Surface Pro 3 vs 2015 Macbook?

[ImBleu]

So let me start this off by saying that I've used both ecosystems extensively, but purely from a Hardware standpoint I'm unsure what path to take. I currently own a Surface Pro 3, but it has had a lot of issues (WiFi Drop, Overheating, Broken Power button, Useless Trackpad, Broken Charger etc). Microsoft is taking in my Surface Pro, Cover & Charger and completely replacing all 3 with brand new ones, so here is where I stand.

 

The Price of the Surface Pro 3 listed below (including the Cover & Charger) is the same price as the 'new' Macbook. My Option is to either take the new Surface and use it, or to sell it and use the money I make from it to buy the new Macbook. Below are the specs for both devices, I have a high-end desktop running windows 8.1 for all my serious work, this would be used purely for Web Browsing, College notes & Skype. My Desktop will be used for basically everything else. What would be a better value for money?

 

 

I have no biases to either device, I've used Mac OSX for most of my Highschool but moved back to Windows about 2 years ago. I use both iCloud & OneDrive and have a Nokia Lumia phone (but will be jumping ship to Android soon). The Macbook beats the surface pro in almost all areas apart from Camera resolution, CPU & ports - but the Surface doesn't fair much better.

 

I know a Surface Pro 4 will be coming out soon, but this would probably not be for a few more months.

 

Thanks guys

 

 

[DrShiba]

Macbook 2015 sucks. Go Surface Pro

[Dzzope]

For your usage.. chromebook.

[DotoreN]

Dell XPS 13

[ImBleu]

For your usage.. chromebook.

 

I've considered Chromebooks too, but I feel that I'd want the slightly more open OSes so that I can install things like MS Office and use my ultrabook as a computer when I need something else, I just feel chromebooks are too limited.

[Lord_Karango17]

Will you be able to sell your surface for the amount of money you bough it for?

 

My concern is that you will not get enough money for the macbook and spend more money on it for a similar purpose as the surface.

 

In my mind the surface is cool, but i would rather just have a thin laptop, as no matter how bad windows 8 is for the desktop, the majority of it excluding the small metro portion dosent work too well on a touch screen (i can work well if it is a laptop with a touch screen, but exclusively using it on touch seems like it would make it annoying to use).

 

The macbook would be a cool option, but you might be better served by going for one of the older version without any of the usb type c shenanigans.

[DotoreN]

Dell XPS 13?

[nhatduy1611]

I take the surface pro 3 over the macbook always. At least i can charge it and have a free port free to use. I have the 8gb of ram and 265gb ssd model though so it's much nicer to use. Plus touch screen is always nice to have

[Dzzope]

I've considered Chromebooks too, but I feel that I'd want the slightly more open OSes so that I can install things like MS Office and use my ultrabook as a computer when I need something else, I just feel chromebooks are too limited.

It does what you want / need it for now.. By the time you want something that can do other stuff you'll be able to get better specs for the money..

 

I simply don't see the point in spending that kind of cash on a device thats going to be a simple web browser / word processor.

[improbablepants]

I've considered Chromebooks too, but I feel that I'd want the slightly more open OSes so that I can install things like MS Office and use my ultrabook as a computer when I need something else, I just feel chromebooks are too limited.

I would get a chrombook and put Linux on it. They're powerful little suckers, and I frequently have at least 20 or so tabs open on mine, and its not too sluggish. 

[Sakkura]

They are different classes of device. The Surface Pro 3 has touch interface. Do you want touch? Then go Surface. If not, get a regular laptop. There are better laptops than the new Macbook around.

[Hspasta]

You should consider getting the Macbook Pro if you're going the Mac route. The current Macbook is more of a proof-of-concept IMO and not worth the premium cost. You can get the MBP retina for the exact same price which provides much more.

 

The surface sounds like it suits you're need more though.

[ImBleu]

They are different classes of device. The Surface Pro 3 has touch interface. Do you want touch? Then go Surface. If not, get a regular laptop. There are better laptops than the new Macbook around.

 

I have my touchscreen hardware disabled on my surface pro 3. It wasn't too good for me, It just doesn't work together IMHO.

 

 

You should consider getting the Macbook Pro if you're going the Mac route. The current Macbook is more of a proof-of-concept IMO and not worth the premium cost. You can get the MBP retina for the exact same price which provides much more.

 

The surface sounds like it suits you're need more though.

 

I have a Macbook Pro (Non-Retina) at the moment, I didn't think of the MBP Retina, but will look into it again. It is a bit of a Proof-of-concept, but imho I don't really ever use USBs, and I could get a cheaper non-apple USB-C to USB cable. 

 

 

I would get a chrombook and put Linux on it. They're powerful little suckers, and I frequently have at least 20 or so tabs open on mine, and its not too sluggish. 

