The iPad Pro is NOT "LIKE" the Surface Pro
Take this any way that you want to. I've seen this comparison done so many times now it needs to be said. What Apple has delivered in terms of a keyboard cover and pen are so far removed from what the Surface Pro delivers and the utility of the device so drastically different that you must have severe brain trauma or have never actually the seen one of the two products in question to make such a comparison.
STOP THE MADNESS!
The iPad Pro has a monumentally tacky keyboard cover of the ilk its accessory makers have been peddling for years. And, I'm sure you could readily find designs among those that put this to shame. I'm sure Apple's is made of more "professional" materials and looks well above average for what it is. The pictures likely don't do it justice.
But for all the subtle nuances that I could be missing, you can't make that keyboard cover into something it isn't. The device supports a single viewing and single typing angle ONLY. Also, no mention of back lit keys. My Dell Venue Pro 11 has a similar keyboard cover. It is an accessory in the truest sense. It doesn't change the nature of the device. It is simply something added to the device to make it marginally more useful in some circumstances.
The Surface covers on the other hand, when in use, the keyboard is as tall as the screen in portrait mode, whereas the iPad Pro looks to be about 2/3 length. The Surface keyboards also have a magnetic strip that lifts the back end off the table lending an angled typing option that more accurately mimics traditional keyboards and the keys are back lit, which ends up making more of a difference on these smaller keyboards than one desktops or laptops.
Combined with that, the Surface devices don't use the cover to prop up the device, with the kick stand on the Pro models in particular offering unlimited angles ranging between 0 and as near to 180 degrees as matters. The kick stand has a rigid edge which means it even stays relatively firmly in place on laps. Tablets that use Apple's approach and leverage the cover to prop the device up can't be angled to individual preference and are a bloody nightmare on laps and other odd surfaces.
Honestly, if you haven't used a Surface Pro 3, I understand the doubt and confusion. I spent a decent chunk of time (2+ years) thinking Microsoft's claim that a Surface could be a laptop replacement was a joke. After spending a few days working on one though, I came to understand that it was the kickstand that made the whole thing work. The stability and versatility are unmatched by any cover based approach to propping up such a device.
The ability to get the keyboard on an angle also improves the experience when used at a desk by quite a large margin. With the Surface Pro 3, the cover really does make the difference between it being a viable laptop with it, or a more normal tablet without it.
I have used both styles. I own tablets with both styles of covers. I know what I'm talking about. The approach Apple is outdated and second rate now, and if it is an attempt to copy Microsoft, they failed. Period. With a multi-year lead to build a better design they didn't even come close to par, let alone beating them.
Frankly, the flip side is, I don't think they attempted to copy Microsoft at all. People see a keyboard cover and pen on an iPad with Apple's branding and jump the gun. As I mentioned at the beginning, both devices really have different utility as well. The pen(cil) was probably a good move. While they may have very few apps supporting it at present, and the best may currently come from their competitors, Apple has always had an image more aligned with the artistic. In short order, I'll wager Apple will dominate stylus based apps and interfaces on a tablet.
And, if there is a market for this at all, I think that is where it lies. Graphic artists. The precision pen, large beautiful screen and what the App store has to offer in this area work more with that audience than it does with professionals.
The only royal flop is the keyboard cover. I doubt apps that give consideration to the keyboard will ever take off. And maybe it was just there in the hopes of luring a few sales away from uninformed potential Surface Pro buyers or as a cheap grab at some of the money 3rd party accessory makers are taking.
But at least they made the better of the bad decisions they could have. Originally I thought that I would have liked to see Apple try to improve on the Surface kickstand or actually make a nicer keyboard cover... but, as long as the tablet runs iOS that would have been a huge gamble. Despite its "Pro" moniker, I don't really think even Apple believes professionals will buy this.
In that respect, they saved R&D money by not trying all that hard, and they will probably monopolize a lot sales that would have otherwise gone to accessory makers.
If they ever put OS X on such a device, it is then that the Surface will actually have competition in the segment from Apple. And it is at that point in time that they will really need to get their act together and either deliver something that properly copies Microsoft or beats it in terms of keyboard as an input option.
In hindsight though, when you take the sum of everything here and in my other post; the use of iOS, the lackluster keyboard cover, the design aesthetics, the delivery and support models. The only logical conclusion is that Apple really had no urge to truly take on the Surface Pro directly right now.
