37 replies to this topic 3 votes

[Dot Matrix]

Zune is what I use to rip CD's. But if you want to Sync content, there's always SkyDrive.

[MorganX]

ahhell, on 06 December 2012 - 19:03, said:

*sigh* Maybe you should do some research. The RT is meant for consumers. It's NOT designed for the enterprise in mind. Sure you can use one for business but you don't have full enterprise support (domain add, remote management, etc).

I hear you, and don't disagree. Then there's reality. You think iPad's are made for the Enterprise from a Microsoft Technical Architecture standpoint. And the problem here isn't even "Enterprise" features, it's the non-enterprise usability that attracts Execs. That's just the way it works around here.

[brianshapiro]

MorganX, on 06 December 2012 - 19:06, said:

Not really, not with executives. They actually want RDP. They've learned their limited apps on the desktop, and want to use that from home, and aren't interested in much else other than using their tablet for "away from office" productivity if you catch my drift. And that's where Surface just isn't up to Apple's standard.

Unfortunately, what executives want, everyone else wants to mimic.

I do believe when Surface Pro is available it will do very well as a laptop alternative. But will do nothing to slow iPad penetration. At least not with upper management.

Isn't there a Remote Desktop app on the WinRT marketplace?

[MorganX]

Dot Matrix, on 06 December 2012 - 19:08, said:

Zune is what I use to rip CD's. But if you want to Sync content, there's always SkyDrive.

SkyDrive is great, as is the Office 2013 integration. I'm digging that, but it is beside the point.

See we have strict storage use policies. But there's this group of influential members, that can have 1TB of Chopin, Steely Dan, and Barbara Streisand discography and have it all backed up and deduped. And they will sync it with the tablet and phone with iTunes.

I actually thought we'd finally be rid of Apple, and it's just not going to happen, lol. Just not gonna happen.

brianshapiro, on 06 December 2012 - 19:08, said:

Isn't there a Remote Desktop app on the WinRT marketplace?

Yes, I think it's fantastic. They want their iPad and demand an RDP app for it as opposed to the Surface. I'll be curious to see how others fare in their environments as far as displacing the infectuous iPad goes.

[TPreston]

^ it has built in remote desktop application with gateway support

[Dot Matrix]

Why not back that up to a server and use the Play To feature? Or make the drive a network drive accessible by the Surface tablets?

[MorganX]

neufuse, on 06 December 2012 - 18:37, said:

I think a lot of people are just fixed on features they don't understand, we get a "half assed music app" because the surface is a computer not a tablet... you aren't syncing it, you are using it as a desktop... we are so used to the iTunes sync music model....

but then I work for a company that has a $50,000 polycom based video conference center that never gets used, and execs are like OMG Facetime is great! I can video chat with clients! *stares at the video conference center we built 3yrs ago* yeah, we had that a long time ago with a production set... to talk to clients and no one touched it....

Hahah, thank goodness for Lync. And Lync on iPad is actually pretty nice. But I like Lync for Windows 8/RT even better.

Dot Matrix, on 06 December 2012 - 19:16, said:

Why not back that up to a server and use the Play To feature? Or make the drive a network drive accessible by the Surface tablets?

We'll just give them iPads. Actually they have iPad's, we'll just let them RDP with it. Gotta pick your battles and this just isn't worth it.

threetonesun, on 06 December 2012 - 18:34, said:

Yes. I think those of us who like Windows 8 recognize that the Metro side still doesn't have the software support it deserves. Understandable for 3rd parties, not understandable for Microsoft applications.

I feel better. Really, I do. Thank you.

[StandingInAlley]

If you think Microsoft is bad, try getting an Android and syncing it with media stuff on Mac. Its crap.

[Doli]

Scorbing, on 06 December 2012 - 18:42, said:

I don't know what the deal is with Microsoft lately and all the stupid changes they've been doing but I will tell you this:

I have an iPad 3 and an iMac and I like them both, however, I just got into a Galaxy Note 2 and I think the Google Music app is superior to Apple's alternative because, not only can I listen to my songs on my phone or any other Android device I have, but the simple fact that Google lets you upload up to 20,000 songs for free is amazing. Apple charges $24.99 I believe for iTunes match and Google's alternative is 100% free.

