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Microsoft Planning Low-Cost Surface Line to Compete With Apple's $329 iPad
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Is your argument, "Apple has problems too; therefore, you cannot criticize Microsoft Surface"? Because that's pretty silly. Out of those sixteen links, only one is even remotely relevant to the iPad.
Dont want or need a similar device. Much happier with a real laptop and a separate real tablet. Far superior to the Surface
That’s funny! In my experience my Surface Pro is far superior to my iPad Pro in both form and function. My Surface Pro can use the complex web applications that I need for my Real Estate business that my iPad Pro cannot. I can hook my Surface Pro to my 27” monitor and use it like a real desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard, my iPad Pro cannot. I can set my own default apps on my Surface Pro for mail, web browsing, photos, etc., I cannot on my iPad Pro. I can place and arrange files any way and anywhere I want, and then open them with what app I want with a simple right click on my Surface Pro, I cannot on my iPad Pro. I can expand my storage with an micro SD card and then easily transfer it to another device or friend with my Surface Pro, I cannot on my iPad Pro. My Surface Pro FULLY replaces either my laptop or my iPad Pro, therefore the need for only one device, my iPad Pro does not.
You may be happy with two devices that by themselves cannot do what the Surface Pro can do by itself, but I am very happy to be able to carry one device that is superior in form and function for my needs, to your two devices.
Almost zero quality dedicated tablet apps available for Surface (the Microsoft store apps are mostly garbage). In addition, the Surface needs to be used in landscape mode which makes it a poor device for things like note taking (which the iPad excels at). I cant think of one thing the surface does well (and I tried to incorporate it into my workflow, but way too many compromises).
All the Apps that I need for entertainment are in the MS App store, which is all I would ever use my iPad Pro for. (Netflix, Skype, Games, Email, News, Web Browsing, etc.) I even have MS Office, note taking and a PDF Editor/Annotator app over there if I need it. On the Win 10 desktop side, I have the choice of millions of programs to be productive with, and I have the choice of several interfaces to use, from touch pad to mouse to touch screen, which again alleviates the need for two devices. And, your comment about only being able to take notes in landscape is wrong(shows how much you really don't know about the Surface Pro). I take notes and work with PDF's in portrait mode easily and seamlessly on my Surface Pro. Check out the attached screen shots of MS Notes and PDF Annotator. MS Office and all my Real Estate software also work in portrait mode. In fact, I have not found a program that does not work in portrait mode on my Surface Pro.
There's a fitting saying here for you PhoneI...
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt."
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OK, you just proved to me that you are basically making up stuff and have never used a Surface. Where did you even dream up that a Surface must be used in landscape mode?
I specifically bought my Surface Pro for note taking with a pen, and have only done so in portrait mode. I use OneNote throughout the day on a daily basis on my Surface Pro. Because I have full apps running and real multitasking, I can easily combine all sorts of things into my notes - screen shots, excel tables, pictures, etc. This device is the ultimate note taking platform. An iPad pales in comparison quite frankly. And oh yes, I can even open these notes on my Note 8 smartphone and edit the notes with a pen.
But if you like the iPad, then stick with it... sounds like you didn't really understand how to properly use a Surface Pro (if you ever used one).
Its great that those 6 apps work for you. I have 47 apps on my iPad though. If I wanted to use Windows apps (I dont), I would use them on my windows laptop which provides a far superior experience.
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Ha. Your telling me that using the Surface is portrait mode is an acceptable experience?.........its not!!!
https://www.windowscentral.com/things-microsoft-could-do-improve-tablet-mode-windows-10
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Your limited experience and apparent lack of knowledge of what the Surface Pro can truly do only go to prove your amazing ignorance. You still have not answered for the list of inadequacies I listed above that the iPad Pro has to what the Surface Pro can do as a real productivity device. And, you comment that I only listed 6 apps from the MS App Store. That's all I needed to list out of the over 50 apps that I have to show that the Surface can do what the iPad can do to entertain me, and out produce my iPad Pro. Keep wallowing in your ignorance, I don't care. There is nothing you have said in rebuttal to my comments on why the Surface can't easily and in a superior experience replace your two devices. On the other hand, you completely ignore the vast evidence of the inferior ability of the iPad Pro to be a truly complete productivity device.
Not a complete surprise since you completely ignored my 5 valid reasons above that the Surface Pro can truly replace 2 devices when the iPad Pro can’t even truly replace a real computer for productivity.
Let me refresh you:
“In my experience my Surface Pro is far superior to my iPad Pro in both form and function.
1. My Surface Pro can use the complex web applications that I need for my Real Estate business that my iPad Pro cannot.
2. I can hook my Surface Pro to my 27” monitor and use it like a real desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard, my iPad Pro cannot.
3. I can set my own default apps on my Surface Pro for mail, web browsing, photos, etc., I cannot on my iPad Pro.
4. I can place and arrange files any way and anywhere I want, and then open them with what app I want with a simple right click on my Surface Pro, I cannot on my iPad Pro.
5. I can expand my storage with an micro SD card and then easily transfer it to another device or friend with my Surface Pro, I cannot on my iPad Pro.
