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ozaz

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2011
1,615
577
OK so the current ad for surface shows a set designer drawing a theater set.

He put some details in then says my surface is great because I cant do this on a mac. (not exact words)

Ummmm you can if you buy a ipad pro and pencil.

As others have said, an iPad is not a Mac. They run different operating systems and Apple actively market and describe them as different classes of device. Hence the claim in the ad is sound.

On the Windows side, the line between traditional form factor PC and tablet is blurred. The different form factors run the same OS. Hence Microsoft, or other Windows OEM, can reasonably describe their tablet form-factor devices as a full PC, a tablet, or a 2-in-1, and compare to either a Mac or an iPad, depending on what suits their marketing effort.

Whether a combination of Mac + iPad Pro is superior to a pen-equipped Windows 2-in-1 is a matter for personal preference, and anyway is beside the point.
 
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Fernandez21

macrumors 601
Jun 16, 2010
4,840
3,183
Do you really use a mouse with your smartphone?
Haven't done so myself, but if you see this video it shows what you can do with a phone like the Note, and this is showing the Note 4, the 7 will be able to handle that sort of thing much better.

Skip to 10:10 to see what im talking about.
 

sdz

macrumors 65816
May 28, 2014
1,228
1,554
Europe/Germany
Haven't done so myself, but if you see this video it shows what you can do with a phone like the Note, and this is showing the Note 4, the 7 will be able to handle that sort of thing much better.

Skip to 10:10 to see what im talking about.

Its genius!!
That is what iPad should get in my opinion. Floating windows and true multitasking.
 

Abazigal

Contributor
Jul 18, 2011
20,395
23,898
Singapore
If you want a dumbed down tablet experience, the iPad is great no doubt. If you want versatility, power, and ingenuity, you want a Surface. Simple as that. Most people use tablets for basic stuff, which is why the iPad sells more. Only people who want a PC in a tablet form should go after a Surface well because PCs are typically Windows based. See how easy it is to make that decision?
I agree.

A PC in a tablet form often makes for a very poor user experience, and all the versatility, power and ingenuity the product may boast of is moot if the user feels like they are fighting the interface every step of the way.

You are right that an iPad has a "dumbed down" tablet interface, and that's precisely the way I like it. I am a teacher using my iPad Pro and Apple Pencil every day for work and leisure, and I love how my iPad is the perfect package of battery life, ease of use and portability. Using the surface pro would actually be a step back for me, because the last thing I want is to have to contend with a desktop user interfaces, replete with all its complexities and idiosyncrasies.

Between simplicity and complexity, I would vote for a simplified, and a more elegant and hassle-free computing experience every time.
 

frankgrimes

macrumors 6502a
Jun 13, 2016
519
387
I personally dislike Surfaces, though don't mind if people buy them of course. The main problem I've found with them are the leadtimes on repairs. They're ridiculous.

Just as expensive as a Mac but without any of the customer support.

It's because that thing is so damn hard to repair and MS outsourced a lot of their work force, resulting in poor customer service, long repairtimes but like you said still high fees.
 
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maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
I'm a little late to the party, but I wanted to give my two cents.
I'm a SP3 owner who's seriously considering the SurfaceBook to replace my MBP.

There are plenty of things the Surface Pro can do that the iPad can not.

Pick the tool you need and use it.
True on both accounts, the iPad has some advantages and disadvantages, likewise the SP. The SP brings a full desktop OS experience, but the iPad offers the iOS experience which someone may want.

A surface is not a PC either it is a tablet.
Yes and no. Yes, its a tablet, but it was designed from the start as a laptop replacement, to the point where you can run the full desktop OS, mouse, have USB ports and has a docking station, and uses the same chipset as laptops. Basically its a laptop but its form factor is closer to a tablet. I've used my SP3 as a full desktop replacement for about 6 months. I couldn't do that with my iPad. This included using my 21" monitor, desktop keyboard mouse external drives etc.

