New Surface Pro 4 Ad Takes on Apple's 'What's a Computer?' iPad Pro Campaign

[maxsix]

The awkward moment when Microsoft is right about everything they said in the ad...

Indeed

Apple's caught with its pants down...

iPad looks rather pathetic, Microsoft wins big.

I really like my iPad Pro, but I truly rely on my Surface Pro 4 to get things done. It's no contest. The iPad just can't compete.
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The title of this non storie should be as follows:

New Surface Pro 4 Ad Takes on Apple's 'What's a Computer?' iPad Pro Campaign. Continues to be irrelevant

The emotional connection some Apple Devotees have keeps Apple fat and happy.

 

[John Mcgregor]

Indeed

Apple's caught with its pants down...

iPad looks rather pathetic, Microsoft wins big.

I really like my iPad Pro, but I truly rely on my Surface Pro 4 to get things done. It's no contest. The iPad just can't compete.
[doublepost=1471440358][/doublepost]
The emotional connection some Apple Devotees have keeps Apple fat and happy.

Semper Fidelis.

 

[BeefCake 15]

And this is relevant to this thread how?..

They're still struggling to get every day consumer interested...didn't think I had to explain that.

 

[dimensional]

I really wish Apple would merge iOS into macOS and just use macOS (or tweaked versions of it) for the iPhone and iPad.

I love macOS but am not a fan of iOS.

 

[Kuit]

I do not own an iPad Pro, but I do own both an iPad (3rd gen) and and iPad mini 2. Although I think the multitasking of the iPad (which I do not have) might increase productivity, I don't think iOS is a good operating system for productivity purposes. I bought the iPad over the android tablets because of the simplicity of the operating system knowing the semi-closed OS would limit productivity.

I previously switched my android phone to an iPhone, and I am now looking at switching from Windows PC to Mac. However, I am not so sure anymore. Apple clearly does not agree with my definition of a computer. When they came out with the "What's a computer"-ad I was expecting Microsoft to hit them in the face, and they did.

I've been buying increasingly more Apple products in the past 7 years, starting with the iPod, then iPad, then iPhone and now (possibly) a MacBook. I bought these products because Apple understood what the use case of their devices is. I remember Steve Jobs clearly stating the place of an iPad is between a phone and a notebook, and I completely agree.

The people that are still defending Apple in this thread are living in the reality distortion field in my opinion. These people should really start to worry because the time it took for Microsoft to publish their 10x better response ad is a clear indication of just how far behind Apple got in the past few years. Microsoft has probably been waiting since the March event to deliver this low blow.

Finally, I do not buy Apple products because they are delivering the top of the line specifications. I buy these devices because I trust Apple they design them for doing the things they are supposed to do in the best way. I buy them because I trust these products to just work. I trust to get a better value for my money. However, since Apple stopped sharing my values, I find Apple increasingly harder to trust.
I really want an Apple computer, a Mac, not an iPad Pro. But how can I trust Apple to care about me as a consumer when I look at the crappy lineup they are selling at the moment? I do not mean to say that I need the latest specs and the current gen MacBook Pro is not good enough for me. But I do not want to pay top dollar for severely outdated tech, and especially not to a company that is currently trying their best to tell me they don't give a ... about me anymore.


"When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore that means they've given up on you... you may not want tot hear it but your critics are often the ones telling you they still love you and care about you and want to make you better." - Randy Pausch

 

[NobodyOwens]

That was so different. microsoft is making full of themselves once again by argiung that iPad is not a computer. That's just sad. Of course it's not a computer like in the 80's, 90's or 00's, but it's a computer non the less.

but of course ads like this work for idiots just fine.

I thought it was Apple's slogan "Imagine what your computer could do if your computer was an iPad Pro" that was actually arguing that iPad is in effect better than a (traditional) computer. So who's made a fool of themselves now, Apple or Microsoft?

 

[Tunster]

Two things...

So we have an optimised tablet OS against a botched attempt to make a hybrid computer/tablet OS? I'll take the optimised tablet OS thanks for reliability/security personally with apps designed for a touch-screen experience.

