New XPS 15 absolutely crushes MBP

[keysofanxiety]

The XPS keyboard is cheap, plasticky and junky. The keys are too small too. The DELL trackpads are ironically much better/quicker to use in their Vostro lines (with the two physical buttons). As with almost all non-Apple laptops, you can see and feel parts where they've cut corners to meet a price point.

I honestly don't see the appeal of them or why people here rave on about them so much. They're great Windows laptops but they're still a far cry from Apple quality. People seem to just judge on paper specs. This price, this hardware. But they're completely different when you actually come to use them.

It's like getting that Christmas present you really wanted as a kid. They're never as good as the adverts made them seem.

 

[tubeexperience]

I have just got my 3rd dell laptop in 6 months at work due to poor quality, and hardware issues. Certainly would no longer buy dell on my dime.

My guess, it's a cheap $500 Dell.

 

[deany]

Apple makes the best computers, period. Software and hardware.

I was a huge phone fanboy for 12 years now. Everything related with phone news, I checked on it almost every day. Now all I care for are decent laptops. Why? Because the mobile industry is saturated and I can always pick up a sub-$100 Android that can do 90% on what any flagship can do except take better pictures or have a 2K display. I am more excited about the latest Mac refreshes than the latest rumor with iPhones.

i know people say their phone is their most beloved gadget. Everyone needs a phone as it can save your life. My first laptop was my used device over my phones from 2006-2010 before the smartphone phenomenon in this decade. Whatever laptop I enjoy using will be my favorite device because its online capabilities is far superior on it and media consumption seems more comfortable thanks to the screen not needing a kickstand, loud external speaker, and apps like VLC player to play any format. And Macs aren't easily replaced with cheaper alternatives compared to smartphones.

Give me a (post-Haswell era) MacBook any day over the latest Android flagship, iPhone 7 and SE, and iPad. Anytime I walk into an Apple Store, I look at the design of each Mac like the iMac and MacBook. I avoid looking at the iOS devices because I see so many people looking at smaller screens on a daily basis. Nothing new with them. But Macs get rarely updated which makes refresh announcement draw more anticipation.

iOS, been there, done that.
OS X for life.

Please give us an iPad Pro that can run OS X.

Its macOS don't cha know!
just kidding I'm 100% you do know.

 

[tubeexperience]

There was a time when Apple's PC is in a league of its own, but Apple has since been slacking, allowing rivals to catch up.
[doublepost=1483662362][/doublepost]

Windows is not an acceptable replacement for an avid user of macOS. It just isn't. I use it daily for gaming and a couple select apps via boot camp, and it's just not there no matter how much you want it to be - the little things will anger the crap out of anyone used to the way a Mac works. I put up with it for IT purposes, but Adobe apps kind of suck on W10 and are horribly optimized, every single laptop trackpad and its corresponding drivers are terrible and scary bad compared to the trackpad in macOS, etc.

Just so you know, that has more to do with Apple's boot camp drivers than Windows.

 

[deany]

There was a time when Apple's PC is in a league of its own, but Apple has since been slacking, allowing rivals to catch up.

'Good things come to those who wait'! and wait, and wait, and wait!

 

[tubeexperience]

'Good things come to those who wait'! and wait, and wait, and wait!

I remember a time when a Dell laptop looks like this:

While an Apple laptop looks like this:

Obviously, that's not the case anymore.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

Windows is not an acceptable replacement for an avid user of macOS. It just isn't. I use it daily for gaming and a couple select apps via boot camp, and it's just not there no matter how much you want it to be - the little things will anger the crap out of anyone used to the way a Mac works. I put up with it for IT purposes, but Adobe apps kind of suck on W10 and are horribly optimized, every single laptop trackpad and its corresponding drivers are terrible and scary bad compared to the trackpad in macOS, etc.

Well, if you're used to one system then you might find the other hard to adapt to. But that would work both ways. I've been using a Dell desktop with W10 for a while now, running Photoshop and Lightroom, and frankly haven't seen any significant difference. Why would Adobe apps be poorly optimized for Windows when only about 10% of its users are on Mac OS? The machine boots quickly, with an SSD drive, shuts down quickly and is very quiet. Sure, I've had to do a little searching to find various things that I've been using on Mac OS, such as screen capture tools, but they are generally available. I may not be a power user, but then again, it appears that Apple is not aiming their systems at such people either.

 

[fs454]

There was a time when Apple's PC is in a league of its own, but Apple has since been slacking, allowing rivals to catch up.
[doublepost=1483662362][/doublepost]

Just so you know, that has more to do with Apple's boot camp drivers than Windows.

I'm not comparing it on a Mac with Boot Camp. I've got micro-ITX 12-core Haswell-E Xeon/32GB DDR4/GTX 980 Ti setup that I dual-boot Windows and El Capitan on.

