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Microsoft Announces Surface Tablet – Some Quick Thoughts

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Microsoft Surface Ballmer Fist Pump

Image Source: The Verge

Yesterday evening Microsoft held a special event to announce their new tablet / PC called Surface. Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer described it as being a PC and a tablet – and also described it like so:

Something new, something different, it’s a whole new family of computing devices from Microsoft.

There’s already a Surface site with some details and specs on the Surface devices (there are two), a promo video and a photo gallery – give that a look to get a good introduction to Surface.

I followed several liveblogs covering the event last night and I’ve got some quick thoughts on Surface, based on what we’ve seen and heard so far. Here they are in no particular order:

Microsoft Still Hate the Idea of a Post-PC Era: Throughout the event there was a lot of emphasis on the importance of desktop apps and Windows (a desktop OS) and on Surface being both a PC and a tablet, with PC even being mentioned first:

Because of Windows 8, the Surface IS a PC. The Surface IS a tablet

Microsoft Surface Tablet

— There are two models of the Surface – one uses an ARM-based processor and looks to be more consumer targeted and runs the Windows RT operating system. The other, described as the Pro model, runs a more powerful Intel processor and runs Windows 8 Pro.

— There were a few statements during the event that sounded more than a little like Microsoft taking some pages from the Apple and iPad playbook – like these two that echo Apple’s general approach:

We believe that any intersection between human and machine can be made better when every aspect of the experience, hardware and software, are considered together.

We designed Windows 8 for the world we know, in which most computers are mobile.

And this one which reflects one of the strong points of the iPad since Day 1 – the fact that the tablet disappears and lets you focus on just a single app or activity:

It was important that we have the hardware fade to the background for this product

— Another theme that came across strongly is the idea of Surface as being all about the ability to create content anywhere, anytime (perhaps as an allusion to the misguided idea that the iPad is primarily a device for ‘consumption’).

— There are some interesting ideas and innovations for Surface. Just as one quick example, the cover has similar features to the Apple Smart Cover for the iPad, but also doubles as a keyboard. The Surface will run Microsoft Office and other desktop class apps – this will have great appeal for at least some corporate and power users.

— In a fitting touch, given Microsoft’s very late arrival in the tablet arena, the event kicked off more than 40 minutes late. Seriously, the first 40+ minutes of live blogging was all about ‘we’re still standing outside’ or sitting in an empty hall.

— The announcement did not include a specific release date or pricing details. The closest we got was that the RT model will be released alongside Windows 8 and will be priced ‘in line with similar ARM-based tablets’ and the Pro model will come out 90 days later and be priced in line with ultrabook PCs.

This sounds like the RT model will be priced at around the same level as the iPad – a price level that hasn’t been successful for any iPad rivals thus far. I looked around a little at ultrabook pricing last night and saw mostly price points from $700 to $1,500. That sounds like a price aimed at competing with netbooks and laptops more than iPads.

— I also don’t think we heard anything at all about 3G/4G connectivity for the Surface. Maybe I missed it but it seems like they may be WiFi only devices.

Although Microsoft have borrowed some ideas from Apple, I think they at least are offering something with a lot more differences and fresh ideas than the vast majority of Android rivals we’ve seen thus far. I’m certainly interested in looking at the RT model, or both even if the prices are viable for me.

Now we go back to waiting, to hear when Surface comes out and what it costs.

What do you all think of the Surface? Will you be thinking about buying one?


© patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Oh Good, Now There’s a Head-to-Head Review of iPad vs. The Tablet That Doesn’t Exist Yet

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Surface vs iPad

I’ve got great news for you if you’re a fan of apples to watermelons type comparisons. There’s a wonderful iPad 3 vs. Surface head-to-head style review at a site called Trusted Reviews. Maybe it’s part of a new Fantasy Reviews section.

Seriously though, these guys have done a head-to-head review of the iPad 3, which is what is often referred to as a real product that’s been available to buy and use for over 3 months now, and the Surface – which cannot yet be bought or used or tested out in any meaningful way by anyone other than Microsoft staff working on it.  Once again, Surface does not even have a release date or price tag as yet.

Beyond the comical nature of the comparison in general, I love that the Surface RT is deemed a slam dunk winner in the ‘connectivity’ section of the review. That’s the device that doesn’t exist yet, and which apparently has no cellular connectivity options, as a slam dunk winner over the iPad 3 with WiFI + 4G options. Great call there.

I also love that the conclusion section of the post says ‘It might be too early to call a winner …’. Wow, ya think? Think maybe you might want to wait for the Surface to be, I don’t know, released or something? 


© patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Surface Sales Estimates Are Bleak, Microsoft Thinks Better Marketing Will Save the Day

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Microsoft Surface TV ads

Predictions and estimates offered last week for the early sales numbers for Microsoft’s Surface tablet line don’t paint a very pretty picture. They’re pretty bleak in fact – especially considering how heavily hyped and marketed the Surface RT and Surface Pro have been.

Here’s some details from a Bloomberg story on this:

Microsoft has sold little more than a million of the Surface RT version and about 400,000 Surface Pros since their debuts, according to three people, who asked not to be named because sales haven’t yet been made public. The company had ordered about 3 million Surface RTs, they said. Brent Thill, an analyst at UBS AG, had initially expected Microsoft to sell 2 million Surface RT devices in the December quarter alone.

Based on Apple’s last reported quarterly results it looks like more iPads are sold every week than the total number of Surface devices sold in four and half months (the Surface RT launched in late October of 2012 and the Surface Pro in early February of this year). If Bloomberg’s numbers are anywhere near accurate, then Surface is really not making much of a dent in the tablet arena at all.

I’ve said before I think Microsoft has been clueless in the mobile space for years now, and their approach on the Surface is just further proof of this. They’re tablets that aren’t really tablets, tablets that really want to be PCs, tablets that sound as if they have to have a keyboard in order to be useful.

Another perfect example of how out of touch Microsoft remains in this area comes in the Bloomberg report. As MG Siegler points out, apparently they believe that there’s a marketing fix for the disappointing sales:

Microsoft is taking steps to turn around the tepid demand. The software maker is trying to rejigger its marketing for Surface RT, said two of the people familiar with the company.

I’ll admit I think the Surface TV ads are bizarre and likely ineffective, but this also reminds me of the early days of the iPhone – when so many Microsoft fans wrote off the iPhone’s success as being all due to slick marketing. Nothing to do with Windows Mobile being dated or the ground breaking nature of the iPhone itself – all just Apple smoke and mirrors.

Microsoft itself still seems to have a bit of this blinkered attitude when it comes to the iPad and the tablet space in general. Their Surface message seems to rely heavily on positioning it as the tablet to do real work on, not just a tablet for playing with – with the obvious implication being that that’s what the iPad is.

I think some day Microsoft needs to wake up and smell a bit of reality. Recognize that the iPad and Android tablets are not way, way ahead of Surface because of great marketing. They’re leaving Surface in the dust because they’re just better tablets. New dance routines in the Surface ads aren’t going to fix that.


© patrickj for iPad Insight, 2013. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Microsoft’s Surface Tablets ‘Officially a Flop’

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Surface tablet

Lots more bad news for Microsoft and their Surface tablets this week. Microsoft’s most recent financial results filing (for their fiscal year that ended June 30 of this year) show a total of $853 million in revenue from Surface sales – which some are saying is less than they’ve spent on marketing for the Surface line.

BGR, along with many others, have declared the Surface a flop when referencing the Surface revenue numbers:

That figure doesn’t include the $900 million write-down it took or the huge amount of cash it spent on marketing and advertising, so Microsoft has clearly lost a substantial amount of money on its Surface bet so far — yes, the Surface is officially a flop.

The latest estimate of total Surface sales, by GeekWire, is just 1.7 million units sold. That’s 1.7 million sold in the 8 months since the first Surface release. For a little perspective, 3 million iPad minis were sold in 3 days at its launch time.

