Surface

Surface Pro 5 images leak ahead of Microsoft’s May 23 event in Shanghai

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 19, 2017

Yesterday, prolific leakster Evan Blass posted a bunch of purported press shots of Microsoft's unreleased Surface Pro 5 tablet/notebook hybrid. The company's upcoming Windows 10 device should be re-christened as “Surface Pro”.

The software giant is expected to unveil it on Tuesday, according to Blass.

Microsoft said earlier that it would “show the world what’s next” at its event on Tuesday, May 23, in Shanghai. A successor to the company's Surface Book notebook is not expected to debut at the press event, according to a source familiar with Microsoft’s plans.

The Redmond company hasn't updated its flagship Surface Pro 4 for a year and a half.

If the leaked press photographs are anything to go by, the next Surface Pro will feature some new pen and keyboard colors. Presumably, it would run faster chips and feature other refreshed internals. It's interesting that the device shown on the leaked shots does not appear to have a USB-C port.

The recently unveiled Surface Laptop also has no USB-C port.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdg7P_kTb-c

The current-generation Surface Pro 4 released as a modest update to its predecessor.

Surface Pro 4 includes a stylus and a detachable keyboard. The device is powered by an Intel chip, allowing it to transform from a tablet to a full-on computer capable of running Windows, Office and other real desktop applications.

Microsoft has seen modest success with the Surface lineup.

Across nearly five years, Microsoft has sold only about 14-17 million Surface hybrids in total.

However, Surface revenue has shrunk by $52 million since its quarterly launch peak in 2015. Since its debut, Surface revenues have barely hovered around $1 billion quarterly.

Microsoft’s new mouse has bendable tail

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

Microsoft's hardware division has been building some of the nicest mice and keyboards for years now. At today's education-focused event in New York City, the Windows maker briefly showed off a new Surface Arc Mouse.

Positioned as the perfect travel companion to the company's new touchscreen Surface Laptop, the wireless mouse was designed with a bendable tail and other features such as a touch-sensitive surface akin to Apple's Magic Mouse.

The Bluetooth device snaps into the curved position to power up. When you're done using it, simply snap again to flatten and power it down.

At just 2.91 ounces, or about 83 grams, Surface Arc Mouse is pretty light, too.

And here it is in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkwSh2q-1yE

Other features include a touch-sensitive plane for simultaneous vertical and horizontal scrolling, Bluetooth 4.0, the curvature that conforms to your hand, up to nine months of battery life via the two included AAA alkaline batteries, left and right buttons and more.

The Bluetooth device boasts high imaging rate that adapts dynamically to a whopping 1,200 frames per second, ensuring smooth performance with up to a thousand points per inch and tracking speed of up to 30 inches (approximately 762 millimeters) per second.

Surface Arc Mouse is available for pre-order via Microsoft Store for $79.99 in three distinct color finishes: Burgundy, Light Gray and Cobalt Blue.

It's scheduled to start shipping this summer on June 15.

Microsoft unveils touchscreen Surface Laptop, its $999 MacBook rival

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

At its educational event held this morning in New York City, Microsoft unveiled Surface Laptop, its $999 MacBook rival available for preorder beginning today ahead of its planned release this summer.

The device runs the new Windows 10 S operating system, the company's answer to Google’s Chrome OS, and features a clamshell body weighing at 2.76 pounds and measuring 14.47mm at its thickest point and tapering down to 9.9mm at its thinnest point at the front.

Taking on MacBooks

Surface Laptop runs either Intel’s seventh-generation i5 or i7 processor and sports vapor chambers integrated into the anodized aluminum finish on the rear to help keep it cool.

It's got a 13.5-inch PixelSense LCD touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio featuring 3.4 million pixels (withCorning’s Gorilla Glass 3 for protection) and supporting the Surface Pen stylus. “This is the thinnest LDC touch model every created and put into a laptop,” says Microsoft's Panos Panay, who took to the stage to unveil the new products today.

