Surface Pro 4 vs iPad Pro and the future of pro tablets

[spinedoc77]

I just spent 10 plus hours this weekend dealing with this huge issue with surface pro 4.

The Windows start screen disappear and things stopped working. Tried to reformat that was a disaster. Took all weekend to figure it out myself. And I am a techie. A normal person wouldn't put up having a reformat fail in the middle. Going to have to buy a jump drive and redownloading and transferring files to jump drive and restoring.

Apple has a much easier process if there is a problem. All you need is an Internet connection to resorts from Mac App Store.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...g/b2e512b7-c1af-4562-ad99-1d8aa584b6b2?auth=1

Or you could have just dropped it off at the Microsoft store and let them sort it out, similar to how Apple handles it. Of course that's assuming a MS store is near you. I'm still not disagreeing, Windows can certainly be more complex. I've been lucky and not had to deal with any of those issues over the course of owning probably 20 plus different windows tablets including 4 SP3's and 2 SP4's. I'm not saying I haven't had any issues, just not extreme ones like yours.

But yeah, if you are close to a Microsoft store just walk it in and have it replaced. Alternatively you can ship it in and have it replaced as well. You probably don't even have to do it through warranty as you are still in the return period.

 

[Zirel]

Why do you need those apps? Assuming you are referring to legacy programs, look around you. Windows and Macs, and even other OS' like Linux are all using programs to run the world.

The same could have been said when there was DOS, IBM System 360's, etc.

Linux is a kernel

As for the "old-style filesystem like in the 60s", sure let's get rid of the filesystem in windows, OSx, Android, Chrome, Linux, etc etc. Who needs a filesystem?

iOS has the same filesystem as OS X. HFS+, obviously it is hidden from the user through abstractions.

iOS paradigm is much better

1. backups are easier
2. there's no risk of file damage from cryptolockers, e.g.
3. Apps are the source of files, so you can have anything as a files source: Apple Music is a files source, Apple Photos, Google Photos, Dropbox, your NAS app, Transmission (lets you use SSH, FTP, etc.), with this, anything is possible
4. multiple users editing the same document is possible.

The fact that iOS is better is supported by OS X, Windows and Linux trying to emulate iOS paradigm.

Hierarchical filesystems have to go, like cassete tapes in the 80's.

So the future of computing is to make devices that are LESS powerful and adaptable and advanced as today's computers, both Mac and Windows?

Yeah, I must be kidding, right?

 

[Billy95Tech]

Thanks. I take full responsibility

Are you a football fan? If yes then How far do you think Ireland will go in the Euros 2016 next year??

I bet you are happy that Ireland qualified to go the finals!!

 

[spinedoc77]

The same could have been said when there was DOS, IBM System 360's, etc.

Linux is a kernel



iOS has the same filesystem as OS X. HFS+, obviously it is hidden from the user through abstractions.

iOS paradigm is much better

1. backups are easier
2. there's no risk of file damage from cryptolockers, e.g.
3. Apps are the source of files, so you can have anything as a files source: Apple Music is a files source, Apple Photos, Google Photos, Dropbox, your NAS app, Transmission (lets you use SSH, FTP, etc.), with this, anything is possible
4. multiple users editing the same document is possible.

The fact that iOS is better is supported by OS X, Windows and Linux trying to emulate iOS paradigm.

Hierarchical filesystems have to go, like cassete tapes in the 80's.



Yeah, I must be kidding, right?

No I take you seriously. Based on what you are saying Apple should abandon OSx and only use iOS, otherwise why does Apple use "60s" technology like a file system in OSx?

PS: Just between you and me, the hardware systems in your picture are still used, just in a different format. Hardware is different than UI though as hardware becomes more powerful, efficient, smaller, etc. Certain elements of UI are just logical and make sense, such as a file system, a mouse, etc.

