Poor built quality and it only have intel hd4400... Not to mention that the starting price is $1,249
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Poor built quality and it only have intel hd4400... Not to mention that the starting price is $1,249
+++ Checked out the 13 Vaio Pro at the Sony store yesterday, and after 3 years of using a Mac Air thinking of switching to it, unless I see negative reviews:
- IPS screen
- 2.2 lbs
- smaller bezels
- HDMI
- trackpad as good as I've seen on a PC.
Will wait to see what the updated rMBP looks like in comparison. The Vaio IPS screen blows away the Air TN panel.
If anyone even for a moment things Windows 8.1 isn't as easy to use as OS X on respective computers designed for them, they need to get a reality check, and this is coming from a MacBook air owner.
Both OSs are just as confusing to get used to learn, it all depends on what you're used to. The only benefit Apple has is that it can design the software and hardware to work perfectly, something the MS Surface also does, but few other Windows machines can actually do.
Both OSs are just as confusing to get used to learn, it all depends on what you're used to. The only benefit Apple has is that it can design the software and hardware to work perfectly, something the MS Surface also does, but few other Windows machines can actually do.
My personal notebook for several years has been an IBM/Lenovo X61, which was an earlier model in the X1 Carbon line that I believe was the smallest business-grade Thinkpad they ever made. I was torn between upgrading to either the X1 Carbon or a Haswell 11" MBA. The day before the WWDC keynote, an X1 Carbon crossed my desk on its way to somebody in another department. Long story short, this post is coming from my new MBA.
I didn't even power the X1 up! It felt larger than my X61, and the cheesy plastic feel of the case was sorta like a Samsung Galaxy S4. Optioning the two computers out the way that I would want them made the MBA seem like a steal. If Apple has mastered one thing, it is making computers that feel solid in your hands.....
I've had my Vaio Pro 13 for a few days now.
The most amazing thing about it is that it boots from cold to the Windows 8 lock screen in about 3 seconds. That's after a full system shutdown - it's amazing just how fast it starts up.
The keyboard is very good - I think it's just as good as any you'll find on any other laptop.
The display is awesome - 1920x1080 at 13" means it's really, really sharp. It ships with Windows set to 125% scaling so it's not really a problem to read text. The colours are so much nicer than on the new MBA - there really is no competition here.
The touch screen works well. Once you know a few of the Windows 8 gestures it can really come in handy for switching/closing applications etc. I only bought the touch model because that was the only way to get the carbon fibre finish, but I'm glad I did now and I can see the touch screen being handy/fun.
The trackpad is not as good but it's not terrible. I found that it got confused with a few of the Windows 8 gestures, so I turned one of them off and now it's totally usable. The only place I think it is beaten by the MBA trackpad is when I try to use the side of my thumb to click - the MBA seems to know what I am trying to do but this computer doesn't. I guess I'll just have to try to stop doing that.
I had a few problems with WiFi connections but now they seem to be gone. I didn't update or change anything, it just seems to be reliable now. I have no idea what changed.
Battery life seems good. I don't have the optional extended battery but I'm getting about 6 hours out of a full charge. That's not close to the MBA, but it's more than enough for me.
The build quality is good. Yes, there is some flex but that's only because of the material used. It feels solid.
The most amazing thing about it is that it boots from cold to the Windows 8 lock screen in about 3 seconds. That's after a full system shutdown - it's amazing just how fast it starts up.
The keyboard is very good - I think it's just as good as any you'll find on any other laptop.
The display is awesome - 1920x1080 at 13" means it's really, really sharp. It ships with Windows set to 125% scaling so it's not really a problem to read text. The colours are so much nicer than on the new MBA - there really is no competition here.
The touch screen works well. Once you know a few of the Windows 8 gestures it can really come in handy for switching/closing applications etc. I only bought the touch model because that was the only way to get the carbon fibre finish, but I'm glad I did now and I can see the touch screen being handy/fun.
The trackpad is not as good but it's not terrible. I found that it got confused with a few of the Windows 8 gestures, so I turned one of them off and now it's totally usable. The only place I think it is beaten by the MBA trackpad is when I try to use the side of my thumb to click - the MBA seems to know what I am trying to do but this computer doesn't. I guess I'll just have to try to stop doing that.
