iPad Pro: Analysts anticipate a tablet hybrid
Apple customers could be getting a custom-designed Mac Book/iPad combination in 2014. Rumors call it the iPad Pro.
A report by Patrick Wang, an analyst at investment banking advisory firm Evercore Partner, predicts that Apple will release a hybrid iPad MacBook that will be focused on using in-house processing chips to meet the demands of business users,聽.
鈥淎rriving in fall 鈥�14, Apple goes Enterprise with an 12鈥� iPad. Powered by the A8 chip聽(perhaps 4C), this expands ARM鈥檚 reach and, once again, transforms the traditional聽notebook market as we know it,鈥� writes Mr. Wang, according to Barron鈥檚. 鈥淓xpect a 2-1 hybrid 鈥� think iPad + [MacBook Air] 鈥� similar to how most iPads are used in聽the workplace and in the same spirit of [Microsoft鈥檚] Surface.鈥�
That reference to Microsoft is a key indicator to explaining why Apple may aim to capture business consumers. Up until now, Microsoft still has hold over many enterprise customers due to its customizable features and office-oriented software. Wang points out this could give Apple a run for its money, but could be worth it in order to cut down on expensive processors from Intel currently used to power the MacBook Air.
鈥淭wo obstacles: (1) Microsoft Office not just Office 365 and (2) local storage,鈥� he writes.聽鈥淭his would hit Intel in an area of strength 鈥� enterprise [notebooks] 鈥� and open up the monopoly to price competition, a common theme for Intel in 2014.鈥�
However, as with any rumor, we can鈥檛 be sure whether something like this is likely to come from Apple. Looking at CEO Tim Cook鈥檚 recent comments about the Microsoft Surface, which marries the light weight of a tablet and fast processing of a laptop, it wouldn鈥檛 appear that Apple is heading in that direction. For example, at an Apple event last fall, Mr. Cook did not speak highly of the hybrid Surface.
"Our competition is confused. They're turning tablets into PCs and PCs into tablets. Who knows what they're going to do next?" he said,
Whether it would be a good idea financially for Apple to move in this direction is also something to consider when looking at the Surface. This fall, Microsoft had to take a $900 million write down on the Surface after it failed to sell. However, Apple鈥檚 iPad and MacBook Air have both done considerably better on their own than many of Microsoft鈥檚 products, so perhaps a hybrid from Apple could succeed where Microsoft has struggled.
