Will this computer kill the MacBook?
PC makers have put out some amazing new ultrabooks, pushing the boundaries of design and significantly raising the level of quality. That being said, Apple still has a strong hold on the market when it comes to sleek design and high quality construction. Apple has however been completely and utterly underwhelming in its lack of recent innovation and lack of focus on product lines such as the Mac Pro.
Smelling blood in the water or just realizing consumers value design and build quality, Microsoft has poured a huge amount of money into research and production of a new line of computers. The newest release is the Surface Laptop becoming available June 15.
(Their promo video is pretty sleek and beautiful)
The Surface Laptop is meant to be a direct competitor to the MacBook and is targeting the same demographic of creatives and students.
As a PC lover and often times an Apple critic, I was so excited when I heard about the release and saw the initial pictures of the device! Finally, a PC that is aesthetically pleasing, sleek and with an all aluminum build for under $1,000! Then I took a look at the specs....
Specs and Pricing
Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD: $999
Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: $1,299
Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: $1,599
Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: $2,199
For this article I really want to focus on the base model.
First off, in my opinion, 4GB of RAM for a $999 laptop is unacceptable. Seven or eight years ago, 2 GB RAM was standard, today most computers have around 8GB RAM. Five years from now I would imagine 12 or 16 GB RAM will be standard. This area is already obsolete in my opinion and it hasn't even been released yet. (That being said, I understand this is targeted towards students and is meant to be for everyday productivity tasks, 4GB will do the trick, but for this price I think Microsoft could do better, Just my opinion)
The other big disappointment for me is the Operating System OS. The Surface Laptop comes standard with Windows 10 S which severely limits the programs you can run and is not ideal for anyone who wants to do more than basic productivity tasks. (An upgrade to Window 10 is available)
Strangely enough there are no USB type C ports on this laptop. For a computer which is meant to be the flagship of a new laptop line, this makes no sense. Again, this, like the lack of RAM increases risk of obsolescence.
Finally, my last complaint about the laptop is the use of Alcantara fabric on the keyboard. To be fair I have not had the chance to test this fabric and it could be amazing, but I would remain cautious as some surface pro keyboards with the same fabric sustained heavy damage after long term use. Unlike the Surface Pro where you could just buy a new detachable keyboard, that is not an option for the Surface Laptop.
Will this computer kill the MacBook?
Short answer no! In its current configuration it will not overtake the MacBook. For the reasons I mentioned, this laptop in my opinion fails as a viable competitor to the MacBook or MacBook Air. That being said, while this may not be a kill shot, it is certainly a shot across the bow for Apple. It is abundantly clear that Microsoft has acknowledged the need for modern and sleek designs along with build quality. This laptop is a step in the right direction and if they build off of this product, there could be great things in the future. The Surface Studio is already leading innovation in the AIO category. I have a lot of complaints about the Surface Laptop but Microsoft did some things very well like design and build. I think we can all agree, this is a beautiful product. I think the future is bright for Microsoft and we will have to see how the Surface Laptop performs when it comes to market this month. If I was working for Apple I would be watching this closely as Microsoft is getting closer to cutting into Apple's marketshare.
This is my analysis, I would recommend checking out this video by Dave Lee where he breaks down a lot of the features of this product. Check out his other videos and hit the like button.
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No, it's to expensive.
I agree, if there was 8GB ram and a USB type C, I would be more comfortable with the price.
Why they are building Windows computers with less than 8GB RAM is a mystery to me.
Can I get an Amen!?
The only true mackbook killer will have a RISC processor. Sad that apple left the powerpc!
I think there are some serious contenders to the macbook in terms of performance, but not many that capture the same level of performance with build quality and design for the right price.
It's a nice machine but no way will it kill the Macbook. Apple fans are far too dedicated to let any machine replace their Macbook. I'm not a big Apple fan but their customer loyalty is impressive.
There is definitely something to be said for customer loyalty but Apples recent lack of innovation is slowing growth in Iphone sales numbers, that could possibly occur with their computers if they are not careful. They do have a committed base though.
I would add that OS X is another reason why these Windows based laptops will never kill the MacBook.
As I am an Apple consultant I obviously would advocate for Apple products. But I also have to be honest. I think Microsoft with it's new CEO is making huge steps forward and has learned a lot from the competition. The new Surface is an example of that. But every time some product has been named a 'killer' I have seen failure. I think if a company like Microsoft stays focused on it's own quality and future the consumers eventuslly will decide what product will dloat to the top. I really think it is great for both Apple as Microsoft to stay in the market and challenge each other to make the best products. Eventually the consumers (you and I) will benefit! Thanks for your post!
"I really think it is great for both Apple as Microsoft to stay in the market and challenge each other to make the best products. Eventually the consumers (you and I) will benefit!"
YES! That is the best thing
I tend to agree with what you said about "killer" products, but it is clear Microsoft has recognized the deficiencies in the PC market, even if they didn't totally nail it with this release, they are moving in the right direction.
On a side note: As a consultant, what setup are you currently running? just curious.
I currently am using a MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) the one with the Touchbar.
What are your thoughts on the touch bar?
Have you had much experience with the iMac or iMac Pro and Mac Pro? What are your thoughts?
I heard they are preparing a bit of a reboot for the line, especially the Mac Pro.
Personally I liked the hard keys but I guess most people love the content aware touchpad. I have experience with all mentioned hardware. Have you seen Apple's keynote yesterday where they announced some refreshment to the current linup of the MacBook Pro and iMac line? Also they announced earlier they are designing a whole new MacPro to be announced later this year.
