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New Surface Pro

microsoft.com

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Re: New Surface Pro

#171

Post by zghst »

eb0la wrote: post #19
franciscop wrote: post #8

They are still using the SurfaceDock with the SurfaceConnect Cable: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/accessories/surface-... , which does basically the same as USB-C. In an era when even Apple is rumored (and even if false, still plausible) to be switching to USB-C for the iPhone, Microsoft still tries to force a proprietary connector. Didn't they learn anything from IE? Even if it's good for them for a while,…

Looks more complicated that it sounds. MSFT already did the job of sourcing cables, connectors, and power supplies for all their surface line for the next XXX years (where XXX is the time they're commited to support all their hardware products). Switching to USB-C from the bussiness perspective would be a great expense... and would involve higher price tag.

Good point, however this whole device line is an experiment itself. Realistically, I decline to entertain Microsoft is risking building these devices in a declining market to make a buck. Their approach, especially with the marketing, imagery, the counterpoints to Mac (pretty much imitating Apple) all points to constructing an image, instilling consumer confidence (and displaying a lot of ego). The deeper purpose of these devices prevail, even if they don't sell, what they bet on returns value.

They could've started a low cost evolution on a single device instead of handicapping the whole Surface line. Now it has this whole funk of "no USB-C" all over it and it increases the cost of when they upgrade the whole line. And seeing as Surface is experimental (not core to MS, they would shutter it rather defend if it goes south), I doubt that they bought an overwhelming amount of cables, connectors, etc., I think it has more to do with a slower product development cycle due to politics.

Re: New Surface Pro

#172

Post by jhasse »

sambe wrote: post #127
iaskwhy wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"If you buy an Apple laptop, and need a repair, they'll fix it if it's in warranty, regardless of where you are." This can be misleading. I bought my Macbook Air in Portugal, had 2y warranty there. Then moved to the UK and the brick stopped working. Went to an Apple Store and since it was after the 1y warranty offered when you buy it in the UK, they rejected replacing it for me. Eventually went to Portugal to visit m…

There is (currently) a two-year EU-mandated warranty, Apple was even taken to court for not emphasizing this enough when selling AppleCare.

Do you know since when it's two-years? Apple's warranty has been (still is?) only one year in Germany IIRC.

Re: New Surface Pro

#173

Post by dalore »

8draco8 wrote: post #47
nilved wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you saying that 16 GB isn't enough?

It vastly depends on your work flow. If you are like me and just using editor, browser, small LEMP stack, git, gulp, ssh and some other small tools then you are fine and 16GB is plenty but when you start doing virtualisation, docker instances, data crunching, in memory dbs etc. then suddenly 16GB doesn't look like much.

Yes, but this "laptops" are set to use cpu in burst mode. So if you run servers like docker and VMs etc (like I do on my SP4) you often hit the burst limit and the cpu throttle's right back down.

I've taken to using an external usb fan to get extra speed.

Re: New Surface Pro

#174

Post by QuarterReptile »

SurrealSoul wrote: post #56

I got excited, then I saw prices. Then I saw the keyboard isn't even included and costs $160. Ouch. This will be $1800+ after tax, why not just get a really solid laptop at that point? Hell you could buy two solid desktops

The pen is amazing for what it does. You can annotate things on the same machine where you're doing everything else. It's also a wonderful machine for flying.

But you pay up for those things. So for you, definitely just get the solid laptop. Surface pros can be maddening, and often feel finicky enough that they can't be primary machines.

Re: New Surface Pro

#175

Post by passive »

thesuitonym wrote: post #121
Helmet wrote: post #110

How is this a functional laptop? And I'm being dead serious here and 100% literal - how do I work with this machine while it's on my lap? It looks like it would be a real pain in the ass to do so, with the "Kickstand" and all.

It's not a functional laptop. Putting a Surface on your lap is the worst experience you'll ever have. But as a portable Windows 10 device, my Surface Pro 1 is one of my favorite devices.

