MacBook vs Surface Pro 4

[SteveJUAE]

I have an SP3, a new XPS 13, and an rMB. Of these, one will have to go: so, I'm probably selling my SP3. I do need one mobile Windows and one Mac system.

Don't get me wrong - I love the SP3! I just now find that the XPS 13 does most of what it does better, though I will miss the tablet capabilities. My rMB is, however, my most used mobile system. It's plenty fast enough for everything the OP described. That Mobile CPU is way better than critics tout it to be. Battery life is good, and the form factor is amazing. You'll be happy with your rMB.

I'd keep my SP3, if I hadn't gotten the new XPS 13. this little machine is a gem, and it helps that it now shares a USB-C port, with my rMB, as that will be my docking system of choice.

Congrats on the XPS and of course you would have to spend $129 for the new SP4 KB on the SP3 if you were to keep it

 

[whodatrr]

Yep, I actually did buy the new KB, but returned it when I bought the XPS 13. This little machine is a beast, and the display is stunning. I compared it to the Surface Book, and there was no doubt which was a better system. Loving it so far, but my rMB is still my most used mobile system.

Having said all of that, I'm interested in the Surface 4 (non-pro). If MS ditched Atom for a mobile core CPU, in the next iteration, that would be my idea of the perfect tablet.

For now, I'm living without a tablet, except for the several iPads and kindles the kids use. But I'll probably scoop up the Surface 4, if they change the CPU.

Congrats on the XPS and of course you would have to spend $129 for the new SP4 KB on the SP3 if you were to keep it

 

[SteveJUAE]

Yep, I actually did buy the new KB, but returned it when I bought the XPS 13. This little machine is a beast, and the display is stunning. I compared it to the Surface Book, and there was no doubt which was a better system. Loving it so far, but my rMB is still my most used mobile system.

Having said all of that, I'm interested in the Surface 4 (non-pro). If MS ditched Atom for a mobile core CPU, in the next iteration, that would be my idea of the perfect tablet.

For now, I'm living without a tablet, except for the several iPads and kindles the kids use. But I'll probably scoop up the Surface 4, if they change the CPU.

Yep the SP4 is a compelling device to try out esp if you do not already have an intermediate consumption device or are trying to do away with one

Still 3 lappies was a bit greedy As my friend use to say about another chap that had 3 motor bikes "He's only got one butt" LOL

 

[whodatrr]

Ha! This isn't counting my work-issued MBA, but that system is locked down and only used for work behind the VPN, a few times per month.

I've been swapping stuff around for the past couple months and, when the dust settles, I'll probably end up with two PCs and a Mac, not counting my work-issued system. Sadly, the iMac line isn't keeping up with my needs and the nMP line is a bit too overpriced and neglected for my taste, so I'm also swapping my desktop to a PC. We'll see how that transition goes? It's scary, after 25yrs of primarily being a Mac guy.

Still 3 lappies was a bit greedy As my friend use to say about another chap that had 3 motor bikes "He's only got one butt" LOL

 

[Macalway]

Having said all of that, I'm interested in the Surface 4 (non-pro). If MS ditched Atom for a mobile core CPU, in the next iteration, that would be my idea of the perfect tablet.

I'm not sure, but they have a 'S4 like' version of the SP4: ( No fan, mobile core), so they may have combined the lines. Don't know.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Ha! This isn't counting my work-issued MBA, but that system is locked down and only used for work behind the VPN, a few times per month.

I've been swapping stuff around for the past couple months and, when the dust settles, I'll probably end up with two PCs and a Mac, not counting my work-issued system. Sadly, the iMac line isn't keeping up with my needs and the nMP line is a bit too overpriced and neglected for my taste, so I'm also swapping my desktop to a PC. We'll see how that transition goes? It's scary, after 25yrs of primarily being a Mac guy.

Sorry pot calling the Kettle black, just realised I have the rMB and Sony Vaio Z Carbon Pro and a SP4 coming and my eldest is bring back my old 2012 11" MBA with a duff SSD at xmas

Better use some of these as stocking fillers or at worse replace my old sony biscuit tin media pc we have in our holiday home that's just plugged in to the TV there.

Yes some interesting times as the phone gadget side of things has been a bit dull of late, I enjoy setting up and playing with this stuff too much I even got a GoPro to tide me over but got bored with that too quickly

 

[whodatrr]

They handicapped that one too, limiting it to 4GB RAM and giving it a smaller battery, instead of increasing battery life. If it had an 8GB option along with the same battery as it's i5/i7 siblings, that'd be nice... finless with 14+ hour run time, anyone?

But there's something about the form factor of the smaller Surface (non-pro) that feels a bit better, as a tablet. So, tablet-first, that's a nice design. But really, the biggest thing is the sub-$500 price.

I'm not sure, but they have a 'S4 like' version of the SP4: ( No fan, mobile core), so they may have combined the lines. Don't know.

 

[SteveJUAE]

There are a few problems with the SP4, compared to the SP3. I do expect these to be fixed soon.

Seems a good update out now:

The new driver will reportedly improve the situation for the following error:

"Display appears to hang, and then you will get a message that the display adapter has reset. Usually happens in certain scrolling situations on web pages."

The problem is seen on more than just Microsoft's devices as new Lenovo, HP, and Dell laptops utilizing refreshed Intel Skylake processors also suffer from the same driver crashing. That leads us to believe this is both an OS and driver issue that Microsoft and Intel had to solve across the board.

The following updates will be listed as "System Firmware Update – 12/3/2015" or "System Hardware Update – 12/3/2015" within the Windows Update History.

• HD Graphics 520 driver update (v20.19.15.4326) improves display stability.
• Surface Display Calibration driver update (v1.1.381.0) supports compatibility with the updated graphics driver.

Source: Microsoft Community

 

[maflynn]

I'd keep my SP3, if I hadn't gotten the new XPS 13. this little machine is a gem, and it helps that it now shares a USB-C port, with my rMB, as that will be my docking system of choice.

The XPS is a really nice machine, so if I was faced with the same decision, I'd opt for the XPS as well.