Bought Surface Book to wait out refresh.

[Mathias Denichi]

Im a little let down after returning my 13" TB rMBP. For a 2.5k laptop, I expect at least 8-9 battery life and no lagging in the UI.

This feels like the first gen of the rMBP 15" with 650m to me again, laggy scrolling and abysmal battery life. I picked up a SB for 1k with the 940m, and I think I'm going to hold up for the rMBP 13" TB until they refresh it with the bugs worked out.

It's a bit disappointing how many issues it has after near 3 years without any solid update.

 

[yillbs]

Im a little let down after returning my 13" TB rMBP. For a 2.5k laptop, I expect at least 8-9 battery life and no lagging in the UI.

This feels like the first gen of the rMBP 15" with 650m to me again, laggy scrolling and abysmal battery life. I picked up a SB for 1k with the 940m, and I think I'm going to hold up for the rMBP 13" TB until they refresh it with the bugs worked out.

It's a bit disappointing how many issues it has after near 3 years without any solid update.

your battery life will equally be as bad on the surface book, and your experience will be even worse, sorry to see you go, but apple isn't focused on adding more battery, they want to be more mobile.

 

[darkgremio]

Surface Book is awful. I work for a big tech company in Seattle and that's my work computer. I have so many issues with incremental windows updates, its a constant visit to the IT Helpdesk at least twice a month.

Battery life is horrible, it will die when in your bag because you think it's in sleep mode when it's not. Just overall horrible experience. I have swapped out many of Surface Books and still always get a dud

 

[yillbs]

Surface Book is awful. I work for a big tech company in Seattle and that's my work computer. I have so many issues with incremental windows updates, its a constant visit to the IT Helpdesk at least twice a month.

Battery life is horrible, it will die when in your bag because you think it's in sleep mode when it's not. Just overall horrible experience. I have swapped out many of Surface Books and still always get a dud

I think they fixed the sleep / wake issue, my surface pro 4 only gets 3 hours on a good day.

 

[kevinkyoo]

your battery life will equally be as bad on the surface book, and your experience will be even worse, sorry to see you go, but apple isn't focused on adding more battery, they want to be more mobile.

1. Many of my friends who own the Surface Book love the device, unlike the SP4, which is riddled with problems.

2. The Surface's battery is great. Apple heavily decreased the battery capacity for this year's TB models, and I've seen nothing but complaints about them.

3. No, Apple wants these to be more thin, not mobile. They used to go hand in hand. Now, Apple is creating thin devices for the sake of them being thin. Last year's models were great because they were easy enough to carry with great battery life. Sacrificing as much battery life for a small change in weight and volume does not make it more mobile.

 

[nickelanddime]

Im a little let down after returning my 13" TB rMBP. For a 2.5k laptop, I expect at least 8-9 battery life and no lagging in the UI.

This feels like the first gen of the rMBP 15" with 650m to me again, laggy scrolling and abysmal battery life. I picked up a SB for 1k with the 940m, and I think I'm going to hold up for the rMBP 13" TB until they refresh it with the bugs worked out.

It's a bit disappointing how many issues it has after near 3 years without any solid update.

I agree. 8GB is a JOKE for 2016. Im returning my unopened base 13" MBP w/ TB. Whether I replace it with a base 15" 2016 MBP is the open question. People who bought the base 13" though, let me tell you, are going to be in a for a huge let down when tech catches up to the hardware Apple decided to include. This is NOT a future proof laptop..take it from a tech junkie and someone who works in the IT field.

 

[Phil A.]

My surface book has settled down now but it's been a rocky journey: it took about 6 months for Microsoft to sort out the many sleep issues (crashing coming out of sleep, waking up randomly and not sleeping), not to mention blue screens when removing the keyboard.

These weren't random issues with my machine, but rather things that affected virtually all surface books

It's still not perfect and the digitiser randomly stops working and needs a reboot to sort it out.

I've stuck with it because when it's working it's a great machine, but it is far from perfect and I'll have to think long and hard before getting another one

 

[Ataricade]

Im a little let down after returning my 13" TB rMBP. For a 2.5k laptop, I expect at least 8-9 battery life and no lagging in the UI.

This feels like the first gen of the rMBP 15" with 650m to me again, laggy scrolling and abysmal battery life. I picked up a SB for 1k with the 940m, and I think I'm going to hold up for the rMBP 13" TB until they refresh it with the bugs worked out.

