iPad Marketing VP: iPad and Mac are Complementary Devices, Not Competing Devices

[Dj64Mk7]

Except Apple giving the iPad mouse and trackpad support, and releasing Logic and FCP for the iPad counters everything you just said.

The Magic Keyboard was never designed to replace the touch screen on an iPad; it was designed to supplement the touch screen with a trackpad to make using the iPad with a keyboard more ergonomic and efficient.

The move is not to turn the iPad into a neo-MacBook, but to expand the possible use cases to cover as many people as possible.

 

[mig0]

I think it would be more sensible if the m1+ series of ipads could run macos, and would allow users to switch between ipados or macos. If they only enabled it on the Pro lines only, that would make for a big distinction between the lines and would make the product lines make a lot more sense. I bought a pro and regret the purchase; a regular ipad would've sufficed just fine and I ended up getting just a wifi version without cellular (I usually prefer to opt for cellular models, I have a free tablet line from tmobile that I use sparingly).

 

[Dj64Mk7]

Someone on the forum once suggested a “docked” iPad which would function as a MacBook with a detachable screen that ran iPadOS. This would be perfect, imo. Sounds like we are never getting it.

I just happened to glance up at your comment after submitting mine, and I immediately thought of how a Surface Book-style iPad would be amazing.

With the Magic Keyboard, Apple already has the ability to use the pins to tell when the iPad is connected or disconnected, and I would imagine it’s not too far-fetched to think that Apple could do something like turn off Stage Manager (as an example) when the iPad is disconnected, and turn it back on when the iPad is connected. Do that, but with a macOS-like environment.

 

[gregmancuso]

Complimentary my ass. Maybe the base model Air could be use as a cheap extension screen and casual consumption device. But explain how an iPad Pro topping out at $2,600 before keyboard, pencil, AppleCare, and taxes is a complimentary device to a MacBook Pro that costs LESS at the same configuration.

With an M4, 16gb ram, and the core of macOS already in the device it is not complimentary, it is an alternative. And there really is no reason to not treat it as such and allow switchable iPadOS / macOS mode. With the same SOC architecture and likely a lot of other hardware overlap the issues of power management, memory management, and other roadblocks from the intel days are gone. It really is (I am presuming) a ui and apps issue. macOS already runs iOS apps with developer approval. So that issue is off the table too. Run Mac apps on iPad only when docked or have active keyboard and mouse. Disable touch interface for Mac apps. Done.

 

[RedWeasel]

There aren’t that many people who want macOS. You’re living in a tech bubble with tech diehards who want to manipulate Terminal settings. The 99.9% of regular people like iPadOS just the way it is. They don’t want a Mac. They want the ultra portability and simplicity of iPadOS. IPadOS is just fine and doesn’t need any fundamental changes.

This is probably true. I guess it's also the tech diehards who complain about a lack of productivity on the iPad. The majority of the target user doesn't want to be productive, they mostly just want to consume and maybe communicate.

macOS supports sandboxing, but is not enforced. IPadOS requires sandboxing, which very few Mac apps support.

That is not quite true. Many macOS apps support sandboxing and it's been around for quite a while (since 2012 actually, so more than 10 years).

Keep in mind Macs have been around for almost four decades with macOS being around for 20 years or so. IPadOS is very new with programmers, unfamiliar with how to write touch-first apps.

Well before iPad OS there was iOS, which is very similar from a developer point of view. And that has been around for developers since 2008. And the iPad since 2010. That should be plenty of time, no?

 

[wbeasley]

macOS coming to the iPad at WWDC 2024, I'm calling it

maybe MacOS Lite?

 

[stinksroundhere]

macOS coming to the iPad at WWDC 2024, I'm calling it

iPadOS runs on iPads with 2GB RAM. if it was as complex and hungry as macOS you can say goodbye to decent performance on a lot of iPads.

Please stop falling got this 'macOS on iPad' psyop that is paying influencers to brainwash people. It's just a competitor trying to sow confusion and break the tech industry's most successful tablet.

It's macOS that needs to become as efficient as iPadOS. That will happen in a few years when it no longer needs to support Intel/Rosetta. As you all should know by now, Apple has been working on this for a while with application saved states, automatic document saving, stage manager and catalyst.

 

[okieoutwest]

I just happened to glance up at your comment after submitting mine, and I immediately thought of how a Surface Book-style iPad would be amazing.