 

[skids929]

I remember a time when a Dell laptop looks like this:

While an Apple laptop looks like this:

Obviously, that's not the case anymore.

This isn't the first thread where I've seen you give horrible examples like this to support your overall incorrect point on view on just about everything related to Apple. The question becomes why the heck you are on a forum dedicated to Apple products defending Windows every chance you get. And the better question is why I am even responding to any of your posts at this point.

I use Windows more than I use my Mac. I use it for work (yes I work I am not a perpetual student who calls being a student "work"). And I own Windows 10. The fact is Windows 10 isn't anywhere near the OS MacOS is. No way no how not even close. The software is the same dirty quirky inefficient software it has ALWAYS been and will be. Let's not try and make this into some kind of argument because you have an axe to grind about Apple not keeping with market dynamics, they are the market dynamics. Face it, you just don't like the prices.

 

[PhoneI]

- trackpad far inferior to MacBook
- runs an inferior OS

no thanks

 

[skids929]

Kaby lake CPU
32GB RAM
GTX 1050 GPU
4K Touchscreen

Looks like MBP badly needs a refresh or this could get embarrassing quick

I consider most of the people on this forum a bunch of really smart users. I know this because I learn a ton from the contributors to this site. With that said, I'd hazard a guess that they and particularly myself have some common sense. My point is, if any of us here thought there was a machine that was literally HALF the price of an Apple laptop and could provide the same, or even equal performance, and user experience I think we'd all bail on Apple and buy that machine. Don't you agree?

I mean who wouldn't? Bottom line, you get what you pay for.

 

[tubeexperience]

This isn't the first thread where I've seen you give horrible examples like this to support your overall incorrect point on view on just about everything related to Apple. The question becomes why the heck you are on a forum dedicated to Apple products defending Windows every chance you get. And the better question is why I am even responding to any of your posts at this point.

I use Windows more than I use my Mac. I use it for work (yes I work I am not a perpetual student who calls being a student "work"). And I own Windows 10. The fact is Windows 10 isn't anywhere near the OS MacOS is. No way no how not even close. The software is the same dirty quirky inefficient software it has ALWAYS been and will be. Let's not try and make this into some kind of argument because you have an axe to grind about Apple not keeping with market dynamics, they are the market dynamics. Face it, you just don't like the prices.

I apologize, but I am not a mindless drone singing the praise for Apple.

The fact of the matter is that after Tim Cook became CEO, he let the Mac stagnate and let competitors catch up.

 

[MrGuder]

Dell will have forums dedicated to the new XPS 15 where people will be ripping it to shreds due to its own unique teething problems and the odd poster will say - 'I'm returning it for the TBMBP as Dell have lost it'. The grass is always greener on the other side folks.

I personally prefer the Mac's far superior craftsmanship, OS, keyboard, balanced display, speakers and solid performance across all levels to Dell's offering. But that's just me...

Yeah and not only this....good luck trying to talk to someone at Dell in customer service that speaks any English.

 

[richinaus]

Yeah and not only this....good luck trying to talk to someone at Dell in customer service that speaks any English.

You want to try calling Microsoft. I just went through hell with them before Christmas. They resolved the issue in the end but took nearly a month and a lot of my time and patience for something that would never have happened with Apple.

These are the reasons I will stick with Apple :

1. A lot of stores to talk to someone real and who speaks English [1 MS store in Aus]
2. Quality design and engineering throughout all products
3. icloud, apple music and photo sharing all work very well for me
4. integration with mac, ipad, iPhone and watch.


I do find Windows 10 to be fine to use and have no issues with it [I use both MacOS and Win10 professionally] and would only consider the Surface line a worthy comparison to Apple products. But overall when everything is considered, Apple still has the best offering for me.

I can totally see the issues for those who need more power though. Yes, it would appear you are screwed.......

 

[Wowereit]

There are currently only low wattage kaby lake processors which can't compete with high wattage skylake.

Nope, pretty much full KabyLake lineup is available since last week.
Desktop CPUs are already shipping to consumers, notebooks arrived at reviewers last week, first models getting to consumers right now.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Kaby lake CPU
32GB RAM
GTX 1050 GPU
4K Touchscreen

Looks like MBP badly needs a refresh or this could get embarrassing quick

Did you guys see his original post? Why feed the troll?

Look, I love windows 10. I built a gaming/work desktop, with an i7-6700k, gtx 1070, 16gb ram, 512 ssd, 2x2tb hhd, etc. It absolutely blows any apple product out of the water. It is a gaming and productivity machine.

BUT...its not in laptop form. I own a 2016 13in MacBook Pro with touchbar. In the past year or two I have owned the following windows 10 laptops : Lenovo x1 carbon, hp spectra 360 (whatever it was called), surfacebook, ups 13 9350, and most recently ups 15 9550.