I'd say the Surface 4 pen pros outweigh the Apple pencil. Ironic that a pencil doesn't have an eraser function while a pen does.
I like the SP pen better, even the feel, the iPad's stylus seems a bit larger and doesn't fit in my hand has nicely. Perhaps if I were to get an iPad Pro, and Pencil, I'd get used to it. My kids in playing with the iPad Pro and pencil, loved it, so I think this is just my odd feeling towards Apple's stylus.

Do you know what the Surface does better than either the iPad or the Mac? Split screen.
I think anything to do with window management, multitasking, the Surface Pro will edge out the iPad, just simply because its running the full desktop OS, and not a locked down mobile OS.
 

From A Buick 8

macrumors 68040
Sep 16, 2010
3,114
127
Ky Close to CinCinnati
i really like my Surface pro, i really wanted the iPad pro to meet my needs but since it still only runs iOS it does not. The surface meets my needs of wanting to run full OS applications (runs windows 10 great) and yet i can also sit on the couch and use it as a tablet.
 

I7guy

macrumors Nehalem
Nov 30, 2013
35,157
25,266
Gotta be in it to win it
i really like my Surface pro, i really wanted the iPad pro to meet my needs but since it still only runs iOS it does not. The surface meets my needs of wanting to run full OS applications (runs windows 10 great) and yet i can also sit on the couch and use it as a tablet.
Exactly. But from a pure consumption point of view ipad pro wins. If I need to create wordy content, though it's off to windows. Nothing beats Microsoft Word for Windows for being able to manage vast amounts of text.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Do you really use a mouse with your smartphone?

Sure, I've done it occasionally. Just connect to a monitor and it works pretty decently in an emergency. Add a Bluetooth keyboard and you can type out long reports or emails much more easily than on the smartphone.
[doublepost=1472306196][/doublepost]
As others have said, an iPad is not a Mac. They run different operating systems and Apple actively market and describe them as different classes of device. Hence the claim in the ad is sound.

On the Windows side, the line between traditional form factor PC and tablet is blurred. The different form factors run the same OS. Hence Microsoft, or other Windows OEM, can reasonably describe their tablet form-factor devices as a full PC, a tablet, or a 2-in-1, and compare to either a Mac or an iPad, depending on what suits their marketing effort.

Whether a combination of Mac + iPad Pro is superior to a pen-equipped Windows 2-in-1 is a matter for personal preference, and anyway is beside the point.

Yeah, it's just personal preference. Personally I would hate to lug around an ipad AND a Mac laptop, the weight of both of them, the inconvenience of finding somewhere to put the laptop, the inconvenience of being unable to prop my ipad up at an angle. The inconvenience of syncing between them. Etc, etc. But that's only me, someone else may need the power of his laptop, or may need the long battery life of the ipad, so I don't blame them for using that combo.
[doublepost=1472306430][/doublepost]
I agree.

A PC in a tablet form often makes for a very poor user experience, and all the versatility, power and ingenuity the product may boast of is moot if the user feels like they are fighting the interface every step of the way.

You are right that an iPad has a "dumbed down" tablet interface, and that's precisely the way I like it. I am a teacher using my iPad Pro and Apple Pencil every day for work and leisure, and I love how my iPad is the perfect package of battery life, ease of use and portability. Using the surface pro would actually be a step back for me, because the last thing I want is to have to contend with a desktop user interfaces, replete with all its complexities and idiosyncrasies.

Between simplicity and complexity, I would vote for a simplified, and a more elegant and hassle-free computing experience every time.

I'm surprised you would give up so much for what IMO is a very small compromise in UI. Seriously, it isn't rocket science to use windows 10 on a tablet, and IMO it's very easy to use. I just don't get "the UI is too complicated" crowd, it's really not.
 

Michael Goff

Suspended
Jul 5, 2012
13,329
7,422
Lol my freakin smartphone does split screen better than the iPad, that's not sayimg much. Hell my smartphone is a better "PC" than the iPad, at least I have file access and mouse support.

