throwing any available technology at a device to see what sticks... is not leading. its the least creative thing to do. Apple puts a lot of thought into their designs which is why they are so often copied.
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Microsoft Targets MacBook Air's Need for Dongles, Lack of Touchscreen in New Ad
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throwing any available technology at a device to see what sticks... is not leading. its the least creative thing to do. Apple puts a lot of thought into their designs which is why they are so often copied.
i have a usb a hub which has all of my drives etc plugged in to it. i also have a usb(out) cable for it, for when i finally upgrade my macbook) but currently all of the backup drives i use are usb a, along with all my apple cables and my monitor adapter... never really travel for work, but when i go somewhere i usually have a couple of flash drives with me.
I used to be big on "Why don't they have a touchscreen?" but after owning the new iPad Air with a pretty nice keyboard from Zagg, I realize the basic only time I touch the screen is when it's necessary. Typing on the screen isn't enjoyable, and I naturally go for the mouse on a monitor. It may be useful for some, but just like when I tried the Samsung Note after several years, there are features that "Sound cool" that I wouldn't and didn't use.
The funny thing is they killed all the ports, and most everyone followed—when they go back to having the necessary ports, yet again everyone will follow.
Which is a great point. A decent hub and you’ll get much faster than outdated card interfaces. The same reason they ditched a USB A
What do u mean bring ur dongle, the surface has a USB-C (not Thunderbolt 3) and a single USB-a, oh yeah, and that MagSafe knockoff. Plus that dongle she was holding was either a Thunderbolt 2-3 or an Ethernet, neither of which the surface has.
Microsoft is out with yet another ad highlighting the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 4, but rather than primarily focusing on the features of the machine, Microsoft has chosen to pit it against Apple's MacBook Air.
In the spot, the same Windows user who was in previous ads, shows off his new Microsoft laptop to his sister. She continually asks questions about how it compares to the MacBook Air.
"Is the MacBook Air touch screen?" she says. "How could you not have a touch screen?" After a description of the ports on the Surface Laptop, which has USB-C and USB-A, she says "better bring your dongle."
Microsoft has been running ads pitting its devices against Apple's devices since January, comparing the laptops to the MacBook Air and the iPad Pro. Most of the prior ads have highlighted the Surface Pro 7, but this one focuses on the Surface Laptop 4, Microsoft's ultra-thin touchscreen laptop, priced starting at $999.99, which is similar to the $999 price of the MacBook Air.
Measuring in at 13.5 inches, the Surface Laptop 4 features an AMD Ryzen 5 or an Intel chip, depending on configuration, while Apple's laptop uses the M1 chip. Apple is rumored to be putting additional ports in next-generation MacBook Pro machines, adding an HDMI port and an SD card reader in addition to USB-C ports, though there are no plans to add USB-A ports.
Article Link: Microsoft Targets MacBook Air's Need for Dongles, Lack of Touchscreen in New Ad
I can't wait until Apple releases a convertible touchscreen MacBook Pro. I'll buy the first they make if it has
1) Runs MacOS as a laptop
I don't want to use touch screen OS apps with fat tap areas sucking up screen space while doing all my heavy duty writing and development work, and I don't want background processes throttled while I'm not using it so everything can stay synced.
2) A screen that weighs no more than 1/4 lb
so it doesn't throw off balance of the laptop, and is firmly secured while on the laptop.
3) Screen detaches to become an iPad, running iPadOS.
I don't want to use a desktop OS apps with tiny tap areas on a touch screen tablet, and I also don't want it to allows willy nilly background processes to burn down the battery life.
Until then MSFT can keep their crappy Windows Surface convertibles, I'm sick and tired of helping my daughter trying to use her school issued Windows Surface POS, and she hates it so much she does most of her home work on our old 2013 MBP.
1) Runs MacOS as a laptop
I don't want to use touch screen OS apps with fat tap areas sucking up screen space while doing all my heavy duty writing and development work, and I don't want background processes throttled while I'm not using it so everything can stay synced.
2) A screen that weighs no more than 1/4 lb
so it doesn't throw off balance of the laptop, and is firmly secured while on the laptop.
3) Screen detaches to become an iPad, running iPadOS.
I don't want to use a desktop OS apps with tiny tap areas on a touch screen tablet, and I also don't want it to allows willy nilly background processes to burn down the battery life.
