4 ms·

Brand loyalty is silly. It does mean I need to avoid platform lock-in, but it is completely worth it. I buy the best machine available for me at the time. Wh

by dade_ 10y ago

Brand loyalty is silly. It does mean I need to avoid platform lock-in, but it is completely worth it. I buy the best machine available for me at the time. When it was time to replace my MacBook Pro 2011, it wasn't a machine from Apple. I bought a Surface Pro 3 and thought that I'd switch back to Mac when Apple sorted out whatever their problem is. Vapour Race 2017: Next Gen MacBook Pro or Surface Pro 5. It would be nice to have a real GPU again....

slantyyz 10y ago
It is indeed silly. My own mentality is that I'm "Post-OS". I'm at the point that I could use whatever OS I want for my work stuff, including Windows. They all hit the bar of "good enough". I happen to use Windows today, because it runs the most apps that I want to run (in particular, some Steam stuff not available on Linux or Mac), but with the help of dual boot, I could just as easily be on Linux or Mac (all other things being equal, I'd prefer single booting). Personally, I left Mac after a bad experience with the 2011 MBP and not liking the design direction of Apple hardware, but I still consider Apple hardware (for the most part) to be the gold standard in build quality. Macs may not suit my use case, but thankfully there are plenty of other fish in the sea.
umanwizard 10y ago
Some people are basically forced to be on Apple machines because they develop iOS apps.
timdavila 10y ago
How do you like the Surface Pro 3 for software development? Do you have an external monitor/keyboard setup?
- dade_ 10y ago
  I think it is great, all the usual Windows items apply. Specific to the SP3 Pro: use the SP4 keyboard, it is much better and is completely compatible; the dock is expensive and worth it: 2 display port connectors so I have the surface display, 4K monitor + 1K monitor attached working at the same time - Also wired Gigabit Ethernet; Magnet connector for the dock/power is super convenient; Power adapter has USB charging; I use the new Surface Ergonomic keyboard and a Logitech MX Master Mouse at home and the Surface foldable mouse on the road (best portable mouse I have used). I keep the surface on my desk so I can use it with my pen, I just flip the keyboard underneath it. On the road: the MicroSD provides all the extra storage I need (movies on the plane), and it has a real USB 3 port, battery life is around 5 hours, but better if you are only using it to watch movies or reading. Runs VMs effortlessly with i7 processor. Biggest problem is power, sometimes it sleeps and won't wake up. Happens far more often than it should, but I haven't heard the same complain from people with Surface Pro 4s. Hope that helps.
  - timdavila 10y ago
    Thanks! I'm considering an SP4 or the Surface Book. Will definitely be getting a dock either way.
    - wtetzner 10y ago
      I recently got the Surface Book, and it's pretty fantastic. Both the keyboard and touchpad are great. I like the keyboard even better than my late 2012 rMBP's keyboard. I have a SP3, and it's nice, but I didn't like using the type cover. I much prefer being able to keep it in my lap, with the screen suspended from the keyboard. I'm sure it works great with a dock, but I haven't use one.

by dade_ 10y ago

slantyyz 10y ago

It is indeed silly. My own mentality is that I'm "Post-OS". I'm at the point that I could use whatever OS I want for my work stuff, including Windows. They all hit the bar of "good enough". I happen to use Windows today, because it runs the most apps that I want to run (in particular, some Steam stuff not available on Linux or Mac), but with the help of dual boot, I could just as easily be on Linux or Mac (all other things being equal, I'd prefer single booting). Personally, I left Mac after a bad experience with the 2011 MBP and not liking the design direction of Apple hardware, but I still consider Apple hardware (for the most part) to be the gold standard in build quality. Macs may not suit my use case, but thankfully there are plenty of other fish in the sea.

umanwizard 10y ago

Some people are basically forced to be on Apple machines because they develop iOS apps.

timdavila 10y ago

How do you like the Surface Pro 3 for software development? Do you have an external monitor/keyboard setup?

dade_ 10y ago
I think it is great, all the usual Windows items apply. Specific to the SP3 Pro: use the SP4 keyboard, it is much better and is completely compatible; the dock is expensive and worth it: 2 display port connectors so I have the surface display, 4K monitor + 1K monitor attached working at the same time - Also wired Gigabit Ethernet; Magnet connector for the dock/power is super convenient; Power adapter has USB charging; I use the new Surface Ergonomic keyboard and a Logitech MX Master Mouse at home and the Surface foldable mouse on the road (best portable mouse I have used). I keep the surface on my desk so I can use it with my pen, I just flip the keyboard underneath it. On the road: the MicroSD provides all the extra storage I need (movies on the plane), and it has a real USB 3 port, battery life is around 5 hours, but better if you are only using it to watch movies or reading. Runs VMs effortlessly with i7 processor. Biggest problem is power, sometimes it sleeps and won't wake up. Happens far more often than it should, but I haven't heard the same complain from people with Surface Pro 4s. Hope that helps.
- timdavila 10y ago
  Thanks! I'm considering an SP4 or the Surface Book. Will definitely be getting a dock either way.
  - wtetzner 10y ago
    I recently got the Surface Book, and it's pretty fantastic. Both the keyboard and touchpad are great. I like the keyboard even better than my late 2012 rMBP's keyboard. I have a SP3, and it's nice, but I didn't like using the type cover. I much prefer being able to keep it in my lap, with the screen suspended from the keyboard. I'm sure it works great with a dock, but I haven't use one.