iPad Pro iPad Pro or Surface

[BeatCrazy]

I have an iPad Pro 11", and also the Surface Go 256GB/8GB. I have a bunch of MacBooks too, but let's not compare those.

The Surface is relatively snappy for day-to-day stuff. I really prefer macOS, so I only use the Surface rarely. Mainly for downloading firmware or updating legacy devices. I've tried to use VMs on MacBooks for this, but a native OS install on decent hardware like a Surface makes for an easy experience, every time.

I never use the Surface in tablet mode. Just easier to use the Surface keyboard, as I'm never on it for >30 min at a time.

The iPad Pro is just 100% better at media consumption, and of course I really use all the iOS features like iMessage, etc. So, no way a Windows machine could be my daily driver.

 

[Macalway]

The Surface is really a laptop that does tablet, while the iPad (now especially), is a tablet that does laptop.

I've owned all the Surface tablets. They are fantastic. But Windows, although being very good, and they put a lot of effort into adapting it to tablets, never feels like a true tablet. It's just way too busy.

 

[fitcious]

i have a surface pro 3 and i realize an ipad pro will better serve me esp with the ipadOS. quick note, the surface line up battery sucks compare to ipads..

 

[DragonX]

i have a surface pro 3 and i realize an ipad pro will better serve me esp with the ipadOS. quick note, the surface line up battery sucks compare to ipads..

Surface Pro 3 is a very old thick device. Try Surface Pro 6 or better Surface Book 2. They have whole day battery life and don't drain so much when you watch videos or do CPU intensive jobs.

 

[Dave-Z]

I get way more done in Windows than I ever did on my iPad. The iPad is really great at doing what it does, but it can't do everything (even with the up-coming iPad OS). The Surface products are great machines as far as laptops go and they really are more versatile. Surface products as tablets are not great, but I don't think it's as bad as people make it out to be. If you're coming from iPad to Windows the tablet experience will feel awkward and require adjustment time, but I don't think it's horrible.

If most of the time you're going to be spending with your device is as a tablet, then the iPad is a good choice. If most of the time you're going to be spending with your device is as a laptop, then the Surface is a good choice.

For me, I've moved from iPad to Windows because I became tired of trying to work around the limitations Apple put in their operating system. Even with iPad OS this is not going to change, though it may change in 5-10 years. For now I'm sticking with Linux and Windows; I find these platforms better suit the work and play that I do.

 

[StralyanPithecus]

I'm using both and found the new Microsoft Store iCloud app is a very well done. It allows you to keep all files offline or only a few selected one. I'm using the Microsoft Edge Developer edition (Version 76.0.182.6 (Official build) dev (64-bit)) and installed the iCloud Bookmarks Chrome extension into it and for my surprise is working perfectly without having to select any browser in the iCloud windows app settings (is unchecked). This and the iOS store photosync app to keep my iCloud photo albums in sync with my computer, plus moving the windows Documents folder to iCloud, keeps my Windows 10 and iOS world in almost perfect harmony.

 

[fitcious]

Nice!

 

[xraydoc]

I own an iPad Pro, a Surface Pro 3 and a Surface Book 2. Here’s my personal take-away...

The Surface Pro is a laptop without a keyboard. Sounds obvious, but think about it for a second. SP is good if your main needs are full Office 365 with macros, extensions and such, need 3+ windows open & on-screen at once, need pro-class email with HTML design capabilities, need to code, need full-time desktop-level Photoshop, Lightroom, etc., or have desktop applications that do not have equivalent iPad versions.

But, the Surface Pro is terrible if you need long battery life, just want a hassle free, touch-optimized web browser, or don’t want to have to rely on using a web browser for almost every other app like OpenTable, Nest, etc.. Web versions of apps are ok, but dedicated iPad apps always seem better to me and you miss out on always-available notifications (the Surface Pro won’t wake up to deliver a push notification). Windows 10 and most Windows apps are horribly touch-optimized. Even web browsing can sometimes be a chore — buttons too small for fingertips, on-screen keyboard failing to pop up automatically, etc. Not to mention the Windows on-screen keyboard is an abomination to all things living or dead.

Because of the above, my iPad Pro gets 80% of the use, and my Surface Book 2 gets 20%. And I can take the screen off my SB2 when I want which makes it Surface Pro-like. I never use my Surface Pro 3 any more.

As already said, it all depends on your personal needs and workflow. But for me, having two separate devices has more upsides than downsides as compared to trying to cram it all on to one device.

