When Apple needed to recalibrate its messaging and engage with users, it gave up trying to appeal to average users looking for competitive prices and apps. Instead, he tailored his entire portfolio to those who do something with their computers. The Mac was no longer a different PC. It was more than a computer, a device that professionals knew they could rely on to get their work done. Craftsmen – whatever they create – often have a MacBook Pro. Now Apple hopes it will still extend to the MacBook Pro 13.
Having just stepped into the hardware market, Microsoft launched the Surface series by appealing to all types of users. When that didn’t work, it focused on the same creative class that Apple had conquered with the MacBook Pro. Eventually, the strategy would lead to the creation of a high-end laptop for digital content producers of all kinds. Today, The Surface Book is one of the most bizarre-looking, forward-thinking, and well-designed PCs you can buy running Windows.
When Apple created the first MacBook Pro, few expected they would eventually receive competition from Microsoft. And yet, that’s where we find ourselves today. Choosing between traditionally the best laptop you can buy and a beginner challenger from a software maker.
Here’s how the new MacBook Pro 13 compares to Microsoft’s entry-level Surface Book.
MacBook Pro 13 and Surface Book: Design
The MacBook Pro 13 is part of a renewed workforce lineup, all designed with the needs of current professionals in mind. At 3.02 pounds it is both thinner and lighter than the machines it replaces. Since it’s an Apple device, the design aesthetic hasn’t changed much. It’s still made of machined aluminum and still has slightly curved edges on its lid and base. An Apple logo still sits in the middle of its cover.
All changes worth paying attention to are visible from the moment you open the notebook. The trackpad on all new MacBook Pros is huge; They use Force Touch technology that allows the MacBook to reach new levels of thinness. There are also “Butterfly” switch mechanisms from the regular MacBook. They’ve been developed here for a more tactile feel, Apple told audiences about its unveiling.
The cheapest and smallest version of the new MacBook Pro 13 costs $1499 and includes a traditional set of function keys. The $1799 model we used for this comparison dumps the function keys in favor of a Touch Bar and Touch ID fingerprint reader built into the power button.
The Performance-Based Surface Book got some big upgrades this week, but the base model remains the same. When turned off, a reflective Microsoft logo reminds users who designed the device. The 13.5-inch display is attached to its base by a fulcrum hinge, similar to the attachment of some sort of metal-encased dictionary. The Surface Book is definitely heavier than the MacBook Pro 13. It weighs 3.34 pounds. The Dynamic Fulcrum Hinge also allows it to take up more room in a bag than the MacBook Pro 13. There is always a gap when closed.
MacBook Pro 13 and Surface Book: Internal Parts
Last year, every major computer manufacturer had hardware shipped with Intel’s Skylake chipsets. Almost all of them suffered in some way. Intel’s Skylake drivers and software caused all sorts of issues with the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4. There’s no way to know for sure, but apparently Apple decided to learn Microsoft’s lesson and continued to use the latest chips. from Intel
The MacBook Pro 13 comes with 8GB of RAM, but can be configured with 16GB of RAM. A 256GB Solid State Drive also comes standard, but users can even add a 512GB 1TB SSD. The standard processor is Intel’s 2.9GHz dual-core Core i5 processor. This is slightly faster than the 2.4GHz standard clock speed on the Surface Book. Again, buyers can boost this with more powerful options and a higher price tag.
Neither the entry-level Surface Book nor the MacBook Pro 13 come with discrete graphics cards. The MacBook ships with Intel Iris 550 graphics. Surface Book has Intel HD 520 graphics.
The MacBook Pro 13 is simply a laptop. It is dominated by a 13.3-inch display with 227 pixels per inch. Apple says it can display “millions” of colors. The 13.5-inch display on the Surface Book has 267 pixels per inch. It’s also a multi-touch screen, as the Surface Book’s entire screen is reserved for a pure tablet experience.
The Surface Book has Intel Core i5 and i7 variants, but most users will prefer the i5 version. Spending more than $1,349 for the base configuration gives users a discrete graphics card, storage options, and more RAM. The entry model comes with 8GB of RAM.
Recently, Apple has thrown itself into supporting the latest ports. MacBook Pro 13 has four Thunderbolt 3/USB 3 Type-C ports. There’s also a headphone jack. Users will need a dongle when connecting with a monitor or phone that does not support USB Type-C. By comparison, the Surface Book has two standard USB 3.0 ports, an SD Card reader, a headphone jack, and a Mini DisplayPort. This SD Card reader is a big advantage for Surface. Most professionals won’t be too keen on Apple removing the SD card slot and forcing them to buy another dongle.
MacBook Pro 13 and Surface Book: Extras
The extras are what truly define these two premium machines. Apple isn’t ignoring touch as it bets on different use cases. The MacBook Pro 13 demonstrates that Apple thinks touchscreens are useful, but only to the extent that they can ultimately allow for thriving interaction.
Steve Jobs bet on the multi-touch screen for the original iPhone because it allowed developers to tweak the buttons and interface to suit their needs. The Touch Bar does the same for the MacBook Pro. The options inside the Touch Bar change depending on which apps users have open. Microsoft Word will add commonly used formatting settings to its applications there. The music creation software adds timeline scrolling so it’s easier to edit the entire track with a small swipe on your device’s home screen.
Microsoft believes so much in the power of touch that the entire Surface Book’s 13.5-inch screen is completely detached from its body for up to 3 hours at a time. An included Surface Pen allows users to take and draw handwritten notes. The screen can be flipped over the keyboard to get a good touch experience and the full 12 hours of battery life Microsoft promised.
While Apple is betting on Touch ID to allow MacBook users to log in, Microsoft is betting on optical sensors that unlock Windows the moment someone sits in front of the Surface Book. Apple says the MacBook Pro 13 takes 10 hours between charges while playing video.
MacBook Pro 13 and Surface Book: Which Should You Buy?
Apple spent a very, very long time at the top of the high-end laptop market, for reasons everyone understands. The company offers a powerful mix of style, accurate applications and performance. The MacBook Pro 13 is thin and light. Larger trackpad is welcome. The Touch Bar seems like a gimmick at first, but it can be very useful for some.
Microsoft has Apple on pricing and battery life. The Surface Book is $1,349. Compare that to the $1,799 you would have to spend to get a MacBook Pro 13 with Touch ID and Touch Bar. Even not falling for the MacBook Pro without the Touch Bar saves this machine. It still costs $1,499 and also drops two USB Type-C ports and gets the same amount of battery life.
The Surface Book gets 2 more hours of screen time. It can be a tablet or laptop in just seconds. Meanwhile, Apple hopes users will want to take advantage of the MacBook Pro 13’s Force TrackPad.
Microsoft is definitely losing some points for not adopting Thunderbolt yet. Also, its base machine has less storage space than the MacBook Pro 13. Still, those two things together aren’t even enough for the MacBook Pro 13 to stand out.
After all, it can be difficult for those already in the Mac ecosystem to switch to Windows 10 and Windows apps for their craft. They may have to spend money on new programs and put together a new workflow. Had it not been for that, the Surface Book would have been the winner in any case.
Of course, if you haven’t invested in the Mac ecosystem yet, it’s better to buy the Surface Book.
