Should I switch from MacBook to some form of Windows laptop?
May 3, 2019 12:59 PM   Subscribe

My current 9-year-old MacBook has reached the end of the upgrade lifecycle, and I'm in the market for a replacement. My needs: light, sturdy, can run Photoshop, good sized screen, magsafe power cord. I have been disappointed with MacBook Pros for some time. I used a Surface for several years at my previous position and was pretty happy with it, but I am open to other Windows machines. Or give me a reason to stay Mac! Details (should we say...intel?) inside.

I've been a Mac loyalist since 1988, so this is a pretty huge move for me. I do not have an iPhone so I'm not totally locked into the ecosystem, and nowadays all my software is subscription based (Office, CreativeCloud, etc.) so there aren't many barriers to making the switch.

Whatever I buy has to have a magsafe power cord, which is where the MacBook Pro fails. (Yes, I've heard that you can get aftermarket add-ons, but I've heard they are glitchy, and also I think it's ridiculous that it doesn't come standard.)

I use Photoshop but I don't do any video editing, so by today's standards it doesn't have to have an insane amount of speed.

I have a 15" screen now and the idea of scaling down to something smaller does not excite me, which has made me resistant to the MacBook Air. I'm approaching Large Type Age, so extremely clear but incredibly small type is not ideal. The SurfaceBook 2 would be great for this, but it's the one laptop that makes the MacBook look positively cheap by comparison.

When I used the Surface I actually found a touch screen came in very handy, so my preference would be for something that had a touch screen.

It needs to be a laptop that can actually sit in my lap – which is a problem for a lot of the Surfaces.

I travel constantly (as in, I have been traveling for over a year and all my stuff is in storage), so it will preferably be both light and sturdy.

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Note with the idea that it might be a laptop replacement due to Dex technology letting you connect to a larger screen, but I found it's not quite there yet.

Everything is going to be a tradeoff. Does anyone have a recommendation as to something that may suit all my needs? (Maybe even knowledge of something that is Coming Soon that I should wait for?)
posted by rednikki to Computers & Internet (14 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
I think it all depends on personal taste, but when it comes to Windows laptops*, I myself would only ever purchase a Microsoft device. Everything else is just a complicated mix of various OEM parts that can interact in unpredictable ways. Kind of the reason why Mac and Apple became so possible in the first, where everything just works because the devices have been engineered to do so.

*For work I use a Lenovo M Series Tiny desktop. It's very simple so there is much less that can go wrong than with a laptop.
posted by JamesBay at 1:08 PM on May 3, 2019


Best answer: I was in your boat a couple of years ago & I ended up going with the Dell XPS 15. Since then I picked up a Microsoft Surface Go for traveling (the XPS 15 is a bit to big & heavy for my taste & I wanted to be able to run Photoshop), and I love it so much I would seriously consider the whatever the newest Surface Pro is to replace a MacBook Pro. After a week at a conference with my Surface Go, I found that I could use it in my lap with no problem.
posted by montbrarian at 1:24 PM on May 3, 2019 [1 favorite]


I use both OS regularly. Mac OS still never does absolutely random shit like broken drivers, forgotten configs, etc. I prefer Mac OS because of that and hate my Windows machine because of it.

/datapoint
posted by humboldt32 at 1:34 PM on May 3, 2019 [2 favorites]


I've been more than happy with the mid-priced Lenovo laptop I've had for a year or so.

Windows is designed to run on a complicated mix of various OEM parts - that's basically what differentiates it from a Mac. I've been a pretty heavy PC user for many years now and, since about Windows 7, I don't think I've ever had a driver problem, a corrupted file, a system crash, or any of these other things that come up in these threads.

Unfortunately, only Macs come with magsafe power connectors. I think there may be some laptop brands that have a similar magnetic connector, and a few third-party adaptors that perform a similar role, but this might limit your options somewhat.
posted by pipeski at 1:44 PM on May 3, 2019 [1 favorite]


Best answer: I was where you are just 2 years ago. When Microsoft went to Vista from XP I went fully Mac (I work in IT so to have no PCs in my house was a big thing). I ran Mac only from 2007 - 2017. Then it came time to upgrade and I wasn't enthralled with advancements in Macbooks (emoji bar???). So I went to a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 and LOVED it.

I have now phased out all Macs in our house (they were all aged...the Mac Mini I used as a server was the last to go, and I didn't get the new Mac Mini due to the much-increased price).

Every computer we use regularly is a Microsoft Surface. My Surface Book 2 is my go-to machine with incredible speed, battery life, I got the 1TB storage, etc. With the latest Windows 10 release, it is so solid. It doesn't crash. It runs Photoshop and Adobe Premiere (I DO video edit) so well.

I haven't looked back.

The key is--Microsoft Surfaces are like Apple devices. They have limited hardware configurations and are high spec. They run WELL.

Plus I really like the touchscreen features. I'm surprised how often I use it instead of mousing.

So from my personal experience, find the Surface that works best for you based on size, speed, and cost. I'm a total convert.
posted by arniec at 2:03 PM on May 3, 2019 [1 favorite]


I'll comment about hardware. My spouse and I have been a multi-OS household since forever. One thing that we noticed is that my mac laptop is slightly better in a bunch of little ways--the audio hardware is better, the screen is brighter, etc. That's not to say that you couldn't find a windows machine that was equally good at those things, but you have to look for it.
posted by quaking fajita at 3:17 PM on May 3, 2019 [1 favorite]


Whatever I buy has to have a magsafe power cord,
Well, this is gonna be hard for you, then, because nobody adopted that idea except Apple, and Apple abandoned it. It no longer exists in the marketplace to the best of my knowledge.

