iPad Pro iPad Pro vs Surface Pro 4

[MadeByApple]

I totally agree on the multitasking within an app thing, I don't understand how that hasn't been addressed yet. Hopefully in iOS 10.

I personally would go for the MacBook Air / iPad Pro combo because then you have a true laptop that can run all the OS X / Windows applications as well as an extremely powerful tablet that can run everything on iOS. The Pro is only half a pound heavier than the Air, and will probably fit into all the same bags, and has your stylus support. I expect it to be a really amazing device, whereas the Surface Pro, in my opinion, isn't an excellent laptop or an excellent tablet, just a 'pretty good' combination of both. And it runs Windows. Just my 2 cents but I hope you enjoy whichever combo you choose!

I really wanted to do the MacBook Air and iPad pro combo, but the multitasking on IOS isn't there yet.

I personally find nothing awful with Windows right now. Like OSX it has its quirks and moments

I agree Windows has come a long way.

Windows doesn't have the best touch-friendly apps (tablet mode), but that's why I bought an iPad Air 2.

 

[peterpan123]

Microsoft Japan said no international warranty for Surface PRO 4 :-(

 

[peterpan123]

I personally would go for the MacBook Air / iPad Pro combo because then you have a true laptop that can run all the OS X / Windows applications as well as an extremely powerful tablet that can run everything on iOS.

Why MacBook Air / iPad PRO combo is better than MacBook / iPad PRO combo?

I use have been using the rMBP 15" / Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 combo. The latter is my phone also. A bit too heavy to carry both.

Microsoft Japan told me that there is no way to add cellular LTE function to Surface PRO 4, not even through 3rd party device. Is this really true?

 

[Serban]

Microsoft Japan said no international warranty for Surface PRO 4 :-(

why?
because they lie

 

[Sym0]

I really wanted to do the MacBook Air and iPad pro combo, but the multitasking on IOS isn't there yet.


I agree Windows has come a long way.

Windows doesn't have the best touch-friendly apps (tablet mode), but that's why I bought an iPad Air 2.

Me too, I caved and got the 128GB LTE Air 2, decided the size and processor bump wasn't enough when I get a free upgrade next year anyway.

The main thing I was after was split screen and the speakers.

 

[modernaccord]

I use a Surface Pro 4 and iPad Mini 4 LTE.

Microsofts SP4 is really quite good, and honestly if it weren't for my addiction to iMessage, would become my primary tablet. Now of course, I'm thinking iPad Pro.

 

[fieldsphotos]

"Regarding the Apple Pencil, Speirs said that it was “extremely impressive” and the “best iPad stylus” he has ever used with near-perfect palm rejection. He noted that there was no perceptible lag and that it offered a direct drawing a writing experience – huge for animation and note taking. Speirs said the Pencil was “weighty but not heavy” and very balanced, much like a quality pen."
so 1 accessory is best of the best

"Best iPad stylus" isn't saying much since they are all poor compromises vs Wacom or even N-trig. I am waiting to see some real reviews on the Pencil once artists get their hands on them vs tech writers.

 

[Macalway]

I just got a SP4. Traded up from a SP3. It seems there are subtle improvements. The SP3 was already very good, so this makes sense. There are also great improvements, such as the keyboard and pen (magnet).

But I probably need an iPad more as I already have a notebook, and the Surface is more of a notebook, than a true tablet, like the iPad is.

The iPad with instance on, is something I need. The things about iOS that people complain about are actually why I buy it: things like, lack of an up front file system, rigid control over windows, files, etc.

BTW, sleep mode is not instant-on, or will it ever be.

 

[sfwalter]

I just got a SP4. Traded up from a SP3. It seems there are subtle improvements. The SP3 was already very good, so this makes sense. There are also great improvements, such as the keyboard and pen (magnet).

But I probably need an iPad more as I already have a notebook, and the Surface is more of a notebook, than a true tablet, like the iPad is.

The iPad with instance on, is something I need. The things about iOS that people complain about are actually why I buy it: things like, lack of an up front file system, rigid control over windows, files, etc.

BTW, sleep mode is not instant-on, or will it ever be.

