MacBook Pro w/Tablet or Surface Pro 3

[johnnyTheMac]

Hello,

I am really torn between a MacBook Pro 3 and a tablet or the Surface Pro 3. I plan on using the device for work and play. I am a web developer/designer. I have Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, multiple browsers and browser tabs opened at the same time. Every once in a while, I will shoot and edit small web videos for websites. On the play side, I will be watching and listening to local and streamed files, as well as light gaming locally and using Steam In-Home Streaming for the rest of gaming.

I love the idea of the Surface Pro 3, because it has productivity and portability. It is essentially a laptop and a tablet in one. The model is the i7(dual core)/256GB/8GB RAM. I am also looking at the MacBook Pro i7 (quad core)/512GB/16 GB RAM, and adding the 16GB Nvidia Shield for the tablet to use for entertainment. On a side note, I really love playing in Garageband, too .

The MacBook is bigger and heavier, but provides a pretty big boost in power. And, if I get that, I would have to buy a separate tablet. I can get the MacBook for $1800 w/warranty until April, compared to $2500 new.

I don't know...I am stuck and torn.

Thank you in advance for any and all help and advice.

[ShadowCaptain]

SNIP

 

Retina pro hands down if it was my money

[felixbearpig]

i have model( but with the 750m) rMBP and its not as heavy as you think and i love it

[ImBleu]

I went from a Macbook Pro (non-retina) to a Surface Pro 3. I'd probably recommend steering right away from the i7 Surface Pros, the cooling is just abysmal and the i7 versions seem to have major issues ( check the surface forums ).

 

Its down to platform mainly. I never owned a tablet and the Surface Pro 3 can take both of those crowns, and I felt like making the jump from Mac OSX to Windows to keep in line with my Phone and Gaming rig all on the same platform.

You don't notice the smaller screen (I went form the 13'' MBP) but the trackpad on the Surface Pro 3 is beyond god aweful, Apple hit the nail on the head with trackpads. My trackpad is so sensitive it reacts from my headphone cable moving across it, even my hair makes it move.

 

Judging by your name I guess you're a Mac guy though. OSX 10.10 is amazing, so is Windows '10' TP.

 

It's up to you (duh) but if it were my cash and I was after an i7 powerful laptop, I'd actually not get either and would look at a different Windows Laptop.

[Shroomster]

The retina is better. The Surface is a bit too small to be a laptop in my opinion.

[johnnyTheMac]

i have model( but with the 750m) rMBP and its not as heavy as you think and i love it

That is the model that I am looking at right now.

Here are the specs:

CPU: 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel i7 with 6mb L3 cache Turbo boost to 3.5GHZ

Ram: 16GB of 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM

Hard Drive: 512 Flash drive storage

Nvidia GeForce GT 750M with 2GB DDR5 dedicated video card ram

Retina Display 2880x1800

[johnnyTheMac]

The retina is better. The Surface is a bit too small to be a laptop in my opinion.

That is true, but at work, I am hooked up to external monitors.

[johnnyTheMac]

I went from a Macbook Pro (non-retina) to a Surface Pro 3. I'd probably recommend steering right away from the i7 Surface Pros, the cooling is just abysmal and the i7 versions seem to have major issues ( check the surface forums ).

 

Its down to platform mainly. I never owned a tablet and the Surface Pro 3 can take both of those crowns, and I felt like making the jump from Mac OSX to Windows to keep in line with my Phone and Gaming rig all on the same platform.

You don't notice the smaller screen (I went form the 13'' MBP) but the trackpad on the Surface Pro 3 is beyond god aweful, Apple hit the nail on the head with trackpads. My trackpad is so sensitive it reacts from my headphone cable moving across it, even my hair makes it move.

 

Judging by your name I guess you're a Mac guy though. OSX 10.10 is amazing, so is Windows '10' TP.

 

It's up to you (duh) but if it were my cash and I was after an i7 powerful laptop, I'd actually not get either and would look at a different Windows Laptop.

lol...nah, I am just a MacDaddy j/k

Is the Surface Pro 3 powerful enough to run what I need? It is really tough, because I will be paying roughly the same price for a more powerful machine in the Mac, but I will have to buy a separate tablet.

[steffen_anywhere]

That is the model that I am looking at right now.

Here are the specs:

CPU: 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel i7 with 6mb L3 cache Turbo boost to 3.5GHZ

Ram: 16GB of 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM

Hard Drive: 512 Flash drive storage

Nvidia GeForce GT 750M with 2GB DDR5 dedicated video card ram

Retina Display 2880x1800

 

TBH, just save yourself the money for the GT 750M, if you're not gonna use CUDA. The Iris Pro graphics are almost as good in gaming scenarios and you said that you have a gaming rig at home...

[johnnyTheMac]

TBH, just save yourself the money for the GT 750M, if you're not gonna use CUDA. The Iris Pro graphics are almost as good in gaming scenarios and you said that you have a gaming rig at home...

Here is the big thing about this decision: I will only be paying $1800 for it, instead of $2499...which is still cheaper than the Mac w/o the 750m.

[Guest]

I'd go for the rMBP it just an all round better option for your needs and will last a lot longer!

[steffen_anywhere]

Here is the big thing about this decision: I will only be paying $1800 for it, instead of $2499...which is still cheaper than the Mac w/o the 750m.

 

Ok, in that case, it makes sense.

[johnnyTheMac]

I'd go for the rMBP it just an all round better option for your needs and will last a lot longer!

So, the Mac with the Nvidia Shield tablet sounds like a better combo than the Surface Pro 3? I will totally go for portability if the SP3 is powerful enough to do what I need it to do...as much as I like OSX, Garageband and the performance power.

