A senior Microsoft spokesman dismissed the iPad Pro as nothing more than a companion device, contrasting it with the Microsoft Surface when speaking to TrustedReviews.
Dan Laycock, Senior Communications Manager for Microsoft Surface, says that while consumers can get by with a single Surface product, the same can’t be said for Apple’s heftiest tablet.
“Microsoft really wants you to only carry one device for tablet and PC use,” explains Laycock, speaking to us at the Consumer Electronics Show 2016 in Las Vegas. “Whereas the iPad Pro is always going to be a companion device.”
Laycock also said that “at one point in time, Apple declared that if there’s a stylus, that’s failure” – a reference to a quote by Steve Jobs when referring to early smartphones. Apple, of course, argues that the Apple Pencil as an optional accessory for some tasks is very different to a device which cannot easily be used without a stylus.
Benchmark tests last year showed that the Apple Pencil offered lower latency than Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 stylus.
Via Business Insider
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Steve Jobs was largely referring to Windows Mobile (and Palm) when he said how bad styluses were as the primary input device for phones. If Jobs was wrong, why isn’t Microsoft requiring a stylus for Windows Phone?
Considering some “consumers” can get by with just a regular sized iPad, or hell, just a smartphone, thats a bit of a silly comment. The Surface definitely does “more” things in total since it’s a regular PC, and it can also “break” a lot more easily due to the same versatility. Most “consumers” will also have their browser overrun with several layers of unwanted toolbars ;)
nah, you’re just backpedaling.
Think what you want, but quotes taken out of time or context can easily loose their meaning. So on the introduction of the iPhone, when talking about how we are going to control an 3.5 in phone and Steve Jobs said “Who wants a stylus……Yuck!” or even later when he said that if you see a stylus they failed, he was talking about the “need” for a stylus. Not wether a stylus accessary could be beneficial. I don’t think Bill Gates believes that “640K ought to be enough for anybody” ether.
Steve Jobs was both a visionary and a salesman. So there are a number of statements he made because as the old sales adage goes, the best product is the one you have in stock. So till Apple was ready with a killer stylus, or had a smaller iPad or designed a bigger iPhone, none of these were as good as what Apple did have. This is not a lack of vision, it is how you run a successful company. As is changing with the times.
The Surface Pro 4 is for people who know how to use computers well. The iPad Pro, just like any Apple device, is a locked up, watered down version of what a good piece of electronics should be. But hey, most people only use these devices to play simple games, listen to music, and browse the internet anyways.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. But hey, what could I expect from a hater?
Apple’s marketshare in the space either supports your claim that people use these devices just for facebook, or supports your claim that it’s a simplified and elegant UI compared to Windows or OSX and that’s why folks buy them. Or both – take your pick.
The surface pro 4 is an interesting compromise for the current state of computer software and hardware. By making it a windows PC, it can run virtually any of the programs written for windows over the past couple decades and this is a real potential advantage. Now on the down side, this means that software designed for a mouse is now being controlled at times by a finger. And it gives developers an out to not redesign their programs for touch.
On the other hand, iOS requires developers design for a new interface, but the devices and OS were more limited and lead to more simplified programs that could still work well within those constraints. But iPad Pro is the turning point for iOS. Now we have a platform with all the power of a traditional laptop and a better interface to work with multiple applications. So it is game on! Will the traditional desktop software evolve and make the surface the killer choice? Or will all of those millions of iOS/Android programers see this new class of tablet as a way to take their applications to the next level without the legacy crud from the old windows world?
Time will tell, but anyone who says they know what is going to happen is lying and anyone who dismisses the iPad Pro as a toy, is likely to meet the same fate as blackberry and nokia who dismissed the iPhone as a joke.
The Surface Pro 4 is for people who know how to use computers well. The iPad Pro, just like any Apple device, is a locked up, watered down version of what a good piece of electronics should be. But hey, most people use these devices just to just listen to music, play dumb games, and browse the internet anyways.
Suckface 4 Pro is for trolls in their grandmas basement that say Apple computers aren’t for professional use, and to be used as freebies so MS can plaster TV with lame ads and lose more money and market share.
I seem to remember a picture from a couple years after the iPhone was introduced. It was from Korea and it showed people using small sausages as a stylus. Mostly it was to let them keep their gloves on in the winter. But the important point was that was an acceptable stylus in 2007-09 when SJ made the often misquoted statement. They’re much better now.
Breaks easily? I have to assume you haven’t used a recent Surface Pro lately, or the Surface Book for that matter.
I have a SP3 i7 that is used in the office, at home, on construction sites & in construction/engineering & architectural offices throughout the US.
