Suppose Apple dropped the MacBook line in favor of the iPad.

moonman239 · Jan 29, 2013, 04:19 PM

Suppose Tim Cook came out and said, "Here at Apple, we realize that tablets are the future of computing. After all, nobody likes carrying around a five-pound computer. So today I am happy to announce that we are replacing our line of MacBooks with a line of fifth-generation iPads. The processor on these new iPads will be fast enough for most MacBook powerusers, and the graphics will be good enough for most intense gamers. Now, you may be thinking, "What about the CD/DVD drive." We've got you covered there, too. For $50 you can buy a drive that allows the iPad to watch and create CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs. Another question you might be asking is, 'What if I want to plug in my other Apple-created mobile devices.' You don't need to. That's what iCloud is for." How would you react?

MisterKeeks · Jan 29, 2013, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonman239

Suppose Tim Cook came out and said, "Here at Apple, we realize that tablets are the future of computing. After all, nobody likes carrying around a five-pound computer. So today I am happy to announce that we are replacing our line of MacBooks with a line of fifth-generation iPads. The processor on these new iPads will be fast enough for most MacBook powerusers, and the graphics will be good enough for most intense gamers. Now, you may be thinking, "What about the CD/DVD drive." We've got you covered there, too. For $50 you can buy a drive that allows the iPad to watch and create CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs. Another question you might be asking is, 'What if I want to plug in my other Apple-created mobile devices.' You don't need to. That's what iCloud is for." How would you react?

I would think that he is lying. Suddenly, ARM catches up with Intel and can still fit in an iPad. Suddenly, the graphics card is as powerful as a laptop standalone graphics card. Suddenly, Apple uses Blu-Ray.

lucasfer899 · Jan 29, 2013, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonman239

Suppose Tim Cook came out and said, "Here at Apple, we realize that tablets are the future of computing. After all, nobody likes carrying around a five-pound computer. So today I am happy to announce that we are replacing our line of MacBooks with a line of fifth-generation iPads. The processor on these new iPads will be fast enough for most MacBook powerusers, and the graphics will be good enough for most intense gamers. Now, you may be thinking, "What about the CD/DVD drive." We've got you covered there, too. For $50 you can buy a drive that allows the iPad to watch and create CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs. Another question you might be asking is, 'What if I want to plug in my other Apple-created mobile devices.' You don't need to. That's what iCloud is for." How would you react?

I wouldn't know what to do with myself. There is no way I could ever possible trade such a high power and productive mobile computing platform, for a tablet. Yes, the iPad is a very good device for many things, but multitasking is no-go for a power user like me, consuming a lot of my 16GB of ram at one time, with 10+ programs running my daily schedule.

Also, I'm not really a fan of iCloud, I like to keep all of my stuff local, especially when travelling, is when I can appreciate having 2x 512GB SSD's in a little MBP. No. iPad. For. Me.

cambookpro · Jan 29, 2013, 04:56 PM

I would go out to the nearest John Lewis, buy the latest MacBook Pro with all the extras, take it home and cuddle up in a corner while wearing a tin foil hat, gently rocking myself back and forth while repeating 'it can't be'.

In all seriousness, I'd be majorly upset, but I'd use my Mac for the next 5 years before buying a laptop and installing Ubuntu on it.

marc11 · Jan 29, 2013, 04:58 PM

I'd continue to use mine as planned and then buy a high end laptop and install Ubuntu on it and get on with my life. I wouldn't skip a beat, its a machine nothing more.

rdowns · Jan 29, 2013, 05:01 PM

This is silly. Apple's Mac business, if separated from the rest of the company, would be a Fortune 100 company. Macs aren't going anywhere.

chown33 · Jan 29, 2013, 05:07 PM

If there isn't a version of Xcode (or a successor to Xcode) that allows developing new apps directly on this magical new iPad, I suspect a whole lot of developers would be really angry.

