Could Apple ever do a “2 in 1”?

If you have heard Tim Cook talk about “2 in 1’s”, you already know the answer to this question. He likened the marrying of a tablet and a laptop to “converging a toaster and a fridge. You could do it but it would not be pleasing to the user”.

One of the big issues around 2 in 1’s is, in most designs, they are not great laptops or tablets. Indeed, most of the ones on the market, including the Lenovo Yoga-like designs in which the screen just flips back, or convertibles, where the screen is detachable, have too many compromises to be great by themselves. By trying to marry the two functions, they often come out as “tweeners” and are not great laptops or tablets in their own right. Also, many of the Yoga-like models are still in the 13-15 inch range. While they are very good laptops, the screens are too big and unruly to be great tablets.

However, while Apple does not have a 2 in 1 of their own, the world of 3rd party peripherals have created a sort of pseudo 2 in 1 with the iPad and with 3rd party keyboards they can actually become functional 2 in 1’s in a way. What is interesting to note here is in this case the center of the universe is a tablet. Apple makes it clear the iPad is not a laptop. Yet, a lot of people are buying external keyboards and using the iPad in a laptop-like mode anyway.

There have been rumors Apple has a 12” or 12.8” iPad in the works. This has me wondering if perhaps a product with this size screen coupled with a snazzy and ultra sleek keyboard might be coming from Apple. If so, Apple would be very clear this is a tablet and a great one at that. But I don’t think they can ignore the real interest in how people are using an external keyboard with iPads. An ultra thin 12.8” iPad Air with a Johnny Ive’s designed keyboard might be a big hit with those who do real productivity on an iPad now but have to cobble together their own solutions with 3rd party keyboards.

Just wondering.

Published by

Tim Bajarin

Tim Bajarin is the President of Creative Strategies, Inc. He is recognized as one of the leading industry consultants, analysts and futurists covering the field of personal computers and consumer technology. Mr. Bajarin has been with Creative Strategies since 1981 and has served as a consultant to most of the leading hardware and software vendors in the industry including IBM, Apple, Xerox, Compaq, Dell, AT&T, Microsoft, Polaroid, Lotus, Epson, Toshiba and numerous others.

24 thoughts on “Could Apple ever do a “2 in 1”?”

  1. I do think Apple is playing a branding card by not directly developing a keyboard for the iPad. If Apple comes out with a keyboard as part of the iPad design I believe this risks confusion on Apple’s clear intent with the iPad. But third party accessory is pursued based on the personal interest of the user, not an Apple imposed design requirement.

    This is not to say Apple shouldn’t come up with something or never will, but I would bet they would do so as a cohesively designed, singular product in its own right and not as part of the iPad line-up, much the same that iPod and iPhone were separate products, even as iPhone had an “iPod” element when it first hit the scene.

    I know a number of people who love their new Surface Pro 3s.

    Joe

    1. As one more person who enjoys their SP3, I can tell you that a full OSX running machine, without Apple interference, and Intel based, would have me as a customer if it were spec competitive with the SP3.

  2. Is it not time for Apple to move touch screen computing to the desktop? The “iDesk” could be a 12.8inch iPad on an adjustable base, possibly without a battery and relying on mains power. For many consumers such a device would be much better suited to their needs than an overserving desktop PC. Also, it would meet the needs of many enterprise situations presently using locked down PC’s running a single application. A wireless keyboard could remain an option.

  3. I think it’s time we change the definition of “productivity”. Microsoft seems intent on owning this largely ambiguous term because when you get right down to it productivity, for many, is writing a document, creating a spreadsheet and email triage. This level of productivity can be accomplished very simply and easily with Safari or Chrome and the iWork Suite or Google Docs. The immeasurable power of the Office Suite isn’t mandatory and is probably wasted on everyone save for the most demanding power users.

    Maybe an IT manager needs a Windows box to build a server or manage AD security but for most of the worker bees a web browser and word processor is likely all they need. It’s why a ChromeBook is now a legitimate workstation alternative even though it’s about as feature-poor a system as they come when compared to OS X, Windows or a Linux/Unix-based system.

    Apple shouldn’t bring themselves down to Microsoft’s level by creating a 2-in-1 simply because Apple doesn’t need to. Tim Cook conducts 80% of his work on an iPad. I’d imagine his and Apple’s next steps are to convert that to 100%, hence the IBM partnership. A better combination would be an iPad, a keyboard and a larger Apple display with built-in AppleTV/AirPlay feature to share the display as Apple’s answer to multi-window workflows.

    I don’t put too much stock in Apple creating a side-by-side option for apps into iOS. Once Apple added a full-screen button to Mavericks I took that as Apple — almost forcibly — imparting iOS attributes into OS X to get people comfortable working with one application at a time. This is partially why the MacBook Air comes in 11″ and 13″ sizes. Who can work on multiple applications when the screen is so small? Better to hit the full-screen button then use Spaces/Mission Control to access the different “screens”. And now that the behavior of the green “traffic light” button in Yosemite has changed from window zoom to full-screen is more of a sign that multi-window workflows is likely not on Apple’s list of priorities.

    (side note: the similarities in Mission Control and the iOS multitask screen are nearly identical complete with application icon at the bottom. Wouldn’t surprise me if we see favorite contacts, like in iOS 8, in a future Yosemite update)

    I’m not saying side-by-side apps will NEVER happen but I’m not holding my breath. Besides, despite Microsoft’s and Samsung’s multi-window, multitasking abilities and their aggressive campaigns to showcase the iPad’s limitations hasn’t helped either company make a significant dent in Apple’s armor.

