Apple Vision Pro is an appliance not a computer

[AdonisSMU]

Apple Vision Pro is great for doing power points and excel spreadsheets and watching TV and Movies. Right now Apple Vision Pro is an expensive appliance and not a computer. There is currently no native way to build applications and web apps within the system. A computer on the other hand can build apps and websites natively from the device itself. To me a computer can be used to build programs for itself and other devices.

I feel on some level that Apple was wish casting onto the Apple Vision Pro with terms like "Spacial Computing". The truth is the Apple Vision Pro is not capable of being a computer yet. Apple Vision Pro isn't self sufficient enough to be a computer.

Just because an appliance was built using a computer doesn't make it a computer.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Can you direct me to any authoritative source that defines "computer" the way you've defined it?

 

[russell_314]

I think Apple has the best reply to this

 

[AVP_NEWB]

Can you direct me to any authoritative source that defines "computer" the way you've defined it?

I can answer that.

No

 

[AdonisSMU]

Can you direct me to any authoritative source that defines "computer" the way you've defined it?

I know what the dictionary definition is/was. No one uses computer to mean appliance even though most appliances are in fact computers at least by the original definition of one.

Times have changed and the word computer by todays standards means a product that you can natively create other software with for the device itself or for another device.

 

[4sallypat]

Agree - the AVP in my opinion is a pair of miniaturized iPads.

Worse than iPads - very locked down - no full connectivity to iPhones.

AVP was a definitely a developer / beta test device = nothing more.

Worst purchase from Apple ever.

If I wanted a pair of 3D iPad glued to my face, I would have bought a Mac Pro and 2 displays.

 

[surferfb]

I remember way back when the Mac wasn’t considered a real computer because it had a GUI.

 

[4sallypat]

I remember way back when the Mac wasn’t considered a real computer because it had a GUI.

Yes, I agree, the GUI was a new thing for me.
I was used to command line interface (CLI).

 

[Timo_Existencia]

I know what the dictionary definition is/was. No one uses computer to mean appliance even though most appliances are in fact computers at least by the original definition of one.

Times have changed and the word computer by todays standards means a product that you can natively create other software with for the device itself or for another device.

So, we’re just deciding it means whatever you want it to mean? I certainly don’t mean “a product you can natively create other software with” when I use the term computer.

 

[musukosan]

Yes, "a computer" is traditionally thought of just as you described... something you are able to build applications on. But Apple isn't saying that the VP is a computer. They said it's a "spacial computing device". They're careful with their wording. The term "mobile computing" is a pretty well known term that describes smart phones and tablets. Most people don't confuse them with computers either. If Apple get's their way, "spacial computing" will eventually become the adopted term for all types devices similar to the VP.

 

[NT1440]

I know what the dictionary definition is/was. No one uses computer to mean appliance even though most appliances are in fact computers at least by the original definition of one.

Times have changed and the word computer by today’s standards means a product that you can natively create other software with for the device itself or for another device.

Been working in IT for over 15 years, never once heard that definition…

 

[Timo_Existencia]

…and btw, Apple keeps developing Swift Playgrounds, and currently you can develop some IOS apps directly on the iPad and submit them to Apple.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

The original Mac wasn’t really considered a software development machine; Developers bought the Apple Lisa to develop & compile apps.

…but again, any definition of “computer” I’m familiar with easily includes the iPad, the iPhone, and now the AVP.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

I think this is definitely more iPad than Mac.

That said, this is more in someways than the iPad. you can have a lot of windows all over the place like a Mac. Dealing with multitasking is definitely better than on an iPad. Also, the way you can remote control your Mac and how well that works via UI, it could be meaningful. Nothing is really stopping apple from throwing in libraries that let you use full Mac apps natively on the AVP.

That said, some of the shortcomings are more horrendous than even the iPad. There is NO ability to local/direct P2P sync your data. You must use iCloud or just start an island storage space basically completely disconnected from your data. This is its biggest sin. It's not clear if this sin is purposeful, or they just didn't have time to implement some of these features.

The other big glaring mark where it's worse than the iPad is the launch screen. You cannot arrange any apps or folders or anything. No widgets (and spacial widgets might actually be useful on this thing). This seems to be more clearly something likely to come in a future update, although apple has yet to confirm.

 

[Analog Kid]

Apple Vision Pro is great for doing power points and excel spreadsheets and watching TV and Movies. Right now Apple Vision Pro is an expensive appliance and not a computer. There is currently no native way to build applications and web apps within the system. A computer on the other hand can build apps and websites natively from the device itself. To me a computer can be used to build programs for itself and other devices.

I feel on some level that Apple was wish casting onto the Apple Vision Pro with terms like "Spacial Computing". The truth is the Apple Vision Pro is not capable of being a computer yet. Apple Vision Pro isn't self sufficient enough to be a computer.

Just because an appliance was built using a computer doesn't make it a computer.

Can you share this argument with the people saying we need to allow side loading on iPhone because it’s just a computer?