I had a few problems with WiFi connections but now they seem to be gone. I didn't update or change anything, it just seems to be reliable now. I have no idea what changed.
Battery life seems good. I don't have the optional extended battery but I'm getting about 6 hours out of a full charge. That's not close to the MBA, but it's more than enough for me.
The build quality is good. Yes, there is some flex but that's only because of the material used. It feels solid.
The interesting thing is that Apple products (Macs in particular) used to be so much more expensive than the competitor. But now Windows MBA competitors are coming in at the same price, and are having a hard time matching Apple.
The MBA base model is the best you can get for the price, I think.
The MBA base model is the best you can get for the price, I think.
I have been a Mac user for the past several years - currently have an iMac\iPad\iPhone and previously had MBA and Retinal Pro.
I am the type of person who gets bored and I like to change it up once in awhile. Windows 8 and the Sony Vaio Pro 13 were the change I was looking for so instead of buying another Apple laptop I took the plunge with the Sony.
I can tell you from experience as I used to own an Air it doesnt even come close. The positive points are the the screen and also the form factor (weight, keyboard, nice black color). The negatives include the trackpad, battery life compared to Air, flex in case, video card, and fan noise.
The main deciding factor in my return of this unit was the trackpad - it is horrible when compared to any Apple laptop. Missed swipes, clicks, gestures, unresponsive to scrolling etc. It may not be too bad for someone who is coming from another Windows laptop but once you experience an Apple laptop it is night and day.
I returned the Sony and got a Hawell MBA base with 256 SSD and loaded Windows 8 through Bootcamp. I should have done this to begin with and to be honest even though it is not a touchscreen with the same resolution the LCD is still darn good. The build quality and how well it works for the same price make the Air a far superior purchase in my opinion.
I am the type of person who gets bored and I like to change it up once in awhile. Windows 8 and the Sony Vaio Pro 13 were the change I was looking for so instead of buying another Apple laptop I took the plunge with the Sony.
I can tell you from experience as I used to own an Air it doesnt even come close. The positive points are the the screen and also the form factor (weight, keyboard, nice black color). The negatives include the trackpad, battery life compared to Air, flex in case, video card, and fan noise.
The main deciding factor in my return of this unit was the trackpad - it is horrible when compared to any Apple laptop. Missed swipes, clicks, gestures, unresponsive to scrolling etc. It may not be too bad for someone who is coming from another Windows laptop but once you experience an Apple laptop it is night and day.
I returned the Sony and got a Hawell MBA base with 256 SSD and loaded Windows 8 through Bootcamp. I should have done this to begin with and to be honest even though it is not a touchscreen with the same resolution the LCD is still darn good. The build quality and how well it works for the same price make the Air a far superior purchase in my opinion.
I agree
I had a Sony Pro 13 also hated the trackpad and average battery life but what drove me over the edge was the dropped wifi and bluetooth.
Ultrabook with slow/useless wifi and bluetooth.. is just $1300+ paper weight mainly because I log into my nas/home server at home for all my files.
Brought the Air haven't looked back yet.. only thing I would have brought besides the air would have been the Acer S7
I can comment here as I have been having the same dilemma for the past 6 months. I have a X1 Carbon sitting here next to me. I was able to special order it from CDW so I received it with the Intel 240GB SSD (full disk encryption), 8 GB RAM, and the Intel 2.0 GHz i7.
As far as the X1 goes, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best notebook design on the market. I travel extensively throughout the world and I do not have one concern about its durability when traveling through security, using it in the airplane, or even at the local coffee house. The fact that it is made from carbon fiber and passes 8 of the 9 MIL-specs right out of the box makes me comfortable that I can put this laptop through its paces.
However, there are some shortcomings with the X1 that I have found and they are the following:
1. Windows 8 - I do not care what others say about the Metro/Modern UI/UX, it is brutal and does not work for me. I have tried Ubuntu and it works flawlessly on the X1, but I really need to be either in OS X or Windows to get work done for what I do for a living.
