Hi all, I’m considering to purchase a laptop and I’m in a dilemma between this 2 laptop...
I’m familiar with apple ecosystem on iOS (since iPhone launch to date) and iPads, never used a Mac besides 10+ years ago during uni days..so I’m not too familiar with MacOS but I believe it wouldn’t be hard for me to pick up...

I’ve been using windows forever so everything on a windows is within my fingertips.

Currently using an iPad Pro 2018 and I was thinking to ditch it if I’m going for a Microsoft surface book (not sure if the tab can replace the iPad Pro).

Any suggestion from sifu’s here with similar experience/ dilemma ? Thanks!

What are your intentions out of any of the laptop? I mean like do you have specific program that you use daily? Just list out all of your programs and how does your daily use with any of this laptop will go. Then maybe we can help decide more.

Now it's like saying, I like eating apple since young but i used to eat orange once and you want our decision for u to continue eating apple or try eating orange.

Thanks for replying.
Sorry for not being precise ...I only use it for Microsoft applications i.e words/outlook/excel and PowerPoint...google..YouTube..and that’s about it..oh and I tend to open up to 10 tabs at once (browser)

Also not sure if the surface tablet could replace the iPad Pro in some light gaming..not mmorpg that require high graphics..maybe just some supercell games like clash of clans/ brawl stars..

My heart is with (has been) the MBP, but the link below suggest otherwise:

https://www.laptopmag.com/news/macbook-pro-vs-surface-book-3

P/S: I’m currently using a very high end desktop with quite future proof specs so I’m expecting the laptop to be quite there as well I know the MacBook Pro is, just not too sure on the surface book 3..

This post has been edited by dikae: May 8 2020, 11:41 PM

I would say go with your heart. A computer buying process shouldn’t be based on logical thinking alone. You are paying good money for it, you should buy something that makes you FEEL good.

I’m not into gaming, but is Clash of Clans available on Windows? You will need an emulator or something I guess?
I can’t comment about that experience, but no tablet can come close to provide the experience of the iPad, especially for things like playing games. You should keep your iPad Pro. Apple is onto something with the iPadOS. More improvements definitely coming.

Microsoft Surface is not app base. It don’t have appstore or google play store. So if you want use Youtube, you got to open web browser and surf the internet on youtube. That said, probably you will shut down when finish use the Microsoft Surface, and you will on it when you want to use the computer.

Do you consider the warranty repair conveniency? I am not sure Microsoft have a service center in Malaysia or they will bear the cost for shipping it back to USA to do the repair. Usually the shipping quite costly, i heard this from ex-Surface Pro user.

If you choosing a laptop, probably you will see the weight and size of the computer. If it is bulky, i think using your current decent desktop and pay a little money to get iPad keyboard will be quite a good option.

Come to the end, it is still up to your choice. You should follow your heart.

p/s: i think surface book 3 is using U series Intel processor. So cannot expect the same performance with other Intel 10-Gen processor.

This post has been edited by kevinpss: May 9 2020, 02:25 AM

This is my POV, coming from a person just like you. Windows since day 1 on earth, butt itching to get a Mac.

Let's remove the comparison of hardware.

One
Of course after years and years of Windows, you will be attached to Office. True that that on MacOS you can also get Office (I'm not sure if you can port your license key over or not) but let's just assume you are using Office 365, then yeah, no issue.
Apple themselves have their own version of Office. Excel is called Numbers, Powerpoint is called Keynote, Word is called Pages. These are free (you've actually paid for it when you buy the hardware itself ) in the app store. AFAIK, their basic functionality works the same as Office but for more intensive or maybe, better functions, they could be lacking of it.
So based on this, ask yourself.
1) Are you willing to switch to Apple's "Office" softwares and learn it up? (Assuming you do not have Office 365 or the key is not portable to MacOS, or you do not want to spend on it anymore)
If the key is portable or you are using 365, this whole section doesn't apply to you.

Two
You mentioned surfing the web. I bet you are using Chrome or Firefox. Yes, I know you can download both browsers on the MacOS but once you fire up these applications on MacOS, your CPU temp will rise to almost near 100c (you can refer to Max Tech's youtube for the evidence) but when using safari, the processors' temperature did not rise up until so much. So there's a possibility Apple has fine tuned their Safari to work better on MacOS. So if you heavily rely on Chrome and Safari, this will be one of your problem.
Ask yourself.
1) Are you willing to give up all your Chrome Extensions (and similar name to Firefox's) to use Safari just because it will not heat up the processor?
2) If you say no to (1) and you have a lot of extensions, are you willing to go a little higher ram to cope with the ram usage of these browsers & the CPU temp?


As you know, Apple's pretty good in their hardware department. Not to say other manufacturers are bad but hey, look at Apple's track record.

Well, games just leave it for your iPad and your pc.

