iPad Could Dominate the Mac With this One Change | CNET | One More Thing

What's a computer?

Apple - we will sell you both devices…

The macOS is still far from iPadOS though there are features that comes from macOS. And even in the future updates iPadOS will be still separated from macOS. However, Apple can make the iPadOS behave more like a macOS if they replace the base OS from iOS to macOS even if they still separate it.

This is quiet example of how money grubbing Apple truly is. Apple is no one's friend, they just want your money, that's how they become the most valued company in the world. Apple gets to control everything that goes into the iOs App Store, EVERYTHING, and Apple gets a 30% profit on every app in the store. On the iMac, Mac Pro, Macbook/Pro etc - you can download free programs, old programs, programs that Apple has zero control over. The "touch interface" is not the reason OSX & iOS were treated differently, its because the iPhone/iPad apps are in a completely closed system and the traditional computers aren't. Apple just wants to control the ecosystem more than it already does - this flies in the face of issues like "Right to Repair" or iOs Updates slowing your phone, unrepairable parts forcing you to buy a new unit, unreplaceable batteries forcing you to buy a new unit. Airpods purposely have a battery that will start to fail after less than 24 month$$$. If Apple maks more of their products closed like iOs -it is just about control, taking 30% from EVERY app developer (that % can go up whenerver they want), an update can kill an app off unknowingly - it's the type of business practices we hate to see Adobe do, far more 1984's Big Brother than should be comfortable.

I’ll upgrade to iOS 26 but I don’t see myself upgrading my iPad Air anytime soon, not for another Apple product anyway

Nope. I had two iPads in the past, one mini and one pro. They never went close to replace my audio and music production work at all. Besides, they are very susceptible to fall in outdated zone too quick. If iPads are going to replace MacBooks, is not going to be any soon.

just use a windows laptop with touch screen, geeze

It only took Apple like years to do this when yeah yeah Android has always had these stuff especially Samsung Dex
but Android's downfall is the same as Apple no Mac/Windows dedicated software for their devices hence its hard to leave a Macbook/Windows laptop for work

I really don’t understand this argument of turning the iPad into a Mac if you want a Mac buy a Mac they already exist. These Mac-like changes are just ruining the experience of using an iPad and I actually don’t believe that anybody who actually enjoys using an iPad wants it to become more like a Mac.

I have never heard such tail-chasing blathering. If you want the computing experience, buy a Mac. If you want a touchscreen without the phone, get an iPad. Take some responsibility and don't blame Apple.

And if you're not irked enough by my comment, let me just say if you want to get any real work done, get a Mac and a decent-size display. The cause of most of this blather is that people want the Mercedes experience for the price of a Ford Fiesta.

yes!!! why can’t they just save money and work by just having iPads run on mac OS. they have such a great processor, it’s such a waste… but of course they just want us to purchase multiple products and $$$$. it’s so annoying. i love my ipad but for the love of god it’s so annoying to do try to do real heavy lifting with it because of this dumb formatting. grrrrrr id love to just carry around just my iPad. but nope i just can’t

iPad will NOT totally replace Mac.

M chips in iPad are not as powerful as those in Mac, MacBook, Mac Mini or whatever may come.

iPad is a close case so it’s thermally limiting on the performance of M chips vs in Macs.

So those that need the true prowess potential of M chips will still use Mac not iPad as their true workhorse.

Therefore the cannibalisation of Mac will be not as bad.

HOWEVER the mani development is not with Mac sale number but that for Windows pc and Android tablets.

iPad outsells all other tablets combined.

This means many Windows pc users have iPad. Many are only casual users of pc. They have a cheap or old Windows pc as a backup.

With the new era of iPadOS that include many macOS features and functionalities, casual pc users do not need a pc anymore.

That is, many will not upgrade or replace their Windows pc from now. They just use their macOS features as their backup pc as it were on iPad.

That is the sale for cheap snd sims mid priced Windows pc models will greatly suffer.

The while pc industry will be affected by this snd not just some will not buy a Mac anymore. The biggest casualty will be in the Windows pc segment.

Indeed Android table segment will also be in trouble. MacOS functionality will attract more from Android tablet to iPad.

Android over time will be more a phone OS. Tablet for Android will be an even smaller market. It means fewer apps and update for apps for Android tablets. This is a potential crisis for Android tablet as a whole.

Apple will limit M chip capabilities for iPads. Its thermal limit will remain the obstacle for iPad to replace MacBook Air in full.

Windows pc market will see the major dramatic transformation due to this new era of iPad and iPadOS. Android tablets are now even more precarious for their makers and app developers.

They are never going to turn it into a Mac it's for touch. They want to keep it touch and eventually it will take over the Mac. They said the goal for the phone and iPad was to be a single sheet of glass and be a full computer for all you need. The iPad now with these updates can do all and more than a Mac. You can touch, apple pencil, cameras, filming, lidar, run pro apps, edit, use all apps and now navigate multiple windows, connect to a monitor, add additional microphone input output, and ...everything online for work purposes can be done with the iPad. I think its surpassed the Mac honestly and never will get Mac OS they will just pass it by with improvements to iPad os. Additional thunderbolt input will be added to the keyboard along with HDMI and Micro SD. Just give it a little time they want to run the sales of MacBooks as much as possible.