2. The screen has acceptable viewing angles, but it is still a TN panel and could be better for how much I paid.
3. Battery is O.K., if I am conservative I can get 4-5 hours.
4. Wifi drops out randomly and I think it may have to do with the carbon fiber design.
5. Would be nice to have Haswell and 2 x USB 3.0 ports.
6. Charging adapter is not as good as the Apple Magsafe idea, and I know this may be a small thing, but when you travel a lot, these little things make a big difference.
7. Fan Noise - this is a big deal and I cannot for the life of me understand while Lenovo cannot create a thermal cooling system similar to Apple. The fan on the X1 full go full speed as soon as I disconnect the power adapter and that is with me just typing in Word. In addition, if I have no applications open and the screen shuts off in power save mode, again the fan will go full speed with no tasks running in the background according to Task Manager.
8. The new trackpad, while larger in size, still does not even come close to the ones on the MacBooks. This really blows my mind, how is it no one has yet put this much effort into the trackpad on the Windows side. You simply cannot touch the trackpad from Apple and it makes a world of difference in the computing experience. Don't even get me started on Windows 8 touch screen enabled laptops... this is an absolute joke and will fail miserably.
Now for the things I like about the X1 Carbon:
1. The best designed laptop, period! It is sleek, black, has the soft-touch matte feeling with carbon fiber design. The X1 feels like it was built to stand the test of time.
2. The keyboard is second to none. If Lenovo put as much effort into their trackpads as they did their keyboards they would have a winning combo on their hands. I can type on this keyboard all day!
3. 1600x900 resolution with MATTE screen makes me happy (really dislike glossy as a personal preference).
4. Lenovo support is usually good once you get to tier 2, but the fact they are in the USA and are generally available to come on-site to make repairs makes me know that I will only be done for a short period of time in case of needed repairs.
5. Charges quickly...
6. Port selection is good - mini display port, secure digital, 2 x USB
7. Track point - it is nice to have both options
8. I like the fact that I can find anything I need on Lenovo's website about the X1, including the service manual. The service manual clearly explains how I can completely disassemble the X1 and contains all the part numbers I would need incase of having to order spare parts and performing the repairs on my own. Try doing that with Apple....
What I Do Not Like about the MBA
1. Keyboard vs X1
2. Screen resolution and this silly glossy overlay
3. Cannot fix or repair myself
4. Aluminum design will scratch easy and bend easily if dropped - don't have much confidence traveling with the MBA
5. No Mil-spec testing
What I Do Like about the MBA
1. OS X
2. Magsafe and Apple battery technology - 10 hours compared to the X1
3. Trackpad
4. Port selection 2 x 3.0 USB, Secure digital, thunderbolt/display port
In the end I am sure I missed a few points but I hope that gives you some insight. Now, here is where I am today... I just ordered a MacBook Air 2013 with i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD. I received both Samsung panel and SSD, so that satisfies me. The reason I decided to order the MBA is simple... I really have a great disdain for Windows 8!!! I do not know what Microsoft were thinking, but they better get their act together. I have nothing against Apple or Lenovo, I like both companies.
It is Microsoft that is really causing me to make this decision, and it is an easy one. Apple and their ecosystem really just do work together. In addition, a lot of great applications have been created for Apple over the last few years, but I fear some of the Indie apps I use could just disappear because they do not have large financial backing. I have had this happen to me on more than one occasion with productivity software where I get a system in place and then the developer stops developing the software. The same with Apple and their OS. When they went from Snow Leopard to Lion is when I went back to Windows 7 and now with Windows 8 I am coming back to OS X. I am excitited to see what Ive has in store for the future of OS X - I just wish they would allow me to install Snow Leopard on my 2013 MBA. However, I cannot explain to you how easy it is to just get work done with a Mac and OS X. If I could I would rather have OS X on the X1 Carbon.
So right now I have 2 weeks to return the MBA and for me it simply comes down to deciding what is more important... A well constructed laptop like the X1 Carbon vs OS X. I know that sounds silly, but for the travel I do the MBA cannot hold a candle to the X1 Carbon and if anything goes wrong I have to deal with going to the so called Apple Geniuses which I do not really enjoy plus its a one hour drive and I have to go into the shopping mall of all places.
