Apple New 12-in MacBook vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 3

 By: TECHTOWN    10:53:00 PM  No comments

New 12-in MacBook vs. Surface Pro 3

Most of us thought a MacBook Air with Retina Display would have arrived long before 2015, but that's how long Apple took getting this bad boy ready. How does Apple's new MacBook ("Air" and "Retina" in everything but name) stack up next to the Surface Pro 3? Let's compare their features and specs.

Size

Heights are very close, and the Surface Pro 3 is 4 percent longer.

At first glance, the Surface looks to be thinner than the MacBook, but this spec only includes the Surface in tablet mode (while the MacBook's measurement is for a folded shut notebook). When you add the Surface's keyboard, it measures about 6 percent thicker than the MacBook.

This plays along with a trick that often pops up in Microsoft's Surface advertising: counting only the tablet in the areas where that makes it look good (like pricing, thickness and weight), but adding the keyboard cover everywhere else (like when advertising its 2-in-1 productivity nature). The bottom line is the Surface's keyboard is an essential part of the equation, and will be attached to the device any time you aren't actively using it in tablet mode.

Weight

Here too the Surface's spec sheet makes it look like the lighter device, but once you add its keyboard cover (the way you'll almost certainly carry it around in a bag), you'll see that it's actually 19 percent heavier than the new MacBook.

Build

Both machines have high-end designs, with the MacBook's aluminum unibody vs. the Surface's magnesium chassis.

Colors

For the first time, a modern MacBook is being sold in different colors. We're looking at the same silver, gold and space gray options that you can choose from with the latest iPhones and iPads.

Display (size)

Not all 12-in displays are created equal, as the Surface's 3:2 aspect ratio (vs. the MacBook's 16:10) makes it almost 3 percent bigger.

Display (resolution)

Pixel densities are close, with the MacBook measuring about 5 percent sharper. At the distance that laptops typically sit from your eyes, both screens will look very crisp.

In tablet mode, where it will sit closer to your eyes, the Surface will show its pixels a bit more. That's something the MacBook doesn't have to worry about.

Display (type)

Both machines have IPS panels.

Touch screen (and tablet mode)

Apple still believes a great trackpad and keyboard are the best ways to control a notebook (and it's hard to argue with that logic). With that said, it can be handy to have a touchscreen on a device like the Surface, even in laptop mode.

Pen input

Part of that is due to the Surface's bundled pen. More than a stylus, the N-Trig-powered Surface Pen provides some of the most natural digital inking around. If you're a OneNote user, it also has a nifty shortcut built into its cap: one click of the top end opens Microsoft's Evernote rival.

Trackpad (material)

In addition to being bigger, the MacBook's trackpad is also made of a much more solid-feeling glass. The Surface keyboard cover has a smaller plastic touchpad.

Trackpad (pressure-sensitivity)

If you've ever used a recent MacBook, then you're well familiar with clicking the trackpad, as it physically presses down in a see-saw motion. With the new MacBook, though, Apple is replacing that physical movement with a pressure-sensitive touch mechanism, using the same "force touch" and haptic feedback tech we'll soon see on the Apple Watch.

Storage

You'll want to keep this in mind when you look at pricing, as the entry-level MacBook gives you four times the internal storage of the entry-level Surface.

MicroSD

The MacBook, though, doesn't give you any options for augmenting its storage with an SD card. The Surface has a discreet microSD slot that can go a long way in expanding that internal storage (128 GB microSDs reportedly work just fine in the SP3).

USB ports

This is by far the biggest reason to hesitate about the new MacBook. Yes, Apple is boldly attempting to push us all into the future by reducing the new MacBook's ports to a lone USB Type C port (much like it pushed us into a world without optical drives with the original MacBook Air).

BUT … right now this is going to be a big compromise. All of your USB 2/3 accessories – be it external hard drives, SD readers or DVD burners? You won't be able to use any of them without an adapter. That isn't a huge hassle or expense, mind you, but it is one more thing to think about (and bring with you on trips).

