Ice Lake has lower clocks but much higher IPC than Haswell (the 2014 Core i5), or Broadwell, Skylake, Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake, or Amber Lake. The iX labels are not cross-generational or cross-architecturally comparable. In fact, they are really only comparable within a vertical for a specific generation.
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MacBook Air 2020: I think Apple is making a decision...
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Ice Lake has lower clocks but much higher IPC than Haswell (the 2014 Core i5), or Broadwell, Skylake, Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake, or Amber Lake. The iX labels are not cross-generational or cross-architecturally comparable. In fact, they are really only comparable within a vertical for a specific generation.
I'm sure the iPad Pros are much more powerful than the Air, but I want a laptop and Mac OS. It's really that simple...
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If I were a student with "typical" requirements (e.g. Business/Social Science/Liberal Arts Majors), I would get a base 2020 MBA ($900 w/student discount) plus base iPad ($250 on sale) and Apple Pencil ($100 on sale).....~$1,250. Personally, I think this is better than spending $1,000 on an IPP plus $350 on Magic Keyboard plus $125 on Pencil....~$1,475.
For writing papers, building spreadsheets, and preparing classroom presentations, most students are better off with a MBA rather than iPP. When my kids are working on these assignments, they need to be able to rapidly access multiple documents and reference material, and MacOS with floating windows is just better than iPadOS for that type of work. When you add the iPad, you have a versatile setup that primarily uses the iPad in tablet mode for text books, notes and an extra screen if needed.
Anyway, everybody's needs are different, so YMMV.
For writing papers, building spreadsheets, and preparing classroom presentations, most students are better off with a MBA rather than iPP. When my kids are working on these assignments, they need to be able to rapidly access multiple documents and reference material, and MacOS with floating windows is just better than iPadOS for that type of work. When you add the iPad, you have a versatile setup that primarily uses the iPad in tablet mode for text books, notes and an extra screen if needed.
Anyway, everybody's needs are different, so YMMV.
Yea, a lot of people have said the IPP works best when combined with a Mac, not as a stand alone replacement, not yet anyway.
They got my A$$ to the tune of about $6500 for the Holy Trinity of Apple products.
The MB is surprisingly good at SW-development as long as you avoid Eclipse. The MB will handle Eclipse, but almost every step takes time. But then again, I have seen my MBP cry because of Eclipse, and so I try to avoid it...
I like the IPP for relaxed reading (and music and browsing the internet), but prefer to use the MB for anything serious. I read a lot in technical manuals and I find the MB better for that. Some manuals are over 7000 pages, and the MB handles that without problem once the document has opened. Somehow keeping my fingers on the touchpad is easier, and feels more natural than keeping them on the screen of an iPad. The iPad is always at the wrong angle to rest your fingers on it. And your fingers are always in the way.
I think you watch the X-Files too much
Well, I kinda wish they made more. It has been decades.
Anyways, so I guess people either don't care or don't believe in this thing, which is... okay for the most part. It's not as if Apple did not axe the 12" MacBook for no reason at all.
OP, I hope that's not what they are doing for 2 reasons:
- macOS vs iPadOS.
- The weight balance of having all the weight up in the screen vertically would make it difficult to use on the lap with a keyboard.
In fact, I'm hoping they create a replacement for the rMB because I'd really like to see a 2 lb machine that runs macOS.
Having used a 2019 MBA, I can safely say I don't need a lot of compute power. Sure it would be nice to have more, but I'm willing to live with less power to get better portability and battery life. And just for the record -- portability != thin. I care much more about lightness than I do thickness.
- macOS vs iPadOS.
- The weight balance of having all the weight up in the screen vertically would make it difficult to use on the lap with a keyboard.
In fact, I'm hoping they create a replacement for the rMB because I'd really like to see a 2 lb machine that runs macOS.
Having used a 2019 MBA, I can safely say I don't need a lot of compute power. Sure it would be nice to have more, but I'm willing to live with less power to get better portability and battery life. And just for the record -- portability != thin. I care much more about lightness than I do thickness.
I think OP raises an interesting point. Between the MacBook Air and the iPad Pro, I would say Apple's vision of portable, light computing is the iPad Pro.
Apple has let the MacBook Air line linger before with the 2015-2017 MacBook Airs. They could do the same again to nudge more and more people into iPad Pros with Magic Keyboards.
Apple has let the MacBook Air line linger before with the 2015-2017 MacBook Airs. They could do the same again to nudge more and more people into iPad Pros with Magic Keyboards.
I know they showed it in the video with someone using the iPad pro with magic keyboard on their lap, but I'm weary of this. Right now, I'm reclined on my couch typing typing on my 2014 13" MBP. I don't believe that can be comfortable with the iPad Pro, but hope I'm wrong
With the introduction of the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pros, does anyone think Apple could have a more hardcore keyboard/dock solution for power computing in the future?
Idea:
New model iPad Pro with multiple Thunderbolt ports that can be used to connect/dock to a cpu/keyboard/graphics/ram station. Kinda like a MacBook ProPad.
