Surface Pro / Book 2 Deal

dankenny on 25/07/2018 - 12:33

Hey guys,

My 7yr old MacBook is just about done, and I'm looking into the surface pro or surface book 2 as an upgrade option.

I'd like to use it as my main work computer (writing, research, admin, some graphic design) and for photo editing (I use capture one pro and photoshop). I'd also like to use the touchscreen for reading journal articles, scribbling notes and for design/editing.

I'm a bit out of the loop as to what I can expect from current models, if a refresh is imminent, etc. Can anyone help me make sense of the current landscape?

Also would this be a good deal on the surface pro with type cover? https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/p/surface-pro-platinum-signa…

Thanks heaps :). I really appreciate your help on this tricky subject.

Computing

Comments

  • dcep on 25/07/2018 - 12:37
    +1

    graphic design ?

    get book2 with gtx 1050

    • dankenny on 25/07/2018 - 12:42

      Thanks! Any reason you expect other models won't hold up?

      My current computer is the late 2011 13" MacBook Pro with integrated Intel hd3000 graphics. Been fine enough I think (or maybe don't know what I'm missing!).

  • dankenny on 25/07/2018 - 13:39

    For a somewhat similar price I could also get the new Dell XPS 13" - https://www.dell.com/en-au/shop/cty/pdp/spd/xps-13-9370-lapt…

    It's on sale for about $2200 at the moment.

    I wouldn't have a touch screen, which would be a bummer, but then again it looks to be a perfectly good laptop portability and performance wise. A good screen is important to me as well.

    Any thoughts?

    • dankenny on 25/07/2018 - 13:41

      ^^ actually this one I linked does have a touch screen, but not detachable.

      • HighAndDry on 25/07/2018 - 14:54

        From all accounts, and from playing with a friend's Surface - the Surface and Surface 2 has far better stylus support, if you need that for graphic design. If not… then yeah I would go with the Dell XPS13 as well. There is a known bug where sometimes it'll freeze at the Dell logo on start-up, but with Dell's warranty support I'm not too worried, and otherwise the XPS line has generally good build quality and isn't too premium price-wise (surprisingly).

        • dankenny on 25/07/2018 - 17:26

          Thanks! I'll continue to consider.

        • HighAndDry on 25/07/2018 - 17:31

          @dankenny: Before you buy though, definitely go into a store and try them out. Especially for stylus and things like that - it's going to be very subjective from person to person. It won't matter that 99% of people like a certain UX if you don't.

    • [Deactivated] on 25/07/2018 - 16:04

      I'm not a graphic designer but I am required to annotate photos. I found the stylus to be far more elegant than text bubbles.

      • dankenny on 25/07/2018 - 17:26

        Thanks for your insight!

      • Chewie on 25/07/2018 - 17:49
        -1

        Defects?

        • [Deactivated] on 25/07/2018 - 17:50

          What defects?

  • Caped Baldy on 25/07/2018 - 13:43
    +1

    There is a model in between the surface book 1 and 2 referred to as surface book with performance base. It's been on sale for $1600 with i7 (gen7), 8gb ram and 256gb storage. I'd recommend going in store to try out the stylus as it isn't the most precise device made.

    • richmond12 on 25/07/2018 - 14:18

      6th gen actually

      I had it and returned it. Really sluggish

      • Caped Baldy on 25/07/2018 - 14:47

        ah my mistake then. Mine isn't sluggish, I don't really push it though.
        Crazy thing with mine is that it wouldn't turn on or charge when I got mine. I had to manually disconnect the screen and reattach it to get it working.

    • dankenny on 25/07/2018 - 17:27

      That's a great suggestion! Pity I can't find it anywhere, through. If I can find I then I'll do more research into its performance.

      • Caped Baldy on 25/07/2018 - 21:01

        It should pop again from the M$ store on ebay with a 20% off code.

  • knobbs on 25/07/2018 - 14:47
    +1

    I do love my SB2 but for video editing in Premier Pro it does not seem to use the 1060 I have. There seems to be an issue with Microsoft drivers/Adobe Premier that do not like to play together. Even if specifying to use the 1060 for everything it still will not use it to render. Apart from that I love my SB2

    • dankenny on 25/07/2018 - 17:28

      Hmm that's bizarre. In any case, which model did you opt for and what was the price, if I could ask?

      • knobbs on 25/07/2018 - 17:29

        15" with max settings, work paid :P

        • dankenny on 25/07/2018 - 19:04

          Lucky lucky!

  • Noblejoker on 26/07/2018 - 12:04

    Hey @dankenny - I have Surface Book I am looking to sell - will PM you

  • dankenny on 27/07/2018 - 16:31

    Thanks for all your thoughts guys - I decided to try out the HP spectre x360 which looks like it could be a good fit. I'll see how I get along with it!

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join