Over the years I’ve seen many Microsoft fans argue that the success of the iPhone / iPad / Apple themselves was largely down to marketing. Well, Microsoft have marketed the hell out the Surface line. They’ve ripped the iPad in their recent TV advertising and painted it as a far less useful device than the Surface.

Maybe they should focus more now on making a tablet that actually lives up to their hype.


© patrickj for iPad Insight, 2013. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Now Microsoft Lowers Price on Surface Pro Too

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Surface Pro

Following its big recent price cuts on the Surface RT tablet line, Microsoft has now dropped the price for its Surface Pro tablets by $100.

As The Verge reports, Microsoft has confirmed that customers in 5 countries – the US, Canada, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan – will pay $100 less for the Surface Pro between August 4th and August 29th.

The price cut affects both the 64GB Surface Pro, which now goes for $799, and the 128GB model, which is now available for $899.

Given the Surface’s current status as a major flop, it will not be at all surprising to see these price cuts become permanent sometime soon.


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The Challenging State of the Tablet Market

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Before Apple’s stock price soared to even greater heights this week thanks to strong iPhone sales, growing services revenues, and rumors of spectacular devices to come, we got the bad news about iPad sales. During Apple’s quarterly sales call two weeks ago, we learned that sales were down 19% percent and revenue down 22% over last Q1, meaning not even the impressive iPad Pros have been able to overcome the forces of market saturation, slow upgrade cycles, and the encroachment of large screen smartphones.

Tim Cook keeps telling us that Apple remains committed to the platform, and to their credit, Apple has kept adding form factors and features to the lineup (and we hear more are on the way). However, the iPad’s glory days seem a distant memory, and it is now clearly a secondary device to the company’s true money maker- the iPhone.

It’s Tough Out There for a Tablet

What we tend to forget is that, while iPad sales are down, at least there ARE sales. Things are a whole lot worse for everyone else making tablets. Maybe I should have called this article, The Challenging State of THE REST of the Tablet Market. Remember the days when BestBuy had a double isle devoted to Android and Windows tablets from companies like Lenovo, Asus, Acer and Toshiba? Remember the Nexus 7?

IMG_0111

I do. I actually owned both models, and really liked the second one. I hate that Google got bored and abandoned the form factor, because they have the clout to sell more than any of the aforementioned manufacturers.

Sadly, those days and devices are long gone. What’s the point of a tablet isle at BestBuy when there’s little left worth putting there. The Microsoft Surface (which we will get to in a moment) and Amazon’s tablets get their own areas, along with Apple of course. Samsung has a large section in many stores, and they may have a couple of tablets on hand, but the majority of display space is reserved for Galaxy phones and wearable devices. The only other thing I could find during my last visit to BestBuy was a small section of a shelf labeled “Value Tablets.” They were all BestBuy’s house label, Insignia. Blech.

Many of the companies mentioned above still make tablets, but if you look through their offerings, they usually revolve around smaller screen sizes and cheaper prices. At this point, Samsung and Amazon are the only companies making larger screen tablets with features that come anywhere close to the iPad, but gone are the days when they actually tried to compete with it. For all their size and money, even they still primarily focus on the 6″ to 8″ sizes. So don’t feel too badly for Apple.

When is a Tablet Not a Tablet?

IMG_0112

So what about the Microsoft Surface? It’s gone from the butt of jokes and being called an iPad on NFL broadcasts to a mature device that has the respect of the tech community. The devices in the Surface lineup may not be a massive mainstream sales successes, but they have gained enough mindshare to be viewed as equal to or better than the iPad by many, especially enterprise users. However, is the Surface really the same kind of device as the iPad? Personally, no matter how it is designated, I don’t think it is.

I’m a Windows user, and I currently use a Lenovo Yoga Pro 2, which other than the detachable keyboard, is a similar device to the Surface in many respects.

IMG_0113

It is touch enabled, thin, light, and has a flexible design that allows it to be used in different ways. However, like the Surface, it is NOT a tablet. Not in the truest sense. It is a laptop made to be more portable and to work better with touch. More importantly, where the iPad is a device that was built from the ground up to work using touch input running an OS built to focus on touch, the Surface is based around an OS that still sits straddled between the future and the past, and for which touch is still a secondary form of input. A removable keyboard and built-in kickstand don’t adequately cover over that in my book.

Now, don’t misunderstand me. I don’t really use any of the “tablet” features of my Yoga, but I love it as a laptop. I use it all day, every day at work, and rarely have a complaint. I also still have my 4 year old original Yoga as a backup machine. It still boots up in less than 10 seconds and works very well. The only reason I moved on as soon as I did was because it had a smallish 128 GB SSD. The thing is, at 13″, neither is a great tablet with the screen folded back with the keyboard on the bottom, running mostly desktop apps. Like my iPad Pro, it is very good at performing the tasks it was designed around, but is less ideal for things that fall outside of that scope. It will still work for them, just not as well.

So, while Microsoft has definitely established itself as a force in portable touch computing, I still wouldn’t classify the Surface in the same category as the iPad. There is overlap between the two, especially with the iPad Pros, but there are still more differences than similarities at the OS level, where it counts. However, those differences do cut both ways. Whether the Surface is really the same as an iPad, it’s more traditional OS does give it advantages, especially in the business and enterprise markets. Companies don’t have to re-imagine interfaces and redesign workflows to roll out the Surface in their organizations like they often to with the iPad and iOS.

However, you view Apple and Microsoft and their devices, one thing is true. The iPad and Surface have combined to cover the touch market and squeeze the competition hard. I wouldn’t expect to see much marketing and innovation beyond larger competitors like Amazon, Samsung, and Google. They can afford to stay in the game, where it just won’t be worth it for most companies. But at this point, it will be hard for any of them to make a big move against them.

Market Forces

What does the future hold for the iPad and that tablet market as a whole? It seems there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of the product category right now. Maybe Google will get back in the game with something similar to the Nexus 7. It’s worth it to Amazon to stick around and at least tread water in the tablet game, because their Fire devices serve as a gateway to online sales and their services, so they likely aren’t going anywhere. Samsung is large enough that they can afford to produce tablets that don’t move in massive quantities. They seem to be focused on having a broad portfolio of devices that cover all shapes, sizes and price points, and keeping a full compliment of tablets fits with that philosophy.

Barring a sizemic shift in the technologies that go into tablets, it’s going to be VERY difficult for anyone else to gain enough traction in this market to be worth jumping into it. However, one interesting outside player who could shake things up a bit is Nintendo.

IMG_0114

While their focus is obviously squarely on gaming, there could be enough crossover with the portable/home gaming console hybrid Switch to draw some gaming-focused tablet users away. It will certainly be interesting to see if they can make headway taking the same approach as Microsoft and coming at the market from a different direction.

Whatever the future brings, there is no doubt that the tablet market is a far different challenge today than it was from 2010-2013. It’s hard to say whether something or someone can re-invigorate sales, or if tablets are going the way of the PC, with a glacial pace of innovation and long upgrade cycles. However, this much is clear at the moment- when it comes to touch-enabled devices, it’s Apple and Microsoft and everyone else, and it is hard to imagine that changing any time soon. With the market virtually all to themselves, can they generate the sales and profits it will take to support the R&D necessary to keep the category moving forward.

What do you think about the state of the tablet market? Will sales bounce back, or continue to be erratic? Will Apple’s iPad Pro eventually stoke the fires again? I would love to hear your thoughts in the Comments section below, on Flipboard, or on Twitter @iPadInsightBlog or @jhrogersii.

 


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My Pixelbook Experiment Was a Bit of a False Start

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So I ended up returning the Pixelbook that I picked up to review and wrote about a couple of weeks ago. This was more of a false start than a failure, though. I hit day 14 (BestBuy’s last day to return) without being able to say if it was something I would be willing to part with $1000 for, or if I would even be able to take a small monetary hit to have it for a while and then sell it for less. The fact is, I just wasn’t able to spend as much time with the device as I had hoped, and couldn’t be sure about it. It’s better to safe than sorry in that case, but I can’t say that I won’t go back any try again later on.