Disclaimer:
-Sorry for the poorly constructed sentences and grammar
-I have been using Apple and Microsoft products for my entire life so I am not biased either way
As far as the X1 goes, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best notebook design on the market. I travel extensively throughout the world and I do not have one concern about its durability when traveling through security, using it in the airplane, or even at the local coffee house. The fact that it is made from carbon fiber and passes 8 of the 9 MIL-specs right out of the box makes me comfortable that I can put this laptop through its paces.
However, there are some shortcomings with the X1 that I have found and they are the following:
1. Windows 8 - I do not care what others say about the Metro/Modern UI/UX, it is brutal and does not work for me. I have tried Ubuntu and it works flawlessly on the X1, but I really need to be either in OS X or Windows to get work done for what I do for a living.
2. The screen has acceptable viewing angles, but it is still a TN panel and could be better for how much I paid.
3. Battery is O.K., if I am conservative I can get 4-5 hours.
4. Wifi drops out randomly and I think it may have to do with the carbon fiber design.
5. Would be nice to have Haswell and 2 x USB 3.0 ports.
6. Charging adapter is not as good as the Apple Magsafe idea, and I know this may be a small thing, but when you travel a lot, these little things make a big difference.
7. Fan Noise - this is a big deal and I cannot for the life of me understand while Lenovo cannot create a thermal cooling system similar to Apple. The fan on the X1 full go full speed as soon as I disconnect the power adapter and that is with me just typing in Word. In addition, if I have no applications open and the screen shuts off in power save mode, again the fan will go full speed with no tasks running in the background according to Task Manager.
8. The new trackpad, while larger in size, still does not even come close to the ones on the MacBooks. This really blows my mind, how is it no one has yet put this much effort into the trackpad on the Windows side. You simply cannot touch the trackpad from Apple and it makes a world of difference in the computing experience. Don't even get me started on Windows 8 touch screen enabled laptops... this is an absolute joke and will fail miserably.
Now for the things I like about the X1 Carbon:
1. The best designed laptop, period! It is sleek, black, has the soft-touch matte feeling with carbon fiber design. The X1 feels like it was built to stand the test of time.
2. The keyboard is second to none. If Lenovo put as much effort into their trackpads as they did their keyboards they would have a winning combo on their hands. I can type on this keyboard all day!
3. 1600x900 resolution with MATTE screen makes me happy (really dislike glossy as a personal preference).
4. Lenovo support is usually good once you get to tier 2, but the fact they are in the USA and are generally available to come on-site to make repairs makes me know that I will only be done for a short period of time in case of needed repairs.
5. Charges quickly...
6. Port selection is good - mini display port, secure digital, 2 x USB
7. Track point - it is nice to have both options
8. I like the fact that I can find anything I need on Lenovo's website about the X1, including the service manual. The service manual clearly explains how I can completely disassemble the X1 and contains all the part numbers I would need incase of having to order spare parts and performing the repairs on my own. Try doing that with Apple....
What I Do Not Like about the MBA
1. Keyboard vs X1
2. Screen resolution and this silly glossy overlay
3. Cannot fix or repair myself
4. Aluminum design will scratch easy and bend easily if dropped - don't have much confidence traveling with the MBA
5. No Mil-spec testing
What I Do Like about the MBA
1. OS X
2. Magsafe and Apple battery technology - 10 hours compared to the X1
3. Trackpad
4. Port selection 2 x 3.0 USB, Secure digital, thunderbolt/display port
In the end I am sure I missed a few points but I hope that gives you some insight. Now, here is where I am today... I just ordered a MacBook Air 2013 with i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD. I received both Samsung panel and SSD, so that satisfies me. The reason I decided to order the MBA is simple... I really have a great disdain for Windows 8!!! I do not know what Microsoft were thinking, but they better get their act together. I have nothing against Apple or Lenovo, I like both companies.
