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Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

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Re: Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

#291

Post by newdee »

pqtyw wrote: post #125
ramesh31 wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>For many, the appeal of a Mac is that it isn't running Windows Pretty much. I broke down and finally bought my first Windows machine in over a decade to play Subnautica 2. It was so infuriating to use I returned it a week later. You literally have to hack it with shell commands to bypass Microsoft login now. Never again.

> You literally have to hack it with shell commands Well on macOS you need to do the same to install and/or run applications so its not that fat ahead.

This is false in my experience. You can use the cli to clear the quarantine bit, or you can take the (admittedly annoying) trip to system preferences to override. This is rarely something I need to do; most software is already signed and notarised.

Also not at all equivalent to being forced into linking an online account before being allowed to use your computer at all.

Re: Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

#292

Post by LastTrain »

I used a surface book II for years all the while hoping it would die. It didn’t, which says something I guess. What sucked: the hinge, the split battery, mysterious problems with screen detach, the magnetic power connector, glossy screen. What didn’t: screen ratio.

Re: Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

#293

Post by 10000truths »

cthalupa wrote: post #280
10000truths wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, my MacBook Pro had the same issue - if the battery was dead, charging via USB-C wouldn't work, it would need the MagSafe charger. Presumably because the USB controller needs power in order to negotiate power delivery.

Never had this issue with any of my MBP. I never even have magsafe available, couldn't tell you where a USB-C to magsafe cable is in my house if my life depended on it.

In my specific case, the laptop was already at low (<10%) battery when I closed the lid, and it sat for several days without a top-up.

Re: Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

#294

Post by Marsymars »

whynotminot wrote: post #282
jmyeet wrote: post #268

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not an EE but I'll add an anecdote as a user. I went through a period of using a Macbook Pro with a dock. At the time the best option seemed to be the Caldigit TS3. It's a sleek device but luckily someone else was footing the bill because: - 3 of them failed on me. THREE; - You really learn how bad cables are. I got in the habit of ordering 2-3 at a time because experience taught me that at least 1 of them would be b…

I’m a little surprised to see how much trouble people in this thread have had with the Cal Digit TS3. Mine works pretty well — have used it with three Intel MacBooks in the past and now currently two different Apple Silicon MacBooks. One of the Intel MBPs did not like it. Would reboot every time I unplugged it from the dock. I blamed that MacBook for that one, since nothing else was ever a problem. I sent every crash…

Yeah, I've had 3 CalDigit docks (USB-C Dock, TS4 and Element 5) and they've all been bulletproof.

I will note that mine have all functioned as docks for effectively-stationary PCs, so there's basically zero cable wear happening.

Re: Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

#295

Post by 2muchcoffeeman »

als0 wrote: post #255
exmadscientist wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I worked with some of the people responsible for the Surface Book, Surface docks, and specifically the Surface Book's dock. These were hardware people (EEs), not software people, and this was after their time at MS. Unfortunately I don't remember specifics (both because it's been a few years, and because I'd probably have to fuzz details anyway), but... : Docks are horrifying products. Thunderbolt docks are doubly ho…

> It was still better than the competition Plenty of cases where Surface isn't. Microsoft like to think they can make hardware but they're no better than other OEM and it's clearly not a focus for them

Microsoft has built some good hardware over the years. The problem with this is that it runs windows. The hardware is probably nice.

Re: Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

#296

Post by Marsymars »

a_vanderbilt wrote: post #61

For many, the appeal of a Mac is that it isn't running Windows. I'm not seeing how this won't be a repeat of the OG ARM Surface, just with a higher spec'd GPU.

What do you mean by the OG ARM Surface? The Surface RT from 2012, or the later Qualcomm-powered ones? The Qualcomm-powered ones are vastly more capable than than Surface RT was.

I've been using a Qualcomm ARM laptop for the past year, and pretty much everything I use runs natively on it.

Re: Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

#297

Post by mort96 »

bahmboo wrote: post #252
thewebguyd wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't believe they led with that in the promo video. They potentially have whats finally a competitor to an apple silicon MBP, and they lead with fans?? I love my macbooks precisely because they are silent (among other things, obviously).

Yes the MBP is very quiet when doing easy stuff but run games and heavy duty software and those fans are required to get work done.

They are. But the experience of using a MacBook Pro for pretty much any purpose other than gaming is that they’re entirely silent. To the point that it’s an exceptional circumstance when a build job is so intense and so long running that fans kick in.

As such, when you’re marketing your competing product, maybe don’t lead with the fans.

Re: Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

#298

Post by mort96 »

whywhywhywhy wrote: post #31
sandworm101 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ya, i dont know of anyone wanting to run very large AI models in a windows environment. Or, frankly, on a laptop. Why not just VPN into a dedicated server?

How much does a dedicated server with 128GB vram cost a month.

I mean not that much? You buy the hardware once and then it’s just running for many years

Re: Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

#299

Post by dansquizsoft »

cthalupa wrote: post #280
10000truths wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, my MacBook Pro had the same issue - if the battery was dead, charging via USB-C wouldn't work, it would need the MagSafe charger. Presumably because the USB controller needs power in order to negotiate power delivery.

Never had this issue with any of my MBP. I never even have magsafe available, couldn't tell you where a USB-C to magsafe cable is in my house if my life depended on it.

While not quite what you are saying here, I have found that I like usbc charging on my 15in m3 MacBook Air way more than its magsafe. The magsafe is always falling out as soon as I move the computer on and off my lap and is another cable that I can only use for one purpose. Nowhere near as good as it was back in the early 2010s macbook days...

Re: Microsoft builds MacBook Pro rival with NVIDIA-powered Surface Laptop Ultra

#300

Post by phs318u »

cthalupa wrote: post #277
menssen wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had a CalDigit TB dock -- maybe 2021-ish? -- that every time I unplugged my MacBook would take my internet offline. I thought I was insane. How is that even possible? But I finally gave up and returned it. Thanks for finally answering this mystery for me.

I remember getting my first CalDigit TB dock and being excited - everyone seemed to love them. I expected it to largely Just Work. That thing Didn't Work more than it Worked, but options were slim. Eventually it fully died about 14 months in. I didn't even bother checking to see what the warranty terms were. TS3 Plus, back in 17 or 18. What a piece of shit. Sounds like it's a good thing I didn't bother trying again i…

Very similar story here. Went through two Caldigit TB hubs most recently a TB4. Soooo many issues. The same Ethernet issue described above, a failure to provide the rated PD power, and the TB linked monitor connection was dodgy af. A very expensive lesson. Add to this the confusing (and deceptive) jumble of TB cable standards. I have so many supposed TB3,4 and 5 rated cables I could probably circle my house. You have to hand Apple one thing and that’s the consistency of their hardware due to tight control of the stack and supply chain. You get far fewer of these sorts of issues.
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