Here are a few things that I did glean from my brief time with the device:

Google’s Pen is nice, but it doesn’t justify spending $99 extra dollars

One of the reasons that I went ahead and bought the Pixelbook was because BestBuy had a deal including a free Pen. I had tried it briefly in the store, so this $99 savings was definitely a selling point for me. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it clear that it didn’t come in the box, and the salesperson at the BestBuy I purchased from didn’t follow on-screen instructions to either give me one from stock or order one for me.

I was out of town when I purchased the Pixelbook (working out of town a lot lately is another reason I didn’t have time to spend on this device), so I waited until I got home and went to my local store. They were very helpful, and ordered one for me at no additional charge. Unfortunately, it didn’t come for a week, and by that time, I had very little time to try it out. However, in the little bit of time that I did, I saw that it is extremely limited in what it can do right now.

A perfect example of this is how few Android apps show up as compatible and recommended when you follow the link in the Pen Settings. Basically you have the built-in Google Keep (which is a customized version for the Pen and actually works well), a few different drawing apps, and some compatibility for highlighting and searching throughout the Chrome OS. That’s about it.

I will say that the Pen does work well in practice and feels good in the hand. Lines flow and writing on the screen is easy. I wouldn’t quite put it in the class with the Apple Pencil or Microsoft’s Surface Pen, but it is still very good as a drawing and writing tool. The Pen’s tight integration to Google Assistant also shows promise. However, it just doesn’t do enough besides these basic features. You also have the very familiar problem of nowhere to put the thing, as it isn’t magnetic and has no dedicated storage solution. Of course, Apple isn’t any better in this regard, but Microsoft and Samsung seem to have a good handle on how to do this well.

One other oddity is that Google went with a AAAA battery for power. If that sounds strange, that is because it is a smaller, non-standard battery. I didn’t have any issues in my short time with the stylus, but this is still a problem waiting to happen for users. These batteries are difficult to find outside of Amazon or your local Batteries Plus, so if you find yourself out of juice when trying to use this Pen, you are probably out of luck. I’m really not sure why Google didn’t go the rechargeable route here, but I would bet that the next version will ditch the user replaceable battery.

I imagine that Google will figure this all out in time for the Pixelbook’s follow-up. However, I would definitely pass on the Pen unless you are getting it for free or at a large discount based on how little you can do with it right now.

Still missing on some basics

While Chrome OS has come a long way, there are still enough gaps to remind me that it isn’t as far along as my iPad Pro. For all Google may want to intimate that the two are comparable products, they definitely aren’t. An iPad Pro with a good keyboard case isn’t much bigger and heavier, but is FAR more powerful.

Unless you live in the web (and some people do, primarily), there are going to be things that you cannot do on the Pixelbook without some major workarounds. Access to Android apps helps, and you can go the Remote Desktop route for some things, but I rarely have to do this my iPad at this point, and you likely wouldn’t have to at all with a Microsoft Surface. Once Google gets Android apps integrated to the point where they don’t feel “bolted on,” Chrome OS will feel more complete.

Not all bad by any stretch

The Pixelbook really is very good at the things it was designed to do, and that did make using the device very enjoyable for the most part. It was just when I came up against the gaps in functionality, such as not being able to use about 75% of the services at iCloud.com, which would have bridged some of the Apple gap for me. I’ll be honest- that was a big disappointment.

The fit and finish of the Pixelbook hardware is obviously very alluring. There is no doubt about that. The screen is great. The keyboard is first-class and is backlit. It feels very nice in the hand, no matter the configuration. The Pixelbook feels like a premium piece of kit in every respect.

It really comes down to cost

The problem at the end of the day is simple. The Pixelbook just doesn’t do enough to justify its $999 starting price tag. There just isn’t any getting around this for me, especially when I can go get a pen-enabled Samsung convertible Chromebook for exactly half the price. I’ve played around with that device at my local BestBuy, and it doesn’t come anywhere close to the Pixelbook in terms of hardware feel and design. However, since they are both somewhat limited in terms of the functionality of Chrome OS, it’s a lot easier to stomach parting with $550 than $1000.

Not closing the door

I cannot say that I won’t revisit the Pixelbook at some point down the road. I ended up keeping the Pen, as the BestBuy Customer Service Rep I returned the device to said the Pen was a free gift and didn’t need to be given back. I thought that was strange, but I didn’t argue. Since I still have the Pe , I honestly would be opposed to looking at a used, refurbished, or open box Pixelbook down the road. I would probably be very happy to spend $550 or less if the opportunity presented itself.

In the meantime, I may end up looking at the Samsung to get a better feel for the current version of Chrome OS. My local BestBuy has an open box model for around $350 or so, which is tempting. If I take the plunge again with either device, I will let you know, but for now at least, the Pixelbook experiment is over.


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A Month with the Surface Go: Hardware Design and Build Quality

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As I mentioned in a previous post, I picked up the higher end of the two Surface Go models right after release, along with a Type Cover and a Surface Pen. I’ve taken my time with the device, and used it in different situations to try to get a feel for it. Being that I am already a Windows user at work who’s had a Lenovo Yoga (original), Yoga 2, and Yoga 720 spanning the last five years, the experience certainly isn’t unfamiliar. The Yoga has been a very good touchscreen ultrabook line since the original, and I have no complaints with it as a laptop.

The Yogas can also be used as tablets, although that experience certainly leaves something to be desired. Frankly, a LOT to be desired. Ultimately, my ambivalence toward touch on Windows based on my experience with what is a good, high-end touchscreen convertible device kept my interest in Microsoft’s Surface products low over the years.

However, I have been interested in the rumors of Microsoft’s foldable Andromeda device and its accompanying OS enhancements (which are sadly yet to arrive). If Microsoft could slim down the Windows experience to work on a smaller device, then it would be of more interest to someone like myself who HAS to use Windows daily. The Surface Go fell into similar territory for me. The Pro was too big to be anything but a laptop for me, and I need a traditional laptop form factor for work. However, the smaller size of the Go changed things. It is small and light enough for some broader applications that do get into traditional tablet territory.

I’ve always felt like the iPad Pro and the Surface Pro were very different devices that were approaching a common center ground from opposite directions: A traditional computing OS moving toward touch and mobility, and a touch-centric, mobile OS branching out into higher-end productivity. I think the Surface Go gets the closest to that overlap point on Microsoft’s side, and it is interesting to note where it and the iPad Pro intersect and which device handles different things better. In this article, I am going to focus on the hardware design and build quality of the Go and its main accessories, and how they measure up with the iPad Pro.

Hardware Design

I think this is ultimately the biggest strength of the entire Surface line from Microsoft. They have put a lot of time and effort into the designs of the Pro, Book and Laptop, and what they have learned has trickled down into the newer Go. I’ll lead off by saying that the only criticism I have is that the outer case can get warm with extended use. Not hot, just warm. However, this is something you don’t experience with an iPad Pro unless you are really hammering it for an extended period. This is more a product of Microsoft’s decision to go with an Intel chip for the Go, rather than an ARM processor. They don’t have much choice at the moment, but that may change in the coming years.

The Kickstand

It’s not quite as thin as the iPad Pro, but it’s thin enough to be very comfortable in the hand. It is also light, and no problem to carry around. The best feature of the Go is the Surface’s signature kickstand. It is easy enough to move to any position, but then it says in that position reliably. No matter how steep or shallow the angle, it supports the device with no issues.

Microsoft has really nailed this design feature down over the last six years. It just works, and we all know that’s a phrase that Apple fans take very seriously.

I am not surprised that I like this feature. In fact, I have been using it on my iPad Pro for months. My Pro is hardly ever removed from my Logitech Slim Combo Keyboard Case. They added a similar, albeit thicker and heavier kickstand to this keyboard case. It works very well, and makes me more productive with my iPad. It is by far and away the best keyboard case I’ve ever used, and I have used many.

