Windows laptops may show Macs the door

Smartphones and tablets have taken over much of people’s screen time, but some people still need to use a “real” computer sometimes — and for many, that means a laptop.

Many people already have a good idea about whether they want a MacBook or a Windows laptop. If you’re already familiar with macOS or Windows, the easiest choice is to buy a computer that runs that system.

That said, macOS laptops continue to be popular. The MacBook is the world’s most coveted notebook for a reason. While not updated as frequently as some competitors, the Mac’s excellent design and build quality makes every system feel timeless. It’s common to call a new computer an investment, and with a MacBook, that is true.

The Apple MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro are stunning ultra-portable laptops but they’re not the only ultra-portable laptop. There are lots of other slim, light, affordable laptops and however much a potential laptop buyer may like the look of the Air, it would be remiss to ignore the other options.

If you’re looking elsewhere for a slim, fancy wedge of a laptop, you’ll find many choices. Ever since the arrival in 2008 of so-called Ultrabooks, exemplified by the first MacBook Air, we’ve been living in a golden age of laptops.

HARD TO SELECT

There are so many great Windows laptops nowadays that it can be hard to select the right one for you. In this case, if the MacBook Pro is attractive to you but you’d prefer Windows, there are some good options to pick from.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon: It’s a bit thicker and 380 grammes heavier than the MacBook, but it’s a nicely priced competitor that brings more horsepower, screen real estate, and a great keyboard. The base configuration has a 2.7GHz Intel Core i5 CPU and 4GB RAM, and there’s a pair of USB 3.0 ports, HDMI-out, and a Mini DisplayPort and a tad cheaper than MacBook.

In the Dell family, the first Windows laptop to categorically wrestle the crown for best thin and light from the MacBook Air is the Dell XPS 13 and 15.

Dell’s 13-inch XPS 13 has a wonderfully minimal bezel around the display, good trackpad, solid construction, and attractive design. Its battery life stretches up to 10 hours and it has recently been upgraded with Intel’s 7th-generation processors, a generation ahead of Apple’s latest MacBook Pros.

Whether you prefer the design of the MacBook Pro or the XPS is largely a matter of style — in terms of functionality and build quality, there’s not a huge difference between them. Both machines are stunning, and neither would look out of place in even the most cutting-edge of boardrooms.

PERSONAL PREFERENCES

From the Microsoft stable is Microsoft Surface Pro 3: It is lighter and thinner than the MacBook, and has a similar screen resolution. At 800 grammes and 90mm thick, the Surface Pro 3 is feathery. It has a touchscreen, a USB 3.0 port, MicroSD, Mini DisplayPort, and a 1.5GHz Intel Core i3 processor.

The Surface Book comes with Intel innards, a premium MacBook-style metal design, a glass trackpad, Windows 10 Pro, 8MP and 5MP cameras, a full-sized SD card reader, a mini DisplayPort and up to 1TB of flash storage.

When deciding between Mac and Windows, minor compromises are definitely necessary, be it size, display resolution, weight, or the hardware used. For all the existential battles that have been fought over Windows versus Mac, there’s little to distinguish the two on any important level.

The platforms have converged on everything but aesthetics and personal preferences. Both have a locked-down store which power users ignore; both are fighting for relevance in a world of web apps and mobile-first designs; and both feel the weight of versions past sitting on their shoulders.

Wambugu is an informatics specialist. [email protected]. @samwambugu2