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Microsoft Surface Beats iPad in Design, Productivity, and Accessory Use in New J.D. Power Study

No Apple doesn't need a touchscreen Mac. That's just absurd! LOL If it doesn't need a touch screen Mac it needs iPad OS that can run full versions of Adobe Lightroom and other apps for professionals. Tim Cook & Company are a failed experiment when it comes to innovation. How can the people who brought touchscreen to the masses be so clueless? They aren't worried about fingerprints on iOS devices so why do they matter on a Mac? Apple...on this you are WRONG! Microsoft with the Surface has proven you wrong.
 
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At the end of the day it's about software. If you can do a lot more, it will come across as a better-built product. Both are solid machines, but one is just able to do more as a work machine. iPad Pro is more of a companion to a MBP than a laptop replacement.
 
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Consumers satisfaction is only an instantoneous picture of the product. What matters is the life long experience of it. Along the 5 years I had an iPad, I saw its battery life grow, its available storage grow and its general efficiency improve due to continuous and free updates of ios. Windows always push you to buy a new upgrade!
 
Seems fair. Not too keen on the OS on the Surface, though it's not the deal breaker it used to be.
 
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Hmm...I certainly understand the rankings here. I use my iPad Pro really heavily, including the keyboard and the pencil, but I think there is a subtle difference here:

The Surface is a laptop that could also be used as a tablet. Most people get the idea of a small laptop, and the extra features are add ons that help.

The iPad is more a tablet that could be used as a laptop in a pinch. For me, the iPad replaces pen and paper for most functions- taking notes, reviewing drawings, etc. But, for people other than Apple fans, its too expensive for that. My office mates are frequently wowed by what I do with the iPad, but then shirk away when they hear how much the iPad with the accessories cost. People feel like they need a full laptop for the price of an apple pro, even if they are impressed with the pen/paper functions.

I think the iPad Pro was designed mostly with an artist in mind. It's great that they are covering that niche, but it seems like it isn't capturing a larger audience.

In my mind, they should focus on the pen/paper benefits to bring in the larger audience. A couple of things that would help would be:
  • Bring down the price
  • Figure out a way for the pencil to be integrated into the tablet so you don't have to worry about carrying something else
  • A quick way to launch a note app from the pencil as the surface does this (see next item)
  • Revamp notes (or have a "pro" notes app) to have more organized note system a la OneNote. I'm tied to OneNote at this point, but I don't see apple doing this without it being their own first party software)
  • A better, simpler file system
  • Revamps to the side by side app workflow
 
profets said:
Windows on a tablet. *Shudders*
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My guess is you've never tried one before?

I just recently bought a Surface Pro for the first time and absolutely love it. The versatility of it is amazing. Great as a tablet for casual internet use and social media, but whenever I need to actually get work done, it's nice to pop out the keyboard and pen and do some Photoshop work, coding, word processing...I've even used it to edit videos together in Premier Pro. And despite what some people think, Windows is surprisingly quite usable via touch.

Despite what Apple would have you think, this is something people are clamoring for. The problem is Apple's too smug for their own good.
 
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Mousse said:
Never been a fan of Apple's form over function mentality as of late. I really loved the machines from the 2000's when form followed function. The fruity iMacs where shaped that way because the CRT requirement. The lampshade iMac, although a pain in the (_!_) to repair, lets you set the display height at any level you wanted. The cheese grater G5...best damn design ever.

Now it's thin, thin, thin.:mad::mad::mad: Function takes a big hit because the obsession with thin.
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Exactly. I am slowly moving away in my mind from apple because of the obsession with thinness over functionality.
Its pathetic. :(
 
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Surface is running a desktop operating system so this is an apples to oranges comparison. I'd love to see a survey gauging the desirability of a Surface vs a MacBook 12".
 
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I think the Microsoft Surface can be a true laptop replacement. The iPad cannot (for me). I have an iPad to complement my other Mac devices. But if I had a Microsoft Surface, I probably would not also have a Windows laptop. For me, that makes them difficult to compare. As laptop replacements, yes, Microsoft clearly wins.
 
RedWing512 said:
My guess is you've never tried one before?

I just recently bought a Surface Pro for the first time and absolutely love it. The versatility of it is amazing. Great as a tablet for casual internet use and social media, but whenever I need to actually get work done, it's nice to pop out the keyboard and pen and do some Photoshop work, coding, word processing...I've even used it to edit videos together in Premier Pro. And despite what some people think, Windows is surprisingly quite usable via touch.

Despite what Apple would have you think, this is something people are clamoring for. The problem is Apple's too smug for their own good.
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Apple doesn't have me think anything. I've actually used Windows for most of my life and have MS certification for some products. Feels like a lifetime ago now.

