Apple IOS vs Andriod vs MS Surface

[original PM]

Ok so lets say as a company we are about to move down the route of using tablet type devices for some of our offices.

It's a strategic move so something we are looking for something to use for the next 5-10 years.

Can any give any reasonable pro's/con's for the available options?

Thinking not just in terms of cost/abilities of hardware/software but also in terms of ease to develop for etc.

Any ramblings/useful advice most appreicate.

[Pondlife]

What sort of thing will they be used for? Just Email/tinterweb or another specific purpose eg processing transactions?
If other software than std office fayre is needed is it going to have to run 'on' the device or would it be browser based?

I'm not sure of the benefits of the 3 platforms but you're more likely to get a reasoned response with more info provided, otherwise you'll just get the usual fanboi/fandroid/M$ type response IMHO.

[original PM]

cheers Pondy

initially it may just be used for say connecting to browser based applications (probably in house developed) (and by that i mean a web page where data etc can be entered - limited to no fucntionality other than that)

Interweb and e-mail also but expected as a given regardless of which platform is used.

Longer term the dev team will be create actual apps - and that is really when we need to know what platform we will be using.

Although is developing apps for different platforms a case of developing for one and tweaking to fit the others or are they completely different?

In addition we are a mainly windows organisation so is it better?? to keep everything MS?

Appreciate probably still lots of info needed and I will get the usual fanboi rubbish - but we are looking for the next 5-10 years and not just to the next shiny apple product.

Apologies if some stuff I say is not technically correct - feel free to correct me!

[northernladuk]

What about cost and durability?

I would think the cost of 200+ ipads against a more generic less desirable brand would be a factor? What are the ipad screens like? As delicate as the iphones or do they bear up better? I can't imagine the i-products are as durable for office use but happy to be corrected on that one.

Gotta ask one question though.... Are tablets really ready for 5-10 year work times? From what I can see they become almost redundant in a year and with so many version changes is compatibility over that period going to be a problem?

My client trialled tablets with the mobile workforce and it didn't work. They preferred the Lenovo X220's with reversible screens that they already had so they weren't carrying two items. Next trials will be along the same lines but something lighter and slimmer. Not sure the details as I am out of that area now.

Depends on what they are needed for I guess.

[original PM]

Cost and Durability

A good point - well made hardware but not neccesarily flashy or the newest/fastest.

As an example many laptops etc which were built say 5 years ago are still compatible with about 4 versions of windows (e.g. xp, vista, 7 and 8?)

But are Apple and Android products as flexible as that?

It is that future proofing I guess we are looking for a bit of confidence in - we do not want to buy what could be 900+ units every 2 years when a major OS upgrade comes out, also do not want to have to upgrade all apps etc to fit in with new OS upgrade.

[northernladuk]

That would be my major worry but am biased as am not a gadgets for gadgets sake man but we do have people in the office that would try do their entire job on an ipad just because it's cool even thought they couldn't do it properly as they can't use any of the companies systems.

[rob s]

Wasn't surface/Win8 microsoft's gambit to bring it all back in house, with developers who already know how to code for wintel etc etc?

Is TCO still a relevant concept or did that go out in the 80s?

[Pondlife]

That would be my major worry but am biased as am not a gadgets for gadgets sake man but we do have people in the office that would try do their entire job on an ipad just because it's cool even thought they couldn't do it properly as they can't use any of the companies systems.

Wouldn't that be the case regardless of platform?

I have a tablet and agree that it's not the best tool for certain requirements but is the ideal one for others.

e.g. if I was doing a whole load of spreadsheet type work, I would prefer a big screen/keybd/mouse.
However, if I was working remotely/offsite taking readings of some sort then it would be ideal.

[d000hg]

I don't think cost per device is a real issue unless you're looking at top-end iPad or Surface Pro, since the dev costs will almost instantly dwarf the hardware costs.

For native apps, your people would (realistically) need to learn iOS+Objective C which is a whole new direction... new OS and new language together. Plus you (probably) need to set up your own private appstore which is more hassle again.

From a purely techy point of view a lot of Windows knowledge will transfer, but the Windows tablet scene is so immature you'd have some risk there although it's pretty hard to see MS just bailing on the platform in my view.

Android is the safe option, and probably the obvious option, but again you'll have new stuff to learn and will also have to traverse a very wide landscape of different OS versions, device capabilities, etc.

[SueEllen]

Wouldn't that be the case regardless of platform?

Not if they can access the company's systems via a web browser.

It would probably be better to spend some money now doing a trial of real users excluding a lot of those in management, most of those who are young and everyone who is in IT regardless of age, if they can access any of the company's systems using a web browser - that way you can avoid wasting time and money on a project that won't deliver what users want or need to do their work.