MacBook's competition?

[SteveJUAE]

It rebooted several times when installing the updates, I've since tried rebooting and re-checking for updates several times. That said, it does list a whole bunch of failed updates. But as I said, update doesn't show any new ones - I'm guessing the failed ones were taken care in a cumulative patch

I would check MS site for the update as it gives you the serial number of the drivers in the update so you can check it has been installed in device manager

The latest update is phased so it's quite possible you do not have it and as your SP4 is so new you cannot easily tell but even the boot time and hello are noticeably snapper too.

 

[kis]

I would check MS site for the update as it gives you the serial number of the drivers in the update so you can check it has been installed in device manager

The latest update is phased so it's quite possible you do not have it and as your SP4 is so new you cannot easily tell but even the boot time and hello are noticeably snapper too.

The update was released back in mid-February, every one has got it by now

 

[SteveJUAE]

Your quote there sums up living in the Windows mobile world.

Sleep in Windows is rubbish and shouldn't be called sleep as it uses too much battery power. You are meant to use Hibernate. Which saves the battery like a Mac's sleep. But then you have to wait for it to start up again. Very strange.

Windows should be confined to the office desktop really. It just doesn't work well on laptops. Unless all Windows laptop users are unproductive?

Windows is such a mood hoover. You spend weeks getting it set the way you like it with everything working smoothly. Then BANG! - A windows update gets installed right under your nose. You restart and almost immediately things start to slow down, things you thought you set become unset. The misery begins again.

Anyway. Yes if you want a quality, productive experience. Then use your Macbook, or any Mac laptop really. They just work.

I think your getting a bit mixed up the sleep/hibernate issue is not on all windows laptops nor are many fiddling to the nth degree with their laptops, like Apple most Windows users just switch on and use for daily activities

You also have the option to sleep for a while then eventually go to hibernate

Specifically on the SP4 at least MS is working with Intel to resolve the issue which is more than can be said with Apple who have not updated their drivers.
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The update was released back in mid-February, every one has got it by now

No a new one this week

eg https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-gb/support/install-update-activate/surface-pro-4-update-history

 

[username:]

I would have wholeheartedly agreed with you until the Macbook came along. It's just one of the products Apple threw on the market over the last year or so that are, well, not Apple-like. It's not 100% thought through. It's too slow for any kind of serious work, the keyboard sucks and the single port is a joke. Great software, hardware not ok. The other products fitting in this category would be the Apple Watch (lousy experience overall), and the iPad Pro (seriously stunning hardware, lousy, limiting software that messes up the experience). So In this respect, Apple is rapidly approaching Windows levels. I guess this is Apple post-Jobs.

At least Microsoft has been innovating - the SP4 is a fantastic device. The sleep issue is literally the only problem I have with it. I guess I'll switch it to hibernation mode.

But you're right: Windows is not made for laptops. Year after year after year they've missed the chance to finally optimize the OS for mobile use, but they've failed miserably. Battery life has always been bad, sleep issues, bad touchpad drivers. The latter isn't an issue on the SP4 because it has a trouchscreen and because the touchpad is actually the best one that's ever existed on Windows (which isn't saying much, unfortunately :-/

At least with the MacBook those problems you list (one port, keyboard) are things you know about and can test BEFORE you buy the product. And it is not promoted really as a powerful machine for heavy work. At least that is clear to me.

But ***** battery (below spec) and software issues are not things you would expect in a brand new tablet eg surface pro 4.

 

[SteveJUAE]

At least with the MacBook those problems you list (one port, keyboard) are things you know about and can test BEFORE you buy the product. And it is not promoted really as a powerful machine for heavy work. At least that is clear to me.

But ***** battery (below spec) and software issues are not things you would expect in a brand new tablet eg surface pro 4.

Battery life yet again depends on your usage etc but yes it's one of the compromises you may have to take on board with such a capable laptop

You only have to google problems with rMB to see a similar spread of issues by those that participate online, for me the rMB is the only Apple device I have ever considered getting AppleCare after all the hardware issues reported with the KB keys in particular. No OEM is squeaky clean and software issues are one thing but hardware like my sons MBP screen coating flaking off and the potential on 1st gen rMB is more worrisome to me.

 

[kis]

Battery life yet again depends on your usage etc but yes it's one of the compromises you may have to take on board with such a capable laptop

That's true - but while I'm on the go, I mostly use it for light MS Office work most of the time and I doubt I'll ever get more than 5-6 hours out of it. Microsoft says 9 - that's a joke. You get a bit more than half that. Anything below 7-8 hours won't get anyone through a workday, and that should be what any modern computer has to reach.

 

[SteveJUAE]

That's true - but while I'm on the go, I mostly use it for light MS Office work most of the time and I doubt I'll ever get more than 5-6 hours out of it. Microsoft says 9 - that's a joke. You get a bit more than half that. Anything below 7-8 hours won't get anyone through a workday, and that should be what any modern computer has to reach.

That's true for those that are not near a power supply and actually use a laptop for more than 6 hours a day, for most this is just a hypothetical case or so infrequent it's over specing in reality and with portable power banks you can actually get a more rounded/capable laptop and cover the odd occasion you need extended battery use.

 

[kis]

That's true for those that are not near a power supply and actually use a laptop for more than 6 hours a day, for most this is just a hypothetical case or so infrequent it's over specing in reality and with portable power banks you can actually get a more rounded/capable laptop and cover the odd occasion you need extended battery use.

As a teacher without a fix classroom, I constantly need to move around between rooms. Of course I could carry around a charger, but then I can as well get a heavier laptop with a better battery.

AFAIK the SP4 doesn't charge over USB, so portable power banks won't work here

 

[username:]

That's true for those that are not near a power supply and actually use a laptop for more than 6 hours a day, for most this is just a hypothetical case or so infrequent it's over specing in reality and with portable power banks you can actually get a more rounded/capable laptop and cover the odd occasion you need extended battery use.

I am so used to getting 12 hours from my 2013 MBA that going to 6 hours would be hard. Also, I'm used to shutting my MBA and opening it with maybe 1 or 2 % down on battery and all of my work instantly available. From my research I am under the impression the surface does not maintain battery well when sleeping,

 

[SteveJUAE]

I am so used to getting 12 hours from my 2013 MBA that going to 6 hours would be hard. Also, I'm used to shutting my MBA and opening it with maybe 1 or 2 % down on battery and all of my work instantly available. From my research I am under the impression the surface does not maintain battery well when sleeping,

Your correct initially the SP4 and a few other laptops were suffering from this problem where sleep battery drain was excessive, most users it should be corrected now, however there was a simple work around to just use hibernate or sleep for say an hour then go to hibernate. The difference was just instead of nearly instant on (eg 2-3 seconds including hello sign on) you have a boot time of 15-20 seconds. Strangely the rMB 2015 also suffers from this too, I do not know if the 2016 version has been resolved.
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As a teacher without a fix classroom, I constantly need to move around between rooms. Of course I could carry around a charger, but then I can as well get a heavier laptop with a better battery.

AFAIK the SP4 doesn't charge over USB, so portable power banks won't work here

There are power banks that charge via the SP4 socket instead of the USB http://www.qi-infinity.com/products/35k-mah-surface-pro-charger they also are usually multi port ones that can charge rMB and other USB devices.