Apple's New iPad Is Threatening Windows Devices; How Is Microsoft Responding?

The new Apple iPad Pro will officially launch at the end of March 2016 and is threatening several Windows products, especially PCs. The Apple iPad Pro is being marketed as the ultimate PC replacement, with its 9.7-inch display, powerful processor and huge memory. Microsoft is trying to bounce back from the onslaught.

At present, the Apple iPad is arguably the best-selling tablet in the world. The product has also been offered in a number of forms such as the Apple iPad Mini, iPad Air and now, the iPad Pro. The tablet has allowed users to perform various activities on-the-go instead of relying on Windows PCs. The availability of accessories, such as the Smart Connector that allows a keyboard to be linked to the iPad, further posed threats to Windows laptops.

Apple Insider states that the Apple iPad, being an iOS device, is preferred by millions of users because of its simple design. Users do not have to worry about hardware and there are fewer virus and malware threats. The iPad Pro, despite its larger screen size and more powerful specifications, is still lightweight and compact.

Microsoft is fighting back to maintain its importance in the market, writes ZD Net. PC manufacturers continue to create new designs, adapting the features that made tablets quite popular.

Microsoft PCs have the advantage of power and stability. Workers generally need a fixed display, keyboard and mouse to perform various tasks over several hours. Multitasking is still one of the key features of a PC, which tablets are trying hard to accomplish. Microsoft PCs also have the advantage of longevity. Getting a decent computer at present will still perform just as well or even better than an Apple iPad a few years ahead.

Microsoft recently introduced the Continuum, a new app that allows phones and mobile devices to function like a PC. Microsoft also continues to produce state-of-the-art PCs that can perform data or processor-intensive tasks, which the Apple iPad cannot do. Microsoft also continues to enhance its operating system, namely Windows 10, to offer more than the capacity of current-generation Apple iPads, including the iPad Pro. Despite the iPad Pro’s power, Windows PCs are still ahead in terms of specifications and capabilities.