How come the iPad is still more popular than the Surface?

[Ns1]

This! I bought my iPad for mainly entertainment purposes, social networking, and that type of stuff. If I want to be productive I'll jump on my laptop or desktop machine.

The surface pro version of that:

Goddamn I'm tired of working on my laptop

<takes off keyboard>

time to fire up 8 uporn tabs.

 

[midwestfisherman]

The surface pro version of that:

Goddamn I'm tired of working on my laptop

<takes off keyboard>

time to fire up 8 uporn tabs.

Yeah but it doesn't look as cool as an iPad!

 

[bearxor]

I don't know that Youtube has an officical one, I don't think they do.

And they never will.

 

[slatr]

The surface is a work device.

Some create/work with Ipad, but most consume apps/read/browse etc.

 

[darkewaffle]

Surfaces give the user more power but the people who use a tablet a lot aren't the kind that care. I feel so constricted using a tablet, but some people take comfort in feeling like it's simple/easy/they can't screw it up. Whereas those same people are mildly terrified of "computers".

 

[Red Storm]

Surfaces give the user more power but the people who use a tablet a lot aren't the kind that care. I feel so constricted using a tablet, but some people take comfort in feeling like it's simple/easy/they can't screw it up. Whereas those same people are mildly terrified of "computers".

But you also have people like me who are in IT, who know all about computers, and who simply don't like the Surface. Windows is not a good mobile OS. The only thing the Surface does extremely well is run x86 Windows applications... which all require a mouse and trackpad to be used well. When judged as a tablet, the Surface is too big, too heavy, too thick, and not optimized enough for mobile.

 

[Ns1]

But you also have people like me who are in IT, who know all about computers, and who simply don't like the Surface. Windows is not a good mobile OS. The only thing the Surface does extremely well is run x86 Windows applications... which all require a mouse and trackpad to be used well. When judged as a tablet, the Surface is too big, too heavy, too thick, and not optimized enough for mobile.

...which is why Surface Pro owners are quick to mention that the Surface is a laptop first and a tablet second.

 

[Red Storm]

...which is why Surface Pro owners are quick to mention that the Surface is a laptop first and a tablet second.

More like a laptop first and a tablet third or fourth.

It's just not a compelling tablet, both in terms of hardware and software (which is the answer to the OP's question). It is a pretty nice ultrabook though.

 

[Ns1]

More like a laptop first and a tablet third or fourth.

It's just not a compelling tablet, both in terms of hardware and software (which is the answer to the OP's question). It is a pretty nice ultrabook though.

we'll have to agree to disagree

 

[zerogear]

Metro interface works great as "Mobile OS" - Only problem is microsoft sucks at curating the apps.

 

[Commodus]

And you're ignoring the fact that when it comes to tablet tasks, desktop apps aren't mandatory. Skype, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Plex all have Windows Store apps.

*snip*

No one actually ever considers the SP3 as a hybrid device. It's always one or the other. And that's just as wrong as your idea that Surface Pro users are the only ones in error about projecting tastes/use cases.

So if you don't need desktop apps... why would you pay extra for a Surface, then? This underscores the point, I think. The likelihood that you want both touch-native apps and desktop apps on the same device is fairly small. And there's a certain irony to Windows, the one-time champ in software selection, not having nearly as many touch-native apps as its rivals.

And "no one" sees it as a hybrid? Evidence, please. If you see the Surface Pro 3 as either all-laptop or all-tablet... well, that's a spectacular waste of money, because you can get better single-purpose devices in either category. The device's main advantage is its flexibility; if you didn't buy it for that, what did you buy it for?

 

[gadgetprostitute]

Because no one buys a tablet to be productive?

..and if they do, they're probably going to be disappointed.

I recently got a used Nexus 10 and because I already have a bluetooth keyboard and mouse sitting around, I tried to use it as a notebook replacement.

NOPE.

Now using my Nexus 10 as what it was meant to be- a touchscreen tablet.

A thing is what it is and isn't what it isn't.

 

[boomhower]

Because no one buys a tablet to be productive?

I think this is a lot of. In addition to that it's the ecosystem and ease of use. I primarily use my iPad for games and general goofing off, not productivity.

 

[Ns1]

I think this is a lot of. In addition to that it's the ecosystem and ease of use. I primarily use my iPad for games and general goofing off, not productivity.

yeah I use my Surface for gaming too, WoT + Steam + GoG.

