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Tim Cook seems to think that the iPad Pro could replace all PCs

We have heard about PCs as we know them today dying out plenty of times over the years and our latest example comes from Apple. Tim Cook seems to be under the impression that the iPad Pro, Apple's new 13-inch tablet, could replace both desktops and notebooks: “I think if you’re looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC anymore? No really, why would you buy one?”, he said in an interview with the Telegraph this week.

“Yes, the iPad Pro is a replacement for a notebook or a desktop for many, many people. They will start using it and conclude they no longer need to use anything else, other than their phones.”

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The odd thing about this is that Apple also sells PCs, in the form of its iMacs, Macbooks and the Mac Pro, all of which sell quite well. In-fact, OS X's market share has increased a bit in recent years. On top of that, aside from some additional multitasking features, the iPad Pro doesn't do much more than the regular iPad at this moment in time. Sure, you could buy the £80 stylus and draw on Photoshop, but that's about it.

Keyboard docks have been available for the regular iPad for some time, as have productivity apps like Microsoft Office or Apple's own apps, like Pages. Cook wraps up his interview by noting that while he is expecting the iPad Pro to cause some “cannibalization”, as long as the company is doing it to itself, it doesn't really “spend any time worrying”.

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KitGuru Says: Cook is right that an iPad could replace a computer for some people, but only for basic tasks like Netflix, social networking or maybe some note taking. However, writing off the PC entirely is a silly move to make as there will always be power users around, along with people who just don't necessarily like the tablet experience. 

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16 comments

  1. Apple staff are as deluded as their customers. Who would’ve thunk it

  2. Marketing crap. There are so many reasons not to buy an iPad Pro. For one, it’s twice the price of a decent PC, and with a PC you don’t need to pay a fortune for a keyboard. Then there are things such as gaming power and screen size. And what about modability of the system or gaming support. Seriously Cook, why for the love of God would I replace my PC with an overpriced tablet?

  3. No – just NO Apple. We are not your fools PC gamers…

  4. More than 94% of PC users are not builders or gamers, is there some reason the arrogant PCMasterRace morons reacting so personally to this article feel the need to get so defensive? Cook just isn’t talking about you. Grow up, it is just a computer.

  5. while tablets can at the very least replace many laptops, i’ll never waste my money on an ipad when so many other companies make products that do the same (or more) for half the price. apple products are overpriced gimmicks.

  6. IT guys hate Apple products because they know if the average office worker used one they’d be out of a job quick.

  7. I agree with you lehpron. So many ‘power users’ here complaining about the iPad Pro. Of course they won’t buy one. They need a dual 980ti and an i7 5930x processor and 32 gigs of ram to game 4k on multiple monitors. But it’s rather stupid to call names to apple because they think people don’t need a pc anymore due to the iPad pro, while it is actually true. For the average user the iPad pro would be enough. Then again, I wouldn’t be buying the iPad pro, but Tim is right about that at least.

  8. And of course, name calling and making up some (clearly ridiculous) statistics are a perfectly normal way to respond when you disagree. Maybe look in the mirror, before you start hating on other people.

  9. Somewhat dated, but to the point:
    http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/display/20121108145442_High_End_Personal_Computers_Account_for_Less_Than_10_of_PC_Market_Report.html

    Most people don’t own a PC or laptop that would represent “power user” insecurity with Cook’s comment.

  10. Of course they can replace the Mac’s that the “SPECIAL” people use……………..

    But replacing Windows/Linux-Not in this world…………………………………………….

  11. Frince Derl Morales

    This is bullshit, the Philippines just released a WINDOWS 8.1/ ANRDOID Dual BOOT TABLET!!!,
    POWER OF TWO AT THE PALM OF YOUR HANDS

  12. Ah, a whole bunch more of logical fallacy’s, such as personal attacks and weird credibility claims. Just to address one, for fun’s sake, I am part of the majority. I still use a 5 year old video card (which wasn’t even high end back then) and I had a friend who put my PC together. So the lesson is: don’t make assumptions, certainly not when the data is so limited.

    And to deal with the other argument in your post. You went from “more than 94% is not a builder or gamer” to “less than 10% are high end users and less than 10% own a GPU with more than 2GB of RAM”. So basically, you’re making an entirely different point and you’re putting words in my mouth. All I said was that you made up the statistic about gamers and builders, which clearly you did, because the numbers don’t support your earlier claim. So, I don’t have to deny those numbers, they prove me right and you wrong. Thanks for that 🙂

  13. I too have an X58/GTX260 and HM55/GT420, but that doesn’t make me part of the majority since I don’t treats my computer like an automobile; as if I don’t care how it works, just that it should and know where to take it when it doesn’t.

    The Xbitlabs article was about OEM sales, so none of them were built by the user. You could argue I wouldn’t know what they were used for, gaming or otherwise. Except high-end PC gamers don’t like to be associated with those that game with less hardware than they own, whether consoles or IGP systems, let alone non-AAA titles. So they would disregard the other +90% as noteworthy.

    This whole comment section erupted over an OEM’s CEO comments regarding their product, and all who disagree are those that will never get even a desktop PC with the same specs as the tablet. Yet they can’t get a clue that maybe they aren’t the target for such claims and there is nothing to take offense or take personal. Unfortunately, folks argue like there is a real threat, and ironically, I agree but from a different perspective.

  14. Annoyed is not the same as offended. Some hotshot makes a grandiose statement that is clear marketing bullshit for which he is being called out. Nothing more, nothing less.

  15. That is the most ridiculous statement I’ve ever heard. Work in IT, deal with the average office worker, none of them know how to use any of their devices properly, apple or otherwise. IT guys generally hate apple products because they’re a nightmare to work with in a corporate environment.

  16. It’s suited for mindless simpletons who don’t want to do anything productive, not an average user.