After using my Macbook for 2 weeks for work, play, etc and loving almost every minute of it I foud myself needing to use a windows machine because of a missing feature in Powerpoint 2016 for Mac.
Here's the biggest differences:
THE FAN - holy cow, maybe I'm spoiled, and obviously this isn't relevant to folks who work in even moderately noisy office spaces, but my surface pro 3 fan kicked on after a few minutes of use and I immediately noticed it.
The Keyboard - I use the type cover keyboard for the SP3, I always thought this keyboard to be pretty solid. It was such a remarkable improvement over the SP2 keyboard. But the keys felt "mushy?" I had to retrain myself to use a keyboard like that.
The trackpad - Won't even mention it here because I don't know anyone who appreciated the SP3 trackpad. It's a touchscreen after all, but I immediately plugged in a mouse because the trackpad on the SP3 keyboard is unusable at best and a woeful offensive attempt at a user input device at worst.
The ports - the SP3 has 1 USB3 port. Although I had my mouse plugged into it, it was nice to be able to transfer a file via a flash drive. But holy crap is airdrop an underrated feature, when it works that is.
Heat - the SP3 runs a little bit hotter than the rMB. On the back it's 4 degrees warmer (98.3 vs 94.1). I used an IR heat meter. But the one part I would have never thought about was the face. The screen on the SP3 runs about 10 degrees warmer (85.1 vs 75.2) than the rMB. I know it doesn't seem like much, but the SP3 radiates heat a little vs the rMB having one particular hotspot.
Battery Life - The SP3 is such a marked improvement over the SP2. I got about 6.5 hours from the SP3 and have averaged a little more than 7 on the rMB.
OS's - Not even going to go into this. MSFT has done an incredible job making windows 8 a solid, usable OS. It doesn't crash, it just works. OS X is the same. I did really miss Preview (I've said it before it's my favorite app) as well as handoff and messages. I had to use my phone more to respond to texts and answer calls. Essentially normal activity and windows 10 is getting continuity which should work just like handoff for windows phones. So in summary, while I found some things lacking, the OS choice is each their own.
Screen - both gorgeous. I did have to have the SP3 screen a little brighter than the rMB. But I have old eyes and for some reason 60% brightness isn't the same on the rMB.
SP3 features - the kickstand is cool, but I had to put the SP3 on a desk to use it, on the lap the SP3 just isn't comfortable, feels like typing on an unfolding lawn chair. Being able to use the SP3 as a tablet is very nice, but neither OS X nor W8 in desktop mode are designed to be touchscreen friendly. The detachable keyboard, also cool, but if I'm not using this thing as a tablet, then why do I want to detach my keyboard. Also, maybe I'm just a laptop guy.
Final Thoughts - the SP3 is SOLID. What a workhorse? I used it for a few months before I got my rMB and forgot how well it worked. I can't hate on anyone who chooses the SP3 as the rMB has its share of compromises.
But, the rMB is AMAZING. I cannot go back to the SP3, and definitely can't go back to something heavier like my old rMBP.
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Forgot a couple quick comments. I do not have my rMB plugged into a monitor. And never had the SP3 plugged in to one. But that's another pro in the SP3 column because it has a mini DP whereas the rMB, well, doesn't.
Next, I let the SP3 install all its update and sit overnight before I tested it. While I spoke praises about W8, it still doesn't do updates properly. So much restarting and taxing the processor. W10 will fix that I hear as they are getting away from the "Tuesday patch day".
Here's the biggest differences:
THE FAN - holy cow, maybe I'm spoiled, and obviously this isn't relevant to folks who work in even moderately noisy office spaces, but my surface pro 3 fan kicked on after a few minutes of use and I immediately noticed it.
The Keyboard - I use the type cover keyboard for the SP3, I always thought this keyboard to be pretty solid. It was such a remarkable improvement over the SP2 keyboard. But the keys felt "mushy?" I had to retrain myself to use a keyboard like that.
The trackpad - Won't even mention it here because I don't know anyone who appreciated the SP3 trackpad. It's a touchscreen after all, but I immediately plugged in a mouse because the trackpad on the SP3 keyboard is unusable at best and a woeful offensive attempt at a user input device at worst.
The ports - the SP3 has 1 USB3 port. Although I had my mouse plugged into it, it was nice to be able to transfer a file via a flash drive. But holy crap is airdrop an underrated feature, when it works that is.
Heat - the SP3 runs a little bit hotter than the rMB. On the back it's 4 degrees warmer (98.3 vs 94.1). I used an IR heat meter. But the one part I would have never thought about was the face. The screen on the SP3 runs about 10 degrees warmer (85.1 vs 75.2) than the rMB. I know it doesn't seem like much, but the SP3 radiates heat a little vs the rMB having one particular hotspot.
Battery Life - The SP3 is such a marked improvement over the SP2. I got about 6.5 hours from the SP3 and have averaged a little more than 7 on the rMB.
OS's - Not even going to go into this. MSFT has done an incredible job making windows 8 a solid, usable OS. It doesn't crash, it just works. OS X is the same. I did really miss Preview (I've said it before it's my favorite app) as well as handoff and messages. I had to use my phone more to respond to texts and answer calls. Essentially normal activity and windows 10 is getting continuity which should work just like handoff for windows phones. So in summary, while I found some things lacking, the OS choice is each their own.
Screen - both gorgeous. I did have to have the SP3 screen a little brighter than the rMB. But I have old eyes and for some reason 60% brightness isn't the same on the rMB.
SP3 features - the kickstand is cool, but I had to put the SP3 on a desk to use it, on the lap the SP3 just isn't comfortable, feels like typing on an unfolding lawn chair. Being able to use the SP3 as a tablet is very nice, but neither OS X nor W8 in desktop mode are designed to be touchscreen friendly. The detachable keyboard, also cool, but if I'm not using this thing as a tablet, then why do I want to detach my keyboard. Also, maybe I'm just a laptop guy.
Final Thoughts - the SP3 is SOLID. What a workhorse? I used it for a few months before I got my rMB and forgot how well it worked. I can't hate on anyone who chooses the SP3 as the rMB has its share of compromises.
But, the rMB is AMAZING. I cannot go back to the SP3, and definitely can't go back to something heavier like my old rMBP.
----------
Forgot a couple quick comments. I do not have my rMB plugged into a monitor. And never had the SP3 plugged in to one. But that's another pro in the SP3 column because it has a mini DP whereas the rMB, well, doesn't.
Next, I let the SP3 install all its update and sit overnight before I tested it. While I spoke praises about W8, it still doesn't do updates properly. So much restarting and taxing the processor. W10 will fix that I hear as they are getting away from the "Tuesday patch day".
