So what is the verdict iPad Pro or Surface?

[maxsix]

Looking to get my Mom a iPad Pro or Surface for drawing. Which one is the best for this?

I have both.

Of the two my absolute favorite is the stellar Surface Pro 4. Greater flexibility, a nicer keyboard compare to the OEM Apple keyboard which isn't bad, just not as fast and easy.

It all boils down to personal preference. I love my MBA, MB, and MBPr Apple Laptops. But the surface is the device of choice for other work.

 

[sracer]

If you want to do any kind of productivity then get a SP4, if you want to look hip while watching cat videos get an iPad.

Conversely, if you want an instant-on, smooth touch experience to access the content you want, get an iPad Pro. If you want a tablet that installs updates daily, has drivers that periodically render the device useless, and requires surgical precision to touch desktop user interface elements then get a Surface.

See how that works?

 

[Night Spring]

If you want to do any kind of productivity then get a SP4, if you want to look hip while watching cat videos get an iPad.

I wouldn't go as far as to say "any kind of productivity." There's plenty of times I've been able to get work done on my iPad, going all the way back to the original one. I'm not ready to get rid of my iMac, but the iPad is good for all my mobile productivity needs.

 

[waitandwait]

No offense, but I'm pretty sure that no file system access, no setting default apps, no ability to download files with Safari and limited inter-app data sharing isn't the "future of computing".

iPad Pro is definitely better. She can use your Adobe/MS Office/Music/Spotify account. Cheaper

Transferring files to iPad Pro to Mac and vice versa
1) iCloud/DropBox/DropBox/My Cloud/Windows' Cloud
2) Lightning to Camera SD card

[doublepost=1466706722][/doublepost]Surface Pro's biggest disadvantages: a complicated interface. My mom can't even find her Windows Player for 10 mins or locate the Display Settings.

 

[lemonviking]

If you want to do any kind of productivity then get a SP4, if you want to look hip while watching cat videos get an iPad.

Sure if you call installing update while running full blown apps that does not even support touch interface, have fun with your tiny menus, 3 hours battery life, bloatware. Even microsoft gave up on updating office apps in order to focus on ios office apps. Might as well just use that money and purchase a real laptop instead of running a bad tablet slash a bad laptop believing.

 

[jamesrick80]

Sure if you call installing update while running full blown apps that does not even support touch interface, have fun with your tiny menus, 3 hours battery life, bloatware. Even microsoft gave up on updating office apps in order to focus on ios office apps. Might as well just use that money and purchase a real laptop instead of running a bad tablet slash a bad laptop believing.

Agree, I recommend getting a real laptop or even even a chromebook over the surface pro 4 due to all of its bugs and it's awful battery life.....I have had no problems with my Skylake laptops, chromebooks, or ipad pro but had nothing but problems when I had a surface pro 4 and returned it 3 times never to go back again. ....I love my larger ipad pro due to its stability and beautiful interface and although it's not the most productive, it does everything it can do flawlessly. ...

 

[I7guy]

Agree, I recommend getting a real laptop or even even a chromebook over the surface pro 4 due to all of its bugs and it's awful battery life.....I have had no problems with my Skylake laptops, chromebooks, or ipad pro but had nothing but problems when I had a surface pro 4 and returned it 3 times never to go back again. ....I love my larger ipad pro due to its stability and beautiful interface and although it's not the most productive, it does everything it can do flawlessly. ...

We love our sp4. I can run all of my business stuff, multiple virtual machines and Windows programs all in a compact and light form factor. Didn't buy it for the battery life, but it's a fantastic laptop replacement. And yes, it's stable. Ymmv.
[doublepost=1466743470][/doublepost]

Conversely, if you want an instant-on, smooth touch experience to access the content you want, get an iPad Pro. If you want a tablet that installs updates daily, has drivers that periodically render the device useless, and requires surgical precision to touch desktop user interface elements then get a Surface.

See how that works?

the only thing to add if you want to run the program of your choice from the millions out there, get a surface.

 

[spinedoc77]

Sure if you call installing update while running full blown apps that does not even support touch interface, have fun with your tiny menus, 3 hours battery life, bloatware. Even microsoft gave up on updating office apps in order to focus on ios office apps. Might as well just use that money and purchase a real laptop instead of running a bad tablet slash a bad laptop believing.

