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badmojo69

macrumors member
Oct 23, 2014
71
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That includes like a Dell XPS or an Asus Zen product?
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Can't afford both. I could revisit an iPad when the prices drop on the Mini 3 or Mini 4, but right now, gotta cut any wasteful spending, which two tablets do.
Given that I'd stick with the SP4.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
No question about it, stick with the SP4. Unless you just want to consume content, why limit yourself so severely with an ipad? The only reason IMO is battery life, although the 2017 surface pro pretty much closes even that gap.
 
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nviz22

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Jun 24, 2013
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No question about it, stick with the SP4. Unless you just want to consume content, why limit yourself so severely with an ipad? The only reason IMO is battery life, although the 2017 surface pro pretty much closes even that gap.

I do plan on watching Netflix on my device along with streaming Watch ESPN, NFL Sunday Ticket, and other out of market sporting events. Battery life is important as well. I am reading something on reddit about changing the turbo boosting settings and using UWP or Win 32 to extend battery life. I had to give up Chrome for the most efficient battery life, but Microsoft Edge allows extensions, so that makes the change not so bad. I couldn't go 10.5" iPad anyways because the 9.7" Pro is much cheaper and goes into my $500 budget, but the Apple Pen charging scheme is bogus to me and I also don't like the look of that keyboard case because it doesn't have the kick stand like adjustment the SP4 has. I guess the cheap stiff is coming out because I still expect cheaper devices to go do the same, but when I read that an ASUS Transformer for $250 with an Atom sucks screen wise and has the performance of a Snapdragon 810, it makes me say no way Jose to that. Just being mindful of alternatives to that $500 price tag, even which people say is really great considering the regular price for the SP4 4GB/i5/128gb was about $999 at launch. So I essentially got it for half price almost and I have a price protection on it for the next 60 days or so.
 
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spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
I do plan on watching Netflix on my device along with streaming Watch ESPN, NFL Sunday Ticket, and other out of market sporting events. Battery life is important as well. I am reading something on reddit about changing the turbo boosting settings and using UWP or Win 32 to extend battery life. I had to give up Chrome for the most efficient battery life, but Microsoft Edge allows extensions, so that makes the change not so bad. I couldn't go 10.5" iPad anyways because the 9.7" Pro is much cheaper and goes into my $500 budget, but the Apple $Pen charging scheme is bogus to me and I also don't like the look of that keyboard case because it doesn't have the kick stand like adjustment the SP4 has. I guess the cheap stiff is coming out because I still expect cheaper devices to go do the same, but when I read that an ASUS Transformer for $250 with an Atom sucks screen wise and has the performance of a Snapdragon 810, it makes me say no way Jose to that. Just being mindful of alternatives to that $500 price tag, even which people say is really great considering the regular price for the SP4 4GB/i5/128gb was about $999 at launch. So I essentially got it for half price almost and I have a price protection on it for the next 60 days or so.

I usually get 7 to 8 hours if its just video at 50% brightness, that's without undervolting the CPU. which model did you get?
 
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nviz22

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Jun 24, 2013
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So after looking into the Surface Laptop and the new Surface Pro, I feel like the SP4 model I got at $500 is a huge steal because the new Pro and Surface Laptop have similar spec sheets for double the price pretty much. 7th gen i5? 6th Gen is fine for me. Plus got the pen on top, which neither of the new ones come with. The only cool thing about the Surface Laptop is the color scheme differences. The Cobalt Blue is sweet.
 
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ryankul

macrumors 6502
May 6, 2014
254
87
Michigan
Media consumption id get an ipad every time. Anytime other then that id much rather have a SP4 or even my Chromebook Plus. Keep in mind the ipad also doesn't come with a physical keyboard adding even more to the cost. Productivity wise I personally couldn't handle just an iPad.
 
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ShaunAFC3

macrumors regular
Feb 28, 2016
171
49
I still own and use my Surface 2 (non-Pro that runs Windows RT) and in many respects it is more "Pro" than my 12.9 iPad Pro.

