Should I get a Mac or Surfacebook?

Im a pre-med student getting a new laptop. I have it narrowed down to a mac or a surfacebook. I use OneNote a lot in class to take notes on my laptop, and I like the idea that with the surfacebook's touchscreen I would be able to draw science diagrams directly into my notes. I will be doing a ton of research/writing lots of papers, and have been told that since the surfacebook is a Windows product that it would be more compatible with Microsoft word, as well as sites I might be useing to do research. However, surfacebook is more susceptible to viruses and Im worried that with all my research this might be an issue (but my school offers free malware). I am also worried that after spending good money on the surfacebook that in a year or two it will be slow and I'll need to buy another computer. My school does offer computer support but the surfacebook would have less support than the mac because it is a 2 in 1 (laptop/tablet). On the other hand, mac is known for NOT having problems with viruses, but also doesnt have a touchscreen. While I would really like a touchscreen, I could get around this possibly by drawing diagrams on paper and then taking a picture of it and inserting the picture into my notes. I know mac also has some compatibility issues, but I understand this is getting better and mac now has Microsoft word. I know macs are also more geared towards graphic design students as they excel at the graphics and have iMovie. Which would be better for me to get and last me the longest? I do not care about weather or not my laptop has a popular brand name or not, as I just need the best one that works for me and what I will be doing for school.

 

It is not true that Windows devices get slow after a few years as Microsoft has a good record of supporting the oldest hardware if you pay for their OS. It is a false belief that Apple's MAC is virus free. There are a lot of Mac-infecting vIruses as well. You should probably use a Cloud based storage service to keep you Important Data Safe. MAC's are really great for editing Photos and videos. Windows has a great range of applications that are very relatable and important for your Medical future. If you ask e I would stick with a Windows PC. I have heard a lot of people complaining about the hardware issues they are facing on the Surface Book. My best advice is that you should get a Surface Pro 4. These things have great reviews and are tested to work great. Surfacebook is in its first generation and it still needs to improve. My Brother is a Doctor and he prefers a Windows PC over a MAC for all his daily tasks. Because the Surface Pro4 runs on Windows 10 all Windows applications can be run on it and it also has some great editing and Graphics creation application and the stylus helps a lot.Good Luck.

 

I might be biased since I am using a Surface Pro 4 to your question at this moment.

Since I got my Surface Pro 4 in last October, I am totally in love (nothing weird) with it, haha!
As a long time Windows user, this is just another Windows computer, but with touchscreen, super light, super thin, and it is a full laptop and a large size tablet in one device. Depend on if you want to detach the keyboard or not, and use it in tablet mode or in laptop mode.

If you are used to Windows based computers, then in my opinion it is just another reason you should stay with Windows. You might even have trouble to use a Mac with its OSX.

Do not worry about viruses. Viruses are for the careless people who go to questionable web sites, and click on links they are not supposed to click in emails, etc. It is really hard to get any virus at all if you do not go around checking out porn sites or other weird stuff. Or download a bunch of files from various places.

Beside play safe, you can always pick the best security software. On my Surface Pro 4 for example, right now I am using a combo of Kaspersky internet security + Malwarebytes. They are the best.

I have also need to point out that the touchscreen is very useful. It is the way of future. When my mother wanted me to fix something on her old laptop, I found myself keep touching the screen... lol... without any effect of course.

By the way, if you read custom reviews on Amazon about Surface Pro 3 or 4, there are some students saying great things about it. It basically can act as your text books, notes, both a laptop and a tablet. You will love it, I guarantee you. Too bad I have graduated years ago... back then I was still using my 8-pound Dell Vostro 1500... Only if I had Surface Pro 4 back the...

 

Very good insight! Io was originally thinking about the surface pro 4...but in my lecture halls we have tiny tables that are not very sturdy, so I thought the surface pro having a kick stand might not be the best for that environment...which is why I thought the surfacebook would be better. What are your thoughts on this? Is the surface pro or surfacebook better for that environment? And which would be better for me?

Also, after doing some research, I am no longer worried about the Windows getting viruses easier than the mac. It sounds like, if I use common since I will be fine. The only reservation I have with the windows is that its user interface looks cheaper compared to the mac. Since I will be paying about the same price, would it be better to go with mac for a better looking user interface (and get around not having a touchscreen by taking pics of diagrams and putting them in my notes), or would it be better to go with window's cheaper looking interface as it has the touchscreen (but is the touchscreen really as useful as it sounds)?

