All iPads The iPad will never be a Mac, and the Mac will never be an iPad

[Rafterman]

It isn’t foolish to say never. A wrist watch will never be an airplane. A crocodile will never be a cloud.

An iPad will never be a Mac and vice versa for the many reasons already mentioned.

That makes no sense. Both Macs are iPads are computers that run operating systems and share a processor chip and architecture. They absolutely can be made to run each others' OS's. Macs can already run iPad apps.

 

[namethisfile]

yeah i don't think the majority of people who have ipads are like, i wish i can install macos on this. only a minority and my bet is that it's a financial issue, more than anything else. at least, that's the only thing i can think of....

i don't see the ipad gaining in having macOS nor macbook in being able to run iPad (isn't there universal control for that or something?). unless you guys are also asking for touch input on a macbook which they would need to redesign.

and i feel like the YTers saying iPadOS is gimped for an M4 are saying that from the perspective of knowing the current Macs only have M3's and it runs a desktop OS. so why put the m4 on a tablet OS first or something like that? so they say it is gimped instead of, the apps they use aren't on iPad or the iPad equivalent of their desktop app has a different pricing structure like it might be subscription based vs. perpetual license on desktop (ie Clip Studio Paint) and i think it's an unfair question. it is a question to the software devs imo. not apple gimping iPadOS.... or apple just letting MacOS be available on iPad (cuz they both have the same silicon)....

do you know what I mean? sorry if i can't be more eloquent. lol

 

[richpjr]

yeah i don't think the majority of people who have ipads are like, i wish i can install macos on this. only a minority and my bet is that it's a financial issue, more than anything else. at least, that's the only thing i can think of....

It's not about money for me - I'd love to be able to use a single device. I don't know/care whether that is macOS on an iPad or a non-gimped iPadOS. Curious to see what improvements WWDC brings, but I suspect it will be minor enhancements to the UI as usual.

 

[Kal Madda]

This post is misguided. People just want a more powerful iPadOS.

Like — give me a full-desktop Safari that doesn’t bump me to a stupid app whenever I go to docs.google.com. This can’t possible require 10 years of R&D.

Right now I can do 99% of my work on a $150 Chromebook because it has a real web browser. I can’t say the same for an iPad. It’s a shame.

I can use Google Docs in Safari on my iPad just fine. It doesn’t bump me to an app.

 

[Kahnforever]

Friend of mine had dinner with us last night. He's an IT consultant, has been since the late 1970's. He has a cheap as crap Windows PC and on holiday, will have to do two days work. He'll use his barely a brand mobile phone and a keyboard, and use it as a window to a Windows environment. His crappy mobile is four years old and cost one eighth the price of an Apple Pro iPhone. He thinks Apple are robbers. He loves his cheap mobile phone too.

Just a reminder - I am in Australia. He deals with a lot of Chinese and Indian programmers. He reckons the Chinese are great at database work, but have very poor English skills. But that ChatGTP is changing their communication deficiencies. They use it to communicate extremely well now. Indians have no English difficulties. But my friend said that they had some C coding to do, and ChatGTP ran a few pages of perfect code in an instant, and it was perfect. The guys there all realised a huge amount of the type of work they all do at the moment, will be gone. My friend said that inside 5 years that work space will be entirely different. And that there were elements of it that were worrying. It'll be our kids or grand kids issues he said. He's a couple of years from retiring.

I’m living it, putting people out of a job. The future is very much to be owned by AI.

 

[Kahnforever]

That makes no sense. Both Macs are iPads are computers that run operating systems and share a processor chip and architecture. They absolutely can be made to run each others' OS's. Macs can already run iPad apps.

It makes perfect sense. Your reasoning is flawed as is your understanding of hardware and software design. And with your approach: since an Apple Watch is a computer that runs an operating system and shares a processor chip family and architecture with iPads and Macs, they absolutely can be made to run each other’s OS’s. Same with the iPhone.

The problem as has been clearly discussed in this multiple page thread, is that iPads are not designed to run macOS and Mac software and Macs are not designed to run iPadOS and iPad applications.

Because you *could* do something, doesn’t mean it will be a good experience and make sense. No, macOS and Mac software makes zero sense on an iPad. That includes the iPad Mini, the iPad 11”, and even the iPad 13”. For the smaller screens, it’s stupid obvious the problems. For the 13”, the thermal issues and reduced battery life and boxy screen aspect ratio and several other things make it make no sense.

If people like you were leading Apple, it would go bankrupt quickly: a bunch of lawn mower with wings that the market will respond to by not buying.

We have been here many times before, especially those of us in the software industry who have been around. There were small screen laptops: netbooks. Those died because they suck… the screens are just too small for desktop software. Then the convertible laptops back in 2005-2010 and beyond. They died, then came back, died again and now there are some advanced versions of them but still have not taken off: they suck as laptops and suck as tablets.