So what do you use your Surface 2 for since you still use it?? And why do you think that your Surface 2 that has the dead RT OS is more "Pro" then your 12.9 inch iPad Pro in many ways/respects?? o_O o_O

I am really really curious!! :)
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The surface pro 4 is miles ahead better for video content imho. I still hate the 4:3 aspect ratio Apple uses on their iPads .

I do get what you mean by watching videos/movies on the iPads having to deal with the black bars at the top and bottom but for me i have an iPad Air 2 and it does not bother me at tall and i am fine with it.

You say you don't like the 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad but for me and lots more people like that aspect ratio for tablets especially the iPad because the 4:3 ratio is so much more better for things like web browsing, reading, playing games, content creation, lots more then the wide screen ratio like the 16:9, 16:10 which it is only good for watching videos/movies and i am really really glad that Apple have stuck by the 4:3 aspect ratio for there iPads and really really hope they will keep using the 4:3 aspect ratio on there iPads.


But i do understand where you are coming from by watching videos/movies having to dealing with the black bars that you get on there iPads. :):)

Maybe Apple should and try the 3:2 aspect ratio on there future iPads that is from the Microsoft Surface Pro 2-1 hybrid tablets because i have heard that the 3:2 aspect ratio is the best of both worlds!! :D
 
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sracer

macrumors G4
Apr 9, 2010
10,405
13,290
where hip is spoken
So what do you use your Surface 2 for since you still use it?? And why do you think that your Surface 2 that has the dead RT OS is more "Pro" then your 12.9 inch iPad Pro in many ways/respects?? o_O o_O

I am really really curious!! :)
The Surface 2 comes preloaded with a permanent license of MS Office. MS Office for Windows RT is nearly as fully functional as MS Office for Windows... But Office RT does not include VBA support in Excel.

It offers full support of USB devices and peripherals... mice, keyboards, thumbdrives, harddrives, CD/DVD drives, presentation remote controls, microphones, videocams, printers, etc.

It offers near full support for wireless/network printers.

It has true and full support for dual display. The external display can be driven at it's native resolution.

It supports removable media (microSD).

In many business professional settings that I find myself in, the Surface 2 can handle 98% of the scenarios that a traditional Windows notebook can do. The iPad Pro doesn't come close.

I know that there will be people who will claim that all of those things are possible with the iPad Pro. That is not exactly true. Even if we consider convoluted work-arounds as "equal" to more direct approaches, there are still many of these things that are simply not possible with the iPad Pro.
 
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ShaunAFC3

macrumors regular
Feb 28, 2016
171
49
I usually get 7 to 8 hours if its just video at 50% brightness, that's without undervolting the CPU. which model did you get?

And is that with the Surface Pro 4 that you are getting 7 to 8 hours of battery life?? Which model do you have?? o_O

And how to i get about 7 to 8 hours battery life on my Surface Pro 4?? I would really really like to know!! :)

BTW i have the i5 Core/8GB of RAM/256GB of Storage Surface Pro 4 model.
 

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
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I put the iPad Mini 4 up for sale since it feels to cramped when typing on it for me. The Surface Pro 4 just does more even if I will miss the media aspects that iOS provides in terms of battery efficiency.
 
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spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
And is that with the Surface Pro 4 that you are getting 7 to 8 hours of battery life?? Which model do you have?? o_O

And how to i get about 7 to 8 hours battery life on my Surface Pro 4?? I would really really like to know!! :)

BTW i have the i5 Core/8GB of RAM/256GB of Storage Surface Pro 4 model.

SP4 i5/256gb, although I have since retired that as my work PC and purchased a 2017 surface pro, which has significantly better battery life.
 
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nviz22

Cancelled
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Jun 24, 2013
5,277
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SP4 i5/256gb, although I have since retired that as my work PC and purchased a 2017 surface pro, which has significantly better battery life.

I can't afford the 2017 Pro, so I am content with the SP4 i5/4gb/128gb SSD combo for $500.
 
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apolloa

Suspended
Oct 21, 2008
12,318
7,802
Time, because it rules EVERYTHING!
So I managed to get the Surface Pro 4 i5 4gb RAM w/128gb SSD for $500 brand new last week, but cannot help but think I should consider an iPad Pro 9.7 on sale for $399.