I'm going to stop you there. There are zero Android phones that do split screen better than the iPad.
 
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From A Buick 8

macrumors 68040
Sep 16, 2010
3,114
127
Ky Close to CinCinnati
Exactly. But from a pure consumption point of view ipad pro wins. If I need to create wordy content, though it's off to windows. Nothing beats Microsoft Word for Windows for being able to manage vast amounts of text.
i 100% agree if all i want to do is consume then i would have kept my ipad 4, however i needed both and the best choice for me was Surface Pro
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,885
8,056
Haven't done so myself, but if you see this video it shows what you can do with a phone like the Note, and this is showing the Note 4, the 7 will be able to handle that sort of thing much better.

Skip to 10:10 to see what im talking about.

Just connect to a monitor and it works pretty decently in an emergency. Add a Bluetooth keyboard and you can type out long reports or emails much more easily than on the smartphone.

Ah, ok, using the mouse while having the phone mirrored to a bug monitor makes sense. I was like, why would anyone want to use a mouse on such a tiny screen?

The inconvenience of syncing between them.

Between my iMac and iPad, there's no "inconvenience" in syncing them. Between iCloud and Dropbox, they just stay in sync without my having to worry about it.
[doublepost=1472311016][/doublepost]
off topic, but check the viao z flip first

I was just wondering if SurfaceBook had any advantages over other Windows hybrids.

But that's the thing about buying Windows devices which I don't miss. I used to spend so much time comparing specs and prices, trying to find the best deal. Now I just have to check Apple.
 
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bensisko

macrumors 65816
Jul 24, 2002
1,471
1,307
The Village
What is the complication. You swipe side and touch into tablet mode (if you are not in tablet mode) and then use it as a tablet.

The complication isn't switching between modes - that would be a cool feature except... that it's not really a "Tablet Mode", it's just an "alternate app launcher" mode. Windows 10 is a great OS, but operating it in tablet mode is just a completely HORRID experience! I've said repeatedly that Tablet Mode should switch back to a Windows 8 style GUI (which would be a start - but I'd hope they would make improvements to the UI.
 

I7guy

macrumors Nehalem
Nov 30, 2013
35,157
25,266
Gotta be in it to win it
Ah, ok, using the mouse while having the phone mirrored to a bug monitor makes sense. I was like, why would anyone want to use a mouse on such a tiny screen?



Between my iMac and iPad, there's no "inconvenience" in syncing them. Between iCloud and Dropbox, they just stay in sync without my having to worry about it.
[doublepost=1472311016][/doublepost]

I was just wondering if SurfaceBook had any advantages over other Windows hybrids.

But that's the thing about buying Windows devices which I don't miss. I used to spend so much time comparing specs and prices, trying to find the best deal. Now I just have to check Apple.
That's what's great about Windows, variety. One could say buying Apple Is like buying a model t as long as you want it in black.

The complication isn't switching between modes - that would be a cool feature except... that it's not really a "Tablet Mode", it's just an "alternate app launcher" mode. Windows 10 is a great OS, but operating it in tablet mode is just a completely HORRID experience! I've said repeatedly that Tablet Mode should switch back to a Windows 8 style GUI (which would be a start - but I'd hope they would make improvements to the UI.
To me this is a non-issue. Ymmv.
 
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rowspaxe

macrumors 68020
Jan 29, 2010
2,214
1,009
The complication isn't switching between modes - that would be a cool feature except... that it's not really a "Tablet Mode", it's just an "alternate app launcher" mode. Windows 10 is a great OS, but operating it in tablet mode is just a completely HORRID experience! I've said repeatedly that Tablet Mode should switch back to a Windows 8 style GUI (which would be a start - but I'd hope they would make improvements to the UI.
I dont get it--whats different between windows 10 tablet moded and windows 8.1 modern interface. In windows 10, tile interface background is the same as desktop and is not independently specifiable. I personally dislike this. Personally, I favor 8.1 over 10 as well, but they are not greatly different
 

bensisko

macrumors 65816
Jul 24, 2002
1,471
1,307
The Village
I'm surprised you would give up so much for what IMO is a very small compromise in UI. Seriously, it isn't rocket science to use windows 10 on a tablet, and IMO it's very easy to use. I just don't get "the UI is too complicated" crowd, it's really not.