Meaning portability maximum with just the iPad Pro for convenience, and dock it to the station if you need more power to edit 4K video or do other essentially power/graphics hungry tasks.
Thoughts?
Idea:
New model iPad Pro with multiple Thunderbolt ports that can be used to connect/dock to a cpu/keyboard/graphics/ram station. Kinda like a MacBook ProPad.
Meaning portability maximum with just the iPad Pro for convenience, and dock it to the station if you need more power to edit 4K video or do other essentially power/graphics hungry tasks.
Thoughts?
This is pretty much what I did during my university career, albeit a few years earlier. I used my (dual core) 13 inch 2015 Pro with the cheapest iPad + pencil for years of computer science and software engineer courses. This setup worked like a charm the entire time. If I had to start again right now, I would pick up the quad-core Air and a cheap iPad. Much better than an expensive iPad Pro + keyboard/trackpad for university work.
For academic workflow, as of right now, the MacBook Air is much more superior than a iPad.
1. Academic libraries (i.e. ProQuest) are not optimized for the tablet experience, and is difficult to review multiple journal articles on an iPad.
2. Software programs used in universities simply can not be used on an iPad either because they don't have the same functionality, or because the iPad is too limited. These programs include Zotero, to automatically format the names of websites, journals, and other related information to the appropriate citing format, and Scrivener to allow automatic formatting of papers, and to increase the speed of writing. Additionally, special programs, such as SPSS, do not run on an iPad.
3. Most subjects do require a little bit of programming, generally in Python to analyze data. It is impossible to program on a iPad.
1. Academic libraries (i.e. ProQuest) are not optimized for the tablet experience, and is difficult to review multiple journal articles on an iPad.
2. Software programs used in universities simply can not be used on an iPad either because they don't have the same functionality, or because the iPad is too limited. These programs include Zotero, to automatically format the names of websites, journals, and other related information to the appropriate citing format, and Scrivener to allow automatic formatting of papers, and to increase the speed of writing. Additionally, special programs, such as SPSS, do not run on an iPad.
3. Most subjects do require a little bit of programming, generally in Python to analyze data. It is impossible to program on a iPad.
I've been teaching full-time at a college since 2008. Almost every student has a laptop or some type of computing device. The mix is nearly 50-50 Macs vs. Windows machines. Very few Chromebooks. And almost no students use iPads as their primary computing device.
For the Mac users, at least 3/4 use MacBook Airs - some are pre-retina but more are 2018/2019 retina MBA. I expect that percentage will increase now that students can buy a 2020 MBA for $899 that includes 256gb SSD.
As @JustAnExpat said, Mac computers are just better for academic work than iPads. The iPad Pro with forthcoming Magic Keyboard looks super cool. But iPadOS doesn't run most of the software me and my students use. The Microsoft Office apps for iOS/iPadOS have come a long way. But using them even with trackpad is a far inferior experience to using MS Office on a Mac (of any type) or Windows machine. And multitasking on a Mac or Windows computer is just way easier, more elegant, and more useful/versatile than on iPadOS.
So I really don't see the iPad replacing MacBooks on college campuses. The MacBook Air is the Mac of choice, and that's just going to increase with the 2020 model with more storage at $899.
Outside of college use, there are people with above-median incomes who can afford a MacBook of their choosing and an iPad Pro with keyboard, pencil, and trackpad.
Outside of these more specialized segments of the computer-buying public, I'd conjecture that most people who don't read MacRumors, don't care much about specs, have modest computing needs, don't have tons of disposable income to drop on computing gear, and maybe have a 2 to 4 year old regular iPad or iPad mini plus either a respectable sub-$1000 Windows machine or a 2 or 3 year old Mac of some type - probably MacBook Air because it's less expensive than the Pro.
No iPad will be replacing the MacBook Air anytime soon.
For the Mac users, at least 3/4 use MacBook Airs - some are pre-retina but more are 2018/2019 retina MBA. I expect that percentage will increase now that students can buy a 2020 MBA for $899 that includes 256gb SSD.
As @JustAnExpat said, Mac computers are just better for academic work than iPads. The iPad Pro with forthcoming Magic Keyboard looks super cool. But iPadOS doesn't run most of the software me and my students use. The Microsoft Office apps for iOS/iPadOS have come a long way. But using them even with trackpad is a far inferior experience to using MS Office on a Mac (of any type) or Windows machine. And multitasking on a Mac or Windows computer is just way easier, more elegant, and more useful/versatile than on iPadOS.
So I really don't see the iPad replacing MacBooks on college campuses. The MacBook Air is the Mac of choice, and that's just going to increase with the 2020 model with more storage at $899.
Outside of college use, there are people with above-median incomes who can afford a MacBook of their choosing and an iPad Pro with keyboard, pencil, and trackpad.
