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

[Constable Odo]

The iPad Pro is nice but I still prefer the form factor of a notebook and being able to have a physical keyboard available at all times. I've used a keyboard for most of my life and that's just a personal preference. I can understand consumers who might want a laptop that also has a touch display, but I wouldn't really need that. It's good that other companies offer notebooks for those who do want a convertible or whatever it's called. I don't believe Apple should need to build a convertible. Keep the product lines divided. Tablets and notebooks. One with a touchscreen and the other without a touchscreen. I can afford to buy three distinct products so I'll continue to have an iMac and MacBook Pro. I'm considering buying an iPad Pro because I currently don't own a tablet. I like the larger size of the iPad Pro and to me the price seems reasonable enough for the 128GB version.

 

[Mr. Donahue]

Why have a mac? Besides other things, I can download my iOS pics into it and back up my iOS devices to it.

I think until the iPad and iPhone can back up to a time capsule directly, the sales of ps and macs as data sumps will be assured because not all Bertone wants to store or backup all their pics and data in iCloud.

yep!

 

[AdonisSMU]

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

That storage is way too low. 64GB should've been the minimum for this price. However, I think the iPad Air 64GB is the same price so I can see why they did it. The high end of iPad mini line starts at the low end of the iPad Air line and the high end of the iPad Air line starts at the low end of the iPad Pro. So yes I agree 32GB is skimping on storage.

 

[AxoNeuron]

A $800 device with only 32GB of storage?

The iPad pro is a joke and it's going to flop badly because of corporate greed. Apple is making EXACTLY the same mistakes they made in the late 80's.

 

[KPOM]

That's not a desktop replacement though, it's an ipad replacement and I believe that's how it it will work out. It's a win for apple because of the massive price, but I think MOST that can use an ipad for a desktop replacement are already doing so.

It depends. People still clinging to an old iMac might find this enough. Certain people using a 2010 MacBook Air might find this appealing.

Apple could help its cause by improving iOS to add more professional features. But for hardware the iPad Pro is where it needs to be.

 

[iLilana]

If they keep making crappier laptops sure. I mean does anyone really buy the 12 inch macbook? The thing was useless. A total back-step in processing power and functionality. They could have just made the iPadpro and not even bothered with useless slow 12 inch retina macbook. Allowing the macbook pro team some extra hands to work on making some giant leaps in power and functionality.

 

[firewood]

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

Apple can't drop the Mac (yet) because the Mac is what Apple uses to develop iOS, and what app developer use to develop iOS (and tvOS and watchOS) apps.

Also, they don't care if you drop the Mac if for everybody who drops the Mac they gain 2 or more new customers who buy stuff equally or more profitable from Apple instead.

 

[KopThat]

I think at a stretch Tim could afford both

 

[JohnSFO]

I've owned iMacs, iPads, and iPhones and it's always my iMac that I love to use the most. To me it's the mothership, the hub of all things and my big window to the world. I believe a desktop (or laptop) completes a home. It's the place to put your important documents, precious photos, favorite song files and so much more. I'd be really bummed if iPads killed off desktops.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Why have a mac? Besides other things, I can download my iOS pics into it and back up my iOS devices to it.

I think until the iPad and iPhone can back up to a time capsule directly, the sales of ps and macs as data sumps will be assured because not all Bertone wants to store or backup all their pics and data in iCloud.

I prefer not to have to store the pics myself. I definitely don't store pics on my MacBook. That stuff goes to the cloud. That's what it's for. I don't store music on my Mac either. I have a phone to use the music I want to use at any given time.

 

[edgonzalez32]

Why don't you work on bringing file management to iOS first.

 

[AdonisSMU]

If they keep making crappier laptops sure. I mean does anyone really buy the 12 inch macbook? The thing was useless. A total back-step in processing power and functionality. They could have just made the iPadpro and not even bothered with useless slow 12 inch retina macbook. Allowing the macbook pro team some extra hands to work on making some giant leaps in power and functionality.

Apple likely plans these things years in advance. It's not some overnight thing. The cost of the components probably isn't low enough right now for Apple to sell on the mass market. The latest and greatest thing right now. They also need to try out various things testing and the like before releasing to the public.

 

[firewood]

They need more software engineers making products that work right the first time around ...

It is impossible to make non-trivial software products work right the first time. Ask any software executive.

So Apple only needs to make their products, on average, overall, work slightly better than the competition, and hopefully stay ahead.

 

[HiRez]

Editing RAW photos?... nope.

Apple Photos and Lightroom both edit RAW on iOS, don't they? And given the pencil, Lightroom on iOS should make an excellent RAW editor with freehand brushing. Would really like to see screen calibration on iOS though.

 

[ipedro]

I can look at everyone I know, and outside of a niche group of people, most do not use a PC anymore. Everybody uses their phones for pretty much everything. Some still use PCs at work but as the IBM deal is showing, the office is the next major target for iOS and they're succeeding in that infiltration.

I'm a photographer and I find myself using my iMac less and less. I've been editing a portion of my jobs directly on my iPhone 6 Plus and delivering to the client on the spot. Many of my photos don't even make it to my Mac anymore. That's for web/social media work. For high quality printable work, I still use my computer, but I can see that workflow being replaced by an iPad Pro in the next couple of years at most.

A large iPad the size of an iMac is the next step beyond the iPad Pro. Give it an articulated neck like the first flatscreen iMac and you'll be able to comfortably use it on a desk at an angle.

While there are still legitimate uses for a PC, those exceptions are starting to fall, one by one.

Power? Give it a few more cycles and an iPad Pro will be just as powerful as today's iMacs or MacBookPros.

A keyboard for extensive typing and coding and a stylus for precision work previously done by a mouse are no longer excuses.

