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

[jrbdmb]

That's just nonsense. The majority of people uses computers for a few basic things:

• Browsing the web
• Reading and writing emails
• Watching photos
• Videochat

And all of the points above are a better experience when using an iPad compared to a desktop computer.

So, could you please elaborate your statement why the majority needs Mac OS on an iPad?

My wife has an iPad, and uses it for the activities you mention above. But to pick one item in particular, she has accumulated a large number of emails (ten of thousands) over time, and the native iOS mail app is absolutely incapable of tackling a job like that. To quickly delete a large number of emails, or to do something as simple as sort by sender or sort by subject requires a real computer running a real email app.

I don't object to Tim's "many many people" remark, but for him to say “I think if you’re looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC anymore? No really, why would you buy one?” is reprehensibly stupid.

 

[H2SO4]

Save to iCloud drive. Wait a little bit. And use it.

Apologies if this does not meet your desire for absurdity.

That’s pretty absurd. You’ve done well, congrats.

This video file size calculator would suggest that we need more than iCloud Drive.

 

[winston1236]

Not appealing FOR YOU, I'd add.
Actually I think artists are the only real target of that tablet.

Obviously I was only speaking for myself as I didn't say all artist.

I have to disagree with you that artist are the real target, I think its really aimed at the corporate crowd.

Macs were always known for being used by creatives and it made them appealing to the corporate worker who wanted the look. I think the same is in motion here, Apple is saying this is cool and used by creative professionals, and you don't have to be one to buy one. Nothing wrong with that approach, if it sells good for them.

My wife has an iPad, and uses it for the activities you mention above. But to pick one item in particular, she has accumulated a large number of emails (ten of thousands) over time, and the native iOS mail app is absolutely incapable of tackling a job like that. To quickly delete a large number of emails, or to do something as simple as sort by sender or sort by subject requires a real computer running a real email app.

I stopped running a hardware based email program about a year ago and only use the web version and it's really helped with that issue. Especially on a desktop, the Mac email program saves every single email in a cluster of folders that take up a massive amount of space over time.

 

[diegogaja]

Project and Visio aren't used at anywhere near the same levels as word, excel, and ppt. So tablets in general are still more than adequate for the majority.



Unrelated...but if I had to guess I would say that people aren't upgrading their iPads as often as they are released. Phones are upgraded, often every one to two years but since iPads are being treated as computers the average upgrade cycle is longer. Anectdotally, I along with many people I know are still using iPad Air (v1). Some people I know are still using the iPad 2 without complaint. Heck, I even have seen a couple people still rockin the original iPad.

Unless you need Project and Visio and interconnectivity between these and other programs, and ....
For basic needs you are correct. For more in depth needs, especially for most businesses, what is offered on iOS isn't enough.
Just a thought ... if tablets can replace computers (PC) why are iPad sales on a decline trend?



It is a great consumptive device and works well for reports, email, and similar activities. However, for lab folks, tech folks, marketing, sales, production, finance, and many others it does not do as well and is not the optimal tool for the job. BTDT, scaled the tablet way back.

 

[peterdevries]

That’s pretty absurd. You’ve done well, congrats.

How so? It uses the file system that everyone including you keeps on whining about.

But I left out the simplest option: it gets synced automatically between the photos apps on your devices.

Surely you can stink this up also. So just go ahead and tell us how ridiculous and unprofessional this all is.

 

[StoneJack]

The main difference between Surface and iPad Pro:
Surface: a desktop OS put on tablet with keyboard with mostly desktop apps.
iPad Pro: a touch-based OS put on tablet with keyboard with arguably MORE touch-based applications.

Right now, because of depth of Windows apps and OS X apps, iPad Pro may have less capacity than those notebooks.
However, in the long run, given the speed of evolution of Apple's A CPUs, iOS (annual), etc iPad will exceed capacity of Surface or Macbooks and it seems that A9X is a hell of CPU. So, skate where the puck WILL be be, not where it has been. Split screen addresses multitasking, new keyboard input system addresses precise input and so does the new pencil. Its gonna be quite a formidable tool, very FUTURE oriented.

 

[kupkakez]

Keep in mind the people here on this forum are a very very small sample of people. For a lot of us the iPad does work quite well as a "computer replacement". I still own a computer for the rare times I don't mind sitting at it but I do a vast majority of my stuff on an iPad or my iPhone. There really isn't anything my iPad/iPhone can't do that my computer can. The biggest one is a couple of Facebook games I like to play that require flash but a majority of them have apps available or similar apps in the App Store.

I am not a content creator at all I am completely a content consumer so I do not need a computer for personal use. I also personally prefer iOS over OS X.

 

[canesalato]

Save to iCloud drive. Wait a little bit. And use it.

