The iPad’s device-specific features have been advancing for years, and Apple is finally making the divergence official. Though the first version seems to still be iOS with some iPad-specific components (not all that different from previous versions of iOS on the iPad), presumably this release signals that in the future the iPad and iPhone versions of the OS will diverge more radically. Personally, I hope to see it iPad become more Mac-like, rather than seeing the Mac become more iPad-like. I’d love to see iPadOS evolve to the point that Apple would release an iPad Pro keyboard with a trackpad. Crucially, the iPadOS will be compatible with devices going back to the five-year-old iPad Air 2.
That’s incredible. The ipad is now a real laptop, well kinda. The non developer in me says “wow what a great computer” The developer in me says, “echh I can’t do anything on that.!” Or can I… Is there ubuntu for windows but for ios? Or maybe I could do 99% of my work with just a ssh client to a real computer, but obviously not any ios/ ipad os/ mac os development which is a disappointment for now.
Well…. Apple made a MS Surface clone. But without the compatibility and software options of windows AND all the limitations of iOS. Seems interesting. I am sure will find a great audience in the sadomasochism community!
iPad is a good tablet, and perhaps a poor laptop. As such it’s not much of a surface clone, which is poor at both tablet and laptop.
javiercero1,
While I don’t have much experience with ms surface, what exactly makes it a poor laptop? Are you criticizing the hardware or software? Hardware-wise I’d criticize that it is non-upgradeable. Software wise it mostly seemed like a regular windows laptop to me, which IMHO makes it much better than re-purposing IOS as a severely limited laptop.
It is a nice PDF reader and a nice music player. Nothing more.
If you want to do some real work, then get a real computer.
brostenen,
I’m not promoting ms surface. personally I like larger form factors for daily use, upgradeability, etc, however it was actually an earnest question, what specifically is wrong with it? Is it just the form factor?
The Surface Pro’s keyboard sucks, and the form factor makes it unusable on your lap. It also thermal throttles like crazy. The screen sucks for Windows Desktop mode.
It’s literally the worst of both worlds.
It makes a nice drawing tablet though, if you’re tied to the Windows ecosystem.
There are some nice laptops on the Surface family FWIW.
The iPad at least does it does it’s primary function well. The Surface Pro sucks at both.
javiercero1,
Well, those are all things that are intrinsic to that form factor. Am I correct in assuming that you’d make all the same complaints against a macbook pro in the same form factor?
– Small 13in screen, check.
– Thermal throttling under continuous loads, check.
– Cramped keyboard with bad travel, check.
As I indicated earlier, this form factor is not for me, I like bigger screens, more CPU, better keyboards, etc. But I’ve got to be honest if I were looking for something highly portable in a smaller form factor (ie to use when I’m traveling), then I still think the MS surface wins hands down over an ipad since I can get my applications on the surface and and bring my files with me whereas apple dumbs the ipad down and blocks owners from sideloading the software we need to do our work. Granted, many users won’t care since they’re using it more as an internet appliance, but I think it’s a huge knock on IOS as a laptop replacement for workers like myself. At best, for me the ipad would end up being used as a remote thin client for a “real computer” sitting at home or at work. I’ve done this sort of telecommuting before. If I have to do my work this way I will, but reliable 24/7 connectivity is not always available when traveling and the latency/disconnects can be extremely frustrating compared to running software locally.
So although I don’t really disagree with your criticisms and I will agree ms surface is a low end pc, I still have to disagree with your conclusion. The ms surface does have compelling benefits over an apple ipad as a laptop.
Sure, the Surface Pro is a better Windows Laptop than the iPad. Can’t argue with that logic I guess.
javiercerco1,
And linux too 🙂
I wasn’t trying to promote a windows bias, I’m actually not a huge fan of windows these days, which probably didn’t come across here. It’s just that the owner restrictions apple engineers into IOS devices means that IOS sucks as a general purpose laptop.
The macbook pro 13 is a better product to compete against the ms surface in this space and I’d also say that the macbook wins hands down over ipad as a laptop, there’s no contest. As for windows versus osx, that’s always been more about subjective preferences, they’re both functional personal computing platforms.
Ahhh… The iPad. To me it is a PDF reader and a music player. Nothing more.
brostenen,
That’s a tad sarcastic, haha. I just noticed you posted this same message in reply to my other post, so I’m not sure if you thought I was talking about the ipad there as well. MS surface runs the same software as a “real computer” and as I understand it can even dual boot linux. So I’m going to assume you were talking about the ipad and to that effect I agree IOS is too crippled to be a good laptop & productivity device.
In theory apple could fix the shortcomings of IOS to address my concerns, but apple’s kind of roped itself into the business model of restricting what owners can do on their own hardware in order to tax 3rd party developers & transactions. So IMHO it’s very unlikely we’ll see any concessions from apple. My prediction is that macos laptops will be priced out of consumer reach and that IOS will one day officially replace it.