Microsoft Launches Site to Lure MacBook Switchers to Surface Pro 3

[Tat45]

Skype

In regards to Facetime versus Skype, we've found Skype to be unreliable. It will work for a while, then Windows will patch and it won't work for a while. Or audio will work, but video won't, or the other way around, and this will affect one side of the conversation, neither, or both.

Never had any problem with Facetime. I don't know what our problem with Skype is. We both have pretty vanilla network setups too, and everything else works fine. Skype under Windows 8.1 is just garbage.

 

[GeneralChang]

Are you sure you've tried the 3 and not the 2? I own the three and use it on my lap all the time, works like a charm.

Oh yeah, it was the 3. To put it in context, I like my keyboard about as far away from my body as I can comfortably get it when I type. That means I set my laptop on my knees. If all you've got is a kickstand, well then... that's a problem.

----------

I have the base i3 model of the Pro 3 after owning the original Pro. I also have an iPad Air and a Macbook Air (2012).

Cost of the Pro 3 was $650 after a $150 off coupon so I sold the original Pro and upgraded.

It's a nice product, but Windows is still Windows...

There is one niché that it serves... digital art.

Being able to run Sketchbook Pro, Photoshop and Manga Studio on a thin, light tablet with a proper pen is fantastic.

The only thing I wish the base model had was more storage. 64 gig is plenty on an iPad but tight for a laptop.

I haven't added a microSD card yet but I'm going to....

That said, I still use Procreate on my iPad because that is one killer application. Only a matter of time before they conquer OS X.

I've been tempted to pick up a Surface Pro 2 for this exact reason. Once I found out I could get a full Windows tablet with a Wacom digitizer for something like half the price of the Wacom Cintiq Companion... well, it sounded like a pretty good idea.

Then I remembered I'm just a hobbyist and couldn't justify even that price. Maybe in a year or two once they're a little older.

 

[Faux Carnival]

My 2011 Macbook Air will probably leave its place to a Surface Pro 3 soon. I am really loving what Microsoft is doing lately.

 

[RedCroissant]

Amusing!

I personally like the Surface 3. I also love the macbook line and think that they're better.

The Surface is a good tablet that's pretending to be a laptop. If I were considering switching back to Windows though, I would go with a Yoga 2 or 3 because you get the same experience as far as touch goes, the personalization of Windows 8.1, the included keyboard that doesn't cost an extra $120, and the laptop is less expensive as well.

 

[RedCroissant]

My 2011 Macbook Air will probably leave its place to a Surface Pro 3 soon. I am really loving what Microsoft is doing lately.

Why not get a newer 13" MBA for a lower price that will still outperform the Surface in every way except for the touchscreen aspect? Oh, and it will cost less and have the keyboard included along with more I/O ports?

 

[Tat45]

It's a great machine

... though I bought my wife a different tablet (HP Spectre), largely due to screen size (15" vs. 13") but also, frankly, price.

One of the things my wife really loves about the Windows tablets she's had over the past several years has been the pen input. She's an inveterate note-taker and Windows has just done this right in a way that iPad app developers haven't yet been able to replicate, to my knowledge. The pen input resolution is the highest I've ever seen, and extremely responsive, and the OCR understands her chicken-scratch so well it's a little uncanny. If someone could point me to a pen/app combo on the iPad that performs just as well (*just as well*, not merely adequately well), I'd definitely be willing to bring it to her attention.

IMO Apple could make a Surface-killer if they so chose. I still think they're a bit gun-shy about pen computing because of the unpopularity of the Newton. I wish they would, because then I could get my wife to switch over to Mac and we'd be a Windows-free household. I know Apple wants all of us to forsake our pens for typing on a virtual keyboard, but there's something about the act of hand-writing that is integral to the thought process of many people. I appeal to Apple to solve this particular engineering/ergonomic challenge.

For the time being, she loves her Spectre, which is great. Fits the bill just fine. I'll stick with my rMBP, thanks.

 

[Rafterman]

I don't know how effective these "switch" campaigns are. Most people buy computers based on the OS, not the hardware. The Surface is an awesome tablet, but unless you are a Windows person, I doubt few will switch simply because its cool hardware.

Put out a version with OS X on it, and I'm there

 

[nia820]

I've actually sold my iPad and I plan on getting a surface pro 3. I'm getting tired of the limitations iPad's OS. And now that I have an iPhone 6 I just feel damn foolish having an iPhone and iPad. Apple really needs to consider making an iPad that runs OSX instead of iOS.

 

[jsalda]

Add proper pen support and split screen multi-tasking to iPad and who cares about Surface.

