1

Hi there! I thought on recurring to the community to check for different opinions on which approach I should take to change the Retina MacBook Pro 15" I have and I am not happy with, why I am not happy with it? Well, I think it would be better if you check this post I wrote some days back if you are interested to know more.

Now, coming back to the topic, I want to go back to Windows, might sound crazy for some of you, but to be honest, I think Windows 10 works very well.

I am analysing different options:

Surface Pro 4: I have heard that by today (end of April 2016) most of the power and cooler kicking when under stress problems have been addressed with the latest firmwares. Maybe I heard wrong. I like the idea of a potential replacement also for my iPad Air 2 (589 grams with smart case), but I fear that the Surface Pro 4 (786 grams the i7 version) might feel heavier and thicker to hold when compared to it, but I am not sure. I am not totally convinced about the need of a third point of support for the back support to be able to use it as a laptop. I dont feel comfortable with the idea of a first version of the SurfacePro Book yet, it might be great in a couple of itinerations.

Dell XPS 13: I like the big screen in a small size laptop. Its more portable than what I really need to be honest, but I am fine with it. My concern is if the best version will be able to handle most of the tasks I do (multiple multiple browser windows at the same time, external screen, virtual machines, etc.). I would like to avoid having the annoying sound of the cooler kicking like my current MacBook Pro does.

Dell XP15: I think on this device when I doubt about the power of the XPS 13, but maybe I am just being too picky. I like the idea of a bigger screen so when I go out to my terrace to work I do it comfortably, this is something I am happy with my MacBook Pro, but it comes with the bad side of being a heavier device.

I need some portability but its not crucial to have the super lightest device. I use a Dell 27" screen at home (today with a Hengedocks vertical dock for my MacBook Pro) that I would like to keep on using, well, will have to get a dock of course.

So what do you think about the choices I have narrowed my search to, am I missing something or any device that I should really consider? Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

36 Spice ups
2

For me I’d pick the XPS15. Had a XPS13 before and loved it.

6 Spice ups
3

Personally I would go with something that has the portability of a tablet, but the power to handle whatever I throw at it.

Using your options my choices would be SP4, XP15, then XPS 13.

My next device needs touch and iris scanner so I can use Windows Hello. I hate logging into my device after it locks.

6 Spice ups
4

I have a surface 4 pro and the only negative I have is the battery life.

If you don’t need more than two or three hours, I’d go that way.

2 Spice ups
5

Hi Chris, I like the idea of using Windows Hello to avoid logging in to be honest.

Seeing that you work at Microsoft, how is your experience with the Surface Book? Should I really consider it? I read about a lot of problems with it…

1 Spice up
6

Thanks for sharing your experience. Did all the power bugs went away with the latest firmwares?

7

Reading your article it seems pretty clear that your issues aren’t with the hardware but with the OS.

Why not just install Windows as the only OS on your MBP? I know plenty of people that have as they like the MBP hardware

1 Spice up
8

I actually got to test out the Surface Book when it first launched. There are a lot of features in the newer hardware that the Surface Book uses well. When it first launched, there were a few issues… IMO it stemmed from the GPU drivers. Unfortunately I had to send it back before all the updates to Windows 10 (v1511) and firmware updates were released that addressed a lot of these issues.

The biggest thing I like (again) was Windows Hello - and logging into my device by just looking at my computer. I liked writing with the pen and now with the Anniversary update coming for Windows 10 - the pen use got a huge improvement. Check out the link for more details…

I would consider it at least… If you can walk into a B&M store and use it in person - I recommend trying it out.

3 Spice ups
9

Of those i would choose the xps 15 but advise that you may want to look at the xps 15 7000 series. The normal xps 15 5000 series has a surprisingly, shockingly, weak case. It did not take much of a hit to send it back to dell for not covered by the warranty repairs. The xps 15 7000 series supposedly has a different case.

3 Spice ups
10

I have a SP3 and I absolutely love it. I had a maxed out Inspiron 15r 7520 se (16 gb RAM, i7 processor, 500 gb Samsung 850 evo SSD) and it was a great laptop, but it was big and heavy, so I didn’t really take it with me and use it any more once I got my SP3, then my Inspiron had a motherboard failure.

I haven’t missed a beat with my SP3. It rocks, I am glad to have it, so much versatility.

4 Spice ups
11

I have a surface pro 3 myself, and its pretty good, so honestly i would recommend maybe the surface pro 4.

Although i have heard great things about the XPS 15… its a hard decision between these two for me.

