I am a long time Apple user. I had the first iPhone and bought each new one that came out, and a lot of computers over the years). I recently had to switch to the Surface Pro at work (from a MBP). I also recently switched to the Galaxy Note 3 by my own choice (was carrying an iPhone and an iPad mini around the office everyday and wanted to try consolidating to one device).
Frankly having come from Apple to these other two platforms, my overall preference is the Apple ecosystem. It syncs better, FT is better than Skype IMO, iMessage destroys normal texting (didn't realize how much I'd miss iMessage), iphoto/imovie are sorely missed, and overall it's just a smoother experience. My home computer and wife's computer are still Macs and we won't be changing anytime soon.
Having said that, there are plenty of things that these other two platforms do better that I wish Apple would copy. The screen real estate and S pen on the Note 3 is a big difference maker for me, a business user. Managing my inbox is much easier on it. The note taking ability is huge. As for the Surface Pro, Microsoft's OneNote software is simply amazing when combined with the Surface Pro. I wish I could edit and mark up documents so easily on an iPad. Frankly, I think that s Pen/stylus integration is huge for business users (I'm only 36 so it's not like I'm some old fart who doesn't understand that stylus' are supposed to be "outdated.") When Apple finally wakes up to this and integrates one, should I scold Apple for "copying" or should I applaud them for making their product more useful? How about the rumored larger screen on the iPhone 6? I myself laughed at and mocked the Galaxy Note when it came out, but I own one and love it. Apple is clearly "copying" Samsung...where are the Apple faithful? I bet a large number will buy them and love them; and that's the way it should be. Screaming "copy" is silly.
I was never able to go fully paperless with my mac and ipad. I was always printing stuff out to mark it up or spending way too much time fighting touch interfaces or editing software to make it happen. Now I simply "print to one note" and mark up easy peesy with the stylus. Then I email back and I'm done. I never touch paper and it's extremely fast. Apple needs to that happen for business folks. I got good at using Quoppo's PDF studio on my Mac, but it's still not as fast as the stylus on the Surface Pro. So please, Apple, just like you are copying Samsung with a larger iPhone screen (after you comment that the current size is "perfect" mind you), please do it again and copy the stylus integration and larger screen on the ipad. I won't bitch that you're copying, I promise. I'll just enjoy an even better product.
Has Samsung copied Apple on several products? Of course they have, but they drastically improved their products in doing so. Apple deserves all the credit in the world or completely revolutionizing the smart phone, the tablet and the whole app store concept (both hardware and interfaces). Samsung (and others...Google, Kindle, etc) had no choice but to copy many of those ideas; Apple was that far ahead.
The problem is that too many people on this forum are waaaaay too wrapped up in the "copy" notion and carry into every thought they have. Seriously folks, how long has the iWatch been talked about? How long has the iPad Pro been being talked about? It takes a really long time to design something, set up partners for the supply of parts not made in house and then set up tooling, manufacturing and packing for everything. IOW, Samsung has been working on this for sometime. To think they heard of the Apple rumors and went screaming to the drawing the board and got all that work done in a year or two is crazy, and frankly arrogant of some people. Samsung has been working on this stuff longer than we've been discussing the iWatch and iPad Pro, there's just too much work that had to be done for them to bring them to market that quickly.
So relax, everyone copied Apple when they revolutionized the industry. But that doesn't mean that no one else is creative or capable of coming up with better ideas than Apple. As I mentioned, I was shocked to find out how much better some of the function of my Surface and Note 3 are. Apple needs to do a little copying of others IMO. Fan boys line up on each side and just shout at each other. I've been in both worlds extensively lately and each side can claim they do things better than the other; I've experienced it first hand. Everyone copies other products, even Apple. Lastly, assuming that companies make decisions based exclusively off what other companies are doing says nothing except for that persons' lack of experience in corporate decision making and nothing else. I hope those screaming that Samsung went running to copy Apple are adolescents still living at home and not actual adults. I hope actual adults wouldn't be that short sighted.
Sorry for a long post. I don't usually post, just read a lot. This whole "copy!!!!!!!" crap is just a little out hand and prompted me to post. Give credit where it's due, enjoy the progress of the industry as a whole and let's not get too wrapped up in this whole gang thing...that's what sports are for
Tech is about progress and the end users getting better products for less money. There's no teams in this stuff and trying to make it otherwise is silly and only serves to limit our area in the never ending search for better gadgets and tools. I was forced to use the Surface and man has my mind been opened. I would have NEVER bought one myself because my MBP was the "best." At home, I still think it is, but at work...there's no way I'd go back to my MBP. Explore people, don't worry about what team your on, just explore and enjoy.