Apologies if this does not meet your desire for absurdity.

I think it does
Anyway, i don't think you can save a video to icloud drive. I think you mean icloud photo library.
In my country it would take a whole day to upload a 30 min 4k video to icloud. If you have to work with this stuff this is not a solution. Better to use Airdrop

 

[TMRJIJ]

Well that's a lie.

No it's not.

 

[Precision Gem]

With respect, I'm at uni and in almost every lecture there are hoards of MacBooks, Macbook Pros and Macbook Airs - Most of my friends have moved away from their iPads and back to laptops. I do see some laptops at uni, but the majority are still on laptops. In tutorials for example there will be 5 or so (including myself) on iPads, but 15 with laptops - In my IT classes there is barely an iPad in sight, but in my arts classes there are more iPad. Though I take my iPad to uni, I don't use it for much more than my readings, textbooks, research etc. I don't ever write my essays on it, as having the number of tabs + research pages open on it is not really that practical, even with split screen multitasking - the laptop always comes out if I'm doing an assignment.

I actually have a family member who is a uni tutor - that uni gives students free iPads, and apparently a large number of them a) sell them b) never bring them, preferring laptops

Because of the keyboard you use a Mac rather than an iPad. With the keyboard on the iPad Pro, i think it becomes much more productive. Typing on the screen of an iPad Air or smaller is not really practical except for very short text.

 

[Digger148]

I can see this, especially, for those such as my spouse. Since I put the iPad into a keyboard case, the iMac she begged me to buy has become only a host for iOS updates (and dust) and the monthly iPad-to-computer backup! She "consumes" 523 times more than she "creates" and, because you have to touch, tap and swipe, loves the iOS experience, but, doesn't care for OS X because it reminds her of being at work.

She would never look at an Apple product until the day I brought home an iPad. We went to an iPad Pro tutorial and now I'll be placing the order as soon as they become available. As for myself, there's no way I'd give up using the excellent trackpad of the MBP, so, it's "pass" on the iPad Pro.

 

[RedWing512]

The smugness in Cook's statement is disgusting. Him and the rest of Apple needs to be knocked down a few pegs.

 

[patseguin]

I work with Illustrator on a daily basis. There is no way I could do what I do with my finger/pencil as opposed to a mouse. Nothing comes close to the control you need with a mouse. Desktops/notebooks aren't going anywhere for certain people.

 

[Matthew.H]

Whilst the iPad Pro can replace a laptop/desktop for some people it can't for me. If you listen to a lot of music the iPad Pro is fine as a computer replacement as long as all of your music is bought through itunes or if you have apple music. Many people are fine with going all digital download with their music but I'm not.

I still buy all my music on CD and only use download if I can't get a disc version. To get music from those CD's to an iPad you still need a PC/Mac running itunes to import the music to the computer and sync it to the iPad.

As far as I'm aware you can't connect an external disc drive to an ios device and if you could there's no way to import the music from the disc.

Also I prefer the tactile feedback from a real keyboard and I tend to make more spelling errors on touch screen keyboards.

 

[QCassidy352]

This has largely devolved into the old debate about tablets killing laptops/desktops. That may or may not be true.

But specific to this article, the question remains: who are these people who can replace a laptop/desktop with an iPad pro who couldn't do so with an iPad Air 2? What is it that makes the pro a viable replacement when the air wasn't?

 

[currocj]

This is true.

I have a wide network of people across all ages and professions, and it's quite surprising how many people tell me that they barely touch their computer because the iPad does everything they need.

said no one ever.

Mouse, we need a mouse. That's just for starters. MS Office - no, not that stripped down version, the one with a thousand buttons and tabs, yes you. And finally, I want to be able to switch to windows when I need to - well, I can't even switch to a real OS - Mac OS X. So, Tim is definitely living in a dream world.

 

[roland.g]

I am a Mac guy through and through and the Surface Pro 4 beats this hands down because it runs a full OS with mouse and full docking capabilities. It allows anyone to use it in a variety of ways including docking it with one or two screens, and keyboard/mouse/Ethernet. No one wants to just run tablet apps or surf the iPad web where a lot of content still doesn't work correctly.

Make an iPad Pro that runs OS X with real power and RAM and storage and can dock with screens and peripherals like a Surface Pro and I'll ditch my MBA.

 

[dk001]

You are dead wrong about this. For most businesses iOS offers enough functionality. Exceptions are graphics design studios or business that require powerful bespoke software. But most companies use the basic set of office without interconnectivity etc. In the past 8 years I have worked as a consultant in a major bank, government and now in Pharma and the absolute majority of workers and managers just use Outlook, Powerpoint, Excel, Word and a few bespoke applications for timecards, expenses, supply chain management, CRM etc and all of the major packages are now on iOS. Why do you think suddenly Microsoft, Adobe and IBM are pushing iOS so hard? -> cheap, easy to service, lower helpdesk tickets, easy app management, good security etc etc.

