[polyomino]

They don't put MacOS on iPad because they want MacOS to slowly die and make App Store the only way to install software. This has nothing to do with cannibalizing Mac.

[hshdhdhehd]

It is worrying that the machines many of HN rely on are the minority of their revenue so they'd not even flinch financially to mess up that product line. TF for Linux/x86/arm as an alternative ecosystem that is not controlled by one party.

[dbtc]

If they did, I would also replace my iPhone, and I'd help family do the same.

[moritz]

It’s astonishing to me that even so many long-term Apple observers don’t see this, even though they are sorta obvious about it. “Now that the hardware is so close, the systems converge, etc., there is really no reason iPad will not eventually run macOS” – No, macOS will continue to be dumbed and locked down (“security!!11”) until the point where the Macs can be safely switched over from the terribly open legacy OS.

[skylurk]

You might be right, but if MacOS dies, how will Apple develop for iOS etc?

[hshdhdhehd]

And app developers too. Maybe sister comment about something cloud. Can fleece devs for more money too, bonus!

[iknowstuff]

probably some subscription cloud environments

[Thorrez]

They could improve the development environment on iPadOS, or make it possible to develop for iOS on Linux.

[pjmlp]

Have a iPadOS version of a development environment?

A grown up version of Playground.

[WorldPeas]

probably some sort of "ai" app builder interface. They've always flirted with the layperson programming with their languages like hypertalk. I wouldn't be surprised if they figure out a way to achieve even greater lock-in capture