I always thought the iPad could simply run macOS with just a few settings tweaks, like defaulting to LaunchPad after closing all the open windows, instead of just show in the desktop, and having developers optimize the full screen view for touch.

Of course, Apple removing LaunchPad in macOS 26 moves them further away from this concept.

No idea if this will ever happen, but I’m pleased the author is at least differentiating between people who want to use the iPad as Steve Jobs described it originally, as a couch computer, and those who want it as a laptop replacement.

I am firmly in the couch computer camp, but it feels like most articles I read just assume that everyone wants to use a mouse and do fine-grained window management with their iPad.

Interesting take.

I'd assumed situation was other way around - largely based Apple's continued omission of desktop class functionality for macOS in SwiftUI e.g. tree view, multi-window, sensible undo support etc and addition of of overlapping capabilities to iPadOS e.g. Stage Manager, mouse support etc.

Looked very much like Apple were on reasonable path to replacing macOS's aging NeXTSTEP UI underpinnings by evolving iPadOS UI into a replacement strategy.

Hope article is right, it would be good to see Apple's give their desktop platform a bit of the love they've focused on their other platforms.