Advantages of Microsoft Surface Over Apple’s iPad

Mike Klubok - Computer Concierge NY LLC Owner with an Apple iPad at The Apple Store in New York.

My recent article showed some of the advantages of the Microsoft Surface over Apple’s iPad. The advantages are not all one sided.  Today I will look at this issue from the other side.  And there certainly are advantages that the iPad has over the Microsoft Surface.

A big advantage right now is that there are many more apps available for the iPad than the Surface.  I expect that this gap will lessen over time but for right now, this is a big advantage that the iPad offers.

If portability is important to you the iPad is thinner and lighter than the Surface as well.  In addition you can use the iPad for a slightly longer time before needing to recharge the battery.

If picture quality is important to you, the Apple iPad has Surface beat hands down.  Surface has a 1MP front and rear camera while the iPad has a 5MP rear camera and a 1.2MP front camera. That said, newer smartphones are likely to have an 8MP rear camera and likely a front camera that is about 1.2MP.

For a display, the iPad is the one to go with.  The retina display is superior and the higher resolution makes it more suitable for reading, watching movies and playing games.

You likely have heard of Siri, the personal assistant that comes with the iPhone. Well it also comes with the iPad.  Nothing like this is currently available with Surface.

While the iPad supports POP (Post office protocol), Surface does not. POP in addition to IMAP are the two most common internet standard protocols used to retrieve email. Microsoft offers workarounds and this is a factor to take into consideration.  Bottom line is that for the iPad connection to POP is a piece of cake.

When I purchased my iPad I did not purchase it new.  Rather I purchased a refurbished one online paying about 25% less than had I bought one new.  I get the same warranty and it went through the usual Apple tests and certifications. I also am very happy with it in this respect. Click on the link to the Apple Store to learn more. Note that the Apple Store does not sell refurbished items which of course includes the iPad.  

In my personal opinion the biggest advantage of the iPad is its ease of use.  This is particularly so if you have an iPhone as they both are similar to use. With Surface you first have to figure out how to navigate the tiles.  The charms bar is at the right of the screen and not readily visible.  I like that with the iPad I simply push the “On” button and proceed to click on the app I wish to use. While I am primarily a PC user, I found the iPad and iPhone both easy to learn as I do other Apple products.

So which is for you? It depends what is important to you.  In a nutshell if you are largely producing rather than consuming data take a long look at Surface. If ease of use and the display is important the iPad may very well be what you are looking for. Apple’s website has a lot more on the iPad if you wish to learn more about it.

If you have further questions about a tablet computers or other technology, I can be contacted at (917) 572-3468 or email me at mike@computerconciergeny.com .

Computer Concierge NY LLC  on Facebook provides information on the current goings on in the technology field with tips to better use your technology. For timely information, please visit my page.

Computer Concierge NY LLC provides expert computer and technology services in the Queens, NY area. This includes Albertson, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Bay Terrace, Bellerose, College Point, Douglaston, Floral Park,  Flushing, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Mineola, Munsey Park,  New Hyde Park, North Hills, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens, Plandome, Rego Park, Roslyn, The Bay Club, Thomaston, University Gardens, Williston Park, Whitestone and Other Areas in the Bayside NY vicinity.  Our web services are provided worldwide.

Advantages of Microsoft Surface Over Apple’s iPad

Mike Klubok the Owner of Computer Concierge NY LLC trying a Microsoft Surface in Queens NY

Many of you have seen the advertisements for the Microsoft Surface that was recently released. Microsoft has a bit riding on it. This tablet has quite a few advantages over the acclaimed iPad. Note that when comparing the two I am talking about the current basic versions that are both priced at $499.

A big advantage of Surface is that you can use an external Micro SDXC card.  You can purchase a 32 GB one made by Sandisk from Amazon for about $35 based upon my recent checking. There is also a connection for attaching a USB drive as well.  I recently purchased a 16 GB USB drive at Staples for under $10.  For the iPad you need to purchase an adapter that costs at least $19.  There is one for an SD card but when looking at the Apple website I did not see one for an SDXC card.  Because of this, it is easier to upload pictures to it.  I personally have a memory card reader that connects to my computer using the USB drive that I purchased for under $10. I take it with me when I go on vacation to upload pictures that I take to my computer and I could use it to upload to a Surface as well.

