“Is Apple planning some variation of a 2-in-1 device that would combine the iPad with a detachable keyboard?” Matt Hamblen reports for Computerworld. “If Apple did so, it would be keeping with a growing industry trend, analysts said. Apple wouldn’t comment on this story, but that hasn’t kept people from speculating.”
“Of course, the iPad already works with various Bluetooth keyboards, including Apple’s own and those from some third-party manufacturers. There are also various covers that can double as a way to prop up the tablet,” Hamblen reports. “But some analysts see a need for Apple to further integrate the keyboard with the iPad, perhaps even allowing the keyboard to attach to the iPad in some manner, magnetic or otherwise — and probably not permanently. The setup would likely include other integrated features that could include a keyboard that doubles as a cover/case.”
“Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, believes some kind of 2-in-1 will eventually come from Apple,” Hamblen reports. “Apple was reported to have developed a prototype internally of a large tablet, Moorhead said. ‘A large tablet would need some kind of stand for it to sit on, maybe even a keyboard, which you could technically call a 2-in-1,’ he said. ‘I think they will eventually productize one, as I believe a product category exists between a MacBook and an iPad.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The only 2-in-1 device that’d interest us to some degree would be a device that allows for the choice of running OS X or iOS, regardless of whether it was attached to a keyboard or not. By default, when “docked” to the keyboard, it would be a MacBook and when “undocked,” it would be an iPad, but there would certainly be a desire to use the keyboard with the iPad, so… That’s right, it’s a toaster-fridge; an un-Apple-like kludge.
Anything can be forced to converge, but the problem is that the products are about tradeoffs, you begin to make tradeoffs to the point that what you have left at the end of the day doesn’t please anyone. You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but you know those things are not going to be probably be pleasing to the user… I also believe that there is a very good market for the MacBook Air. And we continue to innovate in that product. But I do think that it appeals to someone who has a little bit different requirements. And you wouldn’t want to put these things together because you wind up compromising both and not pleasing the user. Some people will prefer to own both, and that’s great there. But I think to make the compromises of convergence, we’re not going to that party. Others might. Others might from a defensive point of view, particularly. We’re going to play in both. — Apple CEO Tim Cook, April 22, 2014
It needs to be light enough as a table to carry and use — not an easy task.
That said, everything else is in place for this:
1) Inductive charging: don’t need it to actually dock connect.
2) a big brain to move those pixels: the 5K iMac
3) continuity
4) bluetooth for keyboard and mouse.
Given the above, you can basically call it just a stand for the iPad. Set it in the stand and it inductively charges. Use the bluetooth keyboard and mouse on your desktop. Pick it up and walk away with it as an iPad.
I don’t know which city in Krypton you’re from, but for everyone on Earth “tables” are pretty heavy. :p
Lol. Meant to type “tablet”
Thank god for that I was seriously beginning to think you were proposing a mobile big ass table.
Leave that for Microsoft
… Otherwise known as a MacPad Pro, running a full version of OSX when keyboard attached and becoming an iPad running iOS when decoupled, with Continuity providing the seamless usage bridge between the devices!
careful though: look what happened to MS Surface when they tried to shoehorn in a desktop OS into a mobile touch tablet.
We have seen some convergent features between OS X and iOS, but having dual-boot or whatever leads down the wrong road
If a MacPad Pro gets released by Apple inc., it will work right out of the gate, unlike any Microsoft ‘stuff’!!
The solution would be different UI’s for when the keyboard is attached vs when it is not. iPad UI when disconnected, standard Mac OS when connected. The keyboard should have additional battery, and touch controls should also work in both scenarios. The data should be fluently transitioned between desktop and tablet apps, when developers have added support to that form of handoff. I am sure iOS 9 and OS X 10.11 will also add a lot more usefulness to a device of this type, if the rumors are indeed true.
OSX would have to be useable, otherwise no interest at all for me.
Have been begging for a hybrid, adaptive dual os device from Apple for quite a while now…. Hope it materilizes…..
The new macbook proves it can be done and it will be sweet, sexy and practical .
i always use the split screen keyboard with my thumbs and never think of needing anything else
“it would be keeping with a growing industry trend,”
Really? ANALysts? don’t you people get tired of being so freaking wrong? I mean, you guys don’t miss in a small way, you miss the whole planet if you try to hit ir with a racket.
Apple WON’T be keeping with the industry, is the rest of the industry who ARE TRYING TO KEEP WITH APPLE.
I guess that is why you are called ANALysts, because you people thing with the butt.
I would just love a mouse for graphic work..
Stick an IOS chip set in the new 12 Retina.
No need to touch the screen. Use the trackpad
as remote screen. Best of both worlds.
What industry trend? Creative writing 101. His latest submission.
Detachable anything doesn’t sound like something Apple would design.
Perhaps they could add a kickstand that would pop out of the back of the iPad? What a crock. If you want a laptop, use one. If you want the convenience of a tablet use that. We don’t need a bastardized iPad Pro with detachable keyboard, kickstand and electric toothbrush.
The great thing I see about a device of this type is that the keyboard should be more solid and act as a docking station, rather than what Microsoft did and have a third separate docking station and a flimsy crap keyboard. Imagine being able to use the device as a laptop at your desk, then instead of leaving the laptop and grabbing your iPad to head for the couch, you just detach the display portion and boom. One device to rule them all.
thinking out loud here… (metaphorically at least)
What if there was an app on the new MacBook that would open and enable the touch screen capabilities of emulated iOS of the iPad and you could minimize that “window” and use the OS X natively?
Not shoehorned, just incorporated?
Maybe it will have a Kickstand so I can dance around and make it click!