Earlier we had reported that Apple had plans to launch a new and larger “iPad Pro” later this year. The device is said to feature a larger 12.9” display which is a step up from the regular iPad Air and definite a lot bigger than the iPad mini, but what is the point? Wasn’t the trend shifting towards smaller and more portable tablets, not bigger ones? Well according to analyst Patrick Wang, the iPad Pro might not necessarily be a tablet per se, but rather a hybrid sort of device that is meant to bridge the gap between tablets and notebooks.If this sounds familiar, it’s because Microsoft has attempted to do something similar with Windows 8, creating an interface that encouraged touch input leading to OEMs creating hybrids, laptops with touchscreen displays that can also double up as a tablet (albeit a huge one). According to Wang, he believes this new iPad Pro will be powered by Apple’s new A8 chipset which is of the quad-core variety, and that we should “Expect a 2-1 hybrid – think iPad + MBA – similar to how most iPads are used in the workplace and in the same spirit of MSFT’s Surface.”
Wang also notes that the iPad Pro could feature larger storage which would appease the critics and satisfy enterprise users who might find that 128GB isn’t enough for enterprise-related work. As it stands Apple’s iWork productivity suite is available on the iPad as well and with the reports that Microsoft Office could arrive on the iPad in the not-too-distant future, it would certainly be an attractive option for enterprise customers. Do take it with a grain of salt for now, but what do you guys think of this iPad Pro hybrid device? Yay or nay?