Price:
The Surface Pro 4 comes with a huge price range varying from $999 for the (128 / Intel Core i5 – 4GB RAM) to $2,699 for the (1TB / Intel Core i7 – 16GB RAM)
It’s a bit on the expensive side, when the lower-end model is compared to a tablet and when the higher-end is compared to a notebook.

Desktop and Tablet Modes:

The Surface Pro 4 has two working modes desktop and tablet:
Desktop mode, that’s the traditional PC experience, it is enabled automatically when you attach the external keyboard. Tablet mode on the other hand makes the user interface less cluttered and easier to use when on the move or when using with one hand. Tablet mode is enabled when the external keyboard is detached.

Performance:
The device can be configured to fit your needs. The lower-end Intel Core i5 or M are perfect for Office work, browsing and a bit of music and photo editing. The higher end Intel Core i7 will work like any powerful PC, supporting video editing, 3D work, design as well as running multiple heavy apps at the same time.

Keyboard:

One of the most enjoyable features is actually the external keyboard, it feels and functions just like that of a traditional laptop. Its size is perfect for typing and the trackpad has all the usual functionalities you’re used to. Typing is easy, the elevated buttons gives it a natural keyboard feel, it is actually better than the iPad Pro keyboard.

The onscreen digital keyboard gets activated when the external keyboard is not attached. It’s easy to use and quite comfortable for typing, mainly due to the large physical screen size and high resolution.

Touch Screen:
I don’t understand why don’t all laptops nowadays support touch screens. It’s extremely practical to use both touch screen and trackpad/mouse to navigate at the same time. I don’t agree with Apple’s policy not to have them on the new MacBooks.

USB plug:

USB is still crucial nowadays. We cannot be fully reliant on wireless sharing as long as we have compatibility issues between platforms. Not to forget that in countries with bad internet, you can’t just share large files via email or web transfer.

Tablet:
Using the Surface as tablet is a bit bulky, you can’t handle it like any other smaller tablet due to its big size and weight. On the other hand the big screen is perfect for reading, browsing and watching movies.

Pen and Drawing Board:

Surface has a native app called fresh paint. If you have artistic skills, you will enjoy drawing and painting using the pen. Of course, you can be using more advanced apps if you are a professional illustrator or designer.

Personally, I was expecting to be impressed a lot more with the pen. You would assume that the pen would have a more natural feel, be less fake and more responsive. In reality it was lagging, if felt as if you are drawing on a distant layer above the canvas. The screen is not solid glass, it slightly bends at the contact point, as it is affected by the pressure exerted from your hand using the pen. Still far from the organic paper feeling.

Portability:
At around 0.8Kgs (excluding keyboard) the device is a bit heavy for a tablet but rather light compared to a laptop.

Lap-top. Not!

You cannot use the Surface Pro 4 as a Lap-top, as in placing it on your lap while using the keyboard. The surface cannot stand properly unless placed on a table top or a solid flat surface.

Sound:

The internal speakers are impressive and quite loud. You can easily watch a movie indoors without headphones.

Overall:
I just love the all-in-one package: Tablet, laptop and drawing board. Unfortunately, it is still an expensive product, it will cost you a fortune if you are a pro user and you need to upgrade from the basic package.

The post Microsoft Surface Pro 4: An All-In-One Device appeared first on Techie Dad - Creative Technologist.

MacBook Pro Overview:
The MacBook Pro was always the ultimate notebook to own, it is one of the most reliable and performing devices in the market. I am one of those people who keeps their machine running 20 hours a day. It is powerful enough to cater for all your needs, whether you are a film-maker, graphic designer, music DJ, writer or a student, this is the ultimate portable device.

The high-end MacBook Pro comes with the all new Touchbar with integrated touch ID, Retina display 2880×1800 at 220 pixels/inch, up to 2.9GHz quad-core Intel i7 processor (turbo boosted to 3.8Ghz), 16GB Memory, Radeon Pro 455 Graphic, 4 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) mutlifunction ports, stereo speakers, 3 microphones and a 3.5mm headphones jack.

Yes, a headphones jack!

Things we didn’t expect to see:
Headphones Jack: Apple removed the headphones jack from the iPhone 7 but kept it on the MacBook Pro. They have put so much effort to promote the uselessness of the jack, then kept it on all other devices.

iPhone 7 connector: If you have purchased an iPhone 7, guess what? You will need another adaptor/cable to hook it up to the new Macbook Pro.

Adaptors: Whatever devices and peripherals you have at home or work, get ready to buy plenty of adaptors to get them working with the new MacBook Pro.

Storage: 512GB is just ridiculous low storage for a Pro machine.

Apple vs Microsoft
I’ve been trying to understand Apple’s strategy when it comes to hardware. Apple has got the technology, the expertise, the team and the means to produce the most kick ass portable device that unites both MacBook and iPad worlds together, like Microsoft did with its Surface Book and Pro.

Why was Microsoft able to release an all in one device? Why is Apple still convincing its fans that the touch screen is useless for notebooks?

Microsoft is relatively new to the hardware game. Their attempt to have a sizable market share in the already saturated smartphone industry has failed. They are not taking risks with tablets or notebooks. Add to that, Microsoft does not have a laptop or tablet in the market to worry about competing with in the first place. They simply gave users what they want, an all in one powerful notebook/tablet experience, challenging both the notebooks and tablets industries.

Here are some of the key features in Surface Book:
13.5″ Detachable screen, NVIDIA graphics processor, 6th generation Intel Core i7, , Touchscreen with 10 point multitouch, Pen, 1TB Storage, 16GB Memory

When the iPad was first released, I was amongst the first adopter. For a good amount of time, I have put my MacBook aside to try and live the rebel life using only iPhone and iPad. Down the line, I came back running for my MacBook Pro realizing that the iPad experience is not yet what I had wished for. The experience starts with a folders and ends with connectivity and productivity.

We’re not killing anything!
Today Apple has a wide array of notebook and tablet to fit the so many lifestyles, budgets and needs. iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad Mini, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro. Do we really need all of these items? Can’t apple create an all in one portable device?

Apple is still not ready to kill any of its products yet. I guess, in their opinion, the market can still wait for a couple more years before this norm becomes unacceptable.

Looking at the Apple’s new products life cycle we assume that this MacBook Pro is here to stay for at least two more years. Apple could have have added the features we’ve all been waiting for: Touchscreen, detachable keyboard, Pen, expandable storage. Instead they gave us a pleasant sedative called the Touchbar.

Touchdown
The TouchBar was the smartest move that Apple ever did to preserve the longitivtiy of the archaic MacBook Pro. It was like a big dose of morphine for Mac users. It felt so good that we are willing to turn a blind eye on Apple’s intentional delays.

All in all, I am going to give the Surface a try, but I am still going to be the first in line to get the new MacBook Pro. People can be experimental in their choice of smartphones, or with their secondary devices. I have even switched to Android for a while. But when it comes to productivity, the MacBook Pro is still the supreme market leader and Mac users are not ready to let go just yet.

The post Can Microsoft’s Surface Book Take on Apple’s MacBook Pro? appeared first on Techie Dad - Creative Technologist.