iPadPro may pose a real threat to PC laptops/tablets

[Tsang Fai]

Apple has recently marketed their 9.7” iPadPro as the “ultimate PC replacement”. Their ambitions are very huge this time.

Will that be a real threat to PC laptps/tablets? By “real threat”, I’m not saying Apple will eat up a large portion of Windows PC market. But it is possible that the Windows PC market may further shrink to 80% in the next 2-3 years.

I know many people would disagree. But read the following arguments first.

• 9.7” is a very optimal balance between portability and ease of reading. (I recently bought a 9.7” China-branded Windows 10 tablet and the experience is wonderful. I use it even more than my Surface 3. It is worth to sacrifice a little bit screen size for the extra portability.)
• iPad has big advantages as a tablet – very rich apps in App Store, and people are already familiar with iOS. This is something Windows 10 can possibly never catch up.
• Kids and teens love iPads.
• Many users do not need sophisticated desktop software. All they need for “work” is a device efficient for emails/Word/Excel. That’s it. Office for iOS is now much better than before and Microsoft will keep on improving it.
• Apple Pencil could also be efficient like a mouse as it is a precise pointing device (I would say 80% as efficient as a mouse given enough practice and nice software integration).
• Apple may support mouse in iOS (at least for iPads) in future versions of iOS. Why not?
• Apple may sacrifice their Macbook sales in return of potentially huge volume of Windows users switching to iPadPro.
• There are just too many fools around the world who would believe Apple’s claim of “ultimate PC replacement”. Plus, 9.7” iPadPro is more affordable than the 12.9” equivalent. It is not surprising to see many people buying that device without thoughtful consideration.

 

[jmshub]

The catch is that Apple's PC Replacement is largely marketing hype. For personal use, tablets have taken a large chunk of personal computing, and Apple is a large portion of that. But businesses comprise the largest section of PC sales, and that won't change anytime soon.

Apple has been courting business users with iPad Pro, but iOS is too limited to be a fully functional PC replacement. While Microsoft and Google have both committed to merging their mobile and PC operating systems into one cohesive OS, Apple has not yet taken any visible steps in that direction, and until they do, iPad is not a serious threat to PCs.

 

[SammyD97]

9.7 inch is great for portability and and reading but that's when you're on the go or sitting in front of the tv. I for one still need at least a 15" screen when I'm home.



Office mobile is hardly adequate. I still get Excel mobile telling me it can't open a file with "xyz" element more often than not. I also think its great for viewing and quick editing but not creation especially on a screen the size of the new iPad Pro.



A pen is great for note taking (or drawing) but not as a mouse substitute. Besides, iOS is optimised for touch; why replace a finger with a pen? If it did support mouse input then that would be great but it doesn't and a pen won't change that.



Also I agree with everything that jmshub said. And no I don't think that many people are that gullible.



Edit: Lol. I didn't realise I was posting on Windows Central.

 

[theefman]

Unless you work for a PC manufacturer not sure its something to care about, the PC market has been in decline for years, ipads and other tablets are part of the reason so whether people buy into apple's marketing for the new ipad or not that's not going to change anything for PC sales either way.

 

[skstrials]

A PC replacement that does not even have a driver for 99% of printers and scanners on the market? Good luck printing your work from the Office app.

You do not get to say it is a PC replacement when it comes with a phone software.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

 

[Spectrum90]

The PC is not a consumer friendly product. Most people don't need its complexity. In the long term, PCs should be replaced by iOS and Android tablets and convertibles.

 

[Steve Adams]

Until they create a truly Surface type product there is nothing "replacement" about the ipad. I do LOVE the form factor of the ipad, it is the best ratio for magazine reading etc. BUUUUUTTTTT, No dock for big monitor peripheral usage, plus no usb, no anything for software that is desktop/laptop like. Apps just don't do it sometimes.

 

[r2SN]

Wait till they remove the headphone jack

 

[Steve Adams]

I know. everyone is going to flip out like they did when they changed the charging port.....then they are all going to buy the new stuff. Imagine what would happen if other companies did that.

 

[Tsang Fai]

A PC replacement that does not even have a driver for 99% of printers and scanners on the market? Good luck printing your work from the Office app.

You do not get to say it is a PC replacement when it comes with a phone software.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

iPadPro sucks for people who need to print/scan documents.

For non-business users, how many need to print/scan documents regularly?

My main point is, Apple are targeting iPadPro towards those less serious PC users, who do not need sophisticated software, and do not have regular needs of printing/scanning documents, etc.

 

[BenLumia]

iPadPro sucks for people who need to print/scan documents.

For non-business users, how many need to print/scan documents regularly?

My main point is, Apple are targeting iPadPro towards those less serious PC users, who do not need sophisticated software, and do not have regular needs of printing/scanning documents, etc.