I have a light slim case on it, but aside from that, nothing else. No scratches on the screen, even after a couple of drops & everything works just as intended. It is as robust as any iPad, I would say maybe more so, at least in comparison to my S6+ & Air 2. Honestly, I considered the Pro for about 20 minutes, but it really is just a large iPad Air. There really is nothing special about it other than its size.
Being named “Pro” is indicative of a business device, but it is really not, at least for most business users I interact with. Nowhere near the support or robust business nature of the Surface line.
Stupid Dan Laycock, don’t you need a separate screen to expand your computer’s screen ? iPad is successful as a companion device. which means people won’t have fun playing videos on planes trains cars just for using a fully functional computer. i agree with that some people do just need one device, but for me, it’s not enough. Plus, windows can not sync with my iPhone
Until the iPad Pro has a user accessible file system and comprehensive I/O, Laycock is right. I’ve always had iPhones since the first one and have always loved them. Not so much for the iPad. I still have my iPad 3 and have no intentions of upgrading it. iOS devices are companion devices, ultimately useless without a computer.
I have never connected my iPad to a computer and I have got a ton of work done on it.
The file system model is not a problem it is it’s implementation. For example all apps should support the “open in” functionality. Yet, iBooks for example doesn’t have this, so I can’t open a pdf I have in iBooks in another app without first emailing it to myself! This it stupid!
Even worse Apple needs to put an end to the silly file download restrictions, for example it is not possible to download copies of MP3,MP4,AAC etc from Safari to open in another app. I believe this is in place to prevent people from downloading illegal copies of music and video. However, it also prevents people from downloading legitimate files and makes it harder to get work done. The problem can be circumvented with third party apps or by connecting the device to a computer or in the case of audio files syncing with iCloud Music Library. But these restrictions need to end! People that are determined to make illegal copies will find a way to do it, but making it hard for law abiding people to make legitimate downloads is not cool.
I don’t use my iOS devices for much work due to the inadequacies we both seem to agree upon. I recently did the OTA update to iOS 9.2 which resulted in a nonfunctional iPad. I had to put it into DFU mode and restore it using my Mac. That’s just one factor that makes it a companion device. Audiobooks, videos and certain music files not purchased on iTunes require a computer to install them, another factor that makes it a companion device. iOS requires that an iDevice be associated with a computer in order for it to be fully functional. The lack of simple I/O and a user inaccessible file system relegates iDevices to the class of companion devices.
The limitations of iOS provide it with the protection from malware that we all enjoy but prevents a large amount of versatility. Combining the protection from malware while adding versatility would be quite a boon for Apple should they choose to attempt it.
spot on. the OS is designed for simplicity. It crumbles under stress of heavy multi tasking. The side by side app gimmick introduced first in windows 8 and android isn’t going to replace a proper desktop OS. Let say nothing about the inability to run professional apps designed for mouse/keyboard input and where 2 or 3 displays are needed for proper productivity.
What is the obsession with “proper file system”? I honestly want to know why that must be the only way of doing anything.
iOS has a proper file system, it’s just that we users have no access to it. Wouldn’t you like to see the crap that fills “Other” and “Documents and Data” and possibly clear out a few GB of junk? How about loading files without having to use iTunes? Look at what you do with the filesystem on your home computer and extend that to your iDevice.
So Steve Jobs said that styluses are a failure, and Apple then released one what like 5 years after Jobs made that comment. Companies do this kind of thing all the time. Look at Microsoft, they keep saying that Internet Explorer (Edge, or whatever they call it now) will get better and better; but it never gets better, it still is crap no matter what update or name they give to it!
At least Apple did the stylus right.
If people never changed their minds with new developments, all WINDOWS computers would still have 640KB of memory! :-)
the battery life is not right at all. non starter.
So Steve Jobs signed off on the Apple Pencil from the grave then? Who gives a crap what he said, 5 years ago, he’s not at Apple anymore idiots.
I know I can’t replace my laptop with my iPad pro, but I can say with certainty that in my opinion, the Apple pencil is the best damn stylus ever made in terms of use. Overpriced? Yup, but put it on the screen and write with it and I don’t see how anybody can dispute how excellent it is. As for the iPad, yea, it would great to be able to say I don’t need a laptop for business, but that’s yet true.
Overpriced based on what?
OK, so they dismissed the iPad Pro.
Just like they dismiss everything from Apple.
Well, I have dismissed everything Microsoft.
I don’t use any MS software.
Haven’t bought any in for years.
Other office apps can export documents to my friends still handicapped by MS.
OS-X, Linux, and Applications from other companies do everything I need.