1 Spice up
12

Hi Harringtonjw, thanks for your suggestion, this is something I tired with bootcamp, and when using the MacBook Pro with Windows only, the battery life was a disaster around 2 hours.

I dont like the idea of depending on Apple drivers to make a Windows (competition device) work.

But yes, if I could overcome these type of issues and the strange power management behaviour when I place the device on the dock, I would consider keeping it.

Thanks!

13

Hi Chris,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and link to the new upcoming Windows 10 updates.

Do you know if the warranty of the SP4 and Surface Book is international? If a buy a device in USA will the warranty be valid in Switzerland where I live for example?

Thanks!

14

I still have and use the original Microsoft Surface Pro, although now it is relegated to a flight/hotel item for family trips. I also use it for a entertainment monitor on my exercise bike.

I want the newest Surface Pro, but can’t justify the expense for what I would do with it for now. I often recommend the Surface pro for people who want powerful duel purpose machines such as tablet/laptop.

1 Spice up
15

Major drawback of Surface Pro 4 is the high cost.

Windows 10 drives me batty (on a “conventional” laptop):

  • Plugging in a USB serial dongle for SecureCRT console access to various appliances, routers, switches, etc. is a pain. The COM port number changes randomly (never has been an issue with Win 7)

  • Forgetting a Wifi network is an excellent example of the sorts of “enhancements” that are lame departures from prior Windows releases. Waking the computer from sleep is another one… press a key then wait a while for it to finally “awaken” and then, if you don’t press another key, the darned thing goes back to sleep.

  • Systray has turned into a nuisance during the first few minutes of startup/wakeup

  • Edge

Win 7 laptop is still my preference if OS X is not an option.

Off topic (I read your post):

I’ve been using OS X since it first came out (never could stand MacOS 9 and prior versions of their single-tasking OS) and find it infinitely more efficient to use than a Windows laptop (I do a lot from the tcsh shell terminal command line and use a number of commercial OS X apps).

10-20K of photos is really the domain of Adobe Lightroom… not the built-in Photos app.

Never considered bootcamp. I’ve used VMware Fusion since it came out in beta (~2006) to run the occasional Windows app that I’ve needed to access for a client requirement.

16

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. My main complain from OSX comes from Finder and the way Appe tries to push down your throat a way of working that is not really offering the best experience. Instead of giving you the options (specially if you migrated from what Windows world) it wouldn’t hurt them to offer the options but still they choose not to offer them.

Finder is completely broken and a lot of people think of it this way too. Lately I must say that apple is really failing on usability.

Thanks again, cheers !

2 Spice ups
17

How about the new Lenovo X1 Carbon 4th Gen? I’m thinking about this one, but havent pulled the trigger just yet. Looks good on paper and is lighter than the XPS13, and has a 14inch screen. I currently have the XPS 13, and hate the keyboard, and the high res display. I do a lot of rdp into servers and the high res display makes it very difficult to read the rdp sessions.

2 Spice ups
18

I will co-sign on the recommendation for the Lenovo X1 Carbon. I will be pulling the trigger on that one soon to replace my MacBook Air. To me the Carbon has a nice balance between screen size and still a light laptop. It is the only laptop that I thought the touchpad came even close to be as good as the Mac.

I tried the XPS 13 and it is nice, but the keyboard leaves something to be desired and no built in HDMI left me wanting. My coworker has the XPS 15 and it seems nice, and since you said, portability was not a major factor, that might be a good choice. If I had to pick one of the ones you listed, I would lean XPS 15.

2 Spice ups
19

I will add a thought since you said you like the docking idea. I have had great experiences with the Dell Latitude Series (e5540 is the model I’m using). I loaded it up with an i7 and 8gb of ram and dont have troubles running anything. The portability is great - I have the Dell Dock at work and home and it does fantastic on battery life. I think some of the Dell XPS series is also compatible on the docks but I love them. Dual Monitors at work and home with set keyboard, mice and network cables. Very easy and convenient.

1 Spice up
20

I used to be a PC guy but then I went to a Macbook Air 5 years or so ago and I haven’t looked back. I have the 13" Air all blown out and then I have a 13" Macbook Pro all blown out from work that I like better because of the resolution on the screen

If you don’t need a huge screen and want something light, Macbook Pro all day every day

if you want windows just virtualize it on your mac

as a side note, I bought a lenovo yoga 2 and put a SSD in it but my son just uses it for movies, its on win10

I also buy chrome books for my kids that are under $200 each with the 32G SSD and they love them