And since that lone port also doubles as a charging port, you can forget about doing a physical Time Machine backup while charging (unless perhaps you use a USB splitter, along with an adapter). Ditto for making large photo transfers from a camera's SD card while charging. Apple will, of course, recommend that you opt for wireless solutions, including its (rather expensive) routers to charge while making wireless Time Machine backups.

No matter how you slice it, this is one of the biggest categories you'll want to think about before throwing down for the MacBook. How do you use your notebook? How many accessories do you use with it? And are you willing to buy adapters for all of them, and add that to your upfront cost?

Video out

That USB-C port is natively compatible with DisplayPort for video out. USB Type C is a terrific new technology that can reduce port and cable clutter down to a single standard. But until these devices and cables become ubiquitous, it's going to make for a rocky transition.

Battery

Apple is estimating the same 9 hours of web use that Microsoft tosses up for the Surface. That's a few hours off the estimates for the most recent 13-in MacBook Air.

Cameras

Apple is actually using a lower-resolution webcam than it has on any of its recent MacBooks (they've been 720p for quite some time). Perhaps this was a necessary sacrifice in the name of appeasing the gods of light and thin.

Processor

The MacBook's Core M Broadwell chip is a big reason for its combination of light, thin and "Retina."

In addition to the standard configurations listed here, Apple also gives you a couple more made-to-order processor options that aren't shown in this visual.

Graphics

Both machines use integrated Intel graphics.

RAM

8 GB of RAM is standard on the MacBook, while only the more expensive tiers of the Surface jump up to 8 GB.

LTE

Unless you're talking about ARM-based ones, laptops still aren't LTE affairs. If you're an iPhone owner, though, Apple makes it very easy to set up a personal hotspot for your MacBook, without even touching your phone.

Software

The new MacBook ships with OS X Yosemite, including some new software tweaks to accommodate for Force Touch gestures on its trackpad. The Surface runs Windows 8.1 Pro, and will get a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it launches.

Release

Remember that we're comparing Apple's 2015 flagship notebook to Microsoft's 2014 2-in-1. We could very well see a new Surface around three months from now.

Starting price

Even with its keyboard included (which is the only sensible way to look at its pricing), the entry-level Surface is US$370 cheaper than the entry-level MacBook. Of course that cheaper price only gets you 64 GB of internal storage and an underpowered Core i3 processor. For a more capable 128 GB/i5 Surface, you're looking at $1,130 – inching a bit closer to the 256 GB MacBook's price tag.

courtesy by gizmag

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Samsung Galaxy (edge) 6 vs.Apple iPhone 6

 By: TECHTOWN    9:11:00 PM  No comments

Samsung Galaxy S6 (and GS6 edge) vs. iPhone 6

As recently as a year ago, iPhone vs. Galaxy showdowns required you to choose between premium builds and big screens. But now that the iPhone has a spacious screen, and the Galaxy has a high-end build, you're going to have to base your decision on other factors. Let Gizmag lend a hand, as we compare the features and specs of the Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge and iPhone 6.

Size

The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are a little taller and wider than the iPhone 6, but all three are incredibly thin handsets – with the GS6 just barely taking the crown for thinnest of the bunch.

Weight

All three are very light for their respective sizes, but the Galaxy S6 edge gives you the best size-to-weight ratio (though the fact that its front face slopes off around the edges gives it an unfair advantage here).

Build (back)

With the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, Samsung is kissing plastic goodbye. Their glass (Gorilla Glass 4) backs put the phones in a premium stratosphere that we haven't seen from the company in years past.

Like in previous years, there's no questioning the quality of the iPhone's aluminum unibody design.

Build (sides)

The GS6 and edge have aluminum sides, to complement those glass backs.

Colors

You'll have more color options to choose from for the pair of Galaxy phones.

Display (size)

The iPhone 6's screen size is much bigger than any pre-2014 iPhone's display, but it's still only 85 percent as big as the pair of 2015 Galaxy phones.

... of course if you want an even bigger iPhone, the iPhone 6 Plus is Apple's first phablet.