Thats interesting. I just assumed the Surface Pro was instant on.

 

[Macalway]

Thats interesting. I just assumed the Surface Pro was instant on.

It's just a laptop with a detachable screen and a pen.

I'm not sure what you mean here. It's ambiguous. It's really a sleep mode, which is instant on, like all sleep modes, but it's different.

Others who actually know something, might explain it better

Sorry

 

[flux73]

Why do these comparison threads come up way before a product is even released? Might as well ask if you should get an iPhone 7 or Galaxy S7.

Yeah the iPad Pro was previewed, but without any doubt, there will be new apps that come out that will take advantage of the larger screen and the Pencil. So until that happens, is there any point to asking a forum for help choosing between them?

 

[max2]

I bought a Surface 3 and tried liking it but had to return it. There is not nearly as many apps on it plus the apps that are on it that have a ios version too don't work nearly as well as the ios or android version of the app.

Though it was a nice laptop.

I wanted a nice tablet too though.

 

[blitzwing]

I bought a Surface 3 and tried liking it but had to return it. There is not nearly as many apps on it plus the apps that are on it that have a ios version too don't work nearly as well as the ios or android version of the app.

Though it was a nice laptop.

I wanted a nice tablet too though.

that's exactly my SP3 experience. So much for the tablet that can replace your laptop but not your iPad lol

 

[ApplePhy]

I had the surface Pro three and ended up getting rid of it. As a laptop it was OK, however changing aspect ratios to an easier to see font was very Cloogy at best and the one problem that I absolutely could not get past was the fact that in tablet mode the keyboard would actually cover-up whatever you were looking at. And didn't scale up and push everything up so you can go up and down and see everything it actually just covered it up.

In the end after trying for about six months I gave up and went right back to my iPad. It's a much smooth experience much more refined and everything works a lot more efficiently.

Exactly. I find that when people speak of the Surface Pro line, they often tout the powerful processor, and how it's able to run full windows, on what is essentially a tablet.

However, I'm curious to see how many of these folks actually use their Surface Pros as a tablet, and how enjoyable this experience is. From what I've read (and correct me if I'm wrong), as a tablet the battery life is poor (4-6hours), and the whole general touch experience is not as smooth as the iPad is.

What people often forget is that because iPad runs iOS (which is optimized for a mobile experience---tablet or phone), the experience of using it as a tablet is quite efficient.

 

[JeffMorse]

Former owner of an iPad here. I bought an SP4 because it was supposed to be the best available option. Well, that may be true for a lot of people but frankly I miss my iPad. I'll be refunding the SP4 and getting a Pro I think. ApplePhy has a good point. SP4 makes for a great portable computer - turns out that's really not what I want though.

 

[Daku93]

I have the first Gen Surface Pro, and it was a pretty nice tablet when it still ran Windows 8.1. With Windows 10 Microsoft focused too much on making the Laptop Users happy and lots of nice tablet features got lost. So now it is a pretty nice Laptop, but as a tablet it really sucks.
And as I don't really need another laptop next to my Macbook, I will replace the Surface Pro with an iPad Pro.

 

[sracer]

Thats interesting. I just assumed the Surface Pro was instant on.

The Surface Pro is "instant on" in the way that any notebook put in standby is "instant on". The difference between the After a set amount of time, (3 hours?, I've seen it change with various updates) it goes into hybernate/sleep. Waking the Surface Pro from that state is not "instant on".

I bought a Surface 3 and tried liking it but had to return it. There is not nearly as many apps on it plus the apps that are on it that have a ios version too don't work nearly as well as the ios or android version of the app.

Though it was a nice laptop.

I wanted a nice tablet too though.

Microsoft themselves acknowledge that the Surface makes a great notebook but lousy tablet by always advertising the Surface with the optional keyboard cover. There is no Microsoft ad for the Surface that shows only the tablet being used as a tablet. Microsoft also doesn't sell a cover that does NOT have a keyboard (eg. they don't sell a smart cover)...probably because they don't expect people to buy the Surface without a keyboard.

 

[modernaccord]

SP4 instant on is a half-baked, battery draining, sleep mode that doesn't work half the time. This may just be an SP4 specific firmware issue, but I find it annoying.

