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> it was underpowered because a thin, fan-less, high-performance laptop was and remains an impossible dream for the x86 computing architecture Eh, Surface Pro

by rwalle 4y ago

> it was underpowered because a thin, fan-less, high-performance laptop was and remains an impossible dream for the x86 computing architecture Eh, Surface Pro (i3/i5 before 8th gen), anyone? From what I heard the machine is very usable -- in fact a daily driver for many people. Is it fair to blame the failure of one Apple product on an entire CPU architecture?

Terretta 4y ago
> From what I heard the machine is very usable ... Ah, so you didn't own it as your own daily driver. Our bank, and other banks, outfitted branch VPs with Surface Pros (least worst option among a dozen trialed). Across banks (so not unique to a given IT department's config) they mostly ended up in bottom drawers or stuck tethered to the desks by charging cables, proving essentially useless unplugged and woefully underpowered regardless of power state. Turns out even an x86 MBA running bootcamp was a better option. And then turned out that by using corporate apps in Microsoft Edge, a MBA running MacOS, managed by JAMF or inTune, ran anything branch employees needed better, longer, and with a fraction of the support tickets.
- woojoo666 4y ago
  Can't speak for the other commenter, but I personally used it as a daily driver for over 5 years, and casual use for another 3. Used it for programming, art, writing, light gaming, and even some blender. The surface pros are a great line of products, and even after 8 years the battery is still surprisingly good compared to other laptops I've seen.
  - Terretta 4y ago
    I owned a couple as well. They were the least worst.
BearOso 4y ago
It's not even the architecture. It's the fact that Intel was stuck on 14nm for a decade. Apple also paid for the pick of the litter from TSMC, so they're always a step ahead of everyone else. Current AMD mobile processors are very power efficient. Intel's foundries will catch up eventually, too.

by rwalle 4y ago

Terretta 4y ago

> From what I heard the machine is very usable ... Ah, so you didn't own it as your own daily driver. Our bank, and other banks, outfitted branch VPs with Surface Pros (least worst option among a dozen trialed). Across banks (so not unique to a given IT department's config) they mostly ended up in bottom drawers or stuck tethered to the desks by charging cables, proving essentially useless unplugged and woefully underpowered regardless of power state. Turns out even an x86 MBA running bootcamp was a better option. And then turned out that by using corporate apps in Microsoft Edge, a MBA running MacOS, managed by JAMF or inTune, ran anything branch employees needed better, longer, and with a fraction of the support tickets.

woojoo666 4y ago
Can't speak for the other commenter, but I personally used it as a daily driver for over 5 years, and casual use for another 3. Used it for programming, art, writing, light gaming, and even some blender. The surface pros are a great line of products, and even after 8 years the battery is still surprisingly good compared to other laptops I've seen.
- Terretta 4y ago
  I owned a couple as well. They were the least worst.

BearOso 4y ago

It's not even the architecture. It's the fact that Intel was stuck on 14nm for a decade. Apple also paid for the pick of the litter from TSMC, so they're always a step ahead of everyone else. Current AMD mobile processors are very power efficient. Intel's foundries will catch up eventually, too.