5 ms·

Microsoft Bashes Apple's iWork Software, New iPads

11 points by adidash 13y ago

hyperbovine 13y ago
"A single, simple, affordable device that helps you both lean in and kick back." I feel like Mitt Romney is trying to sell me a Surface. Binders full of applications!
- yaeger 13y ago
  "It takes an understanding of how people actually work" A bit heavy handed seeing as how they messed up the entire UI on the desktop, basically giving the finger to the enterprise users. "Oh, you want to work productively on your desktop machine? Here, Enjoy some non optional Metro Tiles that slap you in the face every time you try to navigate around the OS."
  - JimmaDaRustla 13y ago
    Nailed it. Everyone ponders Windows 8. I keep repeating - they've taken away the elements which allow our mind to flow between applications as we WORK. Full screen apps create a disconnection in my mind from the rest of the state of my desktop. Edit: This really isn't relative to the context of the article, but rather the UI of Windows 8.
z3niMAGiNE 13y ago
In case anyone was wondering: iPads aren't desktop computers and Office is more powerful than iWork. The rhetoric is reminiscent of the old Detroit.
- phaus 13y ago
  You're correct, but the iPad should be sufficiently powerful enough to run a proper office suite. Pages is good enough for my purposes(writing papers for college), but the other apps have a long way to go.
phaus 13y ago
Before I start, let me say that I love the idea of a surface, and that the only reason I have an iPad instead of a surface is because I couldn't warrant spending $900 bucks on a secondary device at the moment. Both are great devices, but if I had the money, I'd probably get a Surface Pro 2. >That’s what Surface is. A single, simple, affordable device that helps you both lean in and kick back. Let’s be clear – helping folks kill time on a tablet is relatively easy. Give them books, music, videos and games, and they’ll figure out the rest. Pretty much all tablets do that. The problem with this statement is that its not relatively easy. I've owned seven Android phones (starting with the G1), an Android tablet, an Asus EEE Slate, and two iPads. When it comes to a streamlined system for delivering entertainment, the iPad provides a superior experience to all of them. >The Surface and Surface 2 are less expensive than the iPad 2 and iPad Air respectively, and yet offer more storage, both onboard and in the cloud. I never understood why people say things that they know are disingenuous at the time they make the statement. Yes, its technically correct to say that the Surface Pro 2 is cheaper than a 128GB iPad, but Frank knows very well that the 16GB model is by far the most popular. >The good news is that Microsoft understands how people work better than anyone else on the planet. I think office is better than any of its competitors, but if Microsoft understands how people work better than anybody, why did we get an overpriced, gimmicky keyboard cover instead of something that can be used without a desk?
- fekberg 13y ago
  Considering what you can actually do with the different devices, I think the prices are a good selling point. I had an iPad before but after I got my Surface (both RT and Pro) I found myself using the tablet for more stuff and I found myself having it with me much more and enjoying it. I've used Surface Pro for work (Visual Studio, Office) and it's been working good. Regarding the keyboard and not having a desk, with Surface 2 it is supposedly better as you have one more angle with the kickstand. I love the TypeCover when I am by a desk, never really found TouchCover that enjoyable to write on. Here's some of the prices: Surface 2 with 32GB is $449 Surface 2 with 64GB is $549 Surface 2 pro with 64GB is $899 Surface 2 pro with 128GB is $999 Surface 2 pro with 256GB is $1,299 Surface 2 pro with 512GB is $1,799 iPad 2 with 16GB is $399 iPad Air with 16GB is $499 iPad Air with 32GB is $599 iPad Air with 64GB is $699 iPad Air with 128GB is $799
DigitalSea 13y ago
I will have to side with Microsoft here, everything said is in-fact true. The Surface from a technical perspective trumps the iPad, it's effectively a true computer (USB ports, storage options) inside of a tablet form. In all honesty, it was never Apple that was focused, it was Steve Jobs. When Jobs was at the helm, he did things differently to everyone else and it was this different approach that got Apple to where it is now. The legacy that Steve Jobs created is being carried on, albeit rather loosely. It's obvious Apple are losing their way very slowly, we can't forget that the iPad and iPhone were both masterminded by Jobs and Johnny. I mean seriously, the iPad Air? It has nothing to gloat about except being lighter, but was the iPad ever that heavy to warrant being lighter? It already weighed less than some books can way. Microsoft don't get enough credit, they've done a lot of things wrong, but I think the Surface is a solid device that doesn't get enough attention. The price point was definitely wrong, if you want to rival Apple you have to undercut them in the market. Most people don't buy Apple devices because of technical specs, they buy them because of the large library of applications, the hype around owning an Apple device and the look and feel. When is the last time you heard someone saying they were going to buy an iPad because of the kind of CPU it has? The iPad and Surface Pro 2 are both fantastic devices that can achieve the same things. The software is different, but on a hardware level they are both highly capable devices with seemingly limitless potential. Apple has the better OS for the moment and the better design, but Microsoft has the better hardware. For those that have used both iWork and Microsoft Office, it's obvious that Microsoft wins hands down. You never see anything other than Microsoft office being used in the enterprise and I doubt you ever will in this lifetime. If you want to win accolades and praise, making fun of the competition in this way makes you look like a jealous douche, both Apple and Microsoft come across as childish to me. Once upon a time Apple in terms of their public presence and marketing never really mentioned the competition but based on remarks that Tim Cook made, it's obvious their strategy is to no longer take the high ground and let the consumer make their choice, they're playing hard-ball with Microsoft and Samsung now.
- jaxn 13y ago
  Do you remember the whole "I'm a Mac" commercial series? Apple didn't exactly take the high road under Jobs—they just took the low road better.
blahbl4hblah 13y ago
To be fair Apple did take a cheap shot at them in their presser yesterday...
blahbl4hblahtoo 13y ago
To be fair Apple takes cheap shots at them all the time. Both companies have a long history of taking pokes at each other. The outrage among their fans is always entertaining, but people should remember that "Apple" and "Microsoft" aren't people that are talking mean about each other. They are companies that sell products. They are going to advocate for their products vigorously. Shocking. The emotion that gets wrapped up in these arguments is a little creepy. It's really a sign of how marketing has been internalized by some people. (Including the people at MS and Apple.)

