tablet mode, it uses it's own OS, and when docked to the laptop base, it uses Windows 7. Its pretty neat.
Click to expand...

Except for windows 7 it does look pretty neat, good job lenovo!:)

TO THE OP:

Like others I see zero chances of this happening, but your mockup is very nicely done.

To the rest:
Dual screen laptops or a la courrier devices are bigtime failures for a lot of reasons I don't have the time to elaborate.
 
yyy said:
Besides, Mac OS X is the future of Mac computers, not iPhone OS.
Click to expand...

Thank you Steve Jobs!

macduke said:
The main reason I chose two hardware combinations is because A.) iPad OS won't run on Intel and the inverse is also true
Click to expand...

No reason why the iPhone OS couldn't be compiled for x86, and new drivers written. I wouldn't be surprised if they have this running in the lab already.
 
iPhone OS when used as an iPad, and OS X when docked to the keyboard? Hell yeah, sign me up :D

That would be the ultimate laptop...
 
admanimal said:
Likelihood of becoming a reality: 0
Click to expand...

I disagree! Look at Lenova IdeaPad Hybrid! Apple can do something like that, unless Lenova patent the tablet detach part from the unit base. However, Apple can create a slideout tablet from the unit base, instead.

The iPhone or iPad OS can evolve to become the next mac os XI!! Mac OS XI can be the fully functional multi-touch, multi-point, multi-layer tablet that has both the iPhone os and mac os parts. That would be so cool! It maybe something down the road in 2013.
 
jedolley said:
Until laptops replace desktops, I doubt you'll see tablets replacing laptops.
Click to expand...

Not sure what one has to do with the other. And in any case laptop sales have already overtaken those of desktops.


admanimal said:
This is why Apple would never do it the way that the OP described (and the whole detachable keyboard base thing). There is a better chance that the two OS's will just share more features and/or converge back into one OS eventually in some form or another.
Click to expand...

Exactly.
 
anthonymoody said:
Not sure what one has to do with the other. And in any case laptop sales have already overtaken those of desktops.
Click to expand...

Without drawing this into a long off topic argument...

What I was trying to say was that even with all the advancement, the form factors have stayed the same. Even though laptops are seeing a larger market share and better recent sales, there are still more desktops in use today than laptops (especially in larger business/corporations).

The tablet may advance along more quickly than the laptop, but I still think it will be a slow change from laptop to tablet as the main computing device.

I agree with the idea of your post (or atleast parts of it), but just not the time table.

I just wanted to clarify and won't be dragging this thread off topic anymore.
 
jedolley said:
The tablet may advance along more quickly than the laptop, but I still think it will be a slow change from laptop to tablet as the main computing device.
Click to expand...

That will never happen. Even Apple have realized that a tablet cannot be used as a main computing device and that's why they came up with all that 3rd category thing. People want to watch videos, video-chat and generally interact with their computers while keeping both of their hands free for the important work - it's almost impossible to do that with tablets, not to mention the screen space that gets lost when there's a need to type something with the virtual keyboard.
 
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