Google Pixel C and iPad Pro hint at hybrid trend; but could they beat Microsoft Surface?

Soon after Apple launched the 12.9-inch iPad Pro aimed at enterprise, Google is likely to pull the wraps off the 10.2-inch tablet called Pixel C with a detachable keyboard. Yes, a large tablet with a detachable keyboard, we popularly know as hybrid, reports AndroidPolice. But isn’t that something we’ve seen Microsoft churn out years ago. Looks like, now everyone wants a Microsoft Surface-clone. Interestingly, the brand ‘Pixel’ is associated with the company’s Chromebook range. Now, Chromebooks are doing well and market research firm Gartner has estimated 7.3 million Chromebooks to be sold this year. In 2013, Chromebooks even surpassed Macbook sales figures. However, though there is an interest about Chromebooks among small and medium businesses, demand from businesses is yet to pick up, Gartner said.   Apple, on the other hand, was quite clear on how its gigantic iPad Pro is all about enterprise. It possibly expects the iPad Pro to replace your PCs and laptops just like iPhone once replaced all those BlackBerrys used for official purposes. Now, hybrids aren’t something new and the whole fascination about a tablet that can be converted into a laptop whenever required has been around for sometime now. While all three ace it on the hardware front, the differentiating and the most crucial deciding factors are the OS they run. Chromebooks run Android OS and the new Pixel C will get the latest Android flavour of Marshmallow. The openness of the platform has also made it quite vulnerable to security and privacy threats – one of the reasons why the devices haven’t picked up in the business space and compelled Google to launch Android for Work. Apple’s diving into the enterprise market makes sense considering the rise in sale of Microsoft Surface Pro 3 and other similar laptops over the past year. It has tried to tick all the chords right such as larger display, split screen apps, business friendly peripherals, large onboard storage, and more customisation. However, it may not be enough. The iPad Pro isn’t giving you options like choosing from several configurations with varying processors, RAM, and likewise liberty to choose a specific configuration. So, it is more like an iPad on steroids. [caption id=“attachment_280933” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  The iPad Pro is more like an iPad on steroids[/caption] Well, that’s not all. The big factor here is the OS – iOS 9 – which is still best suited for mobile devices. Some have been arguing how iOS 9 will exploit the potential of 64-bit, making it a better and secure replacement for a PC. However, it still won’t work as a full fledged PC. “It’s the third quarter of Surface Pro 3 sales, and things don’t appear to be slowing down. Surface-related revenue ($713 million) has increased by 44 percent from the same period last year. Once again, actual Surface sales are still unknown as Microsoft refuses to break them out, but the trend of Surface revenue increasing is a good indication that Microsoft’s tablet laptop hybrid is steadily increasing its user base,” points out the most recent report on TheVerge. Finally, there is reason why the Surface Pro that once showed shameful sales numbers, is finally picking up. The PC market is shrinking, but that is because people are looking for a more portable, efficient and work-friendly replacement. A tablet could never replace a PC as we look for the convenience that comes from a mouse and keyboard. Similarly, we are also looking for a strong and stable OS that provides a full fledged PC experience, and Microsoft is now offering it with Windows OS hybrids. With the Windows RT and different OSes jargon all gone away and a host of sturdy Office features in, Microsoft has simply upped the ante when it comes to the hybrid market and is slowly picking up pace. Both Apple and Google are leaders when it comes to mobile, but Microsoft still rules when it comes to offering a PC experience on a more portable device.