iPad Pro Could the iPad Pro run a desktop OS?

[M. Gustave]

I don't see how wanting features that another platform has can be spun into a bad thing.

Because I was referring mainly to your suggestions of users mucking around in the OS file structure, and "sideloading" (aka, virus exploit).

And mouse support is nonsensical in an operating system built around touch, but that won't stop a vocal minority on MR from continuing to bleet about it.

 

[Channan]

Because I was referring mainly to your suggestions of users mucking around in the OS file structure, and "sideloading" (aka, virus exploit).

And mouse support is nonsensical in an operating system built around touch, but that won't stop a vocal minority on MR from continuing to bleet about it.

When did I suggest anyone muck around with the file system? If a feature is added and you don't want to use it, don't. That's usually how that goes. Same with side loading. If you're afraid of getting viruses, stick to the App Store.

Excuse me for wanting more features. I'm sorry it bothers you for whatever odd reason.

 

[M. Gustave]

Excuse me for wanting more features. I'm sorry it bothers you for whatever odd reason.

I love and welcome new features. But what you seem to want are security holes added to iOS (like Android has) so you can tweak and fiddle around. It's not a question of just ignoring them if you don't want to use them.

Philosophical sidebar:
There are the Jobs' of the world, and the Wozniaks. The Wozniaks want to dig into the system, tweak, poke, upgrade, and tinker. The Jobs' realize that the hackers are always going to be a niche market, will never be satisfied with any mass produced device, and that the real mission worth pursuing is putting computers into the hands of ordinary people that "just work", and get out of the way in our daily tasks.

 

[Channan]

I love and welcome new features. But what you seem to want are security holes added to iOS (like Android has) so you can tweak and fiddle around. It's not a question of just ignoring them if you don't want to use them.

Philosophical sidebar:
There are the Jobs' of the world, and the Wozniaks. The Wozniaks want to dig into the system, tweak, poke, upgrade, and tinker. The Jobs' realize that the hackers are always going to be a niche market, will never be satisfied with any mass produced device, and that the real mission worth pursuing is putting computers into the hands of ordinary people that "just work", and get out of the way in our daily tasks.

I was typing this long-ass counter reply, but then I realized I just didn't care enough about your thoughts on my opinions to finish. I don't mean that to be rude, but those are features I would need iOS to have before an iPad could fully replace my laptop, and I just don't care whether you want them or not. You aren't going to change my needs.

Ordinary people don't need the bigger text accessibility feature. The ones that do are a minority. But why would I waste my time arguing against iOS having that feature when I could just...not use it?

 

[Pakaku]

Or any number of Windows hybrid devices, but I guess I shouldn't say the "W" word.

I mean, with the single port, hardware keyboard, desktop OS, etc. it's really similar to the design philosophy of the iPad but still retaining the perks of a laptop.

The Surface Pro is not comparable to an iPad or a Macbook.

 

[bensisko]

I was typing this long-ass counter reply, but then I realized I just didn't care enough about your thoughts on my opinions to finish. I don't mean that to be rude, but those are features I would need iOS to have before an iPad could fully replace my laptop, and I just don't care whether you want them or not. You aren't going to change my needs.

Ordinary people don't need the bigger text accessibility feature. The ones that do are a minority. But why would I waste my time arguing against iOS having that feature when I could just...not use it?

It's more complicated than that though. With a File Manager, you can't just "not use it" - you're forced to use it. I use sketchbook as my example - in iOS I have a nice visual gallery of my drawings with no worries on what the file is called or where I store it. On Windows, I have to give the file a name and choose where to put the file, then figure out where I put it and what I named it when I want to open it again. I MUCH prefer the simplicity and elegance of the iOS version.

I liken it to my Smart Car. People tell me that they need a backseat and a big trunk for it to work for them. That's fine, and there are other cars that do that - Smart makes a car I love with features I love and I don't want an SUV or even a four door.

 

[Channan]

It's more complicated than that though. With a File Manager, you can't just "not use it" - you're forced to use it. I use sketchbook as my example - in iOS I have a nice visual gallery of my drawings with no worries on what the file is called or where I store it. On Windows, I have to give the file a name and choose where to put the file, then figure out where I put it and what I named it when I want to open it again. I MUCH prefer the simplicity and elegance of the iOS version.

I liken it to my Smart Car. People tell me that they need a backseat and a big trunk for it to work for them. That's fine, and there are other cars that do that - Smart makes a car I love with features I love and I don't want an SUV or even a four door.

It doesn't have to be complicated. Just because you don't like the way Microsoft does it doesn't mean you can't have the best of both.

I don't use any drawing apps, so I can't compare that, but on Android I installed a GBA emulator and downloaded a game. When I opened the emulator, it automatically scanned my files and only shows the game on the list of files I can open. I didn't have to rename the file or browse the directory. It "just works".

People love to defend Apple for being late with certain features by saying Apple waited to do it right, but still forget that there are other, better ways to do things. A file system doesn't have to be as bad as what you're used to.

 

[bensisko]

It doesn't have to be complicated. Just because you don't like the way Microsoft does it doesn't mean you can't have the best of both.