And, again, that's your view. MY view is that I want to be as far away from a Desktop OS as possible.
  • Icons - Windows 10 icons are far too small for me to touch on the SP3. Trying to connect to a WiFi network is a terrible experience because it's a freakin dot of an icon in the tray. This is a problem ALL OVER the UI. Again, Windows 8 was better because the icons were meant for touch.
  • File Management - I know there are a ton of people who just can't live without placing their documents in folders, but I want nothing to do with it - and you can't escape it on Windows.
    • Example: I use Sketchbook on both the SP3 and the iPad Pro. On the iPP I have a nice Gallery displaying all of my drawings. On Windows 10, I have to name my file, put it in a folder, then remember what I named my file.
    • I LOVE the file management on the iPad - I don't have to remember where I put my file or deal with any kind of file management - I open the application and there's my file! Ready to work on! Concept!!
  • Application UI - Photoshop is a beast to use on a tablet. I MUCH prefer the apps on iPP. Yes, it would be nice if all of those apps were combined into one, but it's not as much of a bother for me then trying to use an application like Photoshop on the small screen. Adobe made some nice progress with Illustrator and InDesign, but their other apps are lacking a tablet mode.
Simply put, Windows 10 is designed to be used on a desk. CAN you use it on a tablet? Sure, but we're back to Tablet XP days - it's JUST Windows on a tablet. On the iPad Pro, it's meant for touch and it's meant for a tablet. When I'm on a desktop computer, yes - I want the Windowed Environment with all the complexity that comes with it. When I'm on a tablet, I'm not doing 12 things, I'm doing ONE (maybe two).

I understand some people want to take their desktop computer with them everywhere - and that's perfectly fine (and, in some situations, warranted). But for others, the iPad is a MUCH better environment.

Oh, and by the way, I do a TON of content creation on my iPad (because it's easier and quicker than trying to do it on a Surface) - it is FAR from "just a consumption" device.
 

Michael Goff

Suspended
Jul 5, 2012
13,329
7,422
I dont get it--whats different between windows 10 tablet moded and windows 8.1 modern interface. In windows 10, tile interface background is the same as desktop and is not independently specifiable. I personally dislike this. Personally, I favor 8.1 over 10 as well, but they are not greatly different

Yeah, the only thing 8.1 did better in terms of touch UI was browser. I.E. 11 touch was better than Edge for my use, at least in terms of touch UI.
 

bensisko

macrumors 65816
Jul 24, 2002
1,471
1,307
The Village
I dont get it--whats different between windows 10 tablet moded and windows 8.1 modern interface. In windows 10, tile interface background is the same as desktop and is not independently specifiable. I personally dislike this. Personally, I favor 8.1 over 10 as well, but they are not greatly different

See above. In short, the UI for Windows 8.1 was immensely better and more suited for a touch interface. For me, personally, it's like night and day. In addition to some really big factors (like icons), there's a lot of little things that really add up.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
I'm going to stop you there. There are zero Android phones that do split screen better than the iPad.

