Will Apple ever make the iPad/Mac hybrid "Surface Book"?

[sracer]

So basically as I've felt all along these are devices with compromises yet Microsoft (and Intel) is trying to pass them off as no compromise devices. If there was a no compromise device Microsoft wouldn't need the Surface Book and Surface Pro. Of course Apple has different devices to but they're not pushing this no compromise nonsense.

...because all people have the exact same needs resulting in a global definition of what "no compromise" means.

Depending upon one's needs and use cases, the Surface Pro may be a no-compromise device. For others, the Surface Book. Neither one is for me. Heck, even the iPad Air 2 could be for those whose needs align with the Air 2's capabilities.

 

[RickTaylor]

Every device is going to make compromises; it's a question if it makes the compromises that suit you. I'm glad Apple and Microsoft are following such different design philosophies; it gives us more choice.

 

[AJsAWiz]

Perhaps, but I personally have no desire to own a surface book or hybrid. If I wanted a laptop I'd get one but right now what I want is an iPad.

 

[pika2000]

At this point in time, I think Apple has made it clear that there are going to be iPads which are tablets, and MacBooks which are laptops. The closest convertible would be the iPad Pro. I think Apple's stance is that the OS and UI paradigm for a traditional laptop/computer and a "post-PC" tablet should be different.

Imo although the Surface Book is interesting, at the base it's still the good ol tablet PC, with today's much faster hardware. I don't doubt the build quality will be excellent, but actual usage TBH won't diverge from the regular laptop.

 

[Lisat78]

I think what will happen is we'll see ios continue to mature and gain more 'laptop-like' capabilities. That may include some kind of trackpad style support. I don't think we're going to see a true iOS/OS X hybrid for some years, if ever, given Apple's stance on the matter ... but as I adjust to using my iPad Air 2 with ios 9 in conjunction with an Apple wireless keyboard, I find myself wondering how much it matters.

I had a Surface 3 for a week. I loved it as hardware, but the software experience had me pining for my iPad almost at once. For me, the supposed 'power' of a full desktop OS did not compensate for disadvantages; I no longer enjoy tinkering with computers simply for the sake of tinkering, and it seemed to me that Windows has become a tinkery operating system. I don't want to have to dive into regedit to make my touchscreen better, I don't want to have to faff around with anti-virus, and I absolutely don't want to find myself anxiously watching Task Manager when the system seems to slow to a crawl! All I wanted from a Surface 3 was a good tablet that could be a laptop that allowed me to browse, research, write and upload on the go in a package that was lighter than my rMBP. For me, it failed.

By contrast, the Air 2/ios 9/wireless keyboard combo is perfect. It's a great tablet, but with the keyboard it's fantastic for writing and surfing, thanks to all the support for keyboard shortcuts—and yes, you can use a variety of keys to navigate a web page including the arrows, cmd-arrow, and space bar. It's not as nice a scrolling experience as your fingers because there's a noticeable jerk but it can be done. I'm looking forward to getting a proper stylus and using the ipad for notetaking et al as well.

I would like to see:
*trackpad support
*more transparent sharing of files between apps. There's still too much round-tripping going on.
*The option to save files into iCloud Drive direct from Safari, rather than dropbox etc—especially for pdfs.
*The ability to use the arrow keys on a physical keyboard to navigate between search results in Spotlight

 

[sracer]

I think what will happen is we'll see ios continue to mature and gain more 'laptop-like' capabilities. That may include some kind of trackpad style support. I don't think we're going to see a true iOS/OS X hybrid for some years, if ever, given Apple's stance on the matter ... but as I adjust to using my iPad Air 2 with ios 9 in conjunction with an Apple wireless keyboard, I find myself wondering how much it matters.