The head of Microsoft’s all in one approach Steven Sinofsky publicly discusses how you can’t put desktop software in touch first devices… that it’s a failure.

But here we are, relitigating this.

 

[heretiq]

I’ve owned many iPads over the years, starting with the first one when it launched in 2010. Steve Jobs’ keynote introducing the iPad was a masterclass in product vision, clearly articulating why the iPad existed: it has to excel at tasks over and above the Mac or iPhone, like web browsing and reading books. Jobs also spoke of the need for trucks... even though mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad were appealing, he talked about the need for what he effectively was referring to as the Mac, the equivalent of a truck vs. more efficient cars like the iPhone and iPad.

Over the years, there’s been endless debate about whether the iPad should become more like a Mac with a Mac-like OS or if the Mac should adopt touchscreen capabilities like an iPad. The iPad will never be a Mac, and the Mac will never be an iPad. Each device is designed for a distinct purpose, and these design philosophies are fundamentally different for several reasons:

1. Form Factor and Screen Size: The iPad’s smaller screen is a consequence of its tablet form factor, meant to be handheld. This inherently limits its productivity compared to larger laptop or desktop screens that can display more information simultaneously.
2. Input Methods: The iPad is designed around multi-touch input directly on the screen, which is intuitive for certain tasks but lacks the precision of a mouse and keyboard setup: mouse arrows are precise to 1 pixel. Professional tasks often require this level of precision, which is why the Mac’s keyboard and trackpad, with their pixel-level accuracy, remain superior for those needs.
3. Performance Constraints: The iPad’s CPU and GPU capabilities are constrained by its design as a fanless, battery-operated device. This results in a limited thermal envelope, preventing sustained high performance. In contrast, Macs, especially when plugged in, can utilize more power and better cooling systems, making them capable of handling more demanding professional applications over extended periods. For tasks requiring consistent, high-level performance, such as video editing or software development, the Mac’s design advantages are clear where the iPad will suffer more thermal throttling.
4. External Display Support: The iPad lacks the ability to drive multiple high-resolution monitors, a feature crucial for many professional workflows. Macs, particularly the MacBook Pro and desktop models, excel in this area, providing significant productivity gains through extensive multi-monitor support. This capability is essential for tasks such as coding, graphic design, and financial trading, where multiple displays enhance efficiency and workflow management.
5. Mac’s Trackpad vs. Touchscreen: The Mac already incorporates multi-touch through its trackpad, which is more ergonomic and efficient for desktop use than a touchscreen. It's as if people forget about this. Lifting your arms to touch a screen repeatedly is impractical and slower compared to using a trackpad. Additionally, macOS is optimized for precise input, not the broad gestures suited for touchscreens. The mixed success of Windows 8, which attempted to bridge touch and mouse inputs, underscores the challenges of such an approach. Even Steven Sinofsky, the former President of Windows, has acknowledged that this convergence doesn’t work well.
6. Software Ecosystem and User Experience: The software ecosystems for iPadOS and macOS are tailored to their respective hardware. iPadOS is optimized for touch interactions and mobile apps, excelling in areas like media consumption and lightweight productivity tasks. In contrast, macOS supports a vast array of professional software, offering a desktop-class experience for complex tasks. Attempts to merge these ecosystems risk diluting the strengths of each platform, leading to a compromised user experience.
7. Ergonomics and Usability: The iPad’s design prioritizes portability and ease of use for casual and on-the-go tasks. It is perfect for scenarios where holding the device in hand or using it in various orientations is beneficial. The Mac, designed for desk use, focuses on ergonomics suitable for prolonged use with peripherals like external keyboards and mice, providing a more comfortable experience for extended work sessions.

In summary, the iPad and Mac are designed for different use cases, and their respective strengths highlight why each device remains distinct. The iPad excels as a portable, touch-based device for casual use and specific professional scenarios, while the Mac remains unparalleled in environments requiring sustained performance, precise input, and extensive multitasking capabilities.

With AI, I think the iPad will become even more appealing to more people, as AI has the power to automate a lot of what we do, even in a professional setting, making manual input less needed. But regardless, we will still need the "trucks", as Jobs said, so Macs aren't going anywhere anytime soon. But a truck is not a car, it isn't trying to be, and it will never be.

Thanks for this thoughtful contribution to the iPad/iPadOS Mac / macOS discussion / debate. I agree with everything you’ve said — except the assertion/insinuation that macOS is more geared towards professional use cases. Both devices encompass professional and consumer use cases, and like the Mac, the iPad is used professionally by many. It is also better suited to a variety of professional use cases (brainstorming, ideating, planning, note taking, illustration, for example) and contexts (e.g, away from a desk).

 

[Rafterman]

It makes perfect sense. Your reasoning is flawed as is your understanding of hardware and software design.