 

[aneftp]

Or you could have just dropped it off at the Microsoft store and let them sort it out, similar to how Apple handles it. Of course that's assuming a MS store is near you. I'm still not disagreeing, Windows can certainly be more complex. I've been lucky and not had to deal with any of those issues over the course of owning probably 20 plus different windows tablets including 4 SP3's and 2 SP4's. I'm not saying I haven't had any issues, just not extreme ones like yours.

But yeah, if you are close to a Microsoft store just walk it in and have it replaced. Alternatively you can ship it in and have it replaced as well. You probably don't even have to do it through warranty as you are still in the return period.

Got two microsoft stores in my area. Orlando. But they are close to 30 minutes from my house. With traffic, parking etc probably figure 45 minutes to be on the safe side. Issue is I was on call on the weekend at the hospital. But I gotta be back in 30 minutes response time/beeper.

Seriously, Microsoft is trying to be like Apple. They are getting better (giving Windows 10 upgrade for free). But it's absolutely pointless for them to make you have a custom download (using your hotmail/outlook/msn) email address to download a recovery image (after verifying the serial number of the surface).

Look how easy Apple makes their recovery

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

I really don't have time to find/buy a new usb flash drive.

Anyways, this is day 2 of me using the Surface Pro 4. I am getting around to liking it. I am not anti Microsoft or Pro Apple. I am just looking for a more robust tablet solution than what the iPad offers. The Surface pro is a full blown desktop computer with the latest intel 6th generation processor. Hopefully the software kinks are worked out soon.

 

[khha4113]

Got two microsoft stores in my area. Orlando. But they are close to 30 minutes from my house. With traffic, parking etc probably figure 45 minutes to be on the safe side. Issue is I was on call on the weekend at the hospital. But I gotta be back in 30 minutes response time/beeper.

Seriously, Microsoft is trying to be like Apple. They are getting better (giving Windows 10 upgrade for free). But it's absolutely pointless for them to make you have a custom download (using your hotmail/outlook/msn) email address to download a recovery image (after verifying the serial number of the surface).

Look how easy Apple makes their recovery

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

I really don't have time to find/buy a new usb flash drive.

Anyways, this is day 2 of me using the Surface Pro 4. I am getting around to liking it. I am not anti Microsoft or Pro Apple. I am just looking for a more robust tablet solution than what the iPad offers. The Surface pro is a full blown desktop computer with the latest intel 6th generation processor. Hopefully the software kinks are worked out soon.

Huh? Why you need usb drive to do that? Windows has been having 'recovery' mechanism built-in like that since Windows XP called 'System restore'. You can restore to the state of Windows that works fine earlier. In Windows 10, you can access it through Control panel (Windows 7 style) by right click (or long press) Start menu. I've been using it since it was created and always works great.

 

[aneftp]

Huh? Why you need usb drive to do that? Windows has been having 'recovery' mechanism built-in like that since Windows XP called 'System restore'. You can restore to the state of Windows that works fine earlier. In Windows 10, you can access it through Control panel (Windows 7 style) by right click (or long press) Start menu. I've been using it since it was created and always works great.

The built in recovery mechanism was corrupted. I was stuck at 8% for 5 hours with the installing drivers. I shut it down than it gave me file error message black screen and wouldn't boot

That's not normal. This was after 2-3 hours being stuck at 99% during the first phase of reformat. This was with built in recovery image that was already partition by Microsoft.

Than I became stuck in 64% infinite loop. That was final straw. Because it kept rebooting.

 

[apolloa]

Yeah, I must be kidding, right?

You do realise the entire planet is run by computer file systems right? The only difference is they are stored on 2.5" to 3.5" format drives as opposed to your picture. Your comment literally makes no sense. If we have no file systems as you believe they are antiquated, then we wouldn't have the internet, banks, airplanes, email, iOS, Android, OSX, Windows, Linux.

So it is in no way shape or form an out of date system. You just don't think the world's 'Pro's need it because iOS doesn't give you access to it.