Display (resolution)

The iPhone 6 has a great display ... but it isn't even close to being as sharp as the Quad HD displays on the pair of Galaxies. There's a degree of eye candy there that the iPhone's 326 PPI display (the same density as 2010's iPhone 4) can't match.

Display (type)

Like in previous years, the two Samsung phones use Super AMOLED displays, while the iPhone sticks with an IPS panel.

Curved display

Picking up where Samsung left off with the Galaxy Note Edge, the GS6 edge has a screen that slopes down on either side. It's largely cosmetic, but it will flash notifications and let you use some shortcuts on the edge displays.

Fingerprint sensor

Could this be the year that Samsung's fingerprint sensors catch up to Apple's? Unlike Samsung's 2014 sensors, the ones in the Galaxy S6 and GS6 edge will register with a touch – no swipe required. Apple's Touch ID has always been touch-based as well.

Battery

Stay tuned for more on this front. We do know that, in our video streaming test (over Wi-Fi, with brightness at 75 percent) the iPhone 6 dropped about 14 percent per hour. That's a good result, but off the pace of the longest-lasting phones we've handled.

Removable battery

Samsung flagships have historically had removable batteries, but those found in the GS6 and GS6 edge are sealed shut.

Fast charging

The GS6 and edge include a fast-charging tech that can give you an estimated 4 hours worth of uptime in just 10 minutes of charging (though you should only see that big of a difference when you start off with a nearly dead battery).

Camera megapixels (rear)

We'd take this with a few grains of salt, as the iPhone 6 easily has one of the best cameras you can find in a smartphone. We'll have more to say on the GS6's camera after we get our hands on a review unit.

Camera megapixels (front)

The Galaxy phones may be better for selfies, with their higher-resolution (and wide-angled) front shooters.

Camera aperture

The Galaxy phones' cameras come out with the wider aperture.

OIS

The iPhone 6 Plus has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on board, but the iPhone 6 doesn't – giving Samsung's phones a leg up for shaky-handed photographers.

Processor

We'd take this with a few grains of salt. It's quite possible the Galaxy S6 pair will have faster performance, but know that Apple's custom chips always outperform what you'd expect from their cores and clock speeds.

RAM

The Galaxy phones should, however, be the better choices for multitasking, as 3 GB of RAM is going to be better for that than 1 GB, no matter how you slice it.

Storage

No drastic differences here, though the entry-level Galaxy S6 and GS6 edge do give you double the storage of the base-level iPhone 6.

MicroSD

In exchange for that premium build, Samsung cut a few corners that were staples on its older flagships: microSD card slot being one of them.

Water resistance

This was the killer feature of the Galaxy S5, but Samsung dropped water/dust resistance from this year's flagships.

Heart rate sensor

The Galaxy S6 and edge do, however, keep the heart rate sensor around for a second straight year.

Gear VR

There aren't any high quality virtual reality options for the iPhone at the moment, but the GS6 and edge play nicely with the new version of the Oculus-powered Gear VR.

Mobile payments

Apple clearly set the tone here, as several months after the launch of Apple Pay, we now have – ahem – Samsung Pay.

Samsung's mobile payments solution is actually built on a brilliant premise, though: instead of requiring an NFC terminal (though it uses those too), it can also work with standard swipe-based credit card terminals. This makes it nearly universally accepted from day one.

Software

We're looking at Android Lollipop with a layer of Samsung's TouchWiz UI (though that layer has much less bloat this year) vs. iOS 8 for the iPhone.

Release

The GS6 pair launches on April 10, at which point the iPhone will have been around for almost seven months.

Starting price (full retail)

The iPhone starts at US$650 without a contract. That's what previous years' Galaxy phones have started at as well, but Samsung hasn't announced pricing for these yet.

You will, however, have to pay extra for the edge's curved screen. Let's just hope the markup isn't as high as it was on the Note Edge.

Starting price (on-contract)

It's possible the GS6 will go toe-to-toe with the iPhone here, but nothing official yet on this end either.

courtesy by gizmag

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