As a technology journalist working for a major tech magazine, we have been tasked with exploring the possibility of Apple ditching the iPad Pro and adding its features to the MacBook, thereby creating a convertible touch-screen MacBook that could run iPad apps. Do we ask whether the iPad Pro has muddied the difference between the Mac and iPad Pro?
This article will provide expert feedback on this question and analyze why Apple should consider improving the Mac by adding iPad Pro features.
Expert Feedback
Ashu Bhoot, with Orion Networks Solutions in Washington DC, believes that there are just different use cases for an iPad user vs. a Mac user and that companies that have tried to blur the line between the two have had mixed results at best or failed miserably at the worst. Bhoot would rather have his iPad run macOS than the other way around but acknowledges that this is subjective and that he is focused more on the flexibility/usability that the iPad offers than the versatility/durability that the Mac offers.
Jeremy Kushner with BACS Consulting Group notes that although MacBooks is the better seller to their customer base, the need for iPads in point-of-sale type applications and client care, for example, in the healthcare and aesthetics market, require discrete tools. Kushner suggests that a two-in-one hardware iteration could work but that they have not seen massive adoption of two-in-one hardware in general, so this would likely have limited appeal.
Aaron Kane with MacHero, on the other hand, disagrees with the premise of the question, stating that the MacBook and iPad may share similar functions related to the operating system, but are vastly different devices with their unique use cases. The MacBook is a fantastic office/WFH device, whereas the iPad Pro is highly portable and is easy to open during lunch meetings for notes or to reply to an urgent email. According to Kane, these are two distinctly different devices with unique use cases and are here to stay in the lanes they were intended for. Click here to learn more about Kane’s services.
Our Analysis
While it is true that the iPad Pro and MacBook serve different use cases, we believe that the distinction between the two is becoming increasingly blurred. With the iPad Pro’s more powerful hardware and the addition of features such as trackpad support and the Magic Keyboard, it is clear that Apple is positioning the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement.
However, we also believe that the MacBook could be amazing if Apple were to add iPad Pro features to it. For example, a convertible touch-screen MacBook that could run iPad apps would be a game-changer, providing the best of both worlds regarding productivity and portability.
Furthermore, we believe that Apple could unify the laptop/tablet marketplace by creating a two-in-one hardware iteration that caters to the needs of both iPad and MacBook users. While it is true that two-in-one hardware has not seen huge adoption, Apple has a history of being a game-changer, and we believe that they can create a product that would revolutionize the industry.
In terms of whether the iPad Pro has muddied the difference between the Mac and iPad Pro, we believe that it has. With the addition of features such as trackpad support and the Magic Keyboard, the iPad Pro is blurring the lines between tablet and laptop. It is positioning itself as a viable alternative to the MacBook.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while it is true that the iPad Pro and MacBook serve different use cases, we believe that the distinction between the two is becoming increasingly blurred. Apple can create a two-in-one hardware iteration that caters to the needs of both iPad and MacBook users, providing the best of both worlds in terms of productivity
and portability. By creating a convertible touch-screen MacBook that could run iPad apps, Apple could offer a game-changing product to revolutionize the industry and provide users with the ultimate productivity tool.
While there are valid arguments against such a move, we believe that Apple’s focus on user interface and design means they can create a product that would appeal to both iPad and MacBook users. By unifying the laptop/tablet marketplace, Apple could offer a product greater than the sum of its parts and cement its position as a game-changer in the technology industry.
In summary, we believe that Apple should consider ditching the iPad Pro and adding its features to the MacBook, thereby creating a convertible touch-screen MacBook that could run iPad apps. While there are valid arguments against such a move, we believe that Apple can create a product that would revolutionize the industry and provide users with the ultimate productivity tool. By unifying the laptop/tablet marketplace, Apple could offer a product more significant than the sum of its parts and cement its position as a game-changer in the technology industry.