Apple's Vision Pro: Is it a computer?

[Bodhitree]

I think one should look at this from the context of Apple’s design philosophy. They have always had the underlying idea that the user should only be confronted with those choices they have to make. The technical details relating to the network settings or device drivers or such should be automated, until only the essentials are left. This allows the user to focus on just getting things done.

The iPhone and iPad and their respective operating systems are a result of this philosophy, removing much of the complexity from what is a ‘personal computer’ and creating simpler, more focussed devices. I am sure that Apple will have done the same with Vision Pro, hiding all of the complexity and adding user-controlled interfaces only where necessary.

To a large extent the Vision Pro is managing a more complex environment than an ordinary computer os. It has to be aware of spaces as well as windows, and the environment around you. It really is doing “spatial computing”, and it is aiming to be display, input, processing, power, audio, all reimagined around the human being.

It sets out to be THE computing device for the Spatial Computing era. So I guess it is more a computer than say the iPhone.

 

[Realityck]

It’s a computer.
Like I said in the other thread, computer does not necessarily just mean “includes Finder.app and Terminal.app.

Given that it’s basically the same internal components as a MacBook Air, if you installed macOS on it… that doesn’t make it more of a computer. It’s still a computer, just with a different operating system on it.



That’s not what the definition said.
Your TV is hardware, and it has to run software.
Even if it’s the most basic software ever that just lets you select inputs and change channels, that is still software. That is still a computer.
And these days we’ve got coffee pots that will connect to the Internet and let you control them through your phone, those are also computers. They’ve got software that lets you control them, and obviously they are hardware.

As for Apple, almost everything they sell (with obvious exceptions) is a form of computer.
The Mac? Obviously a computer.
The iPhone? A mobile computer.
The iPad? A mobile computer.
The Apple TV? A computer.
The HomePod? Also a computer.
Even the iPods were technically computers, extremely limited computers, but computers nonetheless.

I do not agree that all the apple devices are computers. Using the comment of "Computers can be used to perform a wide range of tasks, from basic calculations to complex operations" look at that list and tell me that a Apple TV, a HomePod, iPod qualify? The same goes for those Smart TV comments. The lack of functionally to perform as computers even if they have a CPU that is capable inside disqualifies them being used in a similar fashion.

Just because you have a device that uses an operating system and comes with some bundled or downloadable apps that are a bit more then a widget for steaming hosts as a example do not constitute a computer. If a consumer says I want to buy a computer so I can do about anything involving calculations how many qualify. The Mac, iPad, iPhone examples qualify IMHO.

Now that being said let's return to the topic concerning your impressions of the Apple Vision Pro comparably being a computer for consumers.