Renamed iPad Air to conceptually link the lighter form factor to an already popular product. It was a smart marketing move.
iPhone 5 was the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever but but they didn't rename it iPhone Air. There is zero reason to rename the iPad if they're not planning something in that space. I still don't believe it will be a hybrid device ala Surface. Maybe they got some radical changes for iOS that they would apply to a 'pro' device. I don't see OSX going touch ala Windows 8.
The new hybrid device is not a bigger iPad, it's a MBA using A7 chip.
I will never buy an ARM based MBA. I would gladly pay $2K to $3K for a new OSX (with BootCamp) MBA with a retina display but have absolutely no use for anything that runs on an ARM based processor.
The two paradigms of OS X and iOS do not mix; they are meant to be kept separate, not combined into a single touch device. I don't understand why it's taking people so long to understand this. OS X = traditional computer. iOS = tablet. Please don't combine them.
Meanwhile, someone out there is inventing (or has invented) a third paradigm.
“It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore. Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole concept is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.”
Steve Jobs on video iPods:
"You can't watch a video and drive a car. We're focused on music."
Steve Jobs on an Apple mobile phone:
"I get a lot of pressure to do a PDA. What people really seem to want to do with these is get the data out. We believe cell phones are going to carry this information. We didn't think we'd do well in the cell phone business."
Steve Jobs on an Apple tablet:
"Tablets appeal to rich guys with plenty of other PCs and devices already."
That's Steve Jobs, not Tim Cook.
Tim Cook's not going to do this in 2013 and release one of these confused devices in 2014.
If this ends up like MacBook Air with iPad parts and a better price, I'd be quite interested, particularly if it runs OS X. But I doubt I would go for a UI devoid of a keyboard and heavily dependent on a touch-screen. I type a lot, so a keyboard is a must and touch screens are too slow and clumsy for something sitting on a desk.
If I'm going to lug around something that's 12-inches across, I'll stick with a laptop. As Microsoft failed to notice, touch UIs are a compromise. They only make sense when the gadget is small and there's no desk around.
There's the problem right there. Portability.
I believe that we are at least 5 years away from fixing that problem.
Tim Cook's not going to do this in 2013 and release one of these confused devices in 2014.
(Devil's advocate time) Unless he throws up a slide showing a nice straight arrow, then unveils his answer to the confused mess that Windows 8 hybrids are.
“Why are you bothering me about refrigerators? We’re a computer company. We don’t make them.”
Steve Jobs on cars:
“I like Mercedes-Benz, but we’re not going to make our own. I’m getting a little uncomfortable here.”
Steve Jobs on construction equipment:
“Look, just get out of my house. How did you even get in here?!”
Originally Posted by Dave MacLachlan
(Devil's advocate time) Unless he throws up a slide showing a nice straight arrow, then unveils his answer to the confused mess that Windows 8 hybrids are.
Didn’t he then immediately do that by showing the iPad?
No doubt and I'm sure we'll see Samsung come out with something. Apple doesn't have to be first, they want to be the best.
Anyway, the only way I'd see this working is if it switched to touch mode when undocked, and regular desktop/mouse mode when docked, but that would be a mess mostly likely.
Do they? They made an iPad too small to be used. A larger one would just be making up for that at this point.
If Apple released a laptop based on iOS it would obviously not be a less-featured MacBook Air. It would just be another option for people who don't want to pay $1,000 for a laptop, prefer an attached keyboard, and don't want to buy a cheap Chromebook or crappy Windows machine. Users needing more would be pushed to the 13" MacBook Pro. The question is whether or not Apple wants to compete in this area. Also, I am not sure calling it an iPad Pro would be a good marketing name, but it seems like that is the obvious choice.
I prefer my iPad mini to my full-sized iPad. I don't think it is too small at all.
That explains the cycle of crap: analysts create these reports and email them to AppleInsider, who dutifully regurgitates it. It's not even a rumor; it's somebody's opinion, analyst PR, turned into an article.
I will never buy an ARM based MBA. I would gladly pay $2K to $3K for a new OSX (with BootCamp) MBA with a retina display but have absolutely no use for anything that runs on an ARM based processor.
There's a substantial market for people who spend most of their time on email and web apps, including students, which is why Google and Samsung brought out Chrome OS and Chromebook, actually Chromebook was the product with the highest growth yoy. If Apple sticks a 64Bit super power-efficient processor in a laptop, not only can they now control processor development that suits their OS on Mobile devices, but on laptops too... iWork cloud is a tell tale web app of what's to come from Apple.
(Devil's advocate time) Unless he throws up a slide showing a nice straight arrow, then unveils his answer to the confused mess that Windows 8 hybrids are.
And I doubt that answer is going to be a convertible iOS/OSX device.
Just curious why you'd want a touch version of OSX?
It would be very useful in a convertible.
There is a lot of hate in the forums with respect to convertibles but there are also infinite ways in which Apple could realize a decent solution. Remember most convertibles have failed for the same reason tablets did before Apple delivered iPad. It is all about implementation.
"chipmaker ARM, which makes the reference designs for Apple's A-series chips. "
ARM does not make the reference designs for the Apple's chips anymore Appleinsider. You guys keep writing that, but it's untrue. They license ARM's ISA, but not the CPU core designs. Apple designs their own chips.
I don’t like it either; it’s idiotic. One name, one product, multiple sizes. They don’t sell a “MacBook Pro Pro”, after all.
