Is Microsoft's or Apple's tablet better?

I'm thinking of buying a new tablet, but I'm not sure which one. You can choose between the Apple iPad Pro 2020 and the Microsoft Surface Pro 7. In addition to my tablet, I would also buy a case with a keyboard.

I need a tablet that I can write well with because I'm actively writing books. At the same time, a few apps should run on it (games, Netflix, etc.) and I would like to be able to watch videos in high quality.

Since I'm not very familiar with technical devices, I preferred to ask here before I buy the wrong one. It would be great if I could also use the tablet for school, but it's not absolutely necessary because I also have books for school that I can write into.

I would also be interested in how different the operating systems from Apple and Microsoft are, since I've only had Apple devices until now, and never one from Microsoft.

Apart from the games it doesn't matter for your requirements. There are games for both the IPad and the surface, in the end only Windows runs, what you can play on it also depends a lot on the model of the surface. So the iPad is used to play and it doesn't really matter for anything else.

Personally, I would choose the Surface out of experience and conviction. Since I've used Microsoft products for the most part in my life, I'm more used to this system. If I were you, I would rather make decisions based on this criterion. You know your way around Apple and you probably have other devices in use, so it only makes sense to stick with this ecosystem.

Microsoft is a little more open, but Apple locks itself in a bit, which has advantages and disadvantages.

Both systems are equally well suited to your needs.

As far as update cycles are concerned, with the iPad you are provided for years without any problems.

The Surface is a PC that can also be used as a tablet, but neither the OS nor the device itself is designed for it (it is quite big and heavy for a tablet). So if you need a PC with a decent pen input and the possibility of using it as a tablet, the Surface should be the device of your choice (theoretically you could even connect an external GPU via the USB-C / TB3 interface and then play properly, here I would use the i7 model).

The iPad Pro is a tablet with a mobile OS, an ARM chip (on which no x86 / AMD64 programs run). Due to the possibility of connecting a keyboard, theoretically even a mouse (not recommended) and other improvements such as a file explorer and split screen, it can also be used as a PC to a limited extent. But really everything outside of classic surfing & office is problematic, even something like printing documents (works with newer prints via Bonjour), connecting a second monitor (works e.g. Via Apple TV), and much more is cramped. As a tablet, however, it is lighter, feels better in the hand, pen input is slightly better and the entire OS is optimized for this type of input.

The devices may look similar, but it is a comparison between apples and pears, because both are only really good in their discipline.

The Surface, because you can use real Windows programs on it, not just the apps.

Thanks for the detailed answer.

That also applies to Windows, I think you are confusing Windows with Android here.

Incidentally, you simply install the latest OS on PCs if Microsoft should release a new version…