Apple's MacBook Pro vs. Microsoft's Surface Book 2

[Maestrorobertus]

I have both and use both. Well I can’t give up on neither of one.
I shift haevy work and painting to the surface, which is so much faster and snappier then the Mac. Its graphic card just blows the Mac and its so sad that I can’t run FCPX on it, but then doing 3d stuff is my main business and the reason macOS is not my future.
Thats sad. I love macOS and its true the touchpad is much better, but the screens are mostly identical. Well macOS retina technology is also better, but I see no difference between Edge Browser and Safari.
I see many colleges leave Apple these days as Apple seem to ignore the needs of Pro Users and honestly my iPadPro never made it to a work tool. Oh I hate using the Apple pen. MS did it so much better.
I can only hope Apple comes to its senses and deliver a touch screen and drops the silly useless touch bar. And yes Nvidia please and no trashy Ati anymore. But I guees I will have to live with Windows for a while and honestly its just pain for a few weeks, then its ok.

 

[entropys]

There is a lot of ruin in a corporation.
I wonder which clever little MBA corporate convinced Tim Cook it was a good idea to depreciate the Mac?
This will take a long time to turn around. I don’t want a rerun of the nineties.

 

[mdbradigan]

I applaud Macrumors for a balanced review of a competitive product. Good stuff, and many thanks for it. Here's hoping that WWDC will bring enough excitement to make me view the SB2 as less competitive.

 

[FreemanW]

Tastes Great versus Less Filling.

A balanced critique of portables, and it does really boil down to personal preference and taste. Both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Infinite Vortex]

The big win for me on the Apple side is the fact that through BootCamp I don't have to choose which OS I use. So long as I buy a sufficiently large SSD I can use both. But the moment one is able to detach themselves from the Apple ecosystem then the Surface is a nice option that is well worth looking at.

FWIW the *only* reason I have an MBP with a Touch Bar is because of access to the higher processor speeds in the 13" model. There's quite a discrepancy to the non-TB model. I find the TB cumbersome as there is no tactile response from it (and that lack of tactile response results in my doing things I wouldn't have done with a physical key) and it doesn't even work when at the login window when FileVault is on. The number of adapters I need for it is a joke!

 

[MarkB786]

"Would you switch from an Apple machine to the Surface Book 2?"

No.

I did, and I love my SP. Sorry to shock you.

 

[gaximus]

I think Microsoft has Apple beat when it comes to laptop for designer and creative professionals (excluding dedicated tablets). But I think the touch bar is amazing a solutions to touch screens on a laptop. It responds the app on screen and gives you access to the buttons or options you would tap on the screen without having to move your fingers from the keyboard (Great for non-creative professionals). I know a few people with touch screen PC, and they never use the touch screen when in laptop mode.

As a Apple "Fanboy" I enjoy seeing reviews of apple products that don't necessarily come out on top, give apple a reason to step up their game. But I also love it when they crush the competition (not implying thats what they did here)

 

[jclo]

>> the keyboard redesign on the 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models has been receiving a lot of attention lately for reliability issues and its seemingly frequent failures, so the Surface Book 2 may have the edge here. <<

May have an edge? You're kidding right? The new Apple laptop keyboards, prone to failure, should render their laptops non recommendable - especially considering the price. I love Apple's stuff, but wouldn't touch one of these laptops with a 10 foot pole till they fix the keyboard key design - to be absolutely durable and not prone to failure. The latest updates don't fail as often but apparently still fail.

A lot of people with these laptops have not seen keyboard failures, to be fair. We're just hearing a lot about it because the people who have are the ones who are vocal. Also, mine has. In fact, it *just* came back from a keyboard repair on Sunday. I still love this MacBook Pro and I still love this keyboard -- it is, by far, the best feeling laptop keyboard I've ever used. So while the keyboard has issues, I don't think it makes the machine entirely non-recommendable.
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Ehh, The MacBook Pro offers 4 USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, while the Surface Book has no Thunderbolt. That's a pretty big difference and means the MacBook is more versatile from an expansion standpoint- you can plug in high end video cards or high performance disk arrays that the Surface Book isn't going to be able to use effectively.