That being said, I still love my SP4. It does replace my laptop and gives an excellent tablet experience when I want one.

However, I consider the iPad to be in a different class. I use the iPad to consume media and read the news whilst sipping tea or coffee on my couch at home. I also use it for google maps on the go and supplement my Tmobile data with Verizon coverage (I travel internationally a lot which is why I keep Tmo).

SP4 is a wonderful computer that happens to be a tablet, but my iPad Mini 4 is a wonderful tablet that does only that. And it does it better than any other tablet on the market.

 

[fieldsphotos]

I think some people were hoping the "pro" iPad would be more like a surface and run some version of OSX.

That is what I was hoping. I want the stylus, but I want the stylus to use with Photoshop, illustrator and Manga Studio. I bought a Samsung note at one point, but while the Wacom stylus was amazing, the apps were too limiting. So I was looking for more of a portable stylus-capable laptop alternative vs a pure tablet. Once I realized that, I skipped the surfaces all together and bought a Vaio Z Canvas. Which is a "heavy" 12" tablet that is actually a super ultraportable Windows laptop in disguise.

So I will skip the iPad pro for now. My iPad Air 2 does "tablet" things great, and the Vaio works for my travel photography and design needs.

Maybe in a few iterations if we see better software support for the iPad Pro I may consider one.

 

[RickTaylor]

I think some people were hoping the "pro" iPad would be more like a surface and run some version of OSX.

That is what I was hoping. I want the stylus, but I want the stylus to use with Photoshop, illustrator and Manga Studio. I bought a Samsung note at one point, but while the Wacom stylus was amazing, the apps were too limiting. So I was looking for more of a portable stylus-capable laptop alternative vs a pure tablet. Once I realized that, I skipped the surfaces all together and bought a Vaio Z Canvas. Which is a "heavy" 12" tablet that is actually a super ultraportable Windows laptop in disguise.

So I will skip the iPad pro for now. My iPad Air 2 does "tablet" things great, and the Vaio works for my travel photography and design needs.

Maybe in a few iterations if we see better software support for the iPad Pro I may consider one.

I bought the SP3, then returned it thinking I'd get a Surface book, but instead ended up getting a Thinkpad Yoga 14 with active pen. My motivations were similar to yours; I decided what I really wanted was a laptop that I could also use for making technical diagrams and writing notes. And I have my iPad mini 4 for my tablet needs.

 

[jfriedman8]

The fact that the iPad Pro doesn't run a full OS is the limiting factor for me. I just tried the SP4 and it was just too heavy and awkward to use as a tablet for notes and some of the other unique benefits it offers. I returned and bought a rMB.

I will say the SP4 has great pen input. The battery life was not ideal.

 

[Serban]

Sp4 has a great pen but ipad pro has a better one but needs probably 6-12 months for all great apps to take advantage of that low latency. the battery is ipad style
yes after almost 2 weeks i never use surface pro 4 as a tablet and just a laptop but still almost 80% time i use the 15" mbp or the 12" macbook

 

[bounou]

So in the end I got both, the SP4 was promptly returned to the store and I will be keeping the iPad

 

[whodatrr]

Ha! I have an SP3 that's been my runabout for the last year or so. But since I bought a rMB about a month ago, it's been gathering dust. Also just went into the store and compare the iPP to the rMB, and the rMB is so much more practical.

The fact that the iPad Pro doesn't run a full OS is the limiting factor for me. I just tried the SP4 and it was just too heavy and awkward to use as a tablet for notes and some of the other unique benefits it offers. I returned and bought a rMB.

I will say the SP4 has great pen input. The battery life was not ideal.

 

[rowspaxe]

Windows is the clumsiest, most gormless, most thoughtless, OS I could imagine. I have to use it every other day, and it is the least intuitive thing I ever could imagine. It's so awful that I have to cuss the screen just to relieve the frustration or inability when trying to get anywhere and do anything on Windows.

It really seems the windows hate derives from a sort of simple mindedness--it took me 3 minutes to grasp windows 8.x/10.0 and you are just stuck in confusion