I guess if your idea of gaming is angry birds or fieldrunners, the iPad makes sense for gaming...

 

[boomhower]

yeah I use my Surface for gaming too, WoT + Steam + GoG.



I guess if your idea of gaming is angry birds or fieldrunners, the iPad makes sense for gaming...

More or less yeah, casual gaming. Clash of clans and a couple Formula 1 management simulators are my time wasters of late. Just not a serious gamer anymore. I haven't turned on my xbone in months.

 

[sweenish]

So if you don't need desktop apps... why would you pay extra for a Surface, then? This underscores the point, I think. The likelihood that you want both touch-native apps and desktop apps on the same device is fairly small. And there's a certain irony to Windows, the one-time champ in software selection, not having nearly as many touch-native apps as its rivals.

And "no one" sees it as a hybrid? Evidence, please. If you see the Surface Pro 3 as either all-laptop or all-tablet... well, that's a spectacular waste of money, because you can get better single-purpose devices in either category. The device's main advantage is its flexibility; if you didn't buy it for that, what did you buy it for?

You're doing it yourself with that one post by discounting the touch apps. Makes me wonder how you can't see that. You also over-generalized what I said to make your point.

What I said: for tablet consumption, there are tablet apps. With a full-blown desktop environment to fall back on. Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Plex, Angry Birds, etc.

Let's not forget that Netflix quality is better through the app than over the web, for one. HD availability differs between app and web services, regardless of device. And it's not in favor of the web services.

Evidence? All reviews of the device. Laptop review against laptops, followed by tablet review against tablets. One paragraph about it "sucks" at both, and a weirdly high score for such a conclusion.

You make the assumption that everyone sees it as a hybrid device. Seeing it that way and treating it that way are two very different things. No one treats it as a hybrid. See all reviews again, if you want to contest that. And your own comment where you feel like one method of using the device is discounted by the existence of the other.

Lap-ability is the prime example of that. Just treat it like a freaking tablet if the laptop in lap (something I NEVER do myself) is too awkward for you.

Everyone tries to force "productivity" out of an iPad and make excuses and buy accessories, but it's hypocritical that the Surface Pro isn't given the same kinds of passes.

The only reasons I see for the iPad still doing well are consumer branding (iPads are imprinted) and pricing.

 

[jacktesterson]

I think its the Ecosystem

Desktop mode sucks for touch screen use.

I've given it a fair go a number of times and always end up back to Android Tablets due to the apps.

 

[jpeyton]

I didn't know people actually cross-shopped iPads and Surfaces.

They are vastly different devices. The price tag alone should tell you that much.

 

[Ns1]

Desktop mode sucks for touch screen use.

That's what metro mode is for.

 

[Commodus]

What I said: for tablet consumption, there are tablet apps. With a full-blown desktop environment to fall back on. Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Plex, Angry Birds, etc.

Let's not forget that Netflix quality is better through the app than over the web, for one. HD availability differs between app and web services, regardless of device. And it's not in favor of the web services.

The question is, how many people genuinely want that arrangement, especially since you make compromises on both the desktop and laptop sides? I've used Windows 8 tablets quite a bit, and one of the problems you get is that tendency to use desktop apps as a crutch because the touch-native app you really want isn't there (but it's on Android and iOS, of course).

Evidence? All reviews of the device. Laptop review against laptops, followed by tablet review against tablets. One paragraph about it "sucks" at both, and a weirdly high score for such a conclusion.

You make the assumption that everyone sees it as a hybrid device. Seeing it that way and treating it that way are two very different things. No one treats it as a hybrid. See all reviews again, if you want to contest that. And your own comment where you feel like one method of using the device is discounted by the existence of the other.

http://gizmodo.com/surface-pro-3-review-the-greatest-laptop-tablet-hybrid-1581896186

http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/23/surface-pro-3-review/

http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/23/5743416/microsoft-surface-pro-3-review

http://www.windowscentral.com/surface-pro-3-review

http://winsupersite.com/mobile-devices/microsoft-surface-pro-3-review

Before you make sweeping generalizations, you should probably, y'know, make sure you're right. All of those reviews I just linked frame the Surface Pro 3 as a hybrid device, and some explicitly call it a hybrid. They compare against pure laptops and pure tablets at times because that's both what Microsoft wants you to compare with and what you'll likely see in the store. Last time I checked, most people willing to drop $800-plus on a computing device don't willingly put the blinders on and refuse to consider devices that fulfill similar roles.

