Mouse support eventually coming to iPad Pro?

by bob_shutts

Posted on April 23, 2019

24

That’s the word from sites like MacRumors. My thoughts: What took them so long? Would this (adversely) affect sales of MS Surface? Time will tell.

Comments (25)

25 responses to “Mouse support eventually coming to iPad Pro?”

  1. lvthunder

    So you want us to speculate about the outcome of someone else speculation (or at least unidentified sources).

    2 years ago
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  2. Vladimir Carli

    I am one person that would probably not have bought a surface book 2 if the ipad pro had mouse support. I don't know how many like me...

    2 years ago
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  3. provision l-3

    Okay, I made the mistake of not reading the MacRumors article prior to commenting here and I am actually think people might be misinterpreting this rumor. I mean it's a rumor so by it's nature its kinda open to interpreting. Anyway this is what it is based on:


    "What I heard is without adapters, you will be able to use any USB mouse on your iPad, but as an accessibility device," said Viticci. "The iPad Pro has a USB-C port, so just plug in a USB mouse and if you have physical impairments, if you have any other kinds of motor impairments, just use a USB mouse in accessibility mode." 


    I find it odd that the mouse would need to be connected via USB rather than Bluetooth and USB. Also, that it is being implemented as an accessibility device makes me think that the assumption that it would be used in the same way normally think of a mouse used might be incorrect.

    2 years ago
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    • letsmakeitbetter

      In reply to provision l-3:

      Misinterpreting desperately as any mouse is likely to turn into bluetooth mouse and probably trackpad options down the line. In my humble opinion it's the key brick in the wall to have IOS as the OS of choice for the bulk of demand for the non business world.

      Microsoft not surprisingly has failed to have excellent Apps like we see in IOS and Android. Windows 8 a bridge too far.

      Googles slowness to appreciate that phones drive Apps as a universal concept versus the browser approach of Chromebooks and they are behind as a hardware manufacturer and distributor compared to Apple.

      Apple is the middle ground platform to take Apps from both Microsoft and Google and everyone else plus they make great hardware.

      To younger people Apps are computing as they are brought up on phones.

      Game almost over if Apple risk the threat to Mac OS. The current slowing of iPad sales hopefully mean they will take the step.

      Google of course well positioned to strike back with Android against Apple unlike Microsoft.

      Windows and Mac OS future is for real work only maybe?

      I love Windows but demand is not going to grow anytime soon.

      Microsoft too slow on Arm architecture/cellular integration and missing the App platform that IOS and Android enjoy driven out of the phone market.

      Am I wrong and if I am how does Microsoft grow and prosper beyond business?


      2 years ago
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  4. letsmakeitbetter

    Can't wait for June to see if this is in IOS13?

    Tablet dominance by the iPad with great Apps lacking in Windows topped off with mouse capability to allow text intensive work will finally make a genuine laptop challenger for the great majority.


    Can imagine a fold over 2 in 1 iPad laptop with keyboard and trackpad as a real killer device in education.

    Probably more watch out Chromebook than Surface.

    Wow Google future as a provider of great Apps for Apple devices, reminds me of another tech giant.


    The ease of cellular built into iPad for years versus the clumsy limited implementation in Windows (Intel failure rather than Microsoft?) will make it attractive to mobile business users though including me.


    To those that say it won't happen I suspect they were saying something around 2010 like the iPad will never sell in volume because why would you want one. The market answered that question.


    The future of mouse capability in iPad is not if but when. Time will tell, can't wait.

    2 years ago
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    • AnOldAmigaUser

      In reply to Letsmakeitbetter:

      Pricing makes the iPad Pro a non starter for most people. It will not threaten Chromebook, again, for cost reasons. Schools are not going to swap low cost, low maintenance Chromebooks for expensive iPads, which are still, for the most part, single user devices.


      It will make the iPad Pro, already a good device, much better; and it will certainly make it suitable for more people at the higher end of the market.

      2 years ago
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      • letsmakeitbetter

        In reply to AnOldAmigaUser:

        Agree on the iPad Pro. The prices are eye watering and make me wish Microsoft would do a better job with the Surface Go.

        The basic iPad though at a good price points the way to an education solution.

        The pencil went from iPad Pro only right down to all iPads today.

        My money is on same thing happening with keyboard/trackpad iPad 2 in 1.

        Multiple user / File system issue will need resolving too of course.