A very good point here.

Edit: Tweaked the post just a bit to make sure to mention Thunderbolt 3.

 

[alexgowers]

Surface book issues

1. Thick as F (seriously that screen! Damn)
2. Wobbly heavy screen (too damned heavy)
3. Compromised laptop design for tablet features
4. Windows

 

[Donoban]

Macrumors is going to the ****.

I find myself not visiting as often.

This post just nailed it for me.

Next, Please compare a MacBook Air to an IBM thinkpad

 

[djlythium]

My OCD makes me want to smash that curved hinge until it's flat, like it's supposed to be.

 

[chrono1081]

Would you switch from an Apple machine to the Surface Book 2? Let us know in the comments.

Nope. Windows is too limiting.

 

[JackieInCo]

I got back into Windows a few months back by buying a Dell desktop that has lots of ports and is expandable and came with 16GB RAM. As for a laptop, I had a Surface Pro 3 that I sold back in February and I also sold my 2015 MBP that month as well. I plan on getting a Windows laptop next because I'm just not happy where Apple is going since beginning with the 2016s on. I seriously considered the Surface Book but I just don't like that hinge. I may wait until the next version comes out and I'll see what happens with that hinge. I may also decide on getting a Dell laptop. I was looking at some at BestBuy just today. Whatever I buy, it won't be Apple.

 

[Mdk2000]

One of Apple's biggest competitors in the laptop space is arguably Microsoft, with its line of portable, productivity-focused Surface Book machines. Microsoft in November released its newest product, the Surface Book 2, a 2-in-1 PC that has quite a few selling points to entice Apple customers.

In our latest YouTube video, we took a look at the 15-inch Surface Book 2 and compared it to the 2016 15-inch MacBook Pro across a number of categories including build quality and design, key features, and overall usage experience for someone in the Apple ecosystem.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

Both the Surface Book 2 and Apple's most recent MacBook Pro models are powerful machines with some of the latest technology in processor and graphics cards, so modern apps, games, and other software features run well on either device.

The Surface Book 2 and the MacBook Pro are both well-built with attractive, eye-catching designs, but there are some major differences here. While the MacBook Pro is a traditional laptop with a display and attached keyboard, the Surface Book 2 is a 2-in-1 with a touch display that can be converted into a tablet.

Because of its 2-in-1 design, the Surface Book 2 has an usual hinged design that lets the display be folded backwards or disconnected from the keyboard entirely for use in a tablet mode. The MacBook Pro, meanwhile, has no touch screen and it is a unibody machine.

Microsoft's Surface Book 2 has a wealth of ports that are missing from the MacBook Pro, which only offers 4 USB-C ports (albeit with Thunderbolt 3). The Surface Book 2 has an SD card slot, a USB-C port, and two USB-A ports, something that Apple users unhappy with the MacBook Pro port situation will appreciate.

The Surface Book 2 may have a 3240 x 2160 touch screen display, but it has some faults compared to the MacBook Pro's 2880 x 1800 display. It's nowhere near as bright, and it's also not quite as crisp. As for the trackpad, the MacBook Pro wins out because of its large trackpad equipped with haptic feedback and support for multiple gestures. Trackpad is one area where PC laptops often lag behind Apple, and the Surface Book 2 is no exception.

When it comes to the keyboard, the Surface Book 2 has a softer keyboard that's not quite as clicky and solid as the keyboard of the MacBook Pro, but as we well know, the keyboard redesign on the 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models has been receiving a lot of attention lately for reliability issues and its seemingly frequent failures, so the Surface Book 2 may have the edge here.

The aforementioned 2-in-1 tablet option for the Surface Book 2 is something Apple just can't compete with. You can press a key on the Surface Book 2's keyboard and pull the display right out of the keyboard to use it as a standalone touch-based tablet with the Surface Pen and the Surface Dial, both of which are ideal for creative tasks.

There are no input devices like a Surface Pen available for the MacBook Pro, and the main feature that it can boast over the Surface Book 2 is the Touch Bar, something that arguably does not get as much use as a 2-in-1 design.

