Microsoft Touts Surface Pro 7 as 'The Better Choice' Over MacBook Pro in New Ad

[t0rus]

I saw a pot and a frying pan in a store yesterday, the pot can fit so much more than a frying pan. and the pot costs $20, the frying pan - $40.
clearly a pot is the better choice!

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Glad someone understood my point. I am not hating on the MacBook Pro and favoring the Surface, in fact I am most excited about the M1 Macs and beyond. I just cannot put up with the slide of comments here saying PC are so inferior and that is simply not true, I have tried for over 8 years to stick to a Mac but it simply is not possible for my workflow, I need Windows and Linux, hopefully both Apple and developers will catch up one day.

And regarding pricing... man I all my Windows laptops and desktops of the past 6 years have been more expensive, it is not a matter of budget all the time, sometimes we pay for what we need.

I tried simulatingg some of my clients environments using Fusion on a MacBook Pro, and also on my Mac Pro, and had to just admit it wasn't worth the effort, and actually had a server dedicated to use as a test bed for client projects. I wasn't trying to solve the 'quantum paradox', but was trying to have a way to get experience with client software without having to fly by the seat of my pants on their production systems. The only benefit I saw for Fusion was the ability to blow away an image, and reload a base standard OS install and try again. But the speed of the VMs was an issue, and juggling tangibles like storage and memory was a pain occasionally too. There is a place for Windows. I'm actually thinking of getting a new Windows notebook at the moment because there are still things that I have to do that require Windows and running a VM to do the task is just not practical. But I will likely always consider the Surface a toy, in the same way I wouldn't consider running some functions on an iPad. I love my iPads, and depend on them, but there are just things they can't, or shouldn't be relied on to do.

 

[Taz Mangus]

(hint -- like Apple, overpriced).

That’s your *OPINION*, not fact.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Ignoring that a kid this young should maybe be comparing a Surface Go 2 vs a MacBook Air, Microsoft has always dropped the ball when it comes to 'Show, Don't Tell' in advertising.

Yup.

Homework - show him in class, getting an assignment from his teacher, recording the lecture with the rear camera while also taking notes in OneNote.

Curious if that actually works? It would be a more interesting application of the tech.

Kickstand - show him in a rear passenger seat, watching videos hands free (as the kickstand is hooked to the front seat) while his sibling has a MacBook balanced on their lap.

When you have it in that mode, where is the keyboard? (It is a good image, even if it is not really much better.)

Ports - show him at the museum loading a micro-SSD card with photos from a fellow student while a MacBook user looks for a dongle.

Another good image. The Apple version of the ad would show the kids using AirDrop between one kid’s iPhone and the other’s MacBook, while the other kid tried to figure out how to transfer files from an Android device.

Connectivity - show him in a restaurant, accessing the internet via internal LTE while the MacBook user has to ask their mom to use her phone to connect.

Good Image. I think the Apple approach would show the seamless tethering in the Apple ecosystem while the Widows kid tries to set up tethering with an Android phone.

Tablet - show him switching effortlessly between pen and keyboard while working on the class project while the MacBook user struggles to draw using a mouse.

Also nice. I think if I were doing the Apple ad I might show the one kid with the little MS convertible while the Apple kid was using Sidecar with a big iMac. Apple’s approach would be all about showcasing the ecosystem. It also might be comparing the Surface to an iPad and show how much better touch and the Pencil are on the iPad.

Gaming - show him at home using an Xbox Controller while accessing games remotely on his Xbox.

One could show the same with with the PlayStation 5, or one could just show some of the best Arcade games and show them being played on the iPhone, paused, then picked up on the iPad and later moved to the AppleTV.

There are actual reasons a kid might want a Surface over a MacBook. Show the reasons, don't tell/lecture potential customers.

You certainly defined a better ad then they did.

 

[mannyvel]

Really, the only reason that kids need:

Your parents use Surface and facebook.

All the cool kids have Macs and iPhones.

 

[Rot'nApple]

Microsoft yesterday shared a new ad on YouTube titled "Microsoft Surface Pro 7: The Better Choice," in which the company compares its tablet computer to Apple's 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro, as spotted by MSPoweruser.

The ad highlights the Surface Pro 7's touchscreen and included stylus as opposed to only a "little bar" (the Touch Bar) on the MacBook Pro. Other advantages of the Surface Pro 7 mentioned in the ad include the detachable keyboard, a cheaper price, and the claim that the tablet is "a much better gaming device" than the MacBook Pro.

