[Closed] Windows surface v ipad

Well you can look at both, then decide what you want. iPad is a tablet, Surface is a laptop hat can be used as a PC with PC software. If you don't need the latter, go for the former.

I've not used an iPad for work stuff so I don't know if there's any downside with Office type stuff. But for me, the Surface was handy. I didn't have my own PC (only work ones) so I use a now old Surface Pro 4 for anything - usually Lightroom, but lately Tinkercad and Cura for the 3D printer. I'd have been stuffed with a tablet in this case because Cura's not available for either iOS or Android. Although there are alternatives, Cura seems to be the standard - and my printer needs to transfer stuff via SD card which is nice and easy on a Surface.

I have had 4 MS surfaces since launch, two have been mine, two my sons.
Between us we have killed two of them random failure and an unexplained screen shattering. My sone has had one die (I dropped it 1 metre out of a hotel safe).
The keyboards are unique and expensive and when my latest failure happened 3 months ago I actually was looking for the best laptop for £900-1200 and ended up with a MacBook Air (i5) as nothing from MS, Dell or others came close for the money (and student discount I could get via daughter). After a few years of surface I am now back to the laptop format (MS/Google/Apple) coupled with a big phone (currently use iPhone XS Max and a Note 10 lite).
For a student/pupil, and probably for myself I would stick with a standard laptop with a decent battery and screen resolution. More flexible and cheaper.

My teenage son also had a Surface which he used for school work. It also randomly broke, just wouldn’t turn on. Turns out they are unrepairable and Microsoft wouldn’t budge with a replacement because it happened one week after the guarantee expired. We bought him an iPad Pro instead which he’s very happy with.

What Surfaces do you have that failed? I was under the impression earlier ones were more ropey but they got better from 5 on.

I like mine (it still works fine btw as does my wife's 3) but only get one if you specifically want either ultra portable or tablet features.

Although all our kid stuff is done via Google suite so for that a Chromebook is a no brainer.

I've had a surface 4 and 7. The battery died on the 4 and it's a bonded screen off job to replace. Decent enough performance, but I only ever use it as a very portable laptop, rather than a tablet

What should we be looking at?

Chromebooks or cheap MS laptops would be my first port of call. I like the surface go in particular, and have used iPad too, but think a laptop would be a better choice as you’ll need a keyboard and mouse anyway.

I'd go cheap-ish laptop too. Even just to prevetn the inevitable "Dad, I want to use the ipad this time" arguments.

Keyboard/mouse for school work, tappy tappy on screen for fun.

I've used both iPads and a Surface as a teacher.

I much prefer the UI on an iPad and I think the office stuff works pretty well - Teams and OneNote have been just as good IMO. THe iPad feels like a better 'device' and is a bit better at video conferencing stuff.

The surface is much more like a laptop and has all the strengths/faults of running windows. Main advantage for me was access to the school network (it was a school device rather than personal). I think they have more ports for stuff like headphones as well.

Either one of them works fine with a BT keyboard/mouse. I used the pen a lot on the Surface (really useful for chemistry stuff) but can't speak for the apple pencil.

can’t speak for the apple pencil.
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This is my daughter doing her art project on my son’s iPad. The pen works pretty well.

Worth noting that for the 3D printing stuff I use my Surface on a 4k monitor with bluetooth mouse and keyboard - it's just like using a normal PC, albeit a fairly slow one cos mine's old.

The Surface is a laptop that can be used as a reasonable tablet. The iPad is a great tablet that can be used as a reasonable laptop. Think how it will be used most and go from there.

I think part of the answer lies in what platform the school is using.

Both of our schools are using Seesaw to provide home learning this lockdown. It works fine in a browser but it’s a better experience on the iPad app where you can use the pen, perform easier uploads of completed work and so on.

Previously they were trying to do everything in a badly deployed SharePoint environment, which was a nightmare on a laptop but practically impossible on an iPad.

nothing from MS, Dell or others came close for the money (and student discount I could get via daughter)

Interestingly when I was looking at the same time for my daughter I found that the Dell XPS was faster, lighter, smaller, bigger and better screen, more port and better battery life 🤔
But then I'm not a fanboi.

Back to the OP, I'd probably go with a Chromebook or cheap laptop - better keyboard and hopefully less likely to be dropped!

I used a Surface supplied by a client this last year.

The idea is good, the execution is poor. It weighs too much, has noisy fans, the foldy keyboard thing is poor for any extended sessions of typing, Windows 10 touch UI isn't great. You need adapters to use more than one USB (it doesn't have USB-C either), or if you need HDMI. I liked using the pen though, so much so that I got a pad to plug into my work supplied laptop so I can scribble diagrams on virtual whiteboards.

Laptop much better if you need a laptop, iPad much better if you need a tablet.

I've had a Surface 4 for 4.5 years and just before Christmas the images on the screen started flickering, blurring and ghosting when the device got hot. I got the screen replaced but the problem still exists - I had a thread on it a couple of weeks ago and some of the responses stated they had seen / experienced similar problems at their companies and had large piles of now useless Surfaces. The keyboard is also covered in some sort of Alcantara material which gets a bit shabby at the edges and comes apart. I have had to buy a new laptop as need one for work etc which is annoying as I can ill afford it at the moment. In summary they are a great idea poorly executed, and MS's refusal to repair for free unless under 3 years old is a further reason not to buy another.

I have a SP4 provided by work. I quite like it, you can use it as a tablet or type away on the keyboard.

my only issue with mine was the device would get really hot and then there screen would flicker so it was unusable. Battery life isn't great either, so it's always plugged in.

IT replaced my machine and it's been fine, but not sure I'd buy one with my own money. I have a personal iPad which I prefer for everyday browsing and use and find it much slicker than the SP4.

SP4s are pretty old hat now. There's been what, 4 iterations since then?