Surface Pro 5 or iPad?

[ZeroPlasm]

Hi guys. Recently, I found myself really in need of a tablet. Right now I am using an Asus UX305 and while I am very happy using it, there are some use cases where a tablet would really fit in better. 

 

I play live music so it would be nice to have a tablet be my song sheet, I also really like the idea of using a stylus to take notes on it, and also I can whip out a tablet on a commute or at the workplace and easily chuck it away when I am done with it. 

 

So right now I have 2 main choices.

 

First is to keep my UX305 and buy a $600 iPad (non pro) or sell my UX305 and get a $1700 Surface Pro 5.

 

How does the Surface perform as a tablet? While all the reviews say that it is very good as a laptop replacement, none of them says how good it is as a tablet. The thing I'm worried about with the Surface s the keyboard, unlike the Yoga series from Lenovo, the keyboard doesn't disable itself when its flipped to the back. Does turning on tablet mode in Windows 10 disable the keyboard? Seems kinda weird having to detach the keyboard and put it away somewhere whenever I want to use it as a tablet. 

 

iOS 11 really made me consider getting an iPad. With the new multitasking options and the files app, it offers a lot more utility than just being a multimedia slate. Honestly, the laptop + ipad combo really makes sense at this stage considering how expensive the Surface Pro is. But the idea of carrying around two machines in my bag kind of bugs me. I'm also not a fan of the Surface Pro not having thunderbolt. 

 

Maybe I should just wait a year for the new new surface pro? What do you guys think?

[Zando_]

Get an iPad (Pro if you can, I've got a 12.9" one and it's awesome), since they're super handy, light, and can do most of what a laptop can do. You may be able to leave the laptop at home, depending on what you need to do for work. And gaming on the iPad is awesome!

[Mira Yurizaki]

If you're considering a Surface Pro, then you should definitely consider the iPad Pro since it'll still be cheaper even with a keyboard accessory (should you really need it).

 

Otherwise the regular iPad is like $300-$400 now.

[Septimus]

I'm going to say get a Surface because it will suit you better for when you want to use it as a laptop, and because I would rather not have Apple sell more overpriced iPads lol - I think it makes a great 2-in-1. The keyboard should disable when you flip it back, if not, open the "action center" and just tap the "tablet mode" button. 

[ZeroPlasm]

The iPad Pro 10.5 (256GB) (No pen/KB) over here is 1118 SGD

Surface Pro 4 (i5, 256GB, 8GB) with Keyboard here is 1567 SGD

 

Surface Pro 5 isn't released here yet, I expect it to be around 1.8k SGD? So if I were to get the iPad, the Pro variant is pretty hard to justify. The 120hz screen, 4 speakers and much faster processor might convince me somehow though. 

 

So the Surface keyboard disables when you flip it backwards? 

[AncientNerd]

11 minutes ago, ZeroPlasm said:

The iPad Pro 10.5 (256GB) (No pen/KB) over here is 1118 SGD

Surface Pro 4 (i5, 256GB, 8GB) with Keyboard here is 1567 SGD

 

Surface Pro 5 isn't released here yet, I expect it to be around 1.8k SGD? So if I were to get the iPad, the Pro variant is pretty hard to justify. The 120hz screen, 4 speakers and much faster processor might convince me somehow though. 

 

So the Surface keyboard disables when you flip it backwards? 

No, the Surface keyboard detaches when you want to use it as a tablet. Basically SP4 is a tablet that has a nice attachable keyboard rather than a flip keyboard laptop.

 

I personally like the Surface better, I have been seriously considering one of the lower end models to replace my android tablet when it dies - fairly soon since it is over 3 years old now and starting to show its age. 

[DrMacintosh]

I would get the 10.5" iPad Pro, a keyboard case (from either Logitech or Apple themselves), and an Apple Pencil. 

 

The Surface is a great product but because its a PC its incapable of being as reliable as an iPad and you'll also have to deal with Windows 10 BS on your mobile device which is just cancer. 

[AncientNerd]

3 hours ago, DrMacintosh said:

I would get the 10.5" iPad Pro, a keyboard case (from either Logitech or Apple themselves), and an Apple Pencil. 

 

The Surface is a great product but because its a PC its incapable of being as reliable as an iPad and you'll also have to deal with Windows 10 BS on your mobile device which is just cancer. 

I respectfully disagree as I would say the opposite - get the Surface Pro to avoid the Apple BS on your mobile device . I happen to really like Windows 10, and really dislike Apple's OS. So it's really a matter of opinion. 

[DrMacintosh]

1 hour ago, AncientNerd said:

I happen to really like Windows 10, and really dislike Apple's OS. So it's really a matter of opinion. 

Forced updates, possibility of viruses, heavy reliance on a keyboard, coupled with the instability of Windows 

 

Its not an opinion, iOS is infinitely more stable than Windows 10, which is the most important thing for a mobile device above all else. 

[DrMacintosh]

1 hour ago, AncientNerd said:

Apple BS on your mobile device 

Like what? 

