Does the new Macbook make 10" or higher tablets obsolete?

[HardBall]

It seems that the new Macbook is exactly what a lot of ppl have been clambering for. It probably won't suit most people has their workhorse machine, with the lack of ports and CPU throughput, which is probably where most of those complainers are coming from.

But this is probably the machine that many people wished that was there 2-3 years ago, something that is almost as light and portable as a tablet, and has good input method and can run desktop applications if needed. It should suit a lot of ppl who need a secondary portable system on the go, and doesn't mind the performance limitations. It could also be someone's primary machine if he/she mostly does light work.

I don't see larger tablets as being necessary for most people any more, I think the new MB will be the game changer in that regard. 7" or 8" tablets will still definitely have a place, but the new MB should be the portable system of choice for the majority, if you need a machine for more than pure consumption.

 

[AustinIllini]

The use case for a tablet is completely different, IMHO. There's a place for both, but i'm not sure the power users who want a 12" iPad are the same people who want a 12" Mac with one port.

The Ultimate Apple Power User
Apple Watch, iPhone Plus Model, iPad 12", Macbook Pro 15", 5K iMac

The pedestrian Apple user
iPhone 6, iPad Mini or Air, Macbook, (maybe a desktop)

I just don't feel that the people who were ever going to own a 12" iPad were going to be on the market for a Macbook in the first place.

 

[iRun26.2]

There are people on this forum who are trying to decide upon an iPad / rMB so I think it will have some effect. Overall, however it is an OS X machine. That puts it in a different realm compared to iOS / tablets.

 

[Pootan]

Tablets are a hundred times easier to use standing up or lying on your back

 

[gregvet]

Although I think that there will be a very small effect on the iPad from the new MB, personally I increasingly find myself taking my MBA and my iPad to most places where I need one or the other. They seem to serve different purposes for me.

I hadn't considered it before, but maybe Microsoft are onto something with the surface pro. Will be interesting to see if the fabled iPad pro surfaces, and what form it takes (assuming that the rMB isn't it).

 

[redheeler]

Different product with different attributes at a different price point. It may have some effect on a future 12" iPad Pro, but not a huge one for these reasons.

 

[maflynn]

Different machines for different solutions.

I don't see this laptop or the MBAs impacting tablet sales.

 

[JuryDuty]

If the screen flipped around and had touchscreen, maybe. But as it's still a laptop, I'd say not.

 

[iRun26.2]

If the screen flipped around and had touchscreen, maybe. But as it's still a laptop, I'd say not.

I'm so glad they didn't make the new rMB have a touchscreen. That's for iOS.

 

[Wahlstrm]

In general I think the thing with tablets is that you can use them with one finger and do everything. So it´s not really in competition with computers it´s more of a complementary product.
Super easy to use and good for small children and old people.

But for me who have been looking for an ipad to do some light photo editing on the go, and realized it will still not be a good solution.
Importing is a hassle, raw editing is still hard to find a good app for and any form of batch processing is out of the question.

128GB iPad 4g with apple case and apple USB & SD-card adapters:
$1062

Base model 256GB Macbook, with a free USB port!!
$1685

I might just buy the Macbook instead..

 

[iRun26.2]

In general I think the thing with tablets is that you can use them with one finger and do everything. So it´s not really in competition with computers it´s more of a complementary product.
Super easy to use and good for small children and old people.

But for me who have been looking for an ipad to do some light photo editing on the go, and realized it will still not be a good solution.
Importing is a hassle, raw editing is still hard to find a good app for and any form of batch processing is out of the question.

128GB iPad 4g with apple case and apple USB & SD-card adapters:
$1062

Base model 256GB Macbook, with a free USB port!!
$1685

I might just buy the Macbook instead..

How do you get the base model at $1685?j

(I thought it was $1299)

 

[Mcdevidr]

I think the macbook will be used on the couch instead of my iPad. I want to lessen the strain on my wrists, I'm a pianist. And having to support the iPad even as light as it is causes tension if it is for too long. So macbook light and small could replace that. Now if it only were detachable I could use it to read music from in portrait and it would be perfect.

 

[newellj]

How do you get the base model at $1685?j

(I thought it was $1299)

Check his location - pricing probably different in Sweden due to exchange rates, etc.

 

[TH3D4RKKN1GH7]

I'm just finding tablets increasingly more useless. Trying to turn them into productivity devices is an exercise in frustration. They're amazing for reading magazines and the occasional game, but that's about it. iOS hasn't done much to maximize their potential.

 

[Serban]

Apple watch is a nice future device...in the next 3-4 years most of us will have BECAUSE it can be worn like our cloths etc
So back to our OP Topic...for an ipad you need a purse or a travel bag, it can't fit in our pockets...at least without showing ridiculous and it cannot be worn
So the big question: if you already have a purse or bag with you ,why don't you buy a real and more capable device like this macbook? with a real and open OS?
The portability and the dimensions and weight are so much closer to the ipad now..
I understand the need to carry an ipad if you have a 15" MBP but with this macbook is no longer the case, you get such more with just 1 pound more than the iPad AIr

 

[consumeritis]

I think the one thing missing from Apple's lineup is a tablet with a real pressure-sensitive pen, for sketching and drawing. Maybe a little bigger than the current iPad.

Even the best of the pens for the current iPad is really bad compared to a Cintiq - the touchscreen is designed for a finger and isn't accurate enough with a pen nib.

 

[iRun26.2]

Apple watch is a nice future device...in the next 3-4 years most of us will have BECAUSE it can be worn like our cloths etc
So back to our OP Topic...for an ipad you need a purse or a travel bag, it can't fit in our pockets...at least without showing ridiculous and it cannot be worn
So the big question: if you already have a purse or bag with you ,why don't you buy a real and more capable device like this macbook? with a real and open OS?
The portability and the dimensions and weight are so much closer to the ipad now..
I understand the need to carry an ipad if you have a 15" MBP but with this macbook is no longer the case, you get such more with just 1 pound more than the iPad AIr

But the same 1 pound is also why we want a rMB and not a rMBP!

 

[Serban]

But the same 1 pound is also why we want a rMB and not a rMBP!

so there you go....the macbook will be more mainstream than the ipad...
the ipad will be useless in the next 2 years...or maybe they will reinvent the ipad

 

[iRun26.2]

so there you go....the macbook will be more mainstream than the ipad...
the ipad will be useless in the next 2 years...or maybe they will reinvent the ipad

.

 

[iRun26.2]

so there you go....the macbook will be more mainstream than the ipad...
the ipad will be useless in the next 2 years...or maybe they will reinvent the ipad

I still don't have an iPad. My rMB is all I care for to go with my iPhone 6 plus.

 

[dexterbell]

No way Id ever replace my Air 2 with any laptop, Im sure many feel the same way.

 

[Serban]

No way Id ever replace my Air 2 with any laptop, Im sure many feel the same way.

why? when you travel you need a bag...so why not a macbook for real work or something

 

[iRun26.2]

No way Id ever replace my Air 2 with any laptop, Im sure many feel the same way.

My iPhone 6 plus is what replaces my desire for a tablet of any kind.

 

[redheeler]

No way Id ever replace my Air 2 with any laptop, Im sure many feel the same way.

No way I'd ever replace my rMBP with any tablet.

 

[PDFierro]

Hell, it might make my iPad mini obsolete.