Hi all, My brother is going to Uni to study CS this October and he needs a laptop. I don't know what he's looking to spend exactly, but I'd think ~£400 is about right (I don't think he can pay much more). He is a gamer so I thought just taking a desktop would suit him better but he's been asking around and apparently a laptop is almost mandatory. Key points: Would need to be reasonably reliable/robust. Needs to be easy to do work on. Portability is also a bonus. I think a low end desktop-replacement would suffice but if there are oher more portable options then those would be good too. I don't think processing power is really too important for his needs. So if you could throw me some suggestions to present to him then that would be good! Also, where is the best place to buy?
As a comp sci student myself at university, who had a laptop for a number of years. I would suggest something that is out of his budget, but recommend him saving for. The Surface Pro. He will have courses that he needs to do math, or write formulas, or have diagrams to draw in his notes. A laptop is no good for this. The Surface Pro series, offers him a laptop (the keyboard, despite small, has very close to the same size as a normal desktop keyboard, so it's easy to type on (at least for me), and get used to), and then he can switch to tablet mode, and using the pen (the GOOD pen technology. Offers palm rejection, pressure sensitivity, and detect hover of the pen on the screen without touching), to write these notes. But sadly, no gaming. Well.. it's Intel integrated graphics, so gaming will run, but limited performance. It is expected that the Surface Pro 4 be released with Windows 9 and Intel next gen CPU which will consume less power, and create less heat, and be more powerful. Intel makes it seams that now they are a bit more serious in their integrated GPU, so if this is not marketing crap and true, then it could be interesting. If he can't wait a semester or so, for the new Surface Pro, and the current out Pro 3 is too pricey, maybe have a look at the older Pro 2 (same CPU, but dual heatsink instead of one (yes, the reverse), larger as well, as the system is thicker. Pen is from Wacom and needs calibration to your handwritten style, unlike N-Trig (that is what the Pro 3 has), but the pen requires no battery, and more responsive, a bit less battery life, despite thicker device, and 2 position kickstand only, but hey it is cheaper. I have the Pro 2). Watch out for specials and student specials for the Surface Pro 2 (if still being sold at the Microsoft Store) and Pro 3. Students gets 10% off the device and keyboard. Another advantage of waiting is beside getting the money for it, potentially, he can see what he really needs. If he evaluates that he doesn't need the pen and all that, based on his note taking skills and how he studies, then he can use the funds in getting a better laptop instead.
Yep, I can see the logic in that. The only problem with waiting is that currently neither his desktop or netbook are running. I could fix one or the other but that would most likely mean forking out for a new hard drive and both are pretty old (especially the desktop). So he'd be without a computer for a while(although he seems fine with that atm since he just uses his phone). How much of a theft risk do they present?
The Surface Pro line? I don't know. But I would expect it to be less than Apple. Apple are known to have a high resale value and sold very easily. PCs absolutely not. The Surface Pro probably lies in between the 2, probably closer to PCs. Looking at ebay, they seam to sale at near full price, but I don't know how quick and easily they are actually sold. As the device is thin and light, especially the Pro 3 being lighter than the MacBook Air, with its keyboard addon (which is a must for the Pro line), he can always carry it with him, and reduce the chance of theft. If the HDD is busted on his desktop, can't you get him some old HDD that you have around. I know I have a bunch. They are total crap (120GB HDD, 250GB HDD, etc), but it is something. Or I would look at the cheapest 7200RPM HDD that money can buy.
The only thing I have is a 128GB IDE (I don't seem to collect HDDs like other people do). Although you have reminded me that I have my spare machine, so I can lend him that. What are the advantages of the later models?