I don't know what kind of laps other people have, but I'm decidedly average in every way, physically, and I use my SP3 on my lap every day.

Usually it's on a table or desk, but it's fine on my lap too.

Re: New Surface Pro

#176

Post by kayoone »

tracker1 wrote: post #103
dagw wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the point they're trying to make is that the sort of person who wants 32 or 64 GB of RAM in their laptop (and I'm definitely in that group) also wants a fast processor and a decent graphics card. The number of people who need 32+ GB of RAM and are happy with a slow processor is probably quite small. The sort of work I'd use my Surface Pro for doesn't need more than 8GB of RAM and the sort of work I need 32+GB…

But, depending on your workload, fast enough may well be... laptop i5/i7 are pretty fast, again depending on workload... if I'm trying to simulate a tech stack, with modest data loaded, I'm the only user, so it's plenty fast, but memory can become constrained pretty quickly... Windows overhead, Visual Studio, Linux VMs, multiple docker containers, local dynamodb, sql database, queues, etc. If you're developing locall…

But that is probably not the usecase most people who will buy a Surface Pro for. It's a very portable device and 32GB would consume more power and probably be only bought by a very small amount of users.

Re: New Surface Pro

#177

Post by nogridbag »

killjoywashere wrote: post #39
tzaman wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Care to elaborate why? I'm somewhat of an apple-fanboy but Surface seems more and more appealing, and I'm leaning towards giving one a try.

I have an iPad pro, a MacBook, and a Surface Pro. I carry the MacBook and the iPad. The surface is too hot, cooks off battery too fast, the screen is small, the UI for the desktop app I use has icons too small to Target with the pen. The charger is janky.

I realize by "too hot" you were mainly talking about how it affects battery life. But I thought I'd add that I have a 15" Macbook Pro (work) and a Surface Book (home) and at times I find the MBP's keyboard almost unusable as it generates so much heat I can barely touch the keys. I've resorted to using third party apps to run the fans at higher speeds earlier to try and mitigate this. One of the features I love about the Surface devices is that the CPU is in the display and thus the keyboard never gets hot.

This new Surface Pro supposedly has longer battery life and the core i5 is fanless. We'll see how it translates to actual real world usage in future reviews hopefully.

Re: New Surface Pro

#178

Post by kayoone »

mgkimsal wrote: post #26
georgeecollins wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OK its pro, but it is also mobile. Who has a mobile device (not something that just sits at your desk all day) with 32 GB of ram?

Lenovo has laptops with 32g. HP does too. ASUS... gosh... lots of companies offer it... What's the point of the question? Lots of end users want a laptop with 32g.

But are they ultrabooks and 13" or lower ? I can't think of any ultrabook with those dimensions and 32GB RAM.

Re: New Surface Pro

#179

Post by FireBeyond »

microtonal wrote: post #134
sacheendra wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> - If you buy an Apple laptop, and need a repair, they'll fix it if it's in warranty, regardless of where you are. Not true. That is only for the iPhone. The Macbook has only national warranty.

False. From the UK terms for MacBook Pro (I checked the terms from the Netherlands as well, and they are similar): You may obtain service in the European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland without paying any shipping and handling fees. Outside this region, service options may be limited. If a given service option is not available for the Apple Product in such country, Apple or its agent shall notify you ab…

Your 1 and 2 options are confused:

1. Even in the EEA, you may have to pay shipping and handling.

2. Where there's no representative of Apple (and I'm not saying there should be), can you really say "Apple service is available, you just have to pay shipping"? The reality is closer to "You will have to ship it internationally". Apple isn't "doing" anything here but accepting a package in a country where they have service locations.

Re: New Surface Pro

#180

Post by kayoone »

jmkni wrote: post #52
georgeecollins wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OK its pro, but it is also mobile. Who has a mobile device (not something that just sits at your desk all day) with 32 GB of ram?

I have the XPS 15 with 32GB ram, it's an amazing laptop. It becomes essential once you start running VM's or Docker etc

the surface pro is more comparable to the XPS 13, which does not come with 32GB either.
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