Should I switch from iPad to a Windows laptop instead of a MacBook?

gulmatan wrote:

And if Macs were useless in the sciences, iPads must be doorstops, bookends, dinner placemats, or something to put under an uneven table to level the table.

I need to go tell the chemistry, biology, physics, and pharmaceutical science faculty at my university that, because one never sees Macs on Forensic Files, they need to stop using their Macs for the science they are doing.

I would add that the last episode of Forensic Files was filmed in 2011. It wouldn't be my source for up-to-the-minute technical information. Things change. Also, a cheap Windows computer is cheaper than a Mac. Which do you think the municipal accounts were going to approve?

Seriously, I agree with some of the earlier posters: get a Windows laptop.

gulmatan wrote:

I'll start with a partial rundown. 1 .... 10.

I'm kind of mystified that you choose an iPad over a laptop to start with and then stayed there for 12 years. By all means, quickly get yourself a windows laptop and enjoy maximum capability with the MS stuff you want to use.

gulmatan wrote:

Irdis Seabright, I’ve toured the Microsoft Store’s website. Looking at the Surface and Surface Pro, their specs and descriptions point out that they run a full version of Windows. Although they have support for tablet software, I would be using one as a Windows machine instead of a tablet. So, I don’t see your point that a Surface wouldn’t suit my needs.

Be sure you know which Surface Pro tablets are which.

Microsoft – Surface Pro

Under "Surface Pro 2-in-1 highlights", it says that these tablets have Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite processors. Those processors use the ARM instruction set, not the Intel one. These tablets may come with a full version of Windows for ARM – but they can only run Wintel binaries under emulation. (See Microsoft Support – Windows Arm-based PCs FAQ)

Microsoft – Surface Pro for Business

These tablets use Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors.

Tom Gewecke wrote:

I'm kind of mystified that you choose an iPad over a laptop to start with and then stayed there for 12 years. By all means, quickly get yourself a windows laptop and enjoy maximum capability with the MS stuff you want to use.

I agree, that is the correct answer.

When I am developing apps for the App Store, I am not trying to do that on my iPad, it is the laptop that I turn too, and if I want to read an e-book, it is the iPad I am using every time and wouldn't even consider my laptop. And to use Xcode for App Development, you are going to need a Mac as it is not available for Windows. I say all that because device choice is dependent on what you want to do and each has their own advantages and disadvantages. Luckily we live in a society where we do have choices and see no reason to complain about that. If you just want one device, then choose the one that best meets your needs. It really is that simple.

gulmatan wrote:

Irdis Seabright, I’ve toured the Microsoft Store’s website. Looking at the Surface and Surface Pro, their specs and descriptions point out that they run a full version of Windows.

Choose whatever you wish, the choice is yours to make. I have added the Surface Support forum since you are leaning that direction. You may also consider using the link, or even a general Microsoft link, from that website to ask questions of those users that may help guide you in making the correct decision for your needs. You are likely to find much more real world experience than what can be found on a Store website. Good luck and hope you are happy with your new device.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/category/surfacedevices/discussions/surfacepro

Why are you persisting with a platform completely ill-suited to the Microsoft apps you need?

The best platform for that list of Microsoft apps is Windows on Intel, or maybe Windows on Arm.

Not Apple, and definitely not iPad.

gulmatan wrote:

All of these episodes show Windows PCs using radiology, chemistry, medical, pharmaceutical, DNA analysis, genetics, etc. software. No Macs running these technical, medical, biology programs.

Sorry, I just can't get over the fact that you are using a 2011 TV show for choosing your next device. I would have to suggest anything but that, where you have many resources to help you guide your decision making that are not 15 years old. Choose any one of them or even a simply Google search over that.

If you are planning on doing some DNA analysis or entering the radiology or biology fields, I would suggest you make some direct contacts with those providers so you will know the exact specs of the device you decide to purchase.

We can't do the research for you and it is a decision you will have to make. That way you will have no one else to blame if it is not exactly what you want. Here is the Windows Support site if you prefer to use those for your research.

https://windowsforum.com/forums/windows-help-and-support.302/

From the tone of your post, frustration is evident.

I could take some time to objectively argue in favour of iPad (for me, as a power user, the now computing platform of choice), Mac, Windows or linux PC - along with providing in-depth explanation of architectural choices made within iOS/iPadOS that may explain how some aspects of desktop computing with iPad differ significantly from Mac and Windows PC. However, I suspect that this would not satisfy your angst - and might simply add fuel to your just-contained fire.

