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Microsoft Debuts Magic Keyboard-Like Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Duo 2 Foldable Smartphone

oliverades said:
I don’t get why anyone would want 2 separated screens like that
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It’s less about two separated screens (though even this is useful, e.g., to be able to have a Zoom meeting on one side and email on the other) than just about 8” of screen real estate in something that you can put in your pocket, and works as a phone.

Apple could make it, easily, and perhaps do better, but they’re focused on forcing people to needlessly pay for two devices to get capability that one device can fulfill, and enough people are, or feel, locked into their ecosystem that they can get away with it.
 
SkyRom said:
I watched this event. I came away ... perplexed, as I often do with Microsoft's work. For one, just as a presentation, it's astonishing how much they are copying Apple's keynotes verbatim now. I guess that's better than the programmer-clinical feel they used to have, but it's pretty blatant, down to the cinematography cuts between shorts.

As for the devices, hmmm. I'm glad the Duo 2 has specs on par with the current gen devices. 5G, Bluetooth 5.1 and Snapdragon 888 are excellent upgrades, along with the improved cameras. Two things keep me from giving it a spin as my main device.

1. It's so damn expensive! $1800 for a non-Apple device is just ... rough.
2. It's still chunkier than I expect from (again) an $1800 device. Why am I looking at Bezels in 2021? Why are the screens wider than a deck of cards pre-fold? I'm already considering downsizing from my iPhone 12 Pro Max, and I just don't want to carry a giant brick in my pocket.

Surface Laptop Studio is ... exciting, fresh, new design. But I don't know about it as a flagship device. I feel like I have to choose between weak specs as a power business user on the Surface Pro 8 with no graphics upgrade and limited to quad-core processing, or I have to go all-in on this new device. This is something I would try in a store for sure, but I can't see myself paying $3000 for a 2TB version and using it as my sole/primary business device, especially with a MacBook Pro redesign finally coming soon.

My other issue with the device is the Surface Book was actually amazing, and just needed smaller bezels and updated internals, at most maybe keyboard upgrades and a faster graphics-switching response time to make it seamless. 120 hz is excellent for refresh though.

Surface Pro 8. Seems fine for whoever needs it. It has never made sense to me to get a laptop that I can't use in my literal *lap*, but everyone I know who has one loves it. *shrug*

Overall, I give Microsoft a 7/10 for keeping up with the competition, updating all their devices, and releasing Windows 11 on time, which seems strong. If they had updated the Surface Studio and dropped the price, maybe I'd buy a new machine for work. At least they finally have a "full" ecosystem that's supported: tablets, phone, laptops, desktops, bud and studio style headphones. It's a start, but for a trillion dollar monopoly, I'd like to see them catch up faster.
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As someone who loves my SP7, that SP8 is ridiculously great. It has some features that macs don't even have. 120hz screen for instance? The way the pen can just be stored in the keyboard and charged? Better than the SP7 and iPad Pro solution of magnets on the top or sides. 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports but still a magnetic power cord?

I want it...10 out of 10.
 
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yoonsoo said:
I love where MS is going. I do love Windows 11 looks. It will be a tough choice for me later to pick between surface and a new MacBook. Ever since MS introduces WSL2 on Windows, I have had totally different aspects of MS. Dang, if I buy Surface my iPad pro will be a waste.
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Sell it, they have great resale value. :)
 
spinedoc77 said:
It's a fair point about my having the SP a few inches back on my lap, if I were to measure it would probably be 3-4 inches estimating on how much I have the kickstand open, that would be in comparison to a Macbook where you wouldn't have a touchscreen or the ability to use a pen.

But if you are comparing it to the magic keyboard, just by physics alone the center of mass is much higher, using the touchscreen or pen would make it much more precarious. By the same token, the way the keyboard lays flat, the way it is attached to the iPad, and as you mention it would be a couple of inches forward would make it more stable when actually typing. Again I personally don't feel the SP is unstable at all when typing as demonstrated in my video, but I can definitely see how the magic keyboard would be more stable primarily when typing. So I'm willing to say it's a 50/50 tie, depending on how you use it. I can definitely see personal preference and use case scenario factoring into both of our decisions.
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Fair point about the higher center of gravity, although the iPad + keyboard being shallower made it feel like it needed less force to hold it down with one hand when needed. That might also have been because the iPad was a lot lighter though. For things that needed a lot of tapping I usually just flipped the keyboard back and used it in flip cover stand mode so I could have a slight incline, which was easier than on the surface where I had to rip it off. That being said, since there is a trackpad on the surface I mostly relied on the cursor on those occasions when possible.
 
eltoslightfoot said:
As someone who loves my SP7, that SP8 is ridiculously great. It has some features that macs don't even have. 120hz screen for instance? The way the pen can just be stored in the keyboard and charged? Better than the SP7 and iPad Pro solution of magnets on the top or sides. 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports but still a magnetic power cord?

I want it...10 out of 10.
Click to expand...
So much look forward to when the first reviews are released!
 
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JimAtLaw said:
It’s less about two separated screens (though even this is useful, e.g., to be able to have a Zoom meeting on one side and email on the other) than just about 8” of screen real estate in something that you can put in your pocket, and works as a phone.

Apple could make it, easily, and perhaps do better, but they’re focused on forcing people to needlessly pay for two devices to get capability that one device can fulfill, and enough people are, or feel, locked into their ecosystem that they can get away with it.
Click to expand...
eltoslightfoot said:
As