No, let me stop YOU right there. My android phone can have multiple (read: more than 2) windows, I can resize and reposition them wherever I want, similar to windows. But really my comment about android phones was facetious and not really meant to make my point. Now seeing the multi screen/windows capability of the surface pro versus the ipad, that makes my point without breaking a sweat.
[doublepost=1472317713][/doublepost]
And, again, that's your view. MY view is that I want to be as far away from a Desktop OS as possible.
  • Icons - Windows 10 icons are far too small for me to touch on the SP3. Trying to connect to a WiFi network is a terrible experience because it's a freakin dot of an icon in the tray. This is a problem ALL OVER the UI. Again, Windows 8 was better because the icons were meant for touch.
  • File Management - I know there are a ton of people who just can't live without placing their documents in folders, but I want nothing to do with it - and you can't escape it on Windows.
    • Example: I use Sketchbook on both the SP3 and the iPad Pro. On the iPP I have a nice Gallery displaying all of my drawings. On Windows 10, I have to name my file, put it in a folder, then remember what I named my file.
    • I LOVE the file management on the iPad - I don't have to remember where I put my file or deal with any kind of file management - I open the application and there's my file! Ready to work on! Concept!!
  • Application UI - Photoshop is a beast to use on a tablet. I MUCH prefer the apps on iPP. Yes, it would be nice if all of those apps were combined into one, but it's not as much of a bother for me then trying to use an application like Photoshop on the small screen. Adobe made some nice progress with Illustrator and InDesign, but their other apps are lacking a tablet mode.
Simply put, Windows 10 is designed to be used on a desk. CAN you use it on a tablet? Sure, but we're back to Tablet XP days - it's JUST Windows on a tablet. On the iPad Pro, it's meant for touch and it's meant for a tablet. When I'm on a desktop computer, yes - I want the Windowed Environment with all the complexity that comes with it. When I'm on a tablet, I'm not doing 12 things, I'm doing ONE (maybe two).

I understand some people want to take their desktop computer with them everywhere - and that's perfectly fine (and, in some situations, warranted). But for others, the iPad is a MUCH better environment.

Oh, and by the way, I do a TON of content creation on my iPad (because it's easier and quicker than trying to do it on a Surface) - it is FAR from "just a consumption" device.

I get it, and for the record this is just opinions and a discussion. I am in NO way saying you are wrong, opinions can't be wrong. But it's interesting stuff to discuss.

Icons: I don't get this, they are resizable in a few different ways. Although you can also increase the scaling system wide and the icons are about the same size as on the ipad, I'm looking at them side by side on my surface pro 3 and my daughters ipad. I think this is just a matter of user ignorance, and I don't mean that disrespectfully. Now for something like wifi, you do NOT have to click the icon in the taskbar, simply swipe in from the right and you will get a nice menu that has wifi on it in a nice LARGE button. Once again, and respectfully so, user ignorance.

File system: Apples to oranges, you prefer not having a file system that the user can manipulate. I couldn't live without a file system and the organization it brings, but I require that organization as I have a lot of files and categories and much of that information has to be in multiple formats. But seriously, you can't make a folder to hold all your drawings for that program? Better yet you have all your drawings in one folder that you can use in multiple programs, or if you need to transfer or share, etc. Versus having to open that drawing in a new app and being unable to find it or manipulate it. But once again, we probably use our tablets differently.

Application UI: The programs you name work very nicely on a tablet in windows, so does MS Office just to name another big one. Yes legacy programs can be an issue, no argument there, but at least you have the choice to use the legacy program or not. People also forget there are app counterparts to a lot of windows and other programs, so if you want the huge buttons and simple mode many times it's available and a little research would behoove you. In many cases the "simplicity" iOS users tout many times makes things more complicated with either missing functionality, or having to dig too deep in an overly simplistic UI to find a function. I definitely don't fully disagree with you here, but I think each platform has its pluses and minuses and iOS certainly ain't full of pluses.

Lastly, I fully disagree that windows 10 is designed for a desktop. MS has put a LOT of work into it, if you haven't tried the anniversary update you should. Things like tablet mode, redesigned settings, UI scaling, etc. really make it a VERY nice tablet OS. Let me reiterate for those who haven't used the anniversary update: Windows 10 works GREAT with a touch tablet.
[doublepost=1472317907][/doublepost]
See above. In short, the UI for Windows 8.1 was immensely better and more suited for a touch interface. For me, personally, it's like night and day. In addition to some really big factors (like icons), there's a lot of little things that really add up.

I do miss some stuff from 8.1. They added a LOT of stuff back in windows 10, and also plenty of new stuff that is better than 8.1. In particular I think Metro IE was much better than Edge, although Edge has improved and now has swipe gestures, extension support, etc.
 

