Hello fellow coders can you help me here plz.

I'm really confused whether to buy MACBOOK PRO 13 INCH or SURFACE PRO 4. Both of i5/8gbRam/256ssd specs. Price almost same in India.

My main use is programming ( web apps/ open source) + portability.

Factors I like in macbook pro:
1) unix based
2) best service here in India ( heard from answers on Quora )
3) DURABILITY ( heard from answers on Quora ) ( will last for many years without any glitch).

Factors I like in Surface pro 4:
1) its ultraportability
2) pen & touch
3) better typing experience ( since I code/blog for long hours)
4) native bash support
5) sexier than MBP :P

I really like SP4 over MBP but I'm worried about its durability and service(in India).

What are your thoughts on this guyz?

I think the typing experience is a lot better on the MacBook. Additionally I think the layout of the keys is a lot better for programming than any other system.

I do however prefer Windows over Mac OSX

I don't like touchscreens.

I'd go for the mac if I were you. I have one for 9 months now and I am loving it. It is a very durable computer and it is nice to work with.

@TerriToniAX yeah, but with Surface Pro pen&touch, one can visualize any idea or algo he has in mind, replacing his physical notebook/pen ..

MacBook Pro

@makkBit Not really. When you're in the middle of coding you'll get a sheet of paper before you have to undock the keyboard, flip the kickstand and open OneNote.

As it's only one device with one screen it's not very practical to switch between drawing and typing.
Which is why I almost never used the pen and switched back to a normal laptop.

@makkBit I like the idea of using a pen, that could actually work. But, as @deadyRants pointed out, it doesn't quite work to code on the same machine. One would need another computer for coding, turning the Surface Pro into a mere digital sketch pad. Secondly, it's anyway too small for my visualization needs. I need a whiteboard, preferrably a big one :D As for sketch pads, I'm old school. There's nothing like good ol' "fibre optics". (cellulose fibre that is read optically = paper).

Surface.

Can you get a dell xps over there? Save money and get a proper machine.

1. Windows will give you billions of updates every day. It kills my 2nd laptop.
2. In Windows 10 is something broken very often.
3. On MB you can install Windows. On Surface you can't really install OSX (or something doesn't work).
4. Battery life is better on MB. Specially when Windows is updating itself in background.
5. For programming you don't really need a pen or touchscreen.
6. Touchscreen is always dirty. It distracts me when I'm coding.
Let us know what you will buy. :)

@devs I used to think the same, but after I took typing demo on SP4, typing is definitely better on SP4. See for urself anytime.

@robbietoppert thnx. Which one u have though pro or air ?

I have the MacBook Pro 13 inch base model 2015

If I were you, I'd go for the newest model. Cuz it's sexy

@No-one I hate to break it to you but to me it seems the two users with identical counts are actually the same user, just one where the profile pic didn't load

@deadlyRants good point. thanks!

@TerriToniAX yeah, but some times we need some small visualization.. and you feel more free to not carry a physical notebook n pen with u always.. don't you ?

@azuredivay thanks for ur 2 cents.

@searchindex Dell xps is also costing the same here with same specs. only adv I get is better battery n infinity display .. I have heard Dell is loaded with bloatware ...

@zperkowski thanks for the point. Seems legit. N yes will let u know.

<@jonatan>
Wanted to say the same...
30 mins too late :(

@makkBit what I mean is like the layout of how to type characters. I really love how (, [ and { are on the same key but depends on which keys you hold down while typing (I.e. Option, shift+option, shift)

One strengths of MacOSX is a lot of the software. I really love automating things, and there are some really nice software for this on MacOSX which does not exist, or at least not in an as high quality, for other OS's

Mac is overpriced + has an horrible os... dell xps are great laptops apparently so try to get on of those

i would say buy dell xps and install Linux

would prefer mac than windows

☺The SP4 had me sold at ultra portability and touch screen!

So if there really is no downside to the SP4 compared to the MBP & it has those added features. This would be a easy desision for me!😂

Macbook. Better support for the tools you will be using

If you ever thing on developing for iOS devices (or anything that is apple) in the future, get the mac (pc with hackintosh is not worth your time)
Anything else get whatever windows machine you can buy with your money.

@Revenger I'd say this if you want to ever do native iOS or macOS apps, otherwise I guess people here seem to pick Dell XPS, you could then just create a cross platform app that way

Are these notebooks having sex?

@deadlyRants I don't think you've used a Surface before as you can double click then pen to launch OneNote

@presariox100 I used a Surface Pro for 2 years. I think I know how that thing works.

Switching between typing and drawing is cumbersome, except you find drawing/writing on such a small, tilted surface comfortable.

hi everyone! Thanks for ur views so far.

So, I have decided to buy the macbook pro. But I don't like the new macbook pro 2016 and spend a doogle life, I do like the previous macbook pro 2015. Do u guys recommend buying the previous macbook pro in 2017 or should I still go with new one ?

@makkBit WAIT. TILL. NEXT. WEEK.

They'll be announcing new macbooks at WWDC17 next week, when giant news organizations get rumors about apple's next plans, it's not rumors any more, it will either happen or it gets delayed.

Don't get the same effect as i did where i bought the new macbook pro 2016 and forgot about wwdc coming in real close.

Anyway, I couldn't get the previous model because it gone out of stock here in this country, and i desperatly had to get one for work, so i went ahead with the new macbook pro, It's quite good actually, the huge trackpad is weird, but i got used to it, the keyboard is very very different, feels like those old electronic buttons used in toys, but much softer (not that mushy tho) but i got used to it after like 2 weeks, and i now write fast with it, about the dongles, yeah..., there is no running away from this, but if you think about once you get one itll always stay with you in the back if you think about, youll just get used to it in the end...

@makkBit Nope, I'd still prefer a physical notebook and pen. After all, the Surface Pro is also physical.

@makkBit go with the Surface Pro 2017?

@presariox100 I can't. It's not launching in my country nor the surface book. Only sp4 is available.