It's a bit disappointing how many issues it has after near 3 years without any solid update.

These MacBooks are amazing. Totally blown away coming from a 2013. Maybe you should have gone for a high model 15"

 

[Ma2k5]

I actually find laggy UI annoying too, I definitely noticed it on all MacBook's I've owned - for various programs, even some browsers. I know some people say they can't see it, but then my family say they can't see the little lag on android which I can, but I don't know for me it is clearly there!

I think when we realise how much we spent on the machines, and being emotionally attached to the design etc, we subconsciously try to justify/explain the lag away .

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I agree. 8GB is a JOKE for 2016. Im returning my unopened base 13" MBP w/ TB. Whether I replace it with a base 15" 2016 MBP is the open question. People who bought the base 13" though, let me tell you, are going to be in a for a huge let down when tech catches up to the hardware Apple decided to include. This is NOT a future proof laptop..take it from a tech junkie and someone who works in the IT field.

8gb RAM is more more than enough for 90% of all computer users on any platform what the hell are you on about!!

 

[Ma2k5]

8gb RAM is more more than enough for 90% of all computer users on any platform what the hell are you on about!!

I'd say 95%+ even!

 

[Mathias Denichi]

your battery life will equally be as bad on the surface book, and your experience will be even worse, sorry to see you go, but apple isn't focused on adding more battery, they want to be more mobile.

I've owned the surface book before, was an early adopter in November 2015. Ended up returning it for an iPad Pro because I couldn't justify owning it when I had my 2013 15" rMBP.

Now that I sold my rMBP, and my M7 rMB, I was waiting for the refresh, and I feel this current iteration is worth waiting on until they refresh it and work out the bugs.

I'm starting to gravitate to Windows 10 over Mac OS, since Apple seems to be putting it on the back burner with lacking updates since continuity. Hopefully sometime next year, we get a Kaby Lake refresh with a ram inscrease, battery increase and worked out bugs for the TB.

I will then sell my surface book and return to the rMBP. I just don't feel like it's worth the money being charged right now.
[doublepost=1479472346][/doublepost]

I actually find laggy UI annoying too, I definitely noticed it on all MacBook's I've owned - for various programs, even some browsers. I know some people say they can't see it, but then my family say they can't see the little lag on android which I can, but I don't know for me it is clearly there!

I think when we realise how much we spent on the machines, and being emotionally attached to the design etc, we subconsciously try to justify/explain the lag away .

I agree. I did the same thing with my rMBP 2012 because the screen was amazing. In the end I returned and waited for the refresh in 2013, and I'm glad I did.
[doublepost=1479472450][/doublepost]

These MacBooks are amazing. Totally blown away coming from a 2013. Maybe you should have gone for a high model 15"

I've thought about it, but I wanted something more mobile. It's not my main computer any more, and I'd like something to photoshop, in design, edit CSS and use an FTP on the go. I may change my mind. I haven't used a 15" in person yet.

 

[PhoneI]

I have owned a Surface Book for awhile now and all I can say is if I am using my Surface Book, I usually cant wait to get back to my MacBook.

If you have to have a windows laptop, there are better options (Lenovo).

 

[Mathias Denichi]

My surface book has settled down now but it's been a rocky journey: it took about 6 months for Microsoft to sort out the many sleep issues (crashing coming out of sleep, waking up randomly and not sleeping), not to mention blue screens when removing the keyboard.

These weren't random issues with my machine, but rather things that affected virtually all surface books

It's still not perfect and the digitiser randomly stops working and needs a reboot to sort it out.

I've stuck with it because when it's working it's a great machine, but it is far from perfect and I'll have to think long and hard before getting another one

I remember having these issues, and had to edit a bunch of registry tweaks for better battery life and to avoid the blue screen with the keyboard randomly not working. I'll fully update and see how it goes for a week. If it happens again, well I'll return it and may go for a base model rMBP.

 

[GDF]

I would avoid the Surface Book. I don't even think it is a nice looking machine. Feels cheap compared to a MBP. I think the new MBP is great!

 

[maflynn]

I'm getting a solid 8 hours of work on my SurfaceBook and I disagree with the sentiment about it not feeling premium, imo, it feels premium to me.

