XPS 15 v New Surface Book? What CPU in the new SB?

angaddev · October 29, 2016

So after reading through angry comments from Blade owners on QC as well as the fact that I can't find one anywhere, decided to choose a different machine.

XPS 15 (i7, 16GB, 512GB, 960M) - £1649

New Surface Book (i7, 16GB, 512GB, 965M) - probably £2250 retail, around £2000 after student discount.

Will be used as a jack of all trades (web browsing, Movies/TV/Netflix, Gaming at 1080p on BF1, Civ VI and FM2017, Light photo editing). I need it to be quite portable and have a good battery life, which is why I am leaning towards the surface book. I also value the higher build quality and tolerances of the Surface. However, I don't know whether to sacrifice CPU performance for a GPU which is 30% better in BF1. I'm assuming the i7-6567u will be used, does anyone know the specific chip that will be used? Price isn't too much of an issue as I've been saving for a while and need a sturdy laptop to last for at least 3 years. My only concern with the Dell is worse quality control and service than a Microsoft product.

79wjd · October 29, 2016

I would only get the Surface Book if you really plan on using the Pen. Otherwise I'd take the XPS 15 any day. I find the SB very annoying to use due to being top heavy.

Pendragon · October 29, 2016

Just now, djdwosk97 said:

I find the SB very annoying to use due to being top heavy.

My firm wanted to get the C-suite execs a gift and the surface book came up. After a few days of testing by some of tech enthusiast (me included), it got shot the hell down. Using the touch functionality made screen wobble up and down left right and fucking center. The hinge design is probably a "design innovation" but a practical nightmare. Trying to tuck it in a suitcase makes your binders skewed. Trying to put things on it (because laptops should be flat) can LITERALLY break the hinge. Like it's not something you're gonna see in a review, its more of a day to day usage things that makes me very frustrated with the product. I normally have like my laptops stacked on top of each other when I'm transporting them or moving them around but I am actually fearful of crushing the hinge. XPS15 still gets my vote. Alternatively it may be refreshed soon.

Would a 13in interest you? I'm waiting on Alienware 13 R3. Curious about it.