iPad Pro iPad Pro 11" or Surface Go

[secretk]

I found the second gen pencil to be lot better and so the consideration of iPad Pro 11'

It's up to you but based on what I saw/read the actual experience while typing has not changed with the new Pencil. It seems the same. What has changed is the way it's charged, the size and it improved the storage. Granted those are good things, but obviously they don't just come with the price of the pencil, but also with the new iPad Pro. While the improvements are great I don't think that they are worth that much.

Honestly I think that the Ipad Pro might be too powerful for something that you will use only for notes taking. Now if you plan to take advantage of the device fully then yes it makes sense. I am just not sure that it's worth paying that much if you will use it only for taking notes.

The plus (for me) of the Surface line is that you can feel it as a computer. You can install full Windows apps on it, you can hook a keyboard to it and you will have the true laptop experience. Also the kickstand. While small detail for me that makes a difference.

I don't have it and at the time I bought the iPad I have (regular, 2018, 6th gen) the prices of the Surface Pro line were too high for what I needed. I already have a powerful laptop so it did not make sense to pay that much for another one. If I have to choose between the powerful Surface line and new iPad Pro, I choose the Surface line. Windows experience is way better than iOS for what I need. This way I can have tablet (for digital notebook) but I would also have a laptop experience whenever I need it.

Microsoft Surface Pen is the same price as Apple pencil, attaches magnetically to the tablet (and while the new Apple pencil does that, it's more expensive than the Surface Pen) and has a battery that would last you an year. Apple pencil might be better for drawing, but IMO when it comes to writing down stuff both pens work out great.

 

[zhenya]

I think you’ve gotten good advice so far. The iPad is generally the better digital notebook replacement. The Surface is better if you need one device that can be both your main computer and a notebook - but it’s not the best at either.

I agree that you don’t need a new iPad Pro for simply taking notes. The regular 9.7” model that is now compatible with the Pencil or one of the older 9.7 or 10.5” Pros would be more than fine.

Personally while I like the feel of the Surface pens, I think the Apple Pencil is much more accurate and much more natural feeling.

 

[LibbyLA]

The iPad has more power than it knows what to do with, there is no lag at all, no stutters, nothing. The Surface Go is woefully underpowered for its software. It should handle note taking just fine though.

I haven’t found my Surface Go laggy at all. I run SAS, a Windows only statistical analysis package. Granted, I’m not running really long, complex programs with huge data sets, but it runs my programs really well.

 

[AlexJoda]

It is so sad that Apple (especially with the new iPP powerhouses) did not put in at least some of the notebook features from MacOS to support a pointing device, an extended second display and real file transfers with the USB-C interface. This little Surface GO is so much worse as a tablet but it runs circles around the iPad as a notebook....

 

[tromboneaholic]

I found the second gen pencil to be lot better and so the consideration of iPad Pro 11'

It's not $500 better.

It charges and pairs differently, which is a slight improvement.

You listed price of iPad as a "con." Yet you are willing to spend $500 more than you need to for note taking because of how the Pencil charges?
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It is so sad that Apple (especially with the new iPP powerhouses) did not put in at least some of the notebook features from MacOS to support a pointing device, an extended second display and real file transfers with the USB-C interface. This little Surface GO is so much worse as a tablet but it runs circles around the iPad as a notebook....

iPad pro does support a second display, and apps can add support for a separate display such as Keynote, where the second display is the presentation.

 

[The_Interloper]

I have both the iPad Pro 12.9 (2017) and Surface Pro (2017), both with their respective pens. The Surface is a laptop that can do some tablet things (due to lack of rich touch apps). The iPad is a tablet that can do some laptop things (due to lack of desktop apps). They may look similar (and do similar things), buy they are very different devices.

It all comes down to what you want or need. Around the house, day-to-day, I use the iPad all the time. When I go away, however, I always take the Surface. It gives me just enough tablet functionality to watch Netflix, YouTube etc and browse the web casually while allowing me to get work done in the full desktop programs I need. At home, however, it's too much like using a 'real' computer and I reach for the iPad.

