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Tim Cook Insists Merging Mac and iPad Would Result in Compromises
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I think this is total BS and an excuse that they're light years behind other players who have found a good marriage of the two and they stand to make more selling you two devices, it's not "Apple Perfect" but I find myself leaning towards my Surface Book more and more as it just has better workflow for a lot of things.
Frankly, at this point, though, I just would take Apple *actually* making a credible Mac (esp laptop), forget touch screen, just give us machines that don't suck, let's start there.
Frankly, at this point, though, I just would take Apple *actually* making a credible Mac (esp laptop), forget touch screen, just give us machines that don't suck, let's start there.
I agree. No reason to converge the two products. I would stay the course though and continue to add features from each side to the other when it makes sense. I do think they will make the Mac more like an iPad and the iPad more like a Mac through different features, but I think the two will remain different in core functionality. Luckily, right now, the iPad is an amazing computer that more and more people are using as their main machines. The Mac continues to serve it's purpose for more operational tasks, which obviously aren't going anywhere. No reason to force people to a hybrid product or use just an iPad or a Mac. Use what works best for the task and individual, options are great.
I agree, keep them separate, I don’t want what ruined Windows to happen to Mac OS. The whole reason why I tried Mac for the first time in 2015 (and switched full time) is because I hated the Tablet UI crap with 8 and 10. Also tablets don’t work well with Windows any ways, there are so many inconsistencies on both sides of Windows now.
Apple CEO Tim Cook remains against the idea of merging the Mac and iPad to create one unified hardware and software experience, ....
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....
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
This seems like a PR move to assuage the many users who are concerned about the transition to ARM; however, Tim Cook's comments do not preclude such a move. The only thing Mr. Cook promised is that there will continue to be a Mac lineup and an iOS lineup, one lineup focused on input with a mouse/trackpad and keyboard and the other with touchscreen (and optional keyboard or pencil). That matters little to me if Apple does indeed (begin to) transition its Mac lineup to ARM.
They should still consider a crossover device such as the surface pro, I'll bet such a device would sell enough to justify its own existence. I'm an avid surface pro user, but given all the privacy scandals and my respect for Apple's privacy stance, I would definitely switch to a tablet with Mac OS on it. I have very little use for an ipad as a tablet, it's just too primitive for my needs and my surface pro does every single thing an ipad can do, although admittedly I'm certainly jealous of the battery life. I also do not want a Mac laptop, I have just grown accustomed to awesome features such as having a touch screen.
Both of those devices are great and still are a necessity for many, although I would argue that once the surface pros catch up to the battery life the concept of something like the ipad will become completely unnecessary, but we are not there yet. Apple just needs a competitive kick to the butt and they will suddenly "believe" in crossover tablets, just like they suddenly "believed" in phablets and styli. I think battery life is the big deal here and what will ultimately push Apple when other superior devices can match them. Although Apple must be also considering the impact of Chrome books which do match the battery life and have a superior OS and hardware which can be used similar to a PC. I suppose we will see if the sales impacts Apple's business.
I don't think anyone could deny that a Mac OS tablet wouldn't sell like hotcakes if done correctly. Of course it would take away from ipad and laptop sales, but then again it could create an entirely new segment like the ipad did not too long ago. But most likely it would spell the end of the ipad, which I'm completely fine with.
Both of those devices are great and still are a necessity for many, although I would argue that once the surface pros catch up to the battery life the concept of something like the ipad will become completely unnecessary, but we are not there yet. Apple just needs a competitive kick to the butt and they will suddenly "believe" in crossover tablets, just like they suddenly "believed" in phablets and styli. I think battery life is the big deal here and what will ultimately push Apple when other superior devices can match them. Although Apple must be also considering the impact of Chrome books which do match the battery life and have a superior OS and hardware which can be used similar to a PC. I suppose we will see if the sales impacts Apple's business.
I don't think anyone could deny that a Mac OS tablet wouldn't sell like hotcakes if done correctly. Of course it would take away from ipad and laptop sales, but then again it could create an entirely new segment like the ipad did not too long ago. But most likely it would spell the end of the ipad, which I'm completely fine with.
I think future for innovation is around merging them both or come up with a radical ideas that compliments IOS & MacOs and a possible new Cloud OS which works independent of devices.
I think from 2000-2010, 2010-2015, 2015 - present scenarios rapidly changing with new devices, new methods of UI, apps, always connected, bots, etc...
Apple can come up with a Touch like interface that addresses most of the common use case for serious pro, semi pro, enthusiasts, casual users. Not necessarily a device for each type of usage. Typical Steve would cannibalize all of them to have single product line differentiate them only with iPhones.
I think from 2000-2010, 2010-2015, 2015 - present scenarios rapidly changing with new devices, new methods of UI, apps, always connected, bots, etc...
Apple can come up with a Touch like interface that addresses most of the common use case for serious pro, semi pro, enthusiasts, casual users. Not necessarily a device for each type of usage. Typical Steve would cannibalize all of them to have single product line differentiate them only with iPhones.
Nothing is preventing you from using an external keyboard, and the entire point of this is that touch interfaces and mouse interfaces work very differently. So no, you can't use a mouse on an iPad because there's no cursor for it to control.
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Files app. It's right there. It's not as powerful as the Finder, but it will show you all your files in iCloud Drive, Dropbox and other services, and let you edit whichever ones you're able to edit with iOS apps. Probably about as good as it's gonna get.
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To do what? To merge and degrade two totally different UI paradigms just to "unify" everything? Sure.
because i'll be paying for something that i am never going to use, if there is a touch screen i may tend to use it, and then i'll be rubbing it to remove finger spots
He's absolutely correct until Apple releases a converged iOS/macOS device.
