MacBook Air or Surface Pro 3?

So I have a dilemma to choose which computer/hybrid to buy. According to my parents they believe that a Mac would be the best device for me due it durability. They obviously want to know they spent their money on a long lasting and good quality product 0.0 (don't blame them). As for me, I lean a little towards the SP3. However, I'm not sure on its durability:/. As far as Apple goes I have the iPhone and the iPad 2. I have never actually worked with a Mac's operating system. I'm currently in college and what i have used so far is word and excel. I have herd/read that the new Windows system that the SP3 has is a bit hard to get accustomed as well. I'm not a computer savy person. The only time I use them is to write essays or research papers. Now having my iPad I'm used to a touch screen. I actually use it when taking notes. However, I don't know if in the SP3 you can write directly on PDF, word, and ppt document using the stylus. In my iPad there would be an app that would allow me to download them and write using a stylus. (When it comes to ppt, I don't like to actually edit them, as in use a keyboard, first of all because I can't type fast, and also because most ppt I wrote on where for chem and math). I do watch a lot of Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Drama Fever, and any other shows/ movies on apps on my iPad. Okay having stated all that anyone has any advice for me?! Experiences with your current devices would help!

Depends on whether you are used to Mac or PC.

A Surface Pro 4 is the much newer device. A SP3 or SP4 is MUCH better than an iPad for writing on the screen and using a proper pen for inking information.

I have a Macbook Air and I think honestly it's a humungous waste of money. I don't use Apple anything else so compatibility with the rest of my devices is not a factor.

However since you have an iPhone and an iPad 2, they can do stuff like sync between the iCloud, or when the latest versions of iOS and OS X comes out, you'll be able to text from the Macbook using your iPhone. Honestly Apple products really do work best with other Apple products and it you're heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, it makes sense to get a Macbook.

If the Apple ecosystem is not a factor, then in almost all ways the Surface Pro 3 is probably better. You can use it as a laptop or tablet, you can run more apps then most other devices due to Windows 8 App store and the fact that Windows already has over 4 million desktop programs. The Surface Pro 3 has a touch screen and HDMI port, the Macbook Air doesn't. You can also play more games on the Surface Pro 3.

However if all you're going to be using the computer for is Word or Excel, it's worth mentioning that you can put Microsoft Office on your iPad now. On the Surface Pro 3, you most likely can't write on word documents with the stylus directly, as Microsoft Office there's a desktop program.

However Macbooks do have really durable hardware and the fact that Apple builds OS X around that said hardware is part of what makes Macs good, the software and hardware were made for each other. However, Microsoft built there own hardware for the Surface Pro 3 so it should be pretty durable as wel.

Macs are easily overpriced, you can get Windows laptops for half the price that's just as good. However, Macs are also easier to use and run almost all the apps Windows does nowadays.

Summary:

I'd get the Macbook Air if you are already heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem or just want the easy compatibility between your Apple devices. Plus Apple's hardware is notoriously good and if you really need Windows, you can run Windows on Macbook's as well.

However I'd get the Surface Pro 3 if you desire the touch interface, plus it gets you more bang for your buck. And many of the previous problems of Windows (slow, clunky, virus-filled) are almost no more in Windows 8. Plus the Surface Pro 3 can do more for the most part.

Or what you could do it buy a Microsoft Office 365 subscription and use Office on your iPad. It's not totally necessary to buy a PC anymore (although I like keeping one around)

It is truly up to you, good luck!