When Apple only launched the iPad, it seemed that the company was able to offer a convenient and compact device to replace laptops. Sales of the device grew the first few years, the range of tablets Apple quickly pushed out of the market the netbook, which were cheap and uncomfortable.
But then computers and tablets, and on iOS and Android began to force widescreen smartphones. At that time, gadgets have been used instead of an MP3 player, GPS and handheld cameras.
Apple is positioning the iPad Pro as an alternative to laptops, relying on cover with integrated keyboard and new features in iOS 11. But the tablet is not easy to become a laptop replacement. Example: the company Microsoft has tried to do the same with the Surface, then she switched to the device format “2-in-1”, and then gave up and went back to the traditional “clamshell”.
Columnist for Techpinions Carolina Milanesi told that successfully uses the 10.5-inch iPad Pro as a Supplement to your Mac. Depending on the task it switches from tablet to computer. In her experience iPad and Mac is very convenient to use in conjunction with each other. But such combination is not too comfortable and quite expensive.
iPad remains a strategic product for Apple. Being a relatively inexpensive and compact device, it is proposed to use in a corporate environment and in education. Apple clearly given to understand that focus on the strengthening of the position of iOS as a mobile operating system attractive to businesses. But here tablet is often a means of running certain applications and not a full replacement for personal computers.
The main problem is that iPad is still a mobile device. When 7 years ago, the tablet has just appeared, it was a lot of criticism, the essence of which boiled down to the fact that the iPad is just a larger version of the iPhone or iPod Touch. At the same time and in the most Apple initially positioned the iPad as a consumer device designed more for viewing content than for creating it. Despite the subsequent successful efforts of Apple’s promotion of the tablet companies, the perception remains that with the computer he can not be compared, so the iPad may not be the main working tool — only additional.
iPad lacks unique services that could attract users. Apple has consistently emphasized that all popular services work perfectly on iOS devices, but users often download Uber, Airbnb, Instagram, Tinder, WeChat and other apps on iPhone but not on iPad.
Platform ARKit could breathe life into iPad — working with augmented reality technology ideal for tablet, which has a large screen and convenient portability. Compact size and light weight iPhone can make it more affordable and simple solution for such problems.
Steve jobs defined the iPad as the device that is between a smartphone and a laptop. Yet he remained in this range without an equal opportunity to compete with the popularity of the first and functionality second.
