Microsoft Debuts $999 Surface Laptop, 'Streamlined' Windows 10 S, and More at Education Event

[farkingdom]

I like the microsoft hardware

I like windows 10 (mostly, but same with OSX)

But no way to 10S. Thats as bad as ios locked down garbage, but on a system with 20 years of open history. Pathetic, idiotic means to force people to spend even more money to move to Win 10 Pro.

Dude calm your *.
If Google can make a premium Chromebook to drive other manufacturers to make cheaper Chromebooks, why can't Microsoft does the same?

And afterall you can still upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for FREE any time in a one year period. How's that? Imho, this thing flat beats out the Macbook Air with 720p screen with more or less the same battery life as this new Surface.
[doublepost=1493767779][/doublepost]

Microsoft as usual, coping the Ux of macOS, coping how to make and, coping the computer online configurator, and now coping the concept of mac...

this is just a copy of the macbook air.... and if you choose the hi end model it´s cost as much as the mac....

Conclusion: an expensive light machine with windows or a mac?

every racional person will choose a mac...

Says the guy who can't spell rational properly.

 

[frankgrimes]

For those who can't seem to understand the concept:
1. Windows 10s is only for locked down educational reasons people who want more can just upgrade to Windows 10 Pro
2. 4gb ram is only the basic versions while it's not a lot still eough for basic office tasks
3. No matter what if the 14 hour of battery life are true that's amazing
4. Not every country has endless wlan connections everywhere so Chromebooks aren't the way to go and I challenge everyone to do some real productive work on a fully internet focused device with a less powerful office software packed in

That being said damn I was a bit too quick, again the touchscreen nonsense so I'm again paying a premium for somethng my logitech anywhere mouse can do much better that's really annoying, thought this baby would come without a TS.

 

[Michael Goff]

Or 16, if you prefer.

Yeah, but 4gb for 1k$?

 

[Mrjoedot]

Very nice replica of Macbook. Color is a plus!


But Still havent learned from Surface RT... good luck with that.

 

[smoledman]

Very nice replica of Macbook. Color is a plus!


But Still havent learned from Surface RT... good luck with that.

I predict you can find a Surface Laptop on eBay in 6 months for $300.

 

[6foot5foot]

But... it's not a Mac.

 

[Quu]

OS: Well I don't honestly care because I will uninstall Win10 and install Win7

Honest question.. how will you accomplish this? It has Kaby Lake so it doesn't get Windows 7 updates anymore and it uses a secure booting system no doubt which doesn't support Windows 7. It is likely only able to run Windows 10 unless someone roots it. Same situation on the Surface Book and Surface Studio prior to this laptops unveiling.
[doublepost=1493769062][/doublepost]

Actually 3:2 is amazing on a laptop device...the chromebook plus laptop has 3:2 format And I have realized it's amazing for all aspects of viewing.....i prefer this screen Ratio now.

Mmm I haven't owned a device with a 3:2 ratio but I really think I would prefer the wide aspect instead. I'm not really a big excel user but I can see why it would be beneficial for those sorts of apps that want a lot of vertical space.

 

[Wowereit]

Expect to see black spots from your hands plague the fabric.

My steering wheel is Alcantara and is showing no signs of use at all.

 

[MrX8503]

Hold on- didn't Apple patent the butterfly keyboard mechanism? Looks awfully similar.

What you saw in Microsoft's video was a scissor switch. Nearly all laptop keyboards uses scissor switches.

 

[dogslobber]

Touchscreen on a laptop? No thanks.

This. Steve Jobs is a genius. Repeat. He is so far ahead of anybody else is understanding this stuff it's scary.

 

[Skoal]

Wait, it doesn't even have full Windows 10? If I'm already spending $1000 why not spend $100 more and then get a refurbished 12 inch 2016 MacBook? You get twice the RAM and twice the storage, plus a full OS (that id prefer to windows) that also can run full windows if you so desire. Far superior display, too.

Agreed wholeheartedly! No brained IMO!

 

[smoledman]

This. Steve Jobs is a genius. Repeat. He is so far ahead of anybody else is understanding this stuff it's scary.

Makes you wonder about the sheer insanity of the modern Windows laptop market where at least 50% of the models have touchscreens. I wonder if they do stuff just do be 'different' from Apple, coz reasons.

 

[Quu]

Makes you wonder about the sheer insanity of the modern Windows laptop market where at least 50% of the models have touchscreens. I wonder if they do stuff just do be 'different' from Apple, coz reasons.

I think they just put it in because it's cheap to implement (relatively) and it adds another bullet point to a feature list. Consumers are wising up though and realising it's too fatiguing to use.

 

[dogslobber]

Makes you wonder about the sheer insanity of the modern Windows laptop market where at least 50% of the models have touchscreens. I wonder if they do stuff just do be 'different' from Apple, coz reasons.

I think it's more a "Me Too!" situation in that you can't sell a Windows laptop without a particular feature as when it comes down to it then you'd chose the one with the touchscreen.

 

[Skoal]

Sounds like something Apple already offers.

I can download anything I want from anywhere I want on my MBP.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Well, then it could be the ULV i7 processor (wayyy slower than HQ) and a cheap SATA SSD for all we know. My friend used to brag about his Dell until he found that he had those two things.

