Surface Devices

[LeeW]

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

I use mine a lot, it has replaced my other watches in that I only ever rely on it now, and I am comfortable with that due to the benefits it brings. The cost is Apple high, no doubt about that but justification is easy for me even with a 2/3-year upgrade cycle given what I would normally pay for a real watch.

Just going out for a run shortly, all I need are my Airpods and watch and I can handle calls, listen to music and get texts. Minor to some but not needing to take my phone on a run but stay connected is a big plus.

If someone could match what Apple does on the Watch for less and made it work across Android/IOS I would have no issues switching.

I am hopeful that now Google owns Fitbit they have their sights set on the Apple Watch as the device to match or beat. If they do I don't expect it will significantly cheaper than Apple, but it may allow a comparable device to be OS independent. Although Google may have their own eco-system lock-in views on that

 

[maflynn]

Garmin Fenix 5 and I love it

I'm looking at something like that simply because if I do a half marathon or do a 8 hour hike, my apple watch will die while doing that activity

 

[grmlin]

I'm looking at something like that simply because if I do a half marathon or do a 8 hour hike, my apple watch will die while doing that activity

They are fantastic, the newer versions should have even better battery life. Battery life was the main reason I never considered an Apple Watch

 

[SteveJUAE]

Just going out for a run shortly, all I need are my Airpods and watch and I can handle calls, listen to music and get texts. Minor to some but not needing to take my phone on a run but stay connected is a big plus.

If someone could match what Apple does on the Watch for less and made it work across Android/IOS I would have no issues switching.

I am hopeful that now Google owns Fitbit they have their sights set on the Apple Watch as the device to match or beat. If they do I don't expect it will significantly cheaper than Apple, but it may allow a comparable device to be OS independent. Although Google may have their own eco-system lock-in views on that

All the things you note for your run is on The Galaxy Active 2 LTE that is cheaper and works across platforms

So when are you swapping

 

[LeeW]

So when are you swapping

I already have one as well as a Fitbit Iconic.

The Active 2 is slightly cheaper and has better battery life but the Apple Watch still wins both on health features and the accuracy of them. Those are the most important features to me. A well-documented downside to Active 2 is the inaccuracy of its health/fitness. Although the voice prompts in-ear are way better on the Active than the Watch.

Visually, the Watch is way better than the active 2 at telling you what you need to know.

LTE music is very spotty on the Active 2 and supports only Spotify, that is ok if it was consistent otherwise you need to download playlists which I don't want to do.

I can't say what the overall experience is like on Android but as you would likely expect, the Apple to Apple experience is way more fluent than Apple to another 3rd party.

The active 2 is nice, but when you are really active and want the right, accurate information, Apple wins by a mile.

So at £419 for the Active 2, and £529 for the Apple Watch, I would rather pay the extra for the Watch.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I already have one as well as a Fitbit Iconic.

The Active 2 is slightly cheaper and has better battery life but the Apple Watch still wins both on health features and the accuracy of them. Those are the most important features to me. A well-documented downside to Active 2 is the inaccuracy of its health/fitness. Although the voice prompts in-ear are way better on the Active than the Watch.

Visually, the Watch is way better than the active 2 at telling you what you need to know.

LTE music is very spotty on the Active 2 and supports only Spotify, that is ok if it was consistent otherwise you need to download playlists which I don't want to do.

I can't say what the overall experience is like on Android but as you would likely expect, the Apple to Apple experience is way more fluent than Apple to another 3rd party.

The active 2 is nice, but when you are really active and want the right, accurate information, Apple wins by a mile.

So at £419 for the Active 2, and £529 for the Apple Watch, I would rather pay the extra for the Watch.

I don't know battery endurance seems reasonably important to me especially as it will degrade and of course sleep tracking yet to come on AW and only now offers AOD on already lower endurance watch.