It is Microsoft that is really causing me to make this decision, and it is an easy one. Apple and their ecosystem really just do work together. In addition, a lot of great applications have been created for Apple over the last few years, but I fear some of the Indie apps I use could just disappear because they do not have large financial backing. I have had this happen to me on more than one occasion with productivity software where I get a system in place and then the developer stops developing the software. The same with Apple and their OS. When they went from Snow Leopard to Lion is when I went back to Windows 7 and now with Windows 8 I am coming back to OS X. I am excitited to see what Ive has in store for the future of OS X - I just wish they would allow me to install Snow Leopard on my 2013 MBA. However, I cannot explain to you how easy it is to just get work done with a Mac and OS X. If I could I would rather have OS X on the X1 Carbon.
So right now I have 2 weeks to return the MBA and for me it simply comes down to deciding what is more important... A well constructed laptop like the X1 Carbon vs OS X. I know that sounds silly, but for the travel I do the MBA cannot hold a candle to the X1 Carbon and if anything goes wrong I have to deal with going to the so called Apple Geniuses which I do not really enjoy plus its a one hour drive and I have to go into the shopping mall of all places.
Disclaimer:
-Sorry for the poorly constructed sentences and grammar
-I have been using Apple and Microsoft products for my entire life so I am not biased either way
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I have been a faithful Lenovo user until I first bought an iPad, totally random I know. Back then, the fan and heat of the Thinkpad never bothered me. But then one day the iPad showed me that I could do simple computing tasks without making my machine feel like it was about to give birth. It has been a wild ride for me, I knew the MBA clocked at a measly 1.3 Ghz had the potential to deliver the same computing experience as the iPad while being able to do more advanced computing. So far, I can honestly say that PCs are far inferior to Apple products.
I did the opposite - bought a Vaio Pro 13 and returned it and bought an air. Can't argue about the screen being beautiful on the Vaio but trackpad sucks compared to air and it just doesn't compare (build quality, battery life, video card, no bloatware).
Just wanted reply to my previous posts as I had a few more thoughts since my previous post. I have to agree with the previous poster regarding bloatware. I like the fact that when I press Power On on my MBA it is ready to go in about 15 seconds.
The SSD is nearly fully indexed and I do not have to go through and remove a lot of additional components from my Windows based laptops. With OS X you can really start being productive right away. Most application also follow Apple design principles like System and Software Preference for example, and this makes for an optimized workflow between OS X and your apps.
With Windows and the different Windows apps I always feel like there is such a huge disconnect at the OS and Application UX/UI level. Little things like icons from Windows 95, bloated context menu options, and generations old dialog windows.
For the original poster it really is a question of how you will be using your laptop. For me it was always important to have a real organized and integrated ecosystem. For the most part I was satisfied with Windows had. The keyword here is had. The problem with Windows is that once something broke it was game over and time to reload the entire OS and apps. Most of that has changed since Windows 7, but sometime I feel like it still must be done.
My life has changed over the years and I do not feel like being anchored to my laptop and Apple has made that possible with the iPhone and iPad integrated with my MBA. In addition, using Apple products and software has made using electronics fun and easy again.
In the end, I will most likely save the MBA and sell the X1 simply because Apple has figured out something Microsoft has not. Apple has just made it easy and fun and when the launch a product it is complete and if something breaks you can rest assured that there is a fix via Software Update usually right around the corner. With Microsoft, I always expect them to launch a product that is about 80% finish and you have to hope and pray they will eventually finish the rest. With Apple in control of everything (the walled garden if you will) you are somewhat limited, but in the end it is way better than anything Microsoft can provide. I just wish there was a visionary like Jobs back at the helm of Apple, I feel like they have regressed a little bit as a company. It will be interesting to see what Ive brings to the table, but I think there are a lot of things that are and are not happening that Jobs would have done differently.
The SSD is nearly fully indexed and I do not have to go through and remove a lot of additional components from my Windows based laptops. With OS X you can really start being productive right away. Most application also follow Apple design principles like System and Software Preference for example, and this makes for an optimized workflow between OS X and your apps.
With Windows and the different Windows apps I always feel like there is such a huge disconnect at the OS and Application UX/UI level. Little things like icons from Windows 95, bloated context menu options, and generations old dialog windows.