 

This is also always an option, I looked into doing this with the Chromebook Pixel back when that first came out.

 

 

I take the surface pro 3 over the macbook always. At least i can charge it and have a free port free to use. I have the 8gb of ram and 265gb ssd model though so it's much nicer to use. Plus touch screen is always nice to have

 

The premium for that step up isn't worth it imho - I guess I've also had pretty shitty support from Microsoft, and remember Apple being amazing at RMAs.

[Sakkura]

I have my touchscreen hardware disabled on my surface pro 3. It wasn't too good for me, It just doesn't work together IMHO.

 

In that case, maybe get a good Windows laptop, like the Dell XPS 13 others have suggested, or Asus Zenbook UX305 if you want the superthin form factor like the Macbook.

[Mew]

In short, bursty workloads, core m is faster than haswell u. I think the only reasons you should go MacBook are if you want good battery life, good keyboard, good trackpad, and OS X.

[Norman_the_Owl]

Zenbook?

UX303/UX305 are both amazing, depending on your needs.

 

UX303 is more powerful and more premium, UX305 is more for ultraportability

[AliveGhost13]

XPS 13 is great

[ImBleu]

XPS 13 is great

 

Dell XPS 13?

 

I'm not really a massive Dell Fan to be honest, I'm fond of very sleek looking laptops / ultrabooks. 

[Mew]

I'm not really a massive Dell Fan to be honest, I'm fond of very sleek looking laptops / ultrabooks. 

 

XPS 13 is really sleek lol and it's also an ultrabook. I would tell you to watch Linus' video on it, but I can't find the link. 

[ImBleu]

XPS 13 is really sleek lol and it's also an ultrabook. I would tell you to watch Linus' video on it, but I can't find the link. 

 

I've watched all linus videos ever pretty much I've just had bad memories with dell and to be honest. As for the configuration you don't get the QHD display until you're paying $1800, a far cry above the $1200 Surface Pro 3, Macbook & MBP-Retina.

[atrash]

Spec wise, I would get the macbook just because of its larger ram and storage (possibly longer battery life). More ram is better since both devices' ram are non upgradable. The cpu speed difference means nothing when you are just using it for web browsing and taking notes. Try to use Safari instead of other browsers as you'll get better browsing experience in osx (personal experience). I have yet to try the new keyboard on the macbook but I would assume it'd have better typing experince compare to the Surface keyboard. The 480p front camera sounds disgusting though. 

[ImBleu]

Spec wise, I would get the macbook just because of its larger ram and storage (possibly longer battery life). More ram is better since both devices' ram are non upgradable. The cpu speed difference means nothing when you are just using it for web browsing and taking notes. Try to use Safari instead of other browsers as you'll get better browsing experience in osx (personal experience). I have yet to try the new keyboard on the macbook but I would assume it'd have better typing experince compare to the Surface keyboard. The 480p front camera sounds disgusting though. 

 

This is my opinion as well. The better storage & ram (double in both circumstances), better GPU & better trackpad/keyboard vs marginally worse CPU & 480p camera.

[Sakkura]

Spec wise, I would get the macbook just because of its larger ram and storage (possibly longer battery life). More ram is better since both devices' ram are non upgradable. The cpu speed difference means nothing when you are just using it for web browsing and taking notes. Try to use Safari instead of other browsers as you'll get better browsing experience in osx (personal experience). I have yet to try the new keyboard on the macbook but I would assume it'd have better typing experince compare to the Surface keyboard. The 480p front camera sounds disgusting though. 

 

The Macbook keyboard is worse than the one in the Asus Zenbooks though, and it doesn't have the specs advantages in that comparison.

 

Since @ThatCoolBlueKidd isn't into the Dell XPS13, I'm gonna give the Zenbook UX305 (and UX303) one last shout-out.

[ImBleu]

The Macbook keyboard is worse than the one in the Asus Zenbooks though, and it doesn't have the specs advantages in that comparison.

 

Since @ThatCoolBlueKidd isn't into the Dell XPS13, I'm gonna give the Zenbook UX305 (and UX303) one last shout-out.

 

I guess everything is subjective to the person, I'm going to make a point of trying out all 3 keyboards in-store before I pull the plug, but from my knowledge, it can't be worse than the keyboard/trackpad on the Surface Pro 3.

[Norman_the_Owl]

I guess everything is subjective to the person, I'm going to make a point of trying out all 3 keyboards in-store before I pull the plug, but from my knowledge, it can't be worse than the keyboard/trackpad on the Surface Pro 3.

 A lot of people still prefer the SP3 keyboard/trackpad over the macbook keyboard/trackpad.

The SP3 trackpad is pretty good, and the force touch trackpad seems to be a step backwards as far as accuracy.