This Hacker News discussion revolves around the evolving Apple product lineup, particularly the iPad, and the perceived shift in Apple's strategic direction. Key themes include the increasing complexity of product offerings, the blurring lines between device categories, the intended purpose of the iPad, and the broader implications for user experience and brand coherence.
Increasing Product Line Complexity and Confusion
Several users express concern that Apple's product catalog has become overly complex, making it difficult for consumers to discern the purpose and target audience of each device.
- haswell notes, "I also think that the more capable the iPad becomes, the more confusing the Apple product lineup becomes for someone who doesnât already understand the ecosystem... A few years ago, the answer was a lot more clear."
- PaulRobinson elaborates on this, stating, "My problem is we're not all talking about the same thing when we talk about "The iPad". Right now, on sale today, there are four iPads to choose from... I think it can hard to work out where each device sits in your life, but then there are spectrums and overlaps between them, and this is confusing for the consumer." He further illustrates this by listing the various options within the Mac, iPhone, and Watch lineups, concluding, "When you're selling a lifestyle, you need to be coherent. It used to be the case that Apple was coherent, but this choice is making customers confused."
- DanielHB questions the business logic behind this expansion, asking, "I don't understand why companies doing hardware do this, surely it is much more expensive to design so many different devices? It dilutes the brand and makes the supply chain more complicated."
The iPad's Shifting Identity and Purpose
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the iPad's evolution from a simple, consumption-focused device to a more capable, multi-purpose tool, and whether this evolution aligns with its original vision.
- haswell, who "wanted a more capable OS ever since I got the M1 iPad - a device that has been hobbled by the OS in many ways," believes the increasingly capable iPad OS dilutes the simplicity of the lineup.
- PaulRobinson acknowledges that there's "not a 'betrayal' of a vision," but rather that "Apple's vision has got muddled."
- us-merul, on the other hand, finds their iPad Pro with Apple Pencil to be their "favorite Apple device by far, and exactly for why the author describes; itâs become a digital canvas that enables an input function unavailable anywhere else."
- speak_plainly posits that Steve Jobs' original vision was for "a single piece of glass you can use to read email on the toilet." They argue that adding a stylus and "Pro" features confused this original, "minimalist and cheap original trajectory," making it "more closely aligned with a new form-factor MacBook with a limited OS."
- weego describes their now "eye-watering" expensive iPad Pro + Pro Keyboard setup as being relegated to a "very expensive screen for watching Tv in bed, and playing the odd bit of roblox," finding typing on it an "absolute chore compared to my phone because of worse ergonomics due to it's size."
The Mac's Enduring Role as a Development Platform
The Mac's unique position as the primary platform for developing software, especially for Apple's own ecosystem, is highlighted as a key differentiator that prevents the iPad from fully replacing it for certain professional users.
- wpm argues, "You still could t ditch the Mac because itâs the only platform you can develop apps on due to its yucky, âlegacyâ feature ofâŚ.letting you run software on it without Apples âapprovalâ... Even Apple canât get around that. The Mac sticks around for this very reason: as a dev platform."
The Role of Simplicity vs. Choice and Upselling
There's a debate on whether Apple's complex offerings are a deliberate strategy to upsell customers or if consumers, particularly sophisticated ones, appreciate a wider range of choices.
- throwfaraway4 asserts, "I don't see how this is any different from variation/choices in other lifestyle products. Many consumers are sophisticated and appreciate choice."
- saynay suggests the complexity is deliberate: "The confusing choices are deliberate way to exploit psychology of potential buyers into up-selling themselves. The idea is to entice them by the more reasonable base price, but use the uncertainty on if it will really meet their needs to push them up a ladder of upgrades."
- JumpCrisscross counters this upselling theory, stating, "There is a lot of consumer research that suggests the opposite: analysis paralysis delays a purchase past the point where impulsivity might have pushed a customer over the line."
The Potential of Future Platforms (Vision Pro)
A forward-looking perspective is presented, with some users seeing the Apple Vision Pro as a potential future computing platform that could consolidate or even replace existing devices, thus resolving the current product differentiation challenges.
- Almondsetat believes, "From Apple's point of view, Apple Vision (Pro) is the ultimate platform. That's why I think they were so convinced in developing it. If VR/AR headsets follow the same transition we had between the first gigantic mobile phones of the 80s and the pocketable ones of the 2000s, I could seriously see Apple throwing out all their consumer lineup (phone, watch, ipad, macbook) and only have a Vision device. This would solve all the problems regarding different experiences."
- gregoriol is more dismissive, stating, "the Apple Vision solves no problems, like the Apple Watch, they are just toys."
User Experience and Software Limitations on iPad
Several users point out persistent limitations in iPadOS that hinder its usability for power users or specific workflows, despite the hardware's capabilities.
- skydhash outlines several issues: "It still remains a crippled user experience in many ways: - PDF reader: Preview would be a nice addition... - Files: The Files.app is very clunky... - The weird stage manager: Even on a 13" screen, it's hard to manage more than two apps side by side." They also mention the lack of browser profiles as a detriment.
- The discussion also touches on the removal of "slideover" in iPadOS, with Saddest noting it was "ultimately... the only multi-tasking feature I really used in the old iPadOS and it was really quite nice."
- weego considers typing on the iPad to be "an absolute chore compared to my phone because of worse ergonomics due to it's size."
- skydhash also critiques the iPad's reliance on a "cloud approach," stating, "when you don't control the cloud backend, nor the app, it's hard to customize your workflow. Which is kinda the first step to mastery."
Generational Differences in User Expectations
The discussion touches on how user expectations, shaped by generational experiences with technology, influence perceptions of device usability and complexity.
- cm277 suggests, "I am Gen X... I don't mind the complexity and upkeep of a Windows laptop with all the trimmings... But what about Gen Z who are used to simple, powerful technology with simplified apps and UIs? why would they/should they put up with legacy UX and ways of working?"
- dogleash disagrees with the premise about streamlined UIs for Gen Z, arguing, "The modern UIs are rife with more special cases, hidden gestures and non-transferable knowledge than the old âone mouse button is enoughâ or even early windowsâ ugly but constant model. Gen Z has harder UI, over a superficial simplicity that is really just a constrained interaction space."
Historical Perspective on Apple's "Dumbing Down" and Innovation
Some users reflect on Apple's history, particularly regarding the perception of "dumbing down" versus providing accessible yet powerful options.
- snowwrestler argues against the idea that Jobs "shaped Apple by dumbing things down," citing the inclusion of a Unix shell in OS X as an example of offering depth that users can ignore. They also note that the Wacom stylus predated the iPad, implying Apple was aware of stylus input for creative tasks.
- mitkebes recalls the initial buzz around the iPad's keyboard design, expecting a revolutionary solution, only to be met with a giant iPhone keyboard. They state, "Honestly that was the point where my opinion of Apple started to decline... it changed them in my eyes from a revolutionary tech company into one that just wanted to appear revolutionary."