Your arrogance and perceived superiority isn't worth responding to anymore. You don't know any more about hardware and software than anyone else here.

 

[heretiq]

How does any of this apply to having a gimped Safari, for example? Or having background processes stopped if you switch to another app so you can’t export from Pro apps or copy files without keeping an app window open?

I don’t understand the “gimped Safari” comment. Safari is my default browser on Mac, iPad and iPhone and have zero issues doing anything I use it for professionally and personally. Of course there are issues with sites that harvest data and don’t play nice with disabled cookies and private relay — but that is not a Safari issue that’s a website issue. I also don’t run into issues with the “Pro” apps I use daily on the iPad (Teams, Office, Slack, Affinity Designer, Pixelmator, Xcode Playgrounds, Noteplan, and others including apps for Business Planning and other professional uses).

 

[Rafterman]

I don’t understand the “gimped Safari” comment. Safari is my default browser on Mac, iPad and iPhone and have zero issues doing anything I use it for professionally and personally. Of course there are issues with sites that harvest data and don’t play nice with disabled cookies and private relay — but that is not a Safari issue that’s a website issue. I also don’t run into issues with the “Pro” apps I use daily on the iPad (Teams, Office, Slack, Affinity Designer, Pixelmator, Xcode Playgrounds, Noteplan, and others including apps for Business Planning and other professional uses).

I like Safari and use it as primary, though I have Chrome, Edge and Firefox installed too. Sometimes certain websites (and business webapps) work better with different browsers.

 

[Digitalguy]

Your arrogance and perceived superiority isn't worth responding to anymore. You don't know any more about hardware and software than anyone else here.

That's exactly why I stopped participating to this thread.

 

[heretiq]

This post is misguided. People just want a more powerful iPadOS.

Like — give me a full-desktop Safari that doesn’t bump me to a stupid app whenever I go to docs.google.com. This can’t possible require 10 years of R&D.

Right now I can do 99% of my work on a $150 Chromebook because it has a real web browser. I can’t say the same for an iPad. It’s a shame.

Going to docs.google.com needs zero R&D from Apple, but it does require you to configure your apps properly if you don’t want the corresponding app to open.

Check your configuration before blaming Safari.

 

[Kahnforever]

Thanks for this thoughtful contribution to the iPad/iPadOS Mac / macOS discussion / debate. I agree with everything you’ve said — except the assertion/insinuation that macOS is more geared towards professional use cases. Both devices encompass professional and consumer use cases, and like the Mac, the iPad is used professionally by many. It is also better suited to a variety of professional use cases (brainstorming, ideating, planning, note taking, illustration, for example) and contexts (e.g, away from a desk).

I get where you are coming from. You are touching on a part of the equation that makes this such a hot topic. macOS is absolutely more geared for professional use cases compared to iOS/iPadOS, that's not even a question.

Some salient points:

• iOS/iPadOS does not run xCode, so professional software development is accommodated by the Mac, not iPhones and iPads.
• iOS/iPadOS and iPhones and iPads do not support multiple 4K+ monitors. Multiple, large, high resolution monitors are often used and required for professional applications, including movie production, animation development, stock trading, business analysis, project management, etc.
• iOS/iPadOS have professional applications that do not have all of the features of their Mac counterparts. This has been a long-standing criticism of the iPads and is a major issue with trying to use the iPad Pro for "professional use".
• Multi-tasking and being productive is where the iPad falls apart as well in comparison to macOS and devices running macOS. The multi-tasking ability of iOS and iPadOS is a joke compared to macOS: applications will often be frozen and there is limited background tasks and multi-threading that will happen within iOS and iPadOS. Not so with macOS. And macOS is designed for multi-tasking on the front-end. iOS/iPadOS is not.
• Ports. iPads and iPhones don't have the built-in ports that professionals pretty much demand. And trying to plug things into the iPad is very hit or miss. For instance, they didn't provide support for external hard drives to be plugged in for some time. The whole framework is an afterthought. macOS is built from the ground up around supporting and dealing with multiple ports and peripherals.

Because some people use the iPad to create videos or documents, etc. doesn't mean it's geared for professional use. At best the experience and functionality provides for something to accommodate "prosumers". But anyone who is out there actually trying to make a living doing a job will go toward things that make them more productive, have better output, and make more money. And that's what the Mac is geared for, but still satisfies consumers. The iPad has its applications in certain commercial settings, but it's a tablet first and it will excel in things that work best with tablets.

I remember when the iPads first came out in 2010. I built a software business around them right away. And that was all good. But when I first got the iPad back then, I remember sitting on a plane and pulling out the iPad to work on a Keynote presentation. Myself and my team developed a very cool digital magazine... literally the first of its kind... and I was flying across the country to be on TV to demo it. I was working in Keynote editing a presentation and within 1 minute said to myself: "This sucks". It took so much longer to just do anything in Keynote compared to the Mac, with its precise point and click control, large screen, more options available on screen, etc.