 

[Abazigal]

Apple Vision Pro is great for doing power points and excel spreadsheets and watching TV and Movies. Right now Apple Vision Pro is an expensive appliance and not a computer. There is currently no native way to build applications and web apps within the system. A computer on the other hand can build apps and websites natively from the device itself. To me a computer can be used to build programs for itself and other devices.

Oh, we are totally doing this again, after that 227-page "iPad as a laptop replacement" thread in the iPad forum, huh.

 

[zakarhino]

Can you direct me to any authoritative source that defines "computer" the way you've defined it?

He just gave you his definition because he's giving you his opinion so that's the only 'source' that matters here. There is no 'authoritative source' because there doesn't need to be one. What a strange comment to make.

 

[klasma]

The day when most Apple engineers will drop their Macs in favor of an AVP-like headset will not come, let's say, within the next 15 years (if ever). The reasons for that is what the OP is getting at, IMO. And should that day ever come, it would be the end of the Mac altogether, given that it's already the lowest-selling Apple device category in unit sales (not counting the AVP for the moment).

 

[heretiq]

Apple Vision Pro is great for doing power points and excel spreadsheets and watching TV and Movies. Right now Apple Vision Pro is an expensive appliance and not a computer. There is currently no native way to build applications and web apps within the system. A computer on the other hand can build apps and websites natively from the device itself. To me a computer can be used to build programs for itself and other devices.

I feel on some level that Apple was wish casting onto the Apple Vision Pro with terms like "Spacial Computing". The truth is the Apple Vision Pro is not capable of being a computer yet. Apple Vision Pro isn't self sufficient enough to be a computer.

Just because an appliance was built using a computer doesn't make it a computer.

I think your pronouncement is premature and misguided: (1) Appliances are specialized computers; (2) the iPad is an appliance (a specialized, i.e. tablet computer); (3) the iPad appliance has the native ability to build applications — it’s called Swift Playgrounds (there are a number of apps that have been completely built and published from the iPad); (4) given Apple’s statements positioning vision pro as a new spatial computing platform, Swift Playgrounds for visionOS is likely an OS update or two away. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it at or before wwdc 24.

 

[TracerAnalog]

Apple Vision Pro is great for doing power points and excel spreadsheets and watching TV and Movies. Right now Apple Vision Pro is an expensive appliance and not a computer. There is currently no native way to build applications and web apps within the system. A computer on the other hand can build apps and websites natively from the device itself. To me a computer can be used to build programs for itself and other devices.

I feel on some level that Apple was wish casting onto the Apple Vision Pro with terms like "Spacial Computing". The truth is the Apple Vision Pro is not capable of being a computer yet. Apple Vision Pro isn't self sufficient enough to be a computer.

Just because an appliance was built using a computer doesn't make it a computer.

I don’t care how the AVP is classified, it will need to show its added value. In its current iteration it feels like an impressive tech demo, a glimpse into the future. Something to excite and inspire developers. Whether we call it a computer, an appliance… it’s an HMI (Human Machine Interface) with new possibilities.

I’m curious to see how AR/VR develops, but I do not believe that the current form factor of heavy ski masks is very future proof.

 

[Basic75]

I remember way back when the Mac wasn’t considered a real computer because it had a GUI.

macOS, Linux and Windows all have powerful command lines to this very day because software developers and some other use cases benefit greatly from one.

 

[AdonisSMU]

…and btw, Apple keeps developing Swift Playgrounds, and currently you can develop some IOS apps directly on the iPad and submit them to Apple.

..and guess what iPad app isnt compatible with the Apple Vision Pro. Its not just YouTube.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

..and guess what iPad app isnt compatible with the Apple Vision Pro. Its not just YouTube.

Want to bet money that Swift Playgrounds will be available on the AVP within 1 year?

And, are you therefore saying that the iPad, according to your definition, is a computer?

 

[AdonisSMU]

He just gave you his definition because he's giving you his opinion so that's the only 'source' that matters here. There is no 'authoritative source' because there doesn't need to be one. What a strange comment to make.

Exactly. Apple likes to muddy the waters with words like “comput(er/ing)”. The Mac/MacBook is the only actual computer Apple makes definition based on how average people use the word computer today. It’s not even helpful to label something a computer if its not something that can create software.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Exactly. Apple likes to muddy the waters with words like “comput(er/ing)”. The Mac/MacBook is the only actual computer Apple makes definition based on how average people use the word computer today. It’s not even helpful to label something a computer if its not something that can create software.

This is a silly discussion. First, again, if you're just giving your "opinion" based on nothing that is outside your opinion, then there's no point to you having started a thread on the topic. Second, Apple isn't muddying any waters, because as seems to be clearly obvious, the vast majority of definitions of "computer" in the first 20 or so results on a Google search clearly include the iPhone, iPad and the AVP. Third, I don't know a single "average" person who thinks that computers are primarily for creating software. But if you have data to support your assertion as to what the average person thinks I'll consider that.

But in the end, what's the point of the discussion? I think the AVP is a computer; and I can point to a lot of sources that have defined what a computer is for nearing 100 years.