Microsoft launched the Surface line to showcase what Windows PCs could do. These would be the rockstar systems that made vendors raise their game and take the fight to Apple. And for a while, that worked: at its height, there were clever systems like the detachable Surface Book and tilting Surface Laptop Studio that made Apple look stale.
But then something happened. As I was enjoying the 15-inch Surface Laptop 7, one of Microsoft’s better PCs of recent times, I realized the company’s hardware was stagnating. I decided to switch to a MacBook Pro M4 as it was not only technically superior, but came from a company that had rediscovered innovation — and I haven’t looked back since.
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Microsoft
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Windows 11 Home
Surface was uninspiring
A clever chip, but not much else
To be clear, my Surface Laptop was a fine system. Its Snapdragon X Elite chip was fast, and delivered epic battery life. I could go through a full workday and still have half my charge left. The keyboard, trackpad, and overall build quality were top-shelf, and Windows on ARM had advanced to the point where all my favorite apps ran seamlessly. Having a touchscreen certainly helped when Apple didn’t even give the option.
But the more I used the Surface, the more I realized it was just… uninspired. Microsoft had used the same design long past its expiry date (USB-A, anyone?). Apart from the long battery life and a ‘clean’ take on Windows, there was nothing in particular to recommend it. ARM’s app compatibility issues didn’t help, but even an x86 model would have left me with reduced battery life, sleep issues, and other headaches.
Moreover, Microsoft wasn’t showing any signs of innovation in the pipeline. The Surface Book was already gone; the Surface Laptop Studio went untouched; other systems were either old or on the cusp of being discontinued. I decided that it was already time to jump ship by late 2024, and it was just a question of who would get my business.
Why I chose a Mac over Surface for my next PC
Apple was innovating at just the right time
I could have chosen another Windows PC, and I might well have been happy. Asus has long pushed boundaries in computer design, with dual screens and other clever features that keep them exciting. Lenovo is the champion of convertible laptops and sleek-yet-powerful portable workstations. I’d leap on a ThinkPad X9 if you forced me to switch today.
But they all felt like variations on a theme, so I turned to Apple. I’ve admittedly been a fan of its work and have used Macs in the past, but Apple was hitting its stride near the end of 2024. The MacBook Pro M4 might have been using a three-year-old design, but it still felt fresher than the Surface and had a clearly speedier chip despite being just a few months newer.
More importantly, Apple was using its hardware to drive thoughtful innovation in software. Apple Intelligence was undercooked at the time, but at least the AI wasn’t as overbearing as Windows Copilot. Video calls were better than on any Windows PC I’d used thanks to hardware-optimized image processing and auto-framing, while iPhone mirroring showed Microsoft how phone connectivity should be done. That’s not even including Apple’s signature advantages in media editing.
No, Apple didn’t have a touchscreen or a monster GPU, and it has long been accused of play-it-safe hardware updates. However, it was at least evolving where Microsoft was static, or even regressing — it’s telling that Microsoft vowed in early 2026 to recommit to Windows quality after years of unwanted Copilot tie-ins, spammy content feeds, and user-hostile features like surprise software updates. I wasn’t going to escape those with another Windows PC in 2024, so I committed to the MacBook Pro.
Microsoft hasn’t given me a reason to switch back
Windows is getting better, but Surface isn’t
I’m in no rush to return to Surface, either. Windows has improved in recent months, but Surface hasn’t. Never mind the price hikes — Microsoft has further whittled down its lineup to just the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, with designs that haven’t changed much in several years; the Laptop 8’s privacy display doesn’t count. Other brands are bold and inventive by comparison, and the pro-oriented, RTX Spark-powered Surface Laptop Ultra isn’t the solution.
And it’s ironic that Microsoft is retreating just as Apple is expanding its horizons. Whatever you think of the MacBook Neo, it’s a brand-new model shaking up the PC market. Rumors persist that Apple will not only catch up with OLED touchscreens on laptops, but speed up CPU releases to outperform rivals. And that’s not including some much-needed software innovations such as the Gemini-influenced Siri AI. I have fond memories of my Surface Laptop, but I just can’t see a bright future for Microsoft computers unless the company relights its innovative fire.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