My usage is Capture 1 and/or Lightroom - I'm deciding on which one of these I want to use, office apps, some virtualization (virtualbox), RDP and gotomypc. Additionally my kids use it for homework and YT videos.

YMMV but the SB has been solid performer not getting any issues.

I know many people hate the SurfaceBook but I think its a great laptop and it fits my needs a lot better then the current MBPs. Just last month while in a hotel, someone tripped over the cord to the laptop and thanks to the easy disconnect of the powercord, the cord just harmlessly dropped to the floor. If that occurred on the new MBPs, it would have been in pieces. Plus I can easily plug in my SD card to transfer images, without needing to add to my collection of crap I need to travel with.

 

[Mathias Denichi]

I'm getting a solid 8 hours of work on my SurfaceBook and I disagree with the sentiment about it not feeling premium, imo, it feels premium to me.

My usage is Capture 1 and/or Lightroom - I'm deciding on which one of these I want to use, office apps, some virtualization (virtualbox), RDP and gotomypc. Additionally my kids use it for homework and YT videos.

YMMV but the SB has been solid performer not getting any issues.

I know many people hate the SurfaceBook but I think its a great laptop and it fits my needs a lot better then the current MBPs. Just last month while in a hotel, someone tripped over the cord to the laptop and thanks to the easy disconnect of the powercord, the cord just harmlessly dropped to the floor. If that occurred on the new MBPs, it would have been in pieces. Plus I can easily plug in my SD card to transfer images, without needing to add to my collection of crap I need to travel with.

The sd slot is what I'm more excited about as well. I've actually transitioned from an iMac 5k to a windows rig I built for all my editing due to lag issues on InDesign and Photoshop that seemed to only happen on my mac. The lack of a card slot also solidified my decision.

What I will miss is iMessage and FaceTime calls on my laptop, but I seriously could just take 2 seconds and use my phone.

I do actually prefer the USB c slot for charging, due to it being very compatible with a large variety of power banks.

 

[maflynn]

What I will miss is iMessage

same here on iMessage, I use that fairly often on my iMac (when its in OS X and not windows), but since my phone is on the desk anyways, the convenience factor isn't reduced by a lot.

 

[Kafou33]

8gb RAM is more more than enough for 90% of all computer users on any platform what the hell are you on about!!

It's enough for now but will it be enough in 3-4 years. For the price that we pay this new macbook I plan to keep it more then that so I think that going for 16g is the way to go.

 

[Ma2k5]

same here on iMessage, I use that fairly often on my iMac (when its in OS X and not windows), but since my phone is on the desk anyways, the convenience factor isn't reduced by a lot.

The surface book is a very premium and capable device.

Wanted to ask, do you find it at all bulky? The alternatives of XPS 13, HP Spectre x360, Lenovo 910 are quite a lot smaller, albeit missing some of the functionalities. Would you consider returning it for the performance base or you don't feel that is worth the significant price premium?

Thanks

 

[Rafterman]

The Surface Book is an excellent device. I actually tried the new performance version and its pretty solid - and definitely premium (though that gap when closed just looks weird). Plus - touchscreen!

But in the end, it wasn't about hardware, but software. Windows 10 is good, but I just plain like MacOS better.

 

[zhenya]

You returned your MBP because of battery life and UI lag concerns, for a Windows device? Seriously?

There is plenty that is good about Windows, and plenty of decent Windows laptops today - the SB being one of them. But great battery life and lag-free aren't in the PC vocabulary.

 

[maflynn]

But great battery life and lag-free aren't in the PC vocabulary.

Sadly, I'd say lagging is an issue that seems to follow MBPs as well. I recall seeing people complain about lagging on the MBPs from the 2012 rMBP till now.

As for battery life - I generally think Apple has done a better jobs with power management, in both the hardware but also in the OS.

 

[Rafterman]

Sadly, I'd say lagging is an issue that seems to follow MBPs as well. I recall seeing people complain about lagging on the MBPs from the 2012 rMBP till now.

As for battery life - I generally think Apple has done a better jobs with power management, in both the hardware but also in the OS.

I think the Surface Book is the exception - two batteries, with most of the entire base being just battery.

 

[maflynn]

I think the Surface Book is the exception - two batteries, with most of the entire base being just battery.

So far, I've been impressed with the battery life of my SB, though I haven't used it for extended periods as a tablet, that is rely solely on the smaller single battery inside the display panel.