All businesspeople want the best software and the ultimate hardware to run it on. Microsoft and Apple both have hardware they sell at premium prices to business pros, with Microsoft offering its Surface Laptop and Apple providing the MacBook Pro.
Operating systems
The Surface and the MacBook have different operating systems – Windows 10 for the surface and OSX for the Mac. Both run Office 365 and can connect to SharePoint and OneDrive for access to shared information. There are some differences between Office 365 for Mac and the version for Windows. Access is not available on the Mac, and there are some minor features missing from Mac versions of the Office 365 applications. For most users though, either operating system is fine for running Office 365.
There are other business applications that either run only on Windows or OSX, but most users will find applications suitable for their needs on either system. Both systems will also run Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including Photoshop and Indesign.
Some people prefer the Mac operating system, so no matter how good the Surface is they will stick to their Mac. However, if you have no preference as to which operating system you use, choosing between the Surface and the MacBook will be based other factors.
Design and build
Both laptops are built with unibody aluminium. The Surface is slightly slimmer than the MacBook, but this is marginal. The difference in weight is also not a lot, with the MacBook coming in at 3.02 pounds, and the Surface a quarter of a pound lighter. If you are choosing your laptop for its looks, this is a case of personal taste as both laptops have been praised for their stylish designs.
Keyboards and touchpad
Keyboards on both models are quiet. Apple’s butterfly key switches mean that the keys have shallow travel before they engage. For people not used to this, they may experience some finger fatigue before they adjust.
There is little to choose between the keyboards, so it’s best to try out both before buying to see if you prefer one to the other.
The Surface and the MacBook have precise trackpads that support gestures.
Performance
Both the MacBookPro and the Surface use Intel quad-core processors, but offer upgrades to faster processors, more RAM and larger drives.
Display
The Surface has a 12.3 inch 2736 x 1824 display, while MacBook Pro has a 13.3 inch 2560 x 1600 pixel display. Apple’s offering has a wider 16:10 aspect ratio compared to the 3:2 ratio of the Surface.
One big difference is that the Surface has a touch screen and can be operated in tablet mode, whereas Apple has a touch bar but no touch screen.
Ports
Apple has Thunderbolt 3 ports while the Surface has USB-A 3 ones.
Battery
The Surface battery lasts 14.5 hours, compared to the MacBook Pro’s 10.
The verdict
Both the MacBook and the Surface are high spec laptops for serious business work, and either laptop is great for business productivity.
At WM Reply, we are experts on business applications like Office 365. We do not recommend the best hardware, instead respecting your personal preference, but let you know how collaborative tools can help you get the most out of it.