Business Insider recently posted an interesting article about how diametrically opposed Microsoft and Apple are approaching laptops and tablets. With Microsoft’s introduction of the Surface 3, they are doubling down on the approach that one machine and operating system can function as a laptop and a tablet. Apples strategy has been an operating system for mobile tablet / phone devices, and a separate operating system for laptops and desktops.
I think I side with Apple on this one, and I think Microsoft is missing the point. From the Business Insider article:
While introducing the product, Microsoft’s Surface leader Panos Panay noted that everyone in the room was typing on a laptop. His point was that the laptop isn’t going anywhere despite all the predictions that tablets were going to kill traditional PCs
I agree that tablets aren’t going to kill the laptop, but I dont agree one device should try to do both. If I am consuming content, a tablet works great as a browsing device. If I am coding or writing, I want a keyboard (and maybe I am alone with this – but I dont want a touch screen).
I think Microsoft is proving that by trying to have one device that does both, you get a device that does neither very well. The surface is priced starting at $799. Sorry Microsoft – I think I’d rather have a $300 tablet and a $500 laptop or chromebook.