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What is the perf laptop for switching from OS X to Windows?

over 5 years ago from , Art Director Sloy

I'm using Apple for almost a decade, but I'm thinking of switching to Windows. The reason is simple, the price of the Apple products and news around Invision Studio. So there is a chance that you can switch from Sketch to Studio and from OS X to Windows.

I've started looking at all the non-Apple laptops. There are lots of them. Need a hand, any suggestions on what is the best option?

26 comments

  • Elvijs Vilevich, over 5 years ago

    Bootcamp it first to remind Yourself why are You using a Mac.

    25 points
    • Nikita Treptsov, over 5 years ago

      I did. I was thinking about moving from OS X for about a year now, and I've used Bootcamp. It is true that OS X got some awesome pluses. Surely file storage arrangement is brilliant and there are lots of small features that make you fill comfy, but all in all, they do not develop the product anymore in the way they were doing.

      It is getting harder and harder to be a loyal Apple user. I've switched to Apple completely in 2005. At that time it was the right choice. Now I feel the same thing as before switching to Mac in mid 00's.

      I need a product that gonna last and works properley. Windows is not that better than OS X, but looking at the way developing and pushing their product it seems like they deserve a chance.

      2 points
      • Mattan IngramMattan Ingram, over 5 years ago

        they do not develop the product anymore in the way they were doing

        Can you be more specific? I find that people say this about Apple every year (since before 2005), and then they switch to a Windows laptop and can't stand the trackpad, the file system, the settings, etc.

        0 points
  • Jrtorrents Dorman , over 5 years ago

    1. Dell XPS 15. Comes with a great edge-to-edge desiplace, 16gb memory (expandable to 32gb). i7 and 512gb ssd for $2949

    2. Microsoft Surface Pro 2. Start selling in November. Price around MBP for similar configuration.

    3. HP SPECTRE X360 Similar specs as the Dell for a bit cheaper. Also configurable. Rated best laptop by Theverge for 2016.

    I believe both the hp and Microsoft have pen support.

    9 points
    • Jake BarryJake Barry, over 5 years ago

      I have the XPS 15 (4K i7 1TB SSD version) and if you do not need pen support, this machine is fantastic. Just wanted to call that out because it is advertised as having a touch screen, but it is really just for simple gestures and things like that (which is nice for moving across artboards).

      However, the heat displacement is not as good as it could be, and when doing intensive GPU/CPU work (especially video and gaming), performance drops a bit when it gets too hot. I bought an well-designed aluminum stand and that has mostly eliminated the problem.

      A developer colleague of mine has the Surface Book 2 and loves it as well. It is incredibly light for what is packed inside.

      1 point
  • Trevor Kay, over 5 years ago

    I'd recommend waiting until you have actually tried Studio before you buy new hardware

    7 points
  • Hoon ChoHoon Cho, over 5 years ago

    Surface Laptop is Macbook Air with Retina display that Apple never built. No dongle life, light, good design.

    If you want Pro alternatives, Surface Book 2 (2017) is going to be amazing with NVIDIA 1050 graphics for 13" and NVIDIA 1060 for 15".

    Microsoft Precision trackpad on these will be probably the best trackpad on Windows.

    4 points
  • Suleiman Leadbitter, over 5 years ago

    I have been thinking the same a great deal lately, especially since I now use Affinity design apps and Figma along with VS Code. My MacBook Pro is the 2010 model and getting a little crusty. The price of Apple products in the UK is crazy now though and I find it hard to justify the cost. I have been looking at a few Windows alternatives and like the look of the Huawei Matebook X. The other option I may take is a secondhand Apple laptop.

    3 points
  • Sam MularczykSam Mularczyk, over 5 years ago

    I have the Surface Pro. I had a Macbook Pro/Air previously, which I loved, but the Surface is the best computer I've ever used.

    I use Figma at the moment instead of Sketch and it's equally amazing.

    3 points
  • Dillon RaphaelDillon Raphael, over 5 years ago

    Hands down go with the Razer Blade. I'm actually running High Sierra inside a VM on my blade and runs perfectly. It's great for my xcode projects.

    3 points
  • Wesstong Jr, over 5 years ago

    Hello, I think if in the future I want to move from OS X to windows I will choose the surface pro or the surface book, but they are a little bit pricey too ;)

    1 point
    • Nikita Treptsov, over 5 years ago

      Looks like a nice option, but still a bit pricey (true). What you think of Razer Blade Stealth?

      2 points
      • Patrick WestwoodPatrick Westwood, over 5 years ago

        I have a Razer Blade laptop that I bought in their retail store in San Francisco.

        Be very careful about these, I had to replace mine on the spot 4 times before I got a properly built laptop without dead pixels or some other hardware issues like loose trackpad etc.

        It would have been a nightmare if I ordered it online.

        2 points
  • Thomas WilhelmThomas Wilhelm, over 5 years ago

    I've been using both, Windows and OSX, for quite some time now. And having done this I can say for me: I will stick with OSX - however, that's something you have to decide for yourself, look at the pros and cons... so if you have done that and still are confident to switch - ok.

    I do have a Thinkpad here in the office and I really like it (I would love it if it would run MacOS :P). They are pricy but worth it.

    0 points
  • Volodymyr SadykovVolodymyr Sadykov, over 5 years ago

    This one is pretty good, fast, stable. https://www.asus.com/Laptops/ASUS-ZenBook-Pro-UX550VE/Tech-Specs/ or search similar.

    0 points
  • Carlos Px, over 5 years ago

    Never used one. But xiaomi mi book is a cheaper option.

    0 points
  • Nathan NNathan N, over 5 years ago

    Any decent windows laptop will be similar in price to an older gen macbook air/base model mbp or more expensive. Even thinkpads can get quite expensive. That said, I'd recommend any of the Surface devices.

    0 points
  • Account deleted over 5 years ago

    XPS 13/15. Mobility - 13, power - 15. I'm not sure if you are that happy with pricing, though ; )

    0 points
  • Jaron SaturninoJaron Saturnino, over 5 years ago

    Thinkpad w541 for 500 bucks on ebay?

    0 points
    • Nikita Treptsov, over 5 years ago

      Not sure about it. Price is great, but the hardware. For only graphic design projects it's gonna be fine, but still, I'm not sure it's the best option.

      0 points