        2 years ago
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        • AnOldAmigaUser

          In reply to Letsmakeitbetter:

          I will have to agree to disagree here.

          The basic iPad is not a bad price, but it is still a single user device by design, and requires a keyboard as well as a mouse/trackpad and/or pencil. Low cost Chromebooks and PCs do not, need any additional hardware. On the software side, most school districts are signing up for G-Suite or Office 365 education, to provide the collaborative framework, and basic applications. This sort of leaves Apple out of the equation.

          The final nail in the coffin is that there are enough horror stories of iPad deployment in education (LA Unified SD comes to mind) that the decision makers are likely to feel it is too risky.

          (Like your avatar, by the way)

          2 years ago
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          • letsmakeitbetter

            In reply to AnOldAmigaUser:

            As things stand now you are right but Apple used to be huge in education and they have the elements to do this again.

            Software side indeed tricky and G-Suite Office 365 options seem rather unchallenged by Apple.

            The lack of functionality in iCloud is way short of Microsoft and Google and Pages and Numbers ouch.

            Room for Microsoft and Google to control software and service with hardware and OS dominated by Apple with a further developed IOS.

            Thanks for your avatar compliment - it's a proud New Zealand icon.


            2 years ago
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  5. provision l-3

    What took them so long?

    Apple's m.o. is to take their time in implementing features. The idea being that it makes more sense to get it right and not change it rather than do it quickly and have to change it. "Cut and Paste" is an example of something that took awhile to make it into iOS.


    Would this (adversely) affect sales of MS Surface? 

    No. People's insistence on comparing the devices is more a hold over from the PC vs. Mac days than anything actually based in reality.

    2 years ago
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    • Vladimir Carli

      In reply to provision l-3:


      I think the only reason why they didn't add mouse support is to avoid cannibalizing mac sales. If the ipad becomes a good laptop replacement it would hurt surface a bit but mostly macbooks. If they really decided to go forward with this is because probably there is little left to cannibalize

      2 years ago
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      • provision l-3

        In reply to Vladimir:

        It's a fair point. Though I don't know that losing MacBook sales to iPad sales is a huge issue as they are still selling a product and retaining the customer. Obviously there wold be some finical impact as the ASP for iPads is lower than MacBooks but even that wold be somewhat limited as the iPads that are rumored to be getting mouse support are the Pros (more expensive) and I would guess the cannibalization would largely be to the MacBook Air (less expensive). But all of that is a wild ass guess on my part.

        2 years ago
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    • wp7mango

      In reply to provision l-3:

      Except that implementating mouse support doesn't really need time to get it right, since both Windows and MacOS have had it right for many many years.


      Why would you do it differently in iOS?

      2 years ago
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      • Truffles

        In reply to WP7Mango:
        Why would you do it differently in iOS?
        How do you do multi-touch with a mouse?


        2 years ago
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      • provision l-3

        In reply to WP7Mango:

        I understand what you are saying and it is antithetical to how Apple approaches things. They don't simply apply how what was done elsewhere to something new. You could make the same argument for cut and paste. It had been around for well over a decade when the iPhone came out but Apple felt the change in UI required rethinking how to implement it.


        You may disagree with Apple's approach and that is totally fine. I wasn't defending it I was simply answering the question that was asked. Apple is very deliberate in how they do things and will take their time to do it.




        2 years ago
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        • skane2600

          In reply to provision l-3:

          "You could make the same argument for cut and paste."


          You could, people did, and the criticism was valid.

          2 years ago
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          • provision l-3

            In reply to skane2600:

            Again, I am not defending Apple's approach. I am answer a question that was asked. Not sure why that is so perplexing.

            2 years ago
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            • skane2600

              In reply to provision l-3:

              You said "The idea being that it makes more sense to get it right and not change it rather than do it quickly and have to change it."


              That sounds like a bit of defense to me and the often-heard excuse back in the day. Was there reason to believe that copy/paste was so challenging that they were in danger of doing it wrong the first time?

              2 years ago
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              • provision l-3

                In reply to skane2600:

                It could be seen as defense but only if you take the sentence out of context rather than acknowledging it as being an extrapolation of the sentence it follows. It's pretty clearly offering detail on the idea behind the modus operandi.


                Again, a person can speak to the ideas of another as a type of explanation without weighing in on the quality of said idea. I get that you want to have an argument about Apple's actions but you are barking up the wrong tree.





                2 years ago
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