I use my iPad Pro as my main laptop on a daily basis. It’s portable, forces me to focus on one or two windows at a time, has exception[al] battery life, and is a device I thoroughly enjoy working on. But when Microsoft announced the Surface Pro X, I was intrigued. The Windows 10-powered tablet that uses a custom ARM processor is a direct competitor to the iPad Pro…
However, 8GB of memory meant that tabs in Chrome frequently had to reload whenever I was multitasking. And despite apps like 1Password or iTunes installing and appearing to be compatible with the Surface Pro X, I found them to be incredibly slow and borderline unusable… Not all was lost during my time with the Surface Pro X, however. It opened my eyes to some shortfalls Apple should address with the new iPad Pro, a device we should see at some point in 2020.
• It’s time for the iPad to get a trackpad
• A backlit keyboard [and more ergonomic, too]
• A better way to prop up the display [more viewing angles]
• Another USB-C port or two
MacDailyNews Take: What Jason wants, Apple already sells. It’s called a MacBook Air. So, here’s yet another fine example of what we wrote about back in 2017:
We find that there are many older users longing to make iPad work like a laptop, because that’s what they know.
Take a look at a twelve-year-old who’s only really ever used an iPad for personal computing. It’s an eyeopener. It’s like looking into the future.
The answer isn’t to try to make the iPad into a MacBook. The answer is to provide all the tools possible in iOS for developers to make robust apps that can take advantage of the multi-touch paradigm. — MacDailyNews, May 16, 2017
Happy New Year.
Only being half sarcastic…
“What Jason wants, Apple already sells. It’s called a MacBook Air. ”
I see MDN is remaining loyal to the Jobs tradition… telling people what they should want. How’ out…. nooooo!
applecynic keeps telling us all what we want and how we should think. Hypocrite!
Like what? What did I say you should want?
There are some advantages with the Surface. First I’d like a 13 to 15 inch tablet. Next I’d like a full screen on my external monitor instead of the box with giant black spaces on the side.
Microsoft touts a full blown Windows 10 experience, but it is not. In many ways, Windows 10 works very similarly to iOS on the Surface Pro X. Multitasking is very similar.
The X is a stupid idea. Get an iPad.
Telling us what to do again? Nooo…
There, yes, I did. And I actually criticized an MS product this time.
But I can also get specific and tell you what you can do, but I’ll leave that to your already vivid imagination.
You might get taller!
Yeah and you might grow a brain.
I hear they water you twice a day to maintain yours.
The Surface looks and operates like it belongs inside a geek’s bench drawer.
I kinda like the Galaxy Tab S6, and consider it a better iPad competitor than the Surface X, but ultimately iPad is the way to go.
I have the S6. Finally an Android tablet that doesn’t suck.
The tablet doesn’t suck, but I do!
I didn’t respond to this one with a smarmy comment because my comment above was already smarmy – and correct.
Also my name – stuuupid as it is – tells you I’m no fan of Apple and that I highly suggest you do not use their products.
See, I love telling YOU what to DO because I can’t help but put MY nose into YOUR biznarse.
Damn you’re weird! And a biznarse sniffing brownose like you should be careful, I may be gassy.
Well everyone can see I’m a paranoid schizo that likes talking To myself. Apologies to all, my secret is that I am bipolar; that is why I hate Apple so much and why I am so cynical all the time. I would shove my nose up my backside if I could, but I just talk about it – I’m weird like that. You’ve seen my weird behavior for years, so no surprises to anyone.
MDN, FCOL stop. You suggest a Mac book is the answer when all that is really asked for that doesn’t exist is proper track pad support so pros can be more efficient.
The other items:
– backlit keyboard. Many keyboards already exist including Apple’s own. Making a backlit one is a no brainer.
– multi angle prop up. The $10 adjustable Amazon stand I am using as I type this is perfect. I love it. The aforementioned keyboard would have to be wireless of course. Personally I would think a separate keyboard is preferable to one that’s attached via smart connector (for freedom of placement) but I can’t speak from experience. Alternatively someone could make a keyboard with adjustable angle for the iPad itself.
– more USC c ports. Get a hub. One is enough for most, a hub is a great option for those who really need it.
Seems MND thinks we’re all made of money so we can afford iPad pros and Mac book pros when we only want iPad Pros.
MND? Mac News Daily? Mostly Nuclear Detonations? Meapons of Nass Destruction! Mutants Newly Deformed? Metastasal Nasal Droids?