This is because we've all made ourselves stupid and expect to hammer out a masters thesis or the solution to world hunger on a touchscreen. Let me fold out my keyboard, slide back the kickstand, connect my bluetooth mouse and get down to work. No bloatware on my SP4, windows ships it with none at all. I get a solid 5-6 hours of heavy use out of mine, I'm sure the IPP gets more but I'll bet not much more if it was doing heavy computational work. Microsoft Office on my SP4 still BLOWS away MS office on your ipad, and that's not even considering I can use a mouse.

Just to clarify, in the original vein of the thread, it seems like the IPP pen is getting rave reviews, and I've never been impressed with the SP4 pen. I believe MS made a huge mistake when they ditched Wacom. For the artists out there I'm sure the IPP is a great option, although I'm not familiar with what apps are available and how they compare to full desktop programs. Keep in mind that touch is being supported more and more, MS office has a very nice touch interface on desktop, as does photoshop as 2 examples. https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/touch.html Even then driving windows with a finger isn't anywhere near as bad as many make it out to seem, I tend to find those complainers haven't used windows lately and don't realize the quite extensive lengths MS has gone to in order to make the desktop UI touch friendly. Sure they have a ways to go, but it's the right direction IMO.

 

[lemonviking]

This is because we've all made ourselves stupid and expect to hammer out a masters thesis or the solution to world hunger on a touchscreen. Let me fold out my keyboard, slide back the kickstand, connect my bluetooth mouse and get down to work. No bloatware on my SP4, windows ships it with none at all. I get a solid 5-6 hours of heavy use out of mine, I'm sure the IPP gets more but I'll bet not much more if it was doing heavy computational work. Microsoft Office on my SP4 still BLOWS away MS office on your ipad, and that's not even considering I can use a mouse.

Just to clarify, in the original vein of the thread, it seems like the IPP pen is getting rave reviews, and I've never been impressed with the SP4 pen. I believe MS made a huge mistake when they ditched Wacom. For the artists out there I'm sure the IPP is a great option, although I'm not familiar with what apps are available and how they compare to full desktop programs. Keep in mind that touch is being supported more and more, MS office has a very nice touch interface on desktop, as does photoshop as 2 examples. https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/touch.html Even then driving windows with a finger isn't anywhere near as bad as many make it out to seem, I tend to find those complainers haven't used windows lately and don't realize the quite extensive lengths MS has gone to in order to make the desktop UI touch friendly. Sure they have a ways to go, but it's the right direction IMO.

"Connect my bluetooth mouse" haha, why dont you get a real laptop? Why would i want to use a mouse with a tablet? I rather just kick back at my desktop with a 27 inch screen while enjoying my pok3r. If i wanted to run windows i might aswell get a good laptop with a trackpad or a desktop. Why carry extra keyboard, a bluetooth mouse when its meant to be portable?

Screen size is the same, what real work are u gonna run from sp4, please just stop argumenting about real work. If you were into developing, you would have a rig for that.

 

[Night Spring]

This is because we've all made ourselves stupid and expect to hammer out a masters thesis or the solution to world hunger on a touchscreen.

Why would i want to use a mouse with a tablet? I rather just kick back at my desktop with a 27 inch screen while enjoying my pok3r. If i wanted to run windows i might aswell get a good laptop with a trackpad or a desktop. Why carry extra keyboard, a bluetooth mouse when its meant to be portable?

I have to agree with lemonviking here. If I'm working on a masters thesis, I'd need a large screen -- trying to edit a long document on a 13 inch or smaller screen would be difficult, regardless of whether that screen was on a tablet, laptop, or hybrid. The point of a tablet, even the 12.9 inch iPad Pro, is that it's portable. Having to carry a keyboard and mouse detracts from its portability. When I got my 12.9 iPP, I thought I'd use it with my Bluetooth keyboard. But I ended up just using the touch screen, because guess what? If I need a keyboard, I'd rather sit at my iMac. But if I'm on the go and wanting to do some work, I do what I can with the on screen keyboard, and wait until I get home to go the final editing and formatting, because toting around a keyboard is a pain.

 

[mackinmike]

Surface for business and productivity. iPad is more of a content consumption device that is better suited for kids, moms/dads.