Windows is for to create, achieve. And the apple Is to enjoy. The key management of the apple is not quality not the best OS, its the advertisement. Just leave those people who is in need of expensive products to do regular things.

 

[skstrials]

My main point is, Apple are targeting iPadPro towards those less serious PC users, who do not need sophisticated software, and do not have regular needs of printing/scanning documents, etc.

Yes, and that is no different than what any other IPad can do.

You could find a $200 Windows tablet that will do the printing and scanning, and still do the games, YouTube, and Netflix which are what the Ipads are used for anyways.

And I cannot see how printing and scanning are some advanced business features. These are basic PC tasks.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

 

[TheLumaniac]

• 9.7” is a very optimal balance between portability and ease of reading. (I recently bought a 9.7” China-branded Windows 10 tablet and the experience is wonderful. I use it even more than my Surface 3. It is worth to sacrifice a little bit screen size for the extra portability.)
  Too small for true multitasking. Good to carry around, nothing more.
  
  
• iPad has big advantages as a tablet – very rich apps in App Store, and people are already familiar with iOS. This is something Windows 10 can possibly never catch up.
  Phoshop, Office, Matlab, Visual Studio, Unity, Eclipse, Android Studio, Lightroom, NetBeans, Codeblocks, Unreal Engine, GIMP, AutoCAD,etc...good luck finding that in that "rich App Store".
  
  
• Kids and teens love iPads.
  Yeah, but adults speak with their money, not kids.
  
  
• Many users do not need sophisticated desktop software. All they need for “work” is a device efficient for emails/Word/Excel. That’s it. Office for iOS is now much better than before and Microsoft will keep on improving it.
  But many, many users need more than that.
  
  
• Apple Pencil could also be efficient like a mouse as it is a precise pointing device (I would say 80% as efficient as a mouse given enough practice and nice software integration).
  Not everyone likes using a pencil. Many like using a mouse. And even more like using a capable keyboard.
  
  
• Apple may support mouse in iOS (at least for iPads) in future versions of iOS. Why not?
  Windows already has support for mouse. What's the point here?
  
  
• Apple may sacrifice their Macbook sales in return of potentially huge volume of Windows users switching to iPadPro.
  Good. Less MacBook sales, more Windows sales because OSX > iOS.
  
  
• There are just too many fools around the world who would believe Apple’s claim of “ultimate PC replacement”. Plus, 9.7” iPadPro is more affordable than the 12.9” equivalent. It is not surprising to see many people buying that device without thoughtful consideration.
  True. But not everyone is a fool. Fortunately, the iPad is expensive for what it does, so that will prevent some of these fools to buy it.

 

[Tsang Fai]

Too small for true multitasking. Good to carry around, nothing more.

I do not fully agree to this. First, not many users would do heavy multi-tasking when they are working outdoors. It suffices if they can do some content creation tasks with 1-2 apps. Second, people have get used to such a size of iPad (9.7"). Third, nowadays apps (including Office for iOS) are more optimized for smaller screen with less unnecessary UI elements. I think Office for iOS will just keep on improving. I know it currently cannot accomplish sophisticated tasks but Microsoft will make Office for iOS better and better.

Phoshop, Office, Matlab, Visual Studio, Unity, Eclipse, Android Studio, Lightroom, NetBeans, Codeblocks, Unreal Engine, GIMP, AutoCAD,etc...good luck finding that in that "rich App Store".

Well, except Office & Photoshops, these software are all for professionals only (programmers, designers, etc). General users most probably just need browser + email + messaging/social networking aps + Office + graphics apps + movie apps. Is Photoshop a must for graphics processing? There are many iOS apps for processing photos and even basic video processing, which are very enough for most users.

Yeah, but adults speak with their money, not kids.

My point is, many kids' first computing devices are iPads (or Android tabs) but not Windows PCs. When they grow up, will they switch to Windows PC because they can save money? I guess not.

True. But not everyone is a fool. Fortunately, the iPad is expensive for what it does, so that will prevent some of these fools to buy it.

Let me tell you my observation: since the launch of Surface Pro 3 in mid 2014, I have only seen 2 people using Surface devices. And since the launch of iPadPro (12.9"), I have seen nearly 10 people using iPadPro. Some of my colleagues and friends have been asking the same question, "Should I buy an iPadPro?". But none of them ever asked "Should I buy a Surface?".

"iPad is expensive?" - not really for those people who are keen on Apple products. And 9.7" iPadPro offers an even more "attractive" price for them to try a "Pro" device (which is not Pro of course).

The number of fools around is much more than we expected and the number of wise people who can make the right choice is less than we expected
-----
And let me emphasize again, by "real threat" I do not mean a total breakdown of PC market. And my focus here is only Windows tablet/laptops.

I predict that more people would consider iPadPro as their portable device for doing PC-like tasks. The launch of 9.7" iPadPro will, to some extent, affect the sales of Windows tablets/laptops.