I was Surface Book 2-only for several months when I first got it as I didn’t want to spend the extra money on the fairly expensive 2018 iPad Pro models. I got by, but Win10 just isn’t great as a tablet OS. When my wife surprised me with an 11” iPP, I realized again how cumbersome “tablet stuff” was on the Surface. Yes, plenty of people are happy enough to web browse on a laptop while relaxing in bed or on a sofa. But for that stuff, an iPad is so much nicer IMHO.

Edit: and just to add, the 120Hz screen on the iPad Pro, especially for web browsing, looks so, so much better than the Surface.

 

[fitcious]

I own an iPad Pro, a Surface Pro 3 and a Surface Book 2. Here’s my personal take-away...

The Surface Pro is a laptop without a keyboard. Sounds obvious, but think about it for a second. SP is good if your main needs are full Office 365 with macros, extensions and such, need 3+ windows open & on-screen at once, need pro-class email with HTML design capabilities, need to code, need full-time desktop-level Photoshop, Lightroom, etc., or have desktop applications that do not have equivalent iPad versions.

But, the Surface Pro is terrible if you need long battery life, just want a hassle free, touch-optimized web browser, or don’t want to have to rely on using a web browser for almost every other app like OpenTable, Nest, etc.. Web versions of apps are ok, but dedicated iPad apps always seem better to me and you miss out on always-available notifications (the Surface Pro won’t wake up to deliver a push notification). Windows 10 and most Windows apps are horribly touch-optimized. Even web browsing can sometimes be a chore — buttons too small for fingertips, on-screen keyboard failing to pop up automatically, etc. Not to mention the Windows on-screen keyboard is an abomination to all things living or dead.

Because of the above, my iPad Pro gets 80% of the use, and my Surface Book 2 gets 20%. And I can take the screen off my SB2 when I want which makes it Surface Pro-like. I never use my Surface Pro 3 any more.

As already said, it all depends on your personal needs and workflow. But for me, having two separate devices has more upsides than downsides as compared to trying to cram it all on to one device.

I was Surface Book 2-only for several months when I first got it as I didn’t want to spend the extra money on the fairly expensive 2018 iPad Pro models. I got by, but Win10 just isn’t great as a tablet OS. When my wife surprised me with an 11” iPP, I realized again how cumbersome “tablet stuff” was on the Surface. Yes, plenty of people are happy enough to web browse on a laptop while relaxing in bed or on a sofa. But for that stuff, an iPad is so much nicer IMHO.

Edit: and just to add, the 120Hz screen on the iPad Pro, especially for web browsing, looks so, so much better than the Surface.

Thanks for the insight- helps solidified my decision on buying an ipp

 

[Precursor]

I own a Surface Pro 3

But, the Surface Pro is terrible if you need long battery life.

There is huge difference between Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 6 (which will soon be replaced by version 7).

Imo both iPad Pro and Surface Pro are very nice products and are setting the bar for other manufacturers to follow. iPP is more tablet than laptop, Surface Pro is more laptop than tablet. It is a battle of platforms really, and who knows what they will evolve into. Still it is exciting that both exist and we're living the experience.

 

[StralyanPithecus]

Just a small follow up. returned to MacOS and the Surface Pro 6 went back to Best Buy and instead of it I bought a MacBook Por 13 2019. Too many compromises with the Surface, it's a nice device, Windows 10 is getting better, but for me, the MacBook+iPad Pro combination fits better my workflow.

 

[TotalMacMove]

I’ve had both, iPP 9.7” and surfsce pro 4 for work. I honestly thought the surface was the best tablet I have ever used for the sole reason that it had a trackpad/keyboard. If iPads future is the same, I will definitely go back cause I do like the apple OS much better.

 

[macabeop]

I'm a digital artist . I have a XP-Pen Artist 15.6 pro drawing tablet with screen 16" , Surface pro 6 with gpu, and ipad 10.5 the experience regarding drawing goes like this:

Ipad Pro > Artist 15.6 pro > >>>>Surface The Surface has little to no pressure curve compared to the other two, has pen jitter, lag (even the 15.6 pro connected to the Surface doesn't lag, it's not the processor, it's the N-Trig tech that lags)

Get a desktop(a dencent one would be about 1000 dollar ) and a second hand ipad pro 10.5(500 dollar ) + a Artist 15.6 pro (400 dollar ) you're even gonna save money in the end