And the iPad Pro isn't a laptop. It's a tablet running a locked-down, irreplaceable mobile device OS.

It demonstrates panel availability, which has been argued in the past as why no modern 4:3 thinkpads will be produced.

Apple can buy panels in any shape or size they want, that doesn't demonstrate general panel availability in any way. Do you think the notched display in iphone is an off-the shelf module?

Do you think the panel supplier wouldn't be happy to sell more of a panel Apple made very cheap for them to manufacture at scale?

You can bet that Apple makes those suppliers sign exclusivity contracts, less to keep the panels out of the hands of competitors like Lenovo and more to keep the panels out of the hands of counterfeiters/knockoff-artists.

And yet you can buy that exact LCD on ebay.

Can you buy 5000 of them on eBay?

For the 9.7” and 12.9 screens, you can buy 5000 4:3 LCD panels per week:

https://m.alibaba.com/product/60629586392/wholesale-9-7-Inch...

https://m.alibaba.com/product/60590281374/Original-Multi-Tou...

It demonstrates panel availability up to 12.9 inches, but not necessarily up to 14.

That's perfect for an X series, a real one, like the X[346]0 line which ended with the wide screen takeover.

Right, but the originator of the thread was talking specifically about 14" laptops.

A small screen increases the risk of a small keyboard.