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iPad Air vs. Microsoft's Surface Go: Which Is a Better Laptop Replacement?
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It always depends on what you want to do with a computer. For me I could use a tablet for my computing needs because they are very minimal these days. However if I didn’t have a laptop at all and this was to be my only computer, I’d pick the surface Go simply because it runs a more traditional computer OS. However I’d still use it in conjunction with another iPad.
Yes. I believe this is what Icaras is talking about. I am ok with that design choice. Maybe Icaras does not like it.
Excellent summary that reflects my experience of the Surface Go. For travel it’s ideal and in everyday use replicates the desktop experience. The reviewers statements about clunky performance when multitasking aren’t borne out in practice (at least on the higher spec version of the Go). Also, one hopes that the OS updates will keep coming for the life of the hardware, unlike Apple’s built in obsolescence policy.
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The Mac gets update for quite a while. My 2014 MacBook Air is still receiving updates although not all features are support in the latest update like sidecar.
My 2012 MBA will evidently get Catalina this year. That's 7-8 years of software support already. I think most people would have upgraded their laptop by then.
Im afraid I will stick to the laptop for now. I think there are cases where an iPad could replace a laptop but I’ve not seen it work yet.
As some anecdotal evidence, our managers a few years back bought themselves iPads promising they were instead of laptops and then gave up on the iPads, they just did it again when the updated pros came out, guess what they went back to their laptops mostly again. So now we are in a situation where we have bought twice the hardware and have to support both units with no real business value being added.
As some anecdotal evidence, our managers a few years back bought themselves iPads promising they were instead of laptops and then gave up on the iPads, they just did it again when the updated pros came out, guess what they went back to their laptops mostly again. So now we are in a situation where we have bought twice the hardware and have to support both units with no real business value being added.
Dumb comparison.
The Surface is a laptop, where you have to purchase the keyboard separately. Obviously it can work as a "laptop" better than an iPad since it IS a laptop.
But of course, the conclusion is correct. Why bother with the Surface if you can get an actual laptop (with the keyboard included, and built-in for convenience!) for the same price? Chromebooks are the real thread to Widows laptops. Heck, even in the enterprise level, I would highly consider Chromebooks if the company uses GSuite, than a regular Windows laptop.
The Surface is a laptop, where you have to purchase the keyboard separately. Obviously it can work as a "laptop" better than an iPad since it IS a laptop.
But of course, the conclusion is correct. Why bother with the Surface if you can get an actual laptop (with the keyboard included, and built-in for convenience!) for the same price? Chromebooks are the real thread to Widows laptops. Heck, even in the enterprise level, I would highly consider Chromebooks if the company uses GSuite, than a regular Windows laptop.
I’ve never had a windows laptop last this long so I don’t even know how long they get updates for. They’ve all been plagued with hardware faults of software bugs and been unusable after 2 years.
For laptops, it's actually more about ~10 years of usage, especially if the laptop is still functioning.
My 2012 Macbook Air (which has been relegated to a relative) is still functioning and performing well. It would be sad if Apple pulled out OS support after Catalina simply because of its age.
But the problem I have is him saying the iPad version is superior because it lays flat because you can have the surface go version lay flat as well and probably the only reason Apple didn't implement it that way is because the I pad doesn't have a kickstand, otherwise they might have gone with the same approach.
I don’t have experience with the ‘Microsoft Go’, but I can tell you aside from the hardware comparisons that have already been made in this thread, I look at considerations like support of longevity through iOS updates and the maturity of the iPad over the years. I think what’s really impressive about the iPad, is how long they actually last, and well past their iOS support even when it’s discontinued, because the hardware is _that_ good. That says a lot about the dominance of the iPad over the years in terms of withstanding against the competition.
As far as actually which is the better ‘laptop replacement’, well that depends what you’re using you're actually using your iPad for.
As far as actually which is the better ‘laptop replacement’, well that depends what you’re using you're actually using your iPad for.
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But then Timmy wouldnt make it to where you have to buy a Macbook and a tablet and spend more money! That's really the only reason they haven't yet. Why have people buy one device that is 1000 dollars instead of a laptop thats 1000 already and hopes of getting you to spend insane amounts for better specd options and a iPad where you have to spend insane amounts to get one with enough storage since you cant add a SD Card....
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Because you can have a full laptop in a tablet form factor....
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You do release when it comes to old hardware and newer OS support, in the windows world there is hardware that was made before the iPad even existed that can still run the newest OS right? A laptop bought in 2007 could still technically run windows 10 if it was a decent spec'd machine then.
Personal opinion trackpads are abhorrent on WIndows PCs MacOS and Linux and that nipple on thinkpads don’t get me on that.
Mice Okay through
That’s not remotely even a relevant comparison. Five years of iOS support is primarily the base minimum and an iPad can perform well beyond discontinued support, says milestones about not just the hardware, but the software experience with the iPad. But then again, the argument is not about the software, it’s about determining what the user needs to configure how an iPad could be a laptop replacement. That’s the purpose of this article, am I right?
One is a tablet, one is a laptop.. so I think the laptop might win this laptop competition lol
I was using it to compare how long Windows OS support will go. If you bought a Surface now going buy what windows has done in the past, you could run the OS they release in 12+ years from now on it still.
Sigh. No. I’ve never questioned why there is a trackpad. I never once have asked “why does the Surface have a trackpad?” I’m merely questioning why the keyboard attachment must look exactly like that of the bottom half of a laptop when there are no batteries in that bottom half to justify so much unused space.
That’s it. Merely a design aesthetic question. Nothing more. Now let’s move on please.
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I can’t believe I have to like this comment.
I have found with Microsoft's Windows Virtual Desktop (in public preview) I don't really need a dedicated notebook or desktop for that matter. I use my iPad with onedrive for travel and light tasks when disconnected but can easily connect to a full win10 machine for a normal full work day. Honestly I doubt I ever buy a standard PC/notebook ever again. Disclaimer, I run www.cloudjumper.com and our entire staff operates in pretty much this manner.
But the keyboard is only usable in the flat position because in the raised position it wobbles too much....
That is obviously true but maybe the iPad is not meant to replace a computer because it wouldn’t be an iPad any longer....I have given up waiting for an iPad that can do all my professional work. Instead I use multiple devices like the Surface Go for basic desktop apps and full external display/mouse support on the road, the iMac with two 27“ displays for my job tasks and the iPad for web/mail/media and remote desktops....
For me the Surface Pro is a laptop with a different case design. Nobody is using this thing as a tablet like the iPad....
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It depends what productivity means. Not everyone is doing video or Photoshop jobs as their profession. I use things like putty, WinSCP, Remote Desktop, browsing with Java and Flash support and many other small tools to earn my money and for that the Go is perfectly fine (and least on the road)....
Yep, but here we are in 2019 with these stupid threads popping up. One runs a desktop OS, the other a limited mobile OS. But the question is which is better to replace a laptop when one IS a laptop and the other is a big ipod touch.