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What are the chances iPad Pro will eventually have OSX on it?

This is all about product differentiation. iOS/iPad/iPhone have a very specific meaning and market position, and OS X/Mac have a very specific meaning and market position. Regardless of the technical possibilities/impracticalities, Apple benefits by keeping the two product lines separate and distinct.

There are probably more iOS users (and deployers) who would run the other way from an iPad running OS X as there are OS X users who yearn for an iPad-like device that runs OS X.

My simple message to those who want an iPad that runs OS X... give it up. Sooner or later, you'll get a Mac that more closely resembles an iPad. The number of people who truly need a device that runs both OSes is too small. iCloud is, and by that name or another, will continue to be the bridge between operating systems.
 
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This is a pretty funny topic. If we are talking commercial release of an iPad with OSX on it, I would say that would never happen. If we are talking about a "hacked" version of OSX running on an iPad Pro, it might be possible but there would be no way to control the cursor without hacking in a custom kext for a bluetooth mouse, it would require transcoding all x86 instructions to an ARM Processor, a custom kext would probably need to be used for a bluetooth keyboard, we would also need some type of bootloader or EFI control to get everything enabled. Most hard controls would probably also need to get written into a sideload app that would control things like brightness, multitouch controls, and not to mention an on-screen keyboard. That's a LOT of stuff to write for such an undertaking. I'm sure it could be done with a dedicated team of programmers but in the end, I don't think it would be worth it due to the differences between x86 Macbooks and ARM based iOS devices. There's no real benefit to writing mouse and keyboard instructions to a touch interface device that can do a lot of things faster without the need for navigation.
 
Macalway said:
There's one catch.

Dual boot :D
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I'm not sure how dual boot qualifies as a "catch." It's a possibility. Selling a Mac capable of dual-booting iOS wouldn't likely undermine consumers' perception of iOS and iOS devices the way selling an iOS device that could dual-boot OS X might.

However, considering Apple's approach to iOS security and the importance of that when pitching iOS to government and corporations, I don't think an Apple-sanctioned dual-boot on a Mac is a strong possibility. I don't see the commercial benefits measuring up to the potential downside risk of exposing iOS to a far less restrictive hardware environment.

Apple's goal is to supplant high-maintenance, relatively insecure Windows with far simpler, far more secure iOS. Replacing Windows with OS X is a non-starter (been trying that since 1984). Hardware, software, security, and support costs are far lower on iOS - the future is intended to be "iOS for the mass of workers, workstation-style OS (Windows/OS X) for as few workers as possible."

I'm afraid dual-booters will have to line up behind hard-core gamers, hardware modifiers, open system advocates, and jailbreakers... and unlike waiting outside an Apple Retail Store before a product launch, this particular line ain't ever going to move.

It's easier to imagine OS X being modified to run in an iOS device's restricted hardware environment, but I can also imagine the howls of indignation from OS X users, who'd expect the same freedoms they currently enjoy on their Macs.
 
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How well did taking a desktop OS and shoehorning it into tablets work for Microsoft?

Makes more sense to build up the productivity features in iOS rather than try to force the OS X desktop interface into a touch-friendly format.
 
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ApfelKuchen said:
I'm not sure how dual boot qualifies as a "catch." It's a possibility.
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But probably a slim one. I seldom "boot" my iPad - I put it to sleep by closing the lid. Same with my rMBP. I close the lid. It only "boots" when there's a software update that demands it.

In fact, all of my computers (my Windows box as well) generally either sleep or run. Rebooting is an exception.
 
Everyone is being very narrow minded when it comes to the SOFTWARE that will be on the iPad Pro and OSX is tossed around a lot. Why does it have to be OSX? Why can't it be iOS but built specifically for iPad Pro? I have an iPhone 5 and it's running the latest iOS which improves Touch ID and 3D Touch and wait... I don't have that on my device. Is it not conceivable that a future build of completely changeable, flexible, rewritable, updatable, iOS will be built for the iPad Pro to better use the none changeable, upgradable, fixable Hardware? I would say yes.. Software can be changed in a blink, but the iPad Pro isn't even out yet so give it a chance to be used and eventually apple will deliver when apple figures out what people will be using the iPad Pro for and if a file browser is necessary then it'll come.
 
ApfelKuchen said:
This is all about product differentiation. iOS/iPad/iPhone have a very specific meaning and market position, and OS X/Mac have a very specific meaning and market position. Regardless of the technical possibilities/impracticalities, Apple benefits by keeping the two product lines separate and distinct.

There are probably more iOS users (and deployers) who would run the other way from an iPad running OS X as there are OS X users who yearn for an iPad-like device that runs OS X.

My simple message to those who want an iPad that runs OS X... give it up. Sooner or later, you'll get a Mac that more closely resembles an iPad. The number of people who truly need a device that runs both OSes is too small. iCloud is, and by that name or another, will continue to be the bridge between operating systems.
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I agree. IMO keeping the devices and Os versions separate is a GOOD thing. If your needs dictate a powerful, ful blown OS then simply buy a MB pro and be on your merry way. If you require portability and can get by with a slightly less powerful system, get the iPad pro or just a regular iPad for that matter. Thats about it.
 