My Surface Pro FULLY replaces either my laptop or my iPad Pro, therefore the need for only one device, my iPad Pro does not.”
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As I said, I believe you've been proven to be making things up and not actually ever used a Surface Pro... relying instead on things you've read on the internet. I own a Surface Pro and use it daily. So yes, I'm telling you its not only an acceptable experience, but preferred (for the things I'm using it for).
I've spent whole days doing project reviews where I interviewed people all day long with my Surface Pro in portrait mode taking notes with a pen. And between interviews, I was able to pop on my keyboard and do other work in laptop mode with full function apps. I've been to conferences where again I used my Surface Pro to take notes with pen in portrait mode, integrate pictures of the presentation, and whatever. Its really limitless. I've reviewed office documents, PDFs, etc. in portrait mode and done markup with my pen also. So your statement that the Surface can not be used in portrait mode is completely false.
You seem to be also hung up on apps. I find the Microsoft Office Suite on an iPad to be completely unusable for anything but simple work. I am in complex Excel workbooks on a daily basis, as well as the other apps, Project, etc.. With my external display, keyboard, and mouse, I can get real work done on the Surface Pro. When I go mobile, I can just grab the Surface Pro and hit the rode. I don't have to switch machines, wonder if I have the right versions of files, and then use a cripple version of tools while traveling. I can work straight through takeoff and landing if I wish. Most importantly, I can travel light and have the same environment and apps no matter where I am... not switch between two different OS platforms and input models. Maybe you play a lot of games or something, but with a browser, Office Suite, and a few entertainment apps like Netflix, there isn't really any app I'm missing. If I want to play a game I can do that on my Note 8.
And my rebuttal.....1 to 5 can be done better on my laptop. IN MY OPINION, the surface offers a compromised experience in order to be a tablet and a laptop. I have used far better laptops and far better tablets.
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I disagree. IN MY OPINION (and most other people) the Surface is just horrible in portrait (its even awkward to hold). Proof is in the sales numbers I guess.
Why are we arguing Surface vs iPad when they’re not really the same thing? Sure, they’re both tablets. But they’re not the same in any other meaningful way.
Uh. I mean, you do you, but why on earth would you buy an iPad Pro and then only run entertainment apps on that?
Yeah chucker, I get your question. I did not initially buy my iPad pro for entertainment only. And, to be fair....I do not use it only for entertainment. It's such a damn nice piece of hardware that's basically easy to use except for the 5 things I noted above. I just can't use it for my Real Estate business the way I need to, so unfortunately, it gets used more for entertainment than it does productivity. I would like to use it for my work, but until they add some more business productivity features and abilities to iOS, I can't.
I want you to understand that I am a true Apple fan. I wear a ball cap with an Apple logo on it every day. I have an iPhone, an 4th gen Apple TV, an 2nd gen Apple watch, an iPad Pro, and a few other iPads in the house. I use iTunes extensively for my music and other entertainment. I have had two Macbook pros, an iMac, and a Mac Mini. I have the Steve Jobs Biography by Walter Isaacson centered on my dresser, and I cried my eyes out when Steve Jobs passed away. He is my all time hero in the business world, a visionary like no other, and when he came back to Apple in 1997, he saved their ass and made in to what it is today.....beyond anyone's wildest dreams.
I absolutely have nothing against Apple, just Apple fans that can't let people who like MS and enjoy their products, live happily with that. I feel lucky and blessed as a tech enthusiast that I really like both....as my avatar says. They are both great companies with their own strengths and weaknesses, but great companies nonetheless. I believe the best product, is the product that you like to use the best, and the right to live happily with that.
I don't have nearly as many as I used to because I give them away, or just plain stick them on things, but below is a picture of Apple stickers that I have collected over the years.
I'm still not sure there will be a strong market for this unless they offer them through carriers.
That's how I've got my iPads. Through t-mobile.
That's how I've got my iPads. Through t-mobile.
I’m not the one who labeled the Surface Pros as “all crap”, “inferior”, “does nothing well”, “awful”, “zero quality”, “mostly garbage”, “compromised experience”, “just horrible”. You generalize. You make things up about the abilities or disabilities of the Surface Pro, and you outright lie about the qualities of the Surface Pro and apparently what other people think about it. I on the other hand have said nothing disparaging about the iPad Pro or any other Apple product for that matter. I am an Apple fan that has the courage to look at both MS and Apple honestly and with an open mind. I realize that my experience with the Surface Pro is not everyone’s experience, but you must also realize that your experience with the Surface Pro is not everyone’s experience.
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I didn't make anything up, and I stand by my assessment. In my opinion, the Surface Pro is awful.
I'm sorry if my opinion has kept you from enjoying your Surface. That was not my intention.
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I agree with you, they are different beasts, but unfortunately the similar form factor is what the media and public sees, therefore they will be compared.
I think Microsoft is smart to bring back a device in the Surface 3 form factor. It provides an alternative for those attracted to the Surface line, but don't need the full power or size of even a base Surface Pro. But, if Microsoft believes (as is hinted in the article) that their traditional computer OS can compete in the K-12 school system with the dead simple, but app rich model that both ChromeOS and iOS follow, they will be disappointed. If they target individual high school and college students, I believe they can succeed.