Microsoft uses weak arguments to say Surface Pro 7 is better than iPad Pro

Microsoft is continuing in its attempts to claim its Surface Pro 7 is better than Apple's products with another comparison video, putting its tablet against the iPad Pro.

Microsoft launched a marketing campaign in January that compared the Surface Pro 7 against Apple's products, with a video pitting the MacBook Pro against Microsoft's tablet. In April's second attempt, Microsoft is doing the same thing, but this time against the iPad Pro.

Following the same formula as the first video, the second "Still the Better Choice" piece on YouTube takes the form of a tech comparison video. It also follows the same pattern of pointing out perceived benefits of having a Surface Pro 7, in areas that it attempts to show the iPad Pro as weak.

The first segment, "Design," starts off by highlighting the built-in kickstand of the Surface, which the iPad doesn't have. To emphasize the point, despite the comparison being the Surface and keyboard versus the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard, the actor lets the iPad slam down onto the wooden table surface to demonstrate the lack of stand.

The detachable keyboard argument from the first video reappears, with the Surface Type Cover able to be attached with a click. Holding up the Magic Keyboard, which the actor names as "the iPad keyboard," the comment is that it is "a lot heavier."

On to "Connectivity," the Surface is shown to have multiple ports, while the iPad Pro "has one," discounting the existence of the Smart Connector completely.

To underline the apparent connectivity issue, the actor holds up the iPad with an attached USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter and an additional headphone adapter, before asking "You want to be this guy?"

Under the last main section, "Power," the actor states the iPad Pro is "just a tablet," then says the Surface "is a full computer and a tablet."

Lastly, Microsoft compares the price, which it puts the Surface Pro 7 at $880, while the iPad Pro is labeled as $1,348. The small print states "price includes device and keyboard shown."

It seems that the Surface Pro model Microsoft is using to compare is the cheapest-available model, equipped with an Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of memory, and 128GB of storage for $749.99. the remainder of the quoted price is taken up by the cheapest regular-priced Surface Pro Type Cover at $129.99.

The iPad Pro's $1,348 cost is based on the 12.9-inch iPad with 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi connectivity at $999, combined with the Magic Keyboard at $349 for the relevant size.

The ad in general seems to try and poke fun at iPad Pro ownership with relatively cheap arguments. For example, the dongle argument ignores that users could be using Bluetooth to connect headphones for audio, rather than going down that awkward configuration of accessories.

You also gain an extra USB-C port for charging the iPad Pro when it is attached to the Magic Keyboard, which the Microsoft video completely omits.

The "just a tablet" comment is also disingenuous, since an iPad can be used for the same sort of tasks as a Surface Pro. Microsoft doesn't quite qualify what it means by declaring that the Surface is "a tablet and a computer," as that would infer the iPad Pro isn't a computer at all.

On face value, the heavy keyboard comment is factual, as the Magic Keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is 1.6 pounds, versus the type cover's 0.68lb mass. However, while this does make the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard combo heavier than the Surface Pro and its keyboard cover, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro alone weighs 1.4 pounds, lighter than the Surface Pro 7's 1.7 pound weight.

It remains to be seen how long the ad will be available to view by Microsoft via its Surface account. The first ad is still viewable, but it is in an unlisted state, meaning it can be viewed with a direct link or when embedded in a webpage.

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22 Comments

EsquireCats 1268 comments · 8 Years

About 3 years ago

Redmond start your photocopiers!
It’s pretty hard for microsoft to discount apple’s products, when they’ve gone to comical lengths to copy them, including the iPad

entropys 4302 comments · 13 Years

Do people still buy Surface Pros? I used to see them a lot, work IT pushed them quite hard. Nowadays, after IT had given up, not so much.

verne arase 479 comments · 11 Years

Expect everyone involved in the Wintel alliance to be using weak arguments to push back against Apple Silicon Macs - they're involved in a fight for survival, with little hope of outperforming the M1 Macs or the other Apple Silicon Macs to come.

Most people are looking at these first Apple Silicon M1 Macs wrong - these aren't Apple's powerhouse machines: they're simply the annual spec bump of the lowest end Apple computers with DCI-P3 displays, Wifi 6, and the new Apple Silicon M1 SoC.

They have the same limitations as the machines they replace - 16 GB RAM and two Thunderbolt ports.

These are the machines you give to a student or teacher or a lawyer or an accountant or a work-at-home information worker - folks who need a decently performing machine with decent build quality who don't want to lug around a huge powerhouse machine (or pay for one for that matter). They're still marketed at the same market segment, though they now have a vastly expanded compute power envelope.

The real powerhouses will probably come later this year with the M1x (or whatever). Apple has yet to decide on an external memory interconnect and multichannel PCIe scheme, if they decide to move in that direction.

Other CPU and GPU vendors and OEM computer makers take notice - your businesses are now on limited life support. These new Apple Silicon models can compete speed-wise up through the mid-high tier of computer purchases, and if as I expect Apple sells a ton of these many will be to your bread and butter customers.

In fact, I suspect that Apple - once they recover their R&D costs - will be pushing the prices of these machines lower while still maintaining their margins - while competing computer makers will still have to pay Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and nVidea for their expensive processors, whereas Apple's cost goes down the more they manufacture. Competing computer makers may soon be squeezed by Apple Silicon price/performance on one side and high component prices on the other. Expect them to be demanding lower processor prices from the above manufacturers so they can more readily compete, and processor manufacturers may have to comply because if OEM computer manufacturers go under or stop making competing models, the processor makers will see a diminishing customer base.

I believe the biggest costs for a chip fab are startup costs - no matter what processor vendors would like you to believe. Design and fab startup are expensive - but once you start getting decent yields, the additional costs are silicon wafers and QA. The more of these units Apple can move, the lower the per unit cost and the better the profits.

So ... who should buy these M1 Macs?

If you're in the target demographic - the student, teacher, lawyer, accountant, or work-at-home information worker: this is the Mac for you.

If you're a heavy computer user like a creative and don't simply want a light and cheap computer with some additional video and sound editing capability for use on the go - I'd wait for the M1x (or whatever) later this year. You'll probably kick yourself when the machines targeted at you finally appear.

dewme 5737 comments · 10 Years

Meaningless rehash of the same old Surface related pablum. The people have already spoken with their wallets.

The sad part is that it's been 18+ months since the Surface Pro 7 hit the consumer market. Barring some massive markdowns that may push a tiny number of fence sitters to open their wallets, I'd imagine that everyone who wanted one already has one. Folks who are fans of the Surface line probably don't need to be reminded that an upgrade is very long overdue. It would be like Apple suddenly hitting the air with iPad mini 5 commercials. Whaaaat???

Microsoft, if you don't have anything new to show, don't bother.

Japhey 1772 comments · 6 Years

I haven’t purchased anything from Microsoft since ‘06, but lately I’ve been thinking about picking up a Surface Pro just to see what they’ve been up to these last 15 years. Like everyone here, I love my toys and my tech, and experimenting with new products. Plus I figured, at the very least, it would arm me with the current knowledge to intelligently talk shit about Microsoft without sounding like a charlatan. So, I guess that puts me in the target market for these commercials. Unfortunately, the only thing they succeed at is annoying the hell out of me and completely turning me off to Microsoft all over again. So, thanks for saving me a few bucks Microsoft, maybe I’ll check back with you in another 15 years.

Fail.