Ask Paul: November 30 (Premium)

After a week off for Thanksgiving and on the eve of December, Ask Paul is back with another round of great questions.

Intel NUC vs. Mac Mini

chrishilton1 asks:

Hi Paul, I’d be interested in a comparison between the Intel NUC you are using, and the recently released MacMini, from specification, performance, features, and value for money perspectives.

I’ve been thinking about this. The one issue I have with the new NUC—which you can read about here and here—is fan noise. And I think that’s directly attributable to its 28-watt Intel Core i7-8559U processor, which runs at 2.7 GHz with a Turbo Boost of up to 4.5 GHz.

Put simply, it’s a bit loud for my tastes, with the fan coming on more frequently than I’d like. Most U-series chips are 15-watts, so they usually run cooler and at lower frequencies, and are thus better adapted for smaller enclosures, like those in laptops or, in this case, a mini-PC. I’d be fine with a 15-watt U-series part in this NUC. In fact, given the noise, I’d prefer it.

So I’ve been thinking about the Mac Mini. I’ve owned at least two of these over the years, but my previous unit was a long-dated Core 2 Duo-based version, so it’s been a while. The Mac Mini could/should benefit from its larger enclosure from a thermals/fan noise perspective. But the value prop here is unclear: Apple’s products tend to be more expensive, etc.

So let’s do a quick price comparison. The Intel NUC I’m testing is a kit that costs about $465, but it comes sans storage and RAM. But you can buy versions with both on Amazon.com (and, I’m sure, elsewhere). Configured like my NUC—with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD storage, this NUC costs about $870.

I’m going to guess a comparable Mac Mini is a tad more expensive. 🙂 (He writes before checking.)

Looking at Apple.com, I see that the new Mac Mini can be configured with a curiously limited range of processor options and a more acceptable range of RAM, and storage options. And while this probably isn’t strictly comparable (from a processor perspective especially), I configured a version with a 6-core 3.2 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, and 256 GB of SSD storage for $1500. So that’s about $600 more expensive.

What I’d like is a Core i5 model, which I don’t see. Given the efficiencies of macOS, I suppose a quad-core Core i3 model would be OK. And configured as I’d want it, with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD storage, that model would set you back $1200.

I don’t know. If there was a Core i5 upgrade, I’d feel better about this. Ultimately, what I may want personally is a quad-core, 15-watt version of the NUC I’m reviewing.

Why does Windows 10 have ads and crapware?

davidD asks:

What’s the point of the bundled ‘crapware’ and advertising in Windows 10? I gather it’s to make money now that Windows 10 is ‘as-a-service’, but I struggle to believe this is making serious money for MS (compared to Azure, Office 365 etc), whilst only frustrating people and putting a further black mark against Windows 10 as an OS.

It is a misguided attempt to further monetize each Windows user. It’s not strictly tied to WaaS, where the theory is that Microsoft never charges for upgrades anymore and needs to make money somehow. But ads, at least, actually debuted in Windows 8, in 2012. I feel that ads cheapen Windows and that they are a “slippery slope,” meaning that once Microsoft takes this step, it will only add more advertising to Windows, not less. And that’s exactly what’s happened over time. It’s a shame.

The problem with ads and crapware, of course, is that they collectively work to undermine the relationships that users have with Windows and Microsoft. And when you add these to other issues we may have—reliability problems, for example—it’s not hard to imagine many users turning to alternate platforms when it’s time to upgrade. Microsoft, put simply, is shooting itself in the foot.

I see this type of thing elsewhere, by the way. We recently switched from Apple TV to Roku for our primary TV interface. My wife and daughter much prefer the Roku remote, and they both separately asked. So what the heck. Both set-top boxes have the same apps, both are 4K/UHD, the experience should be similar.

And the experience is similar. But the Roku UI has advertising all over the place, and some of it is really annoying. I had to look at a picture of Donald Trump, whom I loathe, the other day. That is not right. And it makes me not want to use Roku. The Apple TV UI is clean, minimalistic, and free of ads.

