Tim Cook: iPad Pro Will Replace Notebooks and Desktops for 'Many, Many People'

[nando87]

Considering that most people don't expend this kind of money on a computer, and those who do it, at least in the pc world which is the huge majority, do it for working or gaming, this makes 0 sense. It's a minority between a minority between a minority. This won't by far achieve a 0.1% computer share and they know it. Saying that's "many many" is just stupid.

People who use their pcs for simple things don't spend 1000 dollars on them, they buy 600 or less machines (those are the ones which maybe in some cases could be replaced by an ipad, mostly those under 400usd), apart from mac users maybe, but the mac market share is ridiculous anyway.

 

[macfoxpro]

Here is a magical idea that no one seems to wrap their heads around. You can have both an iPad and a Mac... (drum roll please) together! Sheeesh. Everyone is acting like their is a government law that forces people to give up their PCs or Macs when they buy an iPad.

Yeah, it seems some think if the iPad Pro isn't of a certain caliber, and they buy it, they will never ever be able to use and/or buy anything else again.
This will replace my MBP and my iPad, so it's a win win for me. I always have a MBP back in the box that I can break out if need be...which I doubt will happen hardly at all, if ever.
For those looking to replace their iPad and/or laptop, this could be their justified reason to take the plunge for a Pro. After all, there are so many people (millions) that doesn't need their laptop anymore.
I think the iPad Pro will be a smash hit.

 

[maxsix]

IMO the holidays work in Tim's favor as most people will be taking days off from work. Assuming the experience is good people will start finding ways to get work done on their iPads even moreso now that there is a larger display and a keyboard and a pencil.

I don't think people are "going to find a way" to use it.

They have no reason to, it looks just like a 9.7" model but bigger. They don't care about the internal components, except for the tech savvy. Even at that they will not be mesmerized.

This may be a rude awakening for Apple. That is a distinct possibility.

 

[Quu]

They said the same thing about the iPad when it first came out. They also said it's so cool, you can hold the internet in your hands!

To be honest with you, I find the best way to surf the internet is with my Laptop or Desktop with a cursor. The web is not as good on touch finger devices. Usable yes, enjoyable? sometimes but websites are easier and faster to navigate with the extra horse power and a finite pointing device.

The iPad Pro looks really neat, I think I'd enjoy using one, but it couldn't replace my Laptop. It doesn't have the software, the interface isn't powerful enough, it can only multi-task two apps at once. There's just too many caveats.

I also think that even my wife who isn't a heavy computer user like I am would find the iPad Pro annoying to use. Propping it up, making sure it doesn't fall over on your lap, if you can even use it like that (seems unstable in that scenario).

There is no doubt in my mind they'll sell a lot of these but it'll be to the same people who buy upgraded iPad Air's the 64GB Air, the 128GB Air, the 3G/4G Airs. Those are the kinds of people who'll buy this in droves, not people who want to replace their MacBook Pro.

To me the iPad is a companion product, something people purchase after they've already got a Smart Phone and a Laptop. The iPad Pro doesn't change my opinion on that because it doesn't fundamentally change the way most people will use it. You get multitasking on the Air, you can already get keyboard docks for the Air and whilst the Pencil is great it's not like everyone is an artist, as they say it's a drawing pencil not a stylus.

 

[macfoxpro]

And, AGAIN, we'll see Apple saying how iPad Pro sales have beat all expectations (and yet never quote actual sales numbers) and all the Apple fans will file into the Apple Store and buy the latest and greatest Apple gadget because they can't help themselves. As usual...

You seem rather upset at the idea that a lot of people may buy a iPad Pro.

 

[pacalis]

Just a friendly reminder Tim is not the only one making decisions.

He may make the final one, but I can assure you Apple is a well oiled highly successful large scale business that has an army of very talented people.

If that were any assurance we'ed all still be using thinkpads wouldn't we.

 

[sudo1996]

I think if you're looking at an iPad, why would you buy an iPad anymore? No really, why would you buy one?

Yeah no. I really hope that they refresh the Mac line soon though. Their processors are still the 2 year old Haswell on their i7 processors. :-/

Maybe they're dragging their feet so the iPads end up being more powerful

 

[DiceMoney]

Considering that most people don't expend this kind of money on a computer, and those who do it, at least in the pc world which is the huge majority, do it for working or gaming, this makes 0 sense. It's a minority between a minority between a minority. This won't by far achieve a 0.1% computer share and they know it. Saying that's "many many" is just stupid.