Both are great for note-taking. I don't use GoodNotes, Notability etc (excellent as they are) as they are not cross-platform so I, also, use OneNote. It works equally well on both devices in my opinion. The Surface Pen, for me, has a great feel and I like that the tips can be changed for a harder or softer feel depending on your preference. The Apple Pencil is very much hard plastic on glass. The new one brings better functionality but the tip is exactly the same as the previous gen. Don't dismiss the standard 2018 iPad and previous Pencil just yet (my son has one and uses it with the Pencil for ProCreate) - it really does have the same functionality and feel as the new Pencil for a lot less money.

I think Microsoft built the Surface as an extension of their old (ahead of their time?) Tablet PC concept. They are designed as business-class devices for taking notes and can work well for digital art. Apple, on the other hand, has gone all-out to position the iPad Pro at the digital creative - artists, designers etc. The Pencil feels designed in this way, with note-taking a secondary useful function. It's almost like a Wacom alternative now. This, to me, explains the difference in the design and feel of the two devices and pens.

But on the 2018 iPad all you have to do is tap the lock screen with the Pencil, and it brings up the default Notes app. I don't know if another app like OneNote can be configured to do this however.

You can tap the screen, write a quick note and then tap the Share icon to send it to OneNote - works perfectly and instantly. Alternatively, on the Surface, you can configure the Pen button when you click it. I have it set up as: 1 click = Write a quick note; 2 clicks = Launch full OneNote app; Long-press = Take screen grab and annotate. (You can also set it up to launch any program, Cortana, Sticky Notes etc.)

 

[tromboneaholic]

You can tap the screen, write a quick note and then tap the Share icon to send it to OneNote - works perfectly and instantly.

Thanks for the tip. My wife uses 2018 iPad with Pencil, so she might actually start doing this.

 

[mklnz]

Coming from a Surface Go myself I can tell you while it sounds good on paper and for sure you can do a lot more in Windows compared to iOS, the experience is just horrible.

First of all, its slow, period. Even wake from sleep is slow, it’s not like an iPad where it is instant.

Second, apps generally are not optimised for a tablet. I just feel the overall experience simply cannot compare to an iPad even though iOS definitely have its own limitations..

 

[sracer]

I found the second gen pencil to be lot better and so the consideration of iPad Pro 11'

Fair enough. There's nothing that I've seen with the 2nd gen Pencil that warrants spending more than double for the opportunity to use it.

I'm curious, what are you seeing?

 

[tromboneaholic]

The Apple Pencil is very much hard plastic on glass. The new one brings better functionality but the tip is exactly the same as the previous gen. Don't dismiss the standard 2018 iPad and previous Pencil just yet (my son has one and uses it with the Pencil for ProCreate) - it really does have the same functionality and feel as the new Pencil for a lot less money.

My wife bought the "ClearView Paper-Like Screen Protecter" on Amazon for her 2018 iPad. I can't compare it to the "Paperlike" (no hyphen) protector, but she says it's much closer to pen and paper for note taking.

 

[secretk]

Thanks for the tip. My wife uses 2018 iPad with Pencil, so she might actually start doing this.

There is also OneNote widget I believe that you can activate on your iPad. This way you can have a quick button for Add new Note in OneNote directly.

 

[aevan]

They actually did. I don‘t know which update it was, but it works perfectly fine on my 11“ iPad Pro.

Really? Can you check Drag & Drop for images too, please? Can you drag an image from safari into OneNote? You definitely weren't able to before.

(I just sold my iPad Pro and I am currently waiting on the new one to arrive, so I can't test it at the moment)

 

[The_Interloper]

Really? Can you check Drag & Drop for images too, please? Can you drag an image from safari into OneNote? You definitely weren't able to before.

Just tried this for you and can confirm it works.

 

[pixelements]

Just tried this for you and can confirm it works.

Yeap, I can also confirm this on my iPad Pro 11.

 

[spyder0109]

It's up to you but based on what I saw/read the actual experience while typing has not changed with the new Pencil. It seems the same. What has changed is the way it's charged, the size and it improved the storage. Granted those are good things, but obviously they don't just come with the price of the pencil, but also with the new iPad Pro. While the improvements are great I don't think that they are worth that much.

Honestly I think that the Ipad Pro might be too powerful for something that you will use only for notes taking. Now if you plan to take advantage of the device fully then yes it makes sense. I am just not sure that it's worth paying that much if you will use it only for taking notes.

