This is the only thing that makes some sense to me. An Apple branded docking station for iPad that allows you to attach screens, etc. to become a macOS set up. I still don't see it happening though.
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iPad Pro macOS on iPad (Why It’s a Terrible Idea)
- Thread starter TheDailyApple
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Yeah I could see something like this...
Especially since macOS has already been moved to a read-only virtual volume on Macs and kexts have been deprecated as of Big Sur. They could easily allow you to download macOS (which would be more likely on a higher storage model than a lower storage model due to the extra space eaten up by macOS). Since M1 Macs boot near instantly it could operate a lot like CarPlay where opening the "macOS" app puts you into macOS and opening a "iPad" app throws the device back into iPad mode. It would also allow them to limit the macOS app from only opening or etc with a MKB connected or the like.
That's a path I see as viable and in line with the engineering Apple has been adding over the last few years to enable some macOS like mode on the iPad.
That mode would also benefit from a lot of RAM for quickly swapping between them and real macOS would solve the problem of needing to bring memory management and real persistent apps to iPadOS.
I'm all for bringing more MacOS features to iPadOS but I'm not sure how much farther Apple can go without allowing workflows that require the use of a keyboard and/or mouse. Up until now, Apple hasn't crossed that line and it looks like they really don't want too even with the release of the Magic Keyboard.
For example, how do you add the type of external monitor support that everyone, myself included, want without requiring the use of a keyboard/mouse to control what's on the monitor? Likewise, how do you port XCode to iPadOS while still maintaining the "everything can be done with a finger" rule? If Apple's going to allow those kinds of things, it's not much of a stretch to start talking about things like a MacOS-like UI when docked, merging the two operating systems, or just allowing MacOS on the iPad. I voted the "keep them separate but improve iPadOS" option but I'm not really sure what the right answer is for the iPad.
I'd love to be able to walk the engineering halls at Apple and see all the various combinations they've tried out. They most likely have prototypes of everything ever suggested on this forum. They probably have iPads running MacOS, touchscreen Macs, and everything in between. I'm curious what they'll announce at WWDC but I think a lot of folks here are going to be disappointed.
For example, how do you add the type of external monitor support that everyone, myself included, want without requiring the use of a keyboard/mouse to control what's on the monitor? Likewise, how do you port XCode to iPadOS while still maintaining the "everything can be done with a finger" rule? If Apple's going to allow those kinds of things, it's not much of a stretch to start talking about things like a MacOS-like UI when docked, merging the two operating systems, or just allowing MacOS on the iPad. I voted the "keep them separate but improve iPadOS" option but I'm not really sure what the right answer is for the iPad.
I'd love to be able to walk the engineering halls at Apple and see all the various combinations they've tried out. They most likely have prototypes of everything ever suggested on this forum. They probably have iPads running MacOS, touchscreen Macs, and everything in between. I'm curious what they'll announce at WWDC but I think a lot of folks here are going to be disappointed.
I think you make some good points here. It really just highlights how difficult it must be for Apple to continue to develop iPadOS into what we all want it to be. It seems very challenging.
No real value to you, maybe. It's the old "why does anyone need 2TB of storage" argument.
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There is nothing stopping Apple adding macOS as a 2nd os on iPads that you can enable by adding a magic keyboard with touchpadother than a possible hit to notebook sales.
As pointed out by someone else, a 12.9" top of the line 16GB/1TB iPad Pro with a magic keyboard is more expensive than most MacBooks. I don't think Apple is too worried about losing out on sales because of the iPad Pro.
16 GB/1 TB 13" M1 MBP = $1899
16 GB/1 TB 12.9" M1 iPP w/ Magic Keyboard = $2149
It's very unlikely that Apple would restrict MacOS to 16GB variants and their keyboards.
It's either any M1 iPad, including the $799 one with external keyboard and mouse or nothing.
Ok but then you should compare like to like.
M1 MacBook Air 8 Gb/256 GB $999
11” M1 iPad Pro 8 GB/128 GB w/ Magic Keyboard $1098
Apple still isn’t going to be worried about lost MacBook sales in that case.
It's not that simple.... Apple knows that many Macbook buyers are buying both the Macbook AND the iPad (including pro). And why should they make an hybrid when they can sell 2 (or more) devices?
It seems unlikely that is a common case. Amongst MacRumors readers/commenters sure but normal people don’t think like that. iPad Pros are very expensive compared to regular iPads.
Wasn't that the point of the OG iPad Pro to begin with? Back then, PC sales have plateaued but convertibles was a fast growing segment.
To sell more high end iPad Pros seems desirable from Apple’s perspective. They make more money from them on average than they do from MacBooks.
yes, it was, but where are we now? Convertible are laptops with additional features, barely tablets...
The tablet war has been won by Apple...
Macbook sales are increasing and will continue to increase with high end Macbooks, which will be more expensive then iPads. Macbooks are an important segments for Apple.