With so many watch faces to choose from getting the right custom info could not be easier for most

My wife just downloads her tracks direct to her Active 2 as its part of her routine so spotify for her is irrelevant as too are the numerous apps, like @maflynn my wife has minimal loaded

Also the Active 2 is stainless steel the AW you have to pay 230 UKP more at 749 UKP for the equivalent and not 529UKP you note, thats 330UKP more that the Active 2

Seems your wants are a bit more on your run

 

[LeeW]

Seems your wants are a bit more on your run

I just want the best experience from a device I wear at all times, and that is currently on Apple Watch, everyone has their view, I have tried virtually all of them and the Samsung is the least accurate of them all, that is a popular view.

For the vast majority of people, buy a Fitbit, anything else is just about style and preference.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I just want the best experience from a device I wear at all times, and that is currently on Apple Watch, everyone has their view, I have tried virtually all of them and the Samsung is the least accurate of them all, that is a popular view.

For the vast majority of people, buy a Fitbit, anything else is just about style and preference.

My wife has had 2 fitbits and hates wearing them. As i noted before would of got her an AW as she only wears it for a couple of hours a day but not when you have to buy an IPhone too.

As her walk is the same each day like many she is only measuring relative data so accuracy is somewhat mute and a technicality that is largely irrelevant for her. Especially given that her expensive mechanical watches are beaten by a $2 watch let alone $900 AW LOL

 

[LeeW]

Well, thankfully there plenty of options out there to suit everyone.

 

[Dave245]

I have to say I do really like my Apple Watch, its the reason why I’ll keep my iPhone Pro Max when I get a Samsung Note. It’s just so I can keep using my Apple Watch for my runs and the health tracking.

A couple of reviews have come out for the Surface Book 3, they are calling it a beast of a machine but still the same old design.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I have to say I do really like my Apple Watch, its the reason why I’ll keep my iPhone Pro Max when I get a Samsung Note. It’s just so I can keep using my Apple Watch for my runs and the health tracking.

A couple of reviews have come out for the Surface Book 3, they are calling it a beast of a machine but still the same old design.

Dave you can keep any reasonable Iphone WiFi only, even 2nd hand one to keep your AW running and cash out the Iphone Max as a good lump off your SB3

32GB or 2TB in your SB3 may be worth more than a current Iphone in the draw

 

[Dave245]

Dave you can keep any reasonable Iphone WiFi only, even 2nd hand one to keep your AW running and cash out the Iphone Max as a good lump off your SB3

32GB or 2TB in your SB3 may be worth more than a current Iphone in the draw

Good point! The 2TB isn’t available here in The U.K (at least at the moment) tho.

 

[LeeW]

A couple of reviews have come out for the Surface Book 3, they are calling it a beast of a machine but still the same old design.

I would give it a bit more time. The current reviews are the ones trying to be 1st with the review, the ones you really want to see are those who have spent a decent amount of time with it and tested thoroughly.

 

[Dave245]

I would give it a bit more time. The current reviews are the ones trying to be 1st with the review, the ones you really want to see are those who have spent a decent amount of time with it and tested thoroughly.

That's what i plan on doing, plus Microsoft have only sent out the 15" to reviewers at the moment, so those are the only ones being reviewed at the moment. I want to see what the 13" can do as well as the 15" compare the two and then make my decision.

 

[Alex W.]

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

I just went on the dell forums and people current customers are freaking out - it doesn't look very positive and honestly scares me. Did you have their pro warranty?

 

[LeeW]

I just went on the dell forums and people current customers are freaking out - it doesn't look very positive and honestly scares me.

What, you mean a forum for a specific manufacturer has people complaining about their products being bad? No, that only happens here, people in this thread say so, must be true.

 

[Alex W.]

Im not trying to argue, but reading on the official forum, YouTube comments, etc there is some major red flags on dell service and make it seem subpar, stuff apple would never do.

After seeing a consistent pattern its fairly common knowledge dell has **** service, QA issues with their laptops, extreme throttling the only solution is to pay the 400 for pro service then its acceptable.... but a lot of horror stories that make me run to apple.

I don't think anyone could say dell makes a rock solid device, and has solid service after what my past week of research has shown me. Because of this, id only recommend going with a dell if you can get over engineering issues that have been common across the XPS for the past 4 years.

