Tim Cook Insists Merging Mac and iPad Would Result in Compromises

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook remains against the idea of merging the Mac and iPad to create one unified hardware and software experience, according to a brief conversation he had at Apple's education event in Chicago last month.

"We don't believe in sort of watering down one for the other," said Cook, speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald's Peter Wells. "One of the reasons that both of them are incredible is because we pushed them to do what they do well. And if you begin to merge the two ... you begin to make trade offs and compromises."

"So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day, but that's not what it's about," he added. "It's about giving people things that they can then use to help them change the world or express their passion or express their creativity. So this merger thing that some folks are fixated on, I don't think that's what users want."

Cook reiterated that he generally uses a Mac at work, and uses an iPad at home and for travel, but added "I use everything and I love everything."

Apple's boss also revealed that an Apple IIc, released in 1984, was his first computer. "I first used it for a project, as a senior in engineering school, making an inventory control program or for a rental business that was close by," said Cook, who majored in industrial engineering at Auburn University.

Cook's comments echo those he shared with the Irish Independent in 2015, when he said Apple is not interested in creating a "converged Mac and iPad."

"What that would wind up doing, or what we're worried would happen, is that neither experience would be as good as the customer wants. So we want to make the best tablet in the world and the best Mac in the world. And putting those two together would not achieve either. You'd begin to compromise in different ways."

While the Mac and iPad will remain distinct products, Apple has and will continue to bridge the gap between its desktop and mobile platforms. In 2014, for example, it introduced Continuity features like Handoff and Universal Clipboard that enable more seamless experiences across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Apple may go one step further in iOS 12 and macOS 10.14, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently reported that developers will be able to design a single third-party app that works with both a touchscreen, and a mouse or trackpad, depending on whether it's running on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, starting later this year.

Article Link: Tim Cook Insists Merging Mac and iPad Would Result in Compromises

 

[viperGTS]

Well, they were originally against the stylus too, so... it's still possible.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Better profits if we can sell everyone both too ;-)

edit: before I get jumped on, I believe they should be separate devices given today's overall landscape and use cases.

 

[vegetassj4]

In other words, the sky is blue.

 

[Gaprofitt]

It's already watered down, the Ipad isn't a computer.

 

[kappy94]

Apple CEO Tim Cook remains against the idea of merging the Mac and iPad to create one unified hardware and software experience, according to a brief conversation he had at Apple's education event in Chicago last month.

"We don't believe in sort of watering down one for the other," said Cook, speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald's Peter Wells. "One of the reasons that both of them are incredible is because we pushed them to do what they do well. And if you begin to merge the two ... you begin to make trade offs and compromises."

"So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day, but that's not what it's about," he added. "It's about giving people things that they can then use to help them change the world or express their passion or express their creativity. So this merger thing that some folks are fixated on, I don't think that's what users want."

Cook reiterated that he generally uses a Mac at work, and uses an iPad at home and for travel, but added "I use everything and I love everything."

Apple's boss also revealed that an Apple IIc, released in 1984, was his first computer. "I first used it for a project, as a senior in engineering school, making an inventory control program or for a rental business that was close by," said Cook, who majored in industrial engineering at Auburn University.

Cook's comments echo those he shared with the Irish Independent in 2015, when he said Apple is not interested in creating a "converged Mac and iPad."

"What that would wind up doing, or what we're worried would happen, is that neither experience would be as good as the customer wants. So we want to make the best tablet in the world and the best Mac in the world. And putting those two together would not achieve either. You'd begin to compromise in different ways."

While the Mac and iPad will remain distinct products, Apple has and will continue to bridge the gap between its desktop and mobile platforms. In 2014, for example, it introduced Continuity features like Handoff and Universal Clipboard that enable more seamless experiences across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Apple may go one step further in iOS 12 and macOS 10.14, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently reported that developers will be able to design a single third-party app that works with both a touchscreen, and a mouse or trackpad, depending on whether it's running on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, starting later this year.

Article Link: Tim Cook Insists Merging Mac and iPad Would Result in Compromises

You mean like by adding a notch to a phone? Or removing a headphone jack? Or taking away USB ports? OR.......

 

[racerhomie]

He is absolutely correct.

 

[imran5720]

Good Call, i love MAC as it is

 

[chrisbru]

It's already watered down, the Ipad isn't a computer.