I sure as heck don’t need a ToasterFridge like the Surface.
and yet the #1 request is an ipad that runs OSX apps so it can be ToasterFridge ;)
And a ToasterFridge that won’t work well. Like Surface Pro.
If Apple released an iPad running OS X in emulation with a touch layer, it would make Windows 8 look elegant and smooth by comparison. Apple isn’t going there any time soon. What people want isn’t always what they think they want.
When companies doesn’t ‘ve anything to do or any meaningful thing to do, they focus more on media attention like Miley Cyrus these days
People keep referring to the Steve Jobs quote, but they fail to comprehend that he was referring to a stylus as the PRIMARY method of input.
They know exactly to what he was referring, but chose to ignore.
Typical deceitful MS marketing.
Exactly!!!! And just because a comment is made at one point in time, it does not mean that his feet should be held to the fire. The market changed and Apple answered…with the best damn stylus on the market. As another commenter said, it’s a little overpriced. But once you use it…holy shit. You’ll see why the Apple premium is built into the price. Best stylus I’ve ever used and I’m loving it on my iPad Pro.
There is no one device that serves all needs without some compromise. Each Apple device is tailored with a specific purpose in mind, and is therefore good for some people but not for all. I’d rather have several devices that do their job exceptionally well, then one device that is considered adequate. As an artist I believe the iPad Pro is an exceptional tool for creating digital art. I wouldn’t expect it to replace my laptop.
Well said. I carry a Swiss Army Knife. It has tools that will, in a pinch do a lot of things. but when I need to do real work I pull out my specific tools. Yes you can do a lot of stuff with the Surface. But it won’t be as capable as a full fledged Windows computer, as inexpensive as a minimal tablet, or as optimized as a full fledged phone. Personally, and this is just me, I use specific tools that do their job very well. My Mac is my full computer. My iPad is for on the go writing and drawing. My phone is my super portable device. I don’t want something that tries to be all things for all people and all purposes, and does all of them sub optimally.
Nice try, but Microsoft can’t hide that they NEED to go the PC route with the Surface, because nobody is writing modern Applications for Windows, and their costumers are too dumb and old to move to a new paradigm on computation.
Microsoft, make your OS work properly in the first place. And the mess that Office is. Every time I’m forced to use Office when somewhere (when I’m currently not carrying my notebook), I just get pissed off how non-logical the whole suit is compared to iWork. I thought that you’re mainly software company so you software should shine however, it’s not true.
The whole Surface Pro thing is not for me. It’s not a tablet nor a notebook and it basically doesn’t give you any value. I rather prefer to have two working devices then one not working device.
I am “forced” to use a Surface Pro 3 for work. F**king can’t stand it…especially since I used to have a Retina MacBook Pro 15 running a virtual machine that was a lot faster. What gets me the most is how often Word and Excel hang up and freeze for me. So a Microsoft application running on a Microsoft operating system on a Microsoft tablet gets f**ked up literally every single day. It all comes back to one of Apple’s tag lines: it just works. And when you come from something that “just works” like my Mac did to something that forces a shutdown literally every single day, it’s VERY frustrating. I’ll never buy a Microsoft product EVER.
Well spot on. At a mere 4GB of RAM and a mediocre storage allocation with the lack of peripheral support for both input and output due the lack of ports, on top of total lack of professional app support from the big productivity suites, there is nothing an ipad pro can replace when it comes to a PC, Mac, or Linux. It may replace a standard ipad but that is about it. And as seen from all the people hauling a PC+tablet companion, the pro is just a bigger companion.
“A mere 4GB of RAM.” No amount of RAM will satisfy the self-proclaimed “people who know how to use their computer.” The Surface Pro must have more. Except it doesn’t for the base model.
I don’t understand people like you. Ports? Really? Apple is traditionally a few years ahead of the curve when it does something brand new, and the dislike of ports is one aspect of that. We live in a Bluetooth and Wifi age. What do you need ports for? Not to mention that the Lightning connector is a data port as well, any peripheral company can make any accessory so it plugs in. And before you go ranting about licensing fees and how it’s not universal… Look at the companies that make MFi products… They do just fine because Apple customers aren’t afraid of spending money.
Oh, and the pro introduced that new magnetic data connector that can be used for numerous things going forth.
As for “professional app support” I have no clue what you’re talking about there. You can use MS Work, Google Docs, iWork, Adobe apps, Autodesk apps, and tons more that are beyond my scope of awareness. If you don’t like the apps themselves, blame the companies that make them, not the hardware. Apple has been great at improving the capabilities of iOS and its hardware every year. These apps MIGHT be limited in some ways, but they ave room to grow every year. The great thing is that they have to be custom built and OPTIMIZED for the system. I had a home built pc years ago that struggled with Photoshop, and it had a whopping 16 gigs of RAM. With Windows there is no system optimization, and the specs are all over the place.
