Logos on ;Surface Pro 7 vs Ipad Pro or Ipad Air 4

Please help. I can't decide on which hardware to buy to make use of Logos as a sometimes preacher and ongoing Bible student and recent Seminary graduate.

What are the pros and cons of each hardware and Operating system? I am upgrading from an old Surface Pro 3. Apple os would be brand new to me. Someone said an IPad Air 4 with floating magic keyboard might be easier to use.

Suggestions? Advice?

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Comments

Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell

Yo! I have no opinions as regards iPads since I don't own one. I have, however been a Surface Pro user for years (Surface Pro 2 followed by Surface Pro 7 last year). My reasons for loving those awesome tools is because:

1. For all our criticism of Microsoft and Windows (and I'm good at it too!), by gum, when they do hardware-related stuff, they do it RIGHT (I once had a Microsoft mouse, very expensive to buy, for about 10-15 years before it died!)

2. The fact is that a Surface Pro is a Full-Powered-Computer-In-A-Smaller-Tablet format... I have EVERYHING on it, in full versions, and it can go with me anywhere. My husband, who's been using my old Surace Pro 2. was "complaining" about the "only one" USB port. My response, with some asperity, "that's why someone invented USB Hubs, dear. Why? How many USB ports do you have on YOUR iPad?!"

So there ya go... why I'll be a Surface Pro fan till I die... [:D]

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1176858#Comment_1176858

Thanks Carmen God bless you and your hubby. Any ipad air 4 fans weighing in too?

JT (alabama24)

I can't decide

It has been a decade and you still don't know! [:P]

Suggestions? Advice?

The devices are very different.

If I could only have one device, it would be a macBook of some variety.
If I could only have two devices, it would be a macBook and an iPhone.
If I could only have three devices, it would be a macBook, iPhone, iPad.

The iPad is a fantastic device. I use mine daily. However, it can't help me navigate my way around a new city. When it comes to researching and writing, a keyboard and good pointing device is a must.

There are people who love their surface devices. That <may> be the best thing for you. It is not the best tablet. It is not the best computer. But if you have a genuine need for both, that might do it.

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1176869#Comment_1176869

Thanks Jt. Yes still searching. I made do with the sp3 for years. How is the ipaid air pen for something i hope is simple like highlighting?

Anyone rely exclusively on ipaid air 4 with keyboard?

Anyone preach in front of people holding just the air or from a desk using the presenter software I confess I have never touched?

Ever seen a pastor holding up his surface pro 7 for preaching or teaching?

Am I dreaming?

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1176918#Comment_1176918

Ever seen a pastor holding up his surface pro 7 for preaching or teaching?

I have had both my SP1 and SP4 in the pulpit and to do weddings/funerals without a lectern.

I have also used an iPad for preaching and currently use an SP7 to study and write my sermon, then use my Kindle Fire Tablet in the pulpit to run the Proclaim Remote. (I also have a print Bible and printed notes in a binder) I am comfortable with redundancy for the times that either lights go out and I can't read my paper resources or technology glitches and I can't access my electronic resources.

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1176926#Comment_1176926

Wow what a great reply. Very encouraging. When the lights go out I hope God will respond to COME LORD JESUS let me shine for you and through me for your glory alone..

Blessings Mr. Thomas

Jack M. Tenney

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1176930#Comment_1176930

Just to reply to above statements. Using a tablet whether an Apple tablet or windows device they work. I use a surface book 2 and its great. O and you do not have to buy the high priced units to do this. Mine is a 256gig ssd and its fine. I purchased a Base Qi adapter and put in a micro sd card and it is flush with the side of laptop - tablet. That bumped it an additional 128 gigs. O and two batteries in the unit. So Yes you can do it but when I preach i have a printed Bible and Paper sermon. With computers things do Happen.

Jack

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1176918#Comment_1176918

Anyone preach in front of people holding just the air or from a desk using the presenter software I confess I have never touched?

I regularly preach using an iPad (not the Air) and it works fine.

I also use the iPad to control Proclaim - which I assume is the presentation software you are referring to

Although the iPad does not support the full range of Logos features available on the desktop I have found it ideal for preaching from / controlling Proclaim.

With Proclaim I get the ability to move slides on and also to see the notes I have created in the Sermon Builder.

With the Logos app, I can also see my notes and move the slides on - and with one of the recent updates to the app I can now edit my sermon on the iPad as well.

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1176951#Comment_1176951

"Although the iPad does not support the full range of Logos features available on the desktop..." you wrote.

I am still so muddled. Can I only get a full range featured copy of Logos on a Surface Pro Windows machine or does the Logos app on Mac or in Safari still work similarly as I use it on my Windows Surface Pro 3? (the one I kept for 10 years and may wind up just keeping as this is all so confusing).

I want to upgrade to run primarily the Microsoft Office apps and Outlook, and a full working version of Logos 9.x Silver. I hope to preach from the detachable portion too and maybe one day use proclaim with it....but thats long range. I know I will use the make a slide functionality for sure and I want to read books and be able to mark sections with an electronic pen easily (feel free to chuckle here). Is this possible?

I just wondered if Surface Pro 7 is best or maybe I should try Ipad Air 4 or some other detachable tablet I can add a keyboard to?

I might keep the SP3 and add some mac tablet device (not sure of the lingo). Ipad pro better? Not sure that has grippable form factor. I think I might try for 8 gig of ram and at least 128 to accommodate all my library etc.

Thanks for everyone to trying to help me out.

