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I'm not sure I agree with Cringely here either, but I think you're missing some important points: 1. iPhones do support multi-tasking, but the interface for it

I'm not sure I agree with Cringely here either, but I think you're missing some important points: 1. iPhones do support multi-tasking, but the interface for it is poor. This could remedied, especially if iPhone would detect a larger screen and add an additional menu bar. 2. The killer app for the average desktop user isn't Photoshop, it's some manner of email/doc/spreadsheet. These do not require gobs of ram. For everyday use, they require: monitor, keyboard, mouse. 3. Which is quite possibly why Apple has built a zillion dollar data storage center (iCloud). Actually, Cringely might be right, but I don't think we're going to see it anytime soon. I think it might be Apple's longer-term plan. Put another way, it does pull together some interesting choices that Apple has made: 1. iCloud -- and more importantly the monster infrastructure developed for it. 2. The growing iOS-ification of OS X. 3. 64-bit processors (which, of course, allow for 'desktop class' amounts of ram). 4. Hardware accelerated screen sharing (AirPlay). Another thing, I don't understand why you would classify that as a "genius secret idea". I would call it a multi-billion dollar technology company looking a few years into the future.

bmj 13y ago
Indeed. Particularly: The killer app for the average desktop user isn't Photoshop, it's some manner of email/doc/spreadsheet. These do not require gobs of ram. For everyday use, they require: monitor, keyboard, mouse. If Apple thought they could run Photoshop off an iPad, they'd do it, but they also know their bread and butter for laptops and desktops are designers who use Photoshop and Illustrator all day, every day. I work for a tech company with a fairly large operational staff. I reckon at least half of those employees could get by with a good tablet with peripherals for almost all of their tasks.
- mavhc 13y ago
  There must be a reason why Apple's rewritten every pro app they've acquired. My theory is it's so they will port to iOS easily. iOS is 90% of Apple's business
mavhc 13y ago
1. Macs do support multi-tasking, but the interface for it is poor. This could remedied, especially if OS X would detect a larger screen and add an additional menu bar.
- theschwa 13y ago
  Is this meant to be a jab at multi-tasking in OSX? Because, I for one love Mission Control and multiple desktops.

bmj 13y ago

Indeed. Particularly: The killer app for the average desktop user isn't Photoshop, it's some manner of email/doc/spreadsheet. These do not require gobs of ram. For everyday use, they require: monitor, keyboard, mouse. If Apple thought they could run Photoshop off an iPad, they'd do it, but they also know their bread and butter for laptops and desktops are designers who use Photoshop and Illustrator all day, every day. I work for a tech company with a fairly large operational staff. I reckon at least half of those employees could get by with a good tablet with peripherals for almost all of their tasks.

mavhc 13y ago
There must be a reason why Apple's rewritten every pro app they've acquired. My theory is it's so they will port to iOS easily. iOS is 90% of Apple's business

mavhc 13y ago

1. Macs do support multi-tasking, but the interface for it is poor. This could remedied, especially if OS X would detect a larger screen and add an additional menu bar.

theschwa 13y ago
Is this meant to be a jab at multi-tasking in OSX? Because, I for one love Mission Control and multiple desktops.