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All iPads Where is Apple's rebuttal to Microsoft Surface?
- Thread starter NotAdvisable
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Yea, but it's not like you would have bought a Mustang II and judge the 2015 Mustang based on that.
Didn't realize they'd dropped the price but agreed on the launch of the Companion, Wacom did a surprisingly good job with that.
I can't justify one right now but if the price drops a bit more it's going to become a serious consideration for me in the future, though I'll probably be looking more at the Companion Hybrid.
My setup used to be a nMP, rMBP 15" for school (IT major so I had all my dev and windows install on that), an iPad for some games and my aviation stuff and my iPhone 5s. I've whittled that down to the nMP, iPhone 5s and combined the iPad and rMBP with a Surface Pro 2 (soon to be Surface Pro 3). It does all I need it to do, run Visual Studio, NetBeans, etc., still have access to my aviation apps (Jeppesen and Lido among others) and can use it to take notes using the awesome pen! While I've long been an Apple lover and supported, the Surface Pro really changed my mind about Microsoft and Windows 8. It's totally usable on a tablet environment and they've iterated into making a really solid product. While it's definitely not for everyone, its by no means a bad product and should be looked at as a serious option for anyone who needs Windows but doesn't want a full laptop. (Sidenote: TypeCover is a completely necessary purpose and should come bundled with the Surface Pro to really make it a complete product).
No reason why Apple can't use exactly the same CPU and memory as the Surface Pro 3. I do agree though, but Microsoft don't make the Surface range for mass sales, Apple fans may not understand this, but they actually make them to highlight to it's customers what can be done, it's customers are those making Windows tablets.
Same thing is done by Google with it's Nexus range.
But an iPad with the same power and size screen as the Surface Pro 3 would be nice, we have had the odd iPad Pro 12" rumour so you never know.
Seriously, no reason? I can think of plenty.
An intel processor would run hotter, and require a fan. Existing iPad apps will also need to be recoded to run on the new architecture (assuming iOS itself doesn't need to be redesigned).
A mobile computing device ought to focus on the "mobile" aspect, which means that it shouldn't be too big to hold and operate comfortably.
Microsoft is showing its hardware partners what can be done, no doubt, but the more important question is whether it should be done. I don't think the future of the iPad is to become a better PC at all.
Your assuming it would be an iOS device then? I wasn't, it would need to run OSX to compete and that means Intel CPUs and a tiny fan. But the next gen of these same Intel processors are said to be fanless. They would need to change OSX to match and be usable of course but they can do it.
Its a nice product to be sure, I have a "full laptop" but I'm contemplating the SP3 to replace it. I'm still on the fence though, some days I lean towards the SP3, other days I lean to keeping my rMBP
I think if and when Apple does make hybrids, they are more likely to change iOS to accommodate keyboards and mice than to modify OS X to accommodate touch. iOS *is* a touch version of OS X -- no need to reinvent the wheel by adding touch to OS X *again*.
A case could be made that Apple is (incrementally) moving toward a touch-friendly version of OSX. There are some things, like LaunchPad that have been introduced into OSX that makes more sense for touch interaction. Some may claim that it was some sort of move towards a consistent look and feel. Which is what Microsoft did with Windows 8 and for which they were (rightfully) criticized. But I don't agree.
I don't believe that Apple will produce a true hybrid device like the Surface Pro 3. They really don't need to. They can take iOS a few steps closer towards desktop productivity and they can take OSX a few steps closer to being touch friendly... they can do both of those things without compromising the experience and strengths of either.
iOS can't run the legacy programmes that OSX can, like the full Photoshop suite, the Surface Pro can, so iOS is not the same as OSX by any means. It's designed for the ARM architecture as opposed to the X86 architecture.
But if Apple for instance created a 12" iPad with a quad core 64bit CPU with quad core PowerVR 6 series graphics, and then gave it 2 or 3 GB of RAM, that would be interesting.
People really don't want to run legacy applications, what they REALLY want is to have the same functionality on tablets and/or hybrids. Apple's approach is to encourage developers to port their applications to iOS. So for instance, there is already a version of Phtoshop for iOS, with a limited feature set. The idea is for Adobe to gradually keep adding features to its iOS version, at the same time as Apple gradually grows iOS to be closer to desktops in power and functionality. When the transition to hybrid happens, it'll barely be a bump in the road, because iOS and OS X, desktop and tablet versions of Phtoshop, would have gradually grown closer together. Whereas with Windows 8, Microsoft forced a huge change to its OS, while developers have no incentives to write tablet versions of their apps because the legacy apps work fine.
Its a nice product to be sure, I have a "full laptop" but I'm contemplating the SP3 to replace it. I'm still on the fence though, some days I lean towards the SP3, other days I lean to keeping my rMBP
It definitely depends on your usage for it, but the build quality, performance, everything is light years ahead of what I expected before I got one.