All I can say is, when it comes to laptop, power is overrated when stability is compromised. If you have owned a Mac recently, as well as a modern windows 10 laptop, you will understand what I mean. Windows 10 devices are consistently narrowing the gap, the surface book is a great example of this, but it isn't quite equal yet. Not to mention the trackpad....

I don't think I will ever pay the Apple tax for a iMac, when I can build a way more powerful windows 10 desktop for the same price. Windows 10 really a, IMO, superior desktop operating system. But, as I type this post, macOS is the superior OS when it comes to laptops.

Again, just my opinion.

 

[tipoo]

There are currently only low wattage kaby lake processors which can't compete with high wattage skylake.

Not the case anymore:
http://www.windowscentral.com/dell-refreshed-xps-15-9560

These ship with 45W quad core Kaby Lake processors, not the ULV ones released earlier. So yes, all things being equal, the XPS would be faster.

The only difference is it can be configured down to an i3 unlike MacBooks, but the i5 and i7 are shot for shot replacements of what's in the MBP, on a newer uArch with better ability to retain turbo. Nor are the MacBook Pro 15" models using Iris Pro with eDRAM anymore.

MacBook Pro 15" has a 6700HQ:
https://ark.intel.com/products/88967/Intel-Core-i7-6700HQ-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_50-GHz

This has a 7700HQ:
http://ark.intel.com/products/97185/Intel-Core-i7-7700HQ-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_80-GHz

The 7700 is a direct replacement of the 6700.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Not the case anymore:
http://www.windowscentral.com/dell-refreshed-xps-15-9560

These ship with 45W quad core Kaby Lake processors, not the ULV ones released earlier. So yes, all things being equal, the XPS would be faster.

The only difference is it can be configured down to an i3 unlike MacBooks, but the i5 and i7 are shot for shot replacements of what's in the MBP, on a newer uArch with better ability to retain turbo. Nor are the MacBook Pro 15" models using Iris Pro with eDRAM anymore.

MacBook Pro 15" has a 6700HQ:
https://ark.intel.com/products/88967/Intel-Core-i7-6700HQ-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_50-GHz

This has a 7700HQ:
http://ark.intel.com/products/97185/Intel-Core-i7-7700HQ-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_80-GHz

The 7700 is a direct replacement of the 6700.

The 6700 to 7700 allows for 4K drm (whatever it's called) , like Netflix, and minor performance
improvements. Nothing major, but an upgrade
none the less.

 

[darkloki]

Man I really would have given alot for a 1050 in my Macbook, in fact I wouldn't even care if my Battery was garbage with a 1050 in it now that I think about it.

I'm still really happy with Mac though, I'll stick with Apple till the end as the reality for me has while technology has improved my needs have actually regressed I'm now doing more or less of the same thing and if I can't play games on it, I just go backwards with older games that I missed out on during their Hay Days, and there are plenty of 'em... Multi-tasking using the OS has just been great for me these past few years. And today I generally associate Windows with 'Work' (My Work PC) and apple OS as my getaway lol... and i plan to keep it that way for years to come.

 

[tipoo]

The 6700 to 7700 allows for 4K drm (whatever it's called) , like Netflix, and minor performance
improvements. Nothing major, but an upgrade
none the less.

Kaby also holds its higher (~300MHz higher) boosts for longer, but yeah it's pretty minor, but my point being, these aren't the ULV Kaby Lake chips that seemed to be agreed upon on the first page, bad information being spread there.

 

[seabee3]

I was a Dell user for 12 years before I left Windows and moved to the MacBook Pro in 2012. Yes, they have made some amazing machines since then but I am not going back. Apple, while not perfect, continues to give me what I need and with great build quality as well.

 

[hipsheik]

Windows is not an acceptable replacement for an avid user of macOS. It just isn't. I use it daily for gaming and a couple select apps via boot camp, and it's just not there no matter how much you want it to be - the little things will anger the crap out of anyone used to the way a Mac works.

Yes, like how Windows 10 rearranges my desktop icons on my external monitor almost every time I reboot.

It drives me nuts and shows the severe lack of attention to detail that Mac users take for granted.

Even plugging a USB DAC into my Macbook works seamlessly, whereas my work Dell refuses to play sound through it.

John Gruber on Daring Fireball recently wrote about this - that there is no good alternative to macOS for most of us. That's why we're afraid apple is neglecting the Mac.

 

[edenorchestra]

Such a silly posting on a Mac forum.

 

[bopajuice]

/

 

[GCMD]

Anyone who wants a Dell doesn't want a Mac...and vice versa.

Specs won't change many people's minds. Especially when they don't matter. The new MBPs do EVERYTHING you'd need them to...except gaming at a high level.

Why you would spend $3000 on a laptop to game, I will never understand.