Over the weekend, Microsoft posted a new Surface Pro 7 with one of its most common themes (behind clicking hinges): comparing it to Apple"s products. Obviously, the comparison itself is no surprise since the alternative is comparing it to Microsoft"s own partners" products, but this is the first one to compare Surface to Apple"s new ARM-powered MacBook Pro.
The first thing that the host of the video says after announcing the two devices is, "The Surface comes with a pen", something that is absolutely untrue. Naturally though, the form factor is something that Microsoft loves to boast over MacBooks, with the touchscreen, pen support (even though the Surface Pen is sold separately), and even the detachable keyboard. The presenter expressed disappointment in being stuck with "what you got" in Apple"s MacBook Pro.
Then, the advertisement turned to a segment about power, and how the Surface Pro 7 can run your games. Of course, the Surface Pro 7+ is way better suited for playing games with its Iris Xe graphics, but for some reason, that one is limited to businesses. This segment was also geared toward app compatibility, the biggest issue that"s facing Apple"s M1 processor, or any new architecture for that matter. The bottom line is that Windows PCs with Intel processors just run the apps that you want.
And the final thing Microsoft pointed out was the price. While it wasn"t true that the Surface Pro 7 comes with a pen, the company did show prices that include the tablet, a keyboard, and the pen.
You"ll notice that the advertisement doesn"t mention Microsoft"s own ARM-powered PC, the Surface Pro X. The main reason would be that Microsoft simply wouldn"t have as much to brag about. App compatibility is even more of an issue with Windows on ARM than it is with Apple"s M1 processor, and on top of that, the Surface Pro X is more expensive than the Surface Pro 7.