I need to declare I am a 100% Windows/Msft fans. I am using: Lumia 950XL, Lumia 930, Surface 3, Surface Book, a 9.7" China-branded Windows tablet with 3G, Microsoft Band 2. iPadPro (and all Apple devices) is useless to me but many fools will buy it without much hesitation.

 

[ZoneofJhay]

9.7" will never gonna cut it for me when I'm working. And I don't believe that tablets will takeover laptop and dekstops. The hype for tablets are long gone. They said around 2012-2013 that tablet will takeover but look where the tablet industry right now. Its struggling. It declined 10.1% last year. And laptops and desktops just last longer which is the best selling point for me because you don't carry it around and holding it with your hands all the time. I have my laptop for 5 years now, my dekstop 7. In the timespan of of 2 years I broke two tablets, one already have to much wear and tear but still useable and I just bought a win10 tablet last month that I'm so meticulously taking care to prevent physical damage as much as possible. What I think will take casual people from desktops and laptops are smartphones. It does what they want which is just browsing, watching videos and chatting/messaging friends.

 

[windows4winners]

"iPadPro may pose a real threat to PC laptops/tablets". I sort of agree with this statement, we've already seen the iPad and other tablets take sales from the desktop PC market. As others have already said a typical user who just wants to browse the web, check a few emails and play the occasional game of solitaire doesn't need or use the capabilities of a PC so a tablet makes more sense to them. I do think the iPadPro and tablets alike will further reduce the market share of the 'standard' PC Laptop, the same way Laptops (Not just MacBooks) would have reduced the market share of the humble desktop.

 

[he_shark]

Well of course tablets will eventually replace laptops, MS know this and have proven it with the Surface line. But it's going to take time and refinement of the OS and the hardware. Right now tablets are still too limiting. Whether MS can make Windows more tablet friendly before Apple can make the iPad more productivity friendly is the new race.

I actually got an iPad to mess around on today. The first thing I wanted to do was set it up for myself and my girlfriend. What, there's no multi-user accounts? I cannot believe they are on version 9 of their OS and it cannot do this simplest thing. People always complain about missing features with Windows Phone - but really this is beyond a joke. Are Apple fans so crazed they get one device each instead of sharing. Well done Apple, but shame on you.

So come on MS, sort out Windows on tablets so I don't have to waste any more time and money on this toy OS.

 

[Tsang Fai]

Well of course tablets will eventually replace laptops, MS know this and have proven it with the Surface line. But it's going to take time and refinement of the OS and the hardware. Right now tablets are still too limiting. Whether MS can make Windows more tablet friendly before Apple can make the iPad more productivity friendly is the new race.

I actually got an iPad to mess around on today. The first thing I wanted to do was set it up for myself and my girlfriend. What, there's no multi-user accounts? I cannot believe they are on version 9 of their OS and it cannot do this simplest thing. People always complain about missing features with Windows Phone - but really this is beyond a joke. Are Apple fans so crazed they get one device each instead of sharing. Well done Apple, but shame on you.

So come on MS, sort out Windows on tablets so I don't have to waste any more time and money on this toy OS.

What you said is really true. Even average users may complain iPad/iPadPro not having enough functionalities - but most of them will just accept the drawbacks and keep on using iPads.

Many people have already get used to mobile OS and even for productive tasks they want to stay with their favourite mobile OS. They are willing to sacrifice functionalities and efficiency. The fact is the majority of people do not ask for 100% productivity.

I often see people busy working on their iPads. Most even do not have a physical keyboard. They work slowly but they have no complaints at all. To me it is just 20% productivity which I cannot accept.

In short, people nowadays have very high expectation on mobility and apps but with relatively low expectation on productivity. The world has changed.

Recently Paul thurrott wrote an article, which addressed a similar topic:

https://www.thurrott.com/mobile/66904/can-google-apple-pull-plug-pc-market

I would agree to most of the points raised by Paul although I don't believe Windows PC will face an "extinction" in the coming few decades. But the threat is already there. As a Windows fan, I do hope Microsoft can secure their PC market, after losing the mobile war.

 

[dot6]

Well recent sells reports show that the iPads have largely stayed flat even with the introduction of the iPad Pros. The problem is that people that bought iPads in the past wanted a bigger screen to consume media content. However with bigger phones iPad sales sank. The problem is people still believe iPad Pro as an iPad with a bigger screen and really don't see it as a laptop. As such, I still see people carrying around a giant iPad and then a MacBook.

Now as for the future, in terms of media consumption VR is a whole new canvas for artists and shows a lot of potential. This is where Apple has done very little investments and Microsoft and Facebook has. Perhaps a few years from now people won't be picking up their tablets but instead wear a VR headset to consume media content that is connected to a high end PC.