Christina WarrenMay 9, 2024
The problem with the iPad as as many have pointed out is that the software hampers what it can do unless you’re willing to contort yourself into a very specific workflow. For most casual users those limitations aren’t an issue and the advantages of the form factor outweigh the deficits. But when you charge MBPro money for a device the trade-offs sting. As @jsnell says, the best solution would be to just let us virtualize macOS on an iPad Pro when using it in certain modes https://sixcolors.com/post/2024/05/the-ipad-pro-is-no-longer-the-future-so-whats-next/
The iPad Pro is no longer the future, so what’s next?

iPad Pro and keyboard, circa its October 2018 announcement. It’s hard to believe that it was more than five and a half years ago that I flew home from a New York Apple event, my mind spinning…

Six Colors
Show threadJack WellbornMay 9, 2024

@film_girl @jsnell Two questions:

1. Are windows still the best solution for multi-app productivity?
2. Is it possible to have windows on an 11” screen without sacrificing touchability?

Maybe someone will still figure it out, but I think the past decade tells us the answer is “yes" to 1 and “no” to 2.

Virtualized macOS forfeits question 2, but it would be a distinct mode where touchability isn’t expected. I would also love to see iPadOS support large screens with uninhibited window support.

Show threadJason Snell

@jackwellborn @film_girl This is why I'm advocating for a Mac mode that only works on high-end hardware with keyboard and trackpad attached.

Also, I don't know about uninhibited but iPadOS does support external displays with multiple windows on them decently now.

May 9, 2024 at 5:37pmWeb
Show threadJonathan DechkoMay 9, 2024

@jsnell @jackwellborn @film_girl I’m mostly fine with this. M-series iPads already get certain features.

I already use Remote Desktop on my iPad, so even without a hardware keyboard and pointer input would be passable for some scenarios.

macOS on iPad is an escape valve for workflows that fit in to iPadOS. It doesn’t have to be perfect, as long as it can fill in some of the gaps.