Microsoft tops Apple in tablet satisfaction (including design)

CNet ^ | April 6, 2017 | by Chris Matyszczyk

[TexasGator]

“You’re talking two-year old models for Surface? Without comparing to older iPad models? Let’s have fair comparisons.”

FAIR! You have to compare features and performance. Duh...

So what if a two-year old Surface still outperforms a NEW iPad!

[TexasGator]

” If you get a regular pen stylus, the price is lower than what you are comparing for the Surface. The Pencil is far more functional, and the Surface does not have it. “

Obviously you have never used a Surface 4 pen ...

[RedWulf]

>You’re talking two-year old models for Surface? Without comparing to older iPad models? Let’s have fair comparisons. You can get older iPad models real cheap, and compare pricing. Talk latest versions of both, and compare.

You brought up older ipad models so I did the same with the surface.

[TexasGator]

“You want to be realistic? You’re not. The Apple Pencil is not just a pen. If you get a regular pen stylus, the price is lower than what you are comparing for the Surface. The Pencil is far more functional, and the Surface does not have it. “

Let’s be realistic! More for less money!

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“So, in conclusion, the top choice for digital stylus has to be the Surface Pro 4 Pen.”

https://twohonestguys.co/tech/apple-pencil-vs-surface-pro-pen-4-which-is-best/

[roadcat]

You brought up older ipad models so I did the same with the surface.

I'll repeat what I said, which was latest versions, minus the extraneous which doesn't affect the context:

Go to Microsoft’s site for pricing. The Surface starts from about $799, and goes up from there. That’s multiple times the cost of the iPad, at the low end for new models can be had for $329 at the Apple site. A huge difference in price... The Surface Book starts at $1499. The Surface Studio starts at $2999. These are starting prices!

[TexasGator]

“The Apple iPad still does more at equivalent price factoring than the Surface, which costs much more for the same functionality.”

You make an outrageous claim but do not dispute my 1:1 comparison.

Actually it is not 1:1 except in price as the Surface flat out flies compared to the iPad and had a larger screen.

[TexasGator]

“The Surface starts from about $799, and goes up from there. “

The Surface 4 Pro is $799. The iPad Pro also with 128GB is $699. That is NOT multiple times!

[TexasGator]

The Surface 4 Pro is $728 on Amazon. The iPad Pro also with 128GB is $699. That is NOT multiple times! GEEZ.

[RedWulf]

>A huge difference in price... The Surface Book starts at $1499. The Surface Studio starts at $2999. These are starting prices!

The surface book is a combo laptop/tablet. Why are you including it in the list of regular tablets?

[TexasGator]

“The surface book is a combo laptop/tablet. Why are you including it in the list of regular tablets?”

He says the Book is $1499. It is $1299 at Microsoft store.

Compares to the MacBook Pro which goes for $1499.

[Swordmaker]

Microsoft’s own website customer’s rate the MS Surface at only 3.9 stars out of 5. . . with 166 five star ratings, 37 four star, 13 three star, 21 two star, and 50 one star. Look it up for yourself. . . here:

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/productID.5072641000

Hilarious! There’s no way this product can come up to the 97% plus customer satisfaction rating the Apple iPad enjoys when Microsoft cannot even publish better than a 58% five star rating on their own web site. . . and a 71% when counting the four stars as well.

That no way near justifies the JD Power numbers.

[Swordmaker]

I saw the NE Patriots coach toss a Surface during a game this past season. He did not look very happy with it.

There are videos and photos of NFL teams using Surfaces as camouflage for the iPads hidden behind them which the coaches and players prefer over the devices foisted on them. LOL!

[Swordmaker]

I am having a hard time visualizing your using a keyboard with the ipad without placing it on a surface ...

Then you haven't used an iPad. . . I often just dictate what I want typed.

[TexasGator]

“Then you haven’t used an iPad. . . I often just dictate what I want typed.”

Based on your posting, fact-checking is not included?

[TexasGator]

“I often just dictate what I want typed.”

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“But I am finding it to be an improvement over one-handed typing”

http://www.zdnet.com/article/take-a-letter-siri-can-my-ipad-handle-long-form-dictation/

[Swordmaker]

$999 for the surface 4 package including keyboard and a better pen gets you a larger screen and twice the performance!

Uh, nope. The benchmarks say differently than your claims. According to the Geek benchmarks run by Redmond Pie:

Back to the subject of speed, tests carried out show that the iPad Pro is faster at performing both single core and multi-core tasks compared to the Surface Pro 4 SKU running a 2.2GHz CPU and costing $899. By comparison, the iPad Pro uses a custom A9X chip running at 2.25GHz and costs a comparatively low $799 at the entry level price point. That chip doesn’t change no matter which iPad Pro you buy, and to get a Surface Pro that can outpace Apple’s new tablet, you’ll need to spend $1299 for the 3GHz model. Both units ship without the keyboard but Surface Pro does ship with stylus while Apple Pencil is available as a separate purchase.

[TexasGator]

“Uh, nope. The benchmarks say differently than your claims.”

Uh, nope. If you look at YOUR chart, the I5 blows away the iPad. And you cherry-picked the charts.

[Swordmaker]

Surface!

Odd, Microsoft does not mention cellular connectivity on any of the tech specs or wireless connection lists on their website for the Surface Pro 4 tablet. Microsoft suggests using your phone as a hotspot and connecting with WIFI when questioned about where is the cellular connectivity like the iPad.

There were a small number of Surface 3s made that had cellular connectivity, but not the Surface Pro 4, apparently. MS says they might get around to it by 2018, but the costs are "non-trivial" to include it.

[Swordmaker]

Actually it is $1299. And it competes with the MacBook Pro 13 Laptop at $1499.

And does the MacBook Pro display detach from the keyboard?

Actually, that $1299 Surface Book has only a 128GB SSD, while the $1499 MacBook Pro has a 256GB SSD. To look at an equivalent Surface Book, the price is $1699.

And you don't get an OS that spies on you.

[Swordmaker]

“So, in conclusion, the top choice for digital stylus has to be the Surface Pro 4 Pen.”

This was written by a guy with a predisposition to conclude the Windows pen was better. . . it was obvious. He omitted many things about the Apple Pencil, such as the charging adaptor that comes with the Pencil, leaving one with the impression one is only allowed to charge it by either having it stick out from the iPad or buy an expensive additional charger, when that is untrue. Plugging into the iPad is a means of getting a quick charge in the field. 15 seconds to get a half hour? Not shabby. He is more impressed with the use of a battery in the MS pen. And, he is wrong about the Pencil using Bluetooth. It's a proprietary connectivity and all other users have found it far faster response than the MS Pen. He gives only cursory examples of the uses of the Apple Pencil, showing he does not have a clue how it is used. . . and concludes it is gimmicky and not easy to use, but waxes ecstatic about the exchangeable tips of the MS Pen to do things the Apple Pencil can do with out changing tips. . . all because HE did not know how to do them.