I would be more willing to let others share my iPad but they would then have full access to my email, Facebook, LinkedIn accounts, etc.  Microsoft’s Surface allows me to set up separate User Accounts just like my computer does. I could then give someone else access to a Guest account without them having the full access to my personal accounts. forest hills computer repair, forest hills, north shore towers

Microsoft Office 2013 comes with Surface.  This is because of 2 reasons them being 1) Microsoft owns both Surface and Office and 2) Surface with the optional keyboard cover is intended to for creating and consuming data. The iPad is more for consuming data.  That said you can purchase a wireless keyboard for an iPad but it is not a cover as well. The iPad does not come with a spreadsheet, word, presentation or office suite program. north shore towers, forest hills computer, great neck computer, 

Surface comes with a built in kickstand which allows you to view the screen in an upright position. With an iPad you need to stand it up against an object or purchase a cover that has a stand.

If you want to print, Surface is a whole lot easier to do from then from an iPad. It is easy to make a connection that is seamless. Printing from an iPad is a lot more difficult.  forest hills

One final note here.  The basic version of Surface comes with 32 GB storage and the iPad comes with 16 GB. This is deceiving because of the 32 GB, the system software uses ½ of that leaving 16 GB free. The net free storage on an iPad is 14-15 GB. While Surface has an advantage it is not significant.

My next article will list the advantages of the iPad over Microsoft Surface.  Then it is your call if you are deciding which of the two to buy.

If you have further questions about a tablet computers or other technology, I can be contacted at (917) 572-3468 or email me at mike@computerconciergeny.com.

My Facebook page provides information on the current goings on in the technology field with tips to better use your technology. For timely information, please visit my page.

Computer Concierge NY LLC provides expert computer and technology services in the Queens, NY area. This includes Albertson, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Bay Terrace, Bellerose, College Point, Douglaston, Floral Park,  Flushing, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Mineola, Munsey Park,  New Hyde Park, North Hills, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens, Plandome, Rego Park, Roslyn, The Bay Club, Thomaston, University Gardens, Williston Park, Whitestone and Other Areas in the Bayside, NY vicinity.  Our web services are provided worldwide.

Should Your Next Computer Be A Mac Or PC?

I was talking with a client the other day who is in the market for a new computer.  He currently has an older computer, is a PC owner and is thinking about buying a Mac this time around.  Wondering whether to go the Mac route or buy a PC again.  It is a question I get on an ongoing basis.

There are advantages to both.  Approximately 12% of computers in use today are Macs and PCs (Microsoft Operating System) account for 85% and 3% are other. A big factor is cost.  If you buy a Mac expect to pay a premium for it.  This is because Microsoft licenses its operating system to Dell, HP, Lenovo among others so there is competition.  If you wish to buy a Mac, Apple is the only manufacturer. 

You also have more varieties to choose from when you are choosing a PC as the same companies Microsoft licenses its operating system to build their own models.

Macs are not as prone to viruses and other forms of malware.  Note that I did not say you cannot get a virus on a Mac. Those who program viruses are less likely to make them to affect a Mac due to their market share.  When they asked Willie Sutton why he robbed banks he responded, "Because that's where the money is."  Why go after 12% of the market when you can go after 85%? In April 2012 Kaspersky noted that Mac’s platform was a decade behind Microsoft’s when it came to computer security. Link for article.  Again the lower market share is why Macs are not as prone to viruses.

Apple is known for their exceptional customer service.  Their Genius Bar provides free technical support in person. Apple also offers free training as well again in person.  I also suggest if you are buying a Mac you purchase an Apple Care plan.  It is an extended warranty plan for both your computer and questions you have related to using it. The costs to repair a Mac are higher than repairing a PC.

The gap has greatly lessened for these two factors but the availability of software programs for PCs is greater than for Macs.  On the other side, Macs are easier to use as well as quicker to start up and shut down.  That said, Windows has greatly narrowed the gap here and will be coming out with their new operating system Windows8 in October.  Apple last updated their operating system in late July of this year.

In determining whether a Mac or PC is for you these are some of the factors to consider. Every situation is different so I cannot give a one size fits all answer. If you have additional questions about whether a Mac or PC would work better for you, I can be reached at (917) 572-3468 or email me at mike@computerconciergeny.com 

My Facebook page http://on.fb.me/MikesCCNY provides information on the current goings on in the technology field. There are tips to better use your computer and smartphone. For timely information, please visit and "Like" my page.

