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

[SAJapple]

Desperate advert from Microsoft.
I wonder what the sales numbers are like between these two devices. I am sure Apple has sold a lot more ipads than Microsoft have sold surface tablets.

 

[tubeexperience]

You can't run Photoshop on Linux. Does that mean machines running Linux aren't 'computers'.
This is a silly debate. They're all computers. iPhones are computers. Apple Watches are computers.
Just ones with different operating systems and different focus.
I remember Paul Therrott saying that the iPad wasn't a computer because it didn't have a fan.

I'm pretty much 100% iPad Pro and 90% happy. Yup have to turn to a computer once every couple of months for something. Within a fairly short time even that won't be necessary.
My concern with iPad is that its still 'downstream' of the iPhone, with Apple failing to make changes that could be done if it were more of a focus.

Sure you can.

https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=25607

 

[iMi]

Interesting. I left Windows in 2008. Why did you go back?

Out of necessity for work. I am self employed and run the business using Mac and iOS devices but have to log into various corporate systems and had nothing but trouble, even after installing Windows 10 via Boot Camp. Technical support wouldn't help because it wasn't an approved setup, so I figured I'll get a Windows device.

Everything worked like a charm

Compatibility has improved so much in the past decade, but some thing are still very much so Windows. Especially in corporate America.

 

[Three141]

"Full office."

Isn't Microsoft the one advertising that Office 360 is a better experience because you can have the "Full office" experience on any device?

I've not watched the advert but it sounds likes a good one from the team but you raise a good point.
I'm surprised they would mention that, as I think they have done quite well convincing people that getting office 365 gets you full office.

 

[Zirel]

Your definition of doing serious professional work requires a 4K monitor at 60fps? You do realize many professionals don't even have those on their desktops?

We're talking about buying a new computer, not an old computer.

 

[nope7308]

I'm not a Microsoft fan, but you have to give credit where it's due. Microsoft has really improved on their products as of late, and they make some good points in this commercial. Kind of reminiscent of the Mac vs. PC marketing campaign that Apple put on back in the day.

 

[2010mini]

Shouldn't Microsoft advertise the features that Surface has instead of bashing out the competition?

You always compare yourself to the king if you want people to know how great you are.

Apple did the same with their "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads years ago.

 

[keysofanxiety]

as Hetfield would put it: "sad but true".

I personally disagree with your comment.

However I very much agree with Metallica

 

[noveneerhere]

Then why is Apple pushing the "smart keypad" if the tablet is made simply for touching?

The iPad is not made simply for touching, but it is the main interaction method. Then there are those people that type a lot and need a keyboard, but far from all.

 

[tkatz]

We're talking about buying a new computer, not an old computer.

Nope. As I see it we were talking about doing serious work on a 12" device.

Also, not all new computers have 4k monitors.

 

[jkev57]

I used Macs exclusively for 25 years until I was issued a basic Dell laptop by my newspaper to use. I hated it and continued to use my MacBook Pro unless I had no other choice — like when I had to use Jabber to communicate with corporate. About a year-and-a-half ago I was wanting to upgrade my MBP with a new laptop, but I decided to hold off for a bit until a new model came out using the Skylake processor. Then I started reading about the Dell XPS 13 and decided to get one. The screen was a little small for my liking, so a year later I passed to the computer down to my daughter and son-in-law and bought a Dell XPS 15 because Apple STILL hadn't updated it's MBP line. I have to admit that I really like the laptop. When it was time to update my iPad I purchased a Surface Pro instead of the iPad Pro. Do I still use my MBP and Mac Mini? Yes, all the time...but Apple's product line continues to lag behind the Windows offerings. Apple has had the chance to sell me two laptops and an iPad Pro over the past 18 months, but their current offerings simply don't measure up. It's a shame...and particularly disheartening because I'm also an Apple shareholder.

 

[Kobayagi]

I wanna see the reaction from Apple's execs on this ad. Because it's 100% true. The iPad really isn't for work, but mostly for media consumption. And it's really good at that. But it doesn't matter what Apple says about working on it, iOS is just too limited to get any real work done.

 

[nt5672]

One of the principle differentiators of the products is the ecosystem, Apple provides a much richer and user friendly experience.

You mean walled garden! Which is great for an iPhone, but in the end it terrible for a computer. If they advertise it as a computer, then give us computer functionality.

 

[Sefstah]

Shouldn't Microsoft advertise the features that Surface has instead of bashing out the competition?

Why? Apple did the same thing in their "Im a mac" "and im a pc" bit. Funny how things change.

 

[ChrisCW11]

The only rebuttal I can think of is this:

iOS apps optimized for iPad: over 1 million.
Windows apps optimized for Surface: don't know, but far less than a million.

Windows applications that can run on the Surface Pro, billions....

Don't bring a knife to a cannon fight.

 

[i5pro]

I picked up an XPS 15 9550...sadly this is what a new 15" Macbook should be competing against. 4k touchscreen, quad core i7, 2MB graphics card, and 512GB SSD. I only wonder if I can hackiontosh it.

I recently purchased a Dell XPS 13 9350. I initially bought it for work, as I also have a Macpro with Retina. After using it for a few weeks, I've begun using it almost exclusively now. For one, I think that Windows 10 aesthetically looks and feels cleaner to me than Mac OS. I love the live tiles and I think they've done a great job redesigning the start button and how it functions.

I admit, I miss some features (particularly being able to imessage) and the trackpads on macs are miles ahead of windows, but aside from those few things, I really enjoy the XPS.

 

[ggibson913]

So I know this will be controversial but every device from your smartphone to your tablet to you laptop/ desktop is a computer.

