#AskDanWindows Episode 11 - Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book?

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

After a whirlwind two weeks of Microsoft news and new devices, we're back with another episode of #AskDanWindows!

This week I am fielding 10 more questions from you fine folks sent in over Twitter or email with many (not surprisingly) dealing with those new Lumias.

Let's get to it!

AskDanWindows Episode 11 Questions of the Week

  • *Are there any changes to the water rating for Band 2? - @BucksterMcgee
  • Do u think projects like Universal apps will help get windows store better developed apps than iOS or Android? - @Avi44Yadav
  • Do you think Continuum would work on all Windows 10 Mobile devices regardless of spec, possible through hacks? - @sveldte
  • What's happening with the Windows Central universal app? - @SethD_Nelson
  • Is the outlook hopeless for Microsoft phone fans on Verizon? - @Jeremy_B82
  • For the little time you spent with the 950s, does the camera match the snapper on Samsung Galaxy S6/Note 5? - @baxiabhishek
  • Any idea about the led notifications on newly launched Lumia devices, i.e Lumia 950 and 950 XL? - Saurabh S.
  • I'm really confused between getting the Surface Pro 4 or the Surface Book. I need power and performance for my daily tasks and activities and was going to get the Surface Pro 4 until the Surface Book was announced. - Tosin I.
  • What happened to the stylus for the Lumia 950 XL? – Nabil H. [Answer: See my article on this issue.]
  • Why did Microsoft make its band series focused at fitness, when they could have added more Smartwatch features to it, to appeal to more people. / Why does the Microsoft band 2 not run windows 10? – Philip M.

Thanks to everyone who submitted a question and as always, thanks for watching!

New email!

Don't use Twitter? Well after much feedback we are happy to announce you can forward your questions to AskDan@WindowsCentral.com to submit your requests!

About that office…

For those of you wondering about our office, we did our full office tour a few weeks ago. You can find that article here including our equipment listing or watch the video below!

Missed previous episodes? You may be surprised what I have revealed. You can find previous episodes of #AskDanWindows here on the main landing page.

Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

78 Comments
  • I've been waiting for this episode !!
  • TITLE NOT FOUND in video section, fix pls
  • Dude just give it up. It'll get fixed when it does. Everybody is annoyed with it but it will get fixed.
  • Never gonna give you up...
  • When is windows 10 for mobiles out properly for the Lumia 435
  • In December, use the search function if you want to read the article about it.
  • December
  • 4GB devices wont receive Windows 10
  • Book for me thanks
  • I love your #AskDanWindows Episodes, Daniel!
  • Why is the Windows Central app better on Android? :sad:
    I want a Surface Book but it's not meant for my use I'll take a Surface Pro 4 Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Android rules. Also, app development is not easy. Not free. Not ideal since we're talking about an incomplete OS.
  • So it's still under development Daniel? Or complete and waiting for WM release. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Seriously? I answer the question in this very video.
  • Haha I wonder if people post first and watch the video (or read the article) second.
  • Haha I wonder if people are just morons. This is why Apple does so well.
  • I apologize Mr. Rubino just seen the video can't wait for the beta and keep up the good work! Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • You should make a very simple and super quick video whereas the only question is the one you hate and hear daily and all you have to do is scream one word at the screen, this might get through to some people haha
  • Tbh it makes no difference that the (mobile) OS is incomplete as the desktop one IS. The code is literally one size fits all. I just put my first universal windows 10 app out a few weeks ago. So ill accept your other excuses but not that one sir! :P
  • oh yeah? see this
  • It kind of depends on the developer Dan, also time, resources, size of project, size of team etc. At this stage there are very few breaking changes and nearly all breaking changes have been extremely easy to resolve. I'm looking forward to the beta, however I still think it's taken far too long, just shut up and take my money already!
  • because it's by Mobile nations(official). but  I prefer the windows central on WP, works fast..
  • The Android and Windows Phone have different developers, I'm pretty sure that the new Windows Central App will have a new dev.
  • Looks like it's the same dev as the 8.x app, Jay. Not sure if that's a good thing or not, the 8.x was good to start but with very few updates it's lagged behind for too long and now its barely useable on Windows 10 Mobile (Yes this is the insider build issue not an issue with the app, however, with a little TLC from the developer the app could be updated to improve performance for the latest builds.)
  • @mbrdev:
    I personally tend to "or not".
    The Windows Phone app has too many unresvolved, glaring issues (while trying to edit comments the text field is only two lines tall, text jumps in it; edited comments don't appear in their original place, if they were answers to someone else's comment, but below all comments; urls get abbreviated so much, that they are rendered useless).
    These are all issues that shouldn't take months to resolve for a somewhat sophisticated developer, but Jay Bennett seems to have abandoned the development of the Windows Phone app.
  • Hi. I just tried the app on my Note 5. Awesome. Thanks for the advice.
  • Forget "or"...buy both...
  • Why on earth would some fool think a Lumia was a Surface just because it might work with a pen?  Good grief. And if you even have to think about whether the camera on the 950 or 950XL is better or not than the competition, it is NOT worth flagship status as far as I'm concerned.  #AlsoRan
  • Its a flagship.
  • Isn't
  • Can't wait for those universal apps, like Windows Central, Viber, Facebook, Instagram etc. I really hope it will bring more people to Windows..I mean if its really about the apps...
  • But until they get snapchat and banks they will not get a vast majority of young people. And young people are the driving force behind what phones become popular.
  • Unfortunately Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • I'm young
  • I'm 15 love WP, but I am about ready to get an iTouch just for snapchat haha
  • What is the dev for snapchat (I usually call them something much worse) saying these days regarding WP app?
  • Why is the surface book only dual core? :(
  • Ah it's not. It's definitely quad-core.
  • http://www.pcworld.com/article/2989906/laptop-computers/here-are-the-det...
  • Is it just me, or was Daniel not smiling enough in this video of AskDanWindows as compared to earlier ones? He seems a little down, unwell maybe? Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • He's been reading the comments.
  • Your ones for sure...
  • Great video, but video aside. Why do you have a surface book on a bed? Guys are you hiding stuff from us? You have a surface book dont you?
  • Wow. didn't know Band 2, didn't run W10 IOT. Bummer... Really feel it'll never get significant updates and is still looking like a side project. Especially with how bad my MS Band is running with my phone running W10 previews. It is just bad. Hardly ever any notifications and gets disconnected from Bluetotth too easily. It may end up like Windows 7.8. Shame really.
  • No, it wont.
  • I hope it end up like 7/8
  • People asking where he bought that hoodie in 3...2....1.....
  • It's been forty minutes and no hoodie questions. You lied to me.
  • The only thing I hate about the weekend is the lack of Windows news. Thanks for another great episode Dan!
  • #VerizonSucks Let's get it trending on Twitter.
  • Will the universal app be free or paid?
  • Free
  • It's free!
  • Does watsapp have a universal app?
  • I'm curious, but don't want to bother checking a full question for the series, ​how does the charger for the Band 2 seem to be. I've had to replace my band a few times already because the cable just stopped being able to detect it plugged into my computer to charge, and strange bumps form on the skin response receptors, does that seem to no longer be a problem in the band 2?