11 points by adidash 13y ago

"A single, simple, affordable device that helps you both lean in and kick back." I feel like Mitt Romney is trying to sell me a Surface. Binders full of applications!

yaeger 13y ago
"It takes an understanding of how people actually work" A bit heavy handed seeing as how they messed up the entire UI on the desktop, basically giving the finger to the enterprise users. "Oh, you want to work productively on your desktop machine? Here, Enjoy some non optional Metro Tiles that slap you in the face every time you try to navigate around the OS."
- JimmaDaRustla 13y ago
  Nailed it. Everyone ponders Windows 8. I keep repeating - they've taken away the elements which allow our mind to flow between applications as we WORK. Full screen apps create a disconnection in my mind from the rest of the state of my desktop. Edit: This really isn't relative to the context of the article, but rather the UI of Windows 8.

z3niMAGiNE 13y ago

In case anyone was wondering: iPads aren't desktop computers and Office is more powerful than iWork. The rhetoric is reminiscent of the old Detroit.

phaus 13y ago
You're correct, but the iPad should be sufficiently powerful enough to run a proper office suite. Pages is good enough for my purposes(writing papers for college), but the other apps have a long way to go.

phaus 13y ago

Before I start, let me say that I love the idea of a surface, and that the only reason I have an iPad instead of a surface is because I couldn't warrant spending $900 bucks on a secondary device at the moment. Both are great devices, but if I had the money, I'd probably get a Surface Pro 2. >That’s what Surface is. A single, simple, affordable device that helps you both lean in and kick back. Let’s be clear – helping folks kill time on a tablet is relatively easy. Give them books, music, videos and games, and they’ll figure out the rest. Pretty much all tablets do that. The problem with this statement is that its not relatively easy. I've owned seven Android phones (starting with the G1), an Android tablet, an Asus EEE Slate, and two iPads. When it comes to a streamlined system for delivering entertainment, the iPad provides a superior experience to all of them. >The Surface and Surface 2 are less expensive than the iPad 2 and iPad Air respectively, and yet offer more storage, both onboard and in the cloud. I never understood why people say things that they know are disingenuous at the time they make the statement. Yes, its technically correct to say that the Surface Pro 2 is cheaper than a 128GB iPad, but Frank knows very well that the 16GB model is by far the most popular. >The good news is that Microsoft understands how people work better than anyone else on the planet. I think office is better than any of its competitors, but if Microsoft understands how people work better than anybody, why did we get an overpriced, gimmicky keyboard cover instead of something that can be used without a desk?