But I agree, it is a companion piece, because that’s Apple’s business model. It’s not about functionality or usability, it’s about Apple selling you one of everything they make.
Okay Microsoft, welcome to the world of HARDWARE, let’s look at this from a business perspective.
All EVERYONE needs is a Surface, right? It replaces all laptops, and all desktops, right?
Way to shoot yourself in the foot, MS. Remember the good old days when everyone had a home pc, a laptop, a work pc… Sometimes even multiples of any/all of those? Now kiss those good old days goodbye, because you just made everything redundant. Oh! And you’re doing free Windows upgrades too! I hope those Office subscriptions are working out, because you’re killing your bottom line everywhere else.
Apple meanwhile is going something like this… You gotta an iPhone, and for those times when it is just too cumbersome, get an Apple Watch! When you need a screen larger than a phone, but still comfortable to hold, have an iPad, mini or regular size, or new Pro, your choice! The Pro is excellent for anything that traditioanlly requires a paper pad and a pencil. But of course there are times when you need a bit more screen and a real keyboard, so we make the best laptops on earth. You can choose from MacBooks, MacBook Airs, and MacBook Pro’s based on what you use it for. Still not enough screen? Grab a stunningly beautiful 27″ iMac 5K!
ALL APPLE PRODUCTS ARE COMPANION PRODUCTS! Because Apple is a hardware company. They profit by selling units. They want everyone to own one of everything they make… Not just one of one thing they make.
This is why Apple will dominate you when it comes to financials, Microsoft.
Senior Communications Manager for Microsoft Surface
Sure the Senior Communciations Manager for Microsoft Zune didn’t think much of the iPod either.
Meanwhile Apple will make billions from iPad Pro while Microsoft dumps millions by giving free Surface Pro’s to the NFL so they can plaster their commercials all over the place to have their inventory collect dust.
I can tell you I have both and the iPad Pro is better than Windows 10 by a long shot … I have been a Windows user most of my life and I’m about to switch over my desktop to the iPad. Why? Because Windows 10 has so many bugs I can’t take it anymore. And almost none of the Windows 10 apps work properly. Windows 10 mail app did not retrieve my mail and lost some emails, Edge would not save favorites, and the list goes on. There is Apple support but try getting hold of Microsoft… good luck.
The key words in Dan Laycock’s comments are “get by”. “consumers can get by with a single Surface product”. Yes, that’s great for some people. However, many people prefer to do more than “get by” with their choice of tools. As others have mentioned below, one could “get by” with a Swiss Army knife instead of other dedicated tools. Yet, these dedicated tools serve their purpose and are optimized in ways that at generic toaster/fridge can only pretend to imagine.
idiots.
When steve said that, he meant that we did not need a pen for interacting with a touch screen.
Like I always say, the surface is not a perfect laptop or tablet.
Its just that, a hybrid.
MS, please don’t lie to people.
You also have a reputation for violating users privacy, one of the reasons I did not upgrade to w10.
The touch layer of windows is a piece of shit also.
So, don’t go saying shit about the iPad pro, because in reality, you are no better.
TL;DR, no iPad or surface is perfect.
While Surface is a really nice 2-in-1 laptop, the reality is that very very few people use it as a tablet (even at Microsoft!). The only time I’ve ever seen folks use it like this is to scroll pages. That is it! The Surface Pen is a nice novelty for a while, but after a month, you never see them out again in the workplace. But we all know that Marketing is all about spin and nothing about reality.
I agree. I use a Surface Pro 3 for work. I was given the Surface, docking station and stylus. Well, the docking station has shit the bed literally 3 times. Just won’t power on so my monitor, USB connections, etc. don’t work. Those pieces of junk are $200 each!! And the stylus? Never used it. Hell, I don’t even use it in tablet mode AT ALL. With the Windows OS on it, it doesn’t “feel” like a tablet so I don’t use it like a tablet. Every once in a while I’ll nick the screen with my finger and it scrolls the page but that’s about it. The Surface is not a 2-in-1 for most people…I think for 90% or more people, it’s a mobile laptop and that’s it. I’d never buy one for myself.
Finally, the thing that REALLY irritates me is how buggy everything is. It randomly won’t start up and I spend 20 minutes trying to force restarts. Excel and Word hang constantly for me. Then I have to force close them and turn off plugins to get it to open up. So on the Microsoft OS, trying to open a Microsoft app like Word or Excel, it takes 20-25 seconds. Seriously????? This is why I’m a Mac user at home. Apple makes the hardware and software and the apps “just work”. My life with the Surface? FRUSTRATING.