It's alright people sitting around and laughing down the Surface and being a typical fanboy, however Microsoft have now raised their game and have released a product that has serious potential.
When the iPad was released it was designed for browsing and social media, that is it. Users are the most important thing in consumer electronics, yo can add new things that people don't yet know they want but you must give them what they do want as well.
Even Steve Jobs lacked vision for the iPad of what it could really be dismissing file systems and the use of a stylus. Art is one of the biggest things on a tablet yet on iPad due to no native stylus support and other screen issues it is a battle that should be far easier than it is.
Tim likes using the slogan "Post-PC Era" a lot however how can I replace a laptop when I have no accessible file system instead having to rely on half a dozen apps to do the simplest thing.
Apple needs to step up their game, I don't think a shed load of Ram is needed or a full OSX system though that would be a massive advantage, however proper stylus support and a file system is as well as a USB port.
put those 3 things in and you can rival the Surface. It is mad they aren't already as it's great being in the markets they are but there is so much of the business sector Apple will be missing through self imposed limitations based on a 8 year old philosophy.
In regards to the Surface Pro 3, truthfully, you're sounding a little like that person that you're accusing others of being in regards to the iPad. You couldn't be more wrong stating when the iPad was released it was designed for browsing a social media. Apple never stated or even suggested that. Applications are what make the computer what it is.
Maybe you didn't realize or you forgot that the military uses iPads as their preferred tablet. Hospitals use iPads in their labs. Banking institutions use iPads and near every single bank supports iOS even more so than Android. Educational institutions use iPads. Yeah, I'm sure all of these professional entities use iPads for browsing and social media.
Every one of those entities have specific developed applications for use on the iPad.
Until technology is proven to be a success there's absolutely no financially sound reason for companies to respond to a competitor's new product. So far the Surface has barely scratched the "surface" in terms of making a dent in Apple's market share. The Surface showed a huge financial loss for Microsoft in revenue and stock. So far Surface 2/Pro haven't been widely successful either.
Even with the Surface Pro 3 being a nice device there are people that are just sick of Microsoft's monopoly and domination, want nothing more to do with Windows, will refuse to buy anything with Microsoft's name on it. And whether or not the Microsoft fans have the guts to admit it, truthfully Microsoft and Windows have a tarnished name in regards to viruses and nothing anyone could say would rebuild consumer trust. It's not like Windows is somehow now immune to viruses because it's not and people will keep that feeling about Windows.
Couple that with well accepted alternatives with the iPad being #1 and MacBooks being sold to millions of satisfied customers. Then there's Android that is available for consumers who aren't financially capable of buying Apple or may just want something besides Apple. These are just some of the reasons why Microsoft may no longer be the first choice for many regardless of how great their products are.
The Surface Pro 3 even more so is niche product for the niche consumer. This is not to say Apple shouldn't take notice, because they should but to rebuttal in response to a Microsoft product that hasn't really gotten off the ground, even after 2 generations and caused a huge financial loss for MS isn't something Apple should make a knee jerk reaction to and create something quickly because IMO they are not going to lose hardly any customers over the Surface Pro 3.
I'm speaking from a business-sense perspective. You're speaking from a consumer perspective.
Unless a product is well established and in the hands of many then it's not good practice for a company to instantly respond. Regardless how awesome you think the Surface Pro 3 is, it's the consumer that will tell the story of its success, not the company. Speaking of the company, be prepared for Microsoft to throw high preorder sales numbers out there because they include shipping to retail stores as a "sale" which is typical of them.
The iPad and MacBooks have been a huge success which is why Microsoft is responding every which way they can and spent 90% of their keynote focused on Apple's products. They are threatened and are responding properly. Surface sales are going to have to make a serious dent before Apple needs to respond.
If anything it will sell to the techies but I hardly think they will dump their Apple products for it, despite what some of the techie members here seem to say.
That being said I'm looking forward to see what Apple is going offer their future customers in terms of a next generation portable.