Apps? More apps are being developed today for iOS than for OSX and Windows combined. The Microsoft Offices and Photoshops of this generation are being developed on iOS, not PC. Even Photoshop itself is being effectively replaced by a suite of specialized Adobe apps.

Games? Look no further than a couple of generations ahead on AppleTV. With annual updates, it'll easily catch up to this console generation which is already 3 years old and unlikely to be replaced in the next 3.

Tim is right. Why would you buy a PC?

 

[nikhsub1]

I think the iPad has already replaced all the 'computers' it is going to - the giant iPad won't further that. It is very hard to do any actual productive work on an ipad. As mentioned until there is mouse support and a real OS people aren't going to trash their computers for this.

 

[_Refurbished_]

"PCs are going to be like trucks. They are still going to be around. However, only one out of x people will need them."
- Steve Jobs

For a lot of people, this idea that only some people need a full fledged laptop or desktop computer is already a reality. Us techie people don't see it though, because we love our computers. We're the truck drivers.

I didn't agree with Jobs then, and I don't agree with him now. "Personal Computers" will be around for a very long time. I love my iPad to death, but my computer is much better for getting work done.

My GF uses my iPad more than me, but she still needs my PC (she's using it RIGHT now) to search the web for work related tasks. People need PC's for work, and work isn't going anywhere. Every non-tech person I know in my family still need PCs for certain tasks, even though they use the heck out of Apple's mobile computers.

I feel that we will use our PCs less and less, but there's something about the desk and chair experience that an iPad can't replicate.

 

[gwest]

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

Exactly- I hate to say it, but the MS Surface has it right. A watered-down OS running watered-down apps is not a "Pro" anything. Apple needs to make 2 major changes: 1- Use full OS X and 2- include USB ports and an SD card slot.

 

[Mrjoedot]

He 'could' just be right....
Not to compare him to the founder 'Steve Jobs' but Jobs did think & do against what many people thought at the time....since first iPhone launched, majority of the population adopted touch screen more than ever & reject traditional tactile phone....

I'll stay neutral on this but, its laptops & desktops are still way more powerful. I'd want a computer & iPad working side by side though

 

[Keirasplace]

It will replace some traditional computers, but so did the iPad. I don't expect any significant change compared to the smaller versions.

It's not the screen size, it's he lack of computational power, built-in keyboard, mouse and software.

Huh! Lack of computational power? It can play 3, 4K streams in parallel in Imovie, many desktops can' do that (most actually).
The fact Apple has integrated all the components so tightly means this thing will properly scream...

Exactly- I hate to say it, but the MS Surface has it right. A watered-down OS running watered-down apps is not a "Pro" anything. Apple needs to make 2 major changes: 1- Use full OS X and 2- include USB ports and an SD card slot.

So, a crappy tablet running just about no apps made for it is the solution... What!
By that token buying the lightest mac laptop around and and Ipad air 2 is a much better solution (and it weights about the same as a group too...). So, I guess Apple already has a better solution than than the surface.

 

[Mainsail]

I am retired, but do some consulting so I like the Macbook Air and iPhone combo, since I need to do some work on a laptop from time to time.

However, just to play devils advocate, I think Tim's statement could apply to many people. Most folks have a work computer provided by their employer that runs all of the professional apps required to do their jobs. So, for people buying a device for purely home use, I think most folks really don't need much more than a tablet, and an iPad Pro might be just the thing. I am not talking about the people that hang-out on tech forums, I am talking about 80% of the population that are just looking for a simple home solution to: browse web, read email, calendar, take notes, organize/edit photos, write and review simple documents, watch Netflix, post on Facebook, shop online, read books, etc..

Let's be realistic, this is the type of stuff most people do with their home computers, and an iPad is plenty powerful. Now, if you disagree with me that's fine, but please understand the context....I am talking about home computing needs for the average Joe or Jane.

 

[ipedro]

I've owned iMacs, iPads, and iPhones and it's always my iMac that I love to use the most. To me it's the mothership, the hub of all things and my big window to the world. I believe a desktop (or laptop) completes a home. It's the place to put your important documents, precious photos, favorite song files and so much more. I'd be really bummed if iPads killed off desktops.

How many homes had PCs 30 years ago? Just because you've become used to it, doesn't mean that the next generation will be interested in the least in having a computer anchored to their home.

Sorry to break it to you but we old folks from the previous generations have been left behind. Kids today will spend 99.9% (if not a full 100%) of their time on their own personal computer: the one in their pocket.

 

[justinhu8]

I understand Tim's perspective however there are many nagging issues that need to be fixed which wouldn't be hard. I could probably live on an iPad Pro but not happily at least. Many of the issues are small like basic things.
- AirPrint is still ****
- File system is still needed

Part of the issue is the un-naturalness for something like the 4x5 grid of apps to be adapted to something this large (especially since that UI was designed for a 3.5 inch screen initially!). It just doesn't feel like something that would or could replace your laptop. They need to deal with the user-interface and UX design before talking speakers or keyboards. Because the chips and power are there and would suffice for the majority of people however the UI will just not play for people if they try considering it over an actual computer.

+ Pricing is terrible compared to a Surface or a standard laptop

 

[nezr]

So disappointed in Tim's comment. He's full of ****

I stopped using my iPad air, because I felt so limited. I am just using a MacBook air & iPhone

Apple watch flop round 2

 

[HiRez]

No, OS X isn't touch optimized, but they can make it so. Throw in some gestures to close things, tweak the drop down menus to be more touch friendly. Maybe on iPad pro it would extend it down into a scroll wheel type selector like on iOS. Stuff like that.

This is the kind of thinking that leads to terrible, janky user interfaces. This stuff is much harder to get right than you make it sound, if you don't want it to suck.