Apple's Greg Joswiak: No Plans to Merge Mac and iPad

[CyberBob859]

Why not give an option? Pair a keyboard and trackpad and the new IPP is a MacBook Air with better display.

Despite him saying this, I’m sticking to my guns and saying these new model Pros are going to be very close to being full Mac machines come WWDC.

Here is my guess (or a wish). Apple provides macOS as a virtual machine in the iPadOS App Store. Download it and install it on the iPad Pro, and launch when a Magic Keyboard or an external display is connected.

This is similar to what Samsung is trying to do with DeX but with much more capability.

I would gladly sell my MacBook Air and buy an iPad Pro if they did this.

 

[WiseAJ]

Why would it?

Why couldn't it? They just put the M1 in the iPad Pro. If they put an M Chip in the iPhones then they can just develop for one chip line instead of two.

 

[Cosmosent]

My $0.02, as an EE.

They're doing it because they are resource-limited.

They have alot of projects they want to work on, & ONLY so many engineers.

So, they leverage as much as possible; this has been going on for years now @ AAPL,

So, yes, they are merging products, & the new VP's stance is (probably) BS.

But they're probably doing it for a reason few thought about.

Resource limitations being primary, & Economies of Scale being the main other.

 

[Minxy]

If you’re a MacBook Air owner and an iPad Pro 12.9” owner like me there is some overlap. The iPad is great for comfortable entertainment use, reading documents and books and magazines but the multitasking is limited and the file management is obtuse. My ultimate device would be an iPad that I could switch to Mac OS for ‘real’ computer use.

Whilst Apple is being truthful in the short term about having no plans, I think having an all purpose iPad is an inevitability in the future, maybe five or six years time.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Well, if you’re striving to make the best iPad possible. I have to say that the hardware team has knocked it out of the park.

The software team, on the other hand, has turned a miniature, portable iMac into a big iPhone that can’t make phone calls.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

If you’re a MacBook Air owner and an iPad Pro 12.9” owner like me there is some overlap. The iPad is great for comfortable entertainment use, reading documents and books and magazines but the multitasking is limited and the file management is obtuse. My ultimate device would be an iPad that I could switch to Mac OS for ‘real’ computer use.

Whilst Apple is being truthful in the short term about having no plans, I think having an all purpose iPad is an inevitability in the future, maybe five or six years time.

That’s my issue in a nutshell. One device is great for chilling on the couch and watching TV. The other is great for getting things done.

I shouldn’t have to spend 2 grand to get 2 devices when a better iPadOS would allow me to do everything I want with 1 device.

So ultimately I’m disappointed with iPadOS. Knowing the hardware that is packed into an iPad Pro, it is really sad how limiting the OS is.

 

[richinaus]

If you’re a MacBook Air owner and an iPad Pro 12.9” owner like me there is some overlap. The iPad is great for comfortable entertainment use, reading documents and books and magazines but the multitasking is limited and the file management is obtuse. My ultimate device would be an iPad that I could switch to Mac OS for ‘real’ computer use.

Whilst Apple is being truthful in the short term about having no plans, I think having an all purpose iPad is an inevitability in the future, maybe five or six years time.

Maybe, it depends how they are used.

Currently I use all my mac devices professionally, as in each has a function and dedicated use.

For home use, I 100% get the all in one device desire and would love it if I could swap between os's. It actually annoys me the limitations of ipadOS when all I have is my ipad.

But the set up I will be looking at moving forward is :

14" MBP + Ipad 11" [WFH / entertainment etc]
Desktop + ipad 12 "[studio + productivity]

I feel this is what Apple wants as they make more $$..........

 

[richinaus]

That’s my issue in a nutshell. One device is great for chilling on the couch and watching TV. The other is great for getting things done.

I shouldn’t have to spend 2 grand to get 2 devices when a better iPadOS would allow me to do everything I want with 1 device.

So ultimately I’m disappointed with iPadOS. Knowing the hardware that is packed into an iPad Pro, it is really sad how limiting the OS is.

More $$ to Apple

 

[code-m]

Why couldn't it? They just put the M1 in the iPad Pro. If they put an M Chip in the iPhones then they can just develop for one chip line instead of two.

You forgot about the iPad Mini, iPad and iPad Air those use Ax chips similar to iPhone and keeping the iPadPro with an M1 makes sense to streamline chip development that way you have Ax and Mx and not Ax, AxX/AxZ and Mx. I suspect with the Pro Mac models it will fork the Mx line to MxX like pre 2021 iPadPro did for Ax and AxX.

 

[qoop]

Just you wait until Scott Forstall returns… then you'll have a proper OS again…

 

[Kierkegaarden]

Yeah, iPads will have to run mac apps to be a real computer. They’ll realize it sooner or later.

The iPad already does run Mac apps.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

If these people could do everything on iPadOS that they wanted, there wouldn't be any conspiracies For myself, I don't think Apple will ever ship an iPad with Mac OS pre-installed (nor do I think they should). I'd love some dual-boot action for "docked mode" to tide me over until iPadOS matures some more (however many years that takes...), but I am not holding my breath for that either.

That's the point: Little by little Apple has been doing just that WITHOUT fundamentally changing the OS.

Is it there yet for everyone? No.

Is it there for me? I've been waiting TEN LONG FN YEARS for THIS iPad.

The wait until the second half of May will feel just as long.

 

[code-m]

Just you wait until Scott Forstall returns… then you'll have a proper OS again…

What’s the fascination with S. Forstall? Seriously the guy has moved on to another industry completely and is not holding any grudges as he made his millions and pursuing other interests just likes some others.

 

[trifid]

Someone explain to me why Big Sur added more spacing in menu bar, if it's not to prepare the macOS for a merge with iOS?