The plus (for me) of the Surface line is that you can feel it as a computer. You can install full Windows apps on it, you can hook a keyboard to it and you will have the true laptop experience. Also the kickstand. While small detail for me that makes a difference.

I don't have it and at the time I bought the iPad I have (regular, 2018, 6th gen) the prices of the Surface Pro line were too high for what I needed. I already have a powerful laptop so it did not make sense to pay that much for another one. If I have to choose between the powerful Surface line and new iPad Pro, I choose the Surface line. Windows experience is way better than iOS for what I need. This way I can have tablet (for digital notebook) but I would also have a laptop experience whenever I need it.

Microsoft Surface Pen is the same price as Apple pencil, attaches magnetically to the tablet (and while the new Apple pencil does that, it's more expensive than the Surface Pen) and has a battery that would last you an year. Apple pencil might be better for drawing, but IMO when it comes to writing down stuff both pens work out great.

I think, I didnt realize that its 500$ of a difference until now. I was not even considering 9.7" iPad until now. Infact one good thing about 9.7" iPad is absence of camera bump. It would easily allow me to put the iPad on flat surface and take notes easily. One of the reasons for considering new iPad pro were the better processor, which will ensure that its fast for atleast 2-3 iOS updates, and its easy charging method of pencil.

I also have 2018 MBP with TB, so I do more intensive tasks - photoshop and LR on it. Infact, whenever I'm editing photos, I rather use it along with a 27" monitor as I find even 13" laptop screen cramped up for editing DSLR pics.

 

[Mabus51]

I don’t have the Suface Go. I have the pro given to me by work. Both have their place. Like others have mentioned. Apple Pencil and handwriting is light years better. I recommend the app Noteability especially with its updates this week. You can also sync your notes with iCloud and have them on your phone. It has a search function for hand written notes and a record function that saves the audio to the note you’re in.

With the Surface I use it more as a laptop. Anything that I’m working on their I save to OneDrive. Only thing I use it for really is the full version of Excel. The pen is garbage, writing with it is hit & miss. There are security issues with the Surface pen. Windows 10 activates a keylogger that logs everything in plain txt. Microsoft has fixed this with an update, however in a corporate environment you don’t always get the updates as fast as they’re released if ever. Then there is the battery life. It’s not nearly as long winded as the iPad, I often find the Surface dead when I pull it out of my bag, because it turns itself on and off in the bag. Slight movements wake the thing up, if it wakes with the keyboard closed against the screen it just stays on until the battery is dead. Or if an app didn’t go to sleep with the system and the screen appears off. That app drains the battery down. You don’t realize Windows was stuck trying to hibernate because the display was already off.

You don’t need to get a Pro version of the iPad if note taking is what you’re looking for. The 2018 iPad is good enough and works just as well with the Pencil.

 

[tromboneaholic]

One of the reasons for considering new iPad pro were the better processor, which will ensure that its fast for atleast 2-3 iOS updates, and its easy charging method of pencil.

If Apple keeps the pricing similar for the entry level iPad, you could buy a new one in 3 years and still be ahead financially, with possibly a newer processor than the current Pros.

If you're not familiar with the first generation Pencil, it comes with an adapter so you can plug a regular lightning cable into it. The only time you need to plug it in to the iPad itself is to pair it very the first time and if you restart the iPad. The new method of pairing and charging is nice, but I would seriously think about the 2018 iPad if note taking is your primary need.

 

[sracer]

If Apple keeps the pricing similar for the entry level iPad, you could buy a new one in 3 years and still be ahead financially, with possibly a newer processor than the current Pros.

If you're not familiar with the first generation Pencil, it comes with an adapter so you can plug a regular lightning cable into it. The only time you need to plug it in to the iPad itself is to pair it very the first time and if you restart the iPad. The new method of pairing and charging is nice, but I would seriously think about the 2018 iPad if note taking is your primary need.

I agree. The 2018 + Pencil is an outstanding solution for digital note taking. (and actually superior to my 12.9 Pro for these purposes) I use it daily in heavy use and it is more than up to the task. But I understand that my needs are different than others, and that is why I asked the OP what they were seeing in the new Pencil that justified the significant added cost to get it.

And while it is still early to see 3rd party options, I don't think there will be the variety for these new Pros as there are for the 2018 iPad since it shares the same shell as the 2017 and Air 1. There certainly won't be a proper smartcover for these Pros because of the camera bump.