Say hello to Surface Laptop

Watch a reveal trailer for Surface Laptop below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74kPEJWpCD4

The laptop is outfitted with a 14.5-hour battery.

That’s “up to four more hours of battery power than a 13-inch MacBook Pro” and “more battery life than any MacBook Air on the market today,” says the Windows maker in another comparison between its new notebook and Apple's MacBook line. The Windows maker claims you can watch as many as fourteen episodes of your favorite TV show in one sitting, without ever plugging in.

The device's keyboard has a 1.5mm travel, with the backlit keys made from the same material used for premium Surface Pro covers, called Alcantara fabric. The speakers are integrated underneath the keyboard, but there are no speaker grills or holes.

In terms of connections, Surface Laptop comes outfitted with a regular USB port, mini DisplayPort and the conventional Surface power connector, but no USB-C.

Windows 10 S or Windows 10 Pro?

Because it runs Windows 10 S, Surface Laptop can only run apps offered on Windows Store.

Google Chrome is not found on Windows Store and Spotify’s app with support for Surface Dial will be coming to the store early this summer. If you want to run apps not found on Windows Store, you can optionally upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for a one-time $49 fee.

Because Windows 10 Pro is the full version of Microsoft’s operating system, upgrading may result in reduced battery life and performance, cautions the Windows maker.

If you need to use an app that isn’t in the Windows Store, in just a few clicks can go to the Windows Store and switch to Windows 10 Pro. But you shouldn’t. This device, this OS, they’re made for each other, and together they offer so much. It’s everything you love about Windows, Office, and Surface, made pure and elegant in an unbelievably thin and light package.

Microsoft now has three families of Surface devices in its lineup: the Surface Pro 4 notebook/laptop hybrid, the all-in-one Surface Studio and the new Surface Laptop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HCVUCqZoHI

Availability and pricing

Surface Laptop is available for pre-order via Microsoft Store starting today.

The entry-level $999 model uses Intel’s seventh-generation Core i5 processor with Intel HD Graphics 620, four gigabytes of RAM and 128 gigabytes of flash storage. The $1,299 model uses 256 gigabytes of flash storage and eight gigabytes of RAM.

The more powerful $1,599 model comes outfitted with Intel’s seventh-generation Core i7 processor with Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, eight gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of flash storage. The flagship $2,199 model upgrades your storage and RAM to 512 and sixteen gigabytes, respectively.

Surface Laptop comes in four colors: Platinum, Burgundy, Cobalt Blue and Graphite Gold.

The notebook will start shipping this summer on June 15. For a limited time, Surface Laptop comes with an offer for one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal and one terabyte of free storage on OneDrive, giving you full access to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

Microsoft’s new Mac to Surface Assistant does exactly what the name says

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 19, 2017

Microsoft is simplifying the process of moving your Mac stuff over to the Surface laptop/tablet hybrid devices. As noted on Twitter three days ago, the Windows maker recently released a brand new app, Mac to Surface Assistant, provided as a free download from the Microsoft website. The migration tool requires an external USB drive and lets Apple users move all their photos, videos, music, mails, contacts, calendars and other files from a Mac to a Surface with a few clicks.

Microsoft: more Mac users than ever switching to Surface over MacBook Pro “disappointment”

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 11, 2017

If you believe Microsoft, Apple fans are so disappointed with the new MacBook Pro that they're now switching to Surface PCs and laptops in droves. In a blog post Monday by Brian Hall, CVP Microsoft Devices Marketing, trash-talked the new MacBook Pro, openly calling it a “disappointment”.

In the same breath, he suggested that the excitement of new Surface products coupled with the supposed MacBook Pro disappointment is now encouraging more people to switch from Macs to Surface than ever before.

New Surface ad wants you to think that your Mac “ain’t fast enough”

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 15, 2016

It's been only three days since Microsoft's advertising department unleashed a new ad salvo at Apple's direction in the form of a commercial for its Surface Pro 4 tablet/laptop hybrid and now it's posted yet another video to conveniently reiterate its message ahead of iPhone 7's launch tomorrow. Titled “Power of Touch”, the 30-second commercial doubles down on the ”the Mac lacks a touchscreen” theme.