Ok, it's almost 2:30am and I would probably type more rubbish out from my tired brain but ask yourself those questions for now. I hope it helps!

iOS and MacOS totally different animal. Go for Surface.

If you’re looking for value proposition go for windows, you can get a good windows laptop between RM2500 and RM3000 already.

You’d need to spend double or triple that just to get into MacOS and I’d rather use that extra money to get an iPhone that can take great pictures and videos.

Of course if you want a laptop that looks great on the outside, can’t deny nothing comes close to a MacBook.

continue using ipad pro 2018.

both are sux

Thx bro, never thought about the after service...if I’m going to have to spend the money sending back for warranty then it’s pretty much a no go..

Very good points here...definitely helps

My budget is there bro, so it’s either mbp or surface...I have others needed ie iPhone 11 pro max already..
Brooooo..hahah care to share why both sux?

Office 365 for Mac does not have all the functions that are available in Office 365 for windows.

If you need to use your computer for work and company is with Microsoft applications, i would suggest that you buy a windows PC.

I have both systems. Company issued windows notebook and Macbook pro for personal use. I can use both computers for work as the company is on Office 365.

i dont know, but now im shifting from macbook pro to ipad pro 2020

apps environment maybe

Thx..my company is using office 365, does it mean I can cross license? Or only can use 1 side at a time? Or how does it work?

iPad Pro got a lot of limitations bro...even with ipadOs there are many limitations like office/word/excel etc..also certain browser format doesn’t support on the iPad, but on computer/laptop yes...not frequent but at those times when you needed it, it’s frustrating..

Based on my experience only, each office 365 user can have up to 5 devices......as such i have Office 365 loaded on my Iphone, Android phone, Office notebook and my Macbook Pro.....

Do the easy job, get a bigger SSD storage and then bootcamp Windows into your Mac. Done. Problem solved HAHAHA

Ohh then should be ok coz I’m also using on office comp, iPad and iPhone right now..2 more devices so I have extra for MacBook without paying extra

Wah this one quite deep haha, not sure what it means bootcaml
Windows into Mac...but I guess license issue solved since I have 2 more devices available

In addition, you need to get windows 10 license and software to install on the mac.

Confused here, why macOS need windows 10 license? And it was mentioned above that the office software like numbers/ keynote/ pages etc were free that comes with mbp?

This post has been edited by dikae: May 9 2020, 02:17 PM

True enough that need to purchase separate license and bigger SSD but to be able to bring one machine with both MacOS and Windows is priceless. For travelling purposes which I do a lot I cant be bringing 2 laptops everywhere I go. So bootcamp is really the answers.

To be easily switch over between 2 powerfull OS in the same machine again is Priceless.

So now you know it is all worth the money. You cannot being doing this on windows laptop though .. no matter how powerful your machine specs are ..

Google bootcamp and it will teach and tell you that you can use Windows and MacOS (one at a time) on your Macbook. This requires you to buy a Windows 10 license key as it's like installing Windows on a new pc.

Bootcamp is actually a software that it preloaded into mac to help you install Windows (or Linux if possible) on your Macbook.

The correct term here is call dual boot. You going to dual boot 2 types of OS on 1 single machine ONE AT A TIME.

Cool, but without windows10 on Mac, it should be still good enough right? I mean why need windows in a Mac? What’s lacking in Mac?

That’s right! But the Office 365 for Mac keep improving and i think they let Mac to use more function now.

Nevertheless, very seldom to need the advance function unless there is advance analysis required. By that, maybe TS will consider to use his desktop instead. Because bigger screen and more powerful CPU.

For my practise, i use company laptop only for office/working purpose. For personal use, example: investment study, entertainment, bank transfer, notes, etc, i will use my own Macbook/iPad Pro/iPhone.



This post has been edited by kevinpss: May 13 2020, 04:01 AM

Actually I don’t need advance functions for office 365 use...just normal stuffs..

My iPad Pro 2015 still work so well. Especially when there is a needs to work on PDF, words, and telecon! Really hassle free and worry-free. All the apps are working smooth.

Last time when i use windows laptop, i always choose LibreOffice instead of Microsoft Office, for personal use. Haha.

are you on ipadOS bro? i couldn't seem to work around well with the ipad compare to a comp/laptop

Yes, I'm on iPadOS. It won't work exactly the same like a laptop. But very useful when I work on single task and listen to Spotify. Sometimes I use it as my second screen (no sidecar because my MacBook Air 2017). Example: I use my iPad and Macbook at the same time for video conference, iPad for video conference, MacBook for data process/excel/etc. Or vice versa.

But I subscribe Microsoft 365 (come with 1TB OneDrive), and iCloud lah. Copy in iPad can directly paste in my MacBook, vice versa. Also the same for website browsing. Also, all my files in OneDrive/iCloud so I can open in both device at the same time. When need to transfer file between this two device, it is very easy when use airdrop.

This post has been edited by kevinpss: May 12 2020, 02:22 PM