With Roku, I do at least have options. Sadly, for Microsoft, that’s true with Windows, too. Both of these companies need to wake the f@#k up.

Most successful Surface

Simard57 asks:

What is the most successful Surface? I recall you predicting that the Surface Laptop would be the best seller – how is it doing versus the Surface Pro? How is the Surface Go selling?’

We don’t have any actual sales figures. But we do have some usage figures that will point us to some general truths.

According to AdDuplex, the Surface Pro line of PCs has always been the best-seller overall, and the best-selling version, to date, has been Surface Pro 4.

Put another way, one out of every four Surface PCs in use is a Surface Pro 4. And 72 percent of all Surface PCs in use are some version of Surface Pro. Add in Surface 3 and Surface Go, which makes some sense, and you see that 87 percent of all Surface PCs are this table form factor.

I had big expectations for Surface Laptop and I’m still confused by its relative lack of success. (Perhaps its premium pricing at launch hurt it.) But today, both generations of Surface Laptop generations combine for only 4 percent of all Surface PCs in use.

Surface Go got off to a horrible start, but AdDuplex says that usage has grown in the past month. It now accounts for over 7 percent of all Surface PCs in use. I assume its low cost is the primary draw (Surface 3 usage, at 7.9 percent, is still higher).

Buying Brad’s book

Oasis asks:

How does one buy Brads book on Thurrott.com, the article said you could starting today but there was no link provided. I want the paper version.

Hey, I’m not Brad’s customer service department. 🙂

But I asked about that and the paper version will be available soon, perhaps as soon as today or this weekend. If you didn’t already preorder it in a paper version, the ability to buy it that way will go live on the Beneath a Surface website and on Amazon.com as soon as it is available.

I did ask Brad to fix the note that says “a print version of the book can be pre-ordered on Thurrott.com.”

Origins of Thurrott

paulkbiba asks:

A curiosity question. What is the genesis of the name “Thurrott”. I think it’s actually quite cool, but I can’t figure out its origin.

Thurrott is French-Canadian. But I am neither French nor Canadian, sadly, as it’s an adopted name: My original last name is McKiernan (which is Irish). I’m half Irish and half Italian.

Tablet PCs compared

dcdevito asks:

Paul, have you considered doing a side by side by side comparison of a Chromebook, A Surface Pro and an iPad Pro? I’d love to hear your take on all three. Cheers.

Yes, actually.

I’m probably going to write something soon about what Microsoft got right with Surface, which is really about formalizing the tablet PC form factor that is popular today first. I was sort of inspired to do this by reading and editing Brad’s book, which caused me to go back and rewatch the original Surface events with fresh eyes. This is very interesting to me.

But yeah. A cross-platform comparison is in order, for sure. Will do so, thanks.

Google Fi, Pixel 2 XL, and me

RawkFox asks:

Now that Google Fi has announced support for the iPhone and a few other Android devices, how much time is left before you kick your Pixel 2 XL to the curb?

As you might expect, I’ve been thinking about that a lot.

Sometime soon, maybe today, I’ll switch my Google Fi account from the Pixel 2 XL to the OnePlus 6T so I can complete my review of that latter device (which is excellent). What the future holds is unclear. But I will say a few things.

I still love the Pixel 2 XL for its camera. The one I have now has been working fine, albeit with the performance issues I’ve almost always experienced on Android.

I’ll be buying an iPhone XS (again) sometime soon. Maybe a Max this time, as I’ve not tried it yet, but I want to see one in person first. I pointed out previously that I need a modern iPhone if only for testing purposes, so it’s not clear if I switch to that or just use it on the side.

We’ll see how it goes. I won’t do anything quickly. And maybe it’s fair to say that now I won’t need to do anything permanently either. After all, now that I can easily switch between phones on the network I want to use, I’m in good shape. But I do want to see how Google Fi works on the OnePlus 6T and then the iPhone. So those are the next steps.

Maybe I’ll visit an Apple Store this weekend. My wife will be delighted.

