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Microsoft Pits Surface Pro 7 Against iPad Pro, Says Surface is 'Still the Better Choice'
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Those are crap reasons. Kickstands suck - the Magic Keyboard works in your lap.
The only thing they need to highlight is the OS. iPadOS is great and a tablet OS but it completely holds the iPad back from being a laptop replacement, while a Surface can be that (but is a crap tablet).
The only thing they need to highlight is the OS. iPadOS is great and a tablet OS but it completely holds the iPad back from being a laptop replacement, while a Surface can be that (but is a crap tablet).
I think that this comparison is more complicated than Microsoft or most commenters here want to make it. First off, the iPad Pro is undoubtedly the best tablet made with no exceptions. That said, if tablet apps are not what you hope to use, then the iPad is no longer much of a competitor. I have an iPad Pro and a Surface Pro 7. My Surface Pro 7 with an i7 and 16GB of RAM was cheaper than my iPad Pro, however that is mainly because I bought it in a bundle at Costco. My Surface is superior for web browser use, hands down, under all situations, tablet mode or not. The web browser is the primary app that I also use on my iPad. I manage and develop cloud based solutions primarily in ServiceNow, Apple calls the iPad browser a full desktop browser but that has never been accurate in my experience. However, there are no true tablet apps that I find worthwhile on the surface, whereas the iPad has lots of great tablet apps if you want them. I did use One Note frequently on my iPad, and overall I prefer that application on my Surface, although the iPad version is great too. Obviously the battery life is far better on the iPad. I would not use either device as an ereader because I prefer e-ink screens, however all tablet based reader apps are better on an iPad. Advantages that that the iPad does have is that it has native apps for media consumption and all of the games, but those same media platforms have web sites that function equally well on my Surface and I don't care about tablet based gaming. Most real productivity software is better on the Surface.
So, overall, for a tablet I recommend an iPad Pro every time (unless the web browser is the app that you use most often). If you really want a laptop, a real laptop will be a better bet than a Surface Pro. However, if your use case is like mine, I think you will be mostly fine either way. They are both great devices. However, I would not compare an i3 based Surface Pro to an iPad Pro because the iPad will be better than that most of the time even for the things that I prefer my own Surface Pro for.
Oh, I also think that the Surface Keyboard is also preferable to the Apple made keyboard options for the iPad, but I always just use a wireless keyboard with my iPad which is great. I find the Surface Pen and Apple Pencil also both have their own pros and cons.
So, overall, for a tablet I recommend an iPad Pro every time (unless the web browser is the app that you use most often). If you really want a laptop, a real laptop will be a better bet than a Surface Pro. However, if your use case is like mine, I think you will be mostly fine either way. They are both great devices. However, I would not compare an i3 based Surface Pro to an iPad Pro because the iPad will be better than that most of the time even for the things that I prefer my own Surface Pro for.
Oh, I also think that the Surface Keyboard is also preferable to the Apple made keyboard options for the iPad, but I always just use a wireless keyboard with my iPad which is great. I find the Surface Pen and Apple Pencil also both have their own pros and cons.
If the Surface was so great and so much better than Apple's product then M$ wouldn't be putting out so many ads. The world would be using a Surface. M$ is just sore because the Patriots coach took and threw that crap Surface across the field because he was sick of how horrible Windows and the Surface is.
I was searching for someone who has both devices.
thanks for posting this post!
and that extra photo card slot comes in handy!
So, are we comparing an “SVU” which is essentially none of those things, to something that isn’t? Sorry, it is a Vehicle. For draining your bank account.
Another one of those "it's not a computer" people. Pray tell, what defines a computer? Let's see... motherboard? Check! Resistors/capacitors? Check! Processor? Check! RAM? Check! ROM? Check! "Operating System" (and we're talking about the fundamental "system" of code/software that "operates" the computer; I learned this foundational definition way back)? Check! Software? Check!
Hmm... looks like it's a "computer" to me... no matter if it functions as a cell phone, iPod, tablet, or whatever have you... it COMPUTES data (or 1's and 0's, specifically), therefore it is a COMPUTEr! Technically, a CALCULATOR is a simple computer... but goodness... if we ever CALLED it that... we'd be taken out back and shot! 😆
Now, of course, this goes against my argument as to the current definition of "PC" (which technically stands for "Personal Computer", which would be ANY computer that is used for personal use) being an x86 device that can run Windows and a true Mac being anything OTHER than, but...
It is also a poor substitute for a phone.
It is neither a desktop computer or a phone. It is one part of an ecosystem.
What value does this article bring besides seeing a bunch of apple fan boys get all fired up over a competitive option.
The only thing keeping me tethered to any iPad now is the pencil and art apps. I love the kickstand and the type cover on the Surface Pro, but I haven’t used the SPs for an extended amount of time to gage if they would be right for work or play beyond art (MS do need to fix the jitter with the pen, stat.) Once they fix the pen jitter, I’ll try an SP again.
To be fair the Microsoft Surface is a Full Computer with a BM OS! and the Computer is as slow as Snot on a cold day
Oh no, not that oblivious kid in the video ad again....
Last time in the forums, we all agreed to not let a kid tell us which laptop/tablet to buy haha
Last time in the forums, we all agreed to not let a kid tell us which laptop/tablet to buy haha
This comparison if one prefers to call it as such is not accurate.
To compare something it has to be done on hardware, software and its synergy to work together flawlessly.
Microsoft Surface runs a laptop/desktop OS, why is the comparison done with a tablet that uses a mobileOS. Why not compare it to macOS like an M1 MBA/P.
Surface has a fan, iPad does not. MacBook Pro does. The flawed comparison would give this to the iPad as no fan equals no noise and less weight and battery drain.
Surface has a touchscreen, MBA/P does not but is WindowsOS optimized for touch input or just makes traditional mouse input as touch elements, technically iPadOS does this with touchpad and mouse assistive support. How useful and productive is it to move ones hand/finger from a keyboard, trackpad or mouse to interact with elements on a screen. Now if it’s working in tablet only model then I will give Surface the slight edge on this convertibility.
Battery life, MBA/P and iPad win this hands down.
OS support, yep macOS and iPadOS will be supported for at least 6+ years, can we count on Microsoft to do the same.
Anti-Virus software, yep not needed on an iPad or macOS.
The list goes on, about the few things a Surface has is when converted to run in tablet mode in a single device, but with so many negatives even in this mode it renders its use very limited and Microsoft knows it. Now if Surface runs on ARM, without a fan, log battery life, trim some weight and dimensions then it will provide some stiff competition at present this is not the case.
Its a tablet who is connecting physical things to it when in use, it’s as absurd as doing the same with a phone, it’s meant to be wireless and many wireless technologies exist for display, storage, etc. I have an iPhone, iPad Mini and M1 MBA and I have yet to connect a thumb drive to it, everything is wireless except recharging it.