Any 'Pro' product should be built to give you access to anything Pro's will need. Pro means not consumer, the iPad Pro is a consumer level product currently unless you're an artist or videographer or photographer but even they would use file systems on computers, hopefully that will change in the future but we will see.

 

[maxsix]

Anytime the "Pro" moniker is added into the Name or Description of any tech hardware, the manufacturer is opening up themselves for scrutiny, right or wrong.

From my personal opinion only, I believe the intent of the manufacturer is to convey that they have built the "Pro" product to serve needs of consumers, and those who may use it for work.

I have several iPads in various sizes we use at home. They're great for what we use them for.

My personal preference is my new Surface Pro 4, after enjoying excellent service from my old Surface Pro 3. While the SP lineup has a lot of very nice, useful features, none of them are as important for my use as having the conventional, highly efficient, readily available file system.

That the iPad "Pro" fails to include a way to manage files in a manner most computer users are accustomed to is an example of Apple arrogance at it's finest.

I respect Apple's world class spin machine that cranks out remarkable advertising, and shapes the image of Apple products in the minds eye of the consumer.

But to label the iPad "Pro" as such is stretching it. Yet that in an of itself is not unusual for Apple, they've built an empire from smoke and mirrors marketing.

Never before has the expression "buyer beware" been more appropriate than as applied to Apple Inc Circa 2015.

 

[khha4113]

The built in recovery mechanism was corrupted. I was stuck at 8% for 5 hours with the installing drivers. I shut it down than it gave me file error message black screen and wouldn't boot

That's not normal. This was after 2-3 hours being stuck at 99% during the first phase of reformat. This was with built in recovery image that was already partition by Microsoft.

Than I became stuck in 64% infinite loop. That was final straw. Because it kept rebooting.

Sorry to ask, but why did you have to reformat it? AFAIK, when you start the PC for first time just to set it up never format it unless I want a clean installation of Windows. Anyway, the recovery image is different than 'System Restore'. What it does is restore to previous working Windows for you.

 

[Zirel]

You do realise the entire planet is run by computer file systems right? The only difference is they are stored on 2.5" to 3.5" format drives as opposed to your picture. Your comment literally makes no sense. If we have no file systems as you believe they are antiquated, then we wouldn't have the internet, banks, airplanes, email, iOS, Android, OSX, Windows, Linux.

So it is in no way shape or form an out of date system. You just don't think the world's 'Pro's need it because iOS doesn't give you access to it.

Any 'Pro' product should be built to give you access to anything Pro's will need. Pro means not consumer, the iPad Pro is a consumer level product currently unless you're an artist or videographer or photographer but even they would use file systems on computers, hopefully that will change in the future but we will see.

Dude, I'm a computer engineer, a file system is an abstraction, in reality tape drives, or hard disks, or CD's, or flash drives, RAID arrays, are block devices, a file system is built on top of that.

Exposing that abstraction to the user, is sub-optimal for 2015 standards, people don't know how to use file systems, it's too complicated for them, and regularly people forget to backup, don't have enough skill or patience for organizing their own stuff, and simply doesn't work for a large collection, like a 1000-song music library.

In the future, file systems are out for end users. Nobody's here as dumb as you think.

Did you actually try to use programs like FCPX or Premiere? You don't work with files, you work with "documents", that document being a file clip, that you can access directly, or a scaled down copy, etc.

Or even software like Lightroom, you buy Adobe Ligthroom for that file system to vanish, and just work with your photo library like they were real photos, and generate multiple variations of the original document, and organize everything in various ways (like metadata, star rating, etc.).

Professionals avoid filesystems. iOS follows that.

 

[Blaze4G]

Dude, I'm a computer engineer, a file system is an abstraction, in reality tape drives, or hard disks, or CD's, or flash drives, RAID arrays, are block devices, a file system is built on top of that.

