Since many years the iPad owners had wished they could use it as a primary computer, but that could not be made possible as there was no real mouse support and very poor keyboard options. This forced the iPad to be a secondary device for many years but now things are likely to be changed with the new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro. The new keyboard option will allow the new high-end tablet by Apple to work like a traditional laptop much for the convenience of the people who are currently working from home during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In this sense Microsoft has always taken a different approach since a long time. It has been offering its Surface computers since 2012 that have trackpads, keyboards and a detachable screen and has also been encouraging its partner Dell on following the same suit. On the other hand Apple had a different idea and only focused on touch and then keyboards were not a priority until in 2017 when it introduced the Smart KeyBoard. Now it seems like Apple has realized the importance of having hybrid laptop-tablets which are something that people demand for.
That does not mean that the Surface and the other PC hybrids are the best devices in terms of hybrid tech. The problem with such devices is that they operate on a full version of Windows which means that it cannot operate about millions of applications which are actually optimized for touch and the iPad has. On the other hand the iPad Pro has another issue as many of its applications are not optimized for keyboard use and the new keyboard is not able to solve that issue but the only good thing about it I that it is a pleasure to use it.
The earlier iPad keyboards had soft buttons instead of keys but gae a feeling of a temporary solution.
Photo Credits: Cnet