Fast forward to today, and the situation is improved but also the same in many respects. You can't change what the iPad is: you get smaller screens; you get compromises on thermal envelopes; you get a much more simplistic software experience as the software is designed around battery life and mobile devices, not large devices that can be plugged into the wall with endless power; etc.

This guy summarizes the experience of trying to rely on the iPad Pro well:

Why I finally switched from iPad Pro to MacBook

Working iPad only finally reached its limitations…

medium.com

Until the end of February, I used the iPad Pro on the go as my mobile workhorse, and it served me well. For all the work I was unable to do on the iPad, I had my M1 Mac Mini at home on my desk. But, by the end of February, work life got really intensive. Building up a company as a side hustle and being in search of investors required a lot of document creation and curation. Revision of the business plan, creating a corporate design, implementing the corporate design in all documents, creating marketing material for a conference, updating the pitch deck, creating additional presentations for due diligence meetings, and so on and forth. And I needed to be able to do all this on the go. And this broke the neck of the iPad…creating formatted documents and designing presentations is a pain on the iPad. Using PowerPoint templates from Envato Elements is nearly impossible, and Adobe Illustrator is also limited in its functionality when compared to the Mac app. Not to mention that InDesign is not even available on the iPad. Yes, there is Affinity Publisher and I also have it, but honestly did not find time to get me into using this app.

I decided to get one of the latest models, the 2023 14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro. I went Pro not for the power of the processor (which would not be necessary for these tasks) but for the ports, the display, ProMotion, and MagSafe. And I did not regret it a single second since then. Having and using the MacBook every single day opened my eyes to the downsides of iPadOS. Now I am finally able to do all the work on the go which I did stationary at home on my M1 Mac Mini before since my iPad’s software was unable to handle these tasks. It boosted my productivity enormously,

 

[Rafterman]

That's exactly why I stopped participating to this thread.

Yeah, the only people who deserve to talk like that are actual Apple engineers. No one else has that level of insight.

 

[H_D]

I would be happy, if we at least got a dual-pane finder replacement à la Forklift/Pathfinder, or could change the color-tags on files on an SMB-drive. The restrictions are basically nuts. Even going simple stuff like batch-renaming files, changing the tags, compressing them with ImageOptim or converting them with Photomill – horrific on the iPad. And don't get me started on not being able to use Photoshop, InDesign and all the other zillions of programs we use on Macs, along with fonts and system tools that make life way, way easier. With solid multitasking and a functional file system instead of gazillion walled gardens. On the other hand, reading magazines or reading books on the Mac is no fun at all. GoodNotes with a mouse or trackpad... ugh. And so on. The (maybe) sensible thing to do is to bring the best of both worlds together. I don't think anybody wants to replace iPadOS, but being able to either use it with MKB and mouse or to come up with a hybrid solution that brings the iPad significantly closer to being usable as a creation machine as well as a consumption device would be great. I do not think that any of the current uses of the iPad should go away, but let's get rid of the idea that it is a larger iPhone somehow or «limited» by hardware like smaller screens and stuff. I had a 12" MacBook and it was fun. The hardware is no excuse at all anymore – and the iPad could absolutely run MacOS or a new hybrid OS that brings both worlds sensibly closer together. It will never replace the full Desktop or even MBP experience, but it might enable us to use the fonts we bought for the Mac, really work with our files and use existing Mac Softwares.

 

[Rafterman]

I'm calling my shot here: in a few years, e will see a new class of Apple device to join existing MacBooks and iPads: the MacPad. It may or may not run stock MacOS, maybe a modified version of MacOS that runs MacOs and iPadOS apps without modification.

 

[heretiq]

I get where you are coming from. You are touching on a part of the equation that makes this such a hot topic. macOS is absolutely more geared for professional use cases compared to iOS/iPadOS, that's not even a question.

Some salient points:

• iOS/iPadOS does not run xCode, so professional software development is accommodated by the Mac, not iPhones and iPads.
• iOS/iPadOS and iPhones and iPads do not support multiple 4K+ monitors. Multiple, large, high resolution monitors are often used and required for professional applications, including movie production, animation development, stock trading, business analysis, project management, etc.
• iOS/iPadOS have professional applications that do not have all of the features of their Mac counterparts. This has been a long-standing criticism of the iPads and is a major issue with trying to use the iPad Pro for "professional use".
• Multi-tasking and being productive is where the iPad falls apart as well in comparison to macOS and devices running macOS. The multi-tasking ability of iOS and iPadOS is a joke compared to macOS: applications will often be frozen and there is limited background tasks and multi-threading that will happen within iOS and iPadOS. Not so with macOS. And macOS is designed for multi-tasking on the front-end. iOS/iPadOS is not.
• Ports. iPads and iPhones don't have the built-in ports that professionals pretty much demand. And trying to plug things into the iPad is very hit or miss. For instance, they didn't provide support for external hard drives to be plugged in for some time. The whole framework is an afterthought. macOS is built from the ground up around supporting and dealing with multiple ports and peripherals.