  • The Band 2 hides the charging receptacle between the clasps so it is no longer touching your skin. It looks like a much better way of doing it. Also it looks like the housing around the optical sensor is rubber (or such) which only leaves the two big sensors for galvanic skin response to actually be touching your skin. I would not doubt that they changed the metal for the skin response sensors to something that is non-reactive but we will see. Goto http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/features and click on the photo gallery right below the big picture of the band at the top. Then click once to the left to see a decent picture of how it charges. It felt like it is magnetic at the store. If you are curious, I had the same issues with original Band as well.
  • Funny, I've been racking my brain whether to get the Surface Book with Discreet graphics or the Surface pro 4. I will be using it for video editing/after affects kind of things and replacing my desktop with it (just gonna buy the surface dock for extra peripherals). But it all depends on what i can get for the price.
  • Can't wait to listen... Been itching for a new app. Need landscape typing back. And the notification emails are now far worse, they don't open the app.
  • Are they really going to make surface phone?
  • speculation at this point, but the next phone is being made by the surface team, and theres a high demand for it, so its pretty likely its atleast something they are considering.
  • Thanks Dan.
  • Can't wait for the universal Windows Central App Beta! Sucks neither the 950 or XL have notification LEDs... why not have both? Not just one or the other... Sometimes I leave my phone on charge and have to walk over to my desk, pick it up and check. As opposed to just looking over and seeing if I have a notification or not - much more efficient. Something I miss from the blackberry days and no I'm not glued to my phone 24/7 hence why don't I suffer from the phantom notifications (where you imagine you hear your phone vibrating or notification alert) whereas everyone I know does.
  • Finally a universal windows central app in the works. The current one is extremely outdated
  •   Microsoft Band: I agree, the MSB should be a phone compagnion rather than a more or less independed device. 
    The "heavy" computing should be done on the "main frame" (aka Windows Phone / iOS / Android devices). 
      The MSB should strive to become water-resistant and fully scratch-resistant ("MIL"-style).
    The MSB should be worry-free when and where to use and wear it (no second thoughts).
      The MSB as of today also still has a major fault: its operating temperature range. The current temperature range the MSB is designed to is the commercial temperature range. 
    On the upper end the commercial temperature range ends at +40°C .  Lower temperatures are less of a problem for semiconductors, they even can run faster at lower temps. 
    The limits for a device is typically the display which fades to work the lower the temperature gets.  Higher temperatures slow down internal signal pathes, increase transition times.
    The circuitry does not work reliable any more, stumbles, the system behavour become inpredictable and crashes. 
    40°C is way to low for a device like the MSB. It should be 80°C rather. 
    Even 80°C can be reached fairly quickly, leaving the MSB on a car's dashboard or on a window sill. 
      The MSB needs more display real estate.
    The MSB should evolve into a real band, a wrist band. 
    Which requires a special display technology plus a new type of flexible battery.   Lots of work and research to do for the MSB team.  Guess the real potential for the MSB we will start to see starting with the MSB 3 ...
    the MSB 2 is a good start however. 
    Hope it will sell in good volume so Microsoft can invest more in R&D of this product category. I prefer the MSB it over the Apple Watch as it comes with more and better sensors  
    and I can replace it more frequently with a new version
    as it comes cheaper than the fashionista Apple Watch.  
  • Dan, mate, these videos are flipping amazing and incredibly informative, please don't stop doing them! I wish you were on more podcasts etc., I highly value your opinion and logic on all thing MS (and otherwise)! Thumbs up!
  • Hey I have a question guys that this is the final version of windows 10 ? Daniel says now this OS is feature complete means no new features will be dere in upcoming builds atleast give Bluetooth folder bcoz various files disappears after receiving and an app which can lock various other apps individually but I don't think dere will be any of these features :(
  • FWP.
  • Quite a bummer they dropped the pen from the Lumia 950 XL...
  • Nice to see another episode!
  • Very enjoyable series. Thanks Dan.
  • Speaking of the Band 2, does anyone know if it or even the first generation have an always on clock mode that works in sort of a low power mode?
  • 1. Verizon SUCKS. 2. CrApple SUCKS EVEN MORE (#1 is Sucking in the world) 3. iSHEEP SUCKS 4. Google SUCKS(Unless they release Windows U Apps, then they suck less) """"""Windows/Microsoft All The Way for Life""""""".  
  • Calm down with the fanboy-juice. 
  • Video link in Windows Phone app is no good..!
  • Love the design of the Surface Book... But for the weight and price, I'm going to go with a Dell XPS 15 instead. Both the gpu and cpu in the XPS 15 are over 2x as powerful as the Surface Book, and it costs around the same price. Also, other than the discrete gpu, the Surface Book doesn't really get that much more powerful than the Surface Pro 4 (the i7 in the Surface Book is a little more powerful though). In addition to the Dell XPS 15, I will be getting a Surface Pro 4 with an i7 and 16 GB of RAM though... When it comes to mobility, you can't beat the SP4!
  • I game on a desk top, have a laptop from work (they dont have byod yet) and a surface 3 for web surfing, videos, some small office task and reading comics.  Should I get a Surface Pro 4 or a Android tablet?  I ran AmiDuos on my S3, but it's kind of slow.
  • That is strange. The product support site for Band 1/2 indicates the water resistance ratings that they have and indicate that they meet them.  One of those ratings indicates that the device can survive being submerged under 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.  It isn't designed for this purpose, but that it meets that criteria. I realize they do this so that people don't try and swim with it - but that does make it seem like we shouldn't fret over rain or light exposure to water. I mean 1 meter and 30 minutes?  30 minutes may be temporary in some context, but with a device under water that is an eternity! http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us/support/safety-guide
  • Anyone got that orange wallpaper?