“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