Until then MSFT can keep their crappy Windows Surface convertibles, I'm sick and tired of helping my daughter trying to use her school issued Windows Surface POS, and she hates it so much she does most of her home work on our old 2013 MBP.
What they don't mention is that the alternative is using Windows. But, if you are dumb or under the age of 12, you can use ChromeOS
I'll drop my MBA M1 if they make a Surface Pro 8 with AMD mobile 5800U or 5600U CPU. AMD mobile and M1 are comparable in performance and efficiency but not yet ready to give up x64 compatibility, inability to multi-boot Linux/Windows, dealing with Big Sur subscription nagware, Big Sur still feeling like beta status even after 11.3 update, etc.
I bought one of these multi-dongles since it has USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader, HDMI, etc.
BUT... the dang SD card reader only works at USB 2.0 speeds! WTF
It was my fault... I didn't read the description closely. So be aware that there are many of these multi-dongles like this!
BUT... the dang SD card reader only works at USB 2.0 speeds! WTF
It was my fault... I didn't read the description closely. So be aware that there are many of these multi-dongles like this!
A quick check shows that an iPad Air weighs 1 pound. So, you’re looking for a device with ALL the guts in it that allows it to run macOS AND iPadOS, BUT weighs only a 1/4 of that. That’s INCLUDING the framework that allows it to attach firmly to a keyboard. Hey, if you’re going to dream, dream big!
Umm, okay.
AMD 5800U 25 Watts
Single core 1421, multicore 6450
M1 15 Watts
Single core 1700, multicore 7500
PC makers can limit the 5800U to 15 watts if they want to try to make MBA style fanless computers, but you won't be getting anywhere near it's benchmarked performance if they do.
Or accept that convertibles are a terrible idea, combining a worse laptop with a worse tablet.
I don’t think there’s anyone that disagrees with that point. I think it’s more so that folks are indicating that Microsoft must be desperate (because that’s pretty much what it meant when Apple was doing it) and… maybe folks don’t like thinking Microsoft is acting in a desperate fashion?
I actually have both. AMD 4650U at 15W already edges out MBA M1. 4650U is even plenty usable configured for 10W so a 4800U and 5800U should easily surpass MBP M1. Bonus is 4650U can hardware decode 8K 60fps VP9 video while M1 has semi-laggy software decoding.
I would imagine many disagree given the high praise the Mac vs PC adverts received in these forums (but then again it’s a pro Apple forum so what can we expect).I don’t think there’s anyone that disagrees with that point. I think it’s more so that folks are indicating that Microsoft must be desperate (because that’s pretty much what it meant when Apple was doing it) and… maybe folks don’t like thinking Microsoft is acting in a desperate fashion?
yawn.
one day ms will embrace usb type c like most of the rest of the industry and abandon their PROPRIETARY dock/charge connector.
buy a surface tablet and you're looked in for the dock. unlike anything with type C
one day ms will embrace usb type c like most of the rest of the industry and abandon their PROPRIETARY dock/charge connector.
buy a surface tablet and you're looked in for the dock. unlike anything with type C
Oh, they get praised, no question. Apple folks loved them! But, they also understand that it was primarily due to the fact that Apple NEEDED to make these commercials. No one that was around during that time is under any misapprehensions as to why the commercials were run (in such quantity, with some made for international markets, even!) and what it meant that a huge number of “Apple” commercials had a “PC” in them.
Umm, okay.
AMD 4650U 15 Watts
Single core 963, multicore 4433
AMD 4800U 15 Watts
Single core 1035, multicore 5929
AMD 5800U 15 Watts
Single core 1421, multicore 6450
M1 15 Watts
Single core 1700, multicore 7500
And lets not forget the 5800U is a $500+ CPU, while the M1 is estimated to cost Apple $65. And that by the time the 5800U even ships in any quantity, Apple will be shipping the M2.
Keep trotting out your Ryzen trash so Apple can keep dunking on it.
Is AnandTech's evaluation of M1 performance vs the 4800U acceptable for you? Looks to me the M1 chip is pretty comparable and on their benchmarking perhaps slightly ahead.
For me, it really comes down to this matrix here.
Depending on the task, I am more productive on iOS than on macOS (or any other PC for that matter). And that’s what it ultimately comes down to - having the right tool for the job.