In context of iPad, if you can outline specific areas of difficulty with which you would benefit from assistance, I and no doubt other senior contributors here would be delighted to offer constructive help.

If instead you simply need to be pushed to a suitable alternative computing platform, we can do that too. For this we will need to understand your specific needs.

It seems your main frustration is the lack of features that Microsoft offers on their apps for use on the iPad. That is entirely up to Microsoft and there is no update or change made by Apple that can add the features you want on those Microsoft apps.

My recommendation is if those are the apps that you are concerned about then check with Microsoft for the features they support on each device and choose whatever device that includes the features. If you choose a Windows laptop make sure that minimum requirements of that device is also supported.

Yes the iPad and every other tablet uses a finger-friendly UI as they use Touch for the user interface. External keyboards can be added, but that does not change the UI, whether you consider an Apple tablet or even Android tablet. It does not sound like any tablet is what you are looking for and that is your choice. A tablet is a completely different form factor, just as a phone is different than a laptop.

In any case, the choice you make is entirely up to you and will not be the same as others who make a different choice for entirely different reasons. No one here can decide that for you. To be honest I have a Windows laptop and a MacBook Pro and absolutely hate the Dell product. I cringe every time I start it up and would be happy to give it away if it was not a work device used to access their proprietary software.

gulmatan wrote:

How does a Windows laptop compare to a Surface? Is a Windows laptop the next level above a Surface model?

Be aware that Microsoft has sold assorted types of devices under the "Surface" name.

One was the Surface RT . When it came out, some hailed it as an "iPad killer" since it was going to deliver Windows in a tablet form. Unfortunately for them, there was a fly in the ointment. The Surface RT used processors that ran ARM machine code. The limited version of Windows 8 that ran on it did not have emulation support for running off-the-shelf Wintel binaries, and it might have forced people to get those applications that were available from the Windows Store. Once people realized that, it was "game over" for the Surface RT.

Wikipedia says that the Surface line now features "seven main lines of devices": some tablets, some laptops, an all-in-one desktop, and even a touch screen digital whiteboard. Some are Intel- or AMD-based. Others are ARM-based. So you need to be much more specific about which Surface device(s) you have in mind to make any sort of comparison.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Surface

Thank you for the additional information.

The bulk of your complaint and frustration appears to be with Microsoft Apps for iPad and Mac - functionality and UI of which being entirely down to Microsoft who develops the associated Apps for Apple Platforms. As such, any deficiencies can only be addressed by Microsoft and its App Developers. In this context, you would be best advised to seek assistance - and direct feedback and development requests - to Microsoft via its online support resources.

As you have invested in both iPad and Mac, I might have suggested that you consider using Apple's own productivity Pages, Numbers and Keynote Apps. These have experienced significant development over recent years - in particular for iPad/iPadOS - and for many, are now viable professional alternatives to Microsoft Office Apps. As for your dislike of the visual aspects of these Apps, you might consider offering constructive feedback via Apple's Product Feedback portal:

Product Feedback - Apple

If you would like to see changes or additional functionality in future Apple App versions, MacOS and iPadOS, this would be the most appropriate channel to communicate your thoughts to Apple.

gulmatan wrote:

10–Even with at minimum 128GB of RAM, an iPad could afford the room of a full version of a user’s choice of Apple, Google, and Microsoft Office suite apps or even all three suites installed.

No iPad comes with 128 GB of RAM.

Current iPads come with anywhere from 6 GB of RAM (A16 iPad) to 16 GB of RAM (M5 iPad Pro, when ordered with at least 1 TB of storage). Many older iPads have less.

Servant of Cats wrote:

gulmatan wrote:

10–Even with at minimum 128GB of RAM, an iPad could afford the room of a full version of a user’s choice of Apple, Google, and Microsoft Office suite apps or even all three suites installed.

No iPad comes with 128 GB of RAM.

Current iPads come with anywhere from 6 GB of RAM (A16 iPad) to 16 GB of RAM (M5 iPad Pro, when ordered with at least 1 TB of storage). Many older iPads have less.

That was likely intended to reference main storage (flash; persistent), and not main memory (RAM; non-persistent).

128 GB main storage is workable but becoming fairly constrained in the Apple universe. This whatever a particular computer system happens to use for persistent storage, whether flash / SSD / NVMe / HDD / etc.

128 GB main memory RAM is both comparatively large for most home systems, and is also going to be quite the expensive upgrade at current DDR5 and LPDDR5 prices.

Neither main memory RAM nor main storage is upgradable with any iPad.