I highly recommend people who are interested in using any Pencil-supported iPad for digital note taking to watch Tom Solid's videos on YouTube. He has started a "paperless" movement and offers excellent insights. Keep in mind that everything that he does in those videos with a 12.9 Pro are equally capable on the 2018 iPad.

 

[TrueBlou]

I’ve personally not used a Go, but I did own a Surface Pro, so y’know at least vaguely comparable.

In all honesty, if the primary purpose is note taking, I’d likely go with an iPad compatible with the Pencil.

But that would, or could change drastically depending on what other use you want out of it.

I personally always found my Surface to be a good laptop wanting to be a tablet. And the iPad Pro a good tablet wanting to be a laptop. If that makes sense.

They’re both good devices, with drastically different approaches, particularly in the operating system department. So ultimately, if you think outside of note taking your likely to want to do the things you can on a standard Windows operating system. Your choice is made. If not, my money (literally) goes to the iPad.

 

[IowaLynn]

The 64GB Surface Go uses slow SD card. And 4GB if that was the configuration is just not enough. I’ve used the first Surface RT and 2018 Surface Pro, which I traded in for IPP 10.5.

Got my eye on the new 12.9 IPP now.

I got hooked on a stylus with the Samsung Note S-Pen.

 

[aevan]

Just tried this for you and can confirm it works.

Thanks! Great. I may actually start using OneNote again now.

 

[sosumi99]

I have both the Surface Pro and the iPad Pro. My view is that if you’re committed to using OneNote, then the Surface Go is likely the better choice. They are both very captable devices but the difference utlimately comes down to the notetaking software and what you prefer. OneNote for iOS is not as good as OneNote for Windows, and you’ll get a better experience on the Surface Go if you are invested in the OneNote system.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

The Idea of the surface pro Go has reall enticed me because having a full OS in a smal package is such a nice thing, but it’s just heavily underpowered, if it had to core i5 or core i7 which the surface pro 6 had, then it would be a different story.

As for noting, when i had the surface, i used it for one note but since one note for iPad has been pretty good, i know longer needed that flexibility. Consider this, if you have a MacBook or Mac, iPhone and now considering either an iPad or surface pro go for note taking. Cloud based services make it more seamless than ever befor.

For example, Notes App syncing to all devices is a invaluable tool. I love writing apps on my iPad and know that when i open my work laptop, it’s all there. I also like the fact that when you copy on one device, you can paste on another, this alone has stopped me from switching.

Also with office 365 moving to cloud based logic, you can use any mobile computing device to get productive, if that productivity is based on word, excel, PowerPoint, onenote, planner or teams.

The only grip i have is that, i wish there was a coding tool or an ability to write code on the iPad. I can do this a lot more easily on the surface go. If people know of an option, please let me know.

Also, i hate the calculator on a iPad, I prefer the options on windows.

 

[secretk]

Just a general note if someone is interested. I am in a full week workshop this week. I was wondering if I should take my laptop at work with me or my iPad. I decided to try with the iPad for today and see how it goes.

The meetings started around 9:30 AM and continued until 12:10 when we had a lunch break for an hour. Then we had sessions from 1:20 PM until 5 PM with one 15 minutes break. I had my battery at 89 % at the start, now it's 52 %. I used it mostly for taking notes. I almost had not used the Bluetooth keyboard and I only checked my email regularly. I have typed just two emails and just chatted for a minute or two.

I think that this is great experience when it comes to the battery. Now have in mind that using Procreate would drain the battery a lot more or playing games, but for notes taking I think that this is great. Based on what I read it seems that the Surface tablet is worse.

So if that matters to you then consider this. And this is my experience with the regular 6th iPad. I can't say about the Pro.

 

[sonicrobby]

I considered a surface go too, but its horribly ugly (even before the pros came out) due to the bezel-screen ratio. Its funny to me that the iPad pro has a lot more horsepower, but is limited by the software; and the surface is so much more versatile, but limited by the hardware. I personally would get the pro because I kind of want one anyway but if your use is mostly for digital note taking, I would suggest the more economical option of the surface go.

I havent used it in a while, but from what I remember OneNote was better on my surface pro vs the iPad version.