I had a Surface 3 for a week. I loved it as hardware, but the software experience had me pining for my iPad almost at once. For me, the supposed 'power' of a full desktop OS did not compensate for disadvantages; I no longer enjoy tinkering with computers simply for the sake of tinkering, and it seemed to me that Windows has become a tinkery operating system. I don't want to have to dive into regedit to make my touchscreen better, I don't want to have to faff around with anti-virus, and I absolutely don't want to find myself anxiously watching Task Manager when the system seems to slow to a crawl! All I wanted from a Surface 3 was a good tablet that could be a laptop that allowed me to browse, research, write and upload on the go in a package that was lighter than my rMBP. For me, it failed.

By contrast, the Air 2/ios 9/wireless keyboard combo is perfect. It's a great tablet, but with the keyboard it's fantastic for writing and surfing, thanks to all the support for keyboard shortcuts—and yes, you can use a variety of keys to navigate a web page including the arrows, cmd-arrow, and space bar. It's not as nice a scrolling experience as your fingers because there's a noticeable jerk but it can be done. I'm looking forward to getting a proper stylus and using the ipad for notetaking et al as well.

I would like to see:
*trackpad support
*more transparent sharing of files between apps. There's still too much round-tripping going on.
*The option to save files into iCloud Drive direct from Safari, rather than dropbox etc—especially for pdfs.
*The ability to use the arrow keys on a physical keyboard to navigate between search results in Spotlight

A few of us have been beating that drum. Glad to see another "convert". I still contend that for some/many, adding pointing device support would go a long way toward moving the iPad closer to that point of convergence... certainly more than a magic crayon or pencil.

 

[Rogifan]

Every device is going to make compromises; it's a question if it makes the compromises that suit you. I'm glad Apple and Microsoft are following such different design philosophies; it gives us more choice.

Except Microsoft wants you to think its devices are no compromise.

 

[touchstoned]

No gary, apple won't make a surface book device. Not because of any specific ideological or logistical issue but because it won't sell all that well, and that will indicate to Apple that a similar device would not be a worthwhile investment. This is especially true because of the very recent release of ipad pro and its clear use case as a business/enterprise device.

 

[rowspaxe]

A few of us have been beating that drum. Glad to see another "convert". I still contend that for some/many, adding pointing device support would go a long way toward moving the iPad closer to that point of convergence... certainly more than a magic crayon or pencil.

Can't help thinking the name "magic crayon" came up in Apple Pencil brainstorming meetings

 

[LovingTeddy]

I have to disagree. I can surf web pages just fine on my iPad and iPhone. Not mobile sites, full sites. The only thing I don't get is Flash, which to me is no loss.

Except when you need add on. I have tons of add on with my Chrome browser and I wish that I can use them on my iPad.

Side note, having mouse is really beneficial for video and document editing. If Apple really want get into prosumer market, they'd better allow mouse with iOS or do a OS X/ iOS hybrid.

 

[engineerben]

Except when you need add on. I have tons of add on with my Chrome browser and I wish that I can use them on my iPad.

Side note, having mouse is really beneficial for video and document editing. If Apple really want get into prosumer market, they'd better allow mouse with iOS or do a OS X/ iOS hybrid.

...and this is why we have a world. I removed flash from Safari on my MBP because the only thing it was serving me was ads - now I get to scroll past little windows begging me to download flash so I can see an ad, and I chuckle quietly to myself.

And I agree that having a mouse is really great for video editing. That's why I most often my MBP for such tasks. Too heavy for you? Apple has a really nice, svelte Macbook with retina display with what I'm told is a dynamite trackpad.

And if none of that works for you, then Microsoft's offerings are superb alternatives for those that must have a desktop experience in a tablet. It's not for me (at least I don't think so - I intend to go play with a Surface 4 and get a feel for how it plays) but as broad as Apple's lineup is, it can't please everyone.

 

[rowspaxe]

And I agree that having a mouse is really great for video editing. That's why I most often my MBP for such tasks. Too heavy for you? Apple has a really nice, svelte Macbook with retina display with what I'm told is a dynamite trackpad.\

So, Apple shows off how powerful the ipad pro is with a video editing demo and then fails to provide a pointer device or access to off board storage to do video editing? This product, and ios, really needs some further evolution.