The problem is Apple won't add these features! Users have been requesting them for quite some time now.

 

[Rafterman]

I've actually sold my iPad and I plan on getting a surface pro 3. I'm getting tired of the limitations iPad's OS. And now that I have an iPhone 6 I just feel damn foolish having an iPhone and iPad. Apple really needs to consider making an iPad that runs OSX instead of iOS.

I have a iPhone 6 Plus and as hard as I tried, it just wasn't an iPad replacement for me. For me, the iPad grew significantly in value with Yosemite and things like handoff. Plus, throw in build in broadband, and that tips the scales towards iPad for me.

 

[RedCroissant]

I've actually sold my iPad and I plan on getting a surface pro 3. I'm getting tired of the limitations iPad's OS. And now that I have an iPhone 6 I just feel damn foolish having an iPhone and iPad. Apple really needs to consider making an iPad that runs OSX instead of iOS.

I understand what you're saying but the great thing about iOS is that it really is OS X, just a different framework of Cocoa (cocoa touch). Even though it's not fully Unix compatible due to the different framework, that's why it's such a great OS and why newer iOS devices can still be recognized by much older OS X machines.

Otherwise though, I get it. Now if you had purchased an iPhone 6+, then you'd really be feeling foolish. I work at Best Buy and sell them all day and that thing is huge! Beautiful but still huge.

 

[Winni]

In regards to Facetime versus Skype, we've found Skype to be unreliable. It will work for a while, then Windows will patch and it won't work for a while. Or audio will work, but video won't, or the other way around, and this will affect one side of the conversation, neither, or both.

Never had any problem with Facetime. I don't know what our problem with Skype is. We both have pretty vanilla network setups too, and everything else works fine. Skype under Windows 8.1 is just garbage.

I also don't know what your problem with Skype is, because over the last decade or so, I have used Skype in business/enterprise environments on various operating systems and it always worked reliably. That's probably one of the many reasons why BUSINESSES around the world use Skype on a daily basis - and the fact that it runs on ALL platforms, not just Apple's. Skype definitely was one of Microsoft's better purchases.

One tip for you: Maybe you should try uninstalling the Modern UI version of Skype on Windows 8.1 and using the desktop version of Skype for Windows instead. In my opinion, the desktop version has the better user interface anyway.

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Otherwise though, I get it. Now if you had purchased an iPhone 6+, then you'd really be feeling foolish. I work at Best Buy and sell them all day and that thing is huge! Beautiful but still huge.

I disagree. The iPhone 6+ is just big enough and in my opinion it is the first iPhone ever that has an acceptable size. By now you probably already know that I'm a huge fan of the Galaxy Note device class. ;-)

 

[Piggie]

Must admit, I like to have total control over where a program is, and where data is.

I have two SSD's and one HD, and some things I want on one or other of my SSD's, and other things I want on the HD.

I would hate to lose that control and have a mess of general downloaded data/cache filling up a SSD I keep clean for actual programs.

But, however, back on topic, I can state one things as fact here

Virtually everyone on these forums who thinks the surface is a dumb and stupid idea, and you should not have a full/proper OS on a device such as this, is going to change their mind as soon as Apple does it.

I think we all know that true.

Their logic will of course be that Apple has done it right

I'm sure they are working on it now. The Surface may be poo poo'd, but it's a long slow burn product I'm sure, as there will be more and more people over time who want to do more than their iPad's can do right now.

Years will pass, Surface type products will get cheaper, they will get faster, thinner even.
There will be less and less ability to justify the physical need to own two products, that are, in effect the same shape.

We did need it, and some may argue we still do.
But this won't last.

 

[26139]

Yep

Apple Stores have one of the highest returns per sq.ft. In fact I think the Regent Street store in London is one of the most profitable stores in the world.

The 5th Ave Store in NYC is more profitable per square foot than Tiffany's.

TIFFANY'S.

 

[Tat45]

One tip for you: Maybe you should try uninstalling the Modern UI version of Skype on Windows 8.1 and using the desktop version of Skype for Windows instead. In my opinion, the desktop version has the better user interface anyway.

I was kinda hoping that by posting on the forum I'd get some sort of tip, and I wasn't disappointed. Thanks, Winni. I'll try this out!

 

[jclardy]

I own a SP3 and a rMBP. All I have to say is that if the SP3 ran OS X with some more touch friendly features it would be the perfect computer.

Since it runs windows it is a secondary machine for me as my primary work is iOS development. But I use it for all my web development stuff, and am moving towards using it for all my design work as Photoshop and Illustrator are amazing with the touchscreen and pen. I also use it for quick mockups with the pen.

