Category: macbook pro

Comparison: MacBook Pro vs Surface Book

Daniel Morial Leave a comment

Microsoft announced their own laptop, Surface Book, the other day and everyone was surprised to see the tech-giant giving its own take on Windows notebook. How does it stack up against one of its tough competitor, the Apple MacBook Pro, specifically the 13″ Retina version? Here’s our comparison of the two.

surfacebook-vs-mbpr13

First, let’s see how each other is different in terms of their key specifications:

Microsoft Surface BookApple MacBook Pro 13"
13.5" Touch-capable PixelSense Display (3000 x 2000 pixels), 3:2 ratio13.3" Non-touch Retina Display (2560 x 1600 pixels), 16:10 ratio
6th-Gen Intel Core i5 / i7 5th-Gen Intel Core i5 / i7
up to 1TB SSD storageup to 1TB flash storage
up to 16GB RAMup to 16GB RAM
Intel HD Graphics 520 / NVIDIA GeForceIntel Iris Graphics 6100
Wi-Fi 802.11acWi-Fi 802.11ac
Bluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.0
5MP front-facing cameraFaceTime HD camera
8MP autofocus rear-facingN/A
Two USB 3.0Two USB 3.0
Mini DisplayPortTwo Thunderbolt 2 ports
SD card readerSDXC card reader
N/AHDMI port
Surface PenN/A
Windows 10 ProOS X El Capitan
312.3mm x 232.1mm x 22.mm314mm x 219mm x 18mm
1,516 grams1,580 grams
Starts at $1,499 (Around ₱70,000)₱64,990

Evidently, the Surface Book and MacBook Pro share a lot in common. They are both thin and light, have high-resolution displays, Intel processors (Apple will soon update to 6th-Gen), capable graphics and long battery life.

Perhaps the major difference between the two is their operating system. Of course, Surface runs Window 10 while the MacBook Pro has OS X El Capitan. Although, the latter can also run Windows 10 if your want to. What the MacBook Pro can’t do for you is to become a powerful tablet and perform multimedia task with the Surface Pen. Apple has the iPad Pro for similar task but that’s another device to pay for.

Pricing is where most users decide to either purchase or not. The Surface Book starts at $1,499 in the US with base configuration of Core i5, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM and Intel HD 520. That’s roughly PHP 70,000 and it also doubles as a tablet w/ Surface Pen included. Additional bucks in needed to have more storage and better performance with NVIDIA graphics. The MacBook Pro Retina 13″ is for sale at local Apple retailers for PHP 64,990 with Core i5, 128GB flash storage, 8GB RAM and Intel Iris 6100. If you need more space and larger memory, an upgrade is available but there’s no option for discrete graphics.

Surely, the Windows 10 wagon will see better competition now that Microsoft is joining the war on hardware. We’ll soon see what OEMs will pit against the Surface Book, and how Apple will respond to the calling.

The post Comparison: MacBook Pro vs Surface Book appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Buying a MacBook: Which is the right one for you?

Bob Freking Leave a comment

Apple’s newest MacBook has just arrived in the Philippines, along with refreshed MacBook Airs and a new MacBook Pro with Force Touch, all with their respective configurations and prices, but which one should you look into and buy? Read on to find out!

cover

The following table below shows base model configurations and price as indicated in Apple’s Online Store. All run OS X Yosemite and have backlit keyboards.

New MacBook 12"MacBook Air 11"MacBook Air 13"MacBook Pro 13"MacBook Pro 15"
12-inch 2304 x 1440 Retina Display11.6-inch 1366 x 768 Display13.3-inch 1440 x 900 Display13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 Retina Display15.4-inch 2880 x 1800 Retina Display
1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core MFifth-gen 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5Fifth-gen 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5Fifth-gen 2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5Fourth-gen 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
8GB RAM4GB RAM4GB RAM8GB RAM16GB RAM
256GB128GB128GB128GB256GB
0.35 - 1.31 cm height0.3 - 1.7 cm height0.3 - 1.7 cm height1.8 cm height1.8 cm height
0.92 kg1.08 kg1.35 kg1.58 kg2.02 kg
Intel HD Graphics 5300Intel HD Graphics 6000Intel HD Graphics 6000Intel Iris Graphics 6100Intel Iris Pro Graphics
480p camera720p HD camera720p HD camera720p HD camera720p HD camera
Php64,990Php44,990Php49,990Php64,990Php99,990
Force Touch Trackpad, USB-C, other color optionsForce Touch Trackpad

As you can see from the specs above, the MacBook is the thinnest and lightest, even more than the 11-inch MacBook Air. It’s also very generous in terms of storage, both ROM & RAM, compared to its other siblings. However, it only has one port and it’s really underpowered with the Intel Core M CPU.

macbook-air-space-gray

Also, if you noticed, it’s priced similarly to the 13-inch MacBook Pro at Php64,990, and if you’re wondering why this is the case when the other MacBooks are a lot more powerful, it’s because the MacBook’s value lies in its style and portability while still packing a Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 256GB flash storage and claimed no compromise in battery life.