Microsoft focused in the Surface being a laptop replacement. Since their approach is one operating system to rule them all, the Surface was designed to be a touch screen laptop. I always questioned this and asked, why not just buy a laptop such as a yoga or other convertable. Very much the same position they have maintained even when the first came out with tablet laptops years ago.

Apple's approach is more of a Laptop alternative. If you only do things like my parents do like basic photo editing, e-mail, and web surfing. An iPad Pro could very much meet your needs. Can I write code on it or do detailed photo edits? No but I dont think that is what they are saying in the Apple commercial. Queue all of the "fanboy/ iSheep" comments lol.

 

[Cscottrun]

The iPad is not made simply for touching, but it is the main interaction method. Then there are those people that type a lot and need a keyboard, but far from all.

So basically your saying the iPad is a one tool device? Media consumption? What if I need to word process for work but need something mobile, with a nice screen, and something I know is running software that should be compatible with the majority of software out there? What do I do then?

 

[Koatsey]

I'm not sure that was particularly compelling. Yes it can do more but in the same way a Ferrari can do more. Does the average user need that much more. Office on iPad is great for nearly all users. The iPad is cheeper and considerably more portable with just the case. The on-creen keyboard and interaction with apps is light years ahead in terms of user experience. Windows 10 is simply not fit as a Touch UI.

People buy iPads firstly for Portability, battery life and it does 95% of what they want, or they could spend more, have a bulky object when compared to an iPad, get less batter life and miss out on the App store.

I have both by the way and the item being used most, by some margin, is the iPad, then my full blown desktop and lastly my bulky Surface Pro 4. It's getting better but it's simply not slim, light or UI friendly enough.

So whilst sales have improved it's a fraction of the iPad sales and there is a good reason for this...

 

[Ntran]

Ipad pro is not a computer, but it could do 80% of what a computer does (web surfing, email, light work on offices, light to medium photo editing, etc.). But Surface is not much different. When do I need a real computer? Using Photoshop for heavy image editing for house, crunching numbers on Excel (I don't use mouse but rather a full size keyboard), etc. For those tasks, I can't imagine myself using either an Ipad or Surface (the tiny screen and below average keyboard).

Even though Surface is a fully functional computer, in real life usage I don't think the Surface is better than Ipad pro, if not worse. I grew up using Window computer until the date I bought a Mac pro for my wife. Since the moment I tried the Mac, never want to go back to Window. I have tried Window Vista, Window 7 and 8, and I hate every moment I have with it.

 

[iMcLovin]

The iPad mini 4 is more powerful than the supercomputer (Cray) in Sneakers. An iPad Pro is twice that powerful.

Sure its not about the power but the OS. Theres only light version of programs on the iPad Pro.
Lets say you are gonna prepare a an image for web or print, make sure it has the right exporting settings, alpha values color settings etc, then commit that to a project you share on github. THats a daily "simple" task for me - none of which I can do on an iPad. WHile many of my daily tasks includes 3d softwares, Unity 3d or after effects, batch exporting, batch renaming, tweaking on bitmap files or vector files....the list goes on and on...and not one single task which I mentioned here can be done with those programs or any equivalent tools on the iPad. But, the Surface on the other hand, I could do absolutely everything mentioned. (and thats just my work - I assume its the same for everyone else)

 

[Ellmer]

Is that ACTUALLY how Cortana sounds on Microsoft devices? Or have they gotten the voice actress to come in and record Cortana's lines fluently?

 

[keysofanxiety]

. The screen was a little small for my liking, so a year later I passed to the computer down to my daughter and son-in-law and bought a Dell XPS 15 because Apple STILL hadn't updated it's MBP line.

Hate to break it to you, but 100% guaranteed your XPS will not have a better CPU or faster Flash memory than the current rMBP 15"s. Part of the reason Apple haven't updated is because Intel haven't released chips that have a significant performance boost. Most, if not all, of the 'next gen' CPUs are less powerful than the ones in the 15".

Yes it's not a full excuse — price drops could have been implemented, updated dGPU options, BTO SSDs to 2TB or perhaps larger base storage — but you'd be the same person complaining if Apple's "updated" rMBP line had a lower benchmark than the previous gen.

 

[kd5jos]

Apple trying to say iPad Pro is a computer (as in desktop or laptop) replacement is simply a joke. Surface comes much closer to being a laptop replacement. iPad is still largely a media consumption device. I cannot imagine doing any real work on it. One example, any corporate system today will not run on iOS. I know because I've tried at least two. Some won't run properly on OS X either but function perfectly well on the Surface. Microsoft has a point here.

So now I'm an idiot for using my iPad Pro as a Laptop replacement? Where's the joke? I've done it, and quite well in fact. I can't see the Surface even come close? Why? Because my workday is at least 8 hours long. I'd have to carry two surfaces (4 hours of use each), which is the same as carrying a Laptop. Also I'd have to carry a phone too, because Surfaces don't have LTE.

I work for a major telecom that has integrated Macs into it's network, and I do everything, as a Network Security Engineer, from my iPad (if I want to). I also have a company assigned laptop. But it's nice to only need one device that weighs 25% as much, is half the size, and lasts all day on a charge.

Microsofts point must be, "work part time?"

 

[iMi]

I'm not a Microsoft fan, but you have to give credit where it's due. Microsoft has really improved on their products as of late, and they make some good points in this commercial. Kind of reminiscent of the Mac vs. PC marketing campaign that Apple put on back in the day.

The thing is that you don't have to hate Microsoft to love Apple. It's okay to like a device from Microsoft and still find Apple to be the better solution provider overall. This "us" against "them" mentality in this country is getting out of hand.