Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Microsoft Introduces Thinner Surface Pro 3 with 12" Display Starting at $799

Here's why I think tablets won't truly replace laptops:

1) The kick stand isn't as sturdy as a laptop so it's difficult at times balancing the screen with the kick stand on say one leg and type using the flimsy keyboard/cover. The laptop is just more sturdy and you can adjust, easily, the angle of the screen.

2) The laptop offers you more RAM and storage upgrades.

3) I just feel using a touch screen adds extra steps when working with documents vs. using a keyboard and mouse or touchpad.

4) Using the onscreen keyboard basically cuts your screen real estate in half when working with documents.
 
The ipad can't compete with this new tablet. This is clearly a laptop replacement device. Now IF apple can put full blown OSX on an ipad, then there would be competition. I like my ipad but will seriously consider this new tablet to get rid of my laptop and tablet. OK apple. Your up. Can you compete?
 
bearcatrp said:
The ipad can't compete with this new tablet. This is clearly a laptop replacement device. Now IF apple can put full blown OSX on an ipad, then there would be competition. I like my ipad but will seriously consider this new tablet to get rid of my laptop and tablet. OK apple. Your up. Can you compete?
Click to expand...

People buy iPads for the simplicity. The Surface isn't a competitor IMHO.
 
gnasher729 said:
Great comparison. So if I want to use the laptop while my wife uses the tablet, what do I do with the Surface Pro?
Click to expand...

Definitely.

But Microsoft's point is that you don't need both a tablet and a laptop. According to Microsoft, you would only need one device.
 
This may be the pen based computer I have always wanted.

My MBA is the computer I have always wanted. It is the right size with right amount of functionality and speed, and a touchpad to die for. I have never had another computer as right as my MBA.

For about 2 decades I have wanted a pen based computer. I have a pile of them that were never right. Including the iPad. (Which is now a Pinball Machine 98% of the time. Totally not worth it if I was buying it today, but fun nonetheless). I have an iPhone 5, and It is about perfect the way it is (except for battery life. I want to use it the way I use it and not have to charge it in the middle of the day. I am not looking forward to the 6, it really doesn't answer anything for me.

However, this version of the SP, seems finally there for me. The one note pen functionality looks to be the killer app for the product, along with majority of niche brain gaming is largely Windows oriented. I am going to wait to see the new type cover in the store. I have hope in the track pad, as it seemed from the presentation, that they actually expended brain power on the problem. And I am a total track pad snob, and one of the number one reasons that I am in love with the MBA.
 
MrX8503 said:
It sounds good on paper, but not in practice. What you want doesn't take UX into account, which is why laptop/tablet hybrids have failed thus far.
Click to expand...

what is UX?:confused::eek: User experience?

Well that depends on the OS and on the hardware.

My user experience of my iPad is seriously hampered by the lack of a stylus and the lack of a USB port and file system.
 
bearcatrp said:
The ipad can't compete with this new tablet. This is clearly a laptop replacement device. Now IF apple can put full blown OSX on an ipad, then there would be competition. I like my ipad but will seriously consider this new tablet to get rid of my laptop and tablet. OK apple. Your up. Can you compete?
Click to expand...
Two totally different markets
 
gkarris said:
If you like reading e-mails on a 4" screen - but most I guess now have 6" smartphones... :eek:

Image

Size matters... ;)
Click to expand...

5" and above is a growing segment.

AdonisSMU said:
Clearly they were. Otherwise there is no reason for them to comment at all. If people just aren't open to the idea at all, they won't comment at all.
Click to expand...

You're funny.

AdonisSMU said:
So what. It's to be expected. You know what you're getting. If you don't like it, maybe a non Apple focused forum would suit your needs better.
Click to expand...

There is a difference between Apple focused and an Apple fanboy.

sracer said:
I don't think they will come out with one. Microsoft gave the reason why...
96% of people with iPads also own a notebook (specifically Macbook Air).

Apple has no incentive to reduce sales and profits by providing a device that eliminates the need to buy another (Apple) device.
Click to expand...

That is a good point.

Eidorian said:
I am a little lost. Would you explain that to me? I mean, right now I am looking at the Surface Pro 3 to replace my MacBook. I need a new portable machine and I want to be able to use OS X. The aggravating thing is that Apple still has not a released a product that appeals to me. At this point I should just run OS X in a virtual machine since I will unlikely be happy with anything new they release. They are a very boring company to me at this point.