I feel with OS 26 maybe the 13" iPad can replace macbook air

I can actually get all my work done with an iPad just about. These software companies need to make dual versions of programs and apps - one for Mac and one for iPad.
I think its great iPadOS will have a more desktop like feel. Itll be like Samsung DEX. Again, only think holding DEX back is Samsung and apps not being available for both the desktop and mobile devices. They do one or the other type thing.

just have an switch icon like a light switch and when you tap it asks weather you want mac or ios, or when you turn it off and back on it asks you which one you want to boot. This man is smart I love his idea.

For all of Apple’s design muscle, it still takes them a decade to catch up to what users asked for years ago.

Mac in ipad like form factor and touch experience would be best thing. it would be good if people can use ipad like Mac and use different applications

If an iPad can be a Mac, then how useful a Mac would be? iPad will never be a computer. I think it’s time reviewers stop expecting that. The reality is the vast majority of people use iPad for iPad things and Mac for Mac things and phone for phone things. Apple knows it. And they will
Keep it like that.

I remember Steve Jobs used to say "People don't know what they want until you show them" and i think if Apple showed MacOS on an iPad, people would quickly realize that it's just a really awkward Mac. The whole point of iPad is to focus with intuitive touch(don't overthink it). Apple should build its capabilities on that instead of turning it into some hybrid all-in-one. Remember Windows 8 ?

PSA: nobody needs an iPad
if u need a laptop buy a MacBook not a touchscreen

Nah, this is the silliest take

".....but with a pencil for doodling!" Agreed, but the way that line was delivered: funny and cute. 😄

After collegi just use an ipad n pretty satisfied wi th for every task i need.

100% agree. Giving iPad Pros docked to keyboard a button to change to macOS is the only way to make it a truly pro machine. The updates to iPadOS are welcome, but don’t fix the app problem, ie that Photoshop, Lightroom, FCP etc aren’t capable.

Would prefer two devices though. Ipad for basic tasks like reading and watching video, macbook for programming. However economic wise the opposite makes sense

I’m watching this on an iPad 😂

Apple just needs to develop a proper 'Remote Desktop app'; they will sell more Mac Minis without going into total 'product cannibalism.' But to be honest, in an age of AI, the 'all you need is a web browser' ChromeOS philosophy connected to a powerful data center, like a modern version of old Unix mainframe/terminal philosophy, is also compelling where connectivity is ubiquitous.

how do they call that? a MacPad?

Yawn. So tired of listening to this stupid argument. If you love your Mac so much just stick to it. There you go, problem solved.

Dumb pad

I agree. If I had to choose only one, I'd keep my Mac and ditch the iPad. The iPad is not quite a computer and it's not quite a phone. It's artificially limited in its capabilities, not by its hardware, but by its software.

They could easily make the iPad do the things a Mac could do, but why? As is people are buying both. If they make the iPad equal to the Mac, then people wouldn't buy both and they lose revenue.

From Singapore. Yes I will… become more mac 💻

Android kills all ipads

1. It's harder than it looks. Keyboard and mouse navigation is substantially different than touch navigation. Also app developers would need to adapt for a seamless experience. A virtualization (convenience mode) & and dual boot (Performance mode) would be a faster solution.
2. There are already better alternatives than the one offered by apple. Samsung Dex works even on phones, So you, for simple use cases just need one single computing device, your phone. Samsung doesn't fully controls the OS nor rules the dev community, the experience of the apps can be mixed but is more than enough for a great percentage of the public.
3. Instead of restricting uses (I know, I know it's Apple) Tablet developers should create useful incentives to buy both devices as a plus. In this case, you can have a PC/Mac and a tablet companion that works like a Second monitor, a drawing screen tablet when connected to the PC/Mac and a synced portable device when you are on the move (3 in one). This connection being high speed wireless point to point would be a huge plus for not depending of local wifi.

Never owned an iPad. My laptop and phone are fine.

Tablets and smartphones are the greatest bathroom reader ever created.

Creative work is real work as well. Not Everything work related has to do with been stuck in an office of a Media corporation.

Ipad is my favorite device by far…but I dont want it to be a work computer…pointless to me.

I am all for a more capable iPad, but please don’t kill the Mac, the very foundation of Apple

I just want an iPad mini with M chip

iPadOS 26 is a great start.

People want the iPad to transform into a Mac, so the iPad disappears and turns into a MacBook.

Absolutely. I already us it much for speaking engagements

If I had to choose between one or the other, i'll take my MacBook over the iPad in a heartbeat. I forever took my Macbook with me when I traveled. Most times I took the iPad Pro 11" with me in addition. However, this year I upgraded to a 12.9" iPad Pro M4, and decided to see what it would be like to travel and leave the MacBook at home. Honestly, I didn't miss a thing. I could connect external drives to it if needed, access my Plex server at home, stream content.... I'd say as long as you're not trying to do 'serious' work (developing, heavy writing, video editing, etc...) the iPad is fine. But even with iPadOS 26, we're still not in MacBook territory if we're going beyond anything basic or casual. That being said, the current iPads are a great substitute for Macs, depending on an individual's circumstances.

Nope. They will have to take my Mac away from my cold dead fingers.

Apple would solve 90% of my iPad frustration by allowing other browsers - not browser shells like the have now - but a full on Chromium engine underneath. And it would hurt to have arrow keys on the soft keyboard.

MacOS will still be more useful than iPadOS 26. The problem for Apple is there are three operating systems, iPhone OS, iPadOS and MacOS. So you have to learn 3 operation systems. Just give me the option to run MacOS on an iPad. I have all three device. I will not be replacing my iPad Pro (M4). I always grab my MacBook Pro (M1) over my iPad. They are the same weight (with iPad Magic Keyboard). The MacBook just sits better on my lap, that is why it is called a 'laptop".