“Our friend Harry McCracken wrote in his CNET column yesterday about why he believes the world needs an iOS laptop,” Ben Bajarin writes for Tech.pinions. “James Kendrick of ZNET shared his thoughts on Harry’s article pointing out that it is a good idea but that he doesn’t think it will happen anytime soon.”
“Both Harry and James have formed opinions on this matter largely because of the latest ZAGGfolio for iPad 2,” Bajarin writes. “As a part of our own research, we have been using this case as well for sometime and have been bringing this solution up in our conversations with industry executives.”
Advertisement: ZAGGfolio for iPad 2. An impressively thin multi-function iPad 2 keyboard case. Just $99.99.
Bajarin writes, “Our opinion is that the limitations of touch computing in terms of text entry, formatting, etc are largely offset with the combination of a keyboard. That being said there are still significant challenges with this approach which need to be addressed… Obviously, I would love to see what Apple could do in this area of a iOS/Laptop combo. However, they are also smart enough to be aware of some of the challenges that remain in order to make a device in this category that does not feel cheap, or present a sub-par user experience. For now, personally, I would accept being able to run iOS apps on my Macbook Air.”
Read more in the full article here.
Great idea!
ITS a bad IDEA — it would be like — APPLE deciding a KEYBOARD on the iPhone is needed. Rather backwards thinking.
NO – but, take there form and function of the successful iPAD and change the MacBookAir to a LION running TABLET… that makes more of an appealing DIRECTION and a LOGICAL CHOICE.
Only problem there is that Mac OS X isn’t built for tablets. iOS, however, is.
For many reasons, a notebook form is a terrible idea. Why attempt to mate a pig with a sleek chetah?
I own several Mac laptops and an iPad 2. I do not own the air. But, IMHO, it has the makings of the perfect form factor. If, like the early PC tablets, you could turn the screen around to use it like a tablet and then flip the screen to the other side and use a kewboard, it would be a major step in the right direct. I know Apple does not control the developers. But, if there was one platform, it would make it a much better user experience…again IMHO.
The issue I am having with Apple is two different operating systems. I use several programs that are available on Lion and iOS. But, it is annoying to have variances in the same programs that operate on the two platforms. I am not talking about minor issues. The changes are significant and counter productive. Having one OS for both platforms would be perfect.
Apple has been very careful not to midgitize it’s keyboards – which is crucial for anyone serious about working on their device. All these gadget makers are understandabley shrinking the keyboards to match the iPad’s dimensions. Pairing an all-in-one case/keyboard with an iPad is all in the name of “productivity”. I’d rather use “Origami” and my full size apple BT keyboard for real world, non-tiny-fingers, “productivity”.
It seems like a good idea until you use these undersized, production inhibiting, keyboards.
I have the Zagg keyboard. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I spend more time trying to correct typos on it than I spend typing. And I can type 150
WAM on a conventional keyboard.
So….why not just stick with the iPad and keyboard-case combo? I guess all Apple would need to do to officially address this demand (if there is one) is produce their own integrated keyboard-case accessory, a la Smartcovers…
There is less demand for the WONDERFUL MacBookAir… yet before dumping the product entirely – the decision to transformation the appearance into a tablet form prove to be the a better CHOICE. — just MHO
Exactly. Not sure why Apple would want a separate product when this can already be done. Third party vendors are all over this idea already. It seems to be a niche market at the moment.
So I don’t see any reason that Apple would waste the resources to design or produce an iOS laptop.
I had the thought of the iPad as a dockable screen, and a MBA (sans screen) as the docking station. Dock the iPad, it becomes the screen for the MBA. Undock it, it works as a regular iPad. You could even us the home button to switch between views and allow the use if the keyboard for the iPad apps.
Wow, great idea! I bet other companies like Asus would be interested too. Oh, wait. . . I forgot that they are already on the second generation of your idea with the Transformer Prime.
Dumb idea, use the iPad with BT keyboard .
YES that is a nice idea – I actually thought of that also – and I am sure APPLE has too – BEFORE iPAD was official – I imagined and stated here — a iSLATE – bring the tablet closer to a MAC and it is a virtual KEYBOARD files transfer wirelessly… walk away and it is a huge iPhone… iOS functioning as its own – -but NOT a docking of the old days NO cables… SICNCE then other software sort of has evolved to make this some what a reality with the IPAD… VNC from yr IPAD to PC or MAC.
I own the Zagg keyboard, and I love it. I also own an MBA, and the two are very different animals. I don’t see the problem of Apple letting third party vendors like Zagg cover this territory. If you want iOS with a keyboard, then go get a Zagg keyboard!
the APPLE Bluetooth wireless KEYBOARD already sync to the IPAD to use… what the NEWS here?
If with iOS is meant that there is no file system, then this isn’t going to fly! I do enjoy the iPad and feel hardly restricted by the sandboxed approach, but for a laptop the idea is just plain horrifying.
Maybe some people equate an ARM processor with iOS, but there is absolutely no relation.
As long as my already purchased Mac Apps are available as fat applications, or in an ARM version, everything is fine, but it should be MacOSX.
It is going to fly and it is what’s going to happen.. look at the developer support for both platforms. It’s obvious. Cars and Trucks.
Consumer PCs (iMac/Macbook) should run iOS and Pro PCs (Macbook Pro/Mac Pro) should run OS X. Eventually OS X will be a very small part of Apple’s business.
Apple already solved the filesystem issue with iCloud. For Pro users Mac OS X will be available.
Anyone remember the Newton eMate?
Yes. A clamshell format Newton w/ keyboard. In particular, Apple intended them for the education market.
Top of my head, did not need to look that up.
