Hm, I don't really get it either.
You might as well say the Surface Pro is useless (or "not a powerhouse") because it lacks a built in CD-ROM drive.
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Unless Apple makes dramatic improvements to iOS , this will be my last iPad
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Hm, I don't really get it either.
You might as well say the Surface Pro is useless (or "not a powerhouse") because it lacks a built in CD-ROM drive.
I'm only pointing out that you've chosen the worst arguments for making that larger point and by doing that I've showed that I absolutely did not miss that larger point. The fact that you don't seem to understand that shows that it's actually you who's missing the point
Again, the arguments you've given are really lousy ones because either they are missing on nearly every tablet or they are included on nearly every computer and thus also old, crappy, dead slow machines that can't keep up with the first iPad. The Surfaces are a powerhouse because they are a bit of both and have a very good pen input. The iPad is a powerhouse because it can make people very productive due to the simplicity it brings plus the hardware is quite capable.
Exactly. I can name some other things that computers come with and iPads don't. Lets' try DisplayPort, or ethernet... A powerhouse simply means that you can do a lot with it, not that it has feature x, y and z. Simplicity can sometimes make a device more powerful because things don't get in your way and you become more productive because of that. The Surfaces are powerhouses but not for the reasons mentioned by sracer.
I LOVE my iPad Air 2 but it doesn't get used much. I use my MacBook Pro when i'm home and my iPhone when i'm in bed or on the go...my Air 2 will last me a long time. The iPad product category matured really really quickly. It's all up to the software developers now.
Are you kidding? The source is Apple's own quarterly reports for a couple of years now, and any one of the million new articles written about it, including those provided right here on MacRumors front page.
As they say, "plummeting is in the eye of the beholder".
Perhaps it was characterizing the decline as "plummeting" that required evidence.
Sales are definitely on the decline. Is it a temporary drop as sales settle in to a longer refresh cycle or does it signify the beginning of the close to the tech chapter on tablets? I'm hoping that it is a temporary condition caused by a lack of "must-have" features in newer generations of iPads.
"Especially if the next big thing is the rumored 12" iPad Pro..."
I love statements like this.
They show a basic ignorance of what iOS is all about. The 12" iPad pro will run no different than any device which has iOS on it accept for one thing, more screen space.
The iPad is what it is, now if Apple can get a touch screen version of OSX on a 12" pad device (no connected keyboard required) that would really be a "pro" device.
I love statements like this.
They show a basic ignorance of what iOS is all about. The 12" iPad pro will run no different than any device which has iOS on it accept for one thing, more screen space.
The iPad is what it is, now if Apple can get a touch screen version of OSX on a 12" pad device (no connected keyboard required) that would really be a "pro" device.
I'm on my 4th iPad and I don't forsee myself buying another. I use it a lot for casual web surfing and that experience has deteriorated recently (with iOS 8). Every 10 minutes I'll get a "There was an error with this page and it has been reloaded" message. I've tried reinstalling as new and a cold reboot, but nothing helps. I've gone back to surfing the web on my laptop - a Samsung EVO 850 SSD breathed new life into it and its so fast now.
What's stoppingfrom making an SDK for Pro software, built especially for this Pro model, and maybe even other models?
Probably marketing. You forget the more niches a company has the more the cost.
People might remember the debate about Apple producing a "mini" and how Jobs said there would only a need for the single iPad size. While none of us can determine Job's reasoning it might be because he understood the need to force users into a smaller line of products and thus reducing costs and improving profits.
With that being said Apple would produce a separate 12" OS if the cost benefit of such a product were worth it. But it really looks like that is just a wish as iOS 9 includes a split screen for the latest hardware. A 12" iPad, with its bigger screen, can take advantage of the split screen far better than my mini will. But the overlying issue is it will still be iOS and not OSX.
Some also ask the question, "Why not produce OSX for ARM processors and based devices?" The idea is good and the process isn't all that difficult, but what about all the Intel based programs currently running on OSX? None of these programs will run on an ARM based OSX without some sort of Intel emulator. This means a recompile, distribution and the maintenance of two different programs, one for each processor.
I wonder when Apple will respond to the direction of Microsoft and their focus on full featured Intel based pad devices with Windows 10? Notice their ARM based pads are pretty much a memory.
Totally agree. I never was keen on the iPad, just saw it as an oversized iPhone without the phone. Never in my wildest dreams would I think I would ever own one (nor see people use it as a camera in public, but I digress).
I did get an iPad 2 mini retina. I wish it had the fingerprint sensor but I only use it for reading textbooks for school. I was going to get the smallest one they make but my boss convinced me to get the next size up and now I wished I got hte largest. While I don't use it a LOT, if it had more space I might use it as a portable video device whilst travelling. But, I still loathe the Surface, I wish the iPad acted more like it. I wish they had OS X on it, not iOS. If iPad Pro is a true version of OS X, it would ROCK. However, I am sure it will be the sanboxed crap iOS has become, which is very unfortunate :-(
If the iPad Pro has a true version of OS X, then it would SINK like a ROCK.
Microsoft has proven that some poor decisions are timeless. A desktop UI on a tablet was a dud in 2000. It's not any better now. Those who tout "but I can run Photoshop on my Surface" (as if everyone on the planet uses Photoshop) aren't using the advanced capabilities of it without some input device hardware (pen, keyboard, mouse, digitizing tablet)... using it as a notebook/ultrabook than as a tablet.
The same would be true if a tablet was running OS X.