Adding $100 to each model so you can actually unlock your Windows 10, you get:

Entry (compare it to a MacBook, MBA) with some differences you can get the same price, or for $200 more much better Apple hardware,

or a better comparison:

$1,399 Surface 8gb, 256ssd - vs - $1,499 MBP 13" 8gb, 256ssd
except with the MBP you get
+ superior screen
+ probably superior chassis and trackpad
+ superior IO
+ macOS

So for $100/$200 savings, you can buy yourself an inferior MS Surface... cool.

However, I'm glad they're turning up the heat on Apple, I'm sure the entry pricing, plus look and feel will fool a lot of people into thinking it's a fair fight.

Edit: also, in 3 years, what do you think will have better resell value? You're much better off buying AppleCare and then reselling, upgrading to another MBP, and keep on keeping on rather than be stuck replacing your MS Surface completely in some number of years or sooner.

Don't forget those Apple stores in the downtowns of all major cities, and in most major malls, scattered throughout the country (in addition to make parts of the world) ready and willing to service your Macbooks.

 

[Skoal]

While I was at the Genius Bar the last time getting my laptop keyboard fixed, there was another guy getting some stuff done with his phone. He was an insurance salesman and he said they used touchscreen laptops (running some proprietary software) for their work so that they could get people to sign off on their policies. So there is a use for those devices.

In the Apple world, you'd be forced to use an iPad for that and would need to have a keyboard and no mouse making it somewhat inefficient for business productivity. Or you'd have to carry both a laptop and an iPad and transfer files back and forth for signing.

You can sign using trackpad on Apple laptops

 

[sudo1996]

Adding $100 to each model so you can actually unlock your Windows 10, you get:

Entry (compare it to a MacBook, MBA) with some differences you can get the same price, or for $200 more much better Apple hardware,

or a better comparison:

$1,399 Surface 8gb, 256ssd - vs - $1,499 MBP 13" 8gb, 256ssd
except with the MBP you get
+ superior screen
+ probably superior chassis and trackpad
+ superior IO
+ macOS

So for $100/$200 savings, you can buy yourself an inferior MS Surface... cool.

However, I'm glad they're turning up the heat on Apple, I'm sure the entry pricing, plus look and feel will fool a lot of people into thinking it's a fair fight.

Edit: also, in 3 years, what do you think will have better resell value? You're much better off buying AppleCare and then reselling, upgrading to another MBP, and keep on keeping on rather than be stuck replacing your MS Surface completely in some number of years or sooner.

Yes, I don't think Microsoft has ever been in the business of making cheap products. You can buy a cheap Dell that runs Windows, but I expect the Surface would generally have nicer build quality. But I see no reason anyone would ever buy this instead of a Mac unless it's for the touch screen, which could be a valid reason for graphical artists or something.

 

[Skoal]

100% will be pre-ordering once available on the Microsoft UK store + upgrade to full Windows 10.

Apple caught snoozing. Again.

Meh, snoozing? I'd take a MB over this any day

 

[AFDoc]

MacFather -- Steve was right only if the touchscreen is your sole input device. I also used to mock them, but then after having PCs with it, I find myself stabbing the screen of my 12" Macbook (the only Apple device I've owned that I've despised) only to have nothing happen.

As for this new Surface Laptop -- it is beautiful (at least from promo videos). But it's a "meh" for me. Especially at that price point.

Agree.... I love being able to touch the screen on my daughters cheap chrombook when I use it..... Go back to the MBA and do the same thing.... poke the screen like it's going to do something. I say bring on touch screens macs.

 

[cycomiko]

Dude calm your *.
If Google can make a premium Chromebook to drive other manufacturers to make cheaper Chromebooks, why can't Microsoft does the same?

Eat me

Windows has 32 years of history in OS, google has none. if i wanted a locked down pile of garbage I would buy an ipad.

 

[Jack Burton]

Yeah, but 4gb for 1k$?

Yeah, I don't get it either.

I'd rather have 8GB ram and a lower powered processor at that cost. At least then you'd get great battery life. Of course I am describing the MacBook Air.

Supposedly Windows 10 S doesn't need as much ram. But I'm completely skeptical about that. Even Apple, for all it's faults and all my criticisms, doesn't ship a laptop with 4GB of ram anymore. It's bonkers.

This. Steve Jobs is a genius. Repeat. He is so far ahead of anybody else is understanding this stuff it's scary.

And then came the touch bar...

 

[MichaelDT]

Windows 10 S, the S is for Sucks.

 

[2010mini]

Its all about options. Windows 10 S is for kids and control, Windows 10 Home is the cheap OEM entry Windows 10 Pro is for Power Users, Windows 10 Enterprise is for Corporates.

Windows 10 Mobile is for Phones (Great OS - Just no apps) and then you have variants for IOT Devices and AR Devices and Xbox. Then of course there is also Windows Server and Azure.

Apple too has many variants iOS for Phones / Tablets, MAC OS for "PCs" TVOS for Apple TV and WatchOS for Watch.

Apple just does not have the same scope of target devices that Microsoft Does.Apple is a Hardware company and only makes OS's to support the hardware for markets they want to play in.


Don't get hung up about it

BTW, All now are from the same dev stream with a Single kernel via One Core - Smart Move.

Ok the 10 S being for the kids makes no sense. What happens when they master it and need more? They have to purchase the "adult" version? I thought when MS finally killed off XP and announced one OS across their devices that they had finally gotten it. Not so it seems.

 

[Rogifan]

According to The Verge if you upgrade the software to Windows Pro the battery life drops from 15 hours to around 9 hours. Wow.