Not only does Microsoft poke fun of the fact that Macs are long overdue for a refresh (yours supposedly “ain't fast enough” lately), but also disses the Mac for not shipping with a detachable keyboard or a stylus.

New Surface Pro 4 ad pokes fun of the Mac because it doesn’t have a touchscreen

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 12, 2016

Microsoft over the weekend fired another ad salvo at Apple's tablet/computer strategy with a new (somewhat) amusing commercial. Simple titled “Get the Surface Pro,” the 30-second ad highlights Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 hybrid device which includes a stylus and comes with a detachable keyboard and an Intel chip allowing it to be transformed into a computer that runs Windows, Office and other real desktop applications.

Using the same singer from the previous commercial, the new video informs us that “If you try to write on a plain old Mac, the difference can be seen. It doesn't work.”

New Surface Pro 4 ad calls MacBook Air “less useful, like a hat for your cat”

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 29, 2016

Following its recent iPad Pro-dissing commercial, Microsoft today released another nicely done Surface Pro 4 ad which takes aim at the MacBook Air, calling it “less useful, like a hat for your cat”. Surface ads have successfully promoted competitive advantages of the hybrid device, which comes with a detachable keyboard, pen, touchscreen and more. And thanks to an Intel chip, it runs the full Office suite and most other Windows programs, like Photoshop.

What’s a computer? Just ask Cortana.

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 16, 2016

Apple's most recent iPad Pro commercial attempts to position the powerful tablet as the ultimate computer, but Microsoft begs to differ.

But in its latest commercial for the Surface Pro 4 laptop/notebook hybrid, the Windows maker challenges Apple by basically saying that just because you call something a computer doesn’t mean it fits the description.

“Cortana knows that the Surface Pro 4, with its powerful Intel Core processor, detachable keyboard with real keys and a trackpad, pen, touchscreen, full Office and external ports fits the description. Everything else is just late to the party,” says Microsoft.

Microsoft fires another salvo at Apple’s Mac with new Surface Book ads

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 9, 2016

Microsoft is back at it with new commercials that build up to the “I can't do that on my Mac” tagline.

The Windows giant kicked off the new theme with commercials for Windows 10 that highlight some of the things “Macs can't do” such as its built-in Cortana personal digital assistant, support for inking and drawing on notebooks with built-in touchscreens and the ability to log in to Windows with your face.

Yesterday, Satya Nadella & Co. posted new commercials for its Surface Book, a device marketed as “the ultimate laptop” because it's performant and versatile. The commercials, first spotted by The Loop, gush over Surface Book features such as a high-resolution screen and the responsiveness and precision of its stylus.

DisplayMate: iPad Pro has stellar screen, but not better than iPad mini 4

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 17, 2015

Apple's new iPad Pro with its massive 12.9 inch screen offers a stellar viewing experience but the device doesn't quite match the quality of the iPad mini 4's screen, according to an excruciating barrage of mobile display tests conducted by technology experts over at DisplayMate.

Surprisingly, the iPad Pro's panel ranks slightly lower than that on Microsoft's new Surface Pro 4 tablet/laptop hybrid and earns the same “A” rating as the iPad mini 4.

Which has lower latency: Apple Pencil or Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 stylus?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Microsoft's fourth-generation Surface Pro offers stylus and keyboard cover accessories just like Apple's newly released iPad Pro. Apple, of course, is adamant that the Pencil is the best stylus on the market because it has virtually no lag or delay.

The Apple Pencil takes full advantage of iOS's predictive touch technology, the iPad Pro's special screen design and sensors in its tip that measure every nuanced stroke, angle and pressure.

After putting the device through its paces, El Mundo writer and photographer Angel Jimenez de Luis concludes that Apple's stylus has a bit lower latency than Microsoft's, and he posted a video showcasing tracking capabilities of both accessories.