While I like to have the option to take my iPad Pro out of the case for other uses, in practice, I very rarely do. Even if I detach the Slim Combo’s keyboard, I still use the kickstand. So, there is something to be said for having a kickstand built-in, especially when it is integrated into the overall design so well. I have to give this point to Microsoft and the Surface Go, especially since Apple’s own Smart Keyboard can’t even come remotely close to touching the Go’s kickstand in terms of flexibility. More on the Apple accessory I dislike the most in a moment.

The Rest of the Go Hardware

The Surface Go hardware is solid. The feel. The buttons, the ports, the speakers- all are fine. While the Kickstand is certainly its standout advantage, the rest of the hardware is good too. It just doesn’t all stack up to the iPad Pro. When it comes to the screen, the Go really can’t come close the iPad Pro. Honestly, it’s probably neck and neck to just under the less expensive iPad. That said, it certainly isn’t bad. You can just tell that Microsoft didn’t go all out on the screen, where Apple does.

I can also say that, while the Surface does feel good in the hand, the iPad feels superior to pretty much anything in terms of quality of construction, materials, and just overall solidity. However, I don’t think this outweighs the utility of the kickstand. Who prefers what will come down to usage and preference.

A feature where the Surface Go does have the upper hand is the USB-C port.

This provides a level of flexibility that Apple’s Lightning can’t match. Well, let me rephrase that. It is possible that Lightning could, if only Apple would allow that. As we all know, they don’t. I can turn the Go into a mini-desktop with Bluetooth accessories, a desktop monitor or a TV, and additional storage. I can do some of that with an iPad, but even what I can do is still limited. With the Go, an input device is an input device and storage is storage. There are fewer workarounds necessary to get certain things done. Apple is moving this direction, but they haven’t quite arrived yet.

I will also point out that Microsoft took a page out of Apple’s playbook when it comes to charging. Well, at least their previous one. While the Go has the new ability to charge using USB-C, making it compatible with many battery packs and existing fast chargers, it comes bundled with a magnetic charger. While there is nothing remarkable about this, it is a little ironic, if you ask me. However, it does provide an advantage you lose with the iPad Pro- you can charge and still have full access to the USB-C port. Other than outputting sound or video with special adapters, you are very limited in this regard with the iPad Pro.

The Type Cover

Like some others, I poked fun at Microsoft for their use of “Alcantara” fabric on their Surface Book and recent Type Cover keyboards. I saw no practicality in it. However, I’ve always been partial to the color blue, so I decided to give the blue Alcantara Type Cover a shot when I saw it at BestBuy.

After using it, I actually kind of like it. It really doesn’t make any difference to me on the keyboard side, but it is easy and comfortable to hold when the the cover is closed over the Go’s screen. It has a high quality look and feel, and it has held up against dirt and wear so far.

As for the performance of the keyboard, this is another area where you can see how much time and effort Microsoft has poured into the development of the Surface. When the first Surface and Surface Pros were released, Microsoft had a less expensive Touch Cover that, like Apple’s Smart Keyboard, didn’t have mechanical keys. It relied on pressure sensors to register keystrokes. It was thinner, cheaper, and also spill resistant. And today it no longer exists. Why? Because it provided an inferior typing experience. Microsoft wisely switched gears and put their time and effort into perfecting their Type Covers.

I’m not going to say that the Go’s Type Cover is revolutionary. As I sit here, switching back and forth between my Yoga 720 and the Go, the difference is noticeable. Lenovo makes a good keyboard, and it is quite a bit better. However, for what it is and how thin and light it is, the Type Cover is a very nice mobile keyboard that I am capable of typing on for extended periods without complaint.

I would still put the Logitech Slim Combo’s keyboard a little ahead of this one. It would probably be a fairer fight if they were the same size. I have gotten a little spoiled by my 12.9″ iPad Pro keyboard’s width, and going back to 10″ is an adjustment. However, the keys on the Go’s Type Cover are big enough and spaced well enough that, once you get in the groove, things flow just fine.

The Logitech Slim Combo’s keyboard is a little thicker and heavier, and I think you get a little more with that. It is much quieter to type on than the Type Cover, which I like. The last thing I need to do is disturb my sleeping wife as I’m cranking out a late night review. The Type Cover isn’t awful, but I tend pound the keys, and that is just more noticeable with less key travel. Many say the same about Apple’s Butterfly keyboards.

The key travel and response on the Logitech is a little better than the Type Cover, but the two are close enough that it comes down to personal preference. The keys on the Go’s Type Cover have less give and a snappy feedback. If you like that in a keyboard, then you will prefer the Type Cover. While I would choose the balance of the Logitech, I’ll take the response of the Type Cover over a “mushy” keyboard with a laggy response any day. That’s the worst.

I also think the Go’s Type Cover is still far more balanced than Apple’s Smart Keyboard, which is really stiff and rigid in my opinion. The Logitech is as close to perfection as I have found for me, but that shouldn’t be a surprise- it’s what they do. Still, the Type Cover is a close second, and I think that’s worth noting.

While it may not be remarkable vs a high-end laptop, the touchpad on the Type Cover is actually quite good, especially at this size. While the Go may have a touchscreen, a touchpad is still more efficient in Windows, especially if you are using classic Windows apps. I’ve used many laptops that had touchpads that weren’t half this good, so I think Microsoft did as well as can be expected in this form factor.

Another point for the Go’s Type Cover is how uncomplicated it is. It is a very simple design. As the name adequately explains, it covers the Go’s screen when closed.

If there is one drawback here, it is that there isn’t a magnet on the other side of the Go’s screen to hold it closed. My Logitech Split Combo has this, and I like the security of it, especially for drop protection. It is easy enough to hold the Type Cover closed to the Go while carrying it, but I do think Microsoft would be smart to add this for a little extra piece of mind.

You can fold the keyboard down flat if you prefer.

There is one “hinge” in the fabric that lets you set the keyboard at a slight angle, like most of us are used to with laptop keyboards.

I always type this way, and I suspect this is how most people will use a Type Cover.

One of the best features of this keyboard is that you can hold it open like a book, or fold it behind the Go when you don’t need it.

Apple’s Smart Keyboard can do this, although its more complicated design makes holding it as a book a little more difficult. This is the one area where my Logitech really falls down, as you can’t fold the keyboard back without the Smart Connector magnets disengaging and it falling off. You have to remove it, giving you another piece to have to hold or deal with.

One of the major issues that I have with Apple’s Smart Keyboard is that, in my opinion, it is a niche design. I am always of a mind that, if a manufacturer is only going to offer one accessory option, it should be versatile enough to work for most users. The Smart Keyboard is thin and light, which Apple has an absolute obsession with lately, but it falls down in other ways. There is no way to adjust screen angles with the keyboard attached, and without it, you have no flexibility at all. Without an accessory, you are holding the iPad, or it is sitting flat on something else.

As for the keyboard experience, I know that many Apple fans don’t agree with me, but I loathe typing on the Smart Keyboard. I absolutely hate it. Like, it actually makes me angry, probably because it costs so much to get so little. I’ve tried it twice, and I hated it more the second time than the first, I guess because I wasted the time going back again. If Phil takes the stage tomorrow and tells us the Smart Keyboard has been revamped with a mechanical action (even the dreaded Butterfly keys) and a backlight, then I would give it another shot. Otherwise, I won’t bother again. I’ll wait for Logitech’s far superior solution and stick with that for my next iPad Pro.

As for the Surface Go Type Cover, I give this round to Microsoft again. Handily. Not even close. The Type Cover is easy to use, it’s uncomplicated, and it does more (by virtue of having a function keys, a touchpad, and a good backlight). As for typing experience, it is far more “general.” It’s not too stiff, not too mushy. The Type Cover may not be the “Goldilocks” of keyboards, but it’s a hell of a lot closer than Apple. It is going to work well enough for most people, and to me, that’s the smarter play for a single OEM accessory. Once you adjust to the small size, you are fine. With the Smart Keyboard, I felt like I would have to adjust everything about the way I type to get out a paragraph without multiple missing letters.