The Dell XPS 15 is probably the nicest Windows laptop I've ever seen or used, but it still runs Windows so you're still subject to those foibles.
The key is--Microsoft Surfaces are like Apple devices. They have limited hardware configurations and are high spec. They run WELL.
I don't want to start an argument, but this really isn't true. Surface-branded devices have a WIDE range of specs, and many, many of them are utterly insufficient for something like Photoshop. And they still run Windows; there's nothing special about the Surface hardware that makes Windows not be Windows.

If you're not just chomping at the bit & completely sure you want to jump ship, I might wait. AppleWatchers are suggesting new Macbook Pros this summer. I'm a year past my own Mac upgrade cycle because of the keyboard issue, so I'm watching that closely as well.
posted by uberchet at 3:17 PM on May 3, 2019 [1 favorite]


Best answer: What's your budget? Because I would just get a Surface Laptop 2. It will sit on your lap, has the magnetic power adapter, and although I don't have one, I have heard they are really dope.

I was a longtime Microsoft/Windows user, and had to use Macs for work. I have obtained two separate MacBook Airs from jobs that I left, so I have been using Macs as my laptops for years, and then Windows 7 on my desktop. My personal opinion is that Macs are harder to do work on - everything just kind of floats around chaotically or is hidden away. Navigating between tasks is messy. I find Windows is much more organized for multitasking and does a better job or organizing my files and allowing me to work through folders of pictures, etc. Some people seem to be extremely pro Mac - I don't know why Mac has inspired this sort of religious devotion, but they have - but there are clearly benefits and drawbacks to each, so it'll come down to your preferences.

Well, this is gonna be hard for you, then, because nobody adopted that idea except Apple, and Apple abandoned it. It no longer exists in the marketplace to the best of my knowledge.

The Microsoft Surface has a version of it that not only charges, but can transfer data. It's obviously not called "magsafe" but it's basically what it is.
posted by AppleTurnover at 3:42 PM on May 3, 2019 [1 favorite]


Best answer: After being an Apple loyalist for years and years as well, my last laptop purchase for myself was a Lenovo Thinkpad (X1 Carbon). I love it honestly and haven't really had any issues. I dual boot Windows for Photoshop, and Linux for every day desktop. I'm not in love with Windows but it's perfectly fine for working, PS is exactly the same.

My X1 Carbon is sort of equivalent to a Macbook Air but the screen is larger, all the specs are better, it's user serviceable, it has USB A & C, an internal 4G antenna, and somehow it is a pound lighter than the Airs. Mine's fine for PS (i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, SSD) but I use external monitors for working.

Well, this is gonna be hard for you, then, because nobody adopted that idea except Apple, and Apple abandoned it. It no longer exists in the marketplace to the best of my knowledge.

I can't find a link for it at the moment but there are/were third parties making a USB-C version, which would work on anything really.
posted by bradbane at 4:04 PM on May 3, 2019 [2 favorites]


Best answer: Echoing I love my surface book 2, and I bought it because it is more sturdy than the surface pros and will sit in my lap without the screen backwards or forwards. The powerstrip is a magnetic attachment.
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:41 PM on May 3, 2019


Best answer: Macbook Pros and Surface Book 2s satisfy all your requirements (MagSafe, portable, 15", lap-friendly, Photoshop-friendly). The other laptops below are the same, but don't have a MagSafe-type charger. If you're intent on switching, Surface Book 2 is your best bet, then maybe the Dell XPS, probably because the larger-feeling screen will be more to your liking.

- Dell XPS
- HP Spectre 360
- Lenovo Yoga C930
- Huawai Matebook X Pro

I'm of the opinion that, assuming shit doesn't hit the fan, MacOS and Windows pretty much do the same things you want it to do, especially if you have cloud services that are cross-platform. Bugs, software running, etc., feels like anecdotal evidence; I've had friends on both sides tell me how shitty their respective computers are. Pretty much choose a laptop whose user experience, and you're cool with the OS and its particular software and quirks.

I know the price is killing ya on the Surface Book 2, so I see two options to a lower price:
- Dig for a gently used one on Craigslist on the cheap (like I did)
- Wait. The SB2 (released Oct. 2017) has been running on two year refresh cycles, so a SB3 should drop this October 2019, which would drop the Surface Book 2 going price.
posted by galleta monster at 10:44 PM on May 3, 2019


Best answer: There are several third-party USB-C cables with a magnetic connection designed for the newer MacBooks (but should work with other computers, too).

Here’s an article that lists five options:
“How to Get MagSafe on your New MacBook Pro”
posted by D.C. at 4:13 AM on May 4, 2019 [1 favorite]


In my opinion the 2015-era MacBook Pro is a better buy than the current line of MBPs. It has USB-3 ports, SD card slot, the magsafe connector, and an SSD. Purchased brand new at B&H Photo within the last five months.
posted by yclipse at 4:48 AM on May 4, 2019


I made this swap a couple of years ago, from being Mac-only for years and years to being a PC-desktop, PC-laptop person. Honestly I've regretted it ever since.

Luckily for me (but not for my wallet), after months of power cords failing and the screen slowly glitching out, my HP Spectre 360 15-inch recently bricked itself completely. Three days after it went out of warranty. I replaced it with a MacBook Pro the same day, and it's like I can breathe again.

I've just been in the Mac ecosystem too long - the switch to Windows was too hard. Day to day, a thousand things that I would just do automatically on a Mac required me to pause and remember how to do them each time. Everything was just harder and less intuitive.

YMMV, of course. But I would just get a nicer Mac instead of switching to Windows for taht reason.
posted by invincible summer at 4:45 PM on May 4, 2019 [2 favorites]


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