And this ad shows Microsoft's lack of understanding that you can't make an ad with two products that are in different categories together. If Microsoft had put their Surface Pro against a MacBook or MacBook Air, then the average consumer might listen that having a computer with "tablet functionality / detachable keyboard etc etc" is a good buy in a product comparison.

Microsoft lost the tablet fight when it ditched Windows RT.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

You know, every time I hear this nonsense, it makes me laugh. Let's translate what you said into fact.

People use computational devices to accomplish something. My iPad mini 4 was more powerful than the Cray super computer in Sneakers. Then I traded it in on an iPad Pro that was twice that powerful.

My iPad Pro is about as powerful as an i5 from 2013. It can handle all the tasks I throw at it. Why do I know that? I'm an information security engineer by day, and college student at night. I work from my iPad. I create all my assignments, on my iPad. The docs I create for work, from my iPad. The "connection and manipulating components on the network...." From the iPad. And I don't use MS software either. Pages, Numbers, Keynote...

So I do REAL work everyday on my iPad. Because it has LTE built in, I can do it without a WiFi network. So when I'm on call, I don't have to panic if I am out doing things...

I tell you what, let's you and I do my job for 8 hours straight. You get a Surface 4, and I get my iPad Pro. Let's see how great things are going at the 3.5 hour mark? I bet you can't do ANY work, much less REAL work, without being plugged in.

You see, DOING work, is about being able to actually DO work, something that can't be done on a Surface from hour 4 on, in an 8 hour day.

So while you work part time, I'll cover you full time with my "toy."

I am a full time multi-certified, Network Engineer. I use both Windows Laptops and my Macbook for day to day work. I have and use an iPad Air 2 as well.

I typically have multiple Secure CRT windows/tabs open, SSH'ed into multiple devices, multiple browser windows or tabs in a single window, using a mouse to quickly cop and paste from/to these many session. I will also have some kind of text editing application open, with either multiple Windows or Tabs for device config manipulation or script creation/modification. Having a larger screen or if docked multiple larger screens allow great flexibility.

Can I use my iPad to do that? Yes. Is it the best option? Not by a long shot. With the flexibility I have no doubt that I could finish a complex networking task on a PC or Mac much faster than you could on your iPad.

 

[Kuit]

Two things...

So we have an optimised tablet OS against a botched attempt to make a hybrid computer/tablet OS? I'll take the optimised tablet OS thanks for reliability/security personally with apps designed for a touch-screen experience.

And this ad shows Microsoft's lack of understanding that you can't make an ad with two products that are in different categories together. If Microsoft had put their Surface Pro against a MacBook or MacBook Air, then the average consumer might listen that having a computer with "tablet functionality / detachable keyboard etc etc" is a good buy in a product comparison.

Microsoft lost the tablet fight when it ditched Windows RT.

I agree with your first 'thing', but totally disagree with the second:

Apple made this a fair comparison by implying that the iPad Pro is a laptop replacement in their ad. That is on Apple, not on Microsoft. Apple got outplayed.

 

[BeefCake 15]

I really wish Apple would merge iOS into macOS and just use macOS (or tweaked versions of it) for the iPhone and iPad.

I love macOS but am not a fan of iOS.

It seems to be the way it's heading of making macOS and iOS very fluid together, not necessarily into 1 OS but at least asymptotic.

 

[Mr Fusion]

It seems to be the way it's heading of making macOS and iOS very fluid together, not necessarily into 1 OS but at least asymptotic.

I agree with this approach. Apple is correct for understanding that desktop OS's shouldn't be used for mobile devices.

Where I disagree with Apple is with their philosophy that simplifying the user experience for iOS means cutting out features you'd find in a desktop operating system. There's no excuse good enough to justify why I can't have access to the file directory, why I can't calibrate my display's color, why I can't choose which third-party apps are used by default, or why I can't install third-party apps that don't go through Apple's silly approval system, (funny how my Macs have run just fine without Apple's App Store for decades.) In my experience, iOS has been less about user experience and more about Apple's mission to control everything on your computer with a vice-tight grip.

 

[Tunster]

I agree with your first 'thing', but totally disagree with the second:

Apple made this a fair comparison by implying that the iPad Pro is a laptop replacement in their ad. That is on Apple, not on Microsoft. Apple got outplayed.

