I’m going to keep this short and precise. After weeks of testing the results are in:
Speed:
Winner: Ipad Mini
Reliability
Winner: Ipad Mini
Why: You may find with RDP that the connection might freeze, but when you reconnect you are able to carry on from where you left off unlike the local method if there is a connection issue the software will freeze, a error will come up and you will have to relaunch the software. Orders have been lost on the HP Stream.
Cost
Winner: HP Stream at only £99 whereas a iPad Mini will cost £199
Convenience of Use
Winner: iPad Mini
Why: 1" advantage over the HP Stream and simply the bigger the better. The 7" screen is better operated with a touchpen whereas the iPad using your fingers in fine. Also the iPad is a slimmer and slightly lighter tablet. Both have great batterry life and once fully charged will easily cope with 10-12hr usage. Lowering the screen brightness will improve battery life.
Overall Winner
iPad Mini
It might cost more but reliability, speed and convenience of use outweighs the difference by a mile. The local method can be improved if the way the software handles the lost of connection better. i.e having a reconnect option instead of the software crashing. If I was to buy a Windows tablet again, it will have to have a minimum screen size of 8".
Request for better handling of crashes has been requested in this post:
Thats a very good point. Never even crossed my mind to use pocketcloud on the HP Stream. I no longer have the tablet as it was too small for our menu so cant test.
I personally still find windows tablets a more cost friendly purchase. RDP or not they just offer more for less in most situations that I came across. I will write a review of the surface pro 3 vs iPad air as I own both. Both are rather costly but I find I get more utility from my surface.
Good review though I am sure many wondered how it did for you.
I also own a surface 2 which can connect RDP I will post some screens of it as well.
Something interesting with the next windows server version is multipoint desktop services.