It'll make sense to you when the internals and screen are higher specced than what's in the iPad Air. Along with the smaller size allowed for by the smaller battery which is itself allowed for by the less power-hungry internals, specs are what differentiate the Macbook Air and Pro lines. I foresee a larger, widescreen 4K display powered by the A7X (or maybe the A8 though they tend to release A[n+1] with new iPhones) and a much larger battery to support the chip and display.
Comments
I will never buy an ARM based MBA. I would gladly pay $2K to $3K for a new OSX (with BootCamp) MBA with a retina display but have absolutely no use for anything that runs on an ARM based processor.
The two paradigms of OS X and iOS do not mix; they are meant to be kept separate, not combined into a single touch device. I don't understand why it's taking people so long to understand this. OS X = traditional computer. iOS = tablet. Please don't combine them.
Meanwhile, someone out there is inventing (or has invented) a third paradigm.
Tim Cook's not going to do this in 2013 and release one of these confused devices in 2014.
If this ends up like MacBook Air with iPad parts and a better price, I'd be quite interested, particularly if it runs OS X. But I doubt I would go for a UI devoid of a keyboard and heavily dependent on a touch-screen. I type a lot, so a keyboard is a must and touch screens are too slow and clumsy for something sitting on a desk.
If I'm going to lug around something that's 12-inches across, I'll stick with a laptop. As Microsoft failed to notice, touch UIs are a compromise. They only make sense when the gadget is small and there's no desk around.
There's the problem right there. Portability.
I believe that we are at least 5 years away from fixing that problem.
That's Steve Jobs, not Tim Cook.
Tim Cook's not going to do this in 2013 and release one of these confused devices in 2014.
(Devil's advocate time) Unless he throws up a slide showing a nice straight arrow, then unveils his answer to the confused mess that Windows 8 hybrids are.
[post]
What’s your point?
Steve Jobs on refrigerators:
“Why are you bothering me about refrigerators? We’re a computer company. We don’t make them.”
Steve Jobs on cars:
“I like Mercedes-Benz, but we’re not going to make our own. I’m getting a little uncomfortable here.”
Steve Jobs on construction equipment:
“Look, just get out of my house. How did you even get in here?!”
Didn’t he then immediately do that by showing the iPad?
Anyway, the only way I'd see this working is if it switched to touch mode when undocked, and regular desktop/mouse mode when docked, but that would be a mess mostly likely.
So a slower, less-featured MacBook Air?
Do they? They made an iPad too small to be used. A larger one would just be making up for that at this point.
If Apple released a laptop based on iOS it would obviously not be a less-featured MacBook Air. It would just be another option for people who don't want to pay $1,000 for a laptop, prefer an attached keyboard, and don't want to buy a cheap Chromebook or crappy Windows machine. Users needing more would be pushed to the 13" MacBook Pro. The question is whether or not Apple wants to compete in this area. Also, I am not sure calling it an iPad Pro would be a good marketing name, but it seems like that is the obvious choice.
I prefer my iPad mini to my full-sized iPad. I don't think it is too small at all.
I don't give a wang about his predictions, but a hybrid will never be done by Apple. Never.
Never say "never."
So a slower, less-featured MacBook Air?
I will never buy an ARM based MBA. I would gladly pay $2K to $3K for a new OSX (with BootCamp) MBA with a retina display but have absolutely no use for anything that runs on an ARM based processor.
There's a substantial market for people who spend most of their time on email and web apps, including students, which is why Google and Samsung brought out Chrome OS and Chromebook, actually Chromebook was the product with the highest growth yoy. If Apple sticks a 64Bit super power-efficient processor in a laptop, not only can they now control processor development that suits their OS on Mobile devices, but on laptops too... iWork cloud is a tell tale web app of what's to come from Apple.
Fair enough. Ok, when they release their hybrid, I think there'll be a doc at the keynote saying to his colleague Jim:
"It's a hybrid Jim, but not as we know it"
If Apple released a laptop based on iOS…
See, that’s never happening, so it’s not what we’re talking about.
It would just be another option for people who don’t want to pay $1,000 for a laptop…
Buy an iPad. Problem solved.
Users needing more would be pushed to the 13" MacBook Pro.
So you’re not fine with paying $999 but you’re fine with Apple removing that option and pushing an even more expensive one.
Also, I am not sure calling it an iPad Pro would be a good marketing name…
I don’t like it either; it’s idiotic. One name, one product, multiple sizes. They don’t sell a “MacBook Pro Pro”, after all.
It would be very useful in a convertible.
There is a lot of hate in the forums with respect to convertibles but there are also infinite ways in which Apple could realize a decent solution. Remember most convertibles have failed for the same reason tablets did before Apple delivered iPad. It is all about implementation.
"chipmaker ARM, which makes the reference designs for Apple's A-series chips. "
ARM does not make the reference designs for the Apple's chips anymore Appleinsider. You guys keep writing that, but it's untrue. They license ARM's ISA, but not the CPU core designs. Apple designs their own chips.
I don’t like it either; it’s idiotic. One name, one product, multiple sizes. They don’t sell a “MacBook Pro Pro”, after all.
It'll make sense to you when the internals and screen are higher specced than what's in the iPad Air. Along with the smaller size allowed for by the smaller battery which is itself allowed for by the less power-hungry internals, specs are what differentiate the Macbook Air and Pro lines. I foresee a larger, widescreen 4K display powered by the A7X (or maybe the A8 though they tend to release A[n+1] with new iPhones) and a much larger battery to support the chip and display.
"chipmaker ARM, which makes the reference designs for Apple's A-series chips. "
I never knew ARM was a chipmaker