Surface Pro shows what Macbook could have been, what new Macs need?

[Adamantoise]

It's because Apple fans don't realize that the detachable screen only has 90 minutes of battery life. If they did, they'd realize this isn't the magic MacBook/iPad hybrid they are apparently dreaming of. They see this Microsoft hardware and say "Hey Apple! See? The Windows guys don't have to carry around both a notebook and a tablet anymore! What about us?"

All Surface threads should start with a Page 1 disclaimer to that effect, would avoid a lot of this conversation. The Surface isn't a tablet and notebook all-in-one; it's a notebook with a reversible screen for rendering that can detach for a very short while. You can barely watch a single movie on it, you could barely binge-watch Season 1 of Schoolhouse Rock on it.

BJ

Of course it can't. that wasn't the use case it was designed for. I mean, the damn screen has a built in active digitizer, it's meant for productive and/or creative types.

Seems to be a trend among people on here ... You see expensive hardware and 'must have' it. Only to bitch later that it doesn't meet your needs.

Not every computing device is meant to be a 'Netflix machine', the industry has already perfected the 'Netflix machine' ... You have ample choices to choose from if that's your primary use case.

With that being said, the Surface Book in laptop mode can more than binge watch anything. The Clipboard is a different story however.

 

[boltjames]

Of course it can't. that wasn't the use case it was designed for. I mean, the damn screen has a built in active digitizer, it's meant for productive and/or creative types.

Seems to be a trend among people on here ... You see expensive hardware and 'must have' it. Only to bitch later that it doesn't meet your needs.

Not every computing device is meant to be a 'Netflix machine', the industry has already perfected the 'Netflix machine' ... You have ample choices to choose from if that's your primary use case.

With that being said, the Surface Book in laptop mode can more than binge watch anything. The Clipboard is a different story however.

I think it's simpler than that, I myself fell victim to it too.

Sometimes you look at a product and are 100% convinced you know what it does before doing any further research. When I saw the Surface I thought "must be a notebook that turns into a tablet for travel" as I didn't see any further use for it. Then I found out it had 90 minute battery life and couldn't pull a charge from the base. I fly 16 hours to Asia 6x a year, that would just be a joke for me.

But for a month, I thought the screen would have the customary 8 hours of battery life. Oops.

If there are those who need a handheld digital Windows notepad for the occasional meeting, I guess that's cool. Makes no sense to me and even though I'm a Windows guy I'll still take my RMB for Windows 10 as a travel companion thank you very much.

BJ

 

[Renzatic]

It doesn't bother me at all, since I'd buy the Book mostly for the fact it's a laptop with a reversible screen first, tablet a distant second. It's there if you need it in a pinch, but it's not it's raison d'etre.

Since I wanted a tablet first and foremost, I got the SP4.

...and I've spent at least 85% of my time using it as an ultrabook. GO FIG!

 

[boltjames]

It doesn't bother me at all, since I'd buy the Book mostly for the fact it's a laptop with a reversible screen first, tablet a distant second. It's there if you need it in a pinch, but it's not it's raison d'etre.

I hear you, I was just responding to the query as to why things get so contentious and its due in part to the fact that too many people think the Surface is an 8 hour notebook and an 8 hour tablet all in one. And it's not. They think that MS beat Apple to the punch and Apple should be ridiculed for releasing the iPad Pro instead of a MacBook/iPad combo.

Apple knows what it's doing and MS knows what it's doing, its just the people in here who mostly don't.

BJ

 

[Adamantoise]

I think it's simpler than that, I myself fell victim to it too.

Sometimes you look at a product and are 100% convinced you know what it does before doing any further research. When I saw the Surface I thought "must be a notebook that turns into a tablet for travel" as I didn't see any further use for it. Then I found out it had 90 minute battery life and couldn't pull a charge from the base. I fly 16 hours to Asia 6x a year, that would just be a joke for me.

But for a month, I thought the screen would have the customary 8 hours of battery life. Oops.

If there are those who need a handheld digital Windows notepad for the occasional meeting, I guess that's cool. Makes no sense to me and even though I'm a Windows guy I'll still take my RMB for Windows 10 as a travel companion thank you very much.

BJ

Honestly, I'm the same way. I own a 15" 2012 Macbook Pro and it's my workhorse. I run OS X and Windows 10 on it. I also own a Surface 3.

I don't understand all these Surface Book comparisons at all, Surface Book isn't for the average consumer, it's for a specific use case, and if you don't have that use case, you're better off just getting a conventional laptop.

I actually prefer Microsoft products/services to Apple's but that Surface Book isn't for me, and it's not for many other people out there. People just want a shiny new toy, and then they complain when they find out it wasn't designed for them.

 

[maflynn]

but that Surface Book isn't for me,

Agreed, initially I was caught up in the emotion of a new product but as the dust settled and I seriously looked at my needs and budget. I felt that spending 2k on a 13" laptop is not the best solution for me. I have a 15" rMBP that is getting long in the tooth but it serves as my desktop computer. My travel needs are being served by my Surface Pro 3. I'd much rather get a desktop that is a more powerful then a small laptop for the same price, i.e., buy an iMac for 2k