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

[profets]

The funny thing is that it is a tablet and you cannot move the goal posts because it doesn't suit Apple.

Apple decided to use a phone operating system for their tablets and while that gave them some initial dividends, but the lack of power in the OS has been highlighted and people want something that does more.

Additionally, if you look at the iPad Pro with the keyboard and stylus, its a virtual clone of the Surface Pro except on the software side.

I'd say that Apple designed an OS that was designed for touch first and not for a mouse/cursor. The people who want something more? The people who want touch screen Macs or MacOS on an iPad? It's an extreme minority of users who want this. The iPad is the future of computing for the majority of users. It's not meant to be a desktop in touch form.

My windows computer with win10 boots in 3 seconds. Games run at 1080p over 70fps. All applications load instantly.

None of my Apple computers operate as quick. Not even OSx installed on the same hardware operates as efficiently, or nearly as fast.

I like both OSs, and I like some aspects of OSx better than others

But as both an admin of a wide range of hardware and infrastructure with knowledge and support offered in over a dozen operating systems

Your opinion is wrong. You're entitled to it, But you've based your opinion on personal bias and NOT real world performance.

Well, that is your opinion, but it is wrong. It's based on your own personal bias and not real world performance.

Your windows computer boots in 3 seconds? My iPad boots in milliseconds.

The article is comparing Surface Pro with Windows 10 to iPads with iOS, and performance was one of the categories where the Surface didn't come out ahead. Whatever you think is faster between Windows 10 and MacOS booting is irrelevant.

Do you see Dropbox in the Locations menu?

I have the DB app installed and it does not show up there. When I tap More... to add it, it lists MS OneDrive but not DB, so I'm guessing the DB app does not support this.

No, dropbox must not be supporting that extension. It could be possible, but we'd need dropbox to support it.

 

[GeneralChang]

My windows computer with win10 boots in 3 seconds. Games run at 1080p over 70fps. All applications load instantly.

None of my Apple computers operate as quick. Not even OSx installed on the same hardware operates as efficiently, or nearly as fast.

I like both OSs, and I like some aspects of OSx better than others

But as both an admin of a wide range of hardware and infrastructure with knowledge and support offered in over a dozen operating systems

Your opinion is wrong. You're entitled to it, But you've based your opinion on personal bias and NOT real world performance.

to be fair, he was comparing Windows to iOS, not macOS.

 

[kruegdude]

No file system? Hmm, pretty sure it does have a file system, just that it's not user accessible.

Do you really want access to the system folders within the file system? Any reason specifically?

That's what I was thinking. That level of complexity on an iPad would be a disaster.

 

[maflynn]

I'd say that Apple designed an OS that was designed for touch first and not for a mouse/cursor.

I get that, but the difference between the iPad and the Surface Pro is that you get desktop quality apps that surpass that of what is available on the iPad. Its a more robust computer then the iPad and lets not forget that Apple markets this as a computer to replace your laptop or desktop. Tim Cook stated that he's baffled why people would buy a PC

Cook said, "I think if you're looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC anymore? No really, why would you buy one?"

He continued: "Yes, the iPad Pro is a replacement for a notebook or a desktop for many, many people. They will start using it and conclude they no longer need to use anything else, other than their phones."

So you have the head of Apple saying that the iPad is a replacement for a laptop/desktop and yet we have the Surface Pro that is a tablet more powerful, flexible then the iPad.

 

[Marx55]

Apple should release a Mac tablet. iOS is a limited crippled jailed boxed toy.

 

[freediverx]

to be fair, he was comparing Windows to iOS, not macOS.

That's the problem with this survey and many of the Apple/Microsoft comparisons. They cherry pick different products for comparison to suit their biases.


The Surface is a full blown computer running desktop operating system. If you want to evaluate it against an Apple product, then you should compare it to a MacBook or MacBook Pro. If you want to evaluate it as a tablet, then you should compare it to an iPad. But what many people like to do is to compare the Surface's desktop capabilities to those of an iPad, while comparing it's tablet capabilities to those of a MacBook. This is misdirection on a Trumpian scale.

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That's what I was thinking. That level of complexity on an iPad would be a disaster.