When they release one, and they will, everyone will go bonkers over how Apple was able to achieve the impossible. That is what Apple does... they first say something is impossible (even when it isn't) and then they release that impossible thing.
Whether it is a stylus, phablet, or an iPad Mini. Apple explains their definition of "impossible" (as a means of dismissing the competition that is doing that "impossible" thing) only to later do it.
A true mobile/desktop converged device without compromise is indeed possible. Whether or not it is in Apple's financial interests to do so is a separate issue. As long as a significant percentage of their customers are purchasing more than 1 Apple device, they have no incentive do give them reason to buy only one.
PC makers have had mixed success with 2-in-1 devices. There is a segment of the market that it appeals to.
The real one to watch is not Windows-based 2-in-1 devices but ChromeOS powered hybrids. There are already some good options out there from the entry level Acer and Asus 2-in-1s up to the Google Pixelbook. ChromeOS apps have come a long way and are bridging that gap between desktop and mobile apps. Support for Android apps fills the needs for many mobile apps, and the Chrome browser on ChromeOS is a desktop-strength browser.
Apple knows this. This line about "merging ios and macos requiring compromises" is little more than corporate FUD to buy time until they can produce such a device. When they do, I believe it will be fantastic.
For me it’s simple. I use my iPad at home, my MacBook Pro to make a living, and my iPhone for when I’m mobile. They all sync to iCloud, so it doesn’t really matter which one I use, just whichever is most suitable at the time. Separate devices works perfectly for me personally. Oh and hybrids always suck, so there’s that
Poster says "steve jobs was against styli." I said "no, he was against designing user interfaces around the use of a stylus, and that's not what Apple Pencil is for" And you felt it was helpful to chime in with "i have this weird workflow where i use apple pencil sometimes with Microsoft Windows and it's great?"
Why? What is your point? What does it have to do with the veracity of the poster's mis-statement of what Steve Jobs said? Are you just trying to show that you are special? I don't understand.
Obviously people were using styluses for clicking user interface elements long before Steve Jobs made his comments. The fact that it can still be done is nothing new, but thanks for chiming in.
An internal Apple white paper says otherwise.
Tim may be right regarding Mac and iPad in their current forms, but whatever replaces the Mac using next generation A* chips will be a new product category. No compromises.
Soo... What you want is just mouse support on the iPad? That's a lot different than making the Mac and iPad one product. And it actually has a (small) chance of happening.
Well... the idea of a fully merged product probably isn't good and likely never will be, particularly from MacOS to iOS. However, the ability to have MacOS run iOS apps would/could potentially be a huge win for everyone. I know it's not quite as simple as this, but put an A11/12 in the next-gen Mac's and run iOS as a sub-system. Voila! Now all of our iPad apps have the ability to run on a Mac. That could be a game-changer for app developers... and users!
That happens to virtually everything you use. The majority of Apps on my Mac that I can't opt out of I don't use. Whilst they are not individually priced, you still pay for them.
My car tops out at 155. Never done that but I still pay for the capability.
I wish I could believe him.
Experience suggests that Apple has not only ignored the Macintosh line to its detriment but when on occasion taking notice to "improve" something often degrading the hardware and software to better match the more limited capabilities of iOS.
In brief example I would point to the inexcusable languishing of the Mac Pro, the removal of most ports on ostensibly professional notebooks, not to mention the common removal of useful features from software. Etc.
Mr. Cook did not inherit Steve Job's vision or passion, yet few could match that. To his credit he has proved a stable steward of Apple, and seems to have some concern for customer privacy. But if judged solely on the Macintosh then his tenure since the passing of Mr. Jobs has been a failure. A disgrace.
Apple obviously needs to evolve, thus its rightful interest in such technologies as AI. Moreover some of its product lines are becoming or long since mature; as Nokia before Apple cannot forever live mostly on a successful phone.
The Macintosh line falls principally in the latter category, or mature. Yet beyond all sentimentality is a great business in its own right—or in any event could be again. It—and we the customers—deserve better. So does Apple for that matter. It should have enough pride—not to mention sense of survival—to turn its hand to naught but excellence.
So, yes, iOS and OSX each have their strengths and weaknesses. Either deserves to be the best possible.
Experience suggests that Apple has not only ignored the Macintosh line to its detriment but when on occasion taking notice to "improve" something often degrading the hardware and software to better match the more limited capabilities of iOS.
In brief example I would point to the inexcusable languishing of the Mac Pro, the removal of most ports on ostensibly professional notebooks, not to mention the common removal of useful features from software. Etc.
Mr. Cook did not inherit Steve Job's vision or passion, yet few could match that. To his credit he has proved a stable steward of Apple, and seems to have some concern for customer privacy. But if judged solely on the Macintosh then his tenure since the passing of Mr. Jobs has been a failure. A disgrace.
Apple obviously needs to evolve, thus its rightful interest in such technologies as AI. Moreover some of its product lines are becoming or long since mature; as Nokia before Apple cannot forever live mostly on a successful phone.
The Macintosh line falls principally in the latter category, or mature. Yet beyond all sentimentality is a great business in its own right—or in any event could be again. It—and we the customers—deserve better. So does Apple for that matter. It should have enough pride—not to mention sense of survival—to turn its hand to naught but excellence.
So, yes, iOS and OSX each have their strengths and weaknesses. Either deserves to be the best possible.
No, it's not a gimmick. It's just a limited functionality device. For many people it is a great extension to work. As an example, when I travel for work and it's just a day or two and all my activities are meetings, I have zero need for a full laptop. My iPad can send/receive email, take notes, view docs (with minor editing), etc. All I need is a keyboard.