Hello, I've searched the forum, but I can't seem to get the right advice for my use case. I'd love some input.
I've gotten a new job at a small mechanical engineering firm and they've asked me to pick out a workstation. After years of lugging around an unnecessarily heavy dell workstation at the large corporation I am at right now I know I want something light and portable. I've really zeroed in on the Surface Book or Surface Pro 4.
The most taxing software I will be using is likely just Autodesk Inventor, possibly some light FEA in the future. Assemblies should not get too big. I'm really intrigued if having a pen and a touch screen can improve my work flow in ways I don't think of today (would love some input from engineers if this is true). I think possibly for recording hand calculations and maybe some sketches.
Now this is an expensive device, so I want to make sure I get the choice correct at a new job that is pretty old school (don't want to look like I am just buying a gadget).
Both the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book seem like they would be able to handle the computational load (i7, 16b, with dGPU or Iris graphics). My use case will be mostly using it with a dock, monitor, and keyobard at a desk and then some use at meetings and various locations around the small facility. I like the Surface Book for the sweet keyboard, extra battery (not sure how necessary that will be), bigger screen, and more realestate for writing with the screen flipped over and folded down. It is also a little more powerful with the dGPU. I like the Surface Pro 4 because it was a lot more sturdy for writing in any upright position and it is the ultimate in portability. Also, it is a much less expensive sell.
My last question is if anyone recommends to avoid these devices completely. I've read of so many issues it makes me a little anxious to order it to be my main work computer. Or has it become more reliable in the last couple of months.
Thank you.
I've gotten a new job at a small mechanical engineering firm and they've asked me to pick out a workstation. After years of lugging around an unnecessarily heavy dell workstation at the large corporation I am at right now I know I want something light and portable. I've really zeroed in on the Surface Book or Surface Pro 4.
The most taxing software I will be using is likely just Autodesk Inventor, possibly some light FEA in the future. Assemblies should not get too big. I'm really intrigued if having a pen and a touch screen can improve my work flow in ways I don't think of today (would love some input from engineers if this is true). I think possibly for recording hand calculations and maybe some sketches.
Now this is an expensive device, so I want to make sure I get the choice correct at a new job that is pretty old school (don't want to look like I am just buying a gadget).
Both the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book seem like they would be able to handle the computational load (i7, 16b, with dGPU or Iris graphics). My use case will be mostly using it with a dock, monitor, and keyobard at a desk and then some use at meetings and various locations around the small facility. I like the Surface Book for the sweet keyboard, extra battery (not sure how necessary that will be), bigger screen, and more realestate for writing with the screen flipped over and folded down. It is also a little more powerful with the dGPU. I like the Surface Pro 4 because it was a lot more sturdy for writing in any upright position and it is the ultimate in portability. Also, it is a much less expensive sell.
My last question is if anyone recommends to avoid these devices completely. I've read of so many issues it makes me a little anxious to order it to be my main work computer. Or has it become more reliable in the last couple of months.
Thank you.