With the Magic Keyboard, Apple already has the ability to use the pins to tell when the iPad is connected or disconnected, and I would imagine it’s not too far-fetched to think that Apple could do something like turn off Stage Manager (as an example) when the iPad is disconnected, and turn it back on when the iPad is connected. Do that, but with a macOS-like environment.

If Apple announced hardware like this at WWDC (which seems very unlikely!) I’d be excited about Apple as a consumer brand for the first time in many years for sure.

Surface is a good comparison. At a bit further stretch, this imagined configuration also reminds me of the Fairphone- modular, swappable, upgradable. It would be a whole different ethos though and we know that’s not Apple’s ethos for design, unfortunately.

 

[subjonas]

Nobody has any idea what 99.9% of iPad users think of iPadOS.

I believe the satisfaction rate is pretty high, so they’re probably overall happy.

 

[contacos]

„We want you to buy both“

(Didn’t read)

Who knows, maybe by M5 we will finally be able to update Spotify playlists, upload photos to 3rd party apps or simply doing an export in Apples very own Apps without pausing or „export failed“ messages the second you dare to switch to another app. Multitasking my aSS

 

[RedWeasel]

I'm not quite old enough, but all these macos on iPad posts make me wonder, was the same debate going on back in the day between the original Mac series and the Apple II series?

To some degree, however those were technically different enough for that to not be directly possible. In the sense that most of the Apple II devices were too weak to run a proper UI.

However, there was the Apple IIGS for example, which was an Apple II which a Mac-like GUI:

Apple IIGS - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And in the other direction, there was an official Apple IIe card for the Macintosh:

Apple IIe Card - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[RedWeasel]

Translated to: “why sell you one, when we can sell you two”. I guess my Surface Pro will continue to be my main productivity device, while my iPad continues to be my complementary device for content consumption.

And if you are a family, why not sell some more, because we don't offer multiuser on iPad?

 

[RedWeasel]

I think what we might see is some gimmicky named “remote login feature”. Something that leverages iCloud and subscriptions that let you log into your Mac via iCloud and access whatever you have on it from your iPad.

That would be very innovative! I have a great name for it, let's call it... "Back to my Mac"!

Oh wait...

 

[gregmancuso]

There are numerous fallacies in this. They have the same SoC, but an SoC isn’t the whole computer. Also, the batteries are much smaller and the thermals are much worse than a MBA. It’s also a touch device whereas macOS and all of its apps are touch hostile. Sure it could run macOS, but it would suck badly. Craig F. even said so years ago, saying they had macOS running on iPads. They tested it and found the experience to be pretty bad. Apple doesn’t deliberately ship awful experiences (note I said deliberately).

Aside from bad user interfaces, Apple spent years implementing battery saving techniques, such as not permitting background operations and indirect server-based notification methods. Stick macOS on an iPad and all that goes out a window. If you want an overheating device with a 2-hour or less battery life, go for it. It’s indisputable an iPad is a lesser animal than a MBA, something everyone acknowledges is for light computing and not for ultra-powerful apps. Yet somehow people here seem to think a lesser device than a MBA can be turned into the ultimate laptop that competes with a high end MacBook Pro. The Pro name just means it’s the highest end of the iPad line. That doesn’t make it on the level of a MacBook Pro. The lesson here is be careful of what you ask for. You might get it… and regret it.

the iPad Pro’s battery is 75% that of the MBA. Apple’s tech specs for the MBA read like a “consumption device” - 18 hours of video playback and 15 hours of wireless web. No estimate when doing “Mac stuff” on the MBA. So let’s go with 10 hours being productive on the MBA. That means we should be able to expect 7-8 hours doing “Mac stuff” on an IPP running some macOS mode. That is quite acceptable. And, there is no reason a keyboard dock folio could not include its oun batter to supplement. The Magic Keyboard already does power in. Not hard there.

I can’t see the thermal profile being that dissimilar between the IPP and MPP. Both are thin, fanless, vented aluminum shells running the same SOC (well, IPP is a step up).

And lastly, why must macOS on iPad require support for touch? Enable macOS only when docked and disable the digitizer input to macOS.

Edit - fixed editing glitch.

 

[RedWeasel]

At least we know some of Apple’s real intentions.

Make as much money as possible?

 

[bluecoast]

Have a touch screen Chromebook for work (much prefer it to windows).

Never have I wanted to reach forward and touch the screen.

Maybe I’m old and don’t use laptops on this way.