My hope for Apple is that, one day, they will make a keyboard accessory that is thicker and heavier, but brings the style of the Magic Keyboard and backlit keys to the iPad Pro. There are many of us who would prefer a more laptop-like experience using a keyboard with the Pro, and right now, all of us are going with either Logitech or Brydge. I won’t hold my breath.

The Surface Pen

The Surface Pen is good, but I wouldn’t say that it’s great. I’m not an artist, but I can still feel a little more lag here than I get when using the Apple Pencil. My son, who is an art student and has a new iPad and Apple Pencil, also noticed this and I trust his opinion more than my own. He liked the Surface Go and Pen, but said that he still preferred the iPad and Pencil, overall. So, I have to give this round to Apple, as far as stylus performance goes. However, both are better than anything else I’ve tried.

However, I think MS has an upper hand in Pen design that can’t be ignored. There are two simple design elements that make the Pen stand out. First of all, Microsoft built in a couple of ways to attach the Pen to your Surface device. You can attach it to a magnet at the top of the Surface, which is clear of buttons, speakers, etc.

Second, you can also attach it to the outside of the Type Cover, if you prefer.

For the life of me, I can’t understand why Apple hasn’t addressed this shortcoming after three years. My Logitech Slim Combo case has a holder for the Pencil, like most iPad Pro cases, so it hasn’t been a major issue for me personally. I just can’t understand why Apple’s own solutions don’t account for keeping up with the Pencil.

Another design advantage for the Surface Pen is the addition of a couple of buttons. Now, I know this could easily become too complicated and mar the experience of using a stylus for some. However, having a right click button is handy on Windows. I’m not going to knock Apple for this, because this isn’t a necessity on an iOS device.

However, the Pen’s ability to erase with its “eraser” is an advantage over the Pencil. This is a natural thing we are used to doing with traditional pencil and paper, and I really wish Apple would copy this feature whenever they redesign their Pencil.

As for charging/power, I’m frankly not a big fan of either the Pen or Pencil. The Surface Pen uses a AAAA battery. While it should last a long time, per many reviews, that battery size is not easy to find on short notice. Murphy’s Law says that battery will die on you at the worst possible time, which can be a problem.

As ridiculous as iPad Pro users look with a Pencil hanging off the side of the device, at least they can top up if they have to. It’s still wonky though, and oh so easy for the techno elite to make fun of. I have managed to hang onto the charging dongle for my Pencil, so I usually charge it with a Lightning Cable. It would seem that most Pro and Pencil users make due with what was originally supposed to be the backup plan, though.

Apple could kill two birds with one stone here with a nifty Pro and Pencil redesign. Just add a magnetic wireless charging pad to the iPad Pro, and give us an adapted Pencil to take advantage. Done. There’s a new, undefined button or port on one side of those recently leaked iPad Pro renders, so maybe just maybe…

Overall, I think the Apple Pencil still edges out the Surface Pen by a nose. Features are great, but performance is the main thing, and Apple still wins there, at least for now. However, an upgrade here or there on either side could easily change this.

Conclusion

I wrote this article to compare aspects of the iPad Pro and the Surface Go, but not to keep score or rate one over the other overall. The fact is, they are both still different enough that which one you prefer will largely be based on what ecosystem you are in and what you need.

I can definitely say that I’m not giving up my iPad Pro for a Surface Go. However, I’m not taking the Go back or getting rid of it, either. I like both for different reasons, and will use them in different ways. If I HAD to pick one right now, it would still be the iPad Pro.

However, if you asked me that question between a regular 9.7″ iPad and a Surface Go, that would take some time and thought, and the Go might edge that one out. I had completely lost interest in the iPad 2 before getting the iPad Pro for a reason. I can’t see a smaller screen iPad cutting it for me again. The Go is more productive with its smaller screen real estate than the regular iPad, in my opinion. Since I want to be productive with my tablet, I think the Go probably takes that one.

All that aside, the design and build quality of the Surface Go really are very good. I won’t pay good money for a Samsung tablet, because I have never thought much of their build quality, at least not in comparison to Apple. However the Surface Go is deep in this conversation. It has the design and build chops to stand next to an Apple device. It is really a wash in my book, with the Go well ahead in some areas, the iPad Pro in others, and the two pretty close in a few. It really comes down to personal preferences in design and build.

Now, the equation and some of this parity will change when we get to software and performance in the next article. Stay tuned.


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Review: UAG Metropolis Series Case for the Microsoft Surface Go

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I know what some of you are thinking. Why am I reviewing an accessory for the Surface Go on an Apple and iPad-centric site? Well, in case you haven’t seen, I have already written about the fact that I own a Surface Go on a couple of occasions. I picked one up right after the new device launched, and I liked it enough that I held onto it, and I still use it today. In fact, since I sold my iPad Pro in preparation for the coming new model over a month ago, I use my Go pretty often these days.

I have never been a fan of using a tablet without a case, and I have been a big fan of UAG’s for a while now, as you can tell from my recent review of the new Monarch case for the iPhone XS Max. While I have used and reviewed a few UAG phone cases, I had never tried one of their tablet products before this. As such, when I was offered the opportunity to review the Metropolis for the Surface Go, I was excited to give it a shot. I have used the case for about a month now, and if this tells you anything, I will keep right on using it now that this review is published.

The Metropolis has a really well thought out design, overall. As I have said about UAG’s phone cases, they strike a great balance when it comes to padding, weight, thickness, and the all important factor- price.

First off, this case offers plenty of protection without adding a lot of weight. The Surface Go is a slim and light tablet, so this case suits it very nicely. As for protection, the Metropolis offers military grade MIL STD 810G 516.6 drop protection when paired with the Surface Go’s Type Cover. As you can see below, the corners and back of the device are well protected with rubberized material.

As you can also see above, all of the cutouts for ports are just as I have come to expect from UAG- lined up perfectly.

Going back to the Type Cover, UAG did a really nice job of making the Metropolis versatile for those who use this accessory with the Go and those who don’t. Out of the box, the case provides full protection all the way around the Go.

This is how you would use the case if you prefer to use the device in “tablet mode,” and either don’t need a keyboard, or are using a separate Bluetooth keyboard.

If you want to use a Type Cover with the Metropolis, simply remove the plastic insert out of the bottom (assuming landscape mode orientation) and you can easily connect it to your Surface Go.

When the case is closed, it fits perfectly over the screen, and is a seamless fit with the edges of the case.

If you are using the Type Cover, then you will also need a kickstand. While the Surface’s kickstand has become well-known for its quality and flexibility, it is completely covered while in this case. UAG has provided a stand-in on the back of the Metropolis, however, while it is perfectly adequate, I will be honest. This is my only disappointment with this case. Microsoft set a very high bar with its built-in kickstand, and the Metropolis just doesn’t match it.

That said, the case’s kickstand does work fine for the majority of applications. It can hold the tablet securely in one of two separate positions.

I also like that kickstand’s all-metal construction should hold up over time. However, those two positions are just a lot more limiting than the Surface’s built-in kickstand. This is a trade-off I am willing to accept for the sake of great drop protection, though. I can always take the Go out of the case when I really need more positioning flexibility. This is something for buyers to be aware of, though.

The Metropolis also has a built-in external Surface Pen holder, which comes in very handy.

It is molded into the case and holds the pen very securely. I’ve never had any issues with it losing its grip, or with the Pen falling out.

As for looks, the Metropolis fits UAG’s typical rugged industrial-looking design aesthetic, and that’s just fine in my book. My case came in black and looks very professional, overall.

The metal kickstand also gives the case a nice accent, especially since it matches well with the Go’s finish.

The black version of the Metropolis also pairs well with any color of Type Cover, as well. Visually and tactily, I also think it looks great with my Blue version and its Alcantara fabric exterior. There are also Blue and Red versions of the Metropolis for those who prefer a little more color on the case, itself.

Tablets tend to get carried in the hand a good bit, so the feel of a case is important to me. The Metropolis fits this bill, as it feels very nice in the hand when carried. The exterior has just a little bit of give when you grip it, which I like. It makes me feel like my hold on it is more secure.