Michael Goff

Suspended
Jul 5, 2012
13,329
7,422
No, let me stop YOU right there. My android phone can have multiple (read: more than 2) windows, I can resize and reposition them wherever I want, similar to windows. But really my comment about android phones was facetious and not really meant to make my point. Now seeing the multi screen/windows capability of the surface pro versus the ipad, that makes my point without breaking a sweat.
[doublepost=1472317713][/doublepost]

I get it, and for the record this is just opinions and a discussion. I am in NO way saying you are wrong, opinions can't be wrong. But it's interesting stuff to discuss.

Icons: I don't get this, they are resizable in a few different ways. Although you can also increase the scaling system wide and the icons are about the same size as on the ipad, I'm looking at them side by side on my surface pro 3 and my daughters ipad. I think this is just a matter of user ignorance, and I don't mean that disrespectfully. Now for something like wifi, you do NOT have to click the icon in the taskbar, simply swipe in from the right and you will get a nice menu that has wifi on it in a nice LARGE button. Once again, and respectfully so, user ignorance.

File system: Apples to oranges, you prefer not having a file system that the user can manipulate. I couldn't live without a file system and the organization it brings, but I require that organization as I have a lot of files and categories and much of that information has to be in multiple formats. But seriously, you can't make a folder to hold all your drawings for that program? Better yet you have all your drawings in one folder that you can use in multiple programs, or if you need to transfer or share, etc. Versus having to open that drawing in a new app and being unable to find it or manipulate it. But once again, we probably use our tablets differently.

Application UI: The programs you name work very nicely on a tablet in windows, so does MS Office just to name another big one. Yes legacy programs can be an issue, no argument there, but at least you have the choice to use the legacy program or not. People also forget there are app counterparts to a lot of windows and other programs, so if you want the huge buttons and simple mode many times it's available and a little research would behoove you. In many cases the "simplicity" iOS users tout many times makes things more complicated with either missing functionality, or having to dig too deep in an overly simplistic UI to find a function. I definitely don't fully disagree with you here, but I think each platform has its pluses and minuses and iOS certainly ain't full of pluses.

Lastly, I fully disagree that windows 10 is designed for a desktop. MS has put a LOT of work into it, if you haven't tried the anniversary update you should. Things like tablet mode, redesigned settings, UI scaling, etc. really make it a VERY nice tablet OS. Let me reiterate for those who haven't used the anniversary update: Windows 10 works GREAT with a touch tablet.
[doublepost=1472317907][/doublepost]

I do miss some stuff from 8.1. They added a LOT of stuff back in windows 10, and also plenty of new stuff that is better than 8.1. In particular I think Metro IE was much better than Edge, although Edge has improved and now has swipe gestures, extension support, etc.

Part of better split screen/multitasking is usability. Split screen on a phone in general is a bad joke with no punchline.
 

nviz22

Cancelled
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
I agree.

A PC in a tablet form often makes for a very poor user experience, and all the versatility, power and ingenuity the product may boast of is moot if the user feels like they are fighting the interface every step of the way.

You are right that an iPad has a "dumbed down" tablet interface, and that's precisely the way I like it. I am a teacher using my iPad Pro and Apple Pencil every day for work and leisure, and I love how my iPad is the perfect package of battery life, ease of use and portability. Using the surface pro would actually be a step back for me, because the last thing I want is to have to contend with a desktop user interfaces, replete with all its complexities and idiosyncrasies.

Between simplicity and complexity, I would vote for a simplified, and a more elegant and hassle-free computing experience every time.

I would go the other way on the Surface if the price is right. If it's a $200 machine, iPad Mini 4th gen gets the job done. I use an iPad 4 right now since it was my dad's, but he never uses it. Media consumption can't be beat because the Surface has less juice and optimization. I want to get my hands on a Surface 3 again, but for $300 for the 4GB Atom version.
 
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