I’m too much of an Apple geek I guess.
disagree
As a long time (1988) Mac user and iOS developer:
Love iOS in its place, but Macs and iOS devices are used in different ways. Because of that, the tools need to be different. Pure iOS users have a very different set of needs. Simpler is appropriate for them ( I AM ONE, thats why I know)
I could go into it in great detail, but the discussions on Macintouch are far more in depth.
Many of the iOS “features”that are migrated over to Lion are causing some large productivity issues for those of us who use many heavy duty apps on a consistent basis.
I am adapting, but Lion has caused me to be much more careful about being very disciplined when I organize my projects because there is now a conceptual layer of “the computer will do it for you, you don’t need to know” organization that has to be taken into account. I will admit that having to pay much more attention to the organization is probably a good thing, but it definitely takes more time to produce projects that are multi-app/multi document/multi format types. Like ALL OF THEM.
I will adapt, there is no true alternative. Macuser since 1988 and not going anywhere, but the transition to Lion could have been easier and more completely explained.
And no, I will not go into detail, many others and myself have already discussed it in detail on the other site.
i agree with you — development is done in OSX – creating games, production of art, writing a book – ALL CREATED with the more powerful desktop or portable powerbook USING the more powerful OSX… not in iOS.
Yes LION has many tiny issues for me also… many things I am extremely annoyed with – BUT the good things FAR OUT weight the bad other things.
I DO NOT AGREE —
I see a notebook or MacBookAir – transforming into a TABLET more likely to happen.
Bridging the changes in OSX seen in LION and unifying the USER experience to be the reason.
Furthermore, the parts and assembly of a TABLET is more simplified and unified in that form factor then a iOS notebook… and would be believed to appear as APPLE abandoning OSX over iOS – no way. OSX came first — iOS is the the offspring AND so the MacBook Air — is most likely the FIRST product to take this step. Component wise and functionality wise – and decrease sells POINT to the transformation as i am suggesting.
NOT to forget, APPLE has this great opportunity here show all other tablet producers HOW A TABLET should be done. iPAD suits a great mass of consumers and full fills the main users… a MacBookAIr that is more in the from factor as the iPAD is will provide a serious Tablet to powerful users. IS there this need? We will see if APPLE thinks so.
Just like transition from os9 to osX we will see iOS merge with osX eventually 🙂
Not sure you agree or understand what i have said – but YES i see your point… and cool dude.
The article suggests that a notebook running iOS is an appealing idea… I DO NOT AGREE with that…
I THINK a laptop (MBA specifically) — to still run LION — but — to take on the appearance of the iPAD — is more likely to happen.
@Waterlily — Is that you, Zune Tang? Why aren’t you making comments under your real name? It’s been a long time since you went undercover, but this post of yours is a clear give-away, even though you’re not talking about the MAC, but rather about LION, APPLE, iPAD and the like.
Different device and purpose, different OS. I don’t want a computer that I can’t accfess the file system in a traditional way. I don’t want an iOS device that exposes the file system.
excellent point – for most people – old and young – the iPAD is a wonderful computer. PRICED right and powerful enough to DO MOST things MOST do daily.
– browser
– listen music
– games
– simple apps
SIMPLE to USE and SIMPLE to UNDERSTAND – RELIABLE and PORTABLE
PEOPLE love iPAD…
can people love a MacBookAir Tablet which runs LION?
I THINK SO and I think it makes sense.
The iPad needs native mouse support more than it needs an integrated keyboard. We already have the on-screen one, and there are tons of keyboard clamshell/case types out there to satisfy the current setups already.
If the original iPad had native mouse support, I probably would have never gotten a MacBook Air, and I would have been using my iPad in a remote desktop fashion for the most part.
Interesting. My son owns a MBPro that he uses for higher end computing, mostly Autocad, Photoshop. He can, of course, use it for basic word processing, email, and web surfing.
He picked up a 10″ android tablet for Christmas as a toy, so for fun, I bought him the add on keyboard.
He now spends 80% of his time on the Android tablet cause it is lighter, has lots of fun new (and often free) Apps, and does what he needs for casual computing. I feel certain he would have done the same thing had it been and iPad…
Just something to think about….
And you haven’t disowned him?
/jk
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,
2 iPads + 1 hinge = the Ultimate MacBook Air.
INTERESTING — when did you say this?
I like the idea – but how does a iPAD DS make for a BETTER machine?
I SAID IT BEFORE and I WILL SAY IT AGAIN — MacBookAir running LION but its form factor a TABLET — a OSX iPAD Pro call it what you may – it makes more sense then a notebook running iOS… the iPAD slaughtered the notebook division.
Agreed. Easiest thing in the world. Two iPads, joined by a clamshell hinge. Whichever one is at the bottom runs a keyboard app that takes over that entire iPad. Flip it and the other one becomes the keyboard. Change keyboard layout? Done. Special keyboard for game-playing? Done, and all in software.
Turn the whole thing through 90 degrees and it becomes a book a la MS Courier (RIP)
Problems? You don’t really want to charge the two halves separately, so some sort of battery-sharing would have to be worked out. Only one of the two iPads really needs to have a wifi connection.And the current iPads are a bit too heavy to join two of them.
But those are just engineering problems that can be worked out.
Hi Apple, this post constitutes prior art. But I can be bought out. A Million in USD should do it …
blah blah
i always prove you cristine and you got no proof
Own the latest Zagg case (Black) for the iPad 2 and am not impressed. It’s overpriced, cheaply made and will probably end up giving it away.
I would dearly love an Apple Mac OX tablet enhanced for for a touch interface as opposed to an iOS tablet- which is a nice toy, but not a serious computer.
What a brilliant idea…. Oh wait.. When SteveJobs introduced OS X Lion, every writer in the Western World predicted this. Moving on..