Because some people use the iPad to create videos or documents, etc. doesn't mean it's geared for professional use. At best the experience and functionality provides for something to accommodate "prosumers". But anyone who is out there actually trying to make a living doing a job will go toward things that make them more productive, have better output, and make more money. And that's what the Mac is geared for, but still satisfies consumers. The iPad has its applications in certain commercial settings, but it's a tablet first and it will excel in things that work best with tablets.

I remember when the iPads first came out in 2010. I built a software business around them right away. And that was all good. But when I first got the iPad back then, I remember sitting on a plane and pulling out the iPad to work on a Keynote presentation. Myself and my team developed a very cool digital magazine... literally the first of its kind... and I was flying across the country to be on TV to demo it. I was working in Keynote editing a presentation and within 1 minute said to myself: "This sucks". It took so much longer to just do anything in Keynote compared to the Mac, with its precise point and click control, large screen, more options available on screen, etc.

Fast forward to today, and the situation is improved but also the same in many respects. You can't change what the iPad is: you get smaller screens; you get compromises on thermal envelopes; you get a much more simplistic software experience as the software is designed around battery life and mobile devices, not large devices that can be plugged into the wall with endless power; etc.

This guy summarizes the experience of trying to rely on the iPad Pro well:

Why I finally switched from iPad Pro to MacBook

Working iPad only finally reached its limitations…

medium.com

I think you missed my point based on this statement and the very interesting follow-up commentary that doubled-down on it: “macOS is absolutely more geared for professional use cases compared to iOS/iPadOS, that's not even a question.”

My point, and the point of many who use the iPad professionally (i.e., to make a living) is simple: the iPad is as suited for professional work as the Mac — so while most of the points you made in your original post are legitimate differentiators and justification for why macOS exists apart from iPadOS, suitability for “professional work” is not.

That is because ”professional work” is widely varied and it is presumptuous to believe professional work is limited to our own experience and belief of what constitutes professional work.

Just three examples:

1. When the original iPad was released I flew from Dallas to Atlanta with a colleague to meet with potential business partners. During the flight we decided we needed a deck for the meeting. I pulled out the iPad and used the original Paper app by 53 to ”sketch” a conceptual 3 slide deck. My colleague fired up his Mac to use Keynote to flesh it out into something more polished. When we arrived we met the prospective partners for lunch on a rooftop restaurant with a couch and coffee table — so using the MacBook was cumbersome; however the iPad was perfect for the setting so we used the sketched deck to seal a partnership that’s lasted for many years.
2. While picking up my M4 iPad Pro at the Apple Store last week, I met a professional illustrator who works entirely on an 11” iPad Pro. This is this person‘s full time job that puts food on their family’s table and sustains their livelihood. They’ve produced and been paid for everything from anime to album covers, movie posters, tattoos and more on that 11” iPad Pro.
3. I currently run strategy and operations for a 200 person global software development company and perform more than half of what I get paid for on an iPad Pro and the remainder on a MacBook Pro. All my planning, policy and process documents start on the iPad (and are often finished on the iPad), I use Swift Playgrounds daily for UI and algorithm prototyping and proof of concept work, and conduct team and client meetings across multiple continents on the iPad using Microsoft Teams, Slack and WebEx.

According to the definition in your post, none of these constitute serious “professional“ work. You don’t really mean that do you?

Further, in my experience and that of the Illustrator who I spoke with for almost 2 hours (and I suspect many other professionals who use the iPad) our professional use is not impaired by the iPad‘s “simplified“ or constrained OS or apps — it is enhanced by it because the iPad and iPadOS “simplicity” is by design and optimized for certain contexts and forms of professional work that the Mac is not. My aim is not to argue, but to support the point of your initial post that iPad and iPadOS are separate and distinct from Mac and macOS for good reasons. I just don’t believe those reasons include “professional” vs. “non-professional” work. 🙏🏽

 

[Kahnforever]

I think you missed my point based on this statement and the very interesting follow-up commentary that doubled-down on it: “macOS is absolutely more geared for professional use cases compared to iOS/iPadOS, that's not even a question.”

My point, and the point of many who use the iPad professionally (i.e., to make a living) is simple: the iPad is as suited for professional work as the Mac — so while most of the points you made in your original post are legitimate differentiators and justification for why macOS exists apart from iPadOS, suitability for “professional work” is not.