People who use their pcs for simple things don't spend 1000 dollars on them, they buy 600 or less machines (those are the ones which maybe in some cases could be replaced by an ipad, mostly those under 400usd), apart from mac users maybe, but the mac market share is ridiculous anyway.

Exactly, these people probably use their phone anyway to do all those things.

That is probably why tablet sales have gone down, a lot of people can get by simply using a phone. They can log into facebook, check their mails, and do watch netflix.

Now a bigger screen would help, but why are they going to pay a premium for it.
I see these users buying Ipad Mini's way before even buying a Pro version anyhow, if they were going to get a tablet.

 

[maxsix]

Here is a magical idea that no one seems to wrap their heads around. You can have both an iPad and a Mac... (drum roll please) together! Sheeesh. Everyone is acting like their is a government law that forces people to give up their PCs or Macs when they buy an iPad.

I understand why you feel this way, but it's Apple that has caused this dialog to be the center of much of the conversation around this monster.

I buy new Apple laptops and iPhones every year, for myself and family.

I also have a mini, an Air 2, but I"m surely not going to buy an iPad Pro and I can easily afford it.

It's a hulking overpriced slab of glass I have no desire for.

 

[zosokm]

I am a doctor and can clearly see the potential in the medical field. but its just way too expensive .When the ipad came out 16gb was ok for the non retina display and at 499$ for a touch screen as a consumption device was fine. With the advent of retina display and as apps became bigger , 16gb was way too small. The current starting price is too expensive for 32GB. With that resolution , decent pro apps would be greater than 2 GB . The top end 128 GB comes very close to the macbook range and doesn't make a lot of sense without the keyboard. However they should either drop the price of the 32 GB or at least make it 64GB for that price.

 

[maxsix]

I think if you're looking at an iPad, why would you buy an iPad anymore? No really, why would you buy one?

Actually...

I believe you're quite right.

My Mini and Air will be the last iPads I ever buy. For certain.

 

[JosephAW]

Translated: I'm going to make you switch from desktop to iPad whether you like it or not!
Soon we'll have A10 desktop computers with the retirement of i386 chipset to complete the rollout all their products running the same chipset.
With a unified OS with locked root access and App Store only programs.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

You seem rather upset at the idea that a lot of people may buy a iPad Pro.

"a lot" or "many, many people"? In any case, not upset at all. I could really care less. My comment had less to do with the iPad Pro and more to do with the back-patting propaganda machine that Apple has become. They need more software engineers making products that work right the first time around and less number crunchers.

 

[MacBH928]

Maybe but not in its current form with the OS it is being shipped with.

A lot of people abandoned the PC with the release of smartphones and tablets. A huge margin of PC/laptop owners were buying just to do a few simple things:
1-email
2-look up stuff on google
3-socialising online (IRC, MSN, Facebook, MySpace)
4-Youtube

Your iDevices can do all of this and hence the drop in the PC sales world-wide. But this Pro isn't going to make Photoshop, Office, 3D Max, Final Cut Pro users abandon the PC just yet.

 

[ghost187]

I understand why you feel this way, but it's Apple that has caused this dialog to be the center of much of the conversation around this monster.

I buy new Apple laptops and iPhones every year, for myself and family.

I also have a mini, an Air 2, but I"m surely not going to buy an iPad Pro and I can easily afford it.

It's a hulking overpriced slab of glass I have no desire for.

I skipped upgrading the iPad for the first time last year, but I will buy the iPad Pro exclusively for the Apple Pencil. Since, I am making the investment on the iPad Pro and the Pencil, I will get the keyboard cover as well and see if can replace my Macbook for daily usage outside of the house. If yes, than great, if not, than oh well. It fulfills my needs regardless.

As a side note, if it doesn't work out, I will buy the next iPad Mini that supports Apple Pencil, whenever that may be.

 

[maxsix]

I am a doctor and can clearly see the potential in the medical field. but its just way too expensive .

There it is boys and girls...

The voice of experience, common sense, reason and logic.

Case Closed!

 

[MacBH928]

Translated: I'm going to make you switch from desktop to iPad whether you like it or not!
Soon we'll have A10 desktop computers with the retirement of i386 chipset to complete the rollout all their products running the same chipset.
With a unified OS with locked root access and App Store only programs.