Results uploaded on Geekbench show that the Intel Core i3-equipped Surface Pro 7 with 4GB of RAM has single-core and multi-core scores of 769 and 1,851, respectively. Additionally, the Intel Core i5-equipped Surface Pro 7 with 8GB of RAM has single-core and multi-core scores of 1,210 and 4,079, respectively. By comparison, the ‌M1‌ chip running on a 13-inch MacBook Pro with 8GB of unified memory achieved greater performance than both Surface models with single-core and multi-core scores of 1,735 and 7,686, respectively.

The 12.3-inch Surface Pro 7 starts at $749.99 with 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM and increases to $2,299.99 with 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM. In comparison, the current 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro starts at $1,299 with 256GB of storage and 8GB of unified memory and increases to $2,299 for 2TB of storage and 16GB of unified memory.

Microsoft has long positioned its Surface devices as an ideal combination of both a tablet and computer experience. In years past, Microsoft has released several ads promoting its Surface lineup over Apple's MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iPad lineup.

Article Link: Microsoft Touts Surface Pro 7 as 'The Better Choice' Over MacBook Pro in New Ad

I'll take the product from the company that doesn't censor free speech under the guise of TOS.

 

[mi7chy]

When you compare your car to a Mercedes just remember everyone knows you secretly just want a Mercedes

If you've ever been to Germany they use Mercedes sedans as taxis like Ford Crown Victorias here in the US which no one brags about. Apple products aren't made in Germany anyway so failed comparison.

 

[Alan Wynn]

I have tried for over 8 years to stick to a Mac but it simply is not possible for my workflow, I need Windows and Linux, hopefully both Apple and developers will catch up one day.

Just out of curiosity, what software is in your workflow? Which of it runs on Linux, which on Windows?

Given your name and how much you hate on architects, I guess you do structural engineering of some sort. How much of the software you use is GPU-based (have not been following this stuff for a while), and how much just CPU based?

Is the Linux stuff mostly command line/GUI command line (by that I mean just forms vs. a real graphical UI with a direct manipulation interface)?

Same question for the Windows applications.

Do you mostly work on a laptop or a desktop? Is it mostly field or office work?

This is just to try to understand how best to support a workflow like yours in a macOS world.

To be clear, I am sure you are correct and that you currently have no reasonable choice for macOS, but in order for that to change, one needs to understand the parameters.

 

[CarlJ]

This is why I don't let a 10 year old tell me what computer to buy.

GET THE ONE WITH UNICORNS ON IT!

 

[jlc1978]

I tried simulatingg some of my clients environments using Fusion on a MacBook Pro, and also on my Mac Pro, and had to just admit it wasn't worth the effort, and actually had a server dedicated to use as a test bed for client projects. I wasn't trying to solve the 'quantum paradox', but was trying to have a way to get experience with client software without having to fly by the seat of my pants on their production systems. The only benefit I saw for Fusion was the ability to blow away an image, and reload a base standard OS install and try again. But the speed of the VMs was an issue, and juggling tangibles like storage and memory was a pain occasionally too.

Yea, VMs can be finicky. I use one only to check how documents will look in WinOffice to ensure they are the same; and to run one or two apps that are not available on the Mac; primarily PowerBI.

There is a place for Windows. I'm actually thinking of getting a new Windows notebook at the moment because there are still things that I have to do that require Windows and running a VM to do the task is just not practical.

I keep thinking about doing that but my need for Windows not daily so the WinBox winds up gathering dust until I return it. I guess if I saw a noticeable performance increase I'd feel differently; but since I bought sub $1000 HPs I didn't see any difference nor did GeekBench show any significant difference in Benchmarks.

If you've ever been to Germany they use Mercedes sedans as taxis like Ford Crown Victorias here in the US which no one brags about. Apple products aren't made in Germany anyway so failed comparison.

MB has been the taxi of choice because they build a very reliable sedan that can survive for along time; generally with a diesel engine. The W112/123's were very popular taxis, 400,00KM's is just breaking them in; they also were used (and winning) in rallies, some consider the W123 one of the best cars every built. Unlike in the US, where MB markets their fully loaded version, in Europe MB makes a wide array of models across their model lines; so you can get a small engine / vinyl seat version of go for a top of the line AMG in the same chassis style. BMW does something similar, as do most manufacturers except the high end manufacturers such as Porsche.

 

[ikramerica]

Architects are NOT engineers. In fact you can find a ton of memes and jokes online about Civil and Structural Engineers crashing with Architects for their lack of engineering knowledge and even physical reality.

There are two architectural programs in the US that can be considered engineering, one is "Structural Architecture" and another is "Architectural Engineering", those you can consider Engineers since they have a knowledge in physics, math, mechanics, earthquakes, etc. and not just drawing and distribution of spaces.

