Let's be entirely honest, also: A perfect "laptop" would be a convertible, or tablet + X. The Air is not missing touch; the iPad is missing a full-access operating system.
IMO, there is nothing a laptop has, a tablet couldn't. Just make it a tiny bit thicker, or add a detachable module for extra battery and ports and storage or whatever.
Why is it better? Most importantly, the ergonomic constraints of a laptop make it totally unfit for a device our lives grow around. It's a legacy, not necessity, now, as we got the power. With a tablet you can have an optional "iMac" setup with a minimalistic stand and free keyboard/touchpad.
Most of the time a laptop doesn't actually sit on a lap, so there is no need to ruin your back over the form factor.
Then there is pen input, which I became insanely dependant on. Hand written notes and little drawings are now essential for helping me to think and work. Visualizing an algorithm to understand it? Yeah like on paper, but add undo, copy/paste and move to it. Sign papers you got sent by mail and send them right back. Screenshot, annotate, process like a human. Imagine poking into e.g. assembly, but being able to draw on the code, highlight, look up... Really, how much "arkane" ASCII habits have we come up with, because we cannot easily fuse digital and AFK note taking? How often have you been _describing something, because you couldn't just draw an arrow right across the text, code, diagram and so on, to reference your note? It's crippling to our mind!
There is no fucking reason to have laptop and tablet as distinct atomic units. The constraints are entirely artificial to sell us both, at this point. If you sometimes need much more processing power, there should be an optional compute module, but really that's not an argument for the Air anyway.
You've been denied an _ergonomic, yet extremely mobile work environment, because people want to sell you both.
Your description sounds close to the Surface Book. I'm suprised Apple hasn't come up with a contender. I guess the market for that kind of device is just not big enough for them?
Yes! But the major pain is Windows (and the hardware, isn't as efficient) It's like a worse Apple. I would also immediately go with a thinkpad $X Yoga, if there was a ryzen AND >FHD model.
I think most people looking for a "laptop" just aren't aware, how useful a pen is. They don't think "annotate everything", anymore, even tho they grew up like that. Their mind has grown bend over the laptop.
The device itself isn't all to the appeal, too: The inter app operability is key to get the mind free. iOS does this quite well, superficially. But for me the honey moon phase ended when I realized - well, Stallman was right!
The locked down, and locking-in, overly profit-driven ecosystem just kills it for me.
I believe an ultimate device like that could really revive the Linux desktop, because the device would thrive with a holistic ecosystem, where apps can coexist, don't habe to fight for the user's wallet.
Well I pay Apple for two devices now, laptop and iPad, rather than just one.
I think at some point they will eventually do it, but why rush it while you’re still raking in money.
I’m suspicious multi-user iPad support is delayed for similar reasons. Many spouses have their own iPad now, when they could probably share if there was multi user support.
I have a surfaceBook- I never take off the keyboard. I would never use a touch-screen on a laptop as finger marks on the screen are not optimal for working.
I get that about touch. For me typing and touch/pen input would make two distinct modes. In typing mode, I absolutely want the precision of a mouse/touchpad. Arms need to be rested on the table or similar. Working free-..ehm.. armed, in front of you is a disproven scifi-only concept. Same as transparent displays...
IMO, there is nothing a laptop has, a tablet couldn't. Just make it a tiny bit thicker, or add a detachable module for extra battery and ports and storage or whatever.
Why is it better? Most importantly, the ergonomic constraints of a laptop make it totally unfit for a device our lives grow around. It's a legacy, not necessity, now, as we got the power. With a tablet you can have an optional "iMac" setup with a minimalistic stand and free keyboard/touchpad.
Most of the time a laptop doesn't actually sit on a lap, so there is no need to ruin your back over the form factor. Then there is pen input, which I became insanely dependant on. Hand written notes and little drawings are now essential for helping me to think and work. Visualizing an algorithm to understand it? Yeah like on paper, but add undo, copy/paste and move to it. Sign papers you got sent by mail and send them right back. Screenshot, annotate, process like a human. Imagine poking into e.g. assembly, but being able to draw on the code, highlight, look up... Really, how much "arkane" ASCII habits have we come up with, because we cannot easily fuse digital and AFK note taking? How often have you been _describing something, because you couldn't just draw an arrow right across the text, code, diagram and so on, to reference your note? It's crippling to our mind!
There is no fucking reason to have laptop and tablet as distinct atomic units. The constraints are entirely artificial to sell us both, at this point. If you sometimes need much more processing power, there should be an optional compute module, but really that's not an argument for the Air anyway.
You've been denied an _ergonomic, yet extremely mobile work environment, because people want to sell you both.
There is no other reason.
(Also Linux please)