There are several Windows 8 convertible ultrabooks and laptop/tablet hybrids being released. Although people were somewhat skeptical about these products, some of them are turning out to be nice and well designed, and are supposed to get better after Intel Haswell hits the market. I myself thought that these convertible/hybrid laptops, as well as the touch-screen approach of Windows 8, were a really bad idea, until I saw the Microsoft Surface, the Lenovo Yoga and the Dell XPS 12 (this last one on video only) and changed my mind. These designs may not be perfect, but they look promising at least. They are still just a promise at this point, and it is too early to tell if they will be successful and last any longer in the market.
Apple is not taking that route, at least in the near future. Tim Cook even said that a mixture of a laptop and a tablet would be like converging a toaster and a refrigerator (meaning that the result would not be pleasing to use). He also said not to be impressed with Microsoft Surface and called it "confusing". That is true to a certain point, but the fact is that Apple wouldn't be able to deliver a hybrid right now even if Tim Cook wanted it, as its laptops and tablets are equipped with different processor architectures and currenly run different operating systems.
Now, with the news that Apple is indeed thinking of switching to ARM processors in the future, we might see some sort of integration between MacBooks and iPads, and possibly a hybrid MacBook/iPad or a MacBook which converts into an iPad, or something similar. If Windows 8 hybrids become successful, then Apple will have either to follow the trend or to release separate products that are even more appealing than they are right now in order to compensate for the lack of integration.
What do you think? Would you like Apple to release a hybrid MacBook/iPad? Would you consider buying it or would you prefer to have separate products as they are right now?
Apple is not taking that route, at least in the near future. Tim Cook even said that a mixture of a laptop and a tablet would be like converging a toaster and a refrigerator (meaning that the result would not be pleasing to use). He also said not to be impressed with Microsoft Surface and called it "confusing". That is true to a certain point, but the fact is that Apple wouldn't be able to deliver a hybrid right now even if Tim Cook wanted it, as its laptops and tablets are equipped with different processor architectures and currenly run different operating systems.
Now, with the news that Apple is indeed thinking of switching to ARM processors in the future, we might see some sort of integration between MacBooks and iPads, and possibly a hybrid MacBook/iPad or a MacBook which converts into an iPad, or something similar. If Windows 8 hybrids become successful, then Apple will have either to follow the trend or to release separate products that are even more appealing than they are right now in order to compensate for the lack of integration.
What do you think? Would you like Apple to release a hybrid MacBook/iPad? Would you consider buying it or would you prefer to have separate products as they are right now?