 

[LeeW]

stuff apple would never do

Wow. You are kidding, right?

I mean Apple will force you to pay $1k to replace a motherboard that requires a $5 part. Claim water damage when there is none to avoid a warranty repair, slowing older phones to force upgrades, refused to repair early 2016 MBP's with faulty keyboards as it was 'user abuse', the list goes on and there is plenty of evidence, undercover videos and so on to prove just how bad Apple service can be.

Sure some will have great experiences, others not, same will all manufacturers.

 

[Mendota]

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?

Yes. That is the simple answer from Apple. My husband has a Fitbit, and if I ever get into the "health" watch thing, that is what I will buy. Enhancing services is one thing, attempting to "lock in" your customers is another.
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Im not trying to argue, but reading on the official forum, YouTube comments, etc there is some major red flags on dell service and make it seem subpar, stuff apple would never do.

After seeing a consistent pattern its fairly common knowledge dell has **** service, QA issues with their laptops, extreme throttling the only solution is to pay the 400 for pro service then its acceptable.... but a lot of horror stories that make me run to apple.

I don't think anyone could say dell makes a rock solid device, and has solid service after what my past week of research has shown me. Because of this, id only recommend going with a dell if you can get over engineering issues that have been common across the XPS for the past 4 years.

A part of me wishes the best for you, because I could never wish Apple's worst customer service experiences on anyone. (I bet you bought Apple care plus too) The fact of the matter is Apple is known for blaming customers for faults and design defects that they are quite aware of. Just look at the keyboard issue where they blamed customers and charged $800 plus for replacements.

I don't think you are a part of this discussion in good faith, and you seem to be laboring under the notion that we are all clueless newbies that have never used or tried Apple. Everyone here, including myself have used and owned Apple products. You coming in as an "Apple fan" to show us the light is not quite working out.

 

[Sikh]

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

This sounds like apple watch isnt for you. Most smartwatches dont have a long life. my series 0 lasted me 4+ years. I count 4 years a great thing versus my pebble and fitbit.

Sounds like you just need to get a fitbit for running and be done with the watch since you dont use it for any of its features
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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.

They make devices specifically for your wife's use case, its called a fitbit.

As for elderly people and fall detection, they arent buying a watch for that, they have dedicated devices that do that already.

Anyone buying an apple watch is buying it for all of its features usually. I do agree iPad or any apple device should allow you to update your apple watch but i dont see who carries a LTE iPad around with them. The people that do usually have it for business or wfh and in a bag.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I just went on the dell forums and people current customers are freaking out - it doesn't look very positive and honestly scares me. Did you have their pro warranty?

I just had their typical extended warranty like Apple about $300 but the difference is it comes with on site support in UK. The cash refund was totally out of the blue, we did not request it.

The trouble with research is like @LeeW noted you can dig up crap on any OEM, they are all the same and of course for many of us here we are only reading English forums that have a high US owners content.

The slant we tend to get is very US biased where Apple have many shops and full of excuses, people seem to think getting in your car and driving X miles to take your laptop in for repair is a good thing and dealing with the OEM direct.

The chances are for many, just mailing it in will give the same turn around time when you factor in your time waiting, appointments etc.

I would like to see the numbers Apple save by this common approach many seem to think is convenient let alone how much is added to worldwide prices to cover all these shops and return polices only given to a minority

If you live in a large city you are likely to find most brand products have an authorized central repair center, not just laptops etc, yet for most its far easier to pop to your local Sears, Bestbuys etc and get service, but some equally pop down to Phillips or Dyson etc

Of course YMMV but make no mistake any ounce of service you get, you payed for, what's free is the smile

 

[SteveJUAE]

They make devices specifically for your wife's use case, its called a fitbit.

As for elderly people and fall detection, they arent buying a watch for that, they have dedicated devices that do that already.

Anyone buying an apple watch is buying it for all of its features usually. I do agree iPad or any apple device should allow you to update your apple watch but i dont see who carries a LTE iPad around with them. The people that do usually have it for business or wfh and in a bag.