Who should buy the new 12-inch MacBook?

  • People who value style and portability
  • People who need more mobility (compared to having an Air)
  • People who want a good laptop but do not need heavy processing power (great display, enough storage for a lot of things, force touch trackpad, still great backlit keyboard)

Who shouldn’t buy the new 12-inch MacBook?

  • People who use a lot of ports (for memory cards and other cables)
  • Heavy application users
  • If you need higher resolution front-facing cameras

macbook air

As for the MacBook Airs, they’re still Apple’s most affordable laptops, and they’re still great buys because they barely bring any compromise in power and ports compared to the new MacBook. However, that’s basically it.

The MacBook Air is no longer the most portable laptop, nor is it the most powerful. It doesn’t boast a Retina Display, a new breathtaking design nor Apple’s new Force Touch technology, which leads us to saying that this is Apple’s all around laptop for everyone – the middle ground MacBook. With this, you get enough power and enough portability – and if you need more, you can ask for more (base starts at 4GB RAM, 128GB ROM, compared to 8GB RAM, 256GB ROM on the MacBook and 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM on the MacBook Pro).

Who should buy the MacBook Air?

  • People who need a balance between power & mobility
  • People looking for the most affordable Apple laptop
  • People who need very long battery life

Who shouldn’t buy the MacBook Air?

  • People looking for a Retina Display
  • Graphics-intensive application users

And finally, there’s the MacBook Pro. Two stories follow here: the updated 13-inch model and the 2014 15-inch model. Let’s start with the 13-incher.

MacBook Pro

The 13-inch Retina MBP has just been updated with a 5th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU and a new Force Touch trackpad, and that makes it one notebook jam-packed with a lot of latest technologies, and it’s just Php64,990 like the 12-inch MacBook.

The 15-incher on the other hand is just pure power. It starts with a Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM and Intel Iris Pro graphics. You can also get it configured with an NVidia GeForce 750M GPU if you needed it, but this one goes all the way up to a hundred thousand, but it’s also more than double the weight of one 12-inch MacBook.

Who should buy the MacBook Pro?

  • People who need superior processing & graphics prowess
  • People who need large storage capacities

Who shouldn’t buy the MacBook Pro?

  • People who value portability & mobility

But if you were to ask me personally, I think I’d save up for the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro in any way I look at it. The new MacBook lacks a lot of power, and the Air does not please with the lack of a Retina Display and a Force Touch trackpad. For the same price as the 12-inch MacBook, you can get a machine that’s a lot more powerful and still fairly portable in a way (compared to the 15-incher at least). But that’s all just me.

Did we help you decide on which MacBook you should get? Did we miss anything? Feel free to leave a comment and share this with your friends to help them out!

The post Buying a MacBook: Which is the right one for you? appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Buying a MacBook: Which is the right one for you?

Bob Freking Leave a comment

Apple’s newest MacBook has just arrived in the Philippines, along with refreshed MacBook Airs and a new MacBook Pro with Force Touch, all with their respective configurations and prices, but which one should you look into and buy? Read on to find out!

cover

The following table below shows base model configurations and price as indicated in Apple’s Online Store. All run OS X Yosemite and have backlit keyboards.

New MacBook 12"MacBook Air 11"MacBook Air 13"MacBook Pro 13"MacBook Pro 15"
12-inch 2304 x 1440 Retina Display11.6-inch 1366 x 768 Display13.3-inch 1440 x 900 Display13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 Retina Display15.4-inch 2880 x 1800 Retina Display
1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core MFifth-gen 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5Fifth-gen 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5Fifth-gen 2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5Fourth-gen 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
8GB RAM4GB RAM4GB RAM8GB RAM16GB RAM
256GB128GB128GB128GB256GB
0.35 - 1.31 cm height0.3 - 1.7 cm height0.3 - 1.7 cm height1.8 cm height1.8 cm height
0.92 kg1.08 kg1.35 kg1.58 kg2.02 kg
Intel HD Graphics 5300Intel HD Graphics 6000Intel HD Graphics 6000Intel Iris Graphics 6100Intel Iris Pro Graphics
480p camera720p HD camera720p HD camera720p HD camera720p HD camera
Php64,990Php44,990Php49,990Php64,990Php99,990
Force Touch Trackpad, USB-C, other color optionsForce Touch Trackpad

