All iPads Should the iPad become a Mac Replacement?

[sparksd]

True, and Apple is lucky that Microsoft hasn't done a better job with the Surface.

Funny, though - if I'm traveling and planning on doing much photo & video work, I'll leave my M1 12.9 with MKB at home and take my 16GB i7 Surface Pro 7 instead - I don't trust using the iPad with exFAT external storage because of corruption problems. I can still use the SP7 in tablet mode for reading, browsing, videos, etc. As good as the iPad as a tablet? No, but it works more than well enough.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Umm… if I’m not mistaken, Microsoft is already doing that with the Surface Pro line, right? And they been at it for a decade.

Absolutely, and is my plan B if this WWDC doesn’t impress me.

 

[pdoherty]

It’s not as simple as you describe. Apple would have to invest considerable time, resources and money to create a touch version of macOS — one that includes larger targets for thick fingers as opposed to thin mouse pointers.

No they don't. Just make a mouse and keyboard a requirement. Every case/keyboard combo would work, or you could use standalone bluetooth or wired ones.

 

[Ludatyk]

Absolutely, and is my plan B if this WWDC doesn’t impress me.

I’ve had the Surface Pro before… its a great device, but I just prefer the iPad.

And according to rumors… there’s going to be changes with Stage Manager, um.. simultaneously audio streams with apps.. changes to audio output when it comes to external monitor support. It was a couple of more bullet points.. but the tweet has been removed.

 

[prospervic]

No they don't. Just make a mouse and keyboard a requirement. Every case/keyboard combo would work, or you could use standalone bluetooth or wired ones.

Every tried a Microsoft Windows tablet? Tiny touch targets and overall sucky experience. That’s not what Apple wants for its customers, and they won‘t “just slap macOS on iPad“ to satisfy the geeks. If they’re going to put macOS on a tablet at all, they’ll wait until they can make it ideally suited for a touchscreen with iPad-size displays.
And even if they do, ungrateful nerds will complain about how it doesn’t function exactly like their Macs (see the whining and complaining about Final Cut Pro on iPad).

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I’ve had the Surface Pro before… its a great device, but I just prefer the iPad.

And according to rumors… there’s going to be changes with Stage Manager, um.. simultaneously audio streams with apps.. changes to audio output when it comes to external monitor support. It was a couple of more bullet points.. but the tweet has been removed.

I have as well (Had the SP2, SP3, SP5, and SP7 and really like where they took the SP8) and agree—for now. I am getting very tired of having everything so locked down. So if there are enough changes to iPadOS, that could work. Or if there is a real attempt to just slap MacOS on there, that would work as well.

 

[pdoherty]

Every tried a Microsoft Windows tablet? Tiny touch targets and overall sucky experience. That’s not what Apple wants for its customers, and they won‘t “just slap macOS on iPad“ to satisfy the geeks. If they’re going to put macOS on a tablet at all, they’ll wait until they can make it ideally suited for a touchscreen with iPad-size displays.
And even if they do, ungrateful nerds will complain about how it doesn’t function exactly like their Macs (see the whining and complaining about Final Cut Pro on iPad).

Why would it be "tiny touch targets"? A 12.9 (13") iPad Pro is the same screen size as some models of MacBook laptops.

 

[prospervic]

Why would it be "tiny touch targets"? A 12.9 (13") iPad Pro is the same screen size as some models of MacBook laptops.

True, but if you compare them side-by-side you’ll notice all the user interface elements are smaller (assuming the MacBook screen is at normal resolution). iPadOS 16 did add the ability to increase the iPad Pro screen resolution to provide more space by making everything smaller, but it’s still iPadOS, which was conceived from the begining for touch.

Using sidecar offers a glimpse of how macOS would look on a 12.9 iPad Pro. Not ideal, but better looking than on the Microsoft Surface tablets. But Apple uses a dot rather than an arrow pointer to keep it easily visible (unlike the gnat-size pointer on the Surface).

Touching Windows is no fun, and I don’t imagine touching macOS would be either without a major redesign. Apple knew what they were doing when they created iPad — a delightful experience that no other vendor has come close to replicating.

 

[pdoherty]

We're discussing MacOS running on the iPad, so the "iPad interface" is irrelevant.

The iPad Pro screen is the same size as a Mac laptop. And iPad Pros can use mice and keyboards. Therefore the iPad could run MacOS and give the same experience as a Mac laptop.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

We're discussing MacOS running on the iPad, so the "iPad interface" is irrelevant.