I disagree when it comes to the file system. I think it should be possible for Apple to make iOS's default file system interface simple to suit the average user and newbies, while allowing more advanced users to expose more powerful, desktop-like file system features. Not saying it's easy, but that's what it would take for me to even remotely consider an iOS device as an alternative to a MacBook or iMac.

 

[kaielement]

I wonder how the numbers would have looked if they asked all the people who bought a surface or an iPad and returned it. I work a a store that sells both and I see a lot more iPads sold then surfaces. So I don't know if that means anything or not.

 

[Vorkeyjones]

Can you imagine how Steve Jobs would react if a Microsoft product beat an Apple product in reviews?

 

[profets]

I get that, but the difference between the iPad and the Surface Pro is that you get desktop quality apps that surpass that of what is available on the iPad. Its a more robust computer then the iPad and lets not forget that Apple markets this as a computer to replace your laptop or desktop. Tim Cook stated that he's baffled why people would buy a PC



So you have the head of Apple saying that the iPad is a replacement for a laptop/desktop and yet we have the Surface Pro that is a tablet more powerful, flexible then the iPad.

I could say that the iPad is a much more robust and mobile computer than the Surface though. It's all subjective.

And the iPad is an ideal laptop/desktop replacement for most users.

Honestly - do most users (not the sliver niche of technically-savvy people but most users) need a full Mac or Windows PC instead of an iPad? Heck, most of the computing done by these users are on smartphones already.
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Apple should release a Mac tablet. iOS is a limited crippled jailed boxed toy.

Tesla should just release a large pick up truck. The model 3 will be a limited crippled toy.

 

[freediverx]

windows bad. Period.

Let me flex the contrarian in me by saying I think Microsoft has vastly improved their product offerings in many areas. The current versions of Office has an infinitely better UI than its predecessors, and the quality and design of their Surface computers puts other PC makers to shame. I am actually impressed with their (belated) redesign of Office for Mac and iOS. Stupendous job.

I would love to compliment Microsoft more often on the areas in which they've done good work... if only they and their fans would focus on their own platform instead of continuously trying to make snide and disingenuous comparisons to Apple products.

But if you can't compete based on the merit of your products without resorting to astroturfing and misdirection, then you deserve all the scorn and mockery coming your way.

 

[maflynn]

I could say that the iPad is a much more robust and mobile computer than the Surface though. It's all subjective.

Perhaps, but then it seems JD Power illustrates that people are more satisfied with the SP over the iPad

 

[Blu-ray1972]

Oh geez, it doesn't take 10 minutes for a Surface to boot.

I suppose you are going to say "but, but there was a huge software update!"

Yes, software updates on iOS take 10 minutes too.

Now you will say but the update was mandatory on the Surface! Perhaps, but your post is overall very dramatic and paints the daily usability of the Surface in an incorrect manner.

A Surface is blazing fast from a usability standpoint. Just the facts coming from a 12.9" iPad owner (and fan).

It did take 10 minutes at least to unlock. I was there. I saw it with my own two eyes. It was not an update. He was getting frustrated with it not 'opening' and several times mumbled 'why won't this **** thing open'.

 

[freediverx]

We stopped giving out iPads at our hospital and started giving Surface Pros to Admins, Doctors and Directors and so far everyone is loving them. Deployed over 100 so far.

Give them some MacBooks and they'll love them even more.

 

[maflynn]

Give them some MacBooks and they'll love them even more.

Maybe but IT departments prefer Windows given the ease of managing the computers with group policies.

 

[nadador]

JD Power is a joke. They designate a (sometimes arbitrary) category of product to evaluate, do shoddy research, then try to make big bucks by selling their name to the "winner" that they can use in advertising. Two important things to note on the JDPower graphic in this article:
1) "Rankings are based on numerical scores not necessarily on statistical significance." So the difference between Microsoft (at 855) and Apple (at 849) is small and not statistically significant. The "Power Circle Ratings" are arbitrary, only serving JD Power's interests to declare a winner and subsets of other brands considered.
2) "No advertising or other promotional use can be made without the express written consent of JD Power." That means JD Power makes big bucks selling the rights for the winners to promote these results. We'll see if Microsoft ponies up the dough.

Other thoughts on the ratings: as each brand produces different models of tablet, wouldn't it be better to break out different models as they may be used differently, by different types of user, and for different purposes? Oh, never mind, that's a serious satisfaction research question, and JD Power is not a serious satisfaction research firm. They're just out to market their own brand.