That is because ”professional work” is widely varied and it is presumptuous to believe professional work is limited to our own experience and belief of what constitutes professional work.

Just three examples:

1. When the original iPad was released I flew from Dallas to Atlanta with a colleague to meet with potential business partners. During the flight we decided we needed a deck for the meeting. I pulled out the iPad and used the original Paper app by 53 to ”sketch” a conceptual 3 slide deck. My colleague fired up his Mac to use Keynote to flesh it out into something more polished. When we arrived we met the prospective partners for lunch on a rooftop restaurant with a couch and coffee table — so using the MacBook was cumbersome; however the iPad was perfect for the setting so we used the sketched deck to seal a partnership that’s lasted for many years.
2. While picking up my M4 iPad Pro at the Apple Store last week, I met a professional illustrator who works entirely on an 11” iPad Pro. This is this person‘s full time job that puts food on their family’s table and sustains their livelihood. They’ve produced and been paid for everything from anime to album covers, movie posters, tattoos and more on that 11” iPad Pro.
3. I currently run strategy and operations for a 200 person global software development company and perform more than half of what I get paid for on an iPad Pro and the remainder on a MacBook Pro. All my planning, policy and process documents start on the iPad (and are often finished on the iPad), I use Xcode Playgrounds daily for UI and algorithm prototyping and proof of concept work, and conduct team and client meetings across multiple continents on the iPad using Microsoft Teams, Slack and WebEx.

According to the definition in your post, none of these constitute serious “professional“ work. You don’t really mean that do you?

Further, in my experience and that of the Illustrator who I spoke with for almost 2 hours (and I suspect many other professionals who use the iPad) our professional use is not impaired by the iPad‘s “simplified“ or constrained OS or apps — it is enhanced by it because the iPad and iPadOS “simplicity” is by design and optimized for certain contexts and forms of professional work that the Mac is not. My aim is not to argue, but to support the point of your initial post that iPad and iPadOS are separate and distinct from Mac and macOS for good reasons. I just don’t believe those reasons include “professional” vs. “non-professional” work. 🙏🏽

I understand your perspective. I've also been to Dallas, hung out at Lee Harvey's, The Mansion, etc.

The iPad is a versatile device. I've been using them since Generation 1 and I still have my 1st Generation iPad. I was clear in my response to you that the iPad has commercial applications, which particularly is about applications that call for tablets. However, this is about the broader scope of professional use cases and the inherent design differences that make the iPad and Mac suitable for different things. And how the Mac is truly the "truck", and the iPad and iPhone are the "cars", going back to Steve Jobs's analogy.

1. Specialized Professional Applications: You mentioned using the iPad for sketching a presentation and an illustrator relying on an iPad for their work. These are good examples of light duty professional use and they are self-evident that some people use the iPad for these things. However, many specialized professional applications, such as software development with xCode, advanced video editing with Final Cut Pro, complex data analysis with specialized software, advanced graphic design, process mapping and requirements analysis, architecture and mechanical engineering design, animation, etc. are not fully supported on iPadOS. These applications demand the power, multitasking capabilities, and precision input methods, large screens and full featured software that macOS and Mac hardware provide. There is a pattern to your examples of your experience and use of the iPad: light duty, and getting things started.

2. Multi-Monitor Support and Port Connectivity: While the iPad excels in portability, it lacks the ability to drive multiple 4K+ monitors, which is often required for tasks like financial trading, graphic design, software development, project management, etc. The MacBook Pro can support multiple high-resolution displays, significantly boosting productivity in these fields. Additionally, the Mac’s variety of ports facilitates seamless integration with professional-grade peripherals, which remains a limitation for the iPad.

3. Thermal Management and Sustained Performance: The iPad’s design prioritizes portability and efficiency, resulting in thermal and power constraints. These constraints do limit sustained high-performance tasks that are critical in many professional environments. The Mac, with its better thermal management and ability to plug into a power source, supports these demanding applications without significant throttling.

4. Multitasking and Workflow Efficiency: macOS is designed for robust multitasking, allowing users to run multiple powerful applications simultaneously without significant performance hits. iPadOS, while improved, still lags behind in this area in a very significant way. Professionals who need to switch rapidly between multiple apps, run background and multi-threaded tasks, or use split-screen functionality extensively will find macOS far more accommodating.

5. Ergonomics and User Interface: The iPad’s touchscreen interface and portability are perfect for certain contexts, as you highlighted. However, for tasks requiring prolonged, precise input—like coding, detailed design work, or extensive document editing—the Mac’s keyboard and trackpad aligned to precision input UIs offer superior ergonomics and efficiency. The precision of a mouse and the extensive keyboard shortcuts available in macOS streamline complex workflows that are cumbersome on a touchscreen device.