 

[Piggie]

Does iOS have limitations as an OS ?
Is there any reason why Adobe could not convert the Full Fat Photoshop to work under iOS ?
Let's forget making it finger friendly and just assume Stylus (pencil) control.

I'd love this as would give a true indication of how powerful the iPad Pro was, if it had to run a full Photoshop rather than some cut down app

 

[sracer]

Does iOS have limitations as an OS ?
Is there any reason why Adobe could not convert the Full Fat Photoshop to work under iOS ?
Let's forget making it finger friendly and just assume Stylus (pencil) control.

I'd love this as would give a true indication of how powerful the iPad Pro was, if it had to run a full Photoshop rather than some cut down app

I bolded the part of your comment that I find troublesome. If one doesn't care about supporting touch, then the Surface line of devices fits that bill to a "T".

IMO (and hopefully in Apple's as well) the iPad experience needs to be able to stand alone as a tablet. Enhanced by peripherals such as keyboards, mice, crayons, and pencils, yes... but not require them.

 

[Piggie]

Well

I bolded the part of your comment that I find troublesome. If one doesn't care about supporting touch, then the Surface line of devices fits that bill to a "T".

IMO (and hopefully in Apple's as well) the iPad experience needs to be able to stand alone as a tablet. Enhanced by peripherals such as keyboards, mice, crayons, and pencils, yes... but not require them.

I could suggest that you cannot have Fingers and Professional at the same time

 

[rowspaxe]

Does iOS have limitations as an OS ?
Is there any reason why Adobe could not convert the Full Fat Photoshop to work under iOS ?
Let's forget making it finger friendly and just assume Stylus (pencil) control.

I dont think the limitation is cpu/gpu grunt. I think the limiting factor is that when you add the full
myriad of photoshop menus and submenus--it becomes difficult to maintain the touch friendliness of the lite ios products. The experience might become more like using photoshop on windows--which is not that bad--but not as touch friendly as ios apps

 

[fieldsphotos]

Does iOS have limitations as an OS ?
Is there any reason why Adobe could not convert the Full Fat Photoshop to work under iOS ?
Let's forget making it finger friendly and just assume Stylus (pencil) control.

I'd love this as would give a true indication of how powerful the iPad Pro was, if it had to run a full Photoshop rather than some cut down app

I am sure Adobe could make a full fledged Photoshop for iOS if they wanted to. The question is if iOS customers are willing to pay full up Adobe prices. I am guessing Adobe thinks they won't, hence the watered down apps even for the iPad pro.

 

[hovscorpion12]

Tim Cook has stated that a tablet running OS X will not happen, but I'm not counting it out. It's up to Microsoft to force Apple's hands in making a "hybrid" tablet. OS X & iOS do have similarities even more when it comes to iOS 9 & El Capitan. Macs to my knowledge is the only products that can dual boot OS X and Windows. Dual booting OS X and iOS on a 12.9" tablet would be a game changer.

 

[RickTaylor]

I don't believe Apple will port iOS to the Ipad pro. For one thing, doing so would be a huge task; I suspect some may underestimate the work involved. Look at what Microsoft went through to create a hybrid operating system. They completely annoyed a big portion of their users in the process, and by most here the result here is not considered to be unsatisfactory as a tablet. It seems far more likely to me that Apple will attempt to improve iOS over time, making it more powerful, rather than than porting OS X. In the process, they'll have the opportunity to come up with knew ways of doing things; for example perhaps there's another way to accomplish what a file system does that's different than the ancient hierarchical directory system.

In my opinion, Apple and Microsoft are pursuing different interesting strategies for advanced tablet devices, that will appeal to different users.

 

[sracer]

Well

I could suggest that you cannot have Fingers and Professional at the same time

You could, but then it would be no different than a Surface.