But did Apple include a Surface Pro in their ad? I don't remember that they did. My interpretation is that they're saying in their ad campaign... it's not necessary to buy a MacBook (whatever flavour) as the screen-size (13" is available for a lot of laptops) and the detachable keyboard make it comparable to a conventional laptop. Not that it has features to beat it. For users that don't want two devices, have a light usage case and want to take advantage of it's portability (the Surface is extremely heavy), the iPad Pro is there.

It's challenging a concept. And if you look at the "What's a computer?" ad, it's stating computer as general concept. Not laptop replacement. Very careful useful of words as computer implies an umbrella term.

Microsoft always want to beat the whip at competitors. Going that way will never win them home consumers. As a brand, they're way behind on the hardware to the consumer.

 

[John Mcgregor]

I thought it was Apple's slogan "Imagine what your computer could do if your computer was an iPad Pro" that was actually arguing that iPad is in effect better than a (traditional) computer. So who's made a fool of themselves now, Apple or Microsoft?

Dreaming something doesn't make it true and if you decoded it like that i'm very sad and sorry for you.

 

[Michael Goff]

I really wish Apple would merge iOS into macOS and just use macOS (or tweaked versions of it) for the iPhone and iPad.

I love macOS but am not a fan of iOS.

The day came in 2007 when Apple shows off a tweaked OS X built for touch. At the time, they referred to it as the iPhone OS.


Edit: Also, this ad comes at the heels of Microsoft posting workarounds to their latest OS update causing some people to have freezing issues. Kind of funny if you ask me.

 

[Kuit]

But did Apple include a Surface Pro in their ad? I don't remember that they did. My interpretation is that they're saying in their ad campaign... it's not necessary to buy a MacBook (whatever flavour) as the screen-size (13" is available for a lot of laptops) and the detachable keyboard make it comparable to a conventional laptop. Not that it has features to beat it. For users that don't want two devices, have a light usage case and want to take advantage of it's portability (the Surface is extremely heavy), the iPad Pro is there.

It's challenging a concept. And if you look at the "What's a computer?" ad, it's stating computer as general concept. Not laptop replacement. Very careful useful of words as computer implies an umbrella term.

Microsoft always want to beat the whip at competitors. Going that way will never win them home consumers. As a brand, they're way behind on the hardware to the consumer.

I do understand what you mean to say, but the general consumer does not, and that is the important thing. I agree that the ad is careful with its words, but you also mention interpretation. I think the general consumer interprets the term computer as desktop/laptop, not as phone, smartwatch, laptop, desktop, tablet, mp3 player, smart thermostat etc.

Apple did a whole Mac vs PC campaign, so don't blame Microsoft when they return the favor. Don't start about whipping competitors, Apple does its fair share of that.

 

[Ghost31]

It's impossible for either of us to guess his mindset. He is speaking on behalf of the company and his words are clear. He is showing he's a low class, trashy person and making fun of a huge segment of Apple's market for buying the Apple product that better suits their needs (not a tablet). His words are clear, his mindset is not. And if I had to guess, I'd say his mindset is to trick people into buying a higher margin closed and limited device so Apple can make more money on accessories.

If an iPad can replace a computer 90% of the time for 90% of the people, it's still not a suitable replacement because what are those people supposed to do the other 10% of the time?

Depends on what the other 10% is. If it's just something that requires a workaround, then the pros of having an iPad outweigh the cons for most people. If it's something like being able to do web development or coding, then that's a deal breaker. It's hard to have conversations about this because you get stuck generalizing uses and how many people use what. And for what purpose. It's like when politicians repeat the same tired "Americans want THIS thing" as if they can speak on behalf of all Americans.

What information do we go by? Sales numbers? Anecdotes? What people are saying generally on the Internet? It's not like a serious peer reviewed worldwide study has been done on this topic that we could point to. It's just always people bickering back and forth on message boards "well I need it to do X and it won't so I'm unhappy. Rarrrrr" while others say they like it. So the whole topic is kind of a wash at this point

 

[definitive]

iPad/Siri got rekt! Apple is straying away from their original ideas which got them to the top, and now they're the laughing stock of the town.