For the original poster it really is a question of how you will be using your laptop. For me it was always important to have a real organized and integrated ecosystem. For the most part I was satisfied with Windows had. The keyword here is had. The problem with Windows is that once something broke it was game over and time to reload the entire OS and apps. Most of that has changed since Windows 7, but sometime I feel like it still must be done.
My life has changed over the years and I do not feel like being anchored to my laptop and Apple has made that possible with the iPhone and iPad integrated with my MBA. In addition, using Apple products and software has made using electronics fun and easy again.
In the end, I will most likely save the MBA and sell the X1 simply because Apple has figured out something Microsoft has not. Apple has just made it easy and fun and when the launch a product it is complete and if something breaks you can rest assured that there is a fix via Software Update usually right around the corner. With Microsoft, I always expect them to launch a product that is about 80% finish and you have to hope and pray they will eventually finish the rest. With Apple in control of everything (the walled garden if you will) you are somewhat limited, but in the end it is way better than anything Microsoft can provide. I just wish there was a visionary like Jobs back at the helm of Apple, I feel like they have regressed a little bit as a company. It will be interesting to see what Ive brings to the table, but I think there are a lot of things that are and are not happening that Jobs would have done differently.
Vaio Pro has good build quality, but horrible fan noise
I disagree with your opinion about the Vaio Pro's build quality. Because of the chosen material, carbon fiber, it's pretty flexible, but nevertheless sturdy and not-breakable. (It's more a question of your preference: The more not-bendable MBA material or the light and flexible Vaio Pro material.)
But, IMO, the really weak part of the present Vaio Pro model is the aggressive fan noise that a whole lot of users and reviewers have reported. For me, that is a deal-breaker, and that's very sad, because the screen and keyboard (even trackpad - when adjusted) is gorgeous. And the machine is so light and thin. - Which unfortunately may be part of the problem with so loud fan noise: heat-dissipation is lowered, and the fan is so small, and that fact can contribute to a more audible aggressive fan noise.
I disagree with your opinion about the Vaio Pro's build quality. Because of the chosen material, carbon fiber, it's pretty flexible, but nevertheless sturdy and not-breakable. (It's more a question of your preference: The more not-bendable MBA material or the light and flexible Vaio Pro material.)
But, IMO, the really weak part of the present Vaio Pro model is the aggressive fan noise that a whole lot of users and reviewers have reported. For me, that is a deal-breaker, and that's very sad, because the screen and keyboard (even trackpad - when adjusted) is gorgeous. And the machine is so light and thin. - Which unfortunately may be part of the problem with so loud fan noise: heat-dissipation is lowered, and the fan is so small, and that fact can contribute to a more audible aggressive fan noise.
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It really is amazing isn't it... How is it from an acoustic standpoint (thermals and speakers) that Apple can build the best laptop and PC makers just do not get it. My X1 Carbon fan noise is a huge turn off, also.
I just have to shake my head in trying to understand PC makers... Apple just does get it right on all the little things and delivering a finished product.
I just have to shake my head in trying to understand PC makers... Apple just does get it right on all the little things and delivering a finished product.
It is simply sad. It is like PCs have truly stuck their head in the sand. They are trying to sell us touch which is a total gimmick that doesn't really work all that well with Windows 8. While the masses are saying that they could care less for touch but would rather have build quality, little to no fan, and a cool computing experience coupled with an awesome display and amazing battery life. I am exceedingly happy with Apple but it is just sad to see where the completion is in all these areas. Now when I have to use my Thinkpad it just feels like a sad unimaginative piece of ****. One has to hope Apple doesn't become complacent.
the touch is laughable, since most manufactures hinges are so flimsy that every time you touch the screen the screen wobbles.
i had one for about an hour and it went right back to the store.
Another concern is that most seem to think 1366x768 is an acceptable resolution.
i had one for about an hour and it went right back to the store.
Another concern is that most seem to think 1366x768 is an acceptable resolution.
I am not sure if the comment above about touch being good on Windows 8 is serious or not. If you are serious then that is O.K. as it is a subjective situation.
