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Apple, Microsoft — two tablet visions
When Steve Jobs took the wraps off Apple's first iPad, he showed an entirely new class of device. The iPad was neither a new type of PC nor was it just a giant smartphone. It opened new territory.
Apple sold the original iPad as a personal digital media consumption device. It stuck with that approach for the first three tablet generations. It wasn't until the iPad Air arrived that Apple's marketing bowed to the inevitable and admitted tablets are also useful for creating content and as business tools. Even now that's not the main sales pitch.
Google doesn't sell its own tablets. When the company's partners began selling Android tablets they all followed Apple's lead. Samsung took great pains to emphasis the entertainment and media consumption aspects of its Galaxy Tab S. Business takes a back seat.
Microsoft Surface — productivity first
That's not how Microsoft views tablets. Even before CEO Satya Nadella told the world Microsoft is now a 'productivity and platform' company, Microsoft emphasised the Surface range are business tools.
This explains why Surface evolved quickly in just 18 months and three generations from tablets to tablet-cum-laptops.
The way Microsoft's marketing says the new Surface Pro 3 is a "PC when you need it and a tablet when you want one" speaks volumes. The implied message is "you need a laptop to do real work, but tablets have a place too, so here's something covering both bases".
It's no accident that almost every Surface buyer picks up a keyboard along with their tablet.
How does this play out in business?
You could argue the Surface, particularly the Surface Pro 3, is the kind of tablet corporate technology buyers always wanted. That's clearly the market Microsoft wants.
And yet, Apple does a great job selling iPads to large companies. If I walk into any CBD glass tower I'll almost certainly see people walking around with iPads.
The iPad took root in business from the bottom up. People who bought iPads for personal use took them to the office and found new ways to be productive. In some cases using third-party add-ons and apps from the iTunes store. Companies had little choice but to adapt to this trend, hence all the hand-wringing you hear about BYOD, bring your own device.
I've no evidence, but I suspect most Surfaces are bought either by companies who give them to staff as productivity tools or by people who are deeply committed to Microsoft products and services. I also suspect many Surfaces replaced PCs.
One device or two?
Microsoft thinks you need only one device to do two jobs. The Surface Pro 3 is quite possibly the best Windows laptop. It's a nice tablet, but not fabulous and it is expensive.
In Apple's world, there are two jobs requiring two tools. The tablet is a consumption device. If you are serious about creating content, then you should buy a MacBook. You are, of course, welcome to buy both.
Apple is doing something right. While iPad sales have hiccupped, sales of the company's innovative laptops continue to rise. Windows laptop sales are falling, attacked from above by Apple and from below by the Chromebook.
Bill Bennett
New Zealand technology news
Bill Bennett publishes technology news and features that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers.
Covering enterprise and small business computing, start-ups, listed companies, the technology channel and devices. Bennett's main focus is on New Zealand innovation.
Bill Bennett stories are republished on Geekzone and Scoop.
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