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Surface Pro 4 questions
Posted on 10/6/15 at 8:42 pm
Posted on 10/6/15 at 8:42 pm
The $899 model has an Intel M processor and tops off at 4GB RAM. But if you want to upgrade to the i5 processor and 8GB RAM, the price jumps up to $1299.
Just wondering, what tasks can the base model handle without issues and at what point should you consider upgrading to more RAM and a more powerful processor? Will the base model be able to handle huge spreadsheets with >10,000 lines of data, pivot tables, power pivot slicers etc.? Or does that call for stepping up to the more powerful model?
Just wondering, what tasks can the base model handle without issues and at what point should you consider upgrading to more RAM and a more powerful processor? Will the base model be able to handle huge spreadsheets with >10,000 lines of data, pivot tables, power pivot slicers etc.? Or does that call for stepping up to the more powerful model?
2
Posted on 10/6/15 at 9:21 pm to euphemus
All models aren't available for preorder. At some point, you should be able to customize it a little more.
The I5 with 4gb is $999.00. I too would like to know how the base model performs.
I'm fighting myself to keep from purchasing anything until actual reviews and testing comes out.
The I5 with 4gb is $999.00. I too would like to know how the base model performs.
I'm fighting myself to keep from purchasing anything until actual reviews and testing comes out.
This post was edited on 10/6/15 at 9:22 pm
Posted on 10/6/15 at 11:15 pm to TigerMyth36
Me too brother. Been waiting for so long for it to get announced, have to wait a little longer
Posted on 10/7/15 at 8:24 am to TigerMyth36
quote:
I'm fighting myself to keep from purchasing anything until actual reviews and testing comes out.
I'm gonna try and hold off too. Also, after the SP3 came out, a few months later they started offering the bundle, which included the keyboard, cover, and Office at a discount. It doesn't look like they're going to offer that yet, so I might wait until they do
Posted on 10/7/15 at 10:46 am to euphemus
The real question is the sort of overlap of the SP4 and the Surface Book. What's really the difference between the SP4 and the Surface Book if you get a lower end SB that doesn't have the dedicated graphics card?
Example:
1) Surface Pro 4 @ 256gb/i5/8gb ram = 1299$
2) Surface Book @ 256gb/i5/8gb ram = 1699$
So the only difference there is a slightly larger screen and a more dedicated keyboard for 400$ difference? Yikes.
Example:
1) Surface Pro 4 @ 256gb/i5/8gb ram = 1299$
2) Surface Book @ 256gb/i5/8gb ram = 1699$
So the only difference there is a slightly larger screen and a more dedicated keyboard for 400$ difference? Yikes.
This post was edited on 10/7/15 at 10:53 am
Posted on 10/7/15 at 11:42 am to TigerMyth36
quote:
The I5 with 4gb is $999.00. I too would like to know how the base model performs.
Just from reading the specs of the M3, I think it's going to perform like the i3 of the SP3, or perhaps better, but only when it really needs to (or maybe a better phrase is "only when it can"). The difference between the Core M series and the i5/i3s in Surface Pros is how it boosts. The i5 is going to stay at constant clocks under load assuming it's cooled effectively, where as the Core M3 is much like an i5 or i3 that's been given an extremely strict set of rules regarding how much power it can use and how hot it can get.
The PC/tablet OEMs set these power/thermal targets, so it can vary from unit to unit. Not that the Core i chips aren't subject to the same set of limitations, but they are spec'd for devices with active cooling, hence the higher base clock, which is a more important number than the boost clock. I believe the M3 SP4 is going to be passively cooled, so the jury's still out on how the chip will perform (plus, the M3s are new. Only last-gen core M's have been field tested and benchmarked so far).
To be honest, the price difference between the M3/4GB/128GB and i5/4GB/128GB is so small that I'd just go for the i5 unless the slightly longer battery and passive cooling is an attractive feature and your use won't extend beyond browsing, tablet games, netflix/youtube, and Office. It's odd to see it in the Surface Pro, a machine meant for real productivity. If I were buying a SP4, I'd get the i5/8GB/256GB -- well, if the customization page would let me, I'd drop down to the 128GB SSD to save some dollars. (Seriously, the customization is a joke. Can't get a bigger SSD if you only get 4GB of RAM? Only the 256GB SSD is available with the i7 unless you get 16GB of RAM, yet the 512GB is available with the i5? And why is it $400 to go from 256GB to 512GB?)
Posted on 10/7/15 at 12:08 pm to DoubleDown
quote:
1) Surface Pro 4 @ 256gb/i5/8gb ram = 1299$
2) Surface Book @ 256gb/i5/8gb ram = 1699$
So the only difference there is a slightly larger screen and a more dedicated keyboard for 400$ difference? Yikes.
You aren't adding in the extra cost of the SP4 keyboard. That would bring that device up to $1430.
The SB also will theoretically have ~30% more battery life with the keyboard attached. 3 more hours of battery life could be important for some people.
At the end of the day, these devices are for different people. If you want a tablet that can sometimes be a laptop, choose the SP4. If you want a laptop that can occasionally be a tablet, choose the SB. If you need ultra long battery life and don't mind having the laptop deck attached, choose the SB.
The biggest killer for me with the SB is that supposedly the tablet itself is limited to 3 hrs of battery life. There has been some rumors that it's 6 hrs, but it looks more and more likely that it's only 3 hrs.
Posted on 10/7/15 at 12:10 pm to jturn17
quote:
jturn17
Valid points.
quote:
The biggest killer for me with the SB is that supposedly the tablet itself is limited to 3 hrs of battery life. There has been some rumors that it's 6 hrs, but it looks more and more likely that it's only 3 hrs.
I saw that you could take the Surface part away from the SB. However, I can't actually imagine doing this in real life where I wouldn't just spin it around.
Posted on 10/7/15 at 12:30 pm to DoubleDown
quote:Yeah, you're probably right, but it's more inconvenient to just sit on the couch with an inch thick "tablet" rather than a 1/4 inch thick tablet. Not that sitting on the couch with my tablet is my primary usage, there are far cheaper devices for that, but it's concern for traveling/recreational use.
I saw that you could take the Surface part away from the SB. However, I can't actually imagine doing this in real life where I wouldn't just spin it around.
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