 

[profets]

Perhaps, but then it seems JD Power illustrates that people are more satisfied with the SP over the iPad

In an apples vs oranges comparison, sure.

 

[maflynn]

In an apples vs oranges comparison, sure.

No it isn't. Just look at the iPAd pro, it has a keyboard, stylus large form factor just like the Surface Pro

 

[freediverx]

Of course they would, people would be crowing how great they are, and to be honest, they'd deserve those accolades. The case is, Apple hasn't done much with the iPad other then making it thinner (except now for the latest version) and their sales are showing that. iPad sales are shrinking not growing.

iPad sales are shrinking because a) the total addressable market for a tablet is much smaller than that for a smartphone, and b) iPads are over engineered and long lasting, meaning there's little need to replace one more often than once every several years.

iPad owners report very high satisfaction ratings, so you can't blame the product quality for declining sales. The only thing that could jump start that would be new, desirable applications that demand even faster iPads.

 

[LordVic]

Your windows computer boots in 3 seconds? My iPad boots in milliseconds.

No, it doesn't

No iPad "Boots" in 3 seconds. it may wake from "sleep" instantly, which is fantastic. But it does not boot.

Boot means to start from an off and cold state without contents loaded in Memory.

I don't know about you, but my ipad takes about 1 minute to boot from this state

 

[WatchFromAfar]

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.

To be fair under Steve Jobs' watch you had the Apple II (1977), Apple II Plus (1979), Apple II Euro Plus (1979), Apple II J-Plus (1979), Apple IIe (1983), Apple IIc (1984) so lets not pretend it was always one model to rule them all.

 

[freediverx]

If that aint the pot calling the kettle black. Pretty sure there are many people in this thread sick of you doing the exact same thing... only your hate is directed at MS products. Opposite side of the same hate coin. Neither side valuable.

Nonsense. If this were a straightforward story describing Surface Pro and its features, I would have no reason to comment negatively. But when these stories are presented as part of an astroturfing campaign smearing competing Apple products with misdirection and misinformation, then yes, I'm going to chime in and offer my two cents.

If you want to compare Microsoft and Apple products fairly, then stick to comparing like products.

 

[profets]

No, it doesn't

No iPad "Boots" in 3 seconds. it may wake from "sleep" instantly, which is fantastic. But it does not boot.

Boot means to start from an off and cold state without contents loaded in Memory.

I don't know about you, but my ipad takes about 1 minute to boot from this state

And your Windows computer boots from power off in 3 seconds? Do you have any proof of this?

Even if that is the case, iPads don't need to be powered off anyway. They wake instantly when they need to be used.

 

[DrumApple]

Maybe, just maybe, the iPhone is a very powerful mobile computer, and the iPad is a bigger version of an excellent mobile computer that features an OS designed from the ground up for touch and gives a larger canvas to work on than an iPhone?
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HAH, maybe if your line of work entails tapping Emoji's all day or something. Most professionals need to run full programs, not some limited crap app. You realize iOS doesn't even have a file system? An iPad couldn't even handle my daily e-mailing. No way.

 

[maflynn]

iPad sales are shrinking because a) the total addressable market for a tablet is much smaller than that for a smartphone, and b) iPads are over engineered and long lasting, meaning there's little need to replace one more often than once every several years.

iPad owners report very high satisfaction ratings, so you can't blame the product quality for declining sales. The only thing that could jump start that would be new, desirable applications that demand even faster iPads.

That doesn't explain how sales have slumped for 5 years

Link

Apple’s iPad still can’t seem to catch a break. For as much as some people may be inclined to explain away slumping iPad sales, the harsh reality is that Apple’s iconic tablet has been floundering for many years now.

 

[profets]

HAH, maybe if your line of work entails tapping Emoji's all day or something. Most professionals need to run full programs, not some limited crap app. You realize iOS doesn't even have a file system? An iPad couldn't even handle my daily e-mailing. No way.

The iPad runs full programs and does have a file system. But that's besides the point, which you seem to miss anyway.

The iPad is an optimal choice for most users. There's obviously going to be use cases where one needs a Mac or Windows computer for their tasks.
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That doesn't explain how sales have slumped for 5 years

Link

Yet iPad still outsells most PCs from most manufacturers.