Outside of these more specialized segments of the computer-buying public, I'd conjecture that most people who don't read MacRumors, don't care much about specs, have modest computing needs, don't have tons of disposable income to drop on computing gear, and maybe have a 2 to 4 year old regular iPad or iPad mini plus either a respectable sub-$1000 Windows machine or a 2 or 3 year old Mac of some type - probably MacBook Air because it's less expensive than the Pro.
No iPad will be replacing the MacBook Air anytime soon.
The 10.5" iPad Pro was already outperforming quad core 15" laptops in many tasks when it was released.
That ship sailed a long time ago.
I'd say that unless you're a serial upgrader w/ financial contraints, all three works. If I were forced to choose two, I would drop the iPad and keep the iPhone and Mac (for me there is far more overlap between the iPhone and iPad). I also wouldn't mind seeing a return of the 11" MacBook Air, that would be far more interesting to me than an IOS based MacBook alternative (ie iPad w/ keyboard and mouse / trackpad).
With so many people working remote or taking virtual college classes, I wonder how many folks are using Traditional Computers vs iPads. All three of my kids are home during the lockdown. Two are working remote using laptops; PCs and Macs. One is doing virtual college classes on his 2017 MBA. No one is using an iPad. None of their colleagues are using iPads.
When the chips are down, I just wonder if folks run to the tried and tested tools. Maybe this just isn't a time to experiment.
When the chips are down, I just wonder if folks run to the tried and tested tools. Maybe this just isn't a time to experiment.
I think apple is limited with the macbooks by intel at the moment. The ipad is faster because apple make the CPU in it. The mac hasn't switched to Apple's own SOC yet but it will.
NO doubt. It's just a matter of time, and Apple scaling up the A series CPUs. It WILL happen, because this is the way Tim Cook operates.
www.asymco.com
And because it just makes sense as intel are unable to supply competitive parts with what Apple could build themselves.
NO doubt. It's just a matter of time, and Apple scaling up the A series CPUs. It WILL happen, because this is the way Tim Cook operates.
The Cook Doctrine
We believe that we’re on the face of the Earth to make great products, and that’s not changing. We’re constantly focusing on innovating. We believe in the simple, not the complex.…
www.asymco.com
And because it just makes sense as intel are unable to supply competitive parts with what Apple could build themselves.
But that's just the problem I wanted to pose. It has already happened. Apple already has a "pro computer" that runs their own CPU. It's called the iPad Pro.
I don't think Apple is working on Mac OS for ARM. It would be pointless to make an ARM MacBook because it won't be able to run any of the existing Mac apps except for Apple's own. It makes more sense for them to scale iPad OS up to be a Mac replacement in the future, and I'm saying they are already starting that transition now... with the iPad keyboard getting more sophisticated.
I don't think Apple is working on Mac OS for ARM. It would be pointless to make an ARM MacBook because it won't be able to run any of the existing Mac apps except for Apple's own. It makes more sense for them to scale iPad OS up to be a Mac replacement in the future, and I'm saying they are already starting that transition now... with the iPad keyboard getting more sophisticated.
I thought you'll find iOS and macOS basically merge. They started out from the same codebase and will re-merge. They are largely the same under the covers anyway, just compiled for different arch.
I guarantee you they have a build of macOS for ARM running internally already. 100% guaranteed, just like they were doing with OS X for intel from the beginning. If they had a product that macOS suited with an arm cpu today, they could ship today.
It's just a case of existing software and scaling ARM up to be fast enough to run x86 software IN EMULATION at a competitive/good enough speed is my bet, just like it was with the Rosetta on intel for PPC software situation.
That will be the transition path. And this is why imho they are not right now using ryzen based products. Because its just a jump from one third party OEM they don't control to another, who despite doing well today, may suffer the same fate in the future, and who's goals aren't 100% aligned with Apple's.
They are certainly starting to re-merge. I’m looking forward to the Magic Keyboard for my 11” iPad Pro (and am happy Apple made it compatible with my 2018 model). iPad Pro will then have the same keyboard as my MacBook Air, albeit with a smaller trackpad. I was a fan of the 12” MacBook, so if iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard can be a substitute that would be great. That said, I don’t see Apple adding a touchscreen to the Mac. macOS is just not designed for touch screens, and I don’t think Apple will make the 5+ year investment that Microsoft did to make its desktop OS touch-friendly.
The A13 is about as fast as the processor in the 13” MacBook Pro. My guess is that it could emulate x86 with about the same speed as a 12” MacBook. That’s probably not fast enough for Apple to release an ARM Mac yet, but it is close.
I'm not sure it would emulate x86 quite that fast (as x86 is a bear of an architecture full of warts to emulate), BUT we're not talking an order of magnitude difference or anything.
The interesting thing to me will be how much intel stagnation Apple are willing to put up with vs. how much of a performance delta they are willing to tolerate between x86 and ARM emulated X86 before changing.
Sooner or later Apple will switch, its just a case of what their performance benchmarks they want to hit are.
Expect a custom SOC from Apple for the macbooks with some sort of afterburner-type functionality built in for the Macbook Pros, in the near future.