I was constantly butting heads in Architecture school because I had a BS CE degree and always had the back of my mind that you actually had to be able to build what you design. My designs were too “conservative” when I knew most of the lauded designs in the charette would take a billion dollars and 10 years to build.
But I did learn that I didn’t want to be a professional architect because it would mean working with average IQ people who were all convinced they were geniuses.
When I design homes now and bring them to the CE for their drawings/stamps, they always tell me how I am the only designer they know who even checks to see if bearing walls on different stories line up. That just blows me away at how clueless and irresponsible licensed Architects are.
Edit: and it’s not a new phenomenon. We live in a 75 year old house and when we opened the walls to fix it and add, we found that no walls or floors upstairs rested on any bearing walls downstairs. Back then, no engineering or stamps were required. Just draw it and build it. Cost $100,000 just to restructure everything. Would have cost less to tear it down, but city planners wouldn’t agree to it.

 

[dpace32]

Hmmm can't seem to find the exact model for $890 (I assume they added keyboard for the price). I wanted to do a spec side by side.

 

[GeoStructural]

Just out of curiosity, what software is in your workflow? Which of it runs on Linux, which on Windows?

Given your name and how much you hate on architects, I guess you do structural engineering of some sort. How much of the software you use is GPU-based (have not been following this stuff for a while), and how much just CPU based?

Is the Linux stuff mostly command line/GUI command line (by that I mean just forms vs. a real graphical UI with a direct manipulation interface)?

Same question for the Windows applications.

Do you mostly work on a laptop or a desktop? Is it mostly field or office work?

This is just to try to understand how best to support a workflow like yours in a macOS world.

To be clear, I am sure you are correct and that you currently have no reasonable choice for macOS, but in order for that to change, one needs to understand the parameters.

1. The software I use the most in Windows are: SAP2000, Etabs, Staad Pro, Revit, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Fusion, GeoStudio, Rocscience suite, ArcGIS, Ansys, Excel, and a bunch of little software you have never heard of made by beautiful people, these little software are amazing not only because they are free but because they are highly specific and only run on Windows.

There are more, of course but these I use daily. Of them only a few run on Intel Macs, and they for some reason are not the same as on Windows. None run on Apple Silicon right now. Excel is my spreadsheet of choice and it is better on Windows, it has less features on the Mac specially on the programming tab which I use daily and cannot replace with anything, I would have to write a program myself and I already did that during my studies and don't want to do it again.

2. Linux is mostly for research purposes and I cannot give you details about it.

3. Why do you think I hate on Architects? I work with them daily, and my girlfriend is an Architect and I love her. I was just clarifying that Architects are not Engineers as the original comment said.

4. I prefer working on my workstation (desktop) but I have to switch to my laptop often, especially while traveling, during the weekends or when I am in the field. That should answer your other question: I do both field and office work.

And by the way, I prefer MacOS in many ways, but I just cannot put up with this fan**** cr%p that keeps being touted here about how MacOS is the holy grail of privacy, security and usefulness when it is just another option in the market... and the other bull$%it argument about people not choosing it only for budget issues, come on, that is not true, not in my case and not on several others.

 

[ikramerica]

Yea, VMs can be finicky. I use one only to check how documents will look in WinOffice to ensure they are the same; and to run one or two apps that are not available on the Mac; primarily PowerBI.



I keep thinking about doing that but my need for Windows not daily so the WinBox winds up gathering dust until I return it. I guess if I saw a noticeable performance increase I'd feel differently; but since I bought sub $1000 HPs I didn't see any difference nor did GeekBench show any significant difference in Benchmarks.



MB has been the taxi of choice because they build a very reliable sedan that can survive for along time; generally with a diesel engine. The W112/123's were very popular taxis, 400,00KM's is just breaking them in; they also were used (and winning) in rallies, some consider the W123 one of the best cars every built. Unlike in the US, where MB markets their fully loaded version, in Europe MB makes a wide array of models across their model lines; so you can get a small engine / vinyl seat version of go for a top of the line AMG in the same chassis style. BMW does something similar, as do most manufacturers except the high end manufacturers such as Porsche.

True. But VW polos are also taxis in Germany, which aren’t exactly the top of reliability. But they are cheap.

 

[GeoStructural]

This is just to try to understand how best to support a workflow like yours in a macOS world.

By the way, a nice story about the topic, I am affiliated with a research university where National Instruments and Intel are king. For some time Apple tried to invest and capture a more prominent position among the students so they first wanted to donate some iPads... we knew they would not work so instead we managed to get iMacs... the outcome: they are mostly unutilized in the extreme end of the computer lab while the Windows machines are in constant use.