The idea that Apple is going to sell more iPad pros without selling less Macbooks is more a way to try to convince oneself that it makes sense because one so much wants it, than something that is likely and in the interest of Apple. Many people who wish MacOS in their iPad pro want to have one device that does it all.
Apple can do better than that for themselves. They can improve iPadOS to a point where they can keep selling both and still attract most of those potential iPad pro users. It will just take more time and Apple is in no hurry.
They can take some shortcuts, but it will be things that make them money, not just giving full MacOS in dual boot or Magic Keyboard mode. Let me explain this a bit better, but in a separate post, so this does not become too big....
Yes, Apple won the tablet war. However, the fact that Windows hasn't gotten hybrids right leaves plenty of room for Apple to be the first. That said, I don't think just slapping MacOS as-is on the iPad is it.
That’s why I love the idea of running macOS as an iPadOS app. It keeps the iPad experience the same for the most part. The only thing I would want added is more flexibility on background multitasking for anything running in the VM. Assume that anyone running a macOS VM is aware of the battery hit when running in the background.
The idea that MacOS would magically appear when a keyboard is connected and disappear when connected makes little sense. Tablet mode in Windows or Dex in Samsung tablets are just interfaces, MacOS is a full blown OS. Also the idea of dual booting is very unlikely. The iPad will not come with dual boot (and 2 installed OSs) from the factory and Apple will never let people mess with booting into another OS.
At this point, if some form of MacOS is offered (the shortcut I was mentioning) it would be a simplified one, a sort of desktop mode, which might only work with an external display and which will only be able to install apps from the MacStore.... This could make them money by promoting the MacStore (where Apple gets money).
Far from full MacOS, but still much more productive than now. Since you could have a Mac-like interface on the monitor with full multitasking like on a Mac and still use your iPad as an Ipad, with apps from the store and many/all of the preinstalled Mac apps, including full Safari (FCP and Logic will probably come directly to the iPad as a subscription).
At this point, if some form of MacOS is offered (the shortcut I was mentioning) it would be a simplified one, a sort of desktop mode, which might only work with an external display and which will only be able to install apps from the MacStore.... This could make them money by promoting the MacStore (where Apple gets money).
Far from full MacOS, but still much more productive than now. Since you could have a Mac-like interface on the monitor with full multitasking like on a Mac and still use your iPad as an Ipad, with apps from the store and many/all of the preinstalled Mac apps, including full Safari (FCP and Logic will probably come directly to the iPad as a subscription).
I don't see apple creating a MacOS VM (and even less one with full MacOS), the doesn't look and sound like Apple. They will certainly make some features specific to M1 iPads and will continue to improve iPadOS to make it more productivity focused. But they won't take this full MacOS shortcut. They have more to gain in the long run from letting iPadOS grow...
Yes, and it also means they are in no hurry to get there with a MacOS shortcut and the complications and dangers that it entails...
Without it I don’t see how Apple can ever make the iPad into a complete development environment. Developers can’t work with the restrictions that Apple places on iPadOS. Just having Xcode isn’t enough. Developers need sophisticated tools that work together and things like terminals with command line tools. All of that is antithetical to the iPad. But with a VM, Apple has to make almost no compromises to iPadOS to create a great dev environment because it would just be the already great macOS dev environment.
Honestly I don't think that Apple is even going to bring Xcode to iPad... Xcode is another Mac selling argument that I doubt they'll want to bring to iPad, contrary to FCP and Logic, where they can make more money....
Unfortunately, I agree with you and I think it is a big mistake on Apple’s part. They should try to hit every pro niche with the iPad Pro that they can. Leaving out one of their largest pro markets is not smart in my opinion.
If a special version of macOS could run sandboxed as an app inside of iPadOS (definitely doable since the two share the same kernel and the majority of system libraries, most API calls would just pass through to the iPadOS version), that would be amazing. It would make it entirely optional and open a world of functionality to iPad owners that meet the minimum specs. To get around the touch screen issue, Apple could simply disable it in this app and require KB/mouse.
One recent example of Apple doing something very un-Apple like is that they opened up iOS/iPadOS app support on M1 Macs and the implementation is really unpolished with the strange gesture mappings. This move was a bit unexpected and could foreshadow something like this. The iPad as it is will never attain the flexibility that macOS provides because the philosophy of iPadOS (no exposed filesystem, no window manager, limited multitasking, no CLI, no true backgrounding of apps) makes it nearly impossible to do something like app development or other types of development. Sandboxing this would be a great way to get around this philosophical issue.
One recent example of Apple doing something very un-Apple like is that they opened up iOS/iPadOS app support on M1 Macs and the implementation is really unpolished with the strange gesture mappings. This move was a bit unexpected and could foreshadow something like this. The iPad as it is will never attain the flexibility that macOS provides because the philosophy of iPadOS (no exposed filesystem, no window manager, limited multitasking, no CLI, no true backgrounding of apps) makes it nearly impossible to do something like app development or other types of development. Sandboxing this would be a great way to get around this philosophical issue.