As you can see from the specs above, the MacBook is the thinnest and lightest, even more than the 11-inch MacBook Air. It’s also very generous in terms of storage, both ROM & RAM, compared to its other siblings. However, it only has one port and it’s really underpowered with the Intel Core M CPU.

macbook-air-space-gray

Also, if you noticed, it’s priced similarly to the 13-inch MacBook Pro at Php64,990, and if you’re wondering why this is the case when the other MacBooks are a lot more powerful, it’s because the MacBook’s value lies in its style and portability while still packing a Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 256GB flash storage and claimed no compromise in battery life.

Who should buy the new 12-inch MacBook?

  • People who value style and portability
  • People who need more mobility (compared to having an Air)
  • People who want a good laptop but do not need heavy processing power (great display, enough storage for a lot of things, force touch trackpad, still great backlit keyboard)

Who shouldn’t buy the new 12-inch MacBook?

  • People who use a lot of ports (for memory cards and other cables)
  • Heavy application users
  • If you need higher resolution front-facing cameras

macbook air

As for the MacBook Airs, they’re still Apple’s most affordable laptops, and they’re still great buys because they barely bring any compromise in power and ports compared to the new MacBook. However, that’s basically it.

The MacBook Air is no longer the most portable laptop, nor is it the most powerful. It doesn’t boast a Retina Display, a new breathtaking design nor Apple’s new Force Touch technology, which leads us to saying that this is Apple’s all around laptop for everyone – the middle ground MacBook. With this, you get enough power and enough portability – and if you need more, you can ask for more (base starts at 4GB RAM, 128GB ROM, compared to 8GB RAM, 256GB ROM on the MacBook and 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM on the MacBook Pro).

Who should buy the MacBook Air?

  • People who need a balance between power & mobility
  • People looking for the most affordable Apple laptop
  • People who need very long battery life

Who shouldn’t buy the MacBook Air?

  • People looking for a Retina Display
  • Graphics-intensive application users

And finally, there’s the MacBook Pro. Two stories follow here: the updated 13-inch model and the 2014 15-inch model. Let’s start with the 13-incher.

MacBook Pro

The 13-inch Retina MBP has just been updated with a 5th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU and a new Force Touch trackpad, and that makes it one notebook jam-packed with a lot of latest technologies, and it’s just Php64,990 like the 12-inch MacBook.

The 15-incher on the other hand is just pure power. It starts with a Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM and Intel Iris Pro graphics. You can also get it configured with an NVidia GeForce 750M GPU if you needed it, but this one goes all the way up to a hundred thousand, but it’s also more than double the weight of one 12-inch MacBook.

Who should buy the MacBook Pro?

  • People who need superior processing & graphics prowess
  • People who need large storage capacities

Who shouldn’t buy the MacBook Pro?

  • People who value portability & mobility

But if you were to ask me personally, I think I’d save up for the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro in any way I look at it. The new MacBook lacks a lot of power, and the Air does not please with the lack of a Retina Display and a Force Touch trackpad. For the same price as the 12-inch MacBook, you can get a machine that’s a lot more powerful and still fairly portable in a way (compared to the 15-incher at least). But that’s all just me.

Did we help you decide on which MacBook you should get? Did we miss anything? Feel free to leave a comment and share this with your friends to help them out!

The post Buying a MacBook: Which is the right one for you? appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Buying a MacBook: Which is the right one for you?

Bob Freking Leave a comment

Apple’s newest MacBook has just arrived in the Philippines, along with refreshed MacBook Airs and a new MacBook Pro with Force Touch, all with their respective configurations and prices, but which one should you look into and buy? Read on to find out!

cover

The following table below shows base model configurations and price as indicated in Apple’s Online Store. All run OS X Yosemite and have backlit keyboards.

New MacBook 12"MacBook Air 11"MacBook Air 13"MacBook Pro 13"MacBook Pro 15"
12-inch 2304 x 1440 Retina Display11.6-inch 1366 x 768 Display13.3-inch 1440 x 900 Display13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 Retina Display15.4-inch 2880 x 1800 Retina Display
1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core MFifth-gen 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5Fifth-gen 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5Fifth-gen 2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5Fourth-gen 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
8GB RAM4GB RAM4GB RAM8GB RAM16GB RAM
256GB128GB128GB128GB256GB
0.35 - 1.31 cm height0.3 - 1.7 cm height0.3 - 1.7 cm height1.8 cm height1.8 cm height
0.92 kg1.08 kg1.35 kg1.58 kg2.02 kg
Intel HD Graphics 5300Intel HD Graphics 6000Intel HD Graphics 6000Intel Iris Graphics 6100Intel Iris Pro Graphics
480p camera720p HD camera720p HD camera720p HD camera720p HD camera
Php64,990Php44,990Php49,990Php64,990Php99,990
Force Touch Trackpad, USB-C, other color optionsForce Touch Trackpad

