The same $2300 for an actual laptop with twice the storage and all the stuff an Apple computer comes with? Sorry MS. Not so much.
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Microsoft Touts Surface Pro 7 as 'The Better Choice' Over MacBook Pro in New Ad
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Although Apple has the better track record of innovation, the decades old clamshell form factor is one hurdle they have not truly crossed. Just look at that picture. Hinges, a fixed keyboard, a fixed screen, it’s archaic. They have no viable hybrid laptop/tablet competitor, unless you truly believe iPadOS can replace a full scale OS in every way (for me it doesnt at all).
Why not introduce a tablet that runs a hybrid of iOS and MacOS? I think a few reasons stop them from doing so.
- MacOS is not (yet) locked down, and running that with iOS perhaps drastically compromises their ‘walled garden’
- iPad has one port. A ‘laptop’ needs more, in apple’s case at least two. A MagSafe (like iPhone) addition would help, maybe.
- Propping the device on a stand makes its port and speakers asymmetrical
- they would be forced to ‘support’ touch screen on MacOS. And that goes against their principle of ‘seamless experience’ (even though for many of us that is nonsense).
But if they did so, this device would smoke any competition around it. Could even bring back the good old ‘iBook’ name.
Why not introduce a tablet that runs a hybrid of iOS and MacOS? I think a few reasons stop them from doing so.
- MacOS is not (yet) locked down, and running that with iOS perhaps drastically compromises their ‘walled garden’
- iPad has one port. A ‘laptop’ needs more, in apple’s case at least two. A MagSafe (like iPhone) addition would help, maybe.
- Propping the device on a stand makes its port and speakers asymmetrical
- they would be forced to ‘support’ touch screen on MacOS. And that goes against their principle of ‘seamless experience’ (even though for many of us that is nonsense).
But if they did so, this device would smoke any competition around it. Could even bring back the good old ‘iBook’ name.
It's nice to know I have an option if I want to get my greasy hands all over my computer screen. 
Yes I did. And I said I prefer no kickstands on iPads.
iPad keyboard cases like Brydge or Apple's Magic Keyboard that emulate a laptop. They only have one surface area...the bottom of the case. Everything else is floating above and take up less table space than kickstands that have two surface areas.
I'm a Microsoft fan. But why can't they just do ads where they point out the products features?
Apple did this type of advertising when they were still viewed as the underdog and it was edgy. When Microsoft and Samsung do this type of advertising it comes off at petty.
Apple did this type of advertising when they were still viewed as the underdog and it was edgy. When Microsoft and Samsung do this type of advertising it comes off at petty.
I owned an old suface 2 back in the day. My kids went from Chromebooks (google classroom) to using iPad Pros (not laptops). I also switched to an ipad pro for mobile needs before the pandemic. Beyond entertainment and light computing (which nearly everyone needs), ipad pro's are AMAZING for meetings and classes, which covers most additional things a student, professional or executive needs.
In my view, if people had become accustomed to using ipad pro's before laptops, people wouldn't even look at laptops as useful devices and would look at the surface 7 as unnecessarily awkward and clunky.
In my view, if people had become accustomed to using ipad pro's before laptops, people wouldn't even look at laptops as useful devices and would look at the surface 7 as unnecessarily awkward and clunky.
Incredibly said too because they were great places. Someone at Microsoft realized they couldn't improve on Apple's stores so they just copied them and they did a great job in doing so. You could get service on all of their software and hardware products.
"The Surface comes with a pen"
* Pen sold separately
* Pen sold separately
I have both and the experience is quite different. To me, it comes down to which OS you want to run.
Microsoft can take a fast, long running jump off a very short pier.
I still have my broken (bought brand new) top spec SP4. Day 1 purchase, it cost over 2k and doesn't work.
I will carp on about it still to any poor soul who gets within earshot when a Surface product gets mentioned. MS knew I had the device (registered to my MS account) and yet never contacted me to inform me of the repair programme for it. By the time mine failed I was just outside of the programme window and they did not want to know.
Meanwhile, my 2013 MBPr still works: every, day.
I sincerely hope during my many rantings I have stopped at least one person from parting with their hard earned to these absolute cretins. Knowing you have produced faulty equipment but refusing to do anything about it is to my mind at least, criminal behaviour.