Computer training and many types of computer repairs can be done remotely. If you or someone you know needs either training to better use your computer or repairs I am now doing it on a remote basis in addition to in person locally.

http://computerconciergeny.com/3/post/2012/10/joinme-how-to-use-to-allow-someone-to-remotely-view-and-control-your-computer.html takes you to a narrative to use Join.me. It is a very user friendly site and it is easy to temporarily allow control of your computer. I also did an online video as well which is on the following link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyRSqpYNVQY


Except for customized Excel spreadsheets which are provided in the USA and Canada, Computer Concierge NY LLC provides expert computer and technology services in the Queens, NY area. This includes Albertson, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Bay Terrace, Bellerose, College Point, Douglaston, Floral Park,  Flushing, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Mineola, Munsey Park,  New Hyde Park, North Hills, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens, Plandome, Rego Park, Roslyn, The Bay Club, Thomaston, University Gardens, Williston Park, Whitestone and Other Areas in the Bayside, NY vicinity.

Password Protection Revisited

A few months back I did a post on password protection.  http://bit.ly/d4nvD5.   As a follow up there are additional items to consider regarding password protection.  My previous post mentioned that a secure password should have a minimum of 8 characters.  The thinking regarding this minimum number is changing to where a minimum of 12 and up to 14 characters should be used for a secure password.  Microsoft has a website where you can check your password strength as shown.  http://bit.ly/1F3MKA  They recommend a minimum of 14 characters.


An important thing to consider is when you set up a user name and password on a site, you may have to answer at least 1 security question.  This is in the event you forget your password, the site will ask you a question that you need to answer correctly in order to regain access to your account.  Perhaps the most common is asking for your mother's maiden name.  As I am noting in the next paragraph, be careful of how you answer these questions.  You do not have to give a correct answer but remember the answer you give.


A while back I wrote on how your future employer gets to know you before they meet you.  http://bit.ly/9AGqbR  In it I mentioned why you need to be careful about what you post online.  Here is another reason.  What you post can directly and indirectly be used to obtain information that can answer those security questions and not necessarily posted by you.  For example the question of your mother's maiden name.  If your mother is a Facebook friend of yours and uses her maiden name as part of her name, there is the answer to the question of your mother's maiden name.  For the question of your mother's maiden name, you may want to use something else like a neighbor's last name, a friend's maiden name, etc.   Discover Card asks the question "What city were you married in?"  If you have been married more than once, you can use the city of your first marriage.  I think you get what I am saying here.  During the 2008 presidential election, Sarah Palin's personal email account was hacked because a lot of her personal information was out there and the hacker knew the information needed to answer her security question.


In closing, be careful again of what you post online.  This information can be used to access online accounts that you would not want others to access.

Windows Live Hotmail

To paraphrase, this is the web based email service formerly known as Hotmail and Windows Hotmail. With approximately 360 million subscribers, it is one of the larger email services and is owned by Microsoft.  While I was not able to locate the maximum amount of storage using Windows Live Hotmail (Hotmail) they advertise as "ever increasing storage." Last year the liveside.net website showed a maximum storage amount of 500gb which these days might be considered unlimited. You can attach up to 25mg to an email message which is currently the standard for most email providers.

One of the advantages of Hotmail is the ability to change the interface and look of the webmail page very easily.  You can set up your reading pane to preview messages before opening it. A lot of people like this ability as you can see the message and delete it without opening it.  The preview pane can be on the right side or bottom. Another feature is the "Sweep" function.  This can be a great function for cleaning up a cluttered mailbox and is a very useful tool. With this function you can select a message or message group to clean up.  You can delete all or move to a folder.  There are more options and the choice is yours. Further if doing a sweep by email address, you can easily set up a filter for all future emails from that address.

Like Gmail, you can also view messages by conversation which keeps all messages on the same subject together in an email stream. 

There are concerns mainly with the contacts list which is used with many an email message.  Using the contact list is not the most user friendly.  When importing to Hotmail, I found that I needed to go to each email address and edit the address so it appears like it did prior to importing.  You also cannot delete all of your contacts at 1 time.  At most, you can delete 25 contacts at a time.  While your Gmail contacts cannot be deleted all at once, you can delete up to 100 contacts at a time.  I did not find the import feature too friendly when importing your contacts file.  I needed to search for the way to do this.  Same goes for importing Yahoo contacts.  You may be better exporting your Yahoo contacts as a .csv file then importing that file into your Hotmail contacts.

In addition to what has been noted, having a Hotmail account gives you access to other features of Windows Live. It may work for you.