As you can see from the specs above, the MacBook is the thinnest and lightest, even more than the 11-inch MacBook Air. It’s also very generous in terms of storage, both ROM & RAM, compared to its other siblings. However, it only has one port and it’s really underpowered with the Intel Core M CPU.

macbook-air-space-gray

Also, if you noticed, it’s priced similarly to the 13-inch MacBook Pro at Php64,990, and if you’re wondering why this is the case when the other MacBooks are a lot more powerful, it’s because the MacBook’s value lies in its style and portability while still packing a Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 256GB flash storage and claimed no compromise in battery life.

Who should buy the new 12-inch MacBook?

  • People who value style and portability
  • People who need more mobility (compared to having an Air)
  • People who want a good laptop but do not need heavy processing power (great display, enough storage for a lot of things, force touch trackpad, still great backlit keyboard)

Who shouldn’t buy the new 12-inch MacBook?

  • People who use a lot of ports (for memory cards and other cables)
  • Heavy application users
  • If you need higher resolution front-facing cameras

macbook air

As for the MacBook Airs, they’re still Apple’s most affordable laptops, and they’re still great buys because they barely bring any compromise in power and ports compared to the new MacBook. However, that’s basically it.

The MacBook Air is no longer the most portable laptop, nor is it the most powerful. It doesn’t boast a Retina Display, a new breathtaking design nor Apple’s new Force Touch technology, which leads us to saying that this is Apple’s all around laptop for everyone – the middle ground MacBook. With this, you get enough power and enough portability – and if you need more, you can ask for more (base starts at 4GB RAM, 128GB ROM, compared to 8GB RAM, 256GB ROM on the MacBook and 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM on the MacBook Pro).

Who should buy the MacBook Air?

  • People who need a balance between power & mobility
  • People looking for the most affordable Apple laptop
  • People who need very long battery life

Who shouldn’t buy the MacBook Air?

  • People looking for a Retina Display
  • Graphics-intensive application users

And finally, there’s the MacBook Pro. Two stories follow here: the updated 13-inch model and the 2014 15-inch model. Let’s start with the 13-incher.

MacBook Pro

The 13-inch Retina MBP has just been updated with a 5th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU and a new Force Touch trackpad, and that makes it one notebook jam-packed with a lot of latest technologies, and it’s just Php64,990 like the 12-inch MacBook.

The 15-incher on the other hand is just pure power. It starts with a Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM and Intel Iris Pro graphics. You can also get it configured with an NVidia GeForce 750M GPU if you needed it, but this one goes all the way up to a hundred thousand, but it’s also more than double the weight of one 12-inch MacBook.

Who should buy the MacBook Pro?

  • People who need superior processing & graphics prowess
  • People who need large storage capacities

Who shouldn’t buy the MacBook Pro?

  • People who value portability & mobility

But if you were to ask me personally, I think I’d save up for the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro in any way I look at it. The new MacBook lacks a lot of power, and the Air does not please with the lack of a Retina Display and a Force Touch trackpad. For the same price as the 12-inch MacBook, you can get a machine that’s a lot more powerful and still fairly portable in a way (compared to the 15-incher at least). But that’s all just me.

Did we help you decide on which MacBook you should get? Did we miss anything? Feel free to leave a comment and share this with your friends to help them out!

The post Buying a MacBook: Which is the right one for you? appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

5th-gen MacBook Air, Pro with Force Touch now in PH

Bob Freking Leave a comment

Along with the new 12-inch MacBook, Apple Store PH now carries the refreshed MacBook Airs and the new MacBook Pro with a Force Touch trackpad.

MacBook Pro

The MacBook Air models have upgraded internals, if you would notice that they now carry 5th Gen Intel Core i5 CPUs. The MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina Display however now comes with Apple’s new Force Touch trackpad which senses pressure and no longer clicks physically (aside from the internal spec bump).

The new MacBooks retain their prices from the previous models (base configuration price):

  • 11-inch MacBook Air – Php44,990
  • 13-inch MacBook Air – Php49,990
  • 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display – Php64,990

The 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro did not receive any updates, just in case you were wondering, so there is little to no reason to upgrade if you already have one.

The post 5th-gen MacBook Air, Pro with Force Touch now in PH appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.