Upgraded my computer for Logos

After 4 years of using my Surface Pro 3, and loving my Logos experience with it, I decided to upgrade my computer. I looked hard at the Surface Pro 4 and the new Surface Pro, since I loved my previous one. But when I looked at the new two-in-one laptops available, I became convinced that for much less money I could get more computer, while still having the advantage of the touch screen tablet mode for reading. Furthermore, the two-in-ones are lighter than ever, and like the Surface Pro have fast SSD storage. Also, the new generation 8 processors and dedicated graphics are a huge advantage. The battery life is three or four times the battery life on my old Surface Pro 3.

I am very happy with the Logos experience on my new HP Spectre X 360 two-in-one. The speed is great. Logos starts and is ready to go in 14 seconds with 3 windows and 13 tabs loaded. One big advantage that I wasn’t expecting is how much I enjoy the bigger 15-inch screen, as my one good eye is getting older.

Extended reading in the tablet mode is very nice. However, that is the one area where I still give the Surface Pro an advantage. I have done quite a bit of reading on my new two-in-one, and I am getting very comfortable with it. It is about two pounds heavier than my Surface Pro was, but not too heavy to hold. Sometimes I read with the two-in-one laying in tablet mode upon a lap desk, or other surface, and in that case, it does as well as the Surface Pro.

I think I made the right choice. At least I am very happy with it. I have nothing critical to say about Surface Pros, but I love my new two-in-one Logos experience.

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Comments

James Chandler

I am glad for you.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/933216#Comment_933216

Sounds ideal i just had to get a new MBP myself since while not completely failing my 2012 model MBP was failing (SD CARD Slot and one USB port was wonky, leading me to believe one day not too far off the board might die completely), this is my first computer with no optical drive and little surprised by being half the weight of my old one. I know the screen is big resolution but so far have not noticed a major difference in eye strain but all in all happy with the new machine here too... a two in one for mac would be cool but also so such creature has emerged.

-dan

Small Heath

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/933223#Comment_933223

but also so such creature has emerged.

-dan

Please explain what you mean by this.

Dale Heath

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/933238#Comment_933238

I think Dan meant to write "no such creature" - i.e. there is no comparable 2-in-1 Mac product

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/933239#Comment_933239

Graham is correct. Apple has patented many laptop to close screen up patents showing a touch mac or iPad mac have been considered but never has such a product came to market. Autocorrect somehow changed my NO to SO, unless my typing was very off but suppose anything is possible.

-dan

GaoLu

I am very happy with the Logos experience on my new HP Spectre X 360 two-in-one. The speed is great. Logos starts and is ready to go in 14 seconds with 3 windows and 13 tabs loaded. One big advantage that I wasn’t expecting is how much I enjoy the bigger 15-inch screen, as my one good eye is getting older.

I have this same computer and have used and abused it terribly traveling. I LOVE it and love how Logos works on it. I like it so much that 2 of my sons also have aqcuired the same computer.

(‾◡◝)

Also, the new generation 8 processors and dedicated graphics are a huge advantage ... I have done quite a bit of reading on my new two-in-one, and I am getting very comfortable with it.

Sounds like a winner!

I am a big fan of the 2 in 1 form factor. From laptop to tablet (and everything in between) - it's very convenient especially with today's lightweight Ultrabooks. I gave away my Thinkpad X1 Yoga in anticipation of the of the new, Intel series 8 cpus ... double the cores, faster, less power drain than previous generations. IOW, the new ultrabooks with the series 8 chips should be svelte powerhouses that can handle L7 (Win) with ease.

(‾◡◝)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/933328#Comment_933328

... the new generation 8 processors and dedicated graphics are a huge advantage ...

FWIW: I noticed an article today in PCWorld magazine that specifically compares the performance of an Intel Core i7-8550U processor (8th generation) in a Dell XPS 13 ultra laptop to the same model but with a Core Core i7-7500U (7th generation). To say the reviewer was taken aback by the performance of the new processor is to put it mildly. In fact, he warns his readers at the beginning of the article, "Don't buy a new ultraportable laptop or MacBook Air until you read this story (seriously)." His conclusion is below. In short, this latest iteration of the mobile Core i7 is NOT merely an incremental bump in performance, it is a major leap forward and will run L7 most adequately for many years.

Conclusion

There's only one way to describe our experience with the Core i7-8550U inside the Dell XPS 13: Impressed. No wait, damned impressed would be a better way to couch it. For years Intel's CPUs in Ultrabooks have improved mostly incrementally, from 4th-gen Haswell to 5th-gen Broadwell, to 6th-gen Skylake. Sure, 7th-gen Kaby Lake represented a healthy bump over Broadwell, but not like this.

The 8th-gen Kaby Lake refresh, as it's called, is a quantum leap forward for ultra-portable laptops. You've simply never been able to get this kind of performance from something so small before. Yes, it's that good.

Remember that this is just one example. Unlike desktops, where the variance from CPU to CPU is minuscule, laptop cooling designs and decisions on fan noise and thermals will likely have a huge impact on the new 8th-gen CPU's performance.

But in this Dell XPS 13, the 8th gen Core i7 simply rocks. A full review of the laptop is forthcoming, but as you've already seen, this thing is fast.

Gordon Mah Ung

Executive Editor, PCWorld | NOV 8, 2017 3:00 AM PT