Ask HN: Why would Apple cannibalize its macOS/Mac ecosystem?

2 points by gazarullz 346 days ago | 5 comments

The improvements bought to the iPad OS announced during the WWDC bring the iPad OS even closer to the Mac OS capabilities set. As a long time Mac OS user I have a hard time why shouldn’t I switch to an iPad with my next device upgrade instead of a Mac. Not sure what Apple is aiming for here given that an iPad is definitely. cheaper than a Mac (eg. an 18GB air).

Any ideas on why would the push the tablets to provide similar capabilities as the macbooks?

metaltyphoon 346 days ago |

iPadOS still a single user OS as of today. I honestly think the moment it can run apps it the same unrestricted manner macOS can then the battery life would take a huge hit.

solardev 346 days ago | |

It's not like the MacBooks have poor battery life? I'd be perfectly happy with an iPad that could run my IDE and execute code, even if it meant a few hours less battery.

metaltyphoon 345 days ago | | |

You are right, however when traveling carrying a MacBook vs an iPad does make a difference, even when it’s MacBook Air.

PaulHoule 346 days ago |

Microsoft was more progressive on this in the Windows 8 era but its customers didn't care. Back then I was going to Hackathons with a $30 Fire tablet and a $5 plastic clip and a $15 mouse and $20 keyboard, I'd remote desktop into a server so in terms of power I had a three-axle dump truck and they had Honda Civics but in terms of looks my tablet was the Civic and Macbooks and gaming laptops looked like the dump truck.

I think the main impact of the "two-in-one" was that the stewardesses on planes had to change their announcements to clarify if you had to stow your Surface tablet on landing. I couldn't get why everybody thought that they had to get a $250 case and keyboard combo for their tablet instead of just using Bluetooth which would let you choose many different keyboards and mice at different price points.

I got sick and tired of "silly boomer, don't you know a phone and a computer are totally different things" because video game emulation proved long ago that Turing complete is Turing complete.