Surface Pro 1 -> initial release Surface Pro 2 -> Dual position kick-stand -> Intel 4th gen Haswell Core i5 U series CPU (1.6GHz base clock (U4200), and later upgraded to 1.9GHz (U4300)) -> More drive capacity, and 8GB of RAM option -> Longer battery life and cooler and quieter operation (due to the Haswell CPU) -> Slightly improved display (color accuracy) Surface Pro 3 -> Larger at 12inch, and paper aspect ratio, and not 16:9 or 16:10, for improve note taken via the pen. -> Thinner and much lighter -> Improved battery life, due to a larger battery -> Med range mode has the same CPU as the Surface Pro 2 rev 2 (U4300) -> new cheaper Core i3 option (no Turbo boost on that i3's, and lower end Intel GPU), and new i7 option -> Due to the single heatsink design and thinner, compared to the Pro 2 and 1, it is easier to reach max temperature and have the CPU start throttling. This problem is worrisome if you plan to play demanding (for the Intel graphic solution) PC games on it. The system was designed in mind, not for gaming purposes, but rather provide you bursts of high performance instead. So that is a downside to consider. The Pro 4, with the Intel next generation CPU, which is expected to lower CPU power requirement quite a bit, should rectify this problem, much like the Pro 2 did from the Pro 1. -> Infinite position kick-stand -> N-Trig pen instead of Wacom (I'll get to that) -> Higher resolution, but the very close to the same PPI as the Surface Pro 1 and 2. So text and icons are close to the the same size from the Pro 1 and 2, which features a 1080p display. The Pro 3 has a 2160x440 resolution display -> Silver/magnesium color makes it harder to show small scratches. Oh yes, a precaution, the Surface Pro line body is painted due to the magnesium construct body. The metal can't be dyed (well, it probably can, but wont' look nice, hence why all manufactures always paint the casing when using a magnesium body). So it is not a device you want to put on a table, face the metal. You have to put it on the side where the cover is, or get a protective casing. Paint will scratch easily. -> Improved dock station (if you are interested in that) -> Improved power connector (easier to plug then the Pro 1 and 2, and the plug is in plastic now, so it wont' scratch the device if you put it wrong). You have to aim and place on the Pro 1 and 2, sadly. Not the end of the world, but annoying if you want to go fast, assuming you don't want to scratch the device with the metal connector. Now it is not a worry). -> Keyboard keys are the same size as the Pro 1, and 2 covers. -> Improved track pad on the keyboard. Larger, tactile feel, and smoother to slide your finger. What's expected by me, personally, on the Pro 4. -> Intel next gen CPU -> Larger keyboard that is truly the same size as a full size keyboard keys, as there is the room. If you look at the TypeCover pictures of the Pro 3 you can see there is room for that. -> Improved battery life due to the new CPU -> MAYBE, just MAYBE a second USB plug, if the integration of more component in the CPU in Intel next gen CPU allows for Microsoft to add a second port somewhere on the system board. -> 4K 60Hz support by the Intel GPU (currently the i5 of the Pro 2 and 3, is 4K 30Hz max, and 2560x1600 at 60Hz for the Core i3 for the Pro 3) -> maybe some small improvements in the device. -> maybe, improved display (you can always improve it). A big problem with tablet IPS displays is back light bleeding is a common thing and is excepted to have. Hopefully, there will be a manufacture that offers one with less, and Microsoft gets it. Pen technology difference. N-Trig vs Wacom -> Wacom is designed for drawing and not provide the needed precision for writhing. Hence why you need to calibrate it. Especially that the entire pen is being tracked, and we all have different size hands and write differently. -> N-Trig is designed for writhing. No calibration really needed to get started. However, drawing with it, fast, will show it's slow responsive time, and trouble keeping up, especially if you draw a circle fast (it will show sides, and wont' be perfectly round, like Wacom will get you) -> N-Trig support 256 level of pressure sensitivity. Wacom will get you 1024 level in the Surface Pro 1 and 2. Again, showing the focus of Wacom on drawing. -> N-Trig pen requires a battery. It needs a AAAA (yes 4, not 3, A's), and has no battery indicator anywhere. So carry a second battery with you. It supposed to last a couple of month the battery. Wacom doesn't need a battery. The N-Trig pen on the Surface Pro 3 also has the "OneNote button", which starts OneNote when pressed. That button is a separate remote in the pen, and has it's own battery. It uses a standard small button cell battery. As it's a remote, expect it to last a very long time, especially that you don't normally hit is a billion times, within a few months. -> Pen nibs for Wacom last longer then the N-trig. N-trig one, if you write a lot, needs to be changed. Thankfully, Microsoft provides them for free if it wares out, just by calling for support. However, I don't know if its free because you are under warranty or not. They are changed easily on both pen technology, you just pull on them. You may need a pair of pliers to get a proper grip, or use your teeth, but you can pull out the old one, and slide in the new one. -> When you hover the pen on the screen, Wacom tracks 1:1. However, it lags with N-Trig, due to the power saving feature (which can't be disabled) from the pen, to converse battery. It's not a problem when writhing, however. -> Palm rejection with Wacom kicks-in earlier than N-Trig, as it is able to detect the pen from a larger distance then N-Trigs. -> Wacom pens are not great at corners as the pen is off screen, and can't be properly tracked. Not an issue for N-Trig. -> N-Trig technology allows the screen to be thinner, allowing the thin form factor of the Pro 3. So, as you can see, both technologies have their ups and downs. Microsoft does pick the best available technology of both, so you won't fight with the pen like other devices, and provides you with a high resolution tracking of the pen as well. Again, no cheapening out. Hope this helps.
You can pick up the Surface 2 Pro for a song now, I got a brand new sealed 256GB model with Type Cover 2 for £500 last week.