Exposing that abstraction to the user, is sub-optimal for 2015 standards, people don't know how to use file systems, it's too complicated for them, and regularly people forget to backup, don't have enough skill or patience for organizing their own stuff, and simply doesn't work for a large collection, like a 1000-song music library.

In the future, file systems are out for end users. Nobody's here as dumb as you think.

you're pretending everyone is dumb based on this post though :/ "people don't know how to use file systems, it's too complicated for them".

Someone who is going to use a product which has the term "Pro" in it should be able to use a file system. I can't believe you are saying file systems will become irrelevant to end users. Coming from a Computer Engineer I just cant see how you can make such a statement. Everyone has their opinion I guess and no one can predict the future. However your reasoning for file systems becoming irrelevant (because people don't know how to use them) is weak.

If you said something along the lines of file system will become irrelevant because of some new method / way then I could understand that.

 

[Zirel]

you're pretending everyone is dumb based on this post though :/ "people don't know how to use file systems, it's too complicated for them".

Someone who is going to use a product which has the term "Pro" in it should be able to use a file system. I can't believe you are saying file systems will become irrelevant to end users. Coming from a Computer Engineer I just cant see how you can make such a statement. Everyone has their opinion I guess and no one can predict the future. However your reasoning for file systems becoming irrelevant (because people don't know how to use them) is weak.

If you said something along the lines of file system will become irrelevant because of some new method / way then I could understand that.

Explain to me why products like Adobe Lightroom, Apple Final Cut Pro X, etc. make abstractions to the file system.

Explain to me why I hear numerous stories on how people lost their work because their pen drive broke, or their laptop got stolen, etc?

Professionals aren't computers geeks! People don't have time to waste on filesystems.

Computers have to move forward, the 90's were already bad enough.

 

[TheMissionMan]

The SB hasn't had more issues than the IPP IMO, I listed out 4 big issues in my previous post and there are more. Also the SP3 is VERY solid. The SP4 was a bit rocky out of the gate, but most of the issues have been resolved with Threshold, although not all. You have a valid point though and I'm not denying it, Microsoft has a QC issue in relation to software and drivers they need to address.

The SP3 was anything but stable. Have a look at the forums for the pen issues with OneNote post Windows 10. All of our consultants had issues with 4G modems not working after a firmware update. I could list out 20 issues I had post upgrade. I can show a video now of how windows search would run my CPU to 100% on search so the machine would become non-responsive. The SP3 was solid on 8.1 but not on 10.

Oh against the ipad anything is pro, even an Android tablet is pro. But in it's own windows family I wouldn't call it pro. Yeah a surface mini would have been awesome.

I think you're confusing your definition of pro with someone else's. if you're an artist, the iPad Pro is a pro device. I know of plenty of artists who have said this will completely change the way they work.

I would assume most people would consider a Wacom as a pro device, particularly when you get to the high end models like the Cintiq, in fact, it's currently one that most artists and photographers use. The iPad Pro can be connected to a high powered device like an iMac and used in the same way as a Cintiq (which actually costs the same as a 32GB iPad Pro). The 32GB Cintiq version which runs Android actually sells for the same as the 128GB iPad Pro and is the size of a 15" Laptop. I've tested the iPad Pro tethering it as a wacom style tablet and as good as the wacom, and the stylus is more accurate and responsive.

This is what I mean

In short, just because the iPad Pro doesn't meet your definition of a pro device (which to you is a laptop), doesn't make it any less pro. As much as I think Tim Cooks comments about the iPad replacing a laptop are incorrect, it's no less incorrect than Microsoft's comments about the SP4 being twice as fast as a Macbook Pro (It was double on the GPU benchmark but actually score the same or lower on the rest). The iPad Pro can replace a laptop for a user who does nothing more than web apps, email and basic word documents. There are many professionals. I saw a recent article that said that a particular tech journalist has never seen iPad's used properly for business. That's probably because he doesn't actually get out of his office. We see iPad's (and Android devices) used by engineers using something called SAP Work Manager, which essentially allows maintenance engineers to conduct maintenance work at construction plants, attaches the work instruction and drawings to the task so they have supporting information, and allows them to indicate when its complete along with machine readings to support it, take a photo of the completed work etc. Laptops don't work for that, because you can't stand with a laptop in your hand and type on it. Rugged cases on iPad's work better than tough books because they like to navigate by finger, and the iPad's battery lasts way longer than a typical laptop.