 

Really good advice. I was originally thinking about the surface pro 4...but in my lecture halls we have tiny tables that are not very sturdy, so I thought the surface pro having a kick stand might not be the best for that environment. So I thought the surfacebook would be better for that environment as it doesn't have a kick stand. What are your thoughts on this? Is the surface pro or surfacebook better for that environment? And which would be better for me?
Also, after doing some research, I am no longer worried about the Windows getting viruses easier than the mac. It sounds like, if I use common since I will be fine. The only reservation I have with the windows is that its user interface looks cheaper compared to the mac. Since I will be paying about the same price, would it be better to go with mac for a better looking user interface (and get around not having a touchscreen by taking pics of diagrams and putting them in my notes), or would it be better to go with window's cheaper looking interface as it has the touchscreen (but is the touchscreen really as useful as it sounds)?

 

One of the main advantages the surface book has on its competitor is the fact that Microsoft managed to fit a GPU into a 13 inch laptop. That is one big advantage you're getting for the same price. Plus, that along with OpenGL working on Windows is way better than D3D will ever work on a Mac. That's two big advantages for the same price.

 

It depends on what you really want.
Surface Pro 4 is slightly smaller than Surface book, but a lot lighter, as well as cheaper. Do you really need the extra 1.2" screen size? For the price of extra a few hundred dollars and one extra pound of weight?

If you are a gamer, maybe the GPU in Surface book will helped a little, but from what I have tried on my Surface Pro 4, gaming isn't too bad at all.

Yes, touchscreen is very useful. Once you get used to it, you will feel other input methods are inferior. Although a mouse might still have its place in some software.

Kick stand is a downside, I agree. We can't have everything perfect, can we?

 

I just find that Apple products are so much more smoother when it comes to performance. Not to mention that they are way more secure. If you are doing professional work on your laptop then you shouldn’t settle for anything under a Mac.

Every other PC or laptop that I have ever owned crashed. I would have tons of files that I still needed disappear forever in a moment. I have been team Apple ever since.

 

What do you mean by "crashed"? Did all of the hard drives in all of your laptops die on you? Every single one of them? How is that possible?

If so, it is just bad luck. I haven't had any internal hard drive die on me. Only one external backup drive died on me in over two decades.
Besides, these days all the latest laptops use Solid State Drive which can't "crash" at all since there is no moving part.

Smoother when it comes to performance? Performance in which software? Mac uses the same CPU, RAM, hard drives, etc. as PCs. I do not see them having superior computer parts when it comes to similar price range. How can they be smoother without having superior hard drive?

As for professional work, I know more artists type of professions use Mac due to the availability of specialized software (in the past... nowadays it does not matter any more), but beyond that it is just the matter of personal preference.

 

My recommendation is Macbook because it's lightweight and best for college. So go with Macbook.

 

While a Macbook is lighter than a Surface Book. 2.03 pounds vs. 3.34 pounds. Surface book can detach its keyboard and only weight 1.6 pounds afterward.
A Surface book is also a lot more powerful than a Macbook in term of processing power.

Then again, I'd still go for a Surface Pro 4 instead at 1.733 pounds. Well, I did it already in last October.

As for "best for college", I think it is just another personal preference. Why is it the best for college? Very few college computers are Macs. So the software compatibility issue would be minimal with Windows based PCs.

With a Surface, you can use it as text books, do homework, and a note book where you can directly write on it with a pen. So far Macbook still do not have touchscreen which is the biggest let down if you ask me.

 

I think you have to decide what's more important to you. Do you want the convenience of drawing your notes in class? The Surface Book would be easier to use for that particular purpose. If you want to do that on a Mac, you would have to get a Wacom (or some equivalent) and a drawing app/photoshop. Or do you want a better protected computer that will last you a couple years? While Macs can get malware and viruses, it's less likely on a Mac. As for Microsoft Word, there is a Mac compatible Word that works just the same. So don't worry about that. I personally really like that you can buy a three year protection plan on Macs that cover everything. My Mac was two and half years old when it needed fixed up, I didn't have to pay a thing. Plus the Genius bar helps you trouble shoot if you have trouble with your computer. So that might be something to consider since just getting your laptop fixed anywhere else can cost about seventy dollars just to look at it.

 

Well, OneNote is available on Macs, but as you mentioned they lack a touchscreen.

I think you left the iPad pro out but it really sounds like something that you should consider if you really want to go Apple, specially the small one, I would go with the Surface because it is much more versatile, you can install a lot of programs and the iPad is somehow limited, but for taking notes OneNote + the apple pencil is a wonderful combination, much more expensive though.