As I said at the outset, I have been using UAG’s Metropolis case on my Surface Go for a month now, and I plan to go on using it as my “daily driver” case for the time being. It looks good. It feels good. I have no trouble getting the Go in or out of it quickly. It works with or without the Type Cover. Oh, and it provides fantastic drop protection. This one literally checks all of the boxes for me. If you are looking for a versatile protective case for the Surface Go, you can’t go wrong with UAG’s Metropolis.

The Metropolis case for the Surface Go is available from UAG for $69.99.

The Metropolis case for the Microsoft Surface Go was provided for review on iPad Insight by UAG. For further information regarding our site’s review policies, please see the About page.


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Despite Straw Man Arguments to the Contrary, the Post-PC Era is Very Real

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And it’s a good thing for ALL of us

The iPad has been with us for almost 10 years now and the personal computer hasn’t died. If anything, Windows PC and Mac sales have recovered from past swoons.  They aren’t growing as fast as they once did, but they are stable.

The Microsoft Surface has been around for close to 7 years, but all laptops haven’t suddenly adopted its unique 2-in-1 design. Some have, but the traditional laptop form factor is still with us today, and still makes up the majority of sales in the category. However, these facts do not change the fact that the Post-PC Era is very, very real.

Before I go further, this article was brought on by a little reading this morning. I came across an article on ZDNet from Chris Matyszczyk titled An Apple store Genius shows how the iPad Pro can’t replace a PC. The article was a take on an earlier tweet from Russell Holly from Android Central about his recent experience getting a faulty AirPod looked at in an Apple Store:

Ok, so I’m not going to beat around the bush here. I strongly believe that both the Tweet and the linked article are classic drive-by commentary against the iPad propped up by fairly weak, straw man arguments. Here’s why.

A single company’s choices do not define a market movement

Just because Apple’s iPad started the Post-PC narrative doesn’t mean they and their actions exclusively define it. I do understand the absurdity of the situation that Russell Holly describes here. I also understand why its happening with some context that he didn’t provide, but others who responded to his Tweet did. I would encourage you to read the thread, as it is certainly more informative than Mr Holly’s lone assessment.

First off, I understand that Apple’s decision to go all-in on USB-C hasn’t gone as well as its previous calls to move away from older standards. Despite complaints, the lack of a headphone jack hasn’t been the end of the world, so much so that most of the smartphone industry has followed suit. Apple’s previous moves away from the serial port and the Floppy Drive were similarly successful after a brief period of growing pains.

Unfortunately for Apple, the move to USB-C has not been this fast or smooth. Most modern laptops have USB-C today and many Windows Ultrabooks have moved to relying mostly on the newer standard at this point. However, few other manufacturers have gone all-in on USB-C the way that Apple has and there is no doubt that the decision has hurt them in comparison. It is a constant source of complaints and it hasn’t pushed the accessory market to fully embrace USB-C any faster. Put a pin in that for a second.

The other half of the argument in this Tweet is the fact that the Apple Genius is using a laptop and iPad with dongles together to run a diagnostic on an AirPod. This is what he hangs his “Post-PC my ass” comment on. However, an Apple  Retail employee named Jennifer McWilliams provided some insight on this situation:

In other words, this workflow for Apple Geniuses is necessitated by a business decision that Apple made, not the capabilities of the hardware. The tablet pictured in the Tweet is a base model iPad. If Apple armed their Geniuses with 11″ iPad Pros, I have no doubt that the entire diagnostic shown in this picture could be run straight from the tablet. As we all know, the current-gen Pros have a USB-C port and the dongle used for the diagnostic here could be plugged in directly. The higher-end Pro also undoubtedly has the power to perform such a simple task.

This is one of many reasons why I call this a straw man argument. In this case, it lacks any context and is therefore easily dismissed. I understand that Mr Holly is just Tweeting out a trolling reaction based on what he saw in front of him, but Chris Matyszczyk is trying to hang an entire article both refuting that Post-PC is real and claiming that the iPad has any true usefulness on the back of it. Just because one company in the market makes a couple of business decisions that don’t line up your narrow definition of what Post-PC means, you don’t get to throw the baby out with the bath water.

That said, I am not going to give Apple a pass for being too early to go all-in on USB-C and then too proud to walk back enough to be more practical for their users. I’m also not going to go easy on them for prioritizing using old hardware over showing some creative leadership. This Tweet and article wouldn’t exist if Apple were putting its money where its mouth is and walking the walk in its own stores. If I were an Apple exec reading any of this, I would be rolling out iPad Pros to techs in stores and prioritizing moving all possible tasks to them TODAY. If Apple wants to lead the Post-PC era again, they have to set an example for others to follow. What you see pictured in this Tweet isn’t that.

Post-PC IS the PC

Another easily dismissed part of this straw man argument is that Post-PC somehow only pertains to devices other than PCs. That is utterly and completely ridiculous. The Post-PC Era doesn’t just refer to devices like the iPad that can replace the PC for some or all tasks, depending on the needs of the user. It refers to any mobile computing device that has seen a paradigm shift since the release of the original iPad in 2010. I only choose that date and device because, while there were tablets and touchscreen computers before it, this device was the primary agent of change in the computing industry.

It’s as if the tech press has completely forgotten what things were like back in 2010. It’s as if netbooks never existed and the ill-fated Tablet-PC didn’t cost twice what a normal laptop did and wasn’t a complete and total failure in the market.

Ask yourself a few simple questions before you fall into the trap of defining the Post-PC Era so very narrowly. First, what killed netbooks? It’s a given that they were a fast-growing era of the laptop market up until 2010. We know that the entire category hit a wall and died off quickly. Why? For anyone paying attention, there isn’t any debate here. Apple’s original iPad and the iPad 2 mopped the floor with the netbook segment and squashed this part of the computing market. Apple developed affordable but attractive hardware that better met the needs of buyers looking for inexpensive computing devices.

Second, would the Microsoft Surface have come out in 2013 if it weren’t for the significant impact of the iPad in 2010? Also, remember that the original Surface also came with Windows 8, Microsoft’s ill-fated attempt to make their desktop OS more touch friendly. These were not accidents. They were products of Microsoft learning from their disastrous lack of action in the smartphone market in the face of the iPhone. The Surface and Windows 8 were far from perfect, but they did show Microsoft stepping up and leading a response to the rise of tablets, which would prove to be very important to their future.

The answers to these questions lead to one conclusion: the Windows laptop of today is just as much a Post-PC Era device as the iPad is. To dismiss the industry-wide changes for the better that the iPad’s fast rise forced is to completely dismiss what really happened over the last decade. PC makers had to adapt to recover from their sudden losses and to their credit, most of them did. The Ultrabook was born to compete with both the MacBook Air and the iPad. They included capacitive touchscreens without jacking hardware prices up further, as with the old Tablet PCs. Then we saw touchscreens trickle down to lower and lower models until they finally ended up on most laptops, regardless of price.

We certainly can’t ignore Microsoft. As I stated above, while a few PC makers like Lenovo developed quality ultrabooks right from the start (I’m typing this article on a current-gen Lenovo Yoga, by the way), Microsoft wisely decided to take a leadership role in defining what Post-PC Era PCs would look like. While they did eventually bring out a Surface Laptop, look at the form factors they lead with: the Surface Pro and the Surface Book. What is more Post-PC than these trend-setting 2-in-1 computers?

Does any of the above happen how it did, and more importantly, when it did, without the original iPad in 2010? Absolutely not. You can only define Post-PC as the iPad alone if you completely ignore the history of the mobile computing industry over the last decade.

Getting there….slowly

As with Apple’s business decisions described earlier, I am not going to take up for Apple’s incredibly deliberate approach to moving the iPad Pro forward. It has been a snail’s pace at times, especially between 2014 and 2017, as sales fell and the category seemed to stagnate.  They weren’t updated as fast and Apple didn’t react as the PC industry copied enough of what they were doing to keep people buying traditional computing devices.