 

[Blaze4G]

The SP3 was anything but stable. Have a look at the forums for the pen issues with OneNote post Windows 10. All of our consultants had issues with 4G modems not working after a firmware update. I could list out 20 issues I had post upgrade. I can show a video now of how windows search would run my CPU to 100% on search so the machine would become non-responsive. The SP3 was solid on 8.1 but not on 10.



I think you're confusing your definition of pro with someone else's. if you're an artist, the iPad Pro is a pro device. I know of plenty of artists who have said this will completely change the way they work.

I would assume most people would consider a Wacom as a pro device, particularly when you get to the high end models like the Cintiq, in fact, it's currently one that most artists and photographers use. The iPad Pro can be connected to a high powered device like an iMac and used in the same way as a Cintiq (which actually costs the same as a 32GB iPad Pro). The 32GB Cintiq version which runs Android actually sells for the same as the 128GB iPad Pro and is the size of a 15" Laptop. I've tested the iPad Pro tethering it as a wacom style tablet and as good as the wacom, and the stylus is more accurate and responsive.

This is what I mean

In short, just because the iPad Pro doesn't meet your definition of a pro device (which to you is a laptop), doesn't make it any less pro. As much as I think Tim Cooks comments about the iPad replacing a laptop are incorrect, it's no less incorrect than Microsoft's comments about the SP4 being twice as fast as a Macbook Pro (It was double on the GPU benchmark but actually score the same or lower on the rest). The iPad Pro can replace a laptop for a user who does nothing more than web apps, email and basic word documents. There are many professionals. I saw a recent article that said that a particular tech journalist has never seen iPad's used properly for business. That's probably because he doesn't actually get out of his office. We see iPad's (and Android devices) used by engineers using something called SAP Work Manager, which essentially allows maintenance engineers to conduct maintenance work at construction plants, attaches the work instruction and drawings to the task so they have supporting information, and allows them to indicate when its complete along with machine readings to support it, take a photo of the completed work etc. Laptops don't work for that, because you can't stand with a laptop in your hand and type on it. Rugged cases on iPad's work better than tough books because they like to navigate by finger, and the iPad's battery lasts way longer than a typical laptop.

I am going to ask you a serious question, not trying to troll or anything. Could you list which professionals will use the iPad pro other than designers /artist that an iPad could not do?

 

[Abazigal]

I am going to ask you a serious question, not trying to troll or anything. Could you list which professionals will use the iPad pro other than designers /artist that an iPad could not do?

I think it's a tad disingenuous to frame the question this way.

Just the larger screen can make all the difference, letting me see more on an app or use 2 apps in full-screen mode side-by-side. In reality, anyone can use the iPad Pro. It doesn't have to let me do things I couldn't previously do on an iPad, it just needs to do them better, or differently.

 

[aneftp]

Sorry to ask, but why did you have to reformat it? AFAIK, when you start the PC for first time just to set it up never format it unless I want a clean installation of Windows. Anyway, the recovery image is different than 'System Restore'. What it does is restore to previous working Windows for you.

Look I am not a novice when it comes to computers.

Let me explain. I first booted up the machine and set it up like a normal person. Usual stuff when first boot. Give name and Microsoft email. Setup cortana etc.

Than it Windows update wants to install lastest updates. That's was the issue. The Windows update messed everything up after I barely turned the computer on the first time. When it went to reboot. The Windows start button was not operating. Aka I cannot even left click on any of the buttons. And the system files took 30 seconds to open up a folder.