 

[I7guy]

"Connect my bluetooth mouse" haha, why dont you get a real laptop? Why would i want to use a mouse with a tablet? I rather just kick back at my desktop with a 27 inch screen while enjoying my pok3r. If i wanted to run windows i might aswell get a good laptop with a trackpad or a desktop. Why carry extra keyboard, a bluetooth mouse when its meant to be portable?

Screen size is the same, what real work are u gonna run from sp4, please just stop argumenting about real work. If you were into developing, you would have a rig for that.

Why is a rig needed? An sp4 is perfect for supporting clients. When I was in palm desert for vacation took the sp4. Connected the bt mouse, put down the kickstand, used the hotel wifi and was off and running. After I was finished I gave the sp4 to my wife, who took off the keyboard and used the sp4 like a tablet. Seems like a win/win to me.

 

[lemonviking]

Why is a rig needed? An sp4 is perfect for supporting clients. When I was in palm desert for vacation took the sp4. Connected the bt mouse, put down the kickstand, used the hotel wifi and was off and running. After I was finished I gave the sp4 to my wife, who took off the keyboard and used the sp4 like a tablet. Seems like a win/win to me.

Yes sp4 is a great thing. But it is a bad tablet and a bad laptop.

 

[gotluck]

I think bad is too negative of a word

 

[I7guy]

Yes sp4 is a great thing. But it is a bad tablet and a bad laptop.

It's an okay tablet and a great laptop replacement. It's not meant to be a laptop.

 

[spinedoc77]

"Connect my bluetooth mouse" haha, why dont you get a real laptop? Why would i want to use a mouse with a tablet? I rather just kick back at my desktop with a 27 inch screen while enjoying my pok3r. If i wanted to run windows i might aswell get a good laptop with a trackpad or a desktop. Why carry extra keyboard, a bluetooth mouse when its meant to be portable?

Screen size is the same, what real work are u gonna run from sp4, please just stop argumenting about real work. If you were into developing, you would have a rig for that.

What an odd post. Why would you want to use a mouse with a tablet. Well if I open the kickstand and unfold the keyboard, with a mouse connected I am in full desktop mode. Oh I forgot, you can take that 27 inch screen, desktop box, mouse, keyboard, wires, cables, power adapters, etc. to hotels, airports, vehicles, conventions, etc right? Right? The reason I (note the key word "I") have a SP4 is that I wanted a tablet AND a laptop type device, I didn't want to have to decide between one and the other. Other consumers may want a full sized laptop because of a larger screen, or more horsepower, or a variety of other reasons. Others may want a more pure tablet such as the IPP, which as I've mentioned seems to be a fabulous device for those who's needs it fits. But there is a subset of consumers who want to straddle the line and have both options available to them.

I'm not arguing about real work. Real work can be done on an ipad as well in many circumstances.
[doublepost=1466892300][/doublepost]

I have to agree with lemonviking here. If I'm working on a masters thesis, I'd need a large screen -- trying to edit a long document on a 13 inch or smaller screen would be difficult, regardless of whether that screen was on a tablet, laptop, or hybrid. The point of a tablet, even the 12.9 inch iPad Pro, is that it's portable. Having to carry a keyboard and mouse detracts from its portability. When I got my 12.9 iPP, I thought I'd use it with my Bluetooth keyboard. But I ended up just using the touch screen, because guess what? If I need a keyboard, I'd rather sit at my iMac. But if I'm on the go and wanting to do some work, I do what I can with the on screen keyboard, and wait until I get home to go the final editing and formatting, because toting around a keyboard is a pain.

Why wouldn't you just connect your surface pro to a larger screen then? This is the disconnect I'm talking about, if you connect the ipad to an external screen what do you have? Basically it's an ipad (which is just a large iPhone for the most part) on a larger screen. No mouse support, no true multitasking ability, no file system, etc. Once again I'm not arguing against the ipad (and it seems you missed the point I was making anyway), I just wanted to give my point of view after reading some not so well thought out derogatory comments about the SP4. My point was that there is this "Post PC era" conviction that has us believe we don't need PC's anymore because of devices like tablets. (Interestingly enough while Apple double dips into your pocket convincing you that you need a MacBook AND an ipad). They each have their place, while there is some overlap they largely appeal to different consumer types and this is exactly why a SP4 versus IPP discussion always ends up in the garbage.

