2024-02-18

The iPad Pro, Mac and Vision Pro can all co-exist

It's been a couple weeks since Apple released it's iPad Face Computer and various memes are bouncing around the pundit echo chamber. I've not tried it and don't expect to anytime in the foreseeable future. I have issues with vertigo that would likely make it less than optimal but, also, it's far beyond my budget. All that said, as the iPad is my preferred computer, I see the merits of VisionOS being based on iPadOS and that brings me to the primary point of this post.

It's been an ongoing meme in the Apple pundit and social mediaverse that Apple should bring macOS to the iPad Pro. I don't think it will and I hope it doesn't.

For those that want macOS on an iPad, VisionOS has the solution. Build in native support for screen sharing with a Mac. If your preference is the Mac and the iPad is a secondary device then you'll likely have a Mac nearby and the screen sharing that VisionOS offers would likely work just fine. I've got a Mac as a file server and when I need to check in on it to update the OS the Screens app is perfect. I login and it feels as though I'm using macOS on the iPad. The only drawback that would likely be solved by a solution provided by Apple is that the Mac's screen dimension is different resulting in black bars along the top and bottom of the iPad screen. I'd guess Apple would provide a full screen solution.

Why not have macOS as an option for the iPad Pro? If you want macOS buy a Mac. If you really enjoy and want an iPad, buy an iPad. If you enjoy both, buy both.

I think there are those out there that are suggesting they would just purchase an iPad Pro instead of a Mac. That the iPad would be the one solution that could do both, boot into either OS as desired. Or that what they want is a touch screen Mac. Here's my prediction of variations of the reviews of the real-world experiences of that device:

"The iPad Pro that can boot with macOS is great until I need to do this particular task that is too slow because the iPad is thermally constricted because it doesn't have fans. iPad is great for light duty work but for my pro work I need the upper end of Mac hardware with fans." These are the reviews from people that currently use MacBook Pros, Mac Studio, etc.
"Sure, it's great that the iPad Pro can boot macOS but I don't want to pay an extra $700 for the touch screen and extra Magic Keyboard. I don't use iPadOS and the touch screen enough to pay that extra cost. I'll just buy a MacBook Air for less."
"The iPad Pro with macOS is underpowered and still requires a trackpad and a keyboard. And I don't really want to use iPadOS, I might as well just get a Mac and save money."
And if Apple were to provide a touch interface for macOS on the iPad hardware: "This touch experience doesn't feel right. Apple needs to fix it. I'm just going to turn it off and use a trackpad and keyboard."
Or, "It's great that Apple provides a touch-based macOS experience on the iPad, why not just call it a Mac? We don't need the iPad Pro anymore, it's all just so confusing. Look at that confusing lineup."

Taking off from the last two points, many Mac users argue that iPadOS is too limited in many ways and that a touch optimized macOS would allow for all the Mac things. True. But I don't think it will happen and I don't want it to happen. Here's why.

Apple has spent the past few years increasing the capabilities of iPadOS. It retains the simple user mode that came with the original iPad. But it now has a far more capable Files app and Stage Manager for the advanced users. Every year the advanced features of iPadOS get better. I don't want Apple to turn it's attention away from that effort to accommodate users that prefer macOS. .
Apple has spent time and resources to bring Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro to the iPad Pro. I don't think they're going to back track on that kind of effort and I don't think they would have taken that step if they had plans to bring macOS to the iPad.
There are now features for visionOS that could come to iPadOS. Primarily I'm thinking of the above mentioned Mac screen sharing that would address the "put macOS on the iPad" problem. But perhaps others might follow. Would eye tracking and the finger gestures work on future iPad hardware with improved cameras? I'd rather see Apple's focus be on improving and innovating iPadOS instead of accommodating users that prefer macOS.

And finally, a last point to the small group of pundits that are breathlessly enthusiastic about the Vision Pro eventually replacing the iPad and/or the Mac, just stop. Stop. The Vision Pro is its own thing. It doesn't need to replace anything. There are far too many iPad users that could never afford even a cheaper Vision Pro and many that would never want to strap on a face computer. So, just stop with the hot takes that are not grounded in reality.

And to the pundits and YouTubers that will spend the next 5 years trying to make a living off of clickbait stunts like "I sold my Mac/iPad! Can I get all my work done with the Vision Pro!?", again, stop. Don't. Just don't. That whole meme has already outlasted its welcome and usefulness with the iPad version. Find something more original to talk about.