May and June were busy months for Microsoft and Apple, as both companies unveiled new 2-in-1 devices that continue the successful Surface and iPad Pro lineups.
Apple's increasing focus on the iPad Pro is living proof that Cupertino is now betting on large 2-in-1 devices, while initially ignoring this market and even seemed to be "playing" with Microsoft for investing in it. That's why Microsoft's Surface division general manager Ryan Gavin said that it's clear that Apple is copying his company, using the same ideas in products like the iPad Pro.
"We've been perfecting our products in the 2-in-1 category for years, and when Surface initially came out, everyone was pretty skeptical, including Apple. Then they followed suit, and the iPad Pro is a clear example," he said in an interview with BI.
While there is no doubt that Gavin is right, he is probably forgetting many important examples that show that the exact opposite is also true.
It is worth mentioning as an example to follow Apple's operating system, which is essentially a mobile platform for desktop and mobile devices. The vision of a common platform started in Cupertino and was adopted by Microsoft, which is now developing Windows 10 for desktop and mobile devices.
Not to mention Apple's update model, but also its built-in app stores (see Microsoft's equivalent Windows Store).
On the other hand, the Surface RT really didn't impress, mainly due to the limited functionality of Windows RT, and then Apple CEO Tim Cook didn't miss the opportunity to make fun of the fact by saying that the Surface was a mix between a refrigerator and a toaster.
But once the Surface became a successful product, more manufacturers began to invest in 2-in-1s with a frenzy. Apple not only followed the trend and released an iPad with a keyboard, but also developed a stylus very similar to Microsoft's Surface Pen.
Gavin said that when developing the new Surface models, “we didn’t look at Apple models,” although he admitted that his company usually pays attention to its rivals. In the case of the Surface, however, we’re talking about “innovation,” according to Redmond, a term that Apple has forgotten anyway.