I see touch working on hybrid devices, but even these hybrid devices are a gimmick at best that surely will not stand the test of time. I could be wrong and I think it is too early to tell. However, most of these manufacturers are just concerned about quantity and not quality, that is the only way they can make money with the operating system they are stuck with and have to ship them with.
I just do not see the logic or practicality of a touch enabled laptop. I mean try holding your arm out for 10 seconds here and 3 seconds there all the while the laptop moves and bounces around. Then you knock over your cup of coffee or what ever it is your are drinking. What really baffles me is why is it not possible for a PC maker to really develop, and I mean fully develop, a truly remarkable built laptop. There are always shortcoming with PC makers and yes to some extent Apple has them also. However, I spend most of my time, as well as everyone on this forum, using the keyboard and trackpad. Quite frankly no PC vendor has even come close to delivering what Apple has done. So my question to these PC makers is this... Why not perfect those two areas, why not perfect the two areas that people use the most (screen withstanding because even Apple is moving to IPS on everything). Once you have a solid reputation for keyboard and trackpad then you can build on from there. Seriously though, every time I have to use a Windows based laptop I loathe the fact that I will be dealing with an inferior trackpad.
Oh yeah - don't get me started with PC makers shipping with 1366x768 - is that suppose to be a joke? I sue to work at a Fortune 100 organization doing data analysis... We used Dell laptops and they choice I had for screen laptop resolution was 1366x768 on a 14" panel. An upgrade was $50 to 1600x900 but wasn't permitted for some unknown reason, but if I needed more RAM or HDD space then no problem.
I bounce around from Office to Creative Suite and iTunes, to Chrome and Bento filemaker... So tell me how in the heck I am going to use a touch enabled PC to get work done efficiently... It is not possible. Touch is a gimmick on a laptop or desktop that will fade quickly.
Look at the Surface Pro - the darn thing has a fan in it... a fan really, Microsoft! The iPad does not. Can you imagine the environments I use my iPad in and if I was to take that Surface Pro into the same environments the fan would get clogged. To have my Surface Pro stop working on me because of a silly fan on a tablet...? I just do not know where these designers heads are at. Then what, I have to send my Surface Pro to Microsoft to fix a fan??? Just bad designs all the way around...
I see touch working on hybrid devices, but even these hybrid devices are a gimmick at best that surely will not stand the test of time. I could be wrong and I think it is too early to tell. However, most of these manufacturers are just concerned about quantity and not quality, that is the only way they can make money with the operating system they are stuck with and have to ship them with.
I just do not see the logic or practicality of a touch enabled laptop. I mean try holding your arm out for 10 seconds here and 3 seconds there all the while the laptop moves and bounces around. Then you knock over your cup of coffee or what ever it is your are drinking. What really baffles me is why is it not possible for a PC maker to really develop, and I mean fully develop, a truly remarkable built laptop. There are always shortcoming with PC makers and yes to some extent Apple has them also. However, I spend most of my time, as well as everyone on this forum, using the keyboard and trackpad. Quite frankly no PC vendor has even come close to delivering what Apple has done. So my question to these PC makers is this... Why not perfect those two areas, why not perfect the two areas that people use the most (screen withstanding because even Apple is moving to IPS on everything). Once you have a solid reputation for keyboard and trackpad then you can build on from there. Seriously though, every time I have to use a Windows based laptop I loathe the fact that I will be dealing with an inferior trackpad.
Oh yeah - don't get me started with PC makers shipping with 1366x768 - is that suppose to be a joke? I sue to work at a Fortune 100 organization doing data analysis... We used Dell laptops and they choice I had for screen laptop resolution was 1366x768 on a 14" panel. An upgrade was $50 to 1600x900 but wasn't permitted for some unknown reason, but if I needed more RAM or HDD space then no problem.
I bounce around from Office to Creative Suite and iTunes, to Chrome and Bento filemaker... So tell me how in the heck I am going to use a touch enabled PC to get work done efficiently... It is not possible. Touch is a gimmick on a laptop or desktop that will fade quickly.
Look at the Surface Pro - the darn thing has a fan in it... a fan really, Microsoft! The iPad does not. Can you imagine the environments I use my iPad in and if I was to take that Surface Pro into the same environments the fan would get clogged. To have my Surface Pro stop working on me because of a silly fan on a tablet...? I just do not know where these designers heads are at. Then what, I have to send my Surface Pro to Microsoft to fix a fan??? Just bad designs all the way around...