There's already plenty of developers annoyed at the glacial update rate of the Mac Pro. Killing the MacBook Pro line with no replacement would be a great way to chase off the very people you need to write software for all the iOS devices.

Jessica Lares · Jan 29, 2013, 05:10 PM

The MacBook Pro sells too well to drop. They would probably kill off the low-end of the Air first.

Mousse · Jan 29, 2013, 05:31 PM

Try doing work on an iPad 8 hours a day. Yeah... no way a sensible business worker gonna give up a laptop for a tablet for work. For flashy presentation, a tablet has the cool factor, but for tedious data entry/spreadsheet/typing a laptop is superior in every way.

moonman239 · Feb 7, 2013, 11:57 PM

I personally have to wonder what the world would be like if the entire computer industry kicked the desktop computers and laptop computers out the door and making the tablet a viable alternative.

Just FYI, you can get a Bluetooth keyboard for your iPad. And who needs a mouse when you have a touch screen? Besides, the iPad is lightweight.

sim667 · Feb 8, 2013, 06:17 AM

Stupid thread is stupid.

Renzatic · Feb 8, 2013, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonman239

And who needs a mouse when you have a touch screen?

People who need precision. Touching the screen is nice for navigating the UI and all, but when you need pixel perfect control, it falls far short.

Want an example? Have you tried placing the cursor in Pages in one specific spot? You know, like before the e, but after the i? It usually takes you 3-4 jabs just to get to the thing near enough to where you want it. You'll rarely ever be able to land it exactly where you need it to go. With a mouse, it's just a wrist snap and a click away.

A stylus would be the next best thing to a mouse, but only those with a fine tipped end. Capacitive stylii (styluses? whatever...) are too big for exacting selections. You have to be able to nail an exact point without even thinking about it, not a general area.

This is an area where the iPad falls far short. That's not to say it'll always suck, but it's certainly not a perfectly functional alternative in its current state.

marc11 · Feb 8, 2013, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonman239

I personally have to wonder what the world would be like if the entire computer industry kicked the desktop computers and laptop computers out the door and making the tablet a viable alternative.

Just FYI, you can get a Bluetooth keyboard for your iPad. And who needs a mouse when you have a touch screen? Besides, the iPad is lightweight.

This is what the Microsoft Surface is trying to do in some ways. Successful or not remains to be seen.

Mr. McMac · Feb 8, 2013, 10:13 PM

The iPad maybe a fun device, but it has nowhere near the power of a serious computer like a MacBook Pro. Plus, most of us like real keyboards, larger screens, and REAL multitasking

Technarchy · Feb 10, 2013, 04:40 PM

Never happen...

help4desk · Feb 19, 2013, 12:29 AM

Just fiction. Can't happen anytime soon, maybe just for the reason that....to build apps and code for the ipad you still need a Mac

View Poll Results: How would you react?
I'd be happy about it.	0	0%
I wouldn't like that change very much.	18	85.71%
I really don't care.	3	14.29%
Voters: 21. You may not vote on this poll

Jan 29, 2013, 04:19 PM	#1
moonman239 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2009	Suppose Apple dropped the MacBook line in favor of the iPad. Suppose Tim Cook came out and said, "Here at Apple, we realize that tablets are the future of computing. After all, nobody likes carrying around a five-pound computer. So today I am happy to announce that we are replacing our line of MacBooks with a line of fifth-generation iPads. The processor on these new iPads will be fast enough for most MacBook powerusers, and the graphics will be good enough for most intense gamers. Now, you may be thinking, "What about the CD/DVD drive." We've got you covered there, too. For $50 you can buy a drive that allows the iPad to watch and create CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs. Another question you might be asking is, 'What if I want to plug in my other Apple-created mobile devices.' You don't need to. That's what iCloud is for." How would you react? __________________ Now available on the iPad App Store: Clean Cuisine Click here to load its App Store page.
	0