Roll out the "I have worked on...." Big deal. Same here. BTDT. So tell me why are iPad sales down overall 20%+ and still not making any significant inroads into the Enterprise outside of BYOD?

• MS - want to remain relevant and make money .... That has been the MSO map and still remains the MSO map. MS rolled out the program core that is most widely used.
• Adobe - They too see iOS as a market they can leverage sales in just like MS. Considering they have had some setbacks they are looking at continued growth in iOS in the video arena. A great spot for them. btw: pdf is a standard for business use and looks to go anywhere it can.
• IBM - they would like to become the player they used to be before they reinvented themselves for the umpteenth time.

As for pushing? No. They are not. Bespoke? That is the single biggest issue. Building custom single use / single company apps are a pipe dream in reality. The customer always wants their "version". More like a front end for a sever side platform. A standard - even IBM knows that the standard is more of a framework.
Aside from that - this isn't going to suddenly make the iPad go mainstream in the enterprise with the Pro leading a resurgence.

 

[canesalato]

But specific to this article, the question remains: who are these people who can replace a laptop/desktop with an iPad pro who couldn't do so with an iPad Air 2? What is it that makes the pro a viable replacement when the air wasn't?

That is the main question! My answer is:
only a subset of artists/designer.
For the rest of the people who can live on a tablet the air is enough and the best compromise (imho) between usability and portability in the iPad line

 

[dk001]

Save to iCloud drive. Wait a little bit. And use it.
Apologies if this does not meet your desire for absurdity.

Photos will do that for you. That is a non-issue.

No it won't.
Via iCloud won't work - tried it - file too big. Airdrop? No. Not sure if iMovie supports a true 4k format. I know it is supposed on the Mac but not the iPad.
For me to get it off my 6S+ I had to go the USB cable route. Nothing else worked.

 

[aloshka]

HHHHAAAAAATTTTTEEEEE!!!

 

[Diversion]

"Many people" are people who just surf the web, e-mail, Facebook.. watch videos.. etc.. And that is entirely true.. Many people have replaced their laptops with a regular iPad.

Do you guys think you're the only type of customer Apple has? Most people on MacRumors are not the type of target audience Apple is saying will replace their laptops with a Pro.

 

[canesalato]

No it won't.
Via iCloud won't work - tried it - file too big. Airdrop? No. Not sure if iMovie supports a true 4k format. I know it is supposed on the Mac but not the iPad.
For me to get it off my 6S+ I had to go the USB cable route. Nothing else worked.

Rhonindk, why do you say Airdrop no? Actually it should be faster (wifi ac mimo) than cable (usb2) on the latest devices.
Btw: imovie supports 4k on the iPad pro, Air 2 (wasn't supported originally, but imovie was updated recently with Air 2 4k support) and iPhone 6s

 

[LovingTeddy]

1. I agree that printing services need to get better, but there is no reason why Apple cannot do that. In fact in professional environments such as the one where I work, it works absolutely fine.

2. I guess you haven't tried iCloud Drive, because it provides all the functionality you talk about here. You can do this NOW on your iPad.

3. iCloud Drive.

4. iCloud Drive. again. You can attach any kind of file to an email sent from your iPad.

You might want to consider your knowledge about the system.

Please tell me exactly how can i upload my resume to employer's website from iCloud? Apparently, you cannot.

Second, please tell me how to access stuffs on iCloud drive when I am offline? Becuase not everybody going to buy LET version of iPad.

Third, I still need hunting different apps for different document then upload to iCloud drive.

The thing is iCloud Drive does not provide the convience of tradition file explorer and Safari on iOS is too limited. I have no doubt that one day iPad could exceed PC, but for now, iPad isn't going to replace PC for "many many many" people.

P.S. When I am using my computers, I usually have bunch of apps running at same time, for example, chrome, video player, audio player to listen MP3 and utorrent running in the background and sometime I have bunch of word documents. I like system alllow me multitasking fast, switch between apps fast and nagivate easily. iOS cannot do it, at least torrent part, and I think many many people still torrenting or download files to local disks. You can do nothing on iPad.

 

[dk001]

Project and Visio aren't used at anywhere near the same levels as word, excel, and ppt. So tablets in general are still more than adequate for the majority.
...

Agree in part. The number of people I have to send a flow to in pdf format or project in excel so they can view is growing. Still, the MSO apps we have in iOS are not the same as the full desktop/notebook versions. Now add the lack of mouse support. For casual use it is good enough. For complex or power use, not.