The iPad is definitely capable of professional work in certain contexts, particularly where portability and touch input are advantageous. However, macOS and Mac hardware are better suited for a wider range of professional applications that require high performance, extensive multitasking, precise input, and robust peripheral support. Both platforms serve their unique purposes well, but they are not interchangeable for many professional tasks due to their fundamental design differences and particularly around the many limitations present on the iPad that are not solvable through software alone: the iPad will always be a tablet, and when it stops being a tablet it stops being an iPad.

 

[Nikhil72]

I think you missed my point based on this statement and the very interesting follow-up commentary that doubled-down on it: “macOS is absolutely more geared for professional use cases compared to iOS/iPadOS, that's not even a question.”

My point, and the point of many who use the iPad professionally (i.e., to make a living) is simple: the iPad is as suited for professional work as the Mac — so while most of the points you made in your original post are legitimate differentiators and justification for why macOS exists apart from iPadOS, suitability for “professional work” is not.

That is because ”professional work” is widely varied and it is presumptuous to believe professional work is limited to our own experience and belief of what constitutes professional work.

Just three examples:

1. When the original iPad was released I flew from Dallas to Atlanta with a colleague to meet with potential business partners. During the flight we decided we needed a deck for the meeting. I pulled out the iPad and used the original Paper app by 53 to ”sketch” a conceptual 3 slide deck. My colleague fired up his Mac to use Keynote to flesh it out into something more polished. When we arrived we met the prospective partners for lunch on a rooftop restaurant with a couch and coffee table — so using the MacBook was cumbersome; however the iPad was perfect for the setting so we used the sketched deck to seal a partnership that’s lasted for many years.
2. While picking up my M4 iPad Pro at the Apple Store last week, I met a professional illustrator who works entirely on an 11” iPad Pro. This is this person‘s full time job that puts food on their family’s table and sustains their livelihood. They’ve produced and been paid for everything from anime to album covers, movie posters, tattoos and more on that 11” iPad Pro.
3. I currently run strategy and operations for a 200 person global software development company and perform more than half of what I get paid for on an iPad Pro and the remainder on a MacBook Pro. All my planning, policy and process documents start on the iPad (and are often finished on the iPad), I use Xcode Playgrounds daily for UI and algorithm prototyping and proof of concept work, and conduct team and client meetings across multiple continents on the iPad using Microsoft Teams, Slack and WebEx.

According to the definition in your post, none of these constitute serious “professional“ work. You don’t really mean that do you?

Further, in my experience and that of the Illustrator who I spoke with for almost 2 hours (and I suspect many other professionals who use the iPad) our professional use is not impaired by the iPad‘s “simplified“ or constrained OS or apps — it is enhanced by it because the iPad and iPadOS “simplicity” is by design and optimized for certain contexts and forms of professional work that the Mac is not. My aim is not to argue, but to support the point of your initial post that iPad and iPadOS are separate and distinct from Mac and macOS for good reasons. I just don’t believe those reasons include “professional” vs. “non-professional” work. 🙏🏽

Just a tag onto this excellent comment, I am a doctor and do all of my chart work patient communication, research reading, and patient care administration from my iPad Pro. A full-blown laptop is overkill for my needs, often distracting due to the inherent multitasking nature, and in a lot of ways, the heavier operating system gets in the way rather than getting out-of-the-way, Even though I absolutely love my Mac. I’ve been a Mac user since the 12 inch power book, a Mac has gotten me through college, undergrad years, medical school, and training. Somewhere between medical school and training, my desire was to do my work on a more advanced iPad Than my Mac. Slowly and surely over the years that has become tenable.

 

[heretiq]

Just a tag onto this excellent comment, I am a doctor and do all of my chart work patient communication, research reading, and patient care administration from my iPad Pro. A full-blown laptop is overkill for my needs, often distracting due to the inherent multitasking nature, and in a lot of ways, the heavier operating system gets in the way rather than getting out-of-the-way, Even though I absolutely love my Mac. I’ve been a Mac user since the 12 inch power book, a Mac has gotten me through college, undergrad years, medical school, and training. Somewhere between medical school and training, my desire was to do my work on a more advanced iPad Than my Mac. Slowly and surely over the years that has become tenable.

Thanks for sharing this compelling example of serious, professional work of the highest order performed on an iPad @Nikhil72 . The narrative that the iPad is at best a “prosumer” device is misinformed, disrespectful of the range of “non-technical” activity that constitutes serious/professional work, and misses the importance of the iPad form factor and ecosystem in both facilitating and enhancing professional work in contexts that a Mac or PC would struggle or fail.

 

[heretiq]

I understand your perspective. I've also been to Dallas, hung out at Lee Harvey's, The Mansion, etc.

