Microsoft Surface Pro 4 to counter 12-inch iPad Pro
Apple's iPad Pro has many features borrowed from Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 tablet and in many aspects, the former overwhelms the latter. Pitted against the Pro 3, the giant iPad is a winner but hybrid device fans can still elect to hold out for the Windows 10-powered Surface Pro 4.
The iPad Pro is a huge tablet that also doubles a work-friendly device. When connected to the Smart Keyboard, the slate morphs into MacBook Air clone that runs on iOS 9 and if offers a bevy of productivity features with easy control and navigation normally found on laptops. No doubt, Apple is packaging the iPad Pro as a productivity tool - stand-alone or with accessories that are sold separately. Take note, they cost extra dollars.
The Surface Pro 3 can be paired with keyboard accessories and natively supports stylus, which the iPad Pro copied too via its Apple Pencil. Apparently, Apple no longer adheres to the late Steve Jobs assertion that stylus sucks and no one wants it. So Apple Pencil is now part of the iOS product portfolio for an enhanced productivity experience.
In support of these headline features, the iPad Pro unboxed with a 12.9-inch display that is a bit larger compared to the 12-inch Pro 3. Apple giant tablet impresses with a screen resolution of 2732 x 2048, better than the Pro 3's 2160 x 1440. And the iOS tablet battery lasts a maximum of 10 hours in a single charge. The Pro 3 on the other hand delivers just about nine operating hours before requiring a re-charge.
Clearly, the iPad Pro mimics or reinvents the specs and features that users loved about the Surface Pro 3. There are reasons compelling enough to switch from Windows to iOS if one is looking to score a true and reliable productivity mobile device.
However, the Surface Pro 4 is touching down in October and one thing is sure - either Microsoft will match what Apple has provided with the iPad Pro or will even out-spec the device. The latter is more likely, according to PC World.
Sure, A9X chip working in tandem with 4GB of RAM are superlative enough but the Pro 4's rumored platform of Intel Skylake processing chip is equally mighty or even mightier plus it can accommodate more than 4GB of RAM, perhaps even reaching up to 16GB in some configurations. Power and efficient use of energy is no stranger to Microsoft's Surface tablet
But what could prove as deal-breaker for the iPad Pro is it runs on iOS 9 while the Surface Pro 4 on release date will rock Windows 10. For many professionals targeted by both Apple and Microsoft, PC World said, this makes a world of difference in deciding for a good buy.