Just google "Windows start button not working". Meaning the button is not clickable This happens a lot.

http://forums.windowscentral.com/mi...85-start-menu-not-working-critical-error.html

(This is the exact same thing that happened to my surface pro 4). Exact same thing. Than read post 11 what happen.

"Update -- Mine crashed during refresh and is now in a restart loop. I'm going to have to take it in to the store and try and get a replacement unit or a refund or something..."

http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/com...g-here-are-four-ways-to-fix-it-11364000314532


It's a freaking brand new computer. Nothing else installed. Barely had 30 minutes boot time when I took it out of the box.

 

[Blaze4G]

I think it's a tad disingenuous to frame the question this way.

Just the larger screen can make all the difference, letting me see more on an app or use 2 apps in full-screen mode side-by-side. In reality, anyone can use the iPad Pro. It doesn't have to let me do things I couldn't previously do on an iPad, it just needs to do them better, or differently.

This is my issue. It is so close to the iPad in what it does for so much more money. I can see how useful it is for designers and artiste but apart from that I can't see why someone would spend so much more.

Look at it this way. Suppose I asked the same question... Which professionals would use a sp4 other than designers / artiste that a windows tablet could not do?

See the difference?

 

[apolloa]

Dude, I'm a computer engineer, a file system is an abstraction, in reality tape drives, or hard disks, or CD's, or flash drives, RAID arrays, are block devices, a file system is built on top of that.

Exposing that abstraction to the user, is sub-optimal for 2015 standards, people don't know how to use file systems, it's too complicated for them, and regularly people forget to backup, don't have enough skill or patience for organizing their own stuff, and simply doesn't work for a large collection, like a 1000-song music library.

In the future, file systems are out for end users. Nobody's here as dumb as you think.

Did you actually try to use programs like FCPX or Premiere? You don't work with files, you work with "documents", that document being a file clip, that you can access directly, or a scaled down copy, etc.

Or even software like Lightroom, you buy Adobe Ligthroom for that file system to vanish, and just work with your photo library like they were real photos, and generate multiple variations of the original document, and organize everything in various ways (like metadata, star rating, etc.).

Professionals avoid filesystems. iOS follows that.

I've been in the I.T. industry for 8 years before, users use file systems every day in Windows in a network environment. If they save a file and then access it later, even in a programme, it's using a file system. The same with iOS. It's still a file system regardless, what you are stating is they are different to Windows Explorer and that in general people are incapable of using Windows Explorer, which is rather short sighted.
Anyway this is going off topic now so I won't ask what profile you have for people who are not capable of using a file system.

 

[Zirel]

I've been in the I.T. industry for 8 years before, users use file systems every day in Windows in a network environment. If they save a file and then access it later, even in a programme, it's using a file system. The same with iOS. It's still a file system regardless, what you are stating is they are different to Windows Explorer and that in general people are incapable of using Windows Explorer, which is rather short sighted.
Anyway this is going off topic now so I won't ask what profile you have for people who are not capable of using a file system.

Of course it has a file system.

User DO NOT WANT a filesystem.

For example, in medium to large companies, today it's normal to have DMS (Document Management System) that hides users from files.

Whatever you want to use, everyday users are not going back to filesystems, and organizing all that mess, specially when there are hundreds or even thousands of users that won't organize their documents correctly.

 

[TheMissionMan]

I am going to ask you a serious question, not trying to troll or anything. Could you list which professionals will use the iPad pro other than designers /artist that an iPad could not do?

Depends on whether you need more screen size or not. You could argue the same thing about who would use an iPad over an iPhone. If screen size is important to a task, and you need to fit more on a screen, then a larger screen would be important. I could see some of the maintenance engineers using this as they have to contend with multiple screens for something that could be fit on a single screen, or having a larger drawing on screen may be of benefit.