 

[Pilgrim1099]

Indeed

Apple's caught with its pants down...

iPad looks rather pathetic, Microsoft wins big.

I really like my iPad Pro, but I truly rely on my Surface Pro 4 to get things done. It's no contest. The iPad just can't compete.
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The emotional connection some Apple Devotees have keeps Apple fat and happy.

I'm hoping to get a Surface Pro 4 because I need to use Manga Studio, Sketchbook pro, Mischief and a few others for my creative work and use native files with layers between OS X and Windows 10. Plus it's cheaper than a Cintiq but does more than an iPad Pro.

 

[mr.bee]

"But you're running full office and not the app version right?"

That's what Apple has brought on its own. Apple relies only on Ms for an office suit.

I can't do my financial analyses and management reports in a crippled excel, so I can't even consider an iPad Pro! Make iWork better and I reconsider.

 

[Michael Goff]

"But you're running full office and not the app version right?"

That's what Apple has brought on its own. Apple relies only on Ms for an office suit.

I can't do my financial analyses and management reports in a crippled excel, so I can't even consider an iPad Pro! Make iWork better and I reconsider.

The funny thing is that Microsoft brought a crippled Office and then used it as a weapon. And Apple, like you said, allowed it by not updating their own software.

 

[mr.bee]

The funny thing is that Microsoft brought a crippled Office and then used it as a weapon. And Apple, like you said, allowed it by not updating their own software.

It's true, they just bent over and grabbed their ankles.
Some decent office competition would sure entice a lot more businesses to the Mac/iPad Pro

Btw if I were Ms I would do exactly the same. Good for them.

 

[Michael Goff]

It's true, they just bent over and grabbed their ankles.
Some decent office competition would sure entice a lot more businesses to the Mac/iPad Pro

Btw if I were Ms I would do exactly the same. Good for them.

Cook needs to go up to Federighi and tell him to fix his crappy iWork software. It needs to be feature complete, comparative with how Office is today. Heck, they haven't update it in how long?

 

[mi7chy]

I typically have multiple Secure CRT windows/tabs open, SSH'ed into multiple devices, multiple browser windows or tabs in a single window, using a mouse to quickly cop and paste from/to these many session. I will also have some kind of text editing application open, with either multiple Windows or Tabs for device config manipulation or script creation/modification. Having a larger screen or if docked multiple larger screens allow great flexibility.

Can I use my iPad to do that? Yes. Is it the best option? Not by a long shot. With the flexibility I have no doubt that I could finish a complex networking task on a PC or Mac much faster than you could on your iPad.

I don't even consider using my iPad for something as simple as SSH due to the fact that iOS is crippled and will kill any active SSH session running in the background after 3 minutes. Great way to hit tty limit and get locked out of production equipment.

iOS is crippled in other ways too like Safari being unable to render basic sites like Hour of Code. Works fine with any desktop browser or even Chrome for Android.

https://www.khanacademy.org/computi...achers/a/using-hour-of-code-in-your-classroom

Do the tutorials work on an iPad?

The code editor does not work very well on an iPad

 

[mr.bee]

Cook needs to go up to Federighi and tell him to fix his crappy iWork software. It needs to be feature complete, comparative with how Office is today. Heck, they haven't update it in how long?

And it's not that hard actually for what I need
Pages:
Page orientation per section
Numbers:
Pivot
SQL database link, or let some 3rd party devs do it
Keynote is fine


But I'm afraid it won't happen as they state excel skills in their own job descriptions (

 

[Tech198]

Apple keeps putting their for in their mouths.. The more wacky responses Apple updates Siri, the more fun and games, and often "bizarre" ad's we see as a 'take-over' from Microsoft to win.

Go Microsoft...

You would thinks siri would just be ya basic assistant, but i wish Apple would stop trying get Siri to be more "comedy" It's supposed to be assisting you,, not having wack remarks.... But this is how Apple makes things "better" and the media goes crazy.. *cheers* I really gotta start saying if MS actually making some of this stuff up... Siri can't be THAT clever constructing more than one sentence... and if it is why the hell do we need AI?

I wonder what the next ad will be.