5 ms·

The surface pro can do everything, but for most things the tablet mode experience is somewhere between dismal and unusable. The ipad pro can't do a handful of t

The surface pro can do everything, but for most things the tablet mode experience is somewhere between dismal and unusable. The ipad pro can't do a handful of tasks, but for everything else the experience is excellent in both tablet and laptop mode. Those things the ipad can't do are largely niche (now that working with files is well supported), and are solvable limitations. The software problem on the surface pro is pervasive and unsolvable. They've done their best, but you can't make every piece of software written for Windows suddenly not require the precision of a mouse or suddenly support navigational gestures. I had a surface book 2, but got rid of it in favor of an ipad pro after using one for a while. I have a desktop that I use for gaming, but I would have that either way for the sheer power of it. The only thing that the ipad can't do well that I'd use it for is programming. This is not a dealbreaker for me, as I don't like programming on the go anyway, and if I really needed to then I can remote into a desktop to do it.

deegles 7y ago
> Those things the ipad can't do are largely niche Software development doesn't feel niche to me. It feels like it should be possible to publish a usable, high quality iPad app using nothing but an iPad.
- dhosek 7y ago
  When you're in the niche, it's hard to see out. I'm old enough to remember encountering the first computer magazine that didn't feature program listings (SoftTalk) and thinking who would want this thing? Programming is very much a niche activity (although I imagine that it's more a question of when rather than if that we'll see some sort of XCode for iOS).
  - ryukafalz 7y ago
    My take on this is that programming may be niche now, but it shouldn't be. Simple scripting is useful and lets you easily perform tasks that would otherwise be repetitive. I'm not saying everyone should be able to build a large application, but you shouldn't be stopped from building things on it, otherwise how will you even get started? Computers that stop you from inspecting them and learning how they work build a moat between the users and developers of the system. That's the opposite of what I think we should be encouraging.
    - mrpippy 7y ago
      Shortcuts.app allows simple scripting on iOS and is free from Apple. Pythonista is also on iOS.
    - pjmlp 7y ago
      iOS already has plenty of basic programming apps for Python, C#, F#, Scheme, and naturally Swift.
  - manquer 7y ago
    Well programming is a less of niche than studio quality mic and recording they are promoting don’t you think?
_mghw 7y ago
You had a desktop computer, which makes life much easier for you. As someone who was (and will soon be again) in the market for my one and only computer, the iPad is a non-starter. It's SO limited. * Software development, with the best will in the world, isn't really possible on it. * No quick ways to open up multiple windows, alt-tab between them, snap them side by side etc. * No mouse support (Admittedly, I tried them a while back, but by all accounts, the mouse support until this update was still bolted on). * Shitty af file system (Admittedly another thing that is moving in the right direction). * Woeful stand. The previous folio was a joke, especially at it's price. It was unstable, lacked a trackpad, and personally, I hated the typing feel. It was all rather disappointing, because I was so tempted by it. A sub-1 kg setup that one could pack in one's bag and forget, with a proper aspect ratio, with touch support, with great battery life, with the Apple quality etc. Could've been great, but isn't there yet.

deegles 7y ago

> Those things the ipad can't do are largely niche Software development doesn't feel niche to me. It feels like it should be possible to publish a usable, high quality iPad app using nothing but an iPad.

dhosek 7y ago
When you're in the niche, it's hard to see out. I'm old enough to remember encountering the first computer magazine that didn't feature program listings (SoftTalk) and thinking who would want this thing? Programming is very much a niche activity (although I imagine that it's more a question of when rather than if that we'll see some sort of XCode for iOS).
- ryukafalz 7y ago
  My take on this is that programming may be niche now, but it shouldn't be. Simple scripting is useful and lets you easily perform tasks that would otherwise be repetitive. I'm not saying everyone should be able to build a large application, but you shouldn't be stopped from building things on it, otherwise how will you even get started? Computers that stop you from inspecting them and learning how they work build a moat between the users and developers of the system. That's the opposite of what I think we should be encouraging.
  - mrpippy 7y ago
    Shortcuts.app allows simple scripting on iOS and is free from Apple. Pythonista is also on iOS.
  - pjmlp 7y ago
    iOS already has plenty of basic programming apps for Python, C#, F#, Scheme, and naturally Swift.
- manquer 7y ago
  Well programming is a less of niche than studio quality mic and recording they are promoting don’t you think?

_mghw 7y ago

You had a desktop computer, which makes life much easier for you. As someone who was (and will soon be again) in the market for my one and only computer, the iPad is a non-starter. It's SO limited. * Software development, with the best will in the world, isn't really possible on it. * No quick ways to open up multiple windows, alt-tab between them, snap them side by side etc. * No mouse support (Admittedly, I tried them a while back, but by all accounts, the mouse support until this update was still bolted on). * Shitty af file system (Admittedly another thing that is moving in the right direction). * Woeful stand. The previous folio was a joke, especially at it's price. It was unstable, lacked a trackpad, and personally, I hated the typing feel. It was all rather disappointing, because I was so tempted by it. A sub-1 kg setup that one could pack in one's bag and forget, with a proper aspect ratio, with touch support, with great battery life, with the Apple quality etc. Could've been great, but isn't there yet.