More spacing makes it more user-friendly for touch.

There is no chance in hell the spacing is just cosmetic, it makes no sense. It has to be for touch.

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

I'm not asking to merge, but maybe dual boot?

Dual boot with instant switching. There is no reason both iPadOS and macOS can't be installed on the same M1 device, sharing the same resources. It would be really handy to have access to the macOS user folder from the iPadOS Files app.

 

[NotTooLate]

Oh, c'mon you idiots! You could obliterate Microsoft's Surface business in an instant, instead you're focusing on iPad OS, which is just a half-baked something...

On the other hand i guess there isn't any single point to update to my 2018 iPad Pro because it's already fast enough for the tablet apps I use right now, cool. ツ /s

I think you grossly miss calculated the surface sales vs the iPad sales ... there is nothing to obliterate when you talk about Apple va MS hardware sales

 

[Darth Tulhu]

That’s my issue in a nutshell. One device is great for chilling on the couch and watching TV. The other is great for getting things done.

I shouldn’t have to spend 2 grand to get 2 devices when a better iPadOS would allow me to do everything I want with 1 device.

So ultimately I’m disappointed with iPadOS. Knowing the hardware that is packed into an iPad Pro, it is really sad how limiting the OS is.

What can't you do on an iPad that you can on the Mac?

And I mean can't, not just "can't do it the same way as on the Mac".

I want to add them to my running list, to see if Apple is going to start checking them off.

They checked all of mine off (in no particular order):

1. RAM amount
2. Processor power
3. Proper output to external monitor
4. Mouse/trackpad support
5. Screen size (they're hitting the bare minimum with 12.9", I want 17")
6. Thunderbolt access to peripherals/external drives

 

[mnsportsgeek]

More $$ to Apple

Sadly, you're not wrong.

But that does contradict the quotes in this article. That said, I don't believe them. There's no logical excuse for the iPad to have the power it has and be so handcuffed by the software that it has to be intentional.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Remember when Jobs said there will never be a stylus for an iPad? Yeah, iPads will have to run mac apps to be a real computer. They’ll realize it sooner or later.

You are the voiceover in this ad:

 

[richinaus]

What can't you do on an iPad that you can on the Mac?

And I mean can't, not just "can't do it the same way as on the Mac".

I want to add them to my running list, to see if Apple is going to start checking them off.

They checked all of mine off (in no particular order):

1. RAM amount
2. Processor power
3. Proper output to external monitor
4. Mouse/trackpad support
5. Screen size (they're hitting the bare minimum with 12.9", I want 17")
6. Thunderbolt access to peripherals/external drives

truckloads mate, but if you are just emailing and checking docs all day then an ipad is fine.

 

[WiseAJ]

You forgot about the iPad Mini, iPad and iPad Air those use Ax chips similar to iPhone and keeping the iPadPro with an M1 makes sense to streamline chip development that way you have Ax and Mx and not Ax, AxX/AxZ and Mx. I suspect with the Pro Mac models it will fork the Mx line to MxX like pre 2021 iPadPro did for Ax and AxX.

I'm not forgetting anything, those haven't been updated yet. Maybe not this year but they could likely in the future update those with M-chips as well.

Before they put the M1 in the iPad Pro this week I wouldn't have thought they would have an M chip in anything outside of Macs, but now, You just never know. It is a possibility.

In the future you could have Mx chips in iPhones/iPad mini/air/ lower tier Macs and then the MxX chips in iPad Pros and higher tier Macs. Maybe even a third MxZ or something for the Mac Pros.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

guess you haven't heard of the magic keyboard which literally makes an ipad have the exact same input hardware.

Yes, but you are erroneously discounting the preference of using iPadOS as a REASON WHY iPad users buy iPads.

Why is it so hard to accept that iPad users LIKE what the iPad is?

Only Mac users want to turn the iPad into something it is not: a Mac with an AWFUL touch layer on top that it wasn't designed to have.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

truckloads mate, but if you are just emailing and checking docs all day then an ipad is fine.

Be specific. I can't add "truckloads" to my list.

No snark... I'm serious. I WANT to know.

 

[isoft7]

I'll never get over the lack of comprehension by so many on this forum. If you're really an Apple fan you would understand their business model.

Apple doesn't fragment functionality, they never have.

If Apple is to leverage the M1 in the iPad and provide that model only with some sort of dual booting, or even full MacOS installation they would fragment their entire tablet strategy. Millions and millions of users with previous generations would be out of the ecosystem while only those buying the newest model would be allowed in.

Apple doesn't do that. Period.

Now, I could see Apple bringing Final Cut Pro or something to the iPad, but if they do it'll still run just fine on the A12 series, because again, Apple doesn't fragment. The M1 will never be "special" it will just be "faster".

Grasp it folks.

 

[jmgregory1]

Why exactly is it that so many tech people want / expect Apple to merge iOS/iPadOS and MacOS? As I’m typing on my iPad Pro 12.9 (2018), I certainly don’t want resizable windows of apps running simultaneously, so that I have to squint to see what I’m writing. No doubt the current multi-tasking on iPadOS isn’t good, but certainly a big part of that is the fact that small screen devices are always going to be challenged to do multiple things on-screen at the same time.

I’m sure Apple is working to improve multitasking, much like they’ve been improving the file system - which didn’t even exist a few years ago with iOS and iPadOS. Others have said it on here - the great thing about iPadOS and the iPad Pro’s in particular is just how easy they are to use. I’m in Safari now, but I can swipe up to look at my Home Screen, choose a different app, then go back to Safari or any other app just as easily.

I’ve been using my iPP for the past couple of years as my daily work (and play) device and love how it has gotten to the point where I can use it for work just as easily as I can grab it without the keyboard and use it for entertainment.