iPad Pro Phil called it a "Windows Replacement"

[masotime]

Things are developing, but I agree that Apple needs to put more emphasis on getting productivity apps into iOS. Getting their own productivity tools beyond the basics like iWorks would be a great start!

This is the only real issue with iOS at the moment. There's a limited "pro" app ecosystem, largely because it's difficult to get customers to pay "pro" level prices for apps in the iOS App Store e.g. $40-50 a year. This makes it hard for any software development company to invest the resources to build really great iOS apps with features matching their desktop counterparts.

 

[Ghost31]

Hopefully you are right. The iPad really stagnated a lot between about 2012 and late 2015....

I hope for the iCloud Drive app to be turned into something far more useful - something where you can store things locally, and access external drives etc. Safari needs to be able to download to it. There are a lot of improvements to make and split screen multitasking was the first step.

I haven't used iCloud Drive at all. Is that something you think could be expanded to be like an actual file system for the user?

 

[oldmacs]

I haven't used iCloud Drive at all. Is that something you think could be expanded to be like an actual file system for the user?

Yes I think the basic concept of the App is good, but its so annoying to have to download eery single document to be able to use it. More flexibility in file layout, search, management, sorting options, download management etc would be of great help. Apple don't need to open access to the file system, they just need to make it easer to manage files if the user so wants to. I've found with most of my clients who have moved to iPads for their consumption, find them frustrating to use beyond that, because things are so simple, that every thing requires 'solutions' and a multitude of apps, that it becomes more complex.

 

[aristobrat]

I haven't used iCloud Drive at all. Is that something you think could be expanded to be like an actual file system for the user?

To me, iCloud Drive works just like "network drives" do where I work. It's a place where you can create your own folder structure and store your data.

 

[Ghost31]

To me, iCloud Drive works just like "network drives" do where I work. It's a place where you can create your own folder structure and store your data.

that actually sounds like a nice little compromise. This entire conversation reminds me of this video of jobs from way way back. I think the way things are moving, generally consumers just don't want to bother with a file system. Generally being the keyboard. There will be cases where they might need to use it, but for the most part if you want to open a document, open word then open the document that's saved there. If you need to edit video, open iMovie and get started. But for those people that need file systems, maybe iCloud Drive could be expanded dramatically to have a folder structure that would help people get things done the old way

 

[MartyCan]

Yeah? Well I type papers, jot notes with the pencil, edit high def videos and do research on mine. So I got you beat

But yeah. iPad is stupid and tablets are useless toys. Yep

Oh yeah? Well I installed Jump Desktop yesterday and was using it to work on the Windows 2012 Server our company runs on that is 200 miles away from here!

 

[Ghost31]

Oh yeah? Well I installed Jump Desktop yesterday and was using it to work on the Windows 2012 Server our company runs on that is 200 miles away from here!

That like splash top? Cause I splash topped the crap out of my iPad last night when I was logged into my Mac at home from across town, programming a couple apps and doing some continuing education courses.

I'm sorry I'm just hardcore as hell

 

[Gav2k]

It's 100% a Windows replacement and not a Macbook replacement because with every OS X update more iOS features pop over to OS X or we get dumbed down OS X items

 

[MartyCan]

That like splash top? Cause I splash topped the crap out of my iPad last night when I was logged into my Mac at home from across town, programming a couple apps and doing some continuing education courses.

I'm sorry I'm just hardcore as hell

Sounds like it though I am not familiar with Splash Top itself.

Jump Desktop is apparentely the only one that offers BT mouse support for IPP. Right now there is only one specific mouse supported (and I don't have one....yet) but it is also not required.

 

[bjet767]

Zombie

If you're trying to dis me with the SP comment then let me be clear, I have just about every Apple product made and the latest version (that is until yesterday).

Why defend the iPad over a full feature OS as a replacement when it is clearly not a replacement product at all? Apple execs are just marketing a perception and too often what we perceive is far more important than what is. While Apple clearly sells a whole bunch of iPads it missed the subtle changes happening in the business market and now is using market/consumer speak to fill in the holes until they can truly move to the front again and lead.

And for those who want Apple to focus on more robust business apps, well they don't write the apps developers do on full featured OSX Macs.

This is being written on an iPad Air 2.

I own:
12" MB, 2012 Mini 1.7 quad core, iPads Air 2 & Mini retina, Apple Watch, Apple TV and have retired multiple Apple products over the years.