Misunderstanding how I feel about low-end products

Shane asks:

Its concerning when you look at lower end products and that basically you think they should not have ever been produced. Using the most recent example the Surface Go, especially the base model.

That’s not what I do.

What I’m looking for is the best value, what I often call the sweet spot. And it is typically true that the lowest-end products, or models, or versions, or whatever do not satisfy this goal. I also speak/write very plainly, which I know throws some people off. I don’t see a need to throw a product I find to be useless a bone. Not because it’s cheap. But because it’s terrible.

Surface Go is a great example. This product is too small and too underpowered—and, crucially, too expensive given those other attributes—to be recommended. There is no wiggle room here. Mary Jo has repeatedly described how Surface Go is a great solution when she wants to just throw something small in her bag and not carry a real laptop. But that’s elitism, and is exactly what I try to avoid in my reviews: You’re so rich that you can have different PCs to match different situations? Must be nice. But I’m looking for something that will work well for most people most of the time. A good value. The sweet spot.

Let’s look at Surface Go’s pricing: In a reasonable(ish) configuration (8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage) and with a Type Cover, this little piece of crap will set you back about $775 before taxes and fees. A far more future-proof Surface Pro 6 with the same configuration is about $1000. Neither is a low-cost PC. But the Surface Pro 6 will last for years and is a great value. Sometimes it really does make sense to just pay a bit more.

I routinely lash out at Google for raising the prices of its phones, which used to be similar deals. Today, the best deal in the smartphone world (for a flagship-quality phone) is a OnePlus 6T. In fact, I complain about high prices all the time. People complain that I complain about that too much. 🙂

It’s hard to even square what you’re asking with what I actually think and write. This isn’t about getting something “cheap.” It’s about getting something that actually works well and will do so for a long time. Again, a good value. If that thing is also cheap, great.

Diet cheating

hrlngrv asks:

On Windows Weekly you mentioned giving up your diet for Thanksgiving. Is that just for the day? Do you also give up your diet for Christmas? I have 3 kids: one a vegetarian, another who hates turkey, and the third who’s overseas in grad school. No turkey or stuffing for me this year. Ever had salmon for Thanksgiving?

I would never have salmon on Thanksgiving, no. 🙂

I feel that this meal is traditional and I really look forward to it. But I get it. My daughter is a vegetarian. She doesn’t eat the turkey and we make a side gravy and stuffing, both without the turkey stock, just for her. We also do a broader family thing where people bring foods (pulled pork, pasta, etc.) that I would never eat on Thanksgiving. (See the top image.) But they’re welcome to do so, of course.

Regarding the diet more generally, I cheat throughout the year in small ways. I eat a lot of chocolate. I drink wine. I eat things like corn, popcorn, and sushi rice that are not on the “low carb” plan.

More dramatically, I had pizza for the first time in two years fairly recently. I ate a croissant in Paris in early October. But I don’t ever really eat potatoes of any kind, bread, or pasta, normally. Like, ever. For two years now.

We do make a turkey on Christmas, too, actually. So, yeah, I’ll have some stuffing then. But I think it’s good to “cheat” sometimes, and everyone has this thing they may miss on a diet. The goal isn’t to feel bad about yourself or guilty. Do the right thing, but enjoy life as well.

Outside computing

BigM72 asks:

I’m moving to a country with better weather so I’d like to do more of my computer activities whilst sitting outdoors. Is there a computer that works well outdoors particularly in terms of screen visibility which I guess is a function of reflectivity and brightness? “Computer” in the loosest term – laptops and tablets can both apply.

If none are satisfactory, I’ll just have to read books on a Kindle?

Well. You should be reading on a Kindle regardless, yes. 🙂

This isn’t something I think about a lot, I guess. But regarding computer displays and outdoor light, you’re looking for something with the brightest possible display, like 450-500 nits, and a more matte-type display. I know the new MacBook Pros

UPDATE: This Anandtech post is a good resource for the brightest PC displays.