I know I would love to have a 12" iPad that runs some variant/combination of IOS/OS X. It really bugs me that Microsoft can seem to produce a device that provides a full desktop OS on a tablet and Apple can't seem to or at least doesn't want to do so. At least I wish Apple would produce a touch screen MBA. Even little $300 Asus' have this. I have thought seriously about getting an SP3 but just prefer OS X. I have several desktop apps that I would love to run on a tablet (specifically Quicken and H&R Block). If Apple can't come up with such a device, at some point I will probably jump ship back to Windows and get an SP3 as much as I don't want to.
Oh, I'm sure it's "don't want to." Of course they could if they wanted to. They don't because they are following a different path than Microsoft.
Not that I don't see the attraction of a hybrid device. But for me, SP3 isn't going to convince me to switch over. Win 8.1 is still half-baked as a hybrid OS, and there aren't that many apps avaiable for the multitouch interface. I don't need a ultra light laptop that often, but the iPad almost never leaves my hand. The Surface jus isn't a good enough tablet to replace the iPad. And while I'm sure Windows 9 and Surface 4 or 5 would be better and get closer to meeting what I want in a hybrid device, I suspect that around the time Microsoft finally gets it right is when Apple will drop *their* hybrid device.
Not that I really care who gets there first. Whoever makes the first hybrid device that fits my usage will get my money. It's just that based on what I see Apple and Microsoft doing today, I feel it's more likely it would be Apple.
I doubt Apple will release a hybrid device anytime soon. They make their money by selling devices, the more categories they create and sell on a yearly/bi-yearly etc upgrade basis, the more money they make.
Why? You'll never get the same power then an X86 device, and you said it yourself, Photoshop has a tiny amount of features on the iPad compared to the computer version, and it always will.
I think you wrong to claim people don't want to run legacy versions when millions do, you use Photoshop in a totally professional environment, you take courses to teach you how to use it, and then in the workplace you use a desktop computer to use it. You aren't going to find people using an iPad version in the same way.
But that's the thing. I think one day mobile computers will be as powerful as today's x86 based machines, and Photoshop on a tablet will be as full featured as the desktop version. How long it will take to get there, I don't know, but I have no doubt it'll happen some day.
Because then, the user experience would suck. Many of the legacy software in windows tablets aren't optimized for a touchscreen. Try operating photoshop with your fingers, you will not get any meaningful work done. Likewise, there is no financial incentive to update those apps because you can't charge people again for the same software.
What we need are iOS versions of existing power apps, completely reimagined for a touchscreen interface. Which is why I believe Apple made the right move in not allowing legacy desktop software or mouse support on iOS devices. Forces developers to recreate their software from scratch to work properly on a touchscreen (and only a touchscreen), and since they have to redo everything anyways, may as well do it properly, rather than half-ass it.
Exactly. And that's pretty much what's happened with Microsoft Office. It works very well on an iPad. You'd have to be extremely short-sighted to not see that this will happen with other power apps.
Hmmmm... I dunno if they can avoid compromising the experience though if they try to go the Microsoft route of trying to make a Swiss Army knife device. IMO, tablets should be tablets and laptops should be laptops. If you really need major productivity and portability then a MacBook Air is a very good choice. If you need mostly portability but would like to be able to do some work, then the iPad has you covered. If you are trying to launch the space shuttle then Mac Pro products have you covered. Once you start meddling with any of them you easily can hurt their true usage capability.
Keep these devices all separate!
Just my opinion.
I think we are moving towards a convergence, laptop/computer sales are down, tablet sales are up. Tablet components are getting more powerful, and the operating systems more robust.
MS is going the traditional route of basically create a laptop inside a tablet. Not a bad idea but not surprising given their products with traditional applications and OS.
Apple has chosen a different direction and I don't see them changing gears in providing a tablet that offers desktop functionality. The iPad right now is incredibly popular, they have tons of apps. There's really no advantage financially or strategically for them to do so.
I think the SP3 will be a hit for MS, bigger then the SP2, which was bigger then the SP but that doesn't mean it will be selling in the numbers that that iPad enjoys. That also doesn't make it a failure for MS, I think they're on to something but only time will tell.
You are probably correct. Just not sure if that's what the "people" really want even though many of them "think" they want convergence. The next 2-3 years is going to define the direction tablets go in. This will be interesting, no doubt.
I agree, heck, I can't even decide on what I want, never mind how this will shake out for consumersThe next 2-3 years is going to define the direction tablets go in. This will be interesting, no doubt.
I'm still on the fence of keeping my MBP vs. getting the SP3. Both have strengths and weaknesses.