For me, the stylus is a major upside. I do markups of process flows on a projector with the users, so we'll have 40 pages of process flows to go through and mark up. If I have to mark them up in visio, it takes ages, as does adobe with highlighting or text, because it's more time consuming to create text boxes, cross out text etc. If you are drawing up process flows, you can do it on the projector (as opposed to a white board), while recording the conversation if you need to go back. Stylus helps for that, although its not for everyone.

Of course it has a file system.

User DO NOT WANT a filesystem.

For example, in medium to large companies, today it's normal to have DMS (Document Management System) that hides users from files.

Whatever you want to use, everyday users are not going back to filesystems, and organizing all that mess, specially when there are hundreds or even thousands of users that won't organize their documents correctly.

I agree with this comment. The file system is not that big a limitation for corporate users. If you are using SharePoint or another DMS, provided you have offline capability for the odd occasion you climb on a plane, who cares. Most companies don't want users holding information on their devices as it can get out of sync so they should be retrieving from a corporate repository. I use something called Filamente (on the app store) which allows me to connect to SharePoint, view any of our corporate documents, edit them in whatever application I want and then save it back and it will sync with SharePoint when I have signal. I can offline content (I have about 40GB offline of stuff I would actively need access to at any given time)

Only limitations of word for iPad is no macros. Not a lot of documents we use have those so it's not an issue.

 

[Renzatic]

Hierarchical filesystems have to go, like cassete tapes in the 80's.

The reason why cassette tapes went the way of the dodo was because CDs came to replace them, and they were supplanted by digital music files, which in turn is being superceded by streaming media.

All were replaced due improvements in technologies.

Now tell me, what do we have that's better than the hierarchical folder structure? What's out there to replace it?

You don't get rid of something just because it's old. You only replace it once something better arrives to take its place.

 

[jamezr]

Of course it has a file system.

User DO NOT WANT a filesystem.

For example, in medium to large companies, today it's normal to have DMS (Document Management System) that hides users from files.

Whatever you want to use, everyday users are not going back to filesystems, and organizing all that mess, specially when there are hundreds or even thousands of users that won't organize their documents correctly.

DMS does not hide users from files.......lol
Most users don't have to manage their files or documents. They get uploaded to a server where they are managed by NTFS file permissions and security. It is all based on file system security. It's NOT going away.
I manage data security in an enterprise environment. You sir do not have a clue about what you are talking about.

 

[Blaze4G]

The reason why cassette tapes went the way of the dodo was because CDs came to replace them, and they were supplanted by digital music files, which in turn is being superceded by streaming media.

All were replaced due improvements in technologies.

Now tell me, what do we have that's better than the hierarchical folder structure? What's out there to replace it?

You don't get rid of something just because it's old. You only replace it once something better arrives to take its place.

x2.

We should get rid of cars because they are old...so early 1900s. People don't know how to drive, it's too complicated for them, and regularly people forget to use indicators... Although this was meant to be a joke, Google may actually eliminate people from driving sometime in the future lol.

 

[TheMissionMan]

Hierarchies remain because its a navigation representation of information that people are used to, nothing more. Its not an idea or best practice method of navigating any form of data anymore. If you have large sets of data, navigational structures are annoying. Lets see you try create a navigation structure when you have 1,000,000 clients to deal with, and even applying facets would make it cumbersome and slow. If you use a ECM solution like SharePoint, EMC, Filenet, OT etc it would be easier to put a search form over it and do structured search rather than file system navigation.

These days, faceted browsing is used as a means to combine metadata and navigation, but I would say that having a file structure per say isn't mandatory. Lets compare MS (because this post is comparing the SP4) and take their navigation client (onedrive for business) vs SharePoint. Most people get pointed to a Sharepoint site but don't even know where in the site sits in the larger hierarchy so the only thing they are navigating is project folders.

The point above however is that you don't need to navigate a file structure to have access to a navigation structure in a document management solution. The two have no dependency.