They cost zero to the students, so is the budget argument valid here? Of course not.

 

[kyleh22]

We use surface books at work. I've been quite impressed with them.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

I like some of the tech in the Surface but I simply can't stand Windows 10. It is hot garbage and gets worse with each update. Outside of corporate computers and PC gamers who actually chooses to use Windows?????

 

[Darth Tulhu]

This ad got only ONE thing right: kids love their games. That's IT.

Everything else is just BS.

And I don't object to the Surface, either. It fits a certain set of users, the kickstand is wonderful (sometimes Microsoft gets things right), and it is highly compatible with most existing environments because it run Windows.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I like some of the tech in the Surface but I simply can't stand Windows 10. It is hot garbage and gets worse with each update. Outside of corporate computers and PC gamers who actually chooses to use Windows?????

Most people.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

Umm, they are really not.

Your right, Intel and AMD are. Microsoft does not really care about Windows. They are letting it ride out because it still makes a ton of money, but it is declining each year. By the time its dead the want all of the customers moved to the cloud.

Microsoft is a cloud based subscription company. Everything they do today, or almost everything, is based on that future. M365, Azure, Xbox Game Pass.

I honestly do not know why they make the Surface. I get the Xbox, as the gaming industry is huge and its tied to their subscription model. However the Surface is a dead end for them. They are not a hardware company and the amount of money they spend on designing, building and supporting the Surface is a super crowded PC market just does not make sense.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Yea, VMs can be finicky. I use one only to check how documents will look in WinOffice to ensure they are the same; and to run one or two apps that are not available on the Mac; primarily PowerBI.



I keep thinking about doing that but my need for Windows not daily so the WinBox winds up gathering dust until I return it. I guess if I saw a noticeable performance increase I'd feel differently; but since I bought sub $1000 HPs I didn't see any difference nor did GeekBench show any significant difference in Benchmarks.



MB has been the taxi of choice because they build a very reliable sedan that can survive for along time; generally with a diesel engine. The W112/123's were very popular taxis, 400,00KM's is just breaking them in; they also were used (and winning) in rallies, some consider the W123 one of the best cars every built. Unlike in the US, where MB markets their fully loaded version, in Europe MB makes a wide array of models across their model lines; so you can get a small engine / vinyl seat version of go for a top of the line AMG in the same chassis style. BMW does something similar, as do most manufacturers except the high end manufacturers such as Porsche.

For the Windows notebook, I was going to go a little 'higher rent', a 'gaming machine' so I can Zwift on it too. My last surviving Windows box is an HP SFF 8300, and the PS died in it. The fan driving part of the board in the supply got flaky. It ran, and would quit. I replaced the fan, and got no where. HP doesn't stock parts any longer, not surprising, and am looking at the Lenovo Legend line.

I was picked up in a MB taxi in the UK, and was surprised that it was a taxi, and then noticed a few running around. The old 'English Cabs' of years ago were few and far between. There is a wide variety, depending on the island, in the Caribbean too. I got picked up in a vintage Landrover once. Kind of a thrill. Those things are built for combat for sure. Impressive... For its age, it was in really great shape.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

Same thing was said about PowerPC and look where it ended up. Already seeing a lot of lightly used M1s dumped on OfferUp.

Just went to OfferUp, typed in MacBook, did not see one M1 based MacBook. Typed in "M1 Mac" I saw two options, both for sealed brand new Mac's both from businesses that sell Mac's.

 

[Herrpod]

The kid is right about the Touch Bar. It's moronic.

 

[mi7chy]

Just went to OfferUp, typed in MacBook, did not see one M1 based MacBook. Typed in "M1 Mac" I saw two options, both for sealed brand new Mac's both from businesses that sell Mac's.

I see a boatload in my area. There's a Macbook Air M1 16GB/1TB for $950 that I might pick up to beta test.

 

[Techwatcher]

This ad falls apart like a house of cards.

Yeah, you don’t get touch on an MBP. You also don’t get a detachable keyboard, because it’s not that kind of device (is their point that the Surface Laptop is a bad device?).

But then they bring up the price. At that price, the Surface Pro 7 includes neither the pen nor any keyboard, and its specs are very poor.

Why didn’t they simply compare it with the iPad Pro? It makes much more sense that way, and they could tout that it runs Windows apps and games (though you can’t convince me that there’s much of a market of college kids who want to run games on a Windows tablet. It’s an awkward compromise).

Because unfortunately iPadOS is not taken serious as a main OS (Windows, Linux, macOS). People still see it as a giant iOS when in 2021 Apple actually made many improvements to iPadOS.