Jan 29, 2013, 04:58 PM	#5
marc11 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NY USA	I'd continue to use mine as planned and then buy a high end laptop and install Ubuntu on it and get on with my life. I wouldn't skip a beat, its a machine nothing more. __________________ Various Apple Products
	0

Jan 29, 2013, 05:10 PM	#8
Jessica Lares macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA	The MacBook Pro sells too well to drop. They would probably kill off the low-end of the Air first. __________________  Have You Hugged Your Mac Today? Daily Expressions \| Power Mac G5 \| Late 2011 13" MacBook Pro \| iPod Nano (7G) \| iPod Shuffle (2012) \| iPad Mini
	0

Jan 29, 2013, 05:31 PM	#9
Mousse macrumors 65816 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The Mended Drum, Ankh-Morpork	Try doing work on an iPad 8 hours a day. Yeah... no way a sensible business worker gonna give up a laptop for a tablet for work. For flashy presentation, a tablet has the cool factor, but for tedious data entry/spreadsheet/typing a laptop is superior in every way. __________________ D'oh! (_8(\|)
	0

Jan 29, 2013, 04:56 PM	#4
cambookpro macrumors 68030 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Berks, England	I would go out to the nearest John Lewis, buy the latest MacBook Pro with all the extras, take it home and cuddle up in a corner while wearing a tin foil hat, gently rocking myself back and forth while repeating 'it can't be'. In all seriousness, I'd be majorly upset, but I'd use my Mac for the next 5 years before buying a laptop and installing Ubuntu on it.
	1

Jan 29, 2013, 05:01 PM	#6
rdowns macrumors Penryn Join Date: Jul 2003	This is silly. Apple's Mac business, if separated from the rest of the company, would be a Fortune 100 company. Macs aren't going anywhere.
	1

Jan 29, 2013, 05:07 PM	#7
chown33 macrumors 601 Join Date: Aug 2009	If there isn't a version of Xcode (or a successor to Xcode) that allows developing new apps directly on this magical new iPad, I suspect a whole lot of developers would be really angry. There's already plenty of developers annoyed at the glacial update rate of the Mac Pro. Killing the MacBook Pro line with no replacement would be a great way to chase off the very people you need to write software for all the iOS devices.
	1

Feb 7, 2013, 11:57 PM	#10
moonman239 Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2009	I personally have to wonder what the world would be like if the entire computer industry kicked the desktop computers and laptop computers out the door and making the tablet a viable alternative. Just FYI, you can get a Bluetooth keyboard for your iPad. And who needs a mouse when you have a touch screen? Besides, the iPad is lightweight. __________________ Now available on the iPad App Store: Clean Cuisine Click here to load its App Store page.
	0

Feb 8, 2013, 06:17 AM	#11
sim667 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2010	Stupid thread is stupid. __________________ Mac Pro, Macbook Pro, G4 Powerbook, iPad 1, iPhone 4, 2X TV, Nikon D200, ACSP Trained - Photography and Mac tech Music and UK festival Blog
	0

Feb 8, 2013, 10:13 PM	#14
Mr. McMac macrumors 68000 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Long Island, New York	The iPad maybe a fun device, but it has nowhere near the power of a serious computer like a MacBook Pro. Plus, most of us like real keyboards, larger screens, and REAL multitasking __________________ 2009 24" iMac, 2011 & 2007 Mac Mini's, 4th generation iPod Shuffle Custom built Windows 7 gaming capable PC, Acer Aspire One 722 Netbook, Western Digital TV Play
	0

Feb 10, 2013, 04:40 PM	#15
Technarchy macrumors 68020 Join Date: May 2012	Never happen... __________________ Steve Jobs, January 9th 2007, 10:44am: "We filed for over 200 patents for all the inventions in iPhone and we intend to protect them."
	0

Feb 19, 2013, 12:29 AM	#16
help4desk macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2013	Just fiction. Can't happen anytime soon, maybe just for the reason that....to build apps and code for the ipad you still need a Mac
	0


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