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Decisions, Decisions......Which Would You Choose in My Situation? (rMB vs SP4 vs etc.)
- Thread starter Maukey
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When I was following the SP4 carefully, people were having to use hibernate rather than sleep or they would burn through the battery. I'm wondering if it's 3-4 hours plus some occasional sleep that one would assume wouldn't have much impact.
Before I returned mine, I got around 4 hours with continuous (non-sleep) use. Leaving it fully charged and sleeping overnight would drain it to 70% by the morning.
By the looks it, Microsoft still hasn't fixed the sleep issue. People are still using hibernate...
It would, and that's even the same on the rMB with bootcamp, hibernate is the way to go not sleep. The rMB wakes up in 12-15 sec's the I5 SP4 should be half this.
You also need to make sure it's not DL emails and other updates whilst sleeping and turn off live tiles by right clicking on them and selecting the option
You should easily be in the same 6-7 hrs as a rMB
I believe you've made the right choice. Personally I probably wouldn't pick the SP4, but then I'd never do video encoding on an ultraportable. I think that's the defining factor here - your video encoding requirement means the SP4 is the only really viable option.
I personally couldn't switch to a anything Windows due to the trackpad. The trackpad on the SP4 is ok, however its just too small.
I've read that the Surface Book's trackpad is really good however.
I've read that the Surface Book's trackpad is really good however.
That is correct. I have been using hibernate, instead of sleep mode. I have read of a lot of other users only get up to 4 hours on the battery too, which is really disappointing. The users reporting better battery results seem to be turning the screen down even more, turning off all notifications, turning off Cortona and Hello, etc. If you have to do all of that to get better battery life, why bother even owning the SP4. I am curious if the M3 version would do better with battery life.
Still holding out hope that they will release a fix, but it sounds like it will not be until early next year, which will be past my return period.
That is why I usually just stick with Apple, because when I buy an Apple product, it usually just works.
Still holding out hope that they will release a fix, but it sounds like it will not be until early next year, which will be past my return period.
That is why I usually just stick with Apple, because when I buy an Apple product, it usually just works.
That is correct. I have been using hibernate, instead of sleep mode. I have read of a lot of other users only get up to 4 hours on the battery too, which is really disappointing. The users reporting better battery results seem to be turning the screen down even more, turning off all notifications, turning off Cortona and Hello, etc. If you have to do all of that to get better battery life, why bother even owning the SP4. I am curious if the M3 version would do better with battery life.
Still holding out hope that they will release a fix, but it sounds like it will not be until early next year, which will be past my return period.
That is why I usually just stick with Apple, because when I buy an Apple product, it usually just works.
That's what I wound up doing. I ultimate just got a rMB and was immediately working instead of trying to coax the device to be what was advertised.
Thanks for the Reply! Very thought provoking. As I have been going back and forth on what I'm going to do, I will say I really do like the Surface Pro 4. Even though I've had a couple of frustrating moments with it, I just can not get over how convenient this device is as a whole. I mean everything about it is convenient, at least for me.Many thanks for you comments on the SP4, very interesting
The only thing I can see you leaving out in your thought process of options is potential and I presume you already own a smart phone (IPhone ?) which is already covering most functionality of an Ipad and giving you a partial Apple fix
Once your in the <2lb category I think there little argument on portability difference other than the iPad Air 2 LTE will be much easier as a couch reading device than the rMB, IPP,SP4 etc
As already noted if you have an IPhone an Ipad is duplicating a lot of functionality you already have and the LTE iPad Air 2 carried other costs etc for the data plan and just adds to the headache on sims if you travel internationally.
The full OS rMB or SP4 give you the greatest flexibility when away from home be it plugging in to your hotel TV or friends with files/movies on a thumb drive, synching with cameras etc etc, let alone the bigger SDD drive as your UL/DL speeds wont be the same as when at home
Your SP4 mirrors very easy to your TV and it is also possible on the rMB with Airplay and setting up the IP addresses so you still have the functionality of the Mac Mini but with more options including iTunes/IMovies etc on both OS's
I think the flexibility, connectivity, superior software and a multitude of options open to you by having your smart phone and a rMB or a SP4 is a negligible compromise compared to a Mac Mini + iPad Air 2 LTE Combo + smart phone and especially as it seems your not a collector or major fanatic of 100's of apps
I know I said yesterday I was considering the Mac Mini and Ipad Air 2 combo, but after a few more hours with the SP4, I'm back to leaning that way. The design of this device is just brilliant in my opinion. If Apple would make an iPad Pro 2 or Air 3 Pro with a built in kickstand, a keyboard cover, and both OSX and iOS built in that you can toggle between via an option in settings, I would just about pay whatever Apple asks for a 2 in 1 like that LOL!