Again: if you didn't buy a Surface Pro 3 with hybrid use in mind, why did you buy it? As a pure tablet, it doesn't have enough tablet-native apps; and of course, it's not as ideal in your lap as a conventional laptop.

Everyone tries to force "productivity" out of an iPad and make excuses and buy accessories, but it's hypocritical that the Surface Pro isn't given the same kinds of passes.

The only reasons I see for the iPad still doing well are consumer branding (iPads are imprinted) and pricing.

Please stop trading in unsupported absolutes -- you should banish words like "everyone," "no one" and "all" from your vocabulary unless you're mighty sure that you have evidence to back them up. The iPad and most Android tablets are media and social networking devices that happen to be useful in some productivity circumstances (like Office, which isn't available in a touch version for Windows yet). Some people try to turn their iPads into workhorses, but certainly not everyone. The Surface Pro 3, however, is explicitly billed and designed as a productivity machine. It's the "tablet that can replace your laptop," as Microsoft says. The Pro 3 doesn't get that free pass you want it to have because Microsoft very deliberately waived it.

There's no question that the Surface Pro 3 is typically better for conventional work than an iPad, and it almost goes without saying that you want it if you genuinely do prefer a laptop and a tablet rolled into one. The problem is that many people use tablets for things other than work, where iPads are frequently superior (or at least cheaper), and many of those who do value productivity aren't looking for a tablet.

 

[Zedsnotdead]

Personally I think the iPad (as an expensive top-end tablet) has had its time in the sun. My iPad Air sits on my sofa and is hardly used for anything other than entertaining my toddler and light surfing app usage. I have found that any attempts at it being a sort of laptop replacement are futile. I have added a great bluetooth keyboard case which dramtically improves useability but at a cost of weight and size. But I have found that I can forget about doing an actual work on my iPad, it is just too frustrating and even doing more heavy surfing is a pain. Trying to plan a holiday, opening multiple hotel pages to compare was impossible, having to wait for tabs to reload when switching and then Safari crashing periodically. I ended up going to fetch my laptop which defeats the whole purpose of having the tablet. So for my use case, I would much rather have a windows hybrid like Surface Pro and then a $150 cheap Android tablet with SD card slot for the pure content consumption requirments, rather than a $600 iPad which offers little more utility. When I travel I now take my Asus t100 instead of my iPad as it is the far better single device to carry, I can back all my photos up to a usb drive through it, plus have access to full office.

So in terms of why iPad is selling better than surface, perhaps you need to compare iPad versus all windows 2 in 1 for a better idea.

If Surface Pro 3 has sold almost 2m units in the last quarter, then that is a spectaular performance, meaning it is close to the sales figures of the MacBook Air.

 

[Sephire]

I mainly use my ipads for IMDB searches while watching TV and reading articles while taking a dump in the bathroom.

 

[jacktesterson]

I think its the Ecosystem

Desktop mode sucks for touch screen use.

I've given it a fair go a number of times and always end up back to Android Tablets due to the apps.

That's what metro mode is for.

I've quoted my whole post rather than the snippet you quoted. You took part of my post out of context when the answer to your question is actually in my full post.

There is such a lack of quality apps to use in Metro mode, and if Desktop apps are hard to use.......

I mean, Social Media is a such a massive thing on its own, and the big players barely support Windows. (Snapchat, Instagram, Vine.... FB Messenger on Windows sucks, etc. What about games like clash of clans? What about Banking Apps? What about Fantasy Sports apps? What about Google Apps? It goes on and on.

You have to use the web browser for almost everything - and again..... The metro version of IE is really your only choice because the desktop versions are frustrating to use, especially on all the 8 inch models. (Which is what most people are buying)

 

[Ns1]

I mean, Social Media is a such a massive thing on its own, and the big players barely support Windows. (Snapchat, Instagram, Vine.... FB Messenger on Windows sucks, etc. What about games like clash of clans? What about Banking Apps? What about Fantasy Sports apps? What about Google Apps? It goes on and on.

if this is what you're buying a tablet mobile computing device for then the surface definitely isn't for you. just drop the $499 on an iPad and call it a day.

 

[Radeon962]

Part of it is just entertainment vs productivity. Ipad is a great entertainment device.

Surface Pro is much more akin to a laptop replacement.

We are swapping out a lot of laptops in our office with surface pros as they are easier for our field staff to take out on a job.