4 ms·

Microsoft's problem has never been their hardware. You can argue their Surface and Surface pro line up is far far a better feat of engineering (stuffing a full

by neya 2y ago

Microsoft's problem has never been their hardware. You can argue their Surface and Surface pro line up is far far a better feat of engineering (stuffing a full blown desktop grade processor into a mobile tablet) than any iPad Pro. However, their achilles heel has always been their software. Though Windows has improved a lot over the years, its shitty data collection and privacy practices and changing around of UI elements randomly, unpredictable updates that may kill entire industries and bring the world to a halt [1] are actually what is stopping people from adopting their hardware in my experience. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_CrowdStrike-related_IT_outages https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_CrowdStrike-related_IT_ou...

mhh__ 2y ago
That desktop grade processor is probably basically a pup compared to a modern Apple silicon processor. M4 / similar vs some poor Intel chip throttling at 2GHz?
philwelch 2y ago
> You can argue their Surface and Surface pro line up is far far a better feat of engineering (stuffing a full blown desktop grade processor into a mobile tablet) than any iPad Pro. Can you clarify this point? iPad Pro has an M4 processor, just like Mac desktops do.
- sleepybrett 2y ago
  imo ipad is held back by it's OS. Until they make significant changes it's a one app at a time box to keep you kid busy w/ movies or roblox. The multi app features they have added feel like a straight jacket. I'd like an option for a real pro ipad running macos instead of ios.
  - philwelch 2y ago
    Sure, but that’s beside the point; I’m addressing the “full blown desktop processor” claim. If you want a macOS device that runs the same M4 processor that’s in an iPad Pro, it looks like your options include virtually every macOS device.
bmitc 2y ago
[flagged]
- cosmic_cheese 2y ago
  I believe that this is a much more subjective thing than it’s often presented as. macOS is where all of my work gets done. I can make Linux work if I have to with enough beating and banging (not the smoothest process), but I would go mad if I had to be productive under Windows. It’s why on my machines Windows is relegated purely to game duty.
  - bmitc 2y ago
    I have used and use all three. I find Windows, despite annoyances and annoying trends particularly with their "Apple-fication" of the Control Panel, still to get out of the way the most. macOS can't even adjust volume or brightness of non-Apple monitors, which is an intentional move by Apple. macOS is absolutely full of arbitrary limitations and hidden things. Windows is much better for hardware interaction.
    - cosmic_cheese 2y ago
      To me things like third party monitor control are easily fixed[0] papercuts compared to things like the inadequacies in Windows’ virtual desktop implementation (e.g. can’t switch desktops independently per monitor). [0]: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl
- dymk 2y ago
  I can recall once or twice where an application broke in my decade of having Apple products. The hyperbole isn’t needed.
  - bmitc 2y ago
    Then you don't use audio products.
- 2y ago
f4stjack 2y ago
With W11, they seem to really gung-ho about creating that achilles heel. As for myself I am tired from having an unstable OS on my devices which may or may not bork without any intervention from me. Thanks to this (and Steam Deck for a great deal) I jumped to Mac and not regretting it. The system boots in seconds, has great eyecandy and just works for me. My work pc uses Windows and its taskbar behaves weirdly, right now, and its quarter shows the desktop image. Update breaks the soundcard and I will need to install it again. Oh and I see another update queued in - which may or may not be a false alarm. I am not sure which was the most stable one, Windows 7 or 10. But 11 is a mess and nobody dares to admit it because sunk-cost fallacy and with the invention of recall it will act as a data collection agency for AI - as far as I followed the discussion.
buzzerbetrayed 2y ago
How does an iPad Pro not have a “desktop grade processor”? It literally has the processor that Apple puts in their desktops.
kernal 2y ago
> Microsoft's problem has never been their hardware. The Xbox 360 says hi.
ksec 2y ago
I am glad many on HN starting to show and appreciate Surface the Hardware. It was perhaps the most important thing in the PC industry where M$ push the envelop on Hardware design and parts where other OEMs get to benefits some of those R&D. And yet they are let down by their own software which should have been their bread and butter. Considering they no longer rely on Windows as a major source of revenue but more as a market moat. They should have simply asked how do you make Windows the best operating system.

by neya 2y ago

mhh__ 2y ago

That desktop grade processor is probably basically a pup compared to a modern Apple silicon processor. M4 / similar vs some poor Intel chip throttling at 2GHz?

philwelch 2y ago

> You can argue their Surface and Surface pro line up is far far a better feat of engineering (stuffing a full blown desktop grade processor into a mobile tablet) than any iPad Pro. Can you clarify this point? iPad Pro has an M4 processor, just like Mac desktops do.

sleepybrett 2y ago
imo ipad is held back by it's OS. Until they make significant changes it's a one app at a time box to keep you kid busy w/ movies or roblox. The multi app features they have added feel like a straight jacket. I'd like an option for a real pro ipad running macos instead of ios.
- philwelch 2y ago
  Sure, but that’s beside the point; I’m addressing the “full blown desktop processor” claim. If you want a macOS device that runs the same M4 processor that’s in an iPad Pro, it looks like your options include virtually every macOS device.

bmitc 2y ago

[flagged]

cosmic_cheese 2y ago
I believe that this is a much more subjective thing than it’s often presented as. macOS is where all of my work gets done. I can make Linux work if I have to with enough beating and banging (not the smoothest process), but I would go mad if I had to be productive under Windows. It’s why on my machines Windows is relegated purely to game duty.
- bmitc 2y ago
  I have used and use all three. I find Windows, despite annoyances and annoying trends particularly with their "Apple-fication" of the Control Panel, still to get out of the way the most. macOS can't even adjust volume or brightness of non-Apple monitors, which is an intentional move by Apple. macOS is absolutely full of arbitrary limitations and hidden things. Windows is much better for hardware interaction.
  - cosmic_cheese 2y ago
    To me things like third party monitor control are easily fixed[0] papercuts compared to things like the inadequacies in Windows’ virtual desktop implementation (e.g. can’t switch desktops independently per monitor). [0]: https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl
dymk 2y ago
I can recall once or twice where an application broke in my decade of having Apple products. The hyperbole isn’t needed.
- bmitc 2y ago
  Then you don't use audio products.
2y ago

f4stjack 2y ago

With W11, they seem to really gung-ho about creating that achilles heel. As for myself I am tired from having an unstable OS on my devices which may or may not bork without any intervention from me. Thanks to this (and Steam Deck for a great deal) I jumped to Mac and not regretting it. The system boots in seconds, has great eyecandy and just works for me. My work pc uses Windows and its taskbar behaves weirdly, right now, and its quarter shows the desktop image. Update breaks the soundcard and I will need to install it again. Oh and I see another update queued in - which may or may not be a false alarm. I am not sure which was the most stable one, Windows 7 or 10. But 11 is a mess and nobody dares to admit it because sunk-cost fallacy and with the invention of recall it will act as a data collection agency for AI - as far as I followed the discussion.

buzzerbetrayed 2y ago

How does an iPad Pro not have a “desktop grade processor”? It literally has the processor that Apple puts in their desktops.

kernal 2y ago

> Microsoft's problem has never been their hardware. The Xbox 360 says hi.

ksec 2y ago

I am glad many on HN starting to show and appreciate Surface the Hardware. It was perhaps the most important thing in the PC industry where M$ push the envelop on Hardware design and parts where other OEMs get to benefits some of those R&D. And yet they are let down by their own software which should have been their bread and butter. Considering they no longer rely on Windows as a major source of revenue but more as a market moat. They should have simply asked how do you make Windows the best operating system.