FYI the keyboard on the SP4 is incredibly thin and light for a keyboard. IMO it hardly detracts from its portability at all, if anything it augments it by protecting the screen. Personally I'd take the SP4 keyboard over an onscreen keyboard ANY day of the week, especially if I'm typing a lot. But we all have different needs and if you can type long documents on the IPP onscreen keyboard then more power to you.
[doublepost=1466892693][/doublepost]

It's an okay tablet and a great laptop replacement. It's not meant to be a laptop.

It's been a phenomenal tablet for me, easily the best tablet I've ever owned. What makes it just an okay tablet for you? Just curious.

 

[Night Spring]

Why wouldn't you just connect your surface pro to a larger screen then?

Because if I'm at home and wanting to work on a larger screen, I have my iMac. And because of iCloud and Dropbox syncing, I can switch seamlessly and instantaneously between working on my iMac and working on my iPad. No need to fiddle with a dock or cables to connect my portable device to a larger monitor.

I do see the point that people who travel frequently might want a single device that can function as both laptop and tablet, and for those people, a SP4 could be the perfect device. But I don't travel, so for me, the iPad + iMac combination works.

 

[spinedoc77]

Because if I'm at home and wanting to work on a larger screen, I have my iMac. And because of iCloud and Dropbox syncing, I can switch seamlessly and instantaneously between working on my iMac and working on my iPad. No need to fiddle with a dock or cables to connect my portable device to a larger monitor.

I do see the point that people who travel frequently might want a single device that can function as both laptop and tablet, and for those people, a SP4 could be the perfect device. But I don't travel, so for me, the iPad + iMac combination works.

Well then we are simply discussing our personal preferences, nothing more. Having my SP as my main PC means I don't have to buy a PC (or mac) for home, work, or travel. There is no fiddle with a dock or cable really, as connecting it to the dock is simply a matter of connecting a single magnetic cable onto my SP4, voila you don't even need to press it in. But once again just our personal preferences so no one is right or wrong, just wanted to illustrate how some consumers might find the all in one aspect of the SP series valuable, and even though it's not suitable for your purposes it seems like you get what I'm saying.

 

[Night Spring]

Well then we are simply discussing our personal preferences, nothing more. Having my SP as my main PC means I don't have to buy a PC (or mac) for home, work, or travel. There is no fiddle with a dock or cable really, as connecting it to the dock is simply a matter of connecting a single magnetic cable onto my SP4, voila you don't even need to press it in. But once again just our personal preferences so no one is right or wrong, just wanted to illustrate how some consumers might find the all in one aspect of the SP series valuable, and even though it's not suitable for your purposes it seems like you get what I'm saying.

Agreed that there is no right or wrong in this. However, even having to connect one magnetic cable feels to me more fiddly than having to connect no cables at all. I used to think a single device that I could carry everywhere with me and attach to a desktop setup when at a desk was the "holy grail" of computing. But now I'm not so sure. Apple has done a good job making switching between Mac and iPad quite seamless. If I didn't already have an iMac, then having to buy only one device that could act as both desktop and tablet could be attractive. But I already have an iMac, so my goal was to get the best tablet. And right now I think the iPad is a better tablet than the Surface.

 

[xaqt93]

Personally, I say go with the iPad Pro. It doesn't have certain "Pro" apps like Photoshop...but other than that, the Surface 4 got more frustrating to use as I was using it more and more. When I got the iPad Pro, I fell in love almost instantly...mainly because I was able to do without Photoshop because of Adobes Suit of iPad apps. I would like one solid app, but I prefer the Pro to the surface any day.

 

[spinedoc77]

Agreed that there is no right or wrong in this. However, even having to connect one magnetic cable feels to me more fiddly than having to connect no cables at all. I used to think a single device that I could carry everywhere with me and attach to a desktop setup when at a desk was the "holy grail" of computing. But now I'm not so sure. Apple has done a good job making switching between Mac and iPad quite seamless. If I didn't already have an iMac, then having to buy only one device that could act as both desktop and tablet could be attractive. But I already have an iMac, so my goal was to get the best tablet. And right now I think the iPad is a better tablet than the Surface.

