Because Apple had said multiple times that they fundamentally don't believe in a one device world. Tablets are tablets, desktops are desktops. Mixing the two bastardizes both.

Microsoft doesn't agree, and Win8 is a hybrid that supports both interactions. Ubuntu is showing it will do the same.

Personally, I think Apple are seriously short-sighted in their approach. The other possibility I they are being very long sighted and waiting for the desktops' inevitable death in the consumer market. However, they've shown nothing that indicates they know how Mum and Dad are going to write their Christmas letters, or edit that important work document that has to get done tonight but they're home sick.

They say that, but with all the device consolidation features (iCloud, syncing, unified messages, launchpad, dock with no indicator lights, automatic process management), they are playing out a different tune.

I think Apple is aware of this trend, and is going to eventually act on it.

I still hope Ubuntu does it well first, because I'd love to have an affordable OSS solution.

> Microsoft doesn't agree, and Win8 is a hybrid that supports both interactions. Ubuntu is showing it will do the same.

Yes, why do one thing well when you can do two things adequately?

I think this fundamental difference separates Apple from nearly everyone else in the markets in which they compete.

Apple's vision is similar to Sun's: one ID that allows you to transport your data (incl. apps for appropriate platform) to all your Apple devices... Have you ever used a Sun-Ray[1]? It's like that, except for apps/data, not sessions.

Personally, I don't think Win8 is anything like Ubuntu for Android. Microsoft has the same problem as Apple: they don't want you to stop buying desktops, as both companies make a lot of money on continued sales of traditional computers. Whereas Apple created a whole new device platform in the iPad and iPhone, Microsoft is trying to merge the two markets back together... while at the same time relying on the computing profits to keep their overall margins up. Meanwhile Google and Canonical would happily cannibalize any revenue from desktops for the much greater potential in mobile.

I think it's a little early to say that Windows 8 will only make for an adequate tablet interface. Windows Phone shows they know what they're doing when they put their heart into it.

I don't think Apple wants to sell desktops at all. I think they'd like OS X gone in 5-10 years.

How would you write your iOS apps?

The rumour is that Microsoft Office is going to be released for the iPad in a few weeks.