Basically what I am saying is that if there was an Apple version of the machine, it could be perfect. Two things are needed:

1. Trackpad - it sucks. Period.
2. Better software/hardware integration. Some parts of Windows 8.1 feel good in tablet mode, others are good in laptop mode. There is little crossover. Apple seems to just generally understand the differences between tablets and laptops better so I think they could do a better job of software integration.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

I'm sorry but I have never liked the comparison ads from MS (although the one above is their best work and works well). They early ones seemed to compare unimportant things such as a touch screen yet don't compare more important aspects such as price (as a similarly speed SP3 w/ keyboard will cost quite a big more than the MBA). Then there is other thinks such as when they compare the RAM, yes the hardware is equal on both (4GB vs 4GB) but the software on the Mac side zooms ahead here with RAM compression allowing for theoretically 6GB of data to be used within a 4GB stick.

I'm so glad that MS are never one of my clients for making adverts, because I would end up creating an Apple advert haha

They are ads, not reviews.

 

[RedCroissant]

I disagree. The iPhone 6+ is just big enough and in my opinion it is the first iPhone ever that has an acceptable size. By now you probably already know that I'm a huge fan of the Galaxy Note device class. ;-)

I think you misunderstood me or my post was ambiguous! I like the 6+ A LOT and I would love to have one but I can't afford an upgrade to my iPhone 3GS. I think I'll be upgrading when the iPhone 10 comes out.

But I do think that the right size iPhone is between the 6 and the 6+. So maybe the 6 +/- is the right one for me.

 

[HenryDJP]

Yeah, and it's not easy to get those people back on Windows.

Why in hell would they want to go back on Windows?

 

[rowspaxe]

You have clearly not used a Surface Pro. The pen works just as good as using an actual pen on paper. It IS that good.

I have reason to suspect many sp3 "user experiences" posted here. The pen is not laggy, and you dont have to press hard to write. The pressure sensitivity is comparable to the wacom sp1--though i slightly prefer the tracking and pressure curve in the sp3.

 

[nad8e]

Walked by the Microsoft Store. 3 Customers, HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON...that's it...LOL!

Last week I walked by the M* store in Oakbrook, IL and saw 9 employees just hanging out, texting and wandering around. There were 3 customers - kids.

Fifteen minutes prior, I walked by the similarly sized Apple store in the same shopping mall and there were at least 200 people in it. Hard to say how many were employees, but it was enough I didn't want to go into the store!

What should the competition really be? Apple vs Microsoft vs Google? What will it be in 5 or 10 years? Apple-Microsoft vs Google? Google-Microsoft vs Apple?

How long until two of the companies just give up on this competition and focus on integration. M* and Apples strengths seem to mesh well? Especially against Google, which neither can effectively compete against alone!

Google can instantly have a non-mobile OS to integrate every service offering into with a Google M* joint venture?

 

[rowspaxe]

2. Better software/hardware integration. Some parts of Windows 8.1 feel good in tablet mode, others are good in laptop mode. There is little crossover. Apple seems to just generally understand the differences between tablets and laptops better so I think they could do a better job of software integration.

I understand this complaint, but I am fine with this. Software use cases will dictate whether you want to work in tablet or laptop mode. Next year MS will publish touch versions of the office suite--but i likely will still use the existing ones. Sketchbook pro is very touch usable--although not explicitly touch.

 

[MacRazySwe]

I have to say I found the ad quite funny!

I find competition to be a great thing, can't wait to see how Apple responds! ...Hopefully with the new 12" MacBook Air or 12" iPad Pro.

 

[e-coli]

You're right. It is really awkward. When I bought mine I opened it on the train and the whole setting up - pulling kickstand out and repositioning the type cover felt clumsy. Yes it's a laptop and a tablet but it isn't a better tablet than an iPad and it isn't a better laptop than a MacBook. I lasted two weeks before selling it. Just about to buy a MacBook. The SP3 is a beautiful device to hold and look at but its just a bipolar mess. Chuck 8.1 into the mix and the experience is even more disjointed.

This. EXACTLY.

Had one and really disliked it for so many reasons.

 

[akuma13]

It's a shame a lot of people are being so dismissive when they have not used the SP3. I have never had a optimum experience when consuming media on my 11 inch MacBook Air. Also I've never been truly productive or able to create quality content on my iPad.

The SP3 is the one device where I can do both well. It has it's faults but Microsoft at least tries to cater to people who wants a small powerful device that does almost everything.

I'm a casual gamer and it has replaced my PS3 too.