I hear ya, for me it's clunkier to worry about cloud files although I do heavily use OneDrive. But I'd rather avoid the hassle, or clunkiness of finding app equivalents to open my files and such, it's just nice that everything works the same and there are no surprises or headaches. I also love a clean work space, and not having a pc box or wires everywhere is liberating to me. It's interesting to discuss differing perspectives. For me my surface pro 4 has been the absolute best tablet I've ever owned without question. But it all depends on your needs and it's such an individual thing.

 

[I7guy]

What an odd post. Why would you want to use a mouse with a tablet. Well if I open the kickstand and unfold the keyboard, with a mouse connected I am in full desktop mode. Oh I forgot, you can take that 27 inch screen, desktop box, mouse, keyboard, wires, cables, power adapters, etc. to hotels, airports, vehicles, conventions, etc right? Right? The reason I (note the key word "I") have a SP4 is that I wanted a tablet AND a laptop type device, I didn't want to have to decide between one and the other. Other consumers may want a full sized laptop because of a larger screen, or more horsepower, or a variety of other reasons. Others may want a more pure tablet such as the IPP, which as I've mentioned seems to be a fabulous device for those who's needs it fits. But there is a subset of consumers who want to straddle the line and have both options available to them.

I'm not arguing about real work. Real work can be done on an ipad as well in many circumstances.
[doublepost=1466892300][/doublepost]

Why wouldn't you just connect your surface pro to a larger screen then? This is the disconnect I'm talking about, if you connect the ipad to an external screen what do you have? Basically it's an ipad (which is just a large iPhone for the most part) on a larger screen. No mouse support, no true multitasking ability, no file system, etc. Once again I'm not arguing against the ipad (and it seems you missed the point I was making anyway), I just wanted to give my point of view after reading some not so well thought out derogatory comments about the SP4. My point was that there is this "Post PC era" conviction that has us believe we don't need PC's anymore because of devices like tablets. (Interestingly enough while Apple double dips into your pocket convincing you that you need a MacBook AND an ipad). They each have their place, while there is some overlap they largely appeal to different consumer types and this is exactly why a SP4 versus IPP discussion always ends up in the garbage.

FYI the keyboard on the SP4 is incredibly thin and light for a keyboard. IMO it hardly detracts from its portability at all, if anything it augments it by protecting the screen. Personally I'd take the SP4 keyboard over an onscreen keyboard ANY day of the week, especially if I'm typing a lot. But we all have different needs and if you can type long documents on the IPP onscreen keyboard then more power to you.
[doublepost=1466892693][/doublepost]

It's been a phenomenal tablet for me, easily the best tablet I've ever owned. What makes it just an okay tablet for you? Just curious.

The iPad is a great tablet, w10 has a ways to catch up, but in no sense of the word is it gimped.

 

[Three141]

If all she's going to be doing is drawing, she doesn't need the complexity of full Windows.

Not read other replies but this seems the most sensible.

If it's a desktop replacement and she uses window heavy app I could not recommend a surface enough brilliant device but if she is already in the Apple eco-system and is happy and this is for drawing IPP would be your best bet.

 

[mi7chy]

Other things to consider. iPod Pro is nearly double the cost with less than half the functionality and Pencil requires an additional purchase. Surface Pro 4 keyboard is superior to the horrible membrane Smart keyboard. Cloud storage will always be secondary to local storage due to wireless connection reliability, throughput issues and data overage fees if on cellular.

Surface Pro 4 M3 128GB with included Pen on sale at Best Buy for $799 or $699 with student discount.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/microso...tel-core-m3-silver/4523500.p?id=1219756879934

Here's a link to get Best Buy edu discount code if your school doesn't provide edu email address:

https://www-ssl.bestbuy.com/profile/a/emailsub/student

 

[eneisch]

My Mom loves her iPad. I don't think she would love the Surface Pro as much. Just not as easy to navigate or intuitive to use. She uses a PC, but she doesn't know about settings, uninstalling apps, firewalls, etc. (that's what I'm for ). But she very rarely needs my assistance with her iPad.

I recently bought a Surface Pro 4 to go along with my Apple gear, but I'm a tech junkie .