As the (overdue) update of Apple's MacBook Pro tumbles into the second half of the year, there's a Windows 10 laptop that could be a painless alternative for even diehard MacBook users.
First things first. Windows 10 is a no-no for some. But even for those with a longstanding aversion to Microsoft's operating system, Windows 10 is a galactically big improvement over all previous versions. In fact, when I switch from one of my MacBooks to one of my Windows 10 systems (which I do regularly), it's easy to forget that Apple's OS is "better."
That said, I've been spending a lot of time with the 2016 update of the XPS 15 during the last month and it's a scary-good machine. The Dell XPS 15 is where the next 15-inch-class MacBook Pro (or whatever Apple calls its next high-end MacBook) is headed. Here are some of my thoughts comparing the XPS 15 with what Apple will likely include on the future MacBook Pro.
Wow, that’s a big display: go bigger than Dell’s 15.6-inch display and you’d have a movable desktop. Dell, however, has managed to keep the footprint closer to some 14-inch laptops with its almost-borderless display. And an attractive carbon fiber weave wrapped around the keyboard and touchpad allows Dell to keep the weight down to 3.9 pounds (4.4 pounds with the larger battery). The upshot: the XPS 15 has a bigger display but weighs less and has a smaller chassis than the MacBook Pro. No small feat and something for Apple to keep in mind. (Well, actually, the next MacBook Pro design is probably already fully baked so let’s hope Apple has done something innovative with the chassis.)
Surprisingly, Dell has been the only top-tier manufacturer to make borderless displays a centerpiece of its laptop design (though others are now catching on). And there's a reason that Dell crows about the XPS' "bezel-less" border: it makes for a really cool-looking laptop in addition to keeping the weight and size down. Dell has also done this with great success on the XPS 13, essentially a smaller version of the XPS 15.
If you opt for the 4K Ultra HD (3,840-by-2,160) touch display on the XPS 15, you get 3 million more pixels than the Retina display on the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro. The XPS 15 I'm using has the 4K Ultra HD display. At the risk of stating the obvious, you don't want nor do you need an external display when you have a display this big and this good affixed to your keyboard. Besides, a large 4K-class external display as good as the XPS' display would cost you a small fortune.
But a tiny connector: In addition to the usual ports (USB Type-A, HDMI), the XPS comes with one (tiny) USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps bi-directional) port but I expect Apple to include more. After all, Apple was the first computer maker to give USB-C real credibility/notoriety when it used the connector for the first time on the impossibly-thin 12-inch MacBook, introduced in April 2015. The beauty of USB-C of course is that it engenders thin designs (the XPS 15 is only 0.66 inches at its thickest point) but is still very fast.
Probably not Maybe it will. Either way, it will be refreshing to see a 6th or 7th Generation Intel Core processor in a MacBook Pro. Processor propellerheads take note: during a conversation I had recently with an executive at a top-5 global PC maker, I was told that 6-core Intel processors for laptops are on the way. When/if it happens, I expect Apple to follow suit.
Ditto on DDR4: The XPS 15 I'm using comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, it's a no-brainer for Apple to do the same.
Greater Graphics: most of the Dell XPS 15 configurations come with an Nvidia GTX 960M graphics chip. Apple will undoubtedly update its MacBook Pro with either the latest AMD or Nvidia graphics.
Battery life: my unit has Dell's extra-large 84Whr battery so the XPS 15 can stay charged all day based on my usage pattern. But that requires turning down the display brightness to about 60 percent and not spending a lot of time watching movies or playing 1080p games (I'm not a gamer anyway). Battery life will jump if you opt for the cheaper version of the XPS 15 with a less-power-hungry, standard-resolution display. And Dell has also supplied me with a Dell Power Companion (see image at top) that can extend the battery life for hours more. I carry it in my bag wherever I go but have not needed to use it yet. Battery life is Apple's strong suit so I expect that the next 15-inch class MacBook Pro to excel on battery run time. The question is, how will Apple perform it's usual battery-life magic? With which Intel 6th Gen chip and with what type of new power-frugal LCD tech?
Final thoughts: Dell eschews the all-aluminum chassis prevalent today. The only downside is that the carbon fiber can be a body oil magnet (be prepared to use a soft cloth moistened with soapy water every other day to keep the area around the trackpad free of oily buildup.) The rest of the laptop (top and bottom) is aluminum. Overall, a remarkably sturdy laptop considering its light weight and thickness – only 0.66 inches at its thickest point.
I have to admit that I'm partial to Apple's all-aluminum designs. So, unless Apple has come up with revolutionary new material, I'm fine with another all-aluminum MBP. I love the feel of the aluminum on my 12-inch MacBook and wouldn't want anything else.
And a bit more about the XPS 15's performance...One of the best things about big-screen laptops is the desktop-level speed. A wide chassis allows robust cooling systems and fans to keep even the speediest silicon from overheating most of the time. And, yes, fast silicon does make a big difference. There really isn’t anything that can slow down the XPS 15. Opening a browser with dozens of tabs or playing a 1080p video while crunching an Excel spreadsheet or doing photo editing...nothing will faze it. And while I don’t play games, it can also keep up with some of the faster gaming laptops, based on reviews at reputable tech sites. All of that speed can make it painful to return to less performance-oriented laptops.
Price: Pricing starts at $999 with a standard-resolution (1,920-by-1,080) display, dual-core processor, and 500GB 7200RPM hard drive + 32GB solid state drive. The price jumps into the $1,600 to $2,950 range if you go with the high-resolution display, a quad-core processor, and opt for either a 256GB or 512GB PCIe solid state drive. (My unit comes with the 512GB SSD.)