The iPad Pro screen is the same size as a Mac laptop. And iPad Pros can use mice and keyboards. Therefore the iPad could run MacOS and give the same experience as a Mac laptop.

Exactly. In this scenario, the mouse pointer would go to an actual pointer. And let me decide if the touch experience sucks—which Apple doesn’t like to do. The ole’ “If Henry Ford had asked people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse” or some such nonsense. Yeah, I will probably end up with a Surface Pro.

 

[Ludatyk]

We're discussing MacOS running on the iPad, so the "iPad interface" is irrelevant.

The iPad Pro screen is the same size as a Mac laptop. And iPad Pros can use mice and keyboards. Therefore the iPad could run MacOS and give the same experience as a Mac laptop.

I need some clarification here… why do Mac users desire macOS running on the iPad? I’m genuinely curious. Is it more a an issue with Mac hardware whereas the iPad is a sheet of glass? Because most Mac users seem fond of the newly revamped MBA and MBP hardware.

 

[Digitalguy]

I need some clarification here… why do Mac users desire macOS running on the iPad? I’m genuinely curious. Is it more a an issue with Mac hardware whereas the iPad is a sheet of glass? Because most Mac users seem fond of the newly revamped MBA and MBP hardware.

Those who desire it generally would like to have both iPadOS and MacOS and carry a device that can be both a tablet and a laptop. Some want cellular. Other simply would like MacOS with touch/pen

 

[Boil]

With rumors of 14" & 16" iPad Studio tablets, it would only seem natural that Apple will give us an iPadOS/macOS hybrid optimized for a touch interface & stylus/keyboard/mouse/trackpad input...?

 

[prospervic]

With rumors of 14" & 16" iPad Studio tablets, it would only seem natural that Apple will give us an iPadOS/macOS hybrid optimized for a touch interface & stylus/keyboard/mouse/trackpad input...?

“Only natural” is debatable. Unlike iPadOS, macOS was not originally conceived for a touch interface. As for iPad mouse and trackpad input, this is an adaptation.

Even laptops are an adaptation. For me, the only “natural” way to use macOS is on a large display (iMac or external) where the apps and UI elements have room to breath.

 

[subjonas]

We're discussing MacOS running on the iPad, so the "iPad interface" is irrelevant.

The iPad Pro screen is the same size as a Mac laptop. And iPad Pros can use mice and keyboards. Therefore the iPad could run MacOS and give the same experience as a Mac laptop.

But of course there are two sizes of iPad Pro. The smaller one being smaller than a MacBook. Do you mean Apple should bring macOS to only the larger iPad Pro? Apple used to make an 11” MacBook, but no longer for whatever reason.

 

[pdoherty]

I need some clarification here… why do Mac users desire macOS running on the iPad? I’m genuinely curious. Is it more a an issue with Mac hardware whereas the iPad is a sheet of glass? Because most Mac users seem fond of the newly revamped MBA and MBP hardware.

It's because we don't want to have to buy two devices, clearly. The hardware is virtually the same (at least CPU, GPU, storage and RAM are) so wanting the device to be capable of running both seems a pretty natural request and only means small effort on Apple's part and a requirement that the user choose at boot-time which interface/OS they want (touch normal iPad with optional mouse/keyboard if attached, or MacOS mouse/keyboard-mandatory interface).

 

[pdoherty]

But of course there are two sizes of iPad Pro. The smaller one being smaller than a MacBook. Do you mean Apple should bring macOS to only the larger iPad Pro? Apple used to make an 11” MacBook, but no longer for whatever reason.

Sure, why not? Make it on just the large 12.9 or any newer even-larger model.

No changes to macOS even required. Mouse and keyboard interface of the OS and all apps need zero changing. Emulate the filesystem of a Mac system on the iPad storage so even the OS doesn't care or change anything about how it operates.

 

[Ludatyk]

Those who desire it generally would like to have both iPadOS and MacOS and carry a device that can be both a tablet and a laptop. Some want cellular. Other simply would like MacOS with touch/pen

Fair enough... don't get me wrong. I enjoy using macOS... I like all that comes with it. But what I can't quite grasp... the hardware on Mac is superior to iPad given the CPU/RAM configuration in addition to more ports available to use.

Therefore if I'm using macOS... I would be getting a better experience with using it on Mac hardware compared to on an iPad... right? I'm not trying to ignore the benefits of carrying one device... I have a Galaxy Fold, being able to carry a phone and tablet is dope.