It's really a no brainer as to who gives you more and who has the better service. Microsoft on the other hand is behind in every aspect.

The Xbox music app and Amazon cloud Music can scan your music collection and let you stream it from their collection to other devices without uploading anything. If they don't have it you can upload your songs to Amazon Cloud (free 5 GB) and SkyDrive (Free 7 GB or 25 GB for some people like me) and play them from there. Amazon has a good web music player while you have to download the songs from SkyDrive to play until they get a web music player working if you don't want to sync to that device which is strange because you can stream video from SkyDrive.

[Scorbing]

StandingInAlley, on 06 December 2012 - 19:22, said:

If you think Microsoft is bad, try getting an Android and syncing it with media stuff on Mac. Its crap.

Likewise, if you have an iMac or iPad, try syncing it with media stuff in an Android or other device. Epic fail. I think they do it on purpose.

[MorganX]

StandingInAlley, on 06 December 2012 - 19:22, said:

If you think Microsoft is bad, try getting an Android and syncing it with media stuff on Mac. Its crap.

Eliminating Android, was tough, but successful, as was BES, but the iPad and iPhone is proving much more formidable.

[Dashel]

ahhell, on 06 December 2012 - 18:51, said:

The Surface RT isn't even meant for the damn enterprise. That's what the PRO is for.

Neither was the iPad yet LCD Execs still approved their purchases...

I don't think the iPad will beat Surface personally, even with its glaring problems simply because its correctable on the device itself. The iPad requires so much more investment on the back end (Citrix) to provide even the most basic of functionality to begin with. And even after all that hassle, it still can't compete with the Surface.

The lack of an official RDP app on iOS doesn't help things either. Sure they work, but you still need a 'touch friendly' TS to realize the full benefits - which many of the 3rd party ones simply don't support well enough from my tests.

I think MS is also in a much better position to exploit enterprise grade apps too, compared to the consumer driven ones.

[Scorbing]

The only thing the iPad has going for it that Surface doesn't is the Apps. Other than that, they are both fine devices.

[neufuse]

Dashel, on 06 December 2012 - 19:29, said:

Neither was the iPad yet LCD Execs still approved their purchases...

I don't think the iPad will beat Surface personally, even with its glaring problems simply because its correctable on the device itself. The iPad requires so much more investment on the back end (Citrix) to provide even the most basic of functionality to begin with. And even after all that hassle, it still can't compete with the Surface.

The lack of an official RDP app on iOS doesn't help things either. Sure they work, but you still need a 'touch friendly' TS to realize the full benefits - which many of the 3rd party ones simply don't support well enough from my tests.

I think MS is also in a much better position to exploit enterprise grade apps too, compared to the consumer driven ones.

what they mean to say is the Surface wasn't made for Active Directory integration.... which allows total control of the devices settings with group policy and centralized user management

[neo158]

MorganX, on 06 December 2012 - 18:26, said:

Going to keep this brief.

Executives ramping pressure for iPad's and RDP for iPad after begin given Surfaces.

Syncing music and media between desktop, tablet, and phone, matters. Yes, even in business. Executives do this by the gigs, it's the only technical thing they can do and with the Apple products and iTunes it just works.

Microsoft has left us nothing, we lose. Even though RDP is far superior on Surface, and free.

Does anyone else get it. Am I the only one that sees that releasing Windows 8, Surface, Windows Phone 8, the dysfunctional Music App, and meaningless Windows Phone App, with no single media management hub for music, playlists, videos, ala iTunes is just a disaster?

I hate iPads in the enterprise, but, we lose.

I agree. In it's current form, Surface, is not for enterprise use just like the first version of Windows Phone. I think that will change when Surface Pro is released though. I say this because you need to remember that Surface Pro is a fully capable PC in a tablet form factor, running Windows 8 Pro, compatible with Surface RT accessories, the iPad isn't. The Surface Pro will allow businesses to replace both Laptops and iPads, assuming both are being used in the same workplace, with one device that has the capabilities of both.

I see Surface RT as a media consumption device aimed at consumers, a direct competitor to the iPad.