The Surface Book 2 has a lot of perks that aren't available on Apple's MacBook Pro, but choosing to adopt the machine over an Apple device is still going to be difficult for those enmeshed in the Apple ecosystem. There's a lot of integration between macOS and iOS, and features like Continuity, Handoff, and iCloud will be missed if you're used to Apple devices. Certain software, like Final Cut Pro, is also limited to Apple's machines.

So which one is better? As with a lot of devices that are similar in specs, it's tough to say. It largely comes down to preference - do you want to use macOS or Windows? Most people in the Apple ecosystem likely won't want to give up macOS/iOS perks for the Surface Book 2's feature set, but those who don't use a lot of crossover functionality won't miss macOS as much.

If you're not tied to a specific operating system and don't mind mixing devices across different platforms, Microsoft's Surface Book 2 is absolutely worth considering as a powerful, capable machine that offers functionality you can't get in a MacBook Pro.

Would you switch from an Apple machine to the Surface Book 2? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Apple's MacBook Pro vs. Microsoft's Surface Book 2

I made the switch to the Surface book and I love it. I don’t use my Mac Pro as much any more. My workhorse machines are my surface book, then my IMac. I use my IPad Pro to read books, bibles and simple games and browsing.

 

[nt5672]

I hope Apple's competitors ramp it up. Apple is setting on the sidelines thinking they are on top of the world. Apple needs to be knocked down a couple of notches so we get some fire back into really innovative products.

 

[DogHouseDub]

Can I connect a Surface to a USB or HDMI device without needing a dongle? Can I plug in a pair of headphones?

 

[gertruded]

Apple doesn't really care about its Mac line any more. Profits are with the iPhone. As the Mac line continues to stagnate, MS will pull ahead. Virtual abandonment of the Mac line is just the way business is practiced in the US. When my 2015 Air wears out I will probably switch to Windows as by then the clear best will be MS equipment. MacOS is still better, but for how long? The direction Apple is taking is really sad, but nothing lasts forever.

 

[Brandhouse]

Would I switch? Never!

 

[Mcmeowmers]

Ehh, The MacBook Pro offers 4 USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, while the Surface Book has no Thunderbolt. That's a pretty big difference and means the MacBook is more versatile from an expansion standpoint- you can plug in high end video cards or high performance disk arrays that the Surface Book isn't going to be able to use effectively.

It comes with a good graphics card already. No need to fart around with external things. MS made the correct choices with ports. Apple is early with USB-C

 

[citysnaps]

If you’re fussy about display color, sharpness, brightness (you’re a photographer, graphic artist, etc)...the Surface Book is a non-starter.

I have zero complaints with my 2017 MBP. Especially like the thin/compact design and light weight.

 

[ikir]

MacBook Pro have four Thunderbolt 3, which si the definitive port, can't live without eGPU now!

 

[the johnmc]

Macrumors is going to the ****.
Next, Please compare a MacBook Air to an IBM thinkpad

IBM hasn't made ThinkPads since 2005. Lenovo makes them now.

 

[RagingBrosGaming]

Switching back to Microsoft and getting viruses and having to update daily is not really ideal for me. No thanks! I’m Gucci!

 

[jhwalker]

Personally, I think Apple missed a trick in not making a Surface competitor

That said, I prefer macOS any day and twice on Sunday, so . . .

 

[mkelly]

There’s a big difference between the Surface Book 2 and the MacBook Pro that pretty much every review misses:

The MacBook Pro has a CPU with a thermal limit of 45 watts. The Surface Book 2 uses an ultrabook CPU with a limit of 15 watts.

A CPU with a 45 watt TDP will be able to run longer at max load before it throttles itself to a slower speed. By comparison, the Surface Book 2’s much lower TDP means that it’s better suited to lightweight tasks or CPU-intensive tasks of shorter duration.

So if you’ve got a lot of code to compile, the MacBook Pro is going to be able to handle that workload much better than the Surface Book 2 will. But, the Surface Book has a much better GPU than the MacBook Pro, so if the task you’re running is GPU-bound instead, then all other things being equal the Surface Book 2 will be the better performer from a raw numbers standpoint.