I've spent some time with a Surface when I was able to borrow one from a colleague for a few days. Compared to an iPad, the design isn't as nice, it was heavier and not comfortable to use with one hand or for casual use, reading or browsing.

Despite what you may think, a very high percentage of users don't need something that has multiple compromises like the Surface.
 
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Actually, I wish I could marry the iPad Pro 12" with the Surface Pro 4. I have both. As a Tablet the Pro is not as nice as the iPad. Even as a laptop it has the usual Windows issues. I have multiple issues with the Surface Pro 4. Windows Explorer crashes all the time even after clean install. This seems to have something to do with quick view and you need to turn off a bunch of features as a work around. Typical MS bs that they usually blamed on third parties in the past but now this is their hardware. If I load the new MS office I can't print with it since it crashes so I use the later version and lose some new features. I have it hooked up to two external monitors. After it goes to sleep it loses them so I have to disconnect the MS Dock and reconnected. Then I have to rearrange all my windows back to them. It keeps loosing the connection to the MS wireless keyboard for no reason.

The Problems with the iPad Pro. No file system or easy way to access work network files. The pencil dies to quickly, I think I only replaced the battery in my Surface Pen once in the year and a half that I have had it. MS office doesn't have all the fonts on it, so it screws up word docs if font is missing. There are work around but this only help a little and are a pain.

From using the Surface Pro I can see why Apple says they are not making a touchscreen Mac. Don't know what the cost would be to add touch screen to a Mac. I really only use touch to scroll on my Surface and pinch zoom.

What would be nice if they could but a true 2 in 1 system. Something that runs IOS and MAC OS on the same system.
 
When breaking it down to hardware, the biggest issue is that the Surface Pro doesn't serve the tablet category very well for me. I know it's subjective, but I've never really felt limited in what I do with iPad... I'm looking for a more touch-and-go experience with tablets, not so much a complete portable workspace.

There's just no setting a Surface on the edge of the counter and getting it covered in food bits while cooking, or toting it around it as a complete pen-and-paper notebook replacement, or tapping out small chunks of text for your novel when an idea strikes you... the iPad is a perfect midrange device, but when you extract it out of that category YMMV.
 
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Blu-ray1972 said:
As someone who just switched to iPad Pro 12.9 from Windows 10 tablet I would have to say, nope, not so in my opinion.

It is nice to run a full desktop but it doesn't work right switching between desktop and tablet modes. Also it slows down horribly over time as Windows tends to do as it gets more and more bloated. Some models have really noisy fans that turn on. The iPad pro does not have a fan. I was in a meeting with someone who was using one and the fan turned on. It was difficult to hear in the meeting from time to time because of the fan. It was a serious distraction.

Yes, having a desktop and tablet combined is nice, however the drawbacks is Windows 10. It's a hot mess.
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Excellent points.

That is why I was, and remain, a fan of the Windows RT-based Surface devices (no fan, not bloated, doesn't slow down). I still own and use a Surface 2. In many respects, my Surface 2 is more "pro" than my 12.9 iPad Pro.
 
My opinion of a two sided argument for both products:

The iPad Pro serves its purpose for mobility with iOS/security and can task very well for mosts needs, with the drawback of certain restrictions in iOS/Ports.

However, with a desktop version in mind, The Surface has the ability to have more of a desktop orientation with plenty of power, however, I think the drawback is running Windows, which gets lethargic overtime.

Both the iPad and Surface have their advantages/disadvantages, but rightfully so are both great products for different reasons/Uses.
 
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Crosscreek said:
Not surprising. ....it runs a full desktop OS.
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One of the reasons I'm loving it more than my iPad. My iPad these days, since I got my pro 3, is now mainly being used for video watching (Netflix, iTunes content, Hulu, etc), and for my kindle books.
 
now i see it said:
Apple's approach is the sell you 2 devices: A MacBook & an iPad..
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I'll take two devices, each optimized for its intended use case, than a single device that serves both use cases poorly. Your argument can be summarized as an unwillingness to spend more money for the better solution.
 
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gaximus said:
When Steve left Apple the first time they started creating to many product lines, instead of making a few but great products. This it happening all over again.
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And since he's passed they've only made one new product line, the Watch.

I think the better argument for similarities between then and now would be Apple chasing profit has slowly become a priority over making great products.
 
1) I didn't get the survey, so my results are not included. :p

2) As already stated here, this is an initial customer satisfaction rating...we would love to see a long-term customer satisfaction rating.

3) Apple is only 6 points behind, the top 2, if so close, should be "among the best", as that vague category makes it sound like there is more than one in this category, which, apparently, is not the case.
 
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