Microsoft's Surface Pro 4

[greenfish]

The Dell XPS 13 really tempted me quite a lot. Came very close to getting it but somehow was not able to commit. Probably due to the fact I have the SP3.



Personally still quite wary of Lenovo due to the various installed "software" issues that came to light earlier this year. Real paranoid fella over here.

Yes, very naughty of Lenovo (and Microsoft - I believe at least one of the hooks used was Microsoft documented).

I've just had a much better run with reliability from Lenovo that with Dell, and I love the ergonomics of the Lenovo keyboards; my current employer uses Toshiba and the keyboard is pants compared to my Lenovos...

 

[Pushka]

Yes - looking at the Lenovo here.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I've read somewhere that Windows 10 is very heavy on data usage, as it deploys updates via a mechanism similar to torrents. So your computer maybe providing parts of someone else's updates!

But concerning if true that it hasn't been clearly stated this is occurring. But have heard this is easy to stop also.

 

[Geegeela]

Maybe October 6th

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA6iYx17zwU

 

[SeatBackForward]

I'm going to get one of these below sent to my hotel in London next month (can't seem to source one locally, and amazon won't ship it to Aus).

Appears to be a USB 3.0 adapter as well as allowing data transfer across USB ports. Looks like you can potentially use one keyboard & mouse (via USB) to control two pc's.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inateck-3-Port-Transfer-Devices-Driver-free/dp/B00SM5NLRY

Will provide feedback here once I play with it.

Ok I'm back and have been using this for the past two days, here are my comments:

1) No software installation required. When connected applications are launched onto both PC's but there is not installation process
2) Its brilliant! what used to take me several steps of copying to a USB drive, moving PC's then repeating, can now all be done via copy and paste.
3) One keyboard and mouse now controls both devices, in fact, it all acts as a single screen, moving from left to right off one machine onto another (and working through multiple monitors if configured that way)
4) any USB devices plugged in are only detected on the PC that the adapted is connected to, however one of the launched apps allows you to view the device(s) from the other PC.
5) It was shipped in a packet not much bigger than a bar of soap, very compact to carry around.

I may not be explaining myself well, but essentially, I'm using two seperate machines from one keyboard and mouse, and able to exchange info between them seamlessly. As its improving my productivity so much, and will be vital for when I'm working on clients networks, I will definitely be picking up one or two more of these when I'm in the US or UK next.

 

[Foreigner]

Microsoft will be opening flagship store in Sydney shortly:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/stor...stfield-sydney-on-pitt-street-mall/store-1108

 

[Foreigner]

For prospective buyers, here's one compilation of various options to consider:

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2015/10/16/which-microsoft-surface-pro-4-should-you-buy/

 

[SeatBackForward]

Tossing up whether to fork out for the surface book, or a dell xps13/15..price wise the dell wins, and already owning a SP3 not much about the book seems compelling enough to upgrade.

 

[Foreigner]

Recommendation seen online:

"So, which one should you buy? Again, realizing that the three CPUs here will yield markedly different results, here’s what I’d recommend:

Buy the Core m3 SP4 if your top priority is battery life, cost and more performance than an Atom-based Surface 3. Just know it will be slower in graphics and CPU tasks than the other two units. One thing to be aware of: the Core m3 does not have vPro, which may be a deal-breaker for a managed corporate environment.

Buy the Core i5 SP4 if you do more intensive chores such as Photoshop, Lightroom or light-duty video editing. The extra 8GB will help, and the Core i5 should outpace the Core m3 in CPU tasks and be a little faster in graphics tasks. And yes, vPro is supported on the Core i5 version.

Buy the Core i7 SP4 if you really need faster graphics performance. On the CPU side, you may see a 15 percent or so performance difference, too."


I'm going to go for i5 with 8gb RAM and 128gb SSD.

 

[blueythecat]

Tossing up whether to fork out for the surface book, or a dell xps13/15..price wise the dell wins, and already owning a SP3 not much about the book seems compelling enough to upgrade.

I have a work provided XPS 13, pretty awesome machine. I'd highly recommend it for anyone looking for an ultrabook.

 

[Foreigner]

Well, I took the leap at the Microsoft store today. Purchased i5 with 4gb RAM and 128gb drive.

Together with cover, bluetooth mouse and Office 365, a tad over $2,100.

 

[topcat45]

A friend of mine builds & services computers for a living & he told me to stay away from win 10 & stick with 7. He didn't explain why but I have also heard there are problems with 10. I will be upgrading my laptop soon & will check this out more thoroughly then.

 

[blueythecat]

Well, I took the leap at the Microsoft store today. Purchased i5 with 4gb RAM and 128gb drive....

Excellent choice, I'm sure you won't regret it!!

A friend of mine builds & services computers for a living & he told me to stay away from win 10 & stick with 7. He didn't explain why but I have also heard there are problems with 10. I will be upgrading my laptop soon & will check this out more thoroughly then.

Windows 10 isn't too bad, possibly not quite as easy to use as Windows 7 unless you have touch screen. You'll need Windows 10 (or 8.1) if you have a laptop with a high-res screen (above about 1920x1080), Windows 7 really isn't a winner on a QHD+ display!!

 

[topcat45]

Excellent choice, I'm sure you won't regret it!!



Windows 10 isn't too bad, possibly not quite as easy to use as Windows 7 unless you have touch screen. You'll need Windows 10 (or 8.1) if you have a laptop with a high-res screen (above about 1920x1080), Windows 7 really isn't a winner on a QHD+ display!!

Thanks for the info.

 

[TheRealTMA]

A friend of mine builds & services computers for a living & he told me to stay away from win 10 & stick with 7. He didn't explain why but I have also heard there are problems with 10. I will be upgrading my laptop soon & will check this out more thoroughly then.

I would suggest he's a little paranoid. There's few problems and I would recommend the upgrade, especially with the recent update, but I each to their own.

 

[topcat45]

I would suggest he's a little paranoid. There's few problems and I would recommend the upgrade, especially with the recent update, but I each to their own.

I guess it's what you are comfortable with & at 71 y/o I am very comfortable with win 7. I might try win 10 on my new laptop when I get it but will stay with 7 on my PC

 

[SeatBackForward]

Like most Windows and Office updates recently, it's mostly cosmetic to us end users, and the more annoying new features can usually be switched off as they are just built upon an existing core feature.

 

[Foreigner]

In the UK stores are out of stock of new product:

http://m.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/ne...-4-drought-should-be-temporary-says-microsoft

Cover with keyboard I bought is faulty. Hope to have this replaced this coming week.

 

[pauly7]

I e got this for work now for one of my clients. Love the hardware and general idea, loath the fact it is a PC - so buggy! Forgotten how buggy Windows is! Windows 10 is a bit of a nightmare but to be honest Windows always has been, so wasn't that fussed to upgrade. Now I just want Apple to come in and basically make the same thing but with an OS rather than iOS and they would blow Surface away!