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iPhone 6s review
Technology editor Ben Grubb and technology reporter Hannah Francis take a look at the iPhone 6s and how it performs.
PT3M35S 620 349Listening to Apple chief Tim Cook praise the iPad Pro you'd think the traditional PC is destined for the obituary pages, but it will live on in the so-called post-PC age.
"I think if you're looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC any more? No really, why would you buy one?" he said in a recent interview, not holding back when it came to his outlook for the traditional PC pitted against Apple's new 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Saying that the iPad Pro will kill the PC is like saying that the Vespa scooter will kill off the Holden Commodore.
Cook didn't quite go as far as saying the PC was actually dead, but it's hard to think otherwise as he seriously questions why anyone would buy a PC and says the iPad Pro is a viable desktop replacement for "many, many people".
Apple CEO Tim Cook. Photo: Richard Drew
The iPad Pro is the latest in a string of new hybrid devices – in this case a tablet which plays at being a traditional computer thanks to the optional keyboard. There's nothing wrong with that if the iPad Pro and iOS meet your needs in a computing device, but to imagine that they meet everyone's needs all the time is fanciful.
It's easy to get caught up in the tribal rivalry between Apple and Microsoft, or Apple and Android, but this debate goes far beyond that. Ask a MacBook Pro owner if they'd happily trade their powerful, flexible notebook for an iPad Pro and see what kind of response you get. Even the most faithful Apple fanboy is likely to do their best Charleton Heston impression and mumble something about prying their notebook from their cold, dead hands.
Don't try to argue semantics – when Cook says "PC" he doesn't mean Microsoft Windows, he means the traditional desktop/notebook computing experience and that includes the Mac.
The iPad Pro is Apple's first effort at a more powerful tablet-laptop hybrid. Photo: Bloomberg
It's fair to say that most people could probably get by with an iPad Pro – or a high-end Android tablet – for most tasks, most of the time. But it's not always the best tool for the job. Cook comes across as a lot more level-headed than the arrogant Steve Jobs, but Apple's new chief has clearly discovered Jobs' private kool-aid stash if he really believes that the iPad Pro is the answer to every problem. If that's the case, I'd like to see him announce the death of the Mac tomorrow and see how the Apple faithful respond. If he's not prepared to pull the plug on the Mac then he doesn't truly believe the iPad Pro is the one device to rule them all.
Saying that the iPad Pro will kill the PC is like saying that the Vespa scooter will kill off the Holden Commodore. The Vespa has a lot going for it, especially if you're zipping around the trendy inner-suburbs – it's cheaper to buy, more economical to run, nimble in traffic and easy to park.
So why isn't there a Vespa in every driveway? Because for most people there are still times when only a real car will meet your needs. You could try to cram your family and friends the back of a Vespa and all balance your luggage on your heads, but no-one would argue it was a great solution. Not even the good folks at Vespa would argue that buying a separate motor scooter for everyone in your home is a practical replacement for a family sedan in most homes.
The Pencil. Like a stylus, only with a new name. Photo: Bloomberg
There are still times when using an iPad to get things done feels like juggling your belongings on the back of a Vespa. "Get things done" is the key phrase here. Tablets might be fine for consuming content, but it's a stretch to claim they're the best tool for the job when it comes time to be productive. Sure you can run Microsoft Office on an iPad Pro, but that doesn't mean it's preferable to using a real monitor, keyboard and mouse or trackpad.
Firstly there's the screen size – even the new jumbo 12.9-inch iPad Pro has a smaller screen than the entry-level 13-inch MacBook. This screen size strikes a reasonable balance between portability and productivity for people on the go, but once they get back to base they're unlikely to be satisfied with the compromise of a cramped 13-inch monitor.
The same with the keyboard, which tends to be the make or break feature for many people in search of a productivity tool. Typing on a slab of glass is uncomfortable and slow-going if you're trying to bash out more than a quick email. Even the detachable keyboards designed for hybrid devices are a poor substitute for a real keyboard – they're designed as a stop-gap measure rather than the primary keyboard in your life.
The Apple Pencil in use. Photo: Bloomberg
You might argue that Siri and voice recognition are making keyboards and typing redundant but they're far from perfect – if they were then iPads could abandon the on-screen keyboard completely but you don't hear anyone calling for that. Dictation features might suffice for text messages and short emails, but try writing long essays or business reports and you'll soon find yourself pining for a real keyboard.
It is true that iPads and other handheld devices are becoming more useful for a wider range of tasks. Sit most people within arm's reach of a tablet and a notebook and they'll probably reach for the tablet for the majority of basic tasks such as checking their email, browsing the web, and watching video. But whether Cook likes it or not, there are still times when a computer is the best tool for the job.
As tablets encroach further into PC territory you'll find that traditional computers become a specialist device which you only call upon for specific tasks. You could argue that PCs will become more like four-wheel drives – your average person doesn't need one every day but it's still handy to have one around to handle the heavy lifting. Just like there's no one-size-fits-all transportation solution, the iPad Pro isn't a one-size-fits all computing solution.
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