But the ui isn’t touch friendly. It’s not comfortable/ergonomic to lean forward like this.

(I don’t even use it in tablet mode. But that’s because it’s a terrible touch experience. But that’s another story).

Would I want the iPad to behave more like the Mac though? Yes. Meaning apps which can stay alive and don’t get suspended etc etc etc.

 

[Marx55]

Apple should bring the Mac tablet.

 

[prospervic]

All this wailing and gnashing of teeth over Apple stating straight out what their intention for the iPad has always been. And this truth so many here cannot accept because they are deluded by this notion that iPad‘s purpose is to relieve them of the need to purchase a MacBook. BUT APPLE NEVER, EVER EXPLICITLY SAID ANY SUCH THING.

More than once on these forums I have issued the challenge for someone to produce a media example of Apple directly making the statement “iPad Pro can replace your MacBook”, but no one has yet to do so. And that’s the funny thing about memes - they can take on a life of their own and people will believe them as if they are solid reality.

Apple makes six different products that run macOS and only one that runs iPadOS. But that’s not enough for these greedy geeks: they want to have it all. Just go buy your Mac and leave iPad alone!

 

[stinksroundhere]

All this wailing and gnashing of teeth over Apple stating straight out what their intention for the iPad has always been. And this truth so many here cannot accept because they are deluded by this notion that iPad‘s purpose is to relieve them of the need to purchase a MacBook. BUT APPLE NEVER, EVER EXPLICITLY SAID ANY SUCH THING.

More than once on these forums I have issued the challenge for someone to produce a media example of Apple directly making the statement “iPad Pro can replace your MacBook”, but no one has yet to do so. And that’s the funny thing about memes - they can take on a life of their own and people will believe them as if they are solid reality.

Apple makes six different devices that run macOS and only one (product type) that runs iPadOS. But that’s not enough for these greedy geeks: they want to have it all. Just go buy your Mac and leave iPad alone!

It's a psyop from a competitor using bots and bribed influencers. They are angry at how Mac sales are improving and how iPad sales destroy their Android and Surface devices. So now they are trying to confuse the Apple community.

There's no genuine organic support for macOS on iPads.

Steve Jobs was very clear that the iPad is a post-PC device. He didn't want the vast complication of desktop operating systems on it.

 

[jdoyle]

For me an iPad is still for consuming content, surfing web and doing ultra light work. Doesn't matter if there's an M4 chip in there. It's still an iPad. I would be more productive on an M1 device running Mac OS than an M4 Device running iPad OS.

 

[gregmancuso]

All this wailing and gnashing of teeth over Apple stating straight out what their intention for the iPad has always been. And this truth so many here cannot accept because they are deluded by this notion that iPad‘s purpose is to relieve them of the need to purchase a MacBook. BUT APPLE NEVER, EVER EXPLICITLY SAID ANY SUCH THING.

More than once on these forums I have issued the challenge for someone to produce a media example of Apple directly making the statement “iPad Pro can replace your MacBook”, but no one has yet to do so. And that’s the funny thing about memes - they can take on a life of their own and people will believe them as if they are solid reality.

Apple makes six different devices that run macOS and only one (product type) that runs iPadOS. But that’s not enough for these greedy geeks: they want to have it all. Just go buy your Mac and leave iPad alone!

Explicitly, perhaps not. But the whole “what’s a computer” ad campaign from the late 20-teens sure implied it. That campaign, the move to more productivity apps, support for keyboard and mouse not as an accessibility feature all screamed “use an iPad just like you can a Mac”.

 

[strayts]

Clearly a large number of your customers disagree, sir. Especially when you call it a "pro" device.

 

[prospervic]

Explicitly, perhaps not. But the whole “what’s a computer” ad campaign from the late 20-teens sure implied it. That campaign, the move to more productivity apps, support for keyboard and mouse not as an accessibility feature all screamed “use an iPad just like you can a Mac”.

Using iPad "just like" a Mac is not replacing it.
And the point of the "what's a computer?" campaign was to illustrate the differing generational perceptions about technology. To the mother (older generation) a "computer" is something with a screen and keyboard, whereas the child was busy creating and communicating with her iPad, and never once had the notion that she was "computing".

 

[johnnytravels]

iPad and Mac are Complementary Devices​

You wish 😂

 

[Analog Kid]

I'm ready to cancel my order and wait for announcements at WWDC.

Never buy hardware expecting software to do something different in the future.