Microsoft Surface Pro v Ipad Air

Chewbumpkin

I was thinking of buying myself a Microsoft Surface Pro tablet but the Ipad Air has just caught my eye. I see that it comes with a usb connecting cable and I that a lightning to hdmi cable is available. The 128Gb version is also cheaper than the Surface Pro 128Gb. Performance and picture quality is also better.
However, I have an external hard drive full of films which we watch via a laptop connected via cable to a tv when we are away. Is it possible to buy connections for the Ipad Air that would enable me to connect the hard drive to the Air and then to a tv? I can't find any on the Apple store.

InsideInsurance

In short, no, iPads have fixed storage size and cannot be expanded with external drives - though of cause you can use cloud solutions.

Slightly longer, still no, but it can access network files and a number of third party apps can stream videos via the network. Do you have another computer or are you intending to become a tablet only household?

StuC75

If you know what you will be watching then just synch them via iTunes or whatever app you use onto the ipad (many allow it to share via a ftp/port connection) meaning can use a pc to drag and drop. then just use the hdmi cable.. don't make it un-necessarily complicated..

There are some wireless hard drives that you can get which would stream via an ipad app, or devices such as this that you connect a hard drive to..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Verbatim-98243-MediaShare-Wireless/dp/B00CZ0P0PS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1394804578&sr=8-4&keywords=wifi+hard+drive

Chewbumpkin

There are some wireless hard drives that you can get which would stream via an ipad app, or devices such as this that you connect a hard drive to..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Verbatim-982...ifi+hard+drive

And to think that I have just spent a fair bit of this afternoon in PcWorld investigating that possibility and the "Knowhow" assistant didn't even advise me of that possibility! The most he could suggest was getting a usb hub, attach that to the iPad and then plug an external hard drive and a usb to hdmi cable into the hub. Sounded a bit Heath Robinson to me but would it work?

Another question has just occurred to me - can an iPad read avi files or would I have to convert the hundreds of movies I already have in that format?

I was playing with the iPad and was very impressed - half the weight of the Surface Pro 2 and easy to navigate. If only it had more connections....

InsideInsurance

There is limited capability to attach standard devices and those have to go via the camera attachment. http://www.unlocktips.com/2012/11/best-ipad-mini-external-hard-drive-memory-storage-options/ has a number of other options.

AVI isnt really a file type, its a wrapper. Depending how they've been encoded they may or may not be playable on an iPad. There are third party apps that can play almost all video formats inc most AVIs. Apples own video player requires it to be converted however this may be seconds to just change the wrappers etc or a long reencoding process

prowla

I have a Western Digital MyCloud drive, and can watch movies from that on my iPad over WiFi.

sardegnadream

I thought about a iPad air or surface pro and in the end after trying the surface 2 I went for that instead. The rational for me was I already have an ultra book so I didn't really need to spend the money on a surface pro.

The surface 2 is running rt but I don't find it that much of a hindrance to be honest. There isn't the amount of apps in the windows store that there is in apple store but there are the ones I use, skype etc and there is a full browser.

I use it to hook to TV via a cheap micro hdmi cable I bought for a couple of quid on eBay or to a smart tv that supports wifi streaming.

The display is pretty good (full hd),it has a full sized USB port so I can just connect an external hdd and takes a micro sd card.

The other bonus is it came with office and as I'm not a power user of excel or word it meets my needs.

I don't have that many full desktop apps that I need to install and if I did I use my laptop anyway.

Some people hate rt but I find it fine but that just my two pence worth:)

Chewbumpkin

Thank you Sardegnadream, I know that the Surface will do all I want, but my main problem is its weight. I think I would find it very tiring to hold on any flight, let alone long haul, or even in a hotel room, whereas the ipad is only half the weight.


It is a real problem:think:

Ipad pros: light, lots of apps, superb screen, cheap compatible accessories (case, keyboard)
Ipad cons: lack of connections, genuine connecting cables pricy


Surface Pro pros: Windows 8.1, lots of connections
Surface Pro cons: Expensive for what it is, heavy (nearly 2 pounds), expensive accessories (case, keyboard)


The scales are level - someone please help tip them one way for me! :undecided

sardegnadream

It's not easy picking one is it :rotfl::rotfl:

You are obviously right about the weight compared with the iPad air although I'm referring to the surface 2 and not the surface 2 pro.

I fly every week on short hops and all I do is pop out the kickstand and put it on the tray table. As I work for a hotel software provider I spend a lot of times in hotels and usually I hook the tablet to the tv and watch movies or surf the web using a separate Microsoft wedge mouse and keyboard. To me the connectivity and battery life are the most important.

But good luck deciding (btw I'm not hooked on any particular manufacturer as I have nexus 7 2013 and a work iPad mini)

prowla

Chewbumpkin wrote: »

Thank you Sardegnadream, I know that the Surface will do all I want, but my main problem is its weight. I think I would find it very tiring to hold on any flight, let alone long haul, or even in a hotel room, whereas the ipad is only half the weight.


It is a real problem:think:

Ipad pros: light, lots of apps, superb screen, cheap compatible accessories (case, keyboard)
Ipad cons: lack of connections, genuine connecting cables pricy


Surface Pro pros: Windows 8.1, lots of connections
Surface Pro cons: Expensive for what it is, heavy (nearly 2 pounds), expensive accessories (case, keyboard)


The scales are level - someone please help tip them one way for me! :undecided

I disagree on a couple of those items...

The iPad cons aren't quite so bad, as (a) you can get the cables cheaper if you shop around, and I've tried a cheaper one which fell apart, so the genuine ones are worth it, and (b) the WiFi connectivity works (eg. for streaming movies).

I would also question whether the Surface running Windows 8 is a pro, as if it were me I would put that as a big con.

Chewbumpkin

I would also question whether the Surface running Windows 8 is a pro, as if it were me I would put that as a big con.

It was the Surface Pro 2 I was considering. Full Windows 8.1 and i5 processer.

Anyway, problem is now solved. I have been playing with my neighbours iPad Air and explored apps quite thoroughly. I also have a fair few films with Ultraviolet so can download them to an iPad when required. It is also half the weight of the Surface so.....

I'm going to the Apple shop on Tuesday (when my retirement money gets paid in) and buying an iPad Air. :j:j:D
But is it worth shelling out an extra £100.00 for 3G capability?