“Some think Apple’s next big move will be an iWatch device, while others predict it will be a fully integrated Siri AppleTV,” E. Werner Reschke writes for T-GAAP. “However, Apple’s next growth segment will be launching the iOS Laptop.”
“Once again, Apple will make the obvious spectacular,” Reschke writes. “The iOS laptop will run a clickable version of iOS so that you don’t touch the screen but use a mouse or trackpad. It won’t be a hybrid computer like Surface, where the operating system behaves one way with a keyboard and another without. The iOS laptop will use the same form factor as the 11″ MacBook Air, but instead of running OS X, it will run iOS.”
Reschke writes, “It will start at $799 USD and come with 256GB of SSI storage and 2GB of RAM. The key to the iOS laptop is it will not run on an Intel processor but on a quad-core ARM A-series Apple designed processor. This will mean superior battery life as well as more margin for Apple (as they won’t have to pay the “Intel tax” that other hardware vendors must). Everything loved about the iPad will now be available in a laptop format — which for many, will be significantly more practical.”
Much more in the full article here.
Anyone else think this is the most ridiculous rumor they’ve heard yet? I think we’re more likely to see Apple sell their own keyboard case for the iPad before this comes to pass.
Agreed… not gonna happen.
Sorry Reschke this is one stupid rumour.
This isn’t that crazy, but the price would be much lower.
Truth is, it’s going to be an arm processor mini. The “Mac micro”. It will run full Mac osx. It will play flash programs(Lynch!). You will hook it up to your HDTV. It will not be touch. It will not run photoshop. It will be great for internet apps (like chromebook). It is the mysterious apple tv, but it will be called a computer. And, it will be cheap.
What’s next?
“Apple will bring out an iPad that runs Apple-TV-OS and will be sold with a remote”
Yes really silly idea, however here’s something that could work and only Apple could create it :-
Without creating a mess like the surface. It’s simple and would sell many tens of millions. It’s a macbook air running OSX with 9.7inch screen. The screen detaches and defaults to iOS for touch ie iPad. In other words a Macbook air and iPad all in one beautiful machine. simple genius, elegant and extremely useful, two operating systems working off one ARM Chip. The real brilliance of this product is that Android could not compete with it as Google don’t have a real desktop OS that could compete, Apple would have a complete monopoly. I would be first in line to buy such a product.
pls dont be first inline with the last word
@Zeph – Yep, it sounds crazy to me, too. But Google recently launched new line of underpowered/always connected laptops running Chrome. Moreover, there’s a chance that Chrome and Android will be merged over the coming year, so the new Google laptop could soon be running Android, as well.
If Apple, like Google, sees underpowered/always connected as a winning combination for the next generation of laptops, then an iOS-based Air could easily serve as Apple’s entry into the segment. It would be an attractive upgrade for an iPad user who doesn’t need to type standing up or read books at the beach.
Yes but Chrome is hardly a desktop operating system in any real sense.
Not . . . gonna . . . happen.
OK. I like this one.
There is nothing we love about iOS that cannot be integrated into OS X on a MacBook Pro, while maintaining the critical hardware distinctiveness. “Battery life” is not an overriding concern.
Agreed. Well said.
I want my Newton!
If anything in that direction is going to happen to the Mac lineup it will be with regard to the processors.
MacBook Airs that run on Apple’s chip architecture, stay cool and sip battery power.
I’m sure comments are already appearing as I type this response. Normally, I would have thought that this was really crazy and the writer must be smoking crack or something. However, he might actually be on to something and if anyone could pull this off successfully, it would be Apple.
In a lot of ways, the naysayers (myself included) would probably say something like “all you need is a Zagg keyboard and an iPad and what’s the difference with the iOS laptop?” (which coincidently I’m using to type this on). But I figure that if Apple did something like this, it would include some type of compelling feature or reason that would cause me to part money and move on to the iOS book or whatever it would be called.
Actually, for my purposes, the only thing the iPad doesn’t let me do is surf to network shares or files. Other than that, I can do anything I want on an iPad. I haven’t taken my Windows laptop home from the office in months and the last few business trips I’ve taken I’ve left the laptop at home, since the iPad and Zagg keyboard do everything I need to do.
But as Apple has proven in the past, they can show us a reason to use something like this that we never even knew we needed – hence why I think the writer might be guessing in the right direction (or smoking something LOL)
netcruizer99
nope… sorry Reschke – this is just not going to happen…
and NO way it would be Apples NEXT BIG THING.
The MacBook Air and other OSX driven machines will soon incorporate iOS functionality YET remain OSX. There is no need for a iPAD with a Keyboard. Specially that one can use Bluetooth and a keyboard already. Or buy a cover that provides the same.
There are strengths in both iOS and OSX that can be shared.
Combining the best of both operating systems and developing a common refined OS might occur. And perhaps this argument might be the reason to let Scott go. Yet we are a few years away from this to happen.
Perhaps Reschke, is confused with a iPAD Pro level – but again to merely add a keyboard goes against all that is iOS and it’s simplicity. I would imagine a refined OSX running on the internals of a MacBook Air yet functioning more like a iPad.
At first I was thinking, “why not – certainly a better product than Surface”, but I think you are right about the Air essentially already being a better incarnation of this product.
Just because something can be done, that does not mean it should be done.
Come to think of it that may be the single most violated rule in the world!
$500 or less, A series CPU and a normal hard drive
only thing i use my macbook is to store photos. i need a large hard drive for that. SSD is too much
Give me a regular ol’ iPad with an A7 quad core and 2GB of RAM over that. Who the hell wants a non-touchscreen iPad with a keyboard?
well said
Arm based osx ?