fekberg 13y ago
Considering what you can actually do with the different devices, I think the prices are a good selling point. I had an iPad before but after I got my Surface (both RT and Pro) I found myself using the tablet for more stuff and I found myself having it with me much more and enjoying it. I've used Surface Pro for work (Visual Studio, Office) and it's been working good. Regarding the keyboard and not having a desk, with Surface 2 it is supposedly better as you have one more angle with the kickstand. I love the TypeCover when I am by a desk, never really found TouchCover that enjoyable to write on. Here's some of the prices: Surface 2 with 32GB is $449 Surface 2 with 64GB is $549 Surface 2 pro with 64GB is $899 Surface 2 pro with 128GB is $999 Surface 2 pro with 256GB is $1,299 Surface 2 pro with 512GB is $1,799 iPad 2 with 16GB is $399 iPad Air with 16GB is $499 iPad Air with 32GB is $599 iPad Air with 64GB is $699 iPad Air with 128GB is $799

DigitalSea 13y ago

I will have to side with Microsoft here, everything said is in-fact true. The Surface from a technical perspective trumps the iPad, it's effectively a true computer (USB ports, storage options) inside of a tablet form. In all honesty, it was never Apple that was focused, it was Steve Jobs. When Jobs was at the helm, he did things differently to everyone else and it was this different approach that got Apple to where it is now. The legacy that Steve Jobs created is being carried on, albeit rather loosely. It's obvious Apple are losing their way very slowly, we can't forget that the iPad and iPhone were both masterminded by Jobs and Johnny. I mean seriously, the iPad Air? It has nothing to gloat about except being lighter, but was the iPad ever that heavy to warrant being lighter? It already weighed less than some books can way. Microsoft don't get enough credit, they've done a lot of things wrong, but I think the Surface is a solid device that doesn't get enough attention. The price point was definitely wrong, if you want to rival Apple you have to undercut them in the market. Most people don't buy Apple devices because of technical specs, they buy them because of the large library of applications, the hype around owning an Apple device and the look and feel. When is the last time you heard someone saying they were going to buy an iPad because of the kind of CPU it has? The iPad and Surface Pro 2 are both fantastic devices that can achieve the same things. The software is different, but on a hardware level they are both highly capable devices with seemingly limitless potential. Apple has the better OS for the moment and the better design, but Microsoft has the better hardware. For those that have used both iWork and Microsoft Office, it's obvious that Microsoft wins hands down. You never see anything other than Microsoft office being used in the enterprise and I doubt you ever will in this lifetime. If you want to win accolades and praise, making fun of the competition in this way makes you look like a jealous douche, both Apple and Microsoft come across as childish to me. Once upon a time Apple in terms of their public presence and marketing never really mentioned the competition but based on remarks that Tim Cook made, it's obvious their strategy is to no longer take the high ground and let the consumer make their choice, they're playing hard-ball with Microsoft and Samsung now.

jaxn 13y ago
Do you remember the whole "I'm a Mac" commercial series? Apple didn't exactly take the high road under Jobs—they just took the low road better.

blahbl4hblah 13y ago

To be fair Apple did take a cheap shot at them in their presser yesterday...

blahbl4hblahtoo 13y ago

To be fair Apple takes cheap shots at them all the time. Both companies have a long history of taking pokes at each other. The outrage among their fans is always entertaining, but people should remember that "Apple" and "Microsoft" aren't people that are talking mean about each other. They are companies that sell products. They are going to advocate for their products vigorously. Shocking. The emotion that gets wrapped up in these arguments is a little creepy. It's really a sign of how marketing has been internalized by some people. (Including the people at MS and Apple.)