While I still think Apple has been a bit too deliberate, things did shift with their revamp of the iPad and its features at WWDC in 2017. In iOS 12, we saw Apple finally start to address the some of the needs of people who are looking to use the iPad Pro as a primary computing device. Then we got the hardware bump we needed in 2018 with the current Pro  and its much more flexible USB-C port.

Then came iPadOS. It was as if Apple finally listened to those of us who have been begging for certain features to make the iPad Pro the computing device that they describe in their commercials. We finally have a real browser, not just a big-screen mobile version. We have more refined multitasking. Even more important, using external storage is finally as easy as it should be.

iPadOS still needs refinement and additional features, but I know many executives and salesmen who could easily use an iPad Pro as their primary computer today thanks to it. I actually know a few who do and don’t lack for what they need. And this is in a professional setting. I know MANY home users who depend on iPads as their primary devices at this point. My Father and Mother-in-Law have for a few years now. My oldest son and youngest daughter use iPads as their primary devices at home and never complain about a lack of features. They both have access to computers that they rarely use for anything other than PC gaming. With the features added to the OS over the last three years, it’s even easier to make this move today.

As for me, I am not one of those people. I do use my iPad Pro a ton at work because it is far better than my Windows computer when it comes to touch and pen input. Anyone who wants to argue this can come ahead and fight me on it. I am a life-long Windows user and have owned four high-end touchscreen ultrabooks since 2013 for work. I also currently own a Surface Pro. None of them are even in the same zip code as my iPad Pro when it comes to functioning as a touch-centric or pen input device. That said, I am glad that my Windows devices do have these capabilities when I do need to use them. I see both sides of the Post-PC Era as a win-win for me.

I am what Steve Jobs described as a truck owner in his announcement speech for the original iPad. Until an even larger shift in the overall computing market takes place, I will need a laptop for work. That’s just the nature of my job, and that’s fine with me. I couldn’t even do my job on a Mac without running a Windows VM on it, so I will likely always be a Windows user.

There are many of us in the professional world for whom this is the case. However, thanks to the Post-PC Era that the iPad initiated, we at least have some of the benefits of a touch-centric device without having to own one. I fully acknowledge that will be enough for many laptop users, especially since smartphones have gotten larger and taken over the original Internet-Email-Social Media-Photo Browsing-Gaming tasks that the original iPad was aimed at. I choose to own and use an iPad Pro in addition to a laptop because I love the hardware, have always been fascinated by tactile interfaces and I prefer using it for the tasks it excels at,  both at work and at home. It is my de-facto home computer at this point and there is very little I need to do there that I can’t easily accomplish with it today.

This argument isn’t entirely straw. There will likely always be people who can’t use the iPad as a primary devices. However, dismissing the people who can just because it doesn’t work for you is at best elitist and at worst, completely disingenuous.

Return of the Mac

Mr Matyszczyk takes Russell Holly’s Tweet and eventually makes the argument that Apple has prioritized the iPad and its messaging over the Mac.

It can be tiresome when so-called thought leaders insist a particular technology is to be dismissed because its successor is plainly here. It can be tiresome when tech companies neglect the older technology as a way of forcing customers into the new one.

Perhaps Apple will now try a little harder to create MacBooks that not only work beautifully, but that are beautiful to look at. Yes, I still embrace my MacBook Air because, despite everything, it works for my particular needs. And, look at Holly’s photo, older ones even work for Geniuses.

You could have made the argument that Apple deprioritized the Mac in favor of the iPad a few years ago, but I don’t think it holds water at all today. This goes back to the same thing I said about iPadOS earlier: Apple finally started listening to their core customers again. They replaced the MacBook Pro’s butterfly keyboard mechanism, reinvigorated the pro desktop lineup with the iMac Pro and Mac Pro and even beefed up the long-suffering Mac Mini to commercial standards. There have been several upgrades to the MacBook lineup over the last year, and as long as Apple brings the new scissor keyboard to all models soon, I don’t see how there can be many complaints about any lack of love. We may even get a new MacBook running on ARM this year. Apple has made it clear that the Mac and macOS aren’t going anywhere.

Apple isn’t batting a thousand here, as USB-C or else is still being rammed down Mac users’ throats. They also resist adding touch to macOS even though the rest of the market has embraced it on their laptops and some desktops. You could certainly argue that Apple’s desktop hardware is Post-PC in form factor only, and that they lag well behind the Windows camp in this regard. That said, touch isn’t essential to or necessary for the core operation of any Windows device, so other than those professionals who require pen input on their computers, Apple isn’t forcing the iPad on anyone today.

Straw man down again.

The PC is dead. Long live the PC.

I could keep on going refuting the narrow view of the Post-PC Era or iPad marketing that Mr Holly and Mr Matyszczyk put forward, but I won’t. I think the facts adequately speak for themselves. Apple creating a mess for its technicians by relying on older or lesser hardware in their retail stores makes for a nice troll, but it isn’t a real argument against the history of the last 10 years of the computing industry. One manufacturer and its chosen path for a single device category, which obviously hasn’t always been the right one, doesn’t lessen the impact that the original iPad had on the laptop industry and the changes that occurred after to stabilize that market.

Also, just because most tech writers can’t or don’t choose to use an iPad or other touch-centric hardware as a primary computing device doesn’t mean there aren’t many people who can and do on a daily basis. And no one at Apple is holding a gun to anyone’s head and forcing them to buy iPads. However, the most convincing argument to me is this: anyone who dismisses the fact that the term Post-PC encompasses a large portion of Windows computing devices made today is setting up straw men that just can’t stand up.

You know what’s great about the real Post-PC Era: you have more hardware choices than ever before thanks to the changes that came because of it. Ignore the trolls and haters. Pick the best computing tool for your needs, whatever it is, and enjoy using it.

What do you think about the Post-PC Era? If you use an iPad, does it have you covered, or does it still fall short of being a primary computing device? Do you feel like Apple is forcing you to buy on today? Let me know in the Comments section below, on Twitter @iPadInsightBlog, on Facebook, or on Flipboard if you are reading there. I would love to hear from you.


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Why Apple Hasn’t Admitted a Thing to Microsoft or Tom Warren

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Earlier today I read an article by Tom Warren at The Verge entitled Apple finally admits Microsoft was right about tabletsI wasn’t especially surprised considering that Warren has always been completely MS-centric. He’s a good writer and does his job well, but I he’s not the guy I look to for even-handed reporting.

As a full-time Windows user myself and someone who certainly doesn’t dislike the platform, I still heartily disagree with his take in this article.

Every iPad has transformed into a Surface in recent years, and as of this week, the iPad Pro and Surface Pro look even more alike. Both have detachable keyboards, adjustable stands, trackpads, and styluses. With iPadOS getting cursor and mouse support this week, Apple has finally admitted that Microsoft was right about tablets. Let me explain why.

I will admit that the headline and the quote above look like an easy sell. At its most simplistic core, there is some truth here. However, when you get past looks and hardware alone, I believe Mr Warren’s argument unravels. To get at some of those reasons, we need to look back at the beginnings of the iPad and the Surface.

The iPad touches a nerve

As Steve Jobs eloquently laid out in its introductory event, the iPad started its life as a completely touch-based “third device,” positioned between the laptop and the smartphone. It quickly found great success in that niche. The fact that it was limited and built around accomplishing certain tasks very well made it an easy sell over netbooks running Windows, which were built to try to do too much with far too little.

However, that space that the iPad was originally built to reside in shrank significantly over a five year span. Smartphone screens got bigger. Laptops got smaller, thinner and much faster. Then Microsoft’s Surface set the expectation that touchscreens needed to become a part of the Windows laptop experience. More on that in a bit. As the iPad’s home turf got squeezed, sales predictably fell and Apple naturally had to evolve the platform to occupy some new ground.