I always thought the touch bar seemed a bit like a novelty.
No I did not see that, I knew it was going to be happening soon though.
Do you have a link to the presentation or press release? I would be interested to check that out.
Of course, you should check the whole keynote here: https://www.apple.com/apple-events/june-2017/
Make sure you have the time because it is about 2,5 hours
I am opening up to Apple, but I am not sure I am ready for 2 hours of apple ;) jk
Thanks I will definitely check that out when I get the time.
Oh gods, please!
Then I saw it was from Microsloth... :-(
Do you know if it has a full bios so that it would be easy to put Linux on it?
Haha, Microsoft has done some good work with the surface book and the surface studio but Dell and Asus are still making the most compelling pc laptops. The design is slick but the specs weak...and no I am not sure about that.
It would be nice as a long time PC user to get a similar sleek design with some decent performance under the hood. I am interested to see more reviews of 10S, I dont know how that could appeal to anyone who really likes computers.
All I know is that... I LOVE MACS :-)
:) I appreciate Apples use of modern and sleek design as well as a simple OS. They have put out some great products.
Sometimes they are overpriced based on specs and it annoys me how they use so many proprietary accessories.
It is also difficult for upgrading if you are a techie and into that kind of thing.
Ultimately competition is good, it makes everyone work harder and create better products!
So true... Apple got me with its lifestyle concepts lol
I would love to see Mac overtaken by a cheaper better open source competitor.
At the end of the day the computer with the the best price and the best quality will win!
Competition pushes innovation, I am glad to see Microsoft taking initiative!
Ive always been a fan of Mac computers, It has never let me down. Microsoft on the other hand... not so great :/
I really dont have a ton of experience with their computer, but I have always been satisfied with their devices like ipad, iphone, itouch etc..
I feel like with apple computer it is impossible to get viruses. unlike with Microsoft, you can catch a virus with almost anything. Which is a huge downfall. But if you careful with website and what you download you should be fine.
That is a bit of a myth. An apple computer is definitely able to get malware and viruses. One of the main reasons "they dont" is because most malware is written for windows because most systems, especially commercial run windows. Statistically they have a higher success rate when attacking windows. Windows systems still account for roughly 90% of yearly sales if I remember correctly.
Yeah that is true, i just have been one of the lucky ones with mac. All my old Microsoft laptops never made it past 1 year D: Maybe also because of the price range. Im sure a more expensive brand would catch less virus. Ive always had HP, not a huge fan of that one.
I have had a few issues with windows and malware, but if you are careful and know what you are doing it should be fine. Thanks for reading and commenting!
thank you for your input! just followed :)
Thanks :)
People that buy Apple dont buy it becuse of performance but because of great design and user-friendly OS. As long as other companys dont make a step forward in design they can not compete with them. Copying minimalistic Apple design that they use for 10+ years is not gonna help. On the other hand Apple can not compete with others in category price/performance.
I do think pc makers are starting to realize the value of design, I think that is evident in the surface laptop release. I agree though that copying design is not enough, they need to set themselves apart, which could explain the use of alcantara fabric?? The surface studio does have some pretty innovative features but it is very expensive. I think the next few years will be great for consumers as designs and pricing become much more competative. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!
I recently picked up a Windows 10 machine after many years of not using windows, mac only. I can tell you right now, I would never buy a windows laptop. The desktop machine still crashes, is constantly bugging me with that Cortena, etc. I can't believe it's worse than it use to be. I'm not a Mac purist, but I want something that works with minimal interruptions. While Apple is annoying me by having only one USB C port on my MacBook, I'll still take it any day over a windows machine.
I have used both PC and Apple products. I use windows for my computers and generally they have been fine, however when I was recently forced to upgrade to Windows 10 (I did not choose to upgrade, did so without my permission) I have never had so many problems. I am really disappointed with 10 and I will have to take that into consideration when I purchase my next computer. The pc itself has held up really well and I would think it would outlast nearly any mac laptop based on my experience. Thank you for sharing your experiences and for reading!
I agree! I want something that works. A PC without a USB port and with a Windows 10 operating system just doesn't cut it for me. My new PC is out of commission because the screen goes to sleep as soon as the computer boots up and Windows 10 gives me more trouble than any Windows operating system I have used in the past except for Windows 8.
It has USB 3.0 Just not the newer USB Type C. I can sympathize, windows 10 has caused a lot of issues for my pc as well.
I've never had a crash or anything to do with Cortana on my Windows 10 Pro desktop. No forced updates on the Pro version. And under the hood it's more secure and stable than earlier versions. You don't need a third-party antivirus and other third-party utilities anymore. I put off upgrading from Windows 7 until my hard disk crashed and it wasn't free anymore, but it works better than I expected. Except for some missing Canon drivers.
Microsoft allows a lot more variety in configurations and hardware than Appple. So you don't get guaranteed quality, but you can improve performance significantly by adding more RAM, for instance. My Dell desktop from 2013 now has 16 GB RAM after I filled the empty slots, so yeah, I'm not impressed by the Surface Laptop specs.
No doubt PCs offer more versatility and potential for upgrades.
Windows 10 for me has caused a lot of issues, and has left me feeling very annoyed lol, I am glad to hear that you have had a better experience. 8 gb ram would have made this product much more appealing, I do like the design though, very sleek. Thanks for reading!