What I want to do is watch lecture videos, take notes, look at PowerPoints, do some excel spreadsheets, use Netflix, surf the web, check email, play Spotify music, watch live sporting events.

I currently have an iPad Mini 4 that I will end up selling because it just doesn't feel a productivity device, rather it's more of a media consumption device.

Does the iPad Pro offer more than just Apple Pen support and a smart connector that makes it worth considering for school usage? Or am I just better off with the Surface Pro 4 since it is a full fledged windows device with more robust features?

This is a really easy question to answer I think. If you didn't have a tablet and came in here asking, then I would argue the iPad Pro VS Surface Pro ideology.
But... as you've already bought a Surface Pro for one hell of a great price, just keep it, learn how to use it, and be content. It's got a massive following with loads of fan forums out there to help you and it'll comfortably do everything you want.

Oh and keep the iPad Mini and see what you think of it after iOS 11. Because if you are still thinking of the iPad Pro, then why sell a device you already own that will help you answer your own questions when iOS 11 is released?
 
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nviz22

Cancelled
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Jun 24, 2013
5,277
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This is a really easy question to answer I think. If you didn't have a tablet and came in here asking, then I would argue the iPad Pro VS Surface Pro ideology.
But... as you've already bought a Surface Pro for one hell of a great price, just keep it, learn how to use it, and be content. It's got a massive following with loads of fan forums out there to help you and it'll comfortably do everything you want.

Oh and keep the iPad Mini and see what you think of it after iOS 11. Because if you are still thinking of the iPad Pro, then why sell a device you already own that will help you answer your own questions when iOS 11 is released?

So the SP4 has some really bad battery drain when shut down. Went by a few days after writing a paper? Drained all the way to zero from 58%. Idk how that's possible, but it's a known issue under the manufacturer's warranty. iPad Mini 4 it is for now and then I will see about the iPad Pro or 2017 iPad when prices drop.
 
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apolloa

Suspended
Oct 21, 2008
12,318
7,802
Time, because it rules EVERYTHING!
So the SP4 has some really bad battery drain when shut down. Went by a few days after writing a paper? Drained all the way to zero from 58%. Idk how that's possible, but it's a known issue under the manufacturer's warranty. iPad Mini 4 it is for now and then I will see about the iPad Pro or 2017 iPad when prices drop.

Hmm not good, and as it's been out a while I'm guessing it can't be fixed with a software patch?
Yeah wait for the Pro to drop in price.
 

nviz22

Cancelled
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Jun 24, 2013
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Hmm not good, and as it's been out a while I'm guessing it can't be fixed with a software patch?
Yeah wait for the Pro to drop in price.

Which Pro? I am thinking 9.7" one. Or did you have 10.5" in mind?
 

nviz22

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Jun 24, 2013
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Well I have the 9.7" and will be upgrading to the 10.5", it's only slightly bigger but has that extra real estate, plus the keyboard cover is actually usable. Best of both worlds I think, and the faster processor and 4GB of RAM helps :)

I don't need the extra RAM. I am thinking it doesn't hurt waiting until prices drop, looking to keep the Mini 4 for the foreseeable future.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
So the SP4 has some really bad battery drain when shut down. Went by a few days after writing a paper? Drained all the way to zero from 58%. Idk how that's possible, but it's a known issue under the manufacturer's warranty. iPad Mini 4 it is for now and then I will see about the iPad Pro or 2017 iPad when prices drop.

The SP4 had issues like that when released, but those issues were fixed with patches. I've had 3 SP4's and haven't seen those issues in a year or more. Make sure you are updated, especially the firmware updates because they did a lot of tweaking with the sleep issues.
 

nviz22

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
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The SP4 had issues like that when released, but those issues were fixed with patches. I've had 3 SP4's and haven't seen those issues in a year or more. Make sure you are updated, especially the firmware updates because they did a lot of tweaking with the sleep issues.

I did update to the latest and had that issue. What I ended up doing was returning the device. Too much hassle to update or sell it.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
I did update to the latest and had that issue. What I ended up doing was returning the device. Too much hassle to update or sell it.

Sounds like a faulty one. That was probably your best bet to return it.
 
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