  4. I have yet to come across a 2-in-1 that is a great tablet. One that you’d want to curl up on the couch or in bed with to read a book or watch a movie. At the same time I have yet to come across a tablet that I’d want to use with any applications that are better suited to the mouse (i.e. most productivity apps). I think we should let tablets be tablets and laptops be laptops. Tablets will be primarily for consumption and laptops primarily for productivity (or in some cases gaming).

    Where I see Apple going (when the technology allows) is creating a super thin and light MacBook Air type device that has a retina display and no fan. Something that’s easily portable but still has a great keyboard and trackpad (something the Surface doesn’t have IMO). Perhaps this device will run OSX or maybe it will run a version of iOS that provides more productivity features like split screen multitasking (something Apple is rumored to be working on).

  5. Once you install a keyboard on a tablet, you can no longer call it an IPad, it becomes a lousy Notebook.
    a very bad one indeed

    1. Nonsense. My iPad 2 in a ZAGGFolio keyboard case is great. Easy and comfortable to use, and it is still called an iPad. The combination of hardware keyboard and angled touchscreen is really nice, I’m so used to it that I touch other laptop screens, expecting to be able to control things on the screen with touch. It’s so much better than an awkward trackpad.

      1. there a those who do the same with their Galaxy Note what would you say to them?

        don’t let your love for a product blind your rational for what it’s best for.

        Biass aside, a Chromebook is a better, more efficient tool for this type of job

        1. “there a those who do the same with their Galaxy Note what would you say to them?”

          I would say good for them, if it works for you, do it.

          “a Chromebook is a better, more efficient tool for this type of job”

          I do like the large screen of the Chromebook, but it’s obvious there’s a larger screen iPad coming. So what exactly is the difference between an iPad with a good keyboard case and a Chromebook? It seems like you’re saying that this form factor/combination is great when it comes from Google but terrible when it comes from Apple. That doesn’t make sense. Either a touchscreen coupled with a hardware keyboard is a good combination, or it is not.

          1. the IPad is a great device however it is not the Hardware that make Chromebook a better and more efficient tool for this type of job,
            it’s the software, the Cloud integration, the security, simplicity, and the lightness of it that make all the difference.

            i suggest you invest some of your times using one then you will notice the real difference.

          2. So if the software can make all the difference on a Chromebook, why can’t the software (iOS + great apps) make all the difference on an iPad?

            Everything you say about the Chromebook is also true of the iPad, so again we’re back to you contradicting yourself. You’re essentially saying “the Chromebook is better because .” You’re not making any sense.

          3. because a touch base OS or software is very different than a keyboard+Mouse base one

            Ask John Kirk, he seems to know a lot about the difference when it come to Microsoft.

          4. “because a touch base OS or software is very different than a keyboard+Mouse base one”

            Yes, I’d say touch is better for a lot of things. Keyboard+Touch is a great combination. You’re really hung up on the whole mouse/pointer issue.

          5. Whoever needs one I suppose. I know lots of people with iPads in keyboard cases. That’s kind of the point, the iPad can make use of tons of different hardware accessories, some really neat ones, some just plain old keyboards. I like the flexibility of it, it can become so many different devices. With something like a Chromebook you are stuck with the traditional form factor, it is limited in that way.

          6. An IPad will never be better than a Chromebook when it come to the Job to be done when it come to it’s addressable market

            besides
            what happen to your favorite phrase of a devices that do everything will end up doing nothing well?

          7. You’re confused. There are many, many, many jobs-to-be-done, there isn’t just one. Some of those jobs-to-be-done are better served by an iPad. Some are better served by a traditional PC. But the capabilities of the iPad are expanding, rapidly. It is a very flexible device, essentially a screen that becomes the app, plus hardware accessories as needed. Still, some jobs-to-be-done are better served by a traditional mouse + keyboard PC.

            “what happen to your favorite phrase of a devices that do everything will end up doing nothing well?”

            You’re misunderstanding this concept. In the context of Techpinions it mostly refers to Microsoft’s attempt to create one OS that works on a touchscreen as well as a traditional PC, trying to be all things for all devices. It just doesn’t work.

          8. all things considered

            A Chromebook or iPad, which one you think is best suited for schools and why?

          9. The iPad, without question. There’s lots of case studies on this, the iPad has many positive outcomes for students. There’s a lot of reasons why, but the results speak for themselves. Unless you’re going to deny observable reality you have to accept that the iPad is an excellent tool for education.

            I tend to think the key factors are the book-like form factor and the touch UI. Coupled with great software and apps of course, but the iPad is so easy and immediate, so personal, so engaging. We homeschool our four kids, and we have MacBooks, iMacs, and iPads. The kids gravitate to the iPads, it’s a far more engaging device. And the amount of fantastic software and curriculum available for it is just bananas, it is mind boggling.

            Now, if I was teaching them to build spreadsheets I’d use the iMac. You should use the right tool for the right job. However, most of the time the iPad seems to be the right tool.

          10. No, the anti-vaccine crowd is anti-science and anti-reality. I tend to believe observable reality. I’m a pragmatist, I do what works best. Vaccines clearly work.

            Heh, my guess is that your question was spurred by my homeschooling comment. I have 16 years of experience dealing with people who don’t understand homeschooling, and are therefore afraid of it. Ask me anything you like about homeschooling, I’m happy to shatter a few myths for you.

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