We all hunger for file management and true multitasking. Phisical keyboard and battery life would be a plus. The best of OSX and iOS would be sweet. Maybe OSX 10.9 will be called Lynx because it links the best of the two OSs?
That’s what I was thinking. Run real a real desktop OS on an ultra efficient ARM. The author almost had it right. The only thing right is “as they won’t have to pay the “Intel tax” that other hardware vendors must”.
good point
E. Werner Reschke.
…
This is one of many “writers” you should always ignore because of this article. I’m going to make a list, starting with this guy, titled “crackpots” so I don’t mistakenly take anything he says as intelligent or smart.
Yeah he’s officially “FM Pro’d”
This guy is a f***tard.
For $200 I’m going to sacrifice full OS X on a MacBook Air ($999) for an iOS MacBook ($799)?
His IQ must number in the low single digits.
Yes, because that strategy is working sooooo well for Microsoft.
Why would Apple want to produce a Surface RT?
“clickable iOS” = worst of both worlds
What’s the point of an ios macbook when you have the fully functional macbook air?
Exactly, but Apple is a hardware company, the software is just the icing that makes it so delicious. So to position an “iOS MacBook”, it’s primary intention would be to sell more hardware. That said, I think this idea is lame.
i agree to some degree.
Yet I will say it like this.
Apple is a SOFTWARE company who CONTROLS the production of its HARDWARE to seamlessly work as ONE.
The combination of the two OSes will occur. As it has already taken place to some extent. As ARM processors increase in speed and number of cores and the length of battery life improve – YES Apple most definitely will INNOVATE towards those advancements… always making a SIMPLE to use machine or device with grace and elegance – style and flare.
But to slap on a keyboard to a iPad and call this the next best thing. Hell no.
$1000 for a 13″ MBA
lots of people like me only need a laptop to store photos and do some simple things. i use my iphone and ipad for most things these days
Google ChromeBook is basically
a Internet browsing hardware device
at the price of a MacBook Air?
Google is nutz – obviously.
Lets Hope Apple will not fallow this idea of Reschke.
ARM based OS X makes more sense to me as well Mark
I actually think this will happen eventually, because I think iOS will become the “base OS” for ALL Apple computing devices.
HOWEVER, it will have an INTERFACE that is designed for Mac, which will mostly resemble the current Mac OS with the usual “evolutionary” changes that occur over time. It will NOT be a “clickable version of iOS so that you don’t touch the screen.” NEVER
This is already happening:
iPhone uses iOS with an interface optimized for a small touchscreen with voice-based interaction (Siri)
iPad uses iOS with an interface optimized for a larger (but still mobile) touchscreen
Apple TV uses iOS with an interface designed for a simple remote control and a screen that is on the other side of the room.
So, is it a stretch to say that, at some point, Macs will run a future iOS as the base OS, with an interface optimized for keyboard and mouse/trackpad interaction? An interface that mostly looks and feels like today’s Mac OS… 🙂
OS X and iOS will always co-exist. They are very different beasts when it comes to getting work done.
YES they will, as difference interfaces because Macs and iPhone/iPad are fundamentally different. However, at some point, I think the base OS (beneath the interface) will become “consolidated” for Apple’s computing devices.
Yes fundamentally the two OSes can and most likely remain separate – but through beautiful interface design – Apple can create a user experience that seems closely the same. Merging or combining the best of both would only benefit the USER. A goal Apple has already STATED to be on course.
The base OS’ deep beneath the interface are already the same.
Bad BAD idea. Strip down OSX if you want a “lite” Macbook OS, or add a touchscreen for an “enhanced” Macbook iOS (essentially, integrating a keyboard with an iPad), but do not make an iOS Macbook that forces people to use a point-and-click device, not even a multitouch trackpad.
All the complaints about a larger iPhone fragmenting iOS and forcing developers to support more features, are nothing compared to having to include support for an entirely new set of user input.
BRAVO mossman
IF this is true, I can see success for this product.
People would buy it for iOS app compatibility and battery autonomy.
However, IF this starting price is true… for 200USD more, one has access to a Macbook Air with a more powerful OS…
Even so, people said similar things when the iPod mini was announced.
Do these analysts awaken in the morning to monkeys flying out of their asses and just make crap up?
It will come.
Imagine the space required for the current generation of iPads. Take this and add a more powerful A series and increased air flow / space for the processors. Now shift the batteries behind the keyboard and least double the battery capacity. It would create a market for the App Store and lower the cost of both the iPad and Laptop computers while maintaining current margins.
Perfect for schools as both devices could deliver same content, allow format choice, and tie into those data center for iWorks Pro to directly take on Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Allowing programs to operate without the required Word format to submit to the teacher.
Adding increased operation time to a complete day, adding all the advantages of the App Store , education build currently available, price, and parts volume.
Could be a great idea.
I too believe this will eventually happen.
However, I want this to go the other way.
OSX in a tablet.
Nope that won’t work, however as I’ve said before, there is a solution that could work, without creating a mess like the surface. It’s simple and would sell many tens of millions. It’s a macbook air running OSX with 9.7inch screen. The screen detaches and defaults to iOS for touch ie iPad. In other words a Macbook air and iPad all in one beautiful machine. simple genius, elegant and extremely useful. The real brilliance of this product is that Android could not compete with it as Google don’t have a real desktop OS that could compete, Apple would have a complete monopoly. I would be first in line to buy such a product.
The iwatch will act as an mouse to control the computer . Apple will reinvent the ways to use the computer .
I would like a $700 aluminum eMate with retina, iOS/OSX hybrid that networks and stores files, with keyboard, trackpad, and touchscreen.
Wow. Just wow. The iPad was the netbook killer. So now Apple will introduce a netbook after they killed of that market? Not sure that would make any sense.