The only reason I stick around is that I do not want to move my personal data back over to Windows and finding new software to replace iLife.

x86 brings OS X. That brings the wonderful limitations of x86.
Click to expand...

Apple said that a convergence device, like a tablet-top is like combining a toaster and a fridge.

gnasher729 said:
Windows 8 isn't hated by people who felt they don't have to upgrade, it's hated by people who bought a new computer. You'll find plenty of people on MacRumors who don't like Windows, but Windows 8 is the first time that people have told me they _hate_ using it. People who think about returning their new laptop to the store.

It's mostly because the damned thing goes and _actively_ hides things from the user and puts them into places where they can't find it. There are things that people don't like - that happens - but they get the impression that the reason something doesn't work is not because someone did a bad job, but someone _intentionally_ is hiding stuff.
Click to expand...

Citation needed.

SlCKB0Y said:
There is a different between "can't" and not using windows8 because it is a half baked garbage product.
Click to expand...

How is it half baked?

SlCKB0Y said:
Are you actually claiming that running windows 8 on a surface pro consumes only 2gb more than iOS uses on an ipad?
Click to expand...

No, I was making a MBA comparison, since iOS is nowhere near as useful as full Windows.

SlCKB0Y said:
This is still a brick compared to modern tablets....
Click to expand...

And it is more useful than modern tablets.
 
Michael Goff said:
Surface Pro 3: 1.76lbs
TypeCover 2 (although I assume the new one is lighter since it's thinner): .48lbs

Total: 2.24lb

MacBook Air 13": 2.96lbs

Are you seriously trying to tell me that .7lbs is now only 25 grams?
Click to expand...

Pretty convenient that you compare weight to the 13" rather than the 11"
 
osofast240sx said:
They both of the strengths and weaknesses. The Point were theiPad becomes more capable is when you have a custom app made for specific purpose, btw there are plenty of them.
Click to expand...

Well, depends. iOS doesn't help. iOS doesn't allow real multi-tasking: I cannot use two apps side-by-side. iOS doesn't allow add-ons to the apps. iOS doesn't allow me to use a mouse (the finger is not precise as a mouse pointer, and that makes a difference). There are a lot of things iOS doesn't let me do.

Software plays a big part. Windows apps are usually more powerful and fully-featured than apps designed for iOS, in addition to the limitations of iOS.

If you need simple stuff, or have some specific needs, then an iPad app may solve your problem and be all you need. But if you really need the flexibility to do it all, then you need a real computer and the iPad will not be enough.
 
bearcatrp said:
The ipad can't compete with this new tablet. This is clearly a laptop replacement device. Now IF apple can put full blown OSX on an ipad, then there would be competition. I like my ipad but will seriously consider this new tablet to get rid of my laptop and tablet. OK apple. Your up. Can you compete?
Click to expand...

Wait, so you're expecting a mobile OS tablet, (marketed and billed as such), to compete with a full laptop replacement (marketed and billed as such)?
 
Michael Goff said:
No, I was making a MBA comparison, since iOS is nowhere near as useful as full Windows.
Click to expand...
And iOS becomes more powerful than windows when application is key. Apps for specific purposes in specific industries solve problems that Windows currently can't.

----------
Michael Goff said:
Considering the screen real estate is apparently better than the 13"? Why wouldn't I compare it to that one?
Click to expand...

To be fair you should compare both 11 inch and 13 inch
 
SlCKB0Y said:
How much disk space does a stock install of windows 8 on the surface pro with 4gb ram use?
Click to expand...

Good question!

The same as any other one.

That is to say that Microsoft says that you should have 97gb of space left. That's if they didn't lower the space that Windows takes again, since apparently one of the things that update 1 does for new devices is compress some system level things to give more space.
 
It's a laptop, stupid

If it looks like a laptop, and it works like a laptop, then it's probably a laptop. :rolleyes:
 
osofast240sx said:
And iOS becomes more powerful than windows when application is key. Apps for specific purposes in specific industries solve problems that Windows currently can't.

----------



To be fair you should compare both 11 inch and 13 inch
Click to expand...

No, iOS is always weaker than full Windows.

The 11" one is 2.38lbs, which is .14lbs heavier than the Surface Pro 3 with the second gen type cover.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back