And this is when people switch to the Surface Book and this is why I love competition, just like people started switch to Apple computers back in 2001 running away from the horrendous Win '98

 

[oneMadRssn]

At the top of the market, purchase price is NOT the first thing. If it was, they'd buy something else than Apple.
It is a factor, but not the most important factor.
How it fits your needs is the most important factor; especially if someone is using it at all for work.

You also have to remember that if a product lasts a long time and has a high resale price, the actual costs may in fact be smaller. The main factor then is being able to finance the purchase. That's why you would finance a house instead of purchasing a piece of crap cash...

All of those things you said apply just as much to Macbooks. When two things are priced about the same, people start really comparing the differences. If people think the iPad Pro is worth $1000+ despite it's shortcomings or because they need some unique function that isn't available in another Apple product, then great! If not, Macbooks are still right there.

However, my point is simple - the iPad successes cannot be used a predictor of future iPad Pro success because the price category is a very important difference. Let me put it this way - how many low-end iPads were sold as gifts because it was possible to get some models at ~$250 around the holidays? Apple doesn't break it down, nor do they tell us the ASP, but it's probably a significant chunk of the total iPad sales. I think the ASP of an iPad overall is quite low (maybe ~$350) and thus the iPad Pro is going to be a touch sell. I'm not saying no one will buy it. But surely a bunch more people will buy the iPad Mini 2 than the iPad Pro, by a few multiples probably. Price matters.

Actually the iPad is still in a totally different category. Last I checked the iPad Air and the iPad mini didn't go away. They are still great options depending upon people's needs. iPad Pro tops out at $1079 and not only does it have a better display than the MBAs it also has cellular service built into it. If you need traditional input devices in addition to the touch inputs then you can use a pencil or a keyboard for an additional cost.

Yes, iPad Pro is a different category. I started this conversation by saying the iPad Pro is too expensive and will be compared to various Macbook models. Also, to make it a laptop replacement at Tim Cook said, one really does need to buy a keyboard. At this configuration, it tops out closer to $1250 with cellular. I think more reasonably it's $1120 for the 128GB wifi version. Even still, that's a lot of dough. At $1300, I can barely count on one hand how many things an iPad Pro can do that a Retina Macbook cannot...

 

[trifid]

Sure Tim Cook... I bet iPad pro will be superior to a laptop for editing your 6s 4k iPhone movies on that 32gb of storage

 

[dazed]

It depends on what you use your computer for. For me, my iPad has replaced most day to day computer tasks. I only use the computer for occasional photo editing and ripping my blu-Ray collection.

My old MacBook Pro rarely gets turned on now.

 

[pacalis]

My old MacBook Pro rarely gets turned on now.

Have you tried taking it on vacation and buying it some nice accessories?

 

[nando87]

I only use my iPad for reading news/books and web surfing while having breakfast or when lying down. For me its only advantage is being smaller, lighter and usable with one finger. We'll see what happens when I buy the iPhone 7 plus, maybe it's goodbye iPad...

 

[kalsta]

These comments from Tim actually make me NOT want to buy one, for fear that I'd be signalling agreement with this vision of tablets replacing notebooks and desktops. I kind of agreed with Steve's car/truck analogy, but this device has been targeted at creative professionals, of whom I'm one. Whoever these 'many, many people' are, I'm not one of them.

The day Apple drops the Mac is the day I drop Apple.

 

[dannyyankou]

I don't want to sound like one of those people who said "it's just a big iPod touch", but let's be honest. It's just a big iPad.

 

[kingtj]

My thoughts exactly.

Why would you still buy a PC today? ALL kinds of reasons! Plenty of 'em! I've owned almost every iPad since the first one, but none of them have ever satisfied my need for a laptop.

For starters? Just using the web, which I find myself doing more often than anything else on a computer, is FAR superior an experience on a real PC/Mac. I can use browsers like FireFox or Chrome along with a full set of extensions or plug-ins, and there's plenty of speed. None of this hobbled iPad stuff that comes about when the device only has 1GB or so of RAM in the whole thing! Still need Flash Player for some reason? At least I can still do it on the computer.

Until it can run full desktop apps, it won't be replacing my MacBook Pro.