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iOS is expanding. How about Audio Units? When I heard about this, I actually couldn't believe it.
 
It'll never have OS X. You're more likely to see iOS bring more powerful features but never be a full-blown desktop operating system.
 
If the Surface line suddenly takes off and eats both the laptop and high end tablet markets then Apple will probably be forced to make Intel hybrids too (with Pencil as their stylus). I'm sure they've already prototyped the idea, but they won't do it unless the market demands it because they prefer to move more people into the iOS app ecosystem.
 
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Atomic Walrus said:
If the Surface line suddenly takes off and eats both the laptop and high end tablet markets then Apple will probably be forced to make Intel hybrids too (with Pencil as their stylus). I'm sure they've already prototyped the idea, but they won't do it unless the market demands it because they prefer to move more people into the iOS app ecosystem.
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Hybrid devices aren't really taking off. Yes, they sell, but I don't see them taking over both segments.
 
Warbrain said:
Hybrid devices aren't really taking off. Yes, they sell, but I don't see them taking over both segments.
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It seems unlikely to me too, which is kind of unfortunate because I think an Apple equivalent of the Surface Pro would be an excellent piece of hardware.

I would be replacing my SP1 with an SP4 without a second thought if their N-trig digitizer wasn't so disappointing. Apple's got my attention by introducing a Wacom competitor of their own, but iOS is a huge limitation for this kind of device at the moment. The software support isn't there yet and power users hate being stuck in the App Store on an OS with no user-exposed file management.
 
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sonicrobby said:
I am planning on it first chance I get

It makes perfect sense. iOS is very watered down and lacks productivity. I can't even have 2 safari pages open side by side... That alone is crippling to my needs. My experiences with iOS has been to have to compromise to get the productivity I need. Either OS could be modified to accommodate. Apple also believed the the iPhone 5 was the perfect screen size for everyone, where is that size now I ask?! Because I did think it was perfect... The point is, their position changes based on the market and demand.

The UI is whatever they choose to make it. Splashtop Remote Desktop is actually the best interface of what a full OS X could be on a tablet. On screen trackpad, keyboard, the only thing missing is the multitouch gestures (which obviously can't be incorporated because it would interfere with the iPad's native multitouch). If the iPad ran OS X just like a Mac, with a pop up on screen keyboard, and a touch screen that had a tap to click interface with the option to switch an on screen trackpad with a 3 finger tap, what's the downside to that? I'm just not seeing it.

I remember when the whole "islate" rummors were running around, and the excitement of the Apple tablet running OS X before the iPad was announced! Then they announced it having iOS, which lets admit, came out at a low level when compared to OS X. And since then, they been working on trying to improve the OS to be more productive to the OS X level. I agree that merging the two OS s would be a terrible compromise, that's why they should just have OS X available native to the iPad. The iPad pro was a perfect time to take the OS X and modify it for the interface, but all we get is a bigger screen that holds the same number of icons per page as the iPad mini. I guess iOSX was the wrong terminology, just OS X on the iPad.

But man, if I someone can make a hackingtosh out of the surface book, it would be the perfect device for me!
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Productivity is something YOU do. Not the OS or the device. I think you mean the device/OS reduces your productivity. You can get plenty done with a tablet depending on what you need. A laptop or desktop is always going to have more power and storage and will be better for tasks that require it.
 
I think everything Apple's said and done over the years indicates they see a clean distinction between a tablet and a laptop. They're similar in many ways (and in a way less visible to users, iOS largely is OS X), and Apple already – quite deliberately – makes a maximally thin and light machine that does run OS X.
 
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Turnpike said:
People keep saying how the iPad Pro is redundant. I think it's a cool option to have an iPad with a larger screen, even if for on other reason. But could this be a first step in a super slip portable laptop type machine, isn't it possible that down the road the internals could evolve to run an actual desktop OS?
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Possible, but unlikely.

I believe iOS will eventually evolve to the point where it will match OSX in terms of functionality. I for one don't relish the prospect of running a desktop OS on a touchscreen tablet, replete with apps wholly unoptimised for touch. I just hope that this will come sooner than later, because the competition sure as hell isn't standing still either.

Some day, we will look back and laugh at the absurdity of the all the people clamouring for a OSX tablet.
 
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Not for a long time. Apple isn't ready to cannibalize their highly profitable MacBooks yet.

Plus for all the talk about the Surface, people still aren't buying them so Apple has no reason to create a hybrid.
 
CEmajr said:
Not for a long time. Apple isn't ready to cannibalize their highly profitable MacBooks yet.

Plus for all the talk about the Surface, people still aren't buying them so Apple has no reason to create a hybrid.
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Probably because Microsoft took what is basically a desktop OS (and a lousy one at that) and put it on a tablet, which is something Apple knows better than to try.
 
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