 

[engineerben]

So, Apple shows off how powerful the ipad pro is with a video editing demo and then fails to provide a pointer device or access to off board storage to do video editing? This product, and ios, really needs some further evolution.

To some degree, yes. Given the choice, I'd rather edit video on a workstation with a nice, big display and a trackpad. One of my beefs with previous IOS devices was the imprecision of a finger-only interface compared to a mouse/trackpad. I still grouse about that when having to do such mundane things as selecting text by fingertip.

So IOS evolves. I think it's the best finger-first OS out there, and it's evolving to pull in other use cases. Windows and OS X are very good indirect-pointer first operating systems, and Windows has evolved to support tablet use cases.

Whether IOS's evolution will lead through indirect pointer mechanisms (mouse or trackpad) or a fully-exposed file system only Apple knows (and I kind of doubt). For me, it's a very useful environment as it is. For you (and others on this forum) it needs more evolution. That's not a problem, that's choice!

 

[LovingTeddy]

...and this is why we have a world. I removed flash from Safari on my MBP because the only thing it was serving me was ads - now I get to scroll past little windows begging me to download flash so I can see an ad, and I chuckle quietly to myself.

And I agree that having a mouse is really great for video editing. That's why I most often my MBP for such tasks. Too heavy for you? Apple has a really nice, svelte Macbook with retina display with what I'm told is a dynamite trackpad.

And if none of that works for you, then Microsoft's offerings are superb alternatives for those that must have a desktop experience in a tablet. It's not for me (at least I don't think so - I intend to go play with a Surface 4 and get a feel for how it plays) but as broad as Apple's lineup is, it can't please everyone.

Personally I perfect OS X all the time, I dislike Windows. So no Surface Book or Surface Pro for me. It is just sad that while Apple thinking Surface is terrible idea, yet Apple is doing samething. You'd think Apple would produce some elegant devices, but no, this time only half baked.

If touching screen while attached to keyboard is terrible idea, why would Apple offer keyboard case but no support of pointing devices? You will have to lifting your arm and touching the screen.

 

[engineerben]

Personally I perfect OS X all the time, I dislike Windows. So no Surface Book or Surface Pro for me. It is just sad that while Apple thinking Surface is terrible idea, yet Apple is doing samething. You'd think Apple would produce some elegant devices, but no, this time only half baked.

If touching screen while attached to keyboard is terrible idea, why would Apple offer keyboard case but no support of pointing devices? You will have to lifting your arm and touching the screen.

Having used an iPad2 with the Logitech keyboard cover, I can say that I agree - I love having the keyboard, I hate trying to interact with a wobbly, weakly supported slab of glass by poking at it. Nevertheless, I've used it that way for many years because the keyboard was so much better than the on-glass keyboard.

We'll see how the IPP handles this. With the bigger screen, the on-screen keyboard may be better for my ham-hands. The keyboard cover may be more sturdy (it supports the back rather than holding the tablet up by the edge). It's a new enough category that it may take a couple of iterations to perfect. Lots of folks seem to love the kickstand in the Surface, for instance. It's a great time to be alive!

 

[nj-morris]

Apple believes in the future of the iPad and tablets in general. In a few years, iOS and OS X will be created equal, and they will probably have no differentiation rather than the keyboard/trackpad and touchscreen. And then the iPad will gain mouse/trackpad support, and then laptops will probably fade into obscurity.
What would be interesting though would be an iPad/iMac hybrid. Desktop iPad? Touchscreen iMac?

 

[ValO]

Everyone is talking about a hybrid.
There will be a hybrid.
Just not right now.

The ipad pro is the first step in macbooks being powered by arm instead of intel.
When apple makes more progress in designing even more powerful arm socs, they will replace the intels in the macbooks by their own design.

Second step is developping an mac os based on arm instead of x-86.

When they have accomplished these steps they will release a hybrid device.
a tablet which can dual boot to mac os or ios when a keyboard is attached.
When no keyboard is attached you will only be allowed to boot to ios.