 

[AFEPPL]

At first reaction I thought "what?" But that was in terms of a heavy user deeply into using Office and other Apps.

Then I thought a moment. There probably are 100's of millions of old Windows PC's out there that are used for just basic tasks like email and web-surfing. Things the iPad was already more than capable of. With a keyboard the iPad Pro is a very realistic and capable option for a lot of casual users.

Interesting to see how it plays out.

Could it be a mac replacement?
I couldnt move from a laptop device (running any OS - I'm finding windows more stable than OS X btw) with real apps to an iPad and even more unstable iOS.

 

[Ghost31]

Sounds like it though I am not familiar with Splash Top itself.

Jump Desktop is apparentely the only one that offers BT mouse support for IPP. Right now there is only one specific mouse supported (and I don't have one....yet) but it is also not required.

If you can use a mouse on an iPad, then yeah...you might have me beat. Haven't tried that yet but it sounds cool. Might wanna look into jump now

 

[ZombiePete]

Zombie

If you're trying to dis me with the SP comment then let me be clear, I have just about every Apple product made and the latest version (that is until yesterday).

I'm not trying to "dis" you, I'm just making the point that Apple clearly has no plans to cater to your desire to have OSX in a tablet form factor. The SP4 is a great device for many people; there's nothing at all wrong with preferring it to the iPad, particularly if your workflow necessitates the greater flexibility that Windows offers over iOS. The point that I'm making, which you seem to be missing still, is that your needs aren't reflective of everyone's needs, and that for some (I would argue most but that's debatable) consumers iOS meets their daily computing needs just fine.

Why defend the iPad over a full feature OS as a replacement when it is clearly not a replacement product at all? Apple execs are just marketing a perception and too often what we perceive is far more important than what is. While Apple clearly sells a whole bunch of iPads it missed the subtle changes happening in the business market and now is using market/consumer speak to fill in the holes until they can truly move to the front again and lead.

Again, you can't just throw a blanket statement out there about the feasibility of iPads replacing PCs. For some it can, for some it can't. The market is catering to both types of consumers; Apple has clearly decided to focus on improving iOS and making it more capable rather than following Microsoft's lead and trying to cram their desktop OS onto a tablet. I, for one, much prefer Apple's method, but it's not for everyone and I get that. You need to try and get it too.

This is being written on an iPad Air 2.

I own:
12" MB, 2012 Mini 1.7 quad core, iPads Air 2 & Mini retina, Apple Watch, Apple TV and have retired multiple Apple products over the years.

You don't have to give me your qualifications; I'm not challenging your passion for Apple. I just recommended that if the Surface suited your needs and an iPad doesn't, stick to the SP4 but don't hold your breath waiting for Apple to come around to putting OSX on a tablet, because all indications are that it's not happening.

I respect your opinion, but I'm offering you another perspective. That's all.

 

[sparksd]

If you can use a mouse on an iPad, then yeah...you might have me beat. Haven't tried that yet but it sounds cool. Might wanna look into jump now

Check this thread out:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-swiftpoint-mouse-no-need-for-laptop.1959404/

There is more than one mouse that works with Jump Desktop.

 

[mrklaw]

For me, personally, the greater storage is kind of offset by the lack of a true file management system. If iOS provided even a rudimentary file system instead of everything being sandboxed in its own app or having to rely on the cloud (no different than a Chromebook then) or 3rd party work-arounds, that would go a long way towards making an iPad a convenient replacement for my PC.



But still, you can get a cheaper iPad like a mini AND an inexpensive laptop/Chromebook and still spend less.

I'm not trying to hate on the iPad Pro, by the way. I just think that it's a tad overpriced for what it is.

You can probably find a chromebook for about the same price as just the smart keyboard for the ipad pro.

I kind of see what Apple are trying to say. Intel were also recently talking about 'five year old PCs' - seems about 5 years ago people got happy enough with their PC performance and upgrades have dropped off..

And a 'computer' to me is just something that lets me do the things I want to do. I don't care what OS it uses. I can even live without a local file system provided icloud drive or dropbox/onedrive/google drive support is integrated well. But mouse support is my personal dealbreaker point. You can have all the apps you like, but the lack of an ability to quickly and *accurately* select text or small areas of the screen (like excel cells) means I have to still have a laptop on hand.

