Need Remote Desktop/Accounting Laptop: UPDATE bought Surface Book

[drbrock]

I am selling my ipad pro 12.9 and contemplating getting a surface pro 4 or a laptop.

It will mostly be used in travel and client meetings. For example I am going to india for a few weeks in December and need to work while there. Ipad can't really do that effectively since there isnt mouse support.

Most of the time I will be in remote desktop through google. I also thinking of potentially using it for note taking with stylus. Main purpose will be excel and quickbooks with basic multi tasking. I don't really need tons of storage.

My friend loves his surface pro 4. Would I be better off with something cheap like this?
http://www.officedepot.com/a/produc.../?cm_mmc=Affiliates-_-CJ-_-1122587-_-11263938

Or should I spend the extra few hundred and get the surface pro 4?

Tough call for me.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I wouldn't get that laptop without an SSD.

You'll probably be happier in the long run with a Surface Pro.

 

[drbrock]

Thanks Dave

Pulled the trigger on a Surface Book i5 from Costco. The surface pro I was worried about working on it for extended periods of time. I need more of a laptop than a tablet.

I was tempted to get an HP Spectre 15 but I don't think the larger size will make that much of a difference since SB is 3:2. Also never had much luck with HP. Their products are great for a year then quickly drop off.

Maybe their quality has gone up a lot in recent years... but the 500 I would have saved now I would kicking myself in 2018.

 

[giantpandaman2]

Hope you like it. I have a SB and have loved it so far. 2 things that help a lot.

Fn + del/backspace increase/lower brightness of screen.

Leaving wifi on eats battery life more than anything else. I'm guessing it's due to the all metal chassis and how much that attenuates the signal. In any case, I put on airplane mode whenever I don't need wifi and get much better battery life. 16+ hours if I'm just plugging away with word @ 50% brightness.

Only used distilled water or lens cleaner to clean the screen. (Alcohol will destroy the touchscreen!)

 

[drbrock]

Thanks for the heads up on the lens cleaner.

I am having somewhat buyers remorse by not going with the HP Spectre since it was cheaper. I really don't like HP but value and performance is so much better. Really hoping the SB blows me away when I finally receive it.

 

[giantpandaman2]

Thanks for the heads up on the lens cleaner.

I am having somewhat buyers remorse by not going with the HP Spectre since it was cheaper. I really don't like HP but value and performance is so much better. Really hoping the SB blows me away when I finally receive it.

I have serious doubts on any consumer HP's longevity and their service. Everyone I know who's had an HP, even high end ones, had problems with throttling, breaking down, etc. SB costs more, sure, but the fact it'll probably last you 5+ years without any issue is a huuuuuuge plus. Also: No crapware installed.

 

[drbrock]

That is what I am betting on. For anyone who is in the market. Costco black friday is doing 250 off surfacebook and surface pro 4. There will most likely be better deals out there but I wanted the four year warranty.

 

[sdifox]

That is what I am betting on. For anyone who is in the market. Costco black friday is doing 250 off surfacebook and surface pro 4. There will most likely be better deals out there but I wanted the four year warranty.

Link on four year warranty? I only see two on costco.com

 

[giantpandaman2]

Link on four year warranty? I only see two on costco.com

If you use the Costco Visa card it doubles your warranty.

 

[sdifox]

If you use the Costco Visa card it doubles your warranty.

Ah ok thanks.

 

[Commodus]

That is what I am betting on. For anyone who is in the market. Costco black friday is doing 250 off surfacebook and surface pro 4. There will most likely be better deals out there but I wanted the four year warranty.

We have yet to see how the Surface Book lasts in the long run, but it's promising. I'm a Mac man, but the Surface Book is one of the few Windows laptops I'd get if I was going to switch or add. It's well-designed, it's unique, and it has clean software. Now if we could only get virtually every other Windows OEM to resist that "race to the bottom" mentality that leads to crappy quality and bloatware...

 

[sdifox]

We have yet to see how the Surface Book lasts in the long run, but it's promising. I'm a Mac man, but the Surface Book is one of the few Windows laptops I'd get if I was going to switch or add. It's well-designed, it's unique, and it has clean software. Now if we could only get virtually every other Windows OEM to resist that "race to the bottom" mentality that leads to crappy quality and bloatware...

Except bloatware is a source of income.