I'm more interested in macOS in a touch environment than the idea of just placing it on iPad hardware. Give me macOS on a Lenovo ThinkPad style 2-in-1 (Galaxy Book 360) device... I think that would be a better device.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Fair enough... don't get me wrong. I enjoy using macOS... I like all that comes with it. But what I can't quite grasp... the hardware on Mac is superior to iPad given the CPU/RAM configuration in addition to more ports available to use.

Therefore if I'm using macOS... I would be getting a better experience with using it on Mac hardware compared to on an iPad... right? I'm not trying to ignore the benefits of carrying one device... I have a Galaxy Fold, being able to carry a phone and tablet is dope.

I'm more interested in macOS in a touch environment than the idea of just placing it on iPad hardware. Give me macOS on a Lenovo ThinkPad style 2-in-1 (Galaxy Book 360) device... I think that would be a better device.

The reality is that 2-in-1s are terrible for actual note-taking. That is why the Surface Pros sell at a much higher rate with those people that want to be able to use a stylus to sketch or take notes. It is simply awkward to get the device into position quickly to take notes with a 2-in-1.

That is why an iPad Pro that could run MacOS would be awesome. I could use it like a Surface Pro, but its still a Mac. I don't need lots of ports. I just need the iPad, the Pencil, and Mac. It would be awesome.

 

[pdoherty]

Fair enough... don't get me wrong. I enjoy using macOS... I like all that comes with it. But what I can't quite grasp... the hardware on Mac is superior to iPad given the CPU/RAM configuration in addition to more ports available to use.

What's superior about it? My 12.9 iPad Pro has 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

 

[Ludatyk]

What's superior about it? My 12.9 iPad Pro has 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

Well, that’s the limitation on iPad hardware… if I had Mac hardware I can go upwards of 1TB of RAM and 8TB of storage along with adding a graphics card to it.

The reality is that 2-in-1s are terrible for actual note-taking. That is why the Surface Pros sell at a much higher rate with those people that want to be able to use a stylus to sketch or take notes. It is simply awkward to get the device into position quickly to take notes with a 2-in-1.

What’s so terrible about folding the keyboard backwards and taking notes? Once you fold the keyboard backwards you have the entire screen to use a stylus to take notes or sketch.

 

[rachelagnes110]

This is an interesting question. Soo far, Mac and iPad are two different devices running on iOS having unique functionalities and intent. I wouldnt appreciate if they combine these two unique devices to create one while stopping Mac and iPad. But I surely wouldnt mind if Mac and iPad still exists while another product with a combination of the both is released. It is exciting to think of a Mac that has a touch screen and is as smooth as an iPad but I would still prefer the Desktop version on Mac rather than the iPad UI. It doesnt make sense to develop a Mac Laptop with iPad UI since Mac Laptops do way more processing and tasks than a general iPad.

 

[ericwn]

Well, that’s the limitation on iPad hardware… if I had Mac hardware I can go upwards of 1TB of RAM and 8TB of storage along with adding a graphics card to it.


What’s so terrible about folding the keyboard backwards and taking notes? Once you fold the keyboard backwards you have the entire screen to use a stylus to take notes or sketch.

I am not aware of many macs that would have 1tb ram, let alone anyone using it.

A device with a keyboard attached is typically heavier than just a tablet and much thicker at that too, not necessarily a great comfortable starting place for note taking. Can be done, just not a great experience. Then again, neither is putting a naked iPad on its ugly camera bump for note taking.

 

[Ludatyk]

I am not aware of many macs that would have 1tb ram, let alone anyone using it.

Yeah, maybe 1% of users might require that much RAM. But I looked that up under Mac Pro configurations.

A device with a keyboard attached is typically heavier than just a tablet and much thicker at that too, not necessarily a great comfortable starting place for note taking. Can be done, just not a great experience. Then again, neither is putting a naked iPad on its ugly camera bump for note taking.

True, it might not be great comfortably to take notes in comparison to the iPad and as you mention it's much thicker as well. But to call it terrible... I don't know.

I've never owned a 2-in-1... I have owned Surface Pro (which is more like a iPad stylistically). But never had a laptop where the keyboard can literally fold backwards or become a stand.

 

[Boil]

Yeah, maybe 1% of users might require that much RAM. But I looked that up under Mac Pro configurations.

The 2019 Intel Mac Pro (supporting up to 1.5TB of RAM) is an anomaly, the extremely high RAM capacity was a byproduct of the Xeons used, no other PowerMac/Mac Pro has ever supported so much RAM...