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1176990#Comment_1176990

Can I only get a full range featured copy of Logos on a Surface Pro Windows machine or does the Logos app on Mac or in Safari still work similarly

There are effectively three ways to run Logos:

By installing the full app onto a desktop / laptop - such as a Windows Surface Pro or a MacBook (this gives full functionality with a few minor UI differences
By installing the mobile app onto a smartphone / tablet - this includes the iPad (this provides lesser functionality than on the desktop)
By using the web app in a browser - this is more like the desktop interface but not all of the desktop features are implemented

I want to upgrade to run primarily the Microsoft Office apps and Outlook, and a full working version of Logos 9.x Silver.

If that is what you want - and specifically thinking of the full working version of Logos 9.x Silver - then you need to go with option 1 which means something like a Surface Pro or MacBook but not the iPad in any of its forms

maybe one day use proclaim with it

Similarly, while we can control a Proclaim presentation from a mobile device, we need the full app (running on a desktop / laptop) to create them

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1177004#Comment_1177004

Thanks Graham. I may just upgrade my Surface Pro 3 to a 7 for now.

I am NOT making the switch to MAC OS on a portable detachable device yet as I was told by someone else I needed

MAC OS BIG SUR

...no detachable portable mac or apple ipad device runs it yet. [:P]

In short, I am back to square one and back to Surface Pro as a possible solution.

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1177026#Comment_1177026

I am NOT making the switch to MAC OS on a portable detachable device yet as I was told by someone else I needed

MAC OS BIG SUR

This is simply the latest version of the Mac OS operating system (the operating system on their laptops and desktops)

...no detachable portable mac or apple ipad device runs it yet

Apple do not provide touch screen laptops and the iPad runs a different OS - iPad OS.

So with what you seem to be looking for I agree you need a Windows-based solution.

Mike Binks

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1177026#Comment_1177026

Graham's option 3 might work for some folk.

iPad with the Mobile App for when it is useful

iPad with the WebApp for when more is required

Bluetooth keyboard to carry around, and then find that the on screen keyboard is really convenient, and so you only use it at home for big projects.

Still not the desktop experience (yet).

David Carter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1177026#Comment_1177026

Thanks Graham. I may just upgrade my Surface Pro 3 to a 7 for now.

Rumor has it there is a Surface Pro 8 coming in the fall, so you might want to wait a couple of months if you're thinking of upgrading.

Mike Childs

If you are using an old Surface Pro 3, then you are running the full Logos on it. If you go to an iPad, you are going to only have the option of running the mobile Logos app on it. Many of the features of the full Logos will not be available to you. You will basically have the same mobile app as you would have on a cell phone. Of course, the web app is an option that will give you more functions than the mobile app, but it is not the same as running the full Logos on your device.

The iPad is a wonderful device. It does what it does very well. But I would not want it for my main study device because it cannot run the full Logos program. But it is great for reading your Logos library, and anything else.

If you have been running an old Surface Pro 3, you would see marked improvements on a new Surface Pro. That is what I would recommend from the information you have given.

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1177357#Comment_1177357

Thanks. Great advice from everyone. Bless you all.

JoshInRI

Dear Joshua

Praise God your wife bought you the Surface Pro 7 today. Now get going in Bible research, writing sermons, and sharing the Gospel, basically doing what God called you to do over 30 years ago.

Glory to God...Jesus Lead On!

The Holy Spirit

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1177580#Comment_1177580

Roll your eyes...it's OK. Surface pro 7 is fanless and imho gets too hot. I returned it fir a full refund. I will make do with my surface pro 3. 🤪

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1177738#Comment_1177738

Roll your eyes...it's OK.

[:D]

Michael

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1177738#Comment_1177738

Roll your eyes...it's OK. Surface pro 7 is fanless and imho gets too hot. I returned it fir a full refund. I will make do with my surface pro 3. 🤪

The i5 version is fanless. The i7 version still has a fan.

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1177763#Comment_1177763

yes i know and the fanless one overheats. I cant afford the I7 with fan. Will wait and see what October brings.

danwdoo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1178309#Comment_1178309

I have a Pro7+ i7 with a fan. Heat is reasonable, but battery life could always be longer. Likely won't see much improvement with the 8 in these factors unless at a minimum Intel Alder lake chips are inside with promised lower power usage and big little core options (similar to what ARM does to get efficiency benefits). Even then this is untested technology for Intel so who knows how well the first generation of these chips will actually perform in these areas. Since these chips are set to be released later this year, it's questionable if a Pro 8 would include them since Microsoft often does not included very recently released chip generations in their hardware, but it's always possible!

Bura

Last year I purchased the latest regular ipad and the surface pro 11. There's no way I would trade the surface pro for even the iPad Pro. I am grateful to have my full logos software full functionality on my Surface Pro.

I do not have to worry about apples issues with logos selling books through the application as well as any other limitations on the iPad. On the surface pro in Lagos I can click on a resource that is not in my library and it will take me to the bookstore where I am able to purchase it. Unable to do this on any Apple product. Not tried it on Apple laptops. I was a huge Apple fan and at one time manager of a team of tech support specialists for Apple. It was great company to work for but mainly because of Logos I have gone back to the windows world.

While the Surface Pro Eleven is heavier than I thought or hoped for I wouldn't trade it for anything that I have found so far. I am a retired IT professional. My only regret is not getting it with the two-terabyte drive versus the one terabyte I have now. I am nowhere close to maximizing it. Know that I will eventually need the additional space and that will lengthen the life of this computer slash tablet.