Surface Devices

[The_Interloper]

That said IMO MS could do themselves a big favour and knock off the Apple pricing strategy, as Surface is gaining ever more traction becoming more and more mainstream. Surface should no longer be considered a technology exposition. No need to bury the competition, just be more competitive and the rest will happen naturally, given well designed & executed products at sensible pricing, something Apple has long since forgotten about...

I can't see this happening. Surface is a premium product with pricing to match; while the original aim was to create reference designs for OEMs, the market has responded by deciding the only real form factor they want to produce are 360-degree 2-in-1s.

I'm typing this on a Surface Book 2 and cannot believe nobody else is making this form factor; similarly, the Surface Pro kickstand-style design is nowhere to be seen other than on some budget Chinese tablets. Microsoft are in a market of one for both these devices and is making them in relatively small volumes (especially the Book, which barely registers a blip sales-wise).

The prices have to be relatively high to justify their existence. While Surface generates $2billion+ some quarters, it's long been whispered that the division probably loses money for Microsoft.

 

[Alex W.]

Surface has only become more Apple priced.

Also XPS 2020 looks a lot better than these atm, worth considering.

 

[The_Interloper]

XPS 2020 looks a lot better than these atm, worth considering.

Non-starter for me or anyone that wants a tablet/detachable display element. XPS only competes with Surface Laptop.

 

[Alex W.]

Non-starter for me or anyone that wants a tablet/detachable display element. XPS only competes with Surface Laptop.

I mean it competes with light gaming devices, battery life ultrabooks and the 2 in 1 folds into a handheld book more or less. Competes with Macbooks and Surfaces.

But again, dell.... service nightmare stories.

 

[Dave245]

I wouldn't have a Dell, ive heard about their customer service and it's a nightmare. Apple's has got worse but Dell's is a lot worse than that. I'm sticking with the Surface Book 3 for the time being and seeing what's said in reviews. I can take my time, there is no rush at the minute, I still have my 2019 13" MacBook Pro and iPad Pro that still works (for now).

 

[maflynn]

but Dell's is a lot worse than that.

My dealings (its been quite some time), were always positive. I think they ran into deep weeds a few years back but since Michael Dell has taken them private, things have turned around. I don't have any first hand experience since he took over however

 

[Dave245]

My dealings (its been quite some time), were always positive. I think they ran into deep weeds a few years back but since Michael Dell has taken them private, things have turned around. I don't have any first hand experience since he took over however

Fair enough. I have never personally owned a Dell computer. I have heard about a number of issues from friends and colleagues. Personally at the moment I’m very close to pushing the button and pre-ordering a SurfaceBook 3, I’m sure not sure if it should be the 13” or 15”

The only thing at the moment from stopping me is waiting for the reviews and uncertainty of which model to get. There is a 30 day return window so I guess I can return it within that time if I’m not happy.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I wouldn't have a Dell, ive heard about their customer service and it's a nightmare. Apple's has got worse but Dell's is a lot worse than that. I'm sticking with the Surface Book 3 for the time being and seeing what's said in reviews. I can take my time, there is no rush at the minute, I still have my 2019 13" MacBook Pro and iPad Pro that still works (for now).

My youngest who lives in UK had Dell onsite service that was excellent however after 3 repairs over 14 months Dell gave us a full cash refund and a 250UKP voucher

They put Apple service to shame but YMMV

 

[Scarpad]

I bought an LTE enabled surface go 2 . Under the mistaken assumption I could add the tablet to my xfinity mobile account. They don’t support adding tablets yet. So now I’m searching for a provider that won’t charge me big bucks for adding the device anyone know of any

 

[Mendota]

How do you connect an iOS device to Windows to do this? Is this an extra application?

The phone app is in the Windows store. Also type phone into Windows search and it will bring up the dialogue for connecting your phone. Both iPhone and Android are supported.

 

[grmlin]

The phone app is in the Windows store. Also type phone into Windows search and it will bring up the dialogue for connecting your phone. Both iPhone and Android are supported.

Cool. I had no idea, thanks!

 

[Mendota]

My youngest who lives in UK had Dell onsite service that was excellent however after 3 repairs over 14 months Dell gave us a full cash refund and a 250UKP voucher

They put Apple service to shame but YMMV

Well you know what, even with my Alienware issue I have to agree with that. At least Dell didn't try and blame me for the issue. And I have had good luck with other Dell products. It is just that now, I only want 2 and 1's and I like Microsoft's design and I respect the way they took "the bull by the horns" so to speak by giving a kick to the OEMs to up their game. Before Microsoft came in most were just doing the same old same old and allowing the PC market to keep sinking. And I don't mind paying for quality. But I refuse to pay $$$$ for design flaws and engineering failures.

 

[Mendota]

Cool. I had no idea, thanks!

Here is what it looks like.

 

[The_Interloper]

Here is what it looks like.

None of that works on iOS though. No messages, no notifications, no calling etc. Apple won't allow it. All you get is basically web link forwarding (aka "Continue on PC"). Fun fact: Apple wants you to use iOS and macOS exclusively so they can sell you multiple devices. This is what people love to call the "ecosystem" which is another term for "lock-in". Anyone using Android/Windows/Linux can get stuffed as that's a hardware sale lost.

 

[Mendota]

None of that works on iOS though. No messages, no notifications, no calling etc. Apple won't allow it. All you get is basically web link forwarding (aka "Continue on PC"). Fun fact: Apple wants you to use iOS and macOS exclusively so they can sell you multiple devices. This is what people love to call the "ecosystem" which is another term for "lock-in". Anyone using Android/Windows/Linux can get stuffed as that's a hardware sale lost.