I don't use any drawing apps, so I can't compare that, but on Android I installed a GBA emulator and downloaded a game. When I opened the emulator, it automatically scanned my files and only shows the game on the list of files I can open. I didn't have to rename the file or browse the directory. It "just works".

People love to defend Apple for being late with certain features by saying Apple waited to do it right, but still forget that there are other, better ways to do things. A file system doesn't have to be as bad as what you're used to.

Absolutely - if you want to talk about advanced file management that doesn't require user manipulation (through meta-tagging and some intelligence), I'm all for that discussion.

Most people, on these boards anyway, that talk about File Management want the OS X Finder / Windows Explorer model - make folders and organize files into folders. They're looking for the same old experience.

I will never say that iOS's file management is perfect, but it doesn't force me to "manage files" like OS X and Windows, so to me it's better.

 

[Channan]

Absolutely - if you want to talk about advanced file management that doesn't require user manipulation (through meta-tagging and some intelligence), I'm all for that discussion.

Most people, on these boards anyway, that talk about File Management want the OS X Finder / Windows Explorer model - make folders and organize files into folders. They're looking for the same old experience.

I will never say that iOS's file management is perfect, but it doesn't force me to "manage files" like OS X and Windows, so to me it's better.

I like the way Android handles it. Google doesn't even provide a file explorer with Android. If you create a new file within an app, a folder is automatically created for that app and placed in that folder. That part works the same as it does for iOS, but if you need to access that file from another app, you can browse the directory to find and edit that file without transferring it between apps and creating duplicates.

 

[ctg7w6]

I think this is a good analogy of the transition from desktop to touch based computing. And while it may now be obvious that cars are better than horse and carriage, I bet in the earliest days of automobiles, a lot of people thought why bother with automobiles? Horse and buggy works perfectly well. A car breaks down, you need to call a mechanic to fix it. Horses just keep going as long as you feed them!

I actually like your own take on MY analogy lol. In spite of my earlier post, I want touch to "win" in the end.... After all of the Sci Fi books and films I've seen, I want the future to involve epic computers and devices that are operated by touch in a 3D space.

But I still think that Apple needs to open the system more or make it more versatile. Maybe the screen size is prohibitive to really precise touch... A mouse is simply more precise than a finger at this size.

So, I accept your reversal of my analogy to a certain degree. Thank you for making me see something from the opposite point of view. I haven't converted... But I think we are both right, now

 

[kasakka]

I like the way Android handles it. Google doesn't even provide a file explorer with Android. If you create a new file within an app, a folder is automatically created for that app and placed in that folder. That part works the same as it does for iOS, but if you need to access that file from another app, you can browse the directory to find and edit that file without transferring it between apps and creating duplicates.

Exactly. Having the option to do whatever you want with files, including ones that are not even compatible with your phone, is what Android does so much better. For example when I was building my new PC I forgot to download the latest versions of drivers so I just did that on my phone and then transferred those on my PC when I had Windows running but no internet. Most of the time I don't even touch the file browser for anything on my phone.

 

[Night Spring]

For example when I was building my new PC I forgot to download the latest versions of drivers so I just did that on my phone and then transferred those on my PC when I had Windows running but no internet.

I do this on my iPad and iPhone all the time. Safari lets you download any file type, and you can use apps like GoodReader and FileBrowser to store the files and transfer them to your PC when you get home.

 

[Channan]

I do this on my iPad and iPhone all the time. Safari lets you download any file type, and you can use apps like GoodReader and FileBrowser to store the files and transfer them to your PC when you get home.

The problem with the way Safari does this is you have to stay on the page it's downloading from. It won't do it in the background. I'm sure there are other browsers that would let you do that, though.

 

[Wolfpup]

Hypothetically, if Apple later down the line creates a separate OS for its iPad lines that's more along the lines of a hybrid of iOS/macOS, would the Pro lines be able to handle it?

My assumption is that it wouldn't be an issue for the 12.9' model since it has 4GB of RAM, but I'm curious what others think and if this is something that you'd be interested in seeing somewhere down the line.

I love my iPad Pro, and believe if it could support external drives or downloading torrents it'd be a true replacement for my iMac.

Yeah, there's zero question the iPad Pro-either of 'em, though obviously especially the 12" model, could run Windows or MacOS RIGHT NOW in terms of the hardware. Windows 10 runs fine on considerably less powerful hardware.
[doublepost=1473275197][/doublepost]

There's also Maru OS, which is quite compelling as a concept.

Android is a very good operating system at heart (i.e. Linux) but it's not without problems: fragmentation, lack of decent tablet apps and piss-poor OEMs not least among them. I did Android for several years and there was a lot to like about the platform.

In a lot of respects, Android is shaping up to be the Windows of the mobile age. Problem is, Google has split their attention between Android and ChromeOS. The minute they bring them together in a unified OS and put in a tablet/phablet/phone that's dockable and doesn't suck, both Apple and Microsoft will have some serious questions to ask.

Mind you, that's no easy task to pull off

Maybe, but I hope not. Google's OSes stink next to Windows or MacOS (or even iOS IMO).