[Pendragon]

5 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

infinitely more stable 

Uhhh, I mean if ur decent and coding and programming everything is stable. And Windows has solutions everywhere. Macs have more fundamental problems that require firmware tweaks like "wtf is ur fan curve apple"

 

The Apple bs he implies that lockdown nature of iOS. It's pretty cancer, but I would agree with u win 10 for a mobile device is even more cancer. Android all the way. 

 

@ZeroPlasm

No one should ever do win 10 for mobile. It's like fucking urself. 

 

IPads are pretty great. They r the one apple device above and beyond its competitors. 

 

Whether u need the pro version depends what you plan to do. 

[DrMacintosh]

8 minutes ago, Pendragon said:

Whether u need the pro version depends what you plan to do.

The iPad: Standard play a few games, watch YouTube, check email, and etc. 

Vs.

The iPad Pro: I need a keyboard, stylus (Apple Pencil), and want that 120Hz display and have a use case that can use the A10X SoC and 4GB of RAM such as heavy Multitasking and video/photo editing. 

 

But yeah, the best "competing" (ha) Android Tablet is a joke in comparison. 

[ZeroPlasm]

To be honest if we are just talking about tablets here I would say the iPad does have the best eco-system. While the lock down thing is true to a certain extent, I mostly use cloud services to get by and it works wonders. With apps like Transmit and VLC for iOS, I barely feel locked down at all. If we are talking about phones, I would say Android is better, but Apple really does know how to make a good tablet.

 

Either way, all I need the tablet for is watching videos, music sheet and being my notepad. Everything else is going to be done with a laptop (or laptop mode if I go surface). Would an iPad + laptop still be better than a Surface? 

[ZeroPlasm]

Thing is. The Surface Pro 2017 has this backlight issue. Should I just save a couple of bucks and go with the Pro 4 instead?

[Pendragon]

2 hours ago, ZeroPlasm said:

Either way, all I need the tablet for is watching videos, music sheet and being my notepad. Everything else is going to be done with a laptop (or laptop mode if I go surface). Would an iPad + laptop still be better than a Surface? 

if that's all you need, grab the new standard ipad. that's all you need. and it'll be a far better experience. ipad is the only active apple product that ive kept consistently for entertainment throughout the years because it's legit just a good entertainment device. 

[ZeroPlasm]

Alright I'll take the advice to go for an ipad then. The surface pro 5 isn't even here in Singapore yet and it has some backlight bleed issues. 

 

Pro or just normal? The screen is such a huge boon though.

[AncientNerd]

14 hours ago, DrMacintosh said:

Like what? 

Locked down ecosystem, restricted environment, odd non-standard "standards", (I would say high price, but compared to the Surface line its actually reasonable price). 

 

Honestly my interaction with Apple products has been helping my relatives with issues on their iPhones and iPads so I am a bit biased, but I have been using Unix like OS's and Windows long enough that the quirks seem natural in Android and Win10 so they don't bother me. 

[Pendragon]

6 hours ago, ZeroPlasm said:

normal

Normal. U need exactly 0 features on the pro. 

[ZeroPlasm]

Well I just tried them briefly at the store and I might just gun for the Pro. I want to take handwritten notes on it and the Pro is the only one that supports this. The screen on the new iPad Pro is also pretty amazing. Also, with iOS 11 coming, I don't think the A9 chip can keep up with all the multitasking that can go on. The pencil is pretty expensive though. Are there any good alternatives?

[DrMacintosh]

4 hours ago, ZeroPlasm said:

I don't think the A9 chip can keep up with all the multitasking that can go on

The A9 is more than capable of multitasking. iPads with the A8 and higher will receive the multitasking features but yeah the new Pro would be able to handle it better. 

[TubsAlwaysWins]

Save for the iPad pro. I have the 12.9" and it's great 

 

[Zando_]

21 hours ago, DrMacintosh said:

The iPad Pro: I need a keyboard, stylus (Apple Pencil), and want that 120Hz display and have a use case that can use the A10X SoC and 4GB of RAM such as heavy Multitasking and video/photo editing. 

Or I need it to have moar better graphics and sounds in Asphalt Extreme and Real Racing 3.... 

[Zando_]

3 minutes ago, TubsAlwaysWins said:

Save for the iPad pro. I have the 12.9" and it's great 

 

Yup! Defo get a keyboard though (I don't have one, and typing on the screen to do office stuff puts your wrists at a weird angle). It's insanely powerful, and the screen and speakers are awesome. It also feels super light and awesome in your hand. And I've got a 1st gen, so the 2nd gen is even better. 

[TubsAlwaysWins]

1 hour ago, DrMacintosh said:

The A9 is more than capable of multitasking. iPads with the A8 and higher will receive the multitasking features but yeah the new Pro would be able to handle it better. 

Or he could get the A10X and have kick ass multitasking 

[TubsAlwaysWins]

1 minute ago, Zando Bob said:

Yup! Defo get a keyboard though (I don't have one, and typing on the screen to do office stuff puts your wrists at a weird angle). It's insanely powerful, and the screen and speakers are awesome. It also feels super light and awesome in your hand. And I've got a 1st gen, so the 2nd gen is even better. 

I got mine a week ago. So I have the newest.

 

I'm getting razers mechanical keyboard for mine