S7+ vs. Microsoft Surface

[11B1P]

What's the difference between the S7+ and a Surface tablet? S7+ is a chromebook and the Surface is a pc? I have a Samsung Galaxy Book, but I believe it is windows based like a traditional pc. Isn't the S7+ a different os?

I just remembered why I was going back to the Surface line. A separate usb port! I like being able to charge the tablet and plug in an external hard drive at the same time. My Galaxy Book doesn't have this. Am I loosing the separate usb port on the S7+ ?

I'll tell you, Samsung is making it hard to not go with them. In the Shop Samsung app, the S7+ intro video makes it look pretty awesome.

 

[Gary_Berg]

S7/S7+ are Android tablets. Microsoft Surface rubs Windows 10. Very different devices.

 

[SpookDroid]

You're unfortunately comparing two very different devices targeted at very different usage cases. The Tab S7+ is, as stated above, an Android tablet (basically an overblown phone) that runs Android mobile apps. Now, most mainstream apps ARE optimized to look and work better on the larger screen, but some are just a stretched/re-framed version of the phone app (unlike iPad OS, that forces devs to further optimize their apps for the tablet experience). Samsung does add DeX, which aims to mimic the desktop experience by letting you open multiple apps in window mode that you can move, resize, etc. but you're still running mobile apps. Another draw of the Tab S line is the S-Pen, which allows you to use the digital pen on the tablet.

Now, the Surface Pro is pretty much a laptop: it runs a full desktop OS, Windows 10. So you run full desktop apps that, depending on the 'power use' case, you might not be able to find on mobile or would find in a very limited matter. It also supports a digital pen.

Chromebooks are essentially glorified web browsers that can run SOME mobile apps (but run most web apps you can access on a desktop browser). It's somewhere in the middle between a mobile OS and a desktop one. Same with a Surface Go product, which runs a different version of Windows that doesn't support most desktop apps as it uses a mobile processor instead. (Hope this last bit doesn't confuse you, but such is the state of computing products).

 

[11B1P]

Yeah I also have the original Surface Pro so I'm not totally out in left field.

My son has a chromebook from school. Is this what the S7+ is?

I use my Galaxy Book for web browsing 99% of the time. Not too much on installing apps from the Windows Store.

 

[joeldf]

My son has a chromebook from school. Is this what the S7+ is?.

No. Already described above, the S7+ is an Android tablet. The Chromebook is a different animal.

 

[11B1P]

No. Already described above, the S7+ is an Android tablet. The Chromebook is a different animal.

Sorry, I've been a pc guy since day one. Never used a chromebook or Android tablet. Trying to wrap my brain around the differences between an android tablet vs pc vs chromebook

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Sorry, I've been a pc guy since day one. Never used a chromebook or Android tablet. Trying to wrap my brain around the differences between an android tablet vs pc vs chromebook

Do you have an Android phone? Put a huge screen on it and you have an Android tablet. Google abandoned Android tablets years ago so very few developers bother to make apps optimized for the larger screen so you essentially run the same exact apps as your phone. Samsung does have what they call DeX which creates more of a standard desktop experience for the user interface, but you are still running the same apps as your phone.

For media consumption, browsing the web, or playing a few games an Android tablet is great, productivity it's dead last behind Windows, Chrome OS, and even Apples iPad.

Personally haven't bought an Android tablet since 2015, still own and use my Tab S2 occasionally, but my even older Surface Pro 3 gets far more use to this day still. For me windows is superior.

 

[11B1P]

Do you have an Android phone? Put a huge screen on it and you have an Android tablet. Google abandoned Android tablets years ago so very few developers bother to make apps optimized for the larger screen so you essentially run the same exact apps as your phone. Samsung does have what they call DeX which creates more of a standard desktop experience for the user interface, but you are still running the same apps as your phone.

For media consumption, browsing the web, or playing a few games an Android tablet is great, productivity it's dead last behind Windows, Chrome OS, and even Apples iPad.

Personally haven't bought an Android tablet since 2015, still own and use my Tab S2 occasionally, but my even older Surface Pro 3 gets far more use to this day still. For me windows is superior.

S10+. Media consumption is my biggest use. Don't need it for work or much productivity

 

[11B1P]

Well sh**. Had talked myself out of the S7+. Checked out the black friday deals again today and da** if I didn't pull the trigger on just the tablet. Got several discounts and decided to go for it. Had been flip-flopping between it and a Surface, but Samsung financing was the deciding factor. Now gotta find a case and keyboard on ebay.

 

[Guyinbox]

I just picked up the s7 plus and a UAG case on eBay for under $600. I sold my s6 a few months ago and really missed having an Android tablet around.
I know ipads are generally regarded as far superior to Android tabs, but i never liked the iPad I've been using in the meantime.

 

[SpookDroid]

IMHO, iPads have just better software experiences (since they are forced to be optimized for tablet use) and yes, processor is generally more powerful, but overall, I prefer the Tab S line (not any Android tablet is as capable!)... I can multitask the heck out of my day on it (instead of a toy two-app version), it connects better to all my devices, and I'm not locked to a single ecosystem (especially now with Windows integration).

But iPads aren't bad either, it just depends on what you use. What's the point of a great tablet like the Tab S if you need full Photoshop and graphic design apps on it that are just not there?

 

[o4liberty]

Microsoft has been a failure for years every update to windows has issues I avoid them like the plague.

 

[11B1P]

Microsoft has been a failure for years every update to windows has issues I avoid them like the plague.

Well my experience has been the opposite.

 

[kixfan]

Well my experience has been the opposite.

Same here...no issues with Win10.

 

[11B1P]

Same here...no issues with Win10.

I had no qualms with Win10. I'd still be using it, if not for needing, haha, more like wanting, a new "computer". Honestly, the only reason I'm on this S7+ is because it was more affordable thru Samsung than the Surface 7 Pro from MS.

 

[chevyman29]

Microsoft 360 works better on my tab s6 than on my hp spectre PC.
It's a shame that Microsoft own app works better on a different platform.

I'm so done with Windows PC for what I use a computer for.

As soon as a S7+ gets in stock at best buy I'm getting one.