The only things these device have in common are the word "Pro" and the basic category of available 1st part accessories. Comparing these devices is a wasted effort. They are simply completely different things aimed at completely different groups of people.
STOP THE MADNESS!
The iPad Pro has a monumentally tacky keyboard cover of the ilk its accessory makers have been peddling for years. And, I'm sure you could readily find designs among those that put this to shame. I'm sure Apple's is made of more "professional" materials and looks well above average for what it is. The pictures likely don't do it justice.
But for all the subtle nuances that I could be missing, you can't make that keyboard cover into something it isn't. The device supports a single viewing and single typing angle ONLY. Also, no mention of back lit keys. My Dell Venue Pro 11 has a similar keyboard cover. It is an accessory in the truest sense. It doesn't change the nature of the device. It is simply something added to the device to make it marginally more useful in some circumstances.
The Surface covers on the other hand, when in use, the keyboard is as tall as the screen in portrait mode, whereas the iPad Pro looks to be about 2/3 length. The Surface keyboards also have a magnetic strip that lifts the back end off the table lending an angled typing option that more accurately mimics traditional keyboards and the keys are back lit, which ends up making more of a difference on these smaller keyboards than one desktops or laptops.
Combined with that, the Surface devices don't use the cover to prop up the device, with the kick stand on the Pro models in particular offering unlimited angles ranging between 0 and as near to 180 degrees as matters. The kick stand has a rigid edge which means it even stays relatively firmly in place on laps. Tablets that use Apple's approach and leverage the cover to prop the device up can't be angled to individual preference and are a bloody nightmare on laps and other odd surfaces.
Honestly, if you haven't used a Surface Pro 3, I understand the doubt and confusion. I spent a decent chunk of time (2+ years) thinking Microsoft's claim that a Surface could be a laptop replacement was a joke. After spending a few days working on one though, I came to understand that it was the kickstand that made the whole thing work. The stability and versatility are unmatched by any cover based approach to propping up such a device.
The ability to get the keyboard on an angle also improves the experience when used at a desk by quite a large margin. With the Surface Pro 3, the cover really does make the difference between it being a viable laptop with it, or a more normal tablet without it.
I have used both styles. I own tablets with both styles of covers. I know what I'm talking about. The approach Apple is outdated and second rate now, and if it is an attempt to copy Microsoft, they failed. Period. With a multi-year lead to build a better design they didn't even come close to par, let alone beating them.
Frankly, the flip side is, I don't think they attempted to copy Microsoft at all. People see a keyboard cover and pen on an iPad with Apple's branding and jump the gun. As I mentioned at the beginning, both devices really have different utility as well. The pen(cil) was probably a good move. While they may have very few apps supporting it at present, and the best may currently come from their competitors, Apple has always had an image more aligned with the artistic. In short order, I'll wager Apple will dominate stylus based apps and interfaces on a tablet.
And, if there is a market for this at all, I think that is where it lies. Graphic artists. The precision pen, large beautiful screen and what the App store has to offer in this area work more with that audience than it does with professionals.
The only royal flop is the keyboard cover. I doubt apps that give consideration to the keyboard will ever take off. And maybe it was just there in the hopes of luring a few sales away from uninformed potential Surface Pro buyers or as a cheap grab at some of the money 3rd party accessory makers are taking.
But at least they made the better of the bad decisions they could have. Originally I thought that I would have liked to see Apple try to improve on the Surface kickstand or actually make a nicer keyboard cover... but, as long as the tablet runs iOS that would have been a huge gamble. Despite its "Pro" moniker, I don't really think even Apple believes professionals will buy this.
In that respect, they saved R&D money by not trying all that hard, and they will probably monopolize a lot sales that would have otherwise gone to accessory makers.
If they ever put OS X on such a device, it is then that the Surface will actually have competition in the segment from Apple. And it is at that point in time that they will really need to get their act together and either deliver something that properly copies Microsoft or beats it in terms of keyboard as an input option.
In hindsight though, when you take the sum of everything here and in my other post; the use of iOS, the lackluster keyboard cover, the design aesthetics, the delivery and support models. The only logical conclusion is that Apple really had no urge to truly take on the Surface Pro directly right now.
The only things these device have in common are the word "Pro" and the basic category of available 1st part accessories. Comparing these devices is a wasted effort. They are simply completely different things aimed at completely different groups of people.
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