The SplitView, SlideOut, and PIP features of iOS 9 show that Apple has been spending time thinking about "Pro" features. I'm hopeful that Apple will continue to add elements to iOS in support of the (as of now mythical) iPad Pro. Although it may not be a full notebook experience (nor should it) it will hopefully be more usable for "pro" tasks than the current iPad/iOS.
I would disagree about today's Surface. Microsoft seems to have found a market for its product after testing the waters with an ARM based version, which everyone avoided due to its software limitations and poor screen, and has settled into a Pad with a keyboard that is very powerful. Will one do Photoshop or Video on it? Yes but in limited ways. The pro video and photo people will always use more speed and memory, but they will like the ability to make changes with clients on their portable running the same software and using cloud service.
Apple had the lead in quality and market base with the iPad and to make it a "pro" version it will need some improvement and easing of the iCloud file restrictions. What do I mean? Right now iOS aps have limitations on which iCloud files they can open and it's just not as seamless as it could be, yet.
I have faith Apple will prevail, but the door is cracked open for Microsoft these days. Now can Microsoft please tighten up the Windows kernal (registry issues) access by programs. Every time I use Windows, 7 or 8, these days I get attacked by some sort of virus. Even with "good" anti-virus programs it is a major pain and makes me never want to use Windows OS. There should be a total separation from the main OS kernal and registry by all programs and yet since the beginning MS has allowed full access to it and therefore virus city.
I'm interested in the reasons why you believe that today's Surface solves the issue of using a desktop UI on a tablet that plagued Windows tablets back in 2000.
I have an Air 2, and, I hate to admit it, but I won't be able to justify buying another one. I just don't use it enough. I have a Macbook Air 11 inch, and I think I'll be selling the Air in a year or so, getting a Macbook for use away from my 27 inch iMac, and giving the iPad to my wife. Really, I just don't need the iPad Air 2. I like it, but it's an expensive toy, if I'm honest. Editing files is slower than on my Macbook Air, and the few games I play I can play on my iPhone 6 plus. I watch movies on my iPad, occasionally read, but the amount of actual work I do on it has decreased considerably. Of course, your mileage may vary, but for me, well, I think I'm done with buying iPads...
You asked what the Surface solves about using a desktop UI. Unlike then, the desktop UI is based around a touch screen interface.
Have you used those?
I had a job once that did - and those things were a complete nightmare.
Windows today and the surface is nothing like the experience on those..
1. Microsoft seems to have found the right performance and memory combination.
2. They have ditched the horrible typing keyboard/pad.
3. The surface has found a size which seems to be well accepted (less than 10" Windows OS pads aren't selling really well).
4. They aren't slow.
5. The touch screen and pen combo is growing in popularity.
6. It is a full featured Windows OS with zero software limitations.
7. Very portable with a full keyboard and yet the keyboard can be set aside and ran entirely with touch.
8. Windows 10 doesn't dump touch screen but improves UI by getting rid of the features the users didn't like.
9. The latest screen is really good and probably rivals retina.
10. MS cloud service isn't too bad.
With the iPhone 6 Plus having such a large screen I think the Mini is becoming less and less of a compelling product. I could see them axing it in favor of a larger iPad. On the other hand the Mini is a nice device for non-iPhone users, so perhaps they might consider moving to a larger iPad format in general.
All I know is I'd really like a more Pro level, larger format iPad with a nice stylus. If they don't do this, I'm finally going to go with the next Surface Pro model, I think, which should be a real winner now that MS owns n-Trig and Windows 10 is on the horizon. My Air is just a glorified web browser and Sonos controller at this point, and I'm pretty pissed it won't support multitasking on iOS 9. And lord knows I've wasted enough money on various iPad stylii only to be consistently disappointed.
My iPad Air 2 will have to be pried from my cold, dead, fingers.
I love my iPad Mini Retina, I use it for 90% of both work and play. I run my business on it.
But it really needs some type of multi-tasking. I still run QuickBooks on my MBA because I need to be able to open PDF invoices and receipts in one window and fill out QuickBooks in another window. I tried doing it with QuickBooks Online on the iPad, but the lack of multiple windows made it extremely hard. Switching back and forth between apps leads to mistakes. And many times once you use one app the previous app resets itself (I guess it ram out of memory) so you loose whatever you had typed into it.
I'm happy with the iPad for what it is, but it would be much better with dual window multi-tasking.
But it really needs some type of multi-tasking. I still run QuickBooks on my MBA because I need to be able to open PDF invoices and receipts in one window and fill out QuickBooks in another window. I tried doing it with QuickBooks Online on the iPad, but the lack of multiple windows made it extremely hard. Switching back and forth between apps leads to mistakes. And many times once you use one app the previous app resets itself (I guess it ram out of memory) so you loose whatever you had typed into it.
I'm happy with the iPad for what it is, but it would be much better with dual window multi-tasking.
IMO, the iPad Mini is the perfect size for me. The iPhone 6+ is too small for what I use it for.
I would rather keep the Mini the same size and carry a small iPhone.
Perhaps I wasn't clear in the point that I was getting at. I'm not referring to the live tiles start screen or the Modern UI but specifically the desktop. The desktop UI in Windows 8/10 is virtually identical to Windows circa 2000. The desktop UI is not designed around touch for user input.
Yes, I did. I owned quite a few of them. Yes, the performance of Windows on that hardware was atrocious. So too were the drivers. But attempting to use the desktop UI on the Surface as a tablet (no keyboard cover) is not significantly better than it was back then. At least in my opinion. The Modern UI portion of Windows 8/10 on the other hand, is very usable in tablet mode.
Those are all positive points of the Surface, and you won't get an argument from me about those. But I wasn't talking to the Surface in general, but the desktop UI on the Surface as a tablet.