/ rant.
I still have my broken (bought brand new) top spec SP4. Day 1 purchase, it cost over 2k and doesn't work.
Why? Flickergate.
I will carp on about it still to any poor soul who gets within earshot when a Surface product gets mentioned. MS knew I had the device (registered to my MS account) and yet never contacted me to inform me of the repair programme for it. By the time mine failed I was just outside of the programme window and they did not want to know.
Meanwhile, my 2013 MBPr still works: every, day.
I sincerely hope during my many rantings I have stopped at least one person from parting with their hard earned to these absolute cretins. Knowing you have produced faulty equipment but refusing to do anything about it is to my mind at least, criminal behaviour.
/ rant.
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Apple lured them in and has just delivered a game changing blow.
After convincing PC makers there was a market for $2,000 laptops for years, with the 'Apple' tax for the premium build quality and component choice of MacBooks, and getting Dell, Microsoft, Lenovo and others to jump in with competitive products at a similar price point...
Apple drops the M1 bomb on the whole segment. Now, Apple MacBooks look cheap compared to competing Windows offerings and it's gonna get so much worse in a few months when the new MBP's are launched with an even more powerful chip.
Microsoft needs to figure out the SOC game or Windows will be forever playing catchup now in pure performance - a differentiator not really relevant in the Mac vs. PC war till now.
After convincing PC makers there was a market for $2,000 laptops for years, with the 'Apple' tax for the premium build quality and component choice of MacBooks, and getting Dell, Microsoft, Lenovo and others to jump in with competitive products at a similar price point...
Apple drops the M1 bomb on the whole segment. Now, Apple MacBooks look cheap compared to competing Windows offerings and it's gonna get so much worse in a few months when the new MBP's are launched with an even more powerful chip.
Microsoft needs to figure out the SOC game or Windows will be forever playing catchup now in pure performance - a differentiator not really relevant in the Mac vs. PC war till now.
Being a decades old design, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not fit for purpose. This could actually mean it is ergonomically the best design and that others have too many compromises. Changing design just because it’s “old” is a poor idea. Cars have fundamentally been a box with 4 wheels for decades. Aeroplanes have fundamentally been a tube with wings for decades. Bikes have fundamentally been a frame with 2 wheels for decades. Cups, bowels, plates, knives, forks, spoons etc etc. Sure, they‘ve had some minor iterations but none have had a massive design/ form factor change because it is already the best design.
Whilst convertible/ hybrid devices have some conveniences, they have a number of trade offs for the following reasons:
1) In tablet mode, they are a poor tablet in comparison to a dedicated tablet such as the ipad.
2) In laptop mode, they are a poor laptop in comparison to an actual laptop such as the MBP.
Now if you give me a 2 in 1 that is better than both a tablet AND a laptop...well, I’d be willing to listen. Until then, I’ll stick with a tablet and a laptop, which both provide the best user experience for their intended design.
If it's not one kid, then it's another asking "What's a computer?"
Oh please, If given the choice that teen would choose the Mac in a heartbeat along with everyone else his age. Who the hell does Microsoft thing they're fooling here?
You mean the ones from over a decade ago under the CEO who is now deceased? That is over a generation ago in tech industry time.
You're confused. The Think Different ads were universally praised because they featured iconic individuals with no sales pitch or comparison to competing products at all. You are thinking of Mac vs. PC ads which are now over a decade old and under the former, deceased CEO of Apple. That is a lifetime ago in tech terms.
Not sure if you have used an ipad pro with magic keyboard. It has a smaller footprint, the screen is better positioned than a laptop and sits on a lap better than any laptop I've owned with the added bonus of not searing my pants off.
I'm no fan of Apple these days as I once was, but the Microsoft Surface Pro 7? Just a big loud NO on that.
SP 7 has such poor battery life that it should be recalled. I couldn’t get more than 4-5 hrs just streaming video and browsing internet even after manually reducing the CPU speed on the i5 version. It went back to Costco after 80 days of trying to adjust to it.
Internaut
macrumors 65816
How much is a Surface that offers the same memory, storage and performance as the base M1 MacBook Air? Yeah, let’s forget the Pro for a moment. The Air is the closest comparison point to the Surface.