Microsoft stakes its ground

As for the Surface, it started life with grander expectations than it ultimately lived up to. It began as the poster child for a massive shift that would take Windows away from the past and toward a future that would see touch  and pen put on equal footing with traditional input. It was the hardware side of what was supposed to become a major inflection point, with Windows 8 and Windows RT holding up the software end.

Unfortunately, for all of the success Microsoft has had in delivering great hardware, the original purpose of the Surface was an abysmal failure. Windows RT, Microsoft’s attempt to move completely away from legacy and toward a centralized, Apple-like model, was a disaster and was completely scrapped. Windows 8 didn’t fair much better, with many users and companies opting to just sit it out. As with Netbooks a few years before, there were too many compromises for too little reward and users pushed back against it.

I wanted Windows 8 to succeed at the time, because I wanted to see touch elevated on my laptop, as well as my iPad. In the end, it was just too much middle ground and too much compromise. Microsoft sacrificed too much of the traditional interface and didn’t deliver enough to justify moving to touch as a primary input.

People didn’t see Windows as a touch-first platform because Microsoft did such a poor job of presenting a vision of it to them. However, users did like the portable 2-in-1 form factor of the Surface Pro and some other early Windows convertibles. They also appreciated the addition of touch, even if it was nothing more than a side show. Even if it isn’t fully native, it still has its uses.

Not so first class

In his article, Mr Warren talks about the early vision of the Surface much differently than I see it.

Microsoft’s return to tablets was a rough ride and far from perfect. Bill Gates tried to convince the world that tablets would be a thing all the way back in 2002, but the hardware and software were far too primitive back then. The software maker eventually introduced the Surface RT alongside Windows 8 in 2012 as a clear response to the iPad, but it had an ARM-powered desktop operating system that didn’t support your favorite apps. It was slightly confused, but Microsoft’s tablet principles were clear at the time.

In my opinion, Microsoft’s tablet principles were flimsy and far less than clear. As I said at the outset, Mr Warren is basing all of this on looks and hardware alone. It is a purely skin-deep assessment. Software absolutely cannot be ignored.

The software side of the iPad is a massive reason why it succeeded and why it ended up being more than just a big iPod Touch after release. It’s a big reason why developers flocked to the platform. The software side of the Surface was a complete disaster that lead to massive backtracks and personnel being fired. It caused an entire re-think of the Windows operating system timeline and the Surface’s role within the company. This absolutely cannot be ignored when comparing the two devices.

Warren then shifts to Steven Sinofsky’s thoughts on tablets and Windows 8 back in 2012. Referring to him, Warren says the following:

The message was clear: touch-based computing would be a first-class input for Windows 8 but not the only way to use the operating system. Microsoft insisted you needed a mouse for precision, a keyboard for typing, and a stylus for taking notes or drawing. These basic foundations led to the Surface Pro, with its variety of inputs to suit different needs.

The problem with this argument is that touch and pen are anything but first class in Windows. Anyone like myself who uses the platform can tell you this. Touch is not the reason that anyone buys a Windows device today. Microsoft tried and failed to migrate toward a touch-friendly Windows, waived the while flag and rolled back to a very Windows 7-like experience with Windows 10. The bottom line is, the mouse and keyboard are first-class and everything else is bouncing around in economy.

The fact is, Microsoft has just never focused on making touch-first operation of Windows or pen input a great experience and it shows. And the sad thing is, I KNOW that they could. I’m certain that the Microsoft of today could deliver this. However, with the current direction of the company that has de-emphasized the importance of Windows, I doubt they ever will.

Invisible touch

In spite of whatever effort Microsoft has put toward a tablet-like touch interface for Windows, a Surface or Windows convertible is still a highly disadvantaged and compromised experience without a keyboard and either a touchpad or mouse. I am sure that some Surface users are getting ready to @ me right now, but remember for a moment that, despite my love of the iPad, I am also one of you. I am a lifetime Windows user. I still own a Surface Go (meh, at least my wife occasionally gets some use out of it) and use a Lenovo Yoga touchscreen Windows laptop every day at work. I have actually had 4 Lenovo Yogas in a row for work since 2013 and obviously really like them. In fact, all of them still work and the original Yoga still boots in less than 10 seconds. I promise I’m not a hater.

Still, as a lifetime Windows user, I can also tell you with complete confidence that when you remove the TypeCover from a Surface Pro or Go, what you are left with is just isn’t very good. The on-screen keyboard is often slow and clunky. The touch targets are almost always too small. A small amount of OS lag is ever-present. The devices aren’t instant on all the time because the processors can’t cope. I know Microsoft is finally working on that last item with the Surface X, but their ARM support still isn’t all the way there yet.

At the end of the day, there is a reason that no one sells Windows tablets anymore. And let’s be perfectly clear- the Surface Pro, Surface Book and Surface Go are not tablets. Call them 2-in-1s or convertables or whatever, but they are not designed to be used as tablets alone. Having tried to use a Surface Go without a TypeCover for a couple of days, I feel for you if go down this road. It’s rough and I’m definitely not the only one who will tell you that.

Windows 10 just isn’t designed for tablets. That said, it is still a great fit on a Surface Pro, Book or Laptop because the OS is suited to them and because of the quality of the keyboards and touchpads and the overall build quality of the devices. I’ll give you that all day. They are all excellent devices…when used as laptops.

A different approach

While Mr Warren’s entire premise of this article is that Microsoft was somehow right about “tablets” all along, he did give Apple some praise for their implementation of the new mouse support and cursor in iPadOS:

Apple is now introducing trackpad and mouse support fully in iPadOS, and you can use an existing Bluetooth device. Unlike pointer support you’d find in Windows or macOS, Apple has taken a clever approach to bringing it to a touch-friendly OS like iPadOS. The pointer only appears when you need it, and it’s a circular dot that can change its shape based on what you’re pointing at. That means you can use it for precision tasks like spreadsheets or simply use multitouch gestures on a trackpad to navigate around iPadOS.

It’s far more than most people were expecting at this stage, and Apple has importantly kept its touch-friendly iPad principles intact. Right now, you still can’t use this mouse support to drag and drop windows on top of each other freely like you might on Windows or macOS. Nor is it there to do everything you’d typically do with a mouse on a desktop operating system. Apple has adapted a legacy input and modernized it for iPadOS.

I agree with this assessment. I also think it goes a long way toward invalidating Mr Warren’s original point. When Microsoft created the Surface, they added touch without the kind of full and measured consideration for the marriage of hardware and software across the entire experience, as described above. That’s one of the reasons that Surface devices are really thought of as 2-in-1s or laptops and not tablets.

In contrast, Apple didn’t sacrifice any of the original touch experience with these new changes to the iPad Pro and iPadOS like Microsoft did with Windows 8. That was incredibly important for Apple to nail right out of the gate, because they still have a full lineup of smaller iPads, many of which will never be connected to a mouse or keyboard. If they diminished that experience, they would face a backlash similar to the one Microsoft endured.

Apple also didn’t relegate mouse or trackpad input to second-class status, either. You can fully control most aspects of the iPad, much as you could by touching the screen. There are also easy to use gestures that allow control of most elements of iPadOS. I’ve been impressed with the fluidity of using the cursor and control gestures on an Apple Magic Trackpad so far. It’s a really solid start. What Apple has rolled out still doesn’t feel 100% complete, but it’s a damn good first draft.

In my opinion, the overall direction Apple is going with the iPad Pro is bringing it closer to the Surface’s 2-in-1 territory, especially when it comes to hardware. However, that doesn’t mean these devices overlap yet. It also doesn’t mean that Microsoft has been right all along when it comes to “tablets,” as Mr Warren says.

If you are only looking at the hardware side of the equation, I can see where you might agree with him. However, I also think you’re making the same mistake that Microsoft did in 2012 if you stop there. Software is half the battle and that’s where Apple has been eating Microsoft’s lunch when it comes to mobile and real tablets for years. Microsoft’s original vision software for tablets was flawed and their later response even worse and that’s why the iPad Pro and iPadOS of today ultimately hold little validation for it.


© jhrogersii for iPad Insight, 2020. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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