Thanks maflynn! I'm definitely enjoying it. At the time I made this thread I had no experience with the Surface Pro 4. Being a long time Apple user I was VERY concerned that I would not like Windows 10 compared to OSX/iOS. Although it met all of my needs from a usage standpoint, based on what I heard from other users, I was concerned about stability and user friendliness. I play System Admin 40+ hours a week, I don't care to do it when I get home LOL. Well now after using it, it really hasn't been that bad. Windows 10 really has become more user friendly, although still not to the level of OSX/iOS. As you stated, the SP4 combined with Windows 10 is a very nice machine.
**Update**
I have decided to return the SP4. I really was impressed with this device, however, the big thing that did it for me was battery life. Because of this fact I found myself using this more as a laptop connected to a power source, this and the fact that it is a bit on the heavy side for a tablet. The funny thing is the first time I measured my battery life it was just under 8 hours. From that point on I have only been getting around 5 - 6 hours. I don't have bluetooth on or Apps running in the background. I also noticed the battery drain while asleep issue. I left my Surface in sleep mode one night for about 8 hours, it drained from 64% to 12% by morning. Placing the unit in hibernation instead of sleep did solve the issue though. In the end, the poor battery life, average Tablet functionality, and high degree of maintenance was just a little too much for me.
So in all of that, I have decided to get either the rMB base model for $1299.99 or the 13" rMBP i5, 8GB Ram, and 256GB SSD for $1349 (On sale). In addition, I will be getting an iPad Air 2 64GB LTE on my AT&T Mobile Share Plan for office use and when I travel for work. This combination will meet all of my needs with ease and gives me the best of both worlds; battery life is great on all these devices.
I should also point out that I am considering the rMB because I no longer NEED to encode HD video in Handbrake. During my time with the SP4 I discovered a wonderful App called Air Video HD which streams any video format from your Mac or PC to your Apple TV. The only reason I used handbrake was so I could stream my Bluray backup library of MKV movies to my New Apple TV. I no longer need that functionality with this App. I guess the question I should ask would be is there a difference in using Air Video HD with rMB vs rMBP? Will there be some sort of performance loss?
Thanks everyone for your help during this time!
I have decided to return the SP4
. I really was impressed with this device, however, the big thing that did it for me was battery life. Because of this fact I found myself using this more as a laptop connected to a power source, this and the fact that it is a bit on the heavy side for a tablet. The funny thing is the first time I measured my battery life it was just under 8 hours. From that point on I have only been getting around 5 - 6 hours. I don't have bluetooth on or Apps running in the background. I also noticed the battery drain while asleep issue. I left my Surface in sleep mode one night for about 8 hours, it drained from 64% to 12% by morning. Placing the unit in hibernation instead of sleep did solve the issue though. In the end, the poor battery life, average Tablet functionality, and high degree of maintenance was just a little too much for me.So in all of that, I have decided to get either the rMB base model for $1299.99 or the 13" rMBP i5, 8GB Ram, and 256GB SSD for $1349 (On sale). In addition, I will be getting an iPad Air 2 64GB LTE on my AT&T Mobile Share Plan for office use and when I travel for work. This combination will meet all of my needs with ease and gives me the best of both worlds; battery life is great on all these devices.
I should also point out that I am considering the rMB because I no longer NEED to encode HD video in Handbrake. During my time with the SP4 I discovered a wonderful App called Air Video HD which streams any video format from your Mac or PC to your Apple TV. The only reason I used handbrake was so I could stream my Bluray backup library of MKV movies to my New Apple TV. I no longer need that functionality with this App. I guess the question I should ask would be is there a difference in using Air Video HD with rMB vs rMBP? Will there be some sort of performance loss?