What's a computer?

 

[Will.O.Bie]

Then maybe he needs to stop pushing the iPad as a "computer". If he's adamant about keeping them apart, and they do have systematic benefits to themselves, then just stop with the nonsense of an iPad "What's a computer?" campaign. I use my iPad pro on the go and it has it's limitations that I wouldn't get on my MacBook, although, I love the versatility of my iPad Pro so it has its own benefits as well.

 

[otternonsense]

THIS is what would result in trade-offs? Because their lineup is so seamless and elegant right now?

Please. It's a disparate collection of iterated-to-death products, each SKU mired with trade-offs of their own.

Tim, stick to social causes and let someone with a passion and background for tech and product design set the course for a unified future vision.

 

[Brookzy]

"So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day, but that's not what it's about," he added.

TRANSLATION: "Yes it's something we've been thinking about and quite honestly I want to do it save some R&D dollars but everyone else says it's a bad idea."

(Which is a good thing that he listened to them!)

 

[blcamp]

Have to agree with him on this... the clear fear is cannibalization if the OS’ merge, but... the software has GOT to improve, and it seems like the one-year cycle is getting to be too much for them to handle.

 

[Berti10]

Cannot agree more

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Maybe Tim Cook should be focused on important things like the hundreds of thousands of users currently being impacted by Apple's removal of DisplayLink compatibility. Doesn't see like Apple/Tim Cook is too concerned with 'compromise' when business users have their workflows blown up for no reason.

 

[Glmnet1]

Completely agree. When people use thick and heavy Surface as a tablet you can clearly see the advantage of having two devices instead of a 2 in 1.

 

[CLS727]

Nooooooo.

This would be exactly the perfect product for so many people. Old people, students, etc.

People that pretty much only do web-browsing, facebook, email, and some photos..... but would like to dock to a keyboard and mouse when needed.

 

[2010mini]

Well then Tim you need to start cracking the whip to get these platforms back where they should be. OS X and iOS has been buggy lately if you haven’t noticed.

 

[gaximus]

It's already watered down, the Ipad isn't a computer.

And it isn't supposed to be, thats the point he is making

 

[asiga]

This should go in the politics/offtopic subforum, as Tim Cook is obviously talking as a politician: one day he says the iPad is the new computer for professionals, next day he says he wants to make the best Mac and the best iPad, next day he says again the iPad is the new computer, next day... etc, etc... he can't do anything but political trolling, and speaking like a politician or a lobby bot.

 

[yesjam]

One of the selling points of the first iPhone was "it runs OS X" (later in the keynote it was revealed that it was running a "modified" version of OS X, but the link between the phone's OS and OS X was considered a crucial sticking point). Instead of merging MacBooks and iPads, Apple should instead make iOS more powerful, more functional, and more in line with macOS.

 

[bbplayer5]

Make the screen detachable like an iPad. When you detach it, it runs iOS. When you have it attached, it runs OSX. It would be the perfect computer.

 

[TheSkywalker77]

Well, they were originally against the stylus too, so... it's still possible.

Steve was against a stylus, they added the Apple Pencil after Tim took over the company. So if something happens to Tim whoever the next CEO is might make this a reality.

 

[bladerunner2000]

They should make a good laptop first.

 

[adamjackson]

I hope this isn't Tim just blowing smoke. I for one do not want to see these platforms merged. Let the casual non-techies pack up a bluetooth keyboard, iPad, cover and AirPods into a messenger bag and write and read and use their fingers as a mouse (and by proxy working their shoulder muscles a lot)

and let the rest of us (a shrinking subset of tech users) pack up their MacBooks and get work done a lot more efficiently with true multi-tasking, a real keyboard and track pad and direct access to the file-system and a menu bar.

Merging the two would compromise both platforms and absolutely lead me to switch to Windows.


I'm okay with an ARM transition if it means more than 10 hours of battery life and a more efficient machine. I'm okay with a touch screen on the MacBook (although I know for a fact I'd never use it). I'm not okay with IOSifying Mac OS.


Edit: On that note, I think every Windows PC must be a touch-screen now. Every time someone uses my laptop, I hold back screaming at them as their first order of business is putting their fingers on my MacBook pro screen and trying to effing scroll. WTF. don't touch my screen!