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"Gorilla arm syndrome"
I agree with you, and cannot understand the for me not reasonable (= making no sense) MS decision to make an OS for laptops and desktops (also with BIG screens!) that so to speak is dependent of the user's arm reaching out often more than enough to touch the screen! Is that really a work situations that is ergonomically sound over some period of time?! Of course not, and I believe there has been considerable independent research over many years on this man/machine interface that MS now is forcing upon its users (Windows 8). The problems (and there are many, also medical) that follows such a unnatural and indeed stressful working situation (esp. with regard to the arms and shoulders), also has got a specific name: "The gorilla arm syndrome".
Take a look at this article, for instance:
http://www.billbuxton.com/inputManuscript.html
If you also google this issue, you will find so many sound arguments against such an ergonomic situation, that it really IMO is rather incredible that MS has introduced this touch screen for lap- and desktops with their Windows 8.
I agree with you, and cannot understand the for me not reasonable (= making no sense) MS decision to make an OS for laptops and desktops (also with BIG screens!) that so to speak is dependent of the user's arm reaching out often more than enough to touch the screen! Is that really a work situations that is ergonomically sound over some period of time?! Of course not, and I believe there has been considerable independent research over many years on this man/machine interface that MS now is forcing upon its users (Windows 8). The problems (and there are many, also medical) that follows such a unnatural and indeed stressful working situation (esp. with regard to the arms and shoulders), also has got a specific name: "The gorilla arm syndrome".
Take a look at this article, for instance:
http://www.billbuxton.com/inputManuscript.html
If you also google this issue, you will find so many sound arguments against such an ergonomic situation, that it really IMO is rather incredible that MS has introduced this touch screen for lap- and desktops with their Windows 8.
As with everything, opinions differ, and your opinion isn't universal. I've used Windows 8 multiple times, on touch and non-touch environments. 8 is certainly better in a touch environment, but still not very efficient. It TRIES to be, for sure. But in the end, the tiles and Metro interface strike me as being built for someone with ADHD: lots of little tidbits of information being thrown at the user all at once, and constantly in flux. I've decided my attention span is just too long for Windows 8.
And that's the problem. A Windows 7 user shouldn't have to be confused about learning Windows 8 at all. The progression should be natural, but it's not. And while I understand that Microsoft felt they needed to make drastic changes to stay relevant, there is such a thing as going too far, to the point where learning a whole new operating system (like OS X) isn't any harder and sometimes easier to do than learning Windows 8.
The fact that 8.1 is talked up hard in Microsoft stores "fixing" whatever a customer claims they don't like about Windows 8 is telling. The fact that Microsoft had to write down the value of lots of unsold Surface stock and unsold Windows 8 licenses is also telling.
You've made me laugh. I'm sure if I were drinking my morning coffee it would have ended up on my beautiful MBA.
Microsoft has been at it for quite some time. Windows 95 was revolutionary with the Start menu with Gates at the helm. Then Ballmer took over soon after and everything started to devolve into hell in a hand basket. Windows 8 was a massive step backward when the company decided to take out the Start button. User statistics aside this is a major faux pax when you build a brand around such a fundamental design feature. By the way, Windows 8.1 brings back the Start button but still no menu. It really makes absolutely no sense in terms of the direction of where this company is heading. In the last 10 years we've seen 7 versions of iOS 9 versions of OS X and a meager give or take 3 different versions of Windows with each subsequent release being worse than the previous. This makes me feel that their software is a unstable and unmaintainable ball of mud. The problem only worsens when you slap touch right on top of something that was intrinsically designed for keyboard and mouse. Again, it just makes no sense.
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I am quite serious. Touch is great on iOS. Windows was not designed for multi-touch from the ground up. It feels like a hack slapped right on top of what could have been a great OS.
Touch screens are for tablets and phones... NOT laptops. It's simply a fad that will wear thin... kind of like Netbooks.
I did like the touch screen on my sony vaio pro 13