Thanks everyone for your help during this time!
Wait you store your entire blu-ray MKVs on a laptop? Doesn't that take a lot of space?
Air Video HD does on-the-fly encoding, and the rMB may have issues with the amount of sustained computing power required.
EDIT: Nevermind, I just re-read your post about how you don't want to use your Lenovo laptop for personal stuff.
Regardless, keep in mind that the rMB has only one USB-C port. If you are going to use external storage, you're going to have to bring a dongle with you to accommodate both charging and the external storage.
Regardless, keep in mind that the rMB has only one USB-C port. If you are going to use external storage, you're going to have to bring a dongle with you to accommodate both charging and the external storage.
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Microsoft Surface looks like a neat idea. But once you use it for a few months, you'd realize that it's neither a good tablet or a good laptop. It's hard to use on any surfaces other than a desk; it's too heavy to be used as a tablet. The poor battery life also limits its usage. If you really want a 2-in-1, the Surface Book is the right way to go.
If you don't have a laptop, get a laptop. Don't do Mac Mini + iPad. I don't see anything wrong with Desktop+laptop+iPad.
That desktop could be mini, iMac or Pro. The laptop could be Air, Macbook or Pro, depending on your work. The iPad can be Air or mini, just not the Pro, if you are not an artist.
Problem solved!
If you don't have a laptop, get a laptop. Don't do Mac Mini + iPad. I don't see anything wrong with Desktop+laptop+iPad.
That desktop could be mini, iMac or Pro. The laptop could be Air, Macbook or Pro, depending on your work. The iPad can be Air or mini, just not the Pro, if you are not an artist.
Problem solved!
LOL. I don't have many. I have a 750GB Ext HD that I keep my videos on in there original MKV format. I only have some of my favorites (About 10) I keep on my laptop at a given time.
I've had my SP3 almost a year and I can safely say neither those things occurred. I love using it, its a good tablet, my kids love using it in tablet mode, in fact that's what they prefer. It's also great in "laptop" mode with the type cover.
Its my go to machine when I travel because it travels like a tablet but has the power of a laptop.
It's been selling well, so I guess some will find it working well. I just had a hard time using it at any places other than on my desk.
Agreed. I think it's decent as a tablet. I still believe it's a better tablet than any Android tablet. My issue is battery life and it's a little on the heavy side to truly use as a tablet in the hands. Not impossible of course, but just not as effortless as the iPads. In all honesty, if Best Buy wasn't having this sell on the MacBooks and the iPads I would have kept it. I can get a 13" rMBP i5 w/ 8GB Ram and 256GB SSD for $1349 which is cheaper than what I paid for the SP4 + Type Cover. I can get a iPad Air 2 for $10 more a month than it was going to cost me for the AT&T Beam I was going to get for LTE on my SP4. In my opinion the iPad is a better tablet and the rMBP is a better laptop than the SP4. I also get much longer battery life. Just my 2 cents from my experience.
I'll say this though, the SP4 is an awesome device, I really hate to give it up. If Microsoft can figure out how to get the battery life up to speed, Apple will have their hands fuller than they already are.
Glad you got sorted but battery life on the SP4 is similar to rMB and it's the compromise you have to accept in such portability
If you shop around you can get the Type cover for $79 and the new Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 Windows 10 or Android tablet for $200 (Thks Q6) looks very interesting
It may sound that way when you see that people are getting 'up to 6-7 hours' on the Surface - but that's really best-case scenario. On the Surface the typical range is 4-6 hours, on rare occasion more - whereas the range on the rMB is more like 6-10 hours, with about 8 being normal for me. If I had to choose one to make it through the day I'd choose the Macbook no question.
I wish I could get over 7 on my rMB
The point was the rMBP has the space and the weight hence the better battery life over the SP4 or the rMB
I see around 8 hours on my 1.2 rMB, display at 50% on OS X 10.10.5, with typical MS office, Safari, Mail, Calendar usage. As the charger is so small I generally keep it with me and use it when I have opportunity. This way I rarely if ever have concern on running short of power, as the rMB charges very rapidly up to 80%.
Q-6
Q-6