Wow! Just wow. I had no idea. I just noticed that the app would ask if you had Android or IOS. In addition when I use my iPad pro it will sometimes as me if I want to add it to the phone app. Leave it to Apple. There are a lot of Window users that use iPhone. Well it is just another reason to stick with Android.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Wow! Just wow. I had no idea. I just noticed that the app would ask if you had Android or IOS. In addition when I use my iPad pro it will sometimes as me if I want to add it to the phone app. Leave it to Apple. There are a lot of Window users that use iPhone. Well it is just another reason to stick with Android.

Yep typical Apple limiting things even when others try to provide cross platform support even down to their own products at times like you can't have just an Ipad and Apple watch combo you must have an Iphone

Those of us that were early USB-C adopters soon found Apple dongles did not work in some scenarios yet Samsung's one did and so on

 

[Sikh]

Yep typical Apple limiting things even when others try to provide cross platform support even down to their own products at times like you can't have just an Ipad and Apple watch combo you must have an Iphone

Those of us that were early USB-C adopters soon found Apple dongles did not work in some scenarios yet Samsung's one did and so on

Ok hold on. iPad and Apple Watch makes no sense thou. Whos carry an ipad with them with an apple watch? Should the limitation exist? No. But realistically there's no reason for iPad and Apple Watch support to exist.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Ok hold on. iPad and Apple Watch makes no sense thou. Whos carry an ipad with them with an apple watch? Should the limitation exist? No. But realistically there's no reason for iPad and Apple Watch support to exist.

I think you underestimate how may people may own an Ipad but not a IPhone an LTE AW as a standalone device requiring just an Ipad for updates should be available in the ECO

Given that things like fall detection is a feature in AW many elderly people may own IPads as their "Computer" but not necessarily an Iphone

Others may just own an Ipad with LTE and want a watch etc there are plenty of scenarios, you could own a 3-6 year old Iphone but only a 2 year old Ipad and your phone replacement is being determined by your watch etc etc

In our own scenario we can only get AW with eSim here and only have Ipads knocking around, I only wanted a cheap watch for my wife to jog around the park with and not carry her phone, I'm not buying another phone just for a watch used a couple of hours a day.

 

[Dave245]

I think you underestimate how may people may own an Ipad but not a IPhone an LTE AW as a standalone device requiring just an Ipad for updates should be available in the ECO

Given that things like fall detection is a feature in AW many elderly people may own IPads as their "Computer" but not necessarily an Iphone

Others may just own an Ipad with LTE and want a watch etc there are plenty of scenarios, you could own a 3-6 year old Iphone but only a 2 year old Ipad and your phone replacement is being determined by your watch etc etc

In our own scenario we can only get AW with eSim here and only have Ipads knocking around, I only wanted a cheap watch for my wife to jog around the park with and not carry her phone, I'm not buying another phone just for a watch used a couple of hours a day.

The Apple Watch is a good example of Apole trying to keep you locked to the ecosystem. I have an Apple Watch that I use for running, trouble is I have to have an iPhone, my plan is to get a Note at some point (Note 20 probably), the only problem is i then have to keep my iPhone 11 Pro Max around, to work with my Apple Watch or I have to buy a Samsung Watch.

 

[maflynn]

Apole trying to keep you locked to the ecosystem.

I really don't have a problem with Apple enhancing it's services to keep you in their ecosystem. I have an apple watch, though at this point I do question its value. I have a series 0 and the battery barely lasts the day and being series 0, its long stopped getting updates. My contention with the apple watch is planned obsolescence, I'm expected to buy a new watch every couple of years?

 

[Dave245]

I really don't have a problem with Apple enhancing it's services to keep you in their ecosystem. I have an apple watch, though at this point I do question its value. I have a series 0 and the battery barely lasts the day and being series 0, its long stopped getting updates. My contention with the apple watch is planned obsolescence, I'm expected to buy a new watch every couple of years?

I don’t like the fact that my Apple Watch won’t work with a Samsung phone, yet if I were to buy a Samsung Watch it would work with an iPhone.
As you pointed out the Apple Watches do only last a few years. The battery on my Series 4, seems to be holding up ok, but I couldn’t run a marathon with it.

 

[LeeW]

My contention with the apple watch is planned obsolescence, I'm expected to buy a new watch every couple of years?

Not sure that is any different elsewhere. Samsung or Fitbit want you buying their new models as often as possible. They could all put multiple features in their watches now to expand functionality but all will put some in the next model and leave others to next one again so that you go "oh, new feature, upgrade time.."

If I recall correctly it was not that long ago you needed to have a Samsung Phone to use a Samsung watch. Now you can put the change down to Samsung being great by now allowing them to be used with any android device or them not selling enough due to the lock-in, you choose.

I don't mind the tight integration of the iPhone and Watch creating a lock-in, they work really well together and at the moment I see nothing on the market to rival the Apple Watch (my use case).

 

[maflynn]

Samsung or Fitbit want you buying their new models as often as possible.

The cost of the Apple watch is significant and in all truthfulness, I have a problem spending 400+ dollars every couple of years for a watch. I still have a watch from high school, and that was like a hundred years ago

I've found myself using its features less and less, other then running its just on my wrist to tell time and also what the temperature is. I've long stopped trying to close the circles and what not

 

[grmlin]

I have a Garmin Fenix 5 and I love it. Battery lasts for about 2 weeks (without Workouts/tracking) and it’s smart enough for me. I don’t want another smartphone on my wrist.
Highly recommended!

 

[Silvestru Hosszu]

I also have a Fenix 5. Excellent watch, smart enough for me also.
The announcement which interested me the most is the go2.
I have the original and use it as a companion all the time.
Its light enough to bring it everywhere and powerful enough to write some mails, check some documents and have a short video call with my colleagues. So for me it was a winner. Cant wait to have the go2.