[ROK]

I own a rMBP and there's a surface pro 3 (and was a pro 2 and RT) in my household and can say HANDS DOWN go for a rMBP and an iPad Air 2 / Nexus 9 / Shield Tablet. Surface trackpad is frustrating to use and the performance is just OK for doing more intense stuff in photoshop, etc. I've adapted to OS X simply because this device is amazing. I'd even consider a 13" rMBP over a 15" if portability is truly an issue.

 

Also, if you're going to grab a tablet an iPad may be worth a look because of continuity and handoff in Yosemite and iOS 8. Totally understand the Shield tablet, however, if you've got a gaming rig at home.

[johnnyTheMac]

Thanks for your response.

Yeah, I would imagine that the MacBook i7 is way faster. I mean, it is a quad core compared to a portable dual core. I will be using a Bluetooth mouse, so the trackpad doesn't bother me too much.

I love the concept of the Surface Pro 3. I don't want to have two separate devices is I can use a 2-in-1. If it is powerful enough to run Adobe CC and some browsers + tabs and the same time, I am pretty much sold. I am sure that I can Remote Desktop in and stream from Stream, too. At this point in my life, I am not looking for the fastest thing out there, I am looking at the fastest and most convenient thing that I need. If it can do what I need it to, that is all that I need and it is plenty powerful for my and my uses. I will sacrifice power for portability. If I am not mistaken, the 13" rMBP has the same specs as the i5/i7 SP3's.

I was just sitting and watching Homeland and I was trying to picture a laptop on my lap or on the surface of something, like my bed or my couch. And, the same with the SP3. I know that laptops can get hot when work is being done, or while watching a movie. I have read that the SP3 runs hot, too. However, where it runs hot is on the back, upper right side and not on the bottom. I like the idea of that and the idea that I don't need my keyboard taking up space when I don't need it.

Wow! I think that I just convinced myself that I will be getting a Surface Pro 3

[ROK]

Thanks for your response.

Yeah, I would imagine that the MacBook i7 is way faster. I mean, it is a quad core compared to a portable dual core. I will be using a Bluetooth mouse, so the trackpad doesn't bother me too much.

I love the concept of the Surface Pro 3. I don't want to have two separate devices is I can use a 2-in-1. If it is powerful enough to run Adobe CC and some browsers + tabs and the same time, I am pretty much sold. I am sure that I can Remote Desktop in and stream from Stream, too. At this point in my life, I am not looking for the fastest thing out there, I am looking at the fastest and most convenient thing that I need. If it can do what I need it to, that is all that I need and it is plenty powerful for my and my uses. I will sacrifice power for portability. If I am not mistaken, the 13" rMBP has the same specs as the i5/i7 SP3's.

I was just sitting and watching Homeland and I was trying to picture a laptop on my lap or on the surface of something, like my bed or my couch. And, the same with the SP3. I know that laptops can get hot when work is being done, or while watching a movie. I have read that the SP3 runs hot, too. However, where it runs hot is on the back, upper right side and not on the bottom. I like the idea of that and the idea that I don't need my keyboard taking up space when I don't need it.

Wow! I think that I just convinced myself that I will be getting a Surface Pro 3

The 13" rMBP and Surface Pro 3 have totally different parts, with the pro being much quicker. It's the Macbook air that has the same ULV part as the pro 3.

[Guest]

Get the MacBook. Trust me. The SP3 is a neat idea, but in practice it's awkward, and the keyboard covers the bottom of the screen when it's propped up... not to mention the insulting felt tab that's supposed to keep the pen in place. And, it's underpowered!

 

OS X is a really great OS, and you can always Boot Camp a copy of Windows if you need it.

 

The rMBP is the most solid device you'll ever feel, Apple's support is great, and the screen is drop-dead gorgeous. Plus, you might fall in love with that fantastic trackpad.

[davidvu396]

My opinion is that whatever suits your needs better. But since the Surface Pro 3 is just a tablet with an ultrabook CPU... Get the rMBP. It has a full-fledged notebook processor and adaquate cooling. i think even better battery life...

It has overall better stats and i even think its cheaper. Also for web developing I dont think the keyboard on the Surface is enough... The MacBook has an excellent keyboard. Though you need to get used to the new hotkeys and the UI in OS X but that is pretty easy.

[Ryou-kun]

Hello,

I am really torn between a MacBook Pro 3 and a tablet or the Surface Pro 3. I plan on using the device for work and play. I am a web developer/designer. I have Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, multiple browsers and browser tabs opened at the same time. Every once in a while, I will shoot and edit small web videos for websites. On the play side, I will be watching and listening to local and streamed files, as well as light gaming locally and using Steam In-Home Streaming for the rest of gaming.

I love the idea of the Surface Pro 3, because it has productivity and portability. It is essentially a laptop and a tablet in one. The model is the i7(dual core)/256GB/8GB RAM. I am also looking at the MacBook Pro i7 (quad core)/512GB/16 GB RAM, and adding the 16GB Nvidia Shield for the tablet to use for entertainment. On a side note, I really love playing in Garageband, too .

The MacBook is bigger and heavier, but provides a pretty big boost in power. And, if I get that, I would have to buy a separate tablet. I can get the MacBook for $1800 w/warranty until April, compared to $2500 new.

I don't know...I am stuck and torn.

Thank you in advance for any and all help and advice.

 

 

ROFL!

 

http://www.overclock.net/t/1521121/macbook-pro-w-tablet-or-surface-pro-3

 

Caught you sucker.