The iPad is a versatile device. I've been using them since Generation 1 and I still have my 1st Generation iPad. I was clear in my response to you that the iPad has commercial applications, which particularly is about applications that call for tablets. However, this is about the broader scope of professional use cases and the inherent design differences that make the iPad and Mac suitable for different things. And how the Mac is truly the "truck", and the iPad and iPhone are the "cars", going back to Steve Jobs's analogy.

1. Specialized Professional Applications: You mentioned using the iPad for sketching a presentation and an illustrator relying on an iPad for their work. These are good examples of light duty professional use and they are self-evident that some people use the iPad for these things. However, many specialized professional applications, such as software development with xCode, advanced video editing with Final Cut Pro, complex data analysis with specialized software, advanced graphic design, process mapping and requirements analysis, architecture and mechanical engineering design, animation, etc. are not fully supported on iPadOS. These applications demand the power, multitasking capabilities, and precision input methods, large screens and full featured software that macOS and Mac hardware provide. There is a pattern to your examples of your experience and use of the iPad: light duty, and getting things started.

2. Multi-Monitor Support and Port Connectivity: While the iPad excels in portability, it lacks the ability to drive multiple 4K+ monitors, which is often required for tasks like financial trading, graphic design, software development, project management, etc. The MacBook Pro can support multiple high-resolution displays, significantly boosting productivity in these fields. Additionally, the Mac’s variety of ports facilitates seamless integration with professional-grade peripherals, which remains a limitation for the iPad.

3. Thermal Management and Sustained Performance: The iPad’s design prioritizes portability and efficiency, resulting in thermal and power constraints. These constraints do limit sustained high-performance tasks that are critical in many professional environments. The Mac, with its better thermal management and ability to plug into a power source, supports these demanding applications without significant throttling.

4. Multitasking and Workflow Efficiency: macOS is designed for robust multitasking, allowing users to run multiple powerful applications simultaneously without significant performance hits. iPadOS, while improved, still lags behind in this area in a very significant way. Professionals who need to switch rapidly between multiple apps, run background and multi-threaded tasks, or use split-screen functionality extensively will find macOS far more accommodating.

5. Ergonomics and User Interface: The iPad’s touchscreen interface and portability are perfect for certain contexts, as you highlighted. However, for tasks requiring prolonged, precise input—like coding, detailed design work, or extensive document editing—the Mac’s keyboard and trackpad aligned to precision input UIs offer superior ergonomics and efficiency. The precision of a mouse and the extensive keyboard shortcuts available in macOS streamline complex workflows that are cumbersome on a touchscreen device.

The iPad is definitely capable of professional work in certain contexts, particularly where portability and touch input are advantageous. However, macOS and Mac hardware are better suited for a wider range of professional applications that require high performance, extensive multitasking, precise input, and robust peripheral support. Both platforms serve their unique purposes well, but they are not interchangeable for many professional tasks due to their fundamental design differences and particularly around the many limitations present on the iPad that are not solvable through software alone: the iPad will always be a tablet, and when it stops being a tablet it stops being an iPad.

These distinctions provide a reasonably thorough elaboration of the differences between the iPad and a Mac. And while some of them may make the Mac or iPad more or less suitable in certain scenarios or use cases, none of them individually or collectively make the Mac more capable for “professional” work than the iPad. They are both specialized computers that are capable of facilitating a set of unique and overlapping professional and non-professional use cases in varying degrees. Users can make a better choice by simply choosing the one that works best for their particular circumstances and use cases vs relying on opinions of suitability for arbitrary definitions of “professional work.”

 

[Kal Madda]

These distinctions provide a reasonably thorough elaboration of the differences between the iPad and a Mac. And while some of them may make the Mac or iPad more or less suitable in certain scenarios or use cases, none of them individually or collectively make the Mac more capable for “professional” work than the iPad. They are both specialized computers that are capable of facilitating a work. set of unique and overlapping professional and non-professional use cases in varying degrees. Users can make a better choice by simply choosing the one that works best for their particular circumstances and use cases vs relying on opinions of suitability for arbitrary definitions of “professional work.”

Exactly, very well said. I’m so tired of people saying the iPad can’t be used for “real work” or “pro work”. Different people have different needs for their real pro work.

 

[joshwithachance]

Then they shouldn't be using the same processors.

 

[Kal Madda]

Then they shouldn't be using the same processors.

How does that even make sense? Cripple the hardware of one device so it can’t power powerful pro apps on that platform because you want it to run a different OS…. This argument makes no sense. 🤦🏼‍♂️

 

[joshwithachance]

How does that even make sense? Cripple the hardware of one device so it can’t power powerful pro apps on that platform because you want it to run a different OS…. This argument makes no sense. 🤦🏼‍♂️

No, it's what makes the argument about the iPad being a potential Mac replacement even still exist. Once the iPad went M1 everyone assumed more was coming from the OS to make it a TRUE MacBook replacement/alternative, which just hasn't come to fruition (and likely never will).