 

[aristobrat]

Could it be a mac replacement?
I couldnt move from a laptop device (running any OS - I'm finding windows more stable than OS X btw) with real apps to an iPad and even more unstable iOS.

Except for one app (Quicken), an iPad could replace my home Mac. The other apps I use on my MacBook Air (Mail, Safari, iLife and iWork) are all adequate enough on iOS for my needs.

 

[satchmo]

With two iPads capable of supporting Pencil, it would seem viable for Adobe to jump into the fray porting their Creative Cloud apps onto iOS.
I suspect the days of cheap $5 apps are numbered and expect to see prices creep up into the $50-$100 range.

 

[temna]

For me, personally, the greater storage is kind of offset by the lack of a true file management system. If iOS provided even a rudimentary file system instead of everything being sandboxed in its own app or having to rely on the cloud (no different than a Chromebook then) or 3rd party work-arounds, that would go a long way towards making an iPad a convenient replacement for my PC.

The point in the iPad is that the apps rule the experience, so relying on a 3rd party "work around" is the point. We have integration to the various cloud services in iOS, so what's the problem with storing documents on Dropbox or iCloud? Apps generally have access to both, so the file system seems to be covered. And considering that Microsoft is working towards sandboxing too, get used to using cloud based storage..
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Sounds like it though I am not familiar with Splash Top itself.

Jump Desktop is apparentely the only one that offers BT mouse support for IPP. Right now there is only one specific mouse supported (and I don't have one....yet) but it is also not required.

Actually two.. The Citrix X1 and I think the company that put out Jump Desktop has their own..

 

[masotime]

I suspect the days of cheap $5 apps are numbered and expect to see prices creep up into the $50-$100 range.

And this is a good thing, even if it may not seem like it.

 

[joeblow7777]

The point in the iPad is that the apps rule the experience, so relying on a 3rd party "work around" is the point. We have integration to the various cloud services in iOS, so what's the problem with storing documents on Dropbox or iCloud? Apps generally have access to both, so the file system seems to be covered. And considering that Microsoft is working towards sandboxing too, get used to using cloud based storage..

I don't see any evidence that Windows is moving towards sandboxing as you suggest. I really don't think that file management in Windows is going anywhere. And if you're relying on cloud-based storage, that negates the original point I was countering, that the local storage on iPads is an advantage over the cloud-based storage on Chromebooks.

 

[temna]

I don't see any evidence that Windows is moving towards sandboxing as you suggest. I really don't think that file management in Windows is going anywhere. And if you're relaying on cloud-based storage, that negates the original point I was countering, that the local storage on iPads is an advantage over the cloud-based storage on Chromebooks.

I read that as part of security features coming, that all applications would be sandboxed. Not sure how/if this will affect the file management, but I'm betting that with this Windows Anywhere push you'll see Microsoft pushing away from local storage to cloud storage. The signs are there.

 

[AFEPPL]

The direction it will go with apps is into containers - think docker and Siri.

 

[joeblow7777]

I read that as part of security features coming, that all applications would be sandboxed. Not sure how/if this will affect the file management, but I'm betting that with this Windows Anywhere push you'll see Microsoft pushing away from local storage to cloud storage. The signs are there.

With OneDrive integration in Windows 8/8.1/10 Microsoft has already shown a commitment to cloud storage, but notice that local file management and storage hasn't gone anywhere, and I doubt that it will in the foreseeable future. People are always going to want to have full at least the option of full control over the content on their machines. This is one of the reasons why iPad are supplementing and not replacing PCs in workplaces especially.

 

[sracer]

If you can use a mouse on an iPad, then yeah...you might have me beat. Haven't tried that yet but it sounds cool. Might wanna look into jump now

I've been hearing more and more about Jump Desktop. And the more that I hear, the more that I like... especially with in-app support for mice. I use TeamViewer on my iPad Air 2 to access my iMac stationed in my home office. It works great except for the lack of a mouse.

If I could get a reliable remote access solution for the iPad that supports a mouse, then I can settle on the iPad Pro (9.7 model) as my mobile device, retire my 11" MBA, and remotely access my iMac when I need OSX.

 

[jonnyb098]

Notice they dont say "we are living in a post PC world" anymore? 600 million old PCs out there and Mac sales are climbing steadily while iPad sales wane.