I think you will find in my exchange with @LeeW i noted my wife has had 2 Fitbits already

As for fall detection my sister in her 70's wont be seen dead with some of those dedicated devices let alone the involved service costs. She wanted fall detection etc after being trapped in her loft, as the ladder had auto retracted. She now has a fear of being trapped or immobilized, as her husband is dead. Being an Apple user this was a far simpler solution and justification for getting a AW for her, she could care less about the fitness functions. I doubt she is an isolated case who wants this feature, else it would not exist, Apple did not add it for fun.

I am not sure why you are only thinking about owners who carry their Ipads around with LTE AW there is no need and there would be no need to have only an IPhone too

 

[Dave245]

This guy doesn’t seem to like the Surface Go 2. Who are Microsoft aiming it at anyway? Is it like the iPad Mini.

 

[LeeW]

I watched that just for the cringe factor, it was like touching a non-Apple product was dirty. If he called it cute one more ****ing time!

The entire video was why Apple and the iPad Pro and the trackpad and well, everything Apple was just better than a budget device from Microsoft where there are no comparisons to draw.

Not really a review when the reviewer rarely steps outside their current eco-system to appreciate what is really out there.

I get the Go, it's for the person who wants a small tablet form for doing everything that is common on a tablet but also provides the ability to do more productivity-related tasks such that may require Office or software that needs a proper OS then it's a great option.

I have the iPad Pro 11, it's great, but do I utilise it as much as I could? Nope, why? Lack of proper OS and therefore does not allow me to do things I could be doing with it. That is a shame because the IPP is a powerhouse way more capable than Apple are allowing it to be, for now.

Heck, if the IPP came with macOS I would spring for that $350 keyboard as it really would change the way I use it.

As it stands I am currently waiting on eBay giving me a no seller fees weekend so I can sell the IPP, Pencil and Smart Keyboard. Time to switch, most likely to the Surface Pro simply as I can do more than I can on the IPP.

I am not doing this because of any dislike of Apple or the iPad, but using Windows so much more these days I am regularly finding I reach for the iPad to do something or continue to do something and can't because the IPP simply, can't.

 

[The_Interloper]

I watched that video a couple of days ago and was infuriated by it. Don't get me wrong, I normally like Ali – he seems a good guy and has posted loads of really slick, informative videos. But this just seemed like petulance after stepping out of his Apple bubble.

He is dismissive of the device from the very beginning, repeatedly referring to Windows as "the dark side" when it's used on most of the world's computers.

He calls the setup "long and annoying" when it's no longer or shorter than setting up any Apple device (including an iPad, especially when there's an iOS update as part of the process).

He calls the trackpad "crap" (it's not) on the £100 type cover then compares it to the £350 Magic Keyboard which he calls "the single best product I've used in a long time". Go and watch his video on that – he's gushing about it before he's even opened the box, in complete contrast to this video.

The Surface pen is (sarcastically?) called the Apple Pencil and, to add further insult, he doesn't even know where to stick it on the device! Would he have done so little research for an Apple product? Similarly, he can't fathom how to install Chrome as he's so used to using an App Store.

When he groans constantly at "lag" as he puts it, maybe he should have researched the product further and not bought the bottom-of-the-barrel eMMC model with only 4 GB of RAM running a full OS. It's fine for what it is, but expecting MacBook Pro levels of performance is ludicrous.

Oh, and to top it off he grudgingly calls the screen "all right" but not as nice as the iPad Pro. Well, no, it wouldn't be given that this costs £399 and that costs a minimum of £769. He acknowledges this is probably more akin to the basic iPad while not mentioning that has an unlaminated screen.

Anyway, it is what it is but I just found it disappointing, dismissive and poorly informed. People rightly hate the "fanboy" moniker but those very people then go and put out videos like this.

After basically saying Apple is better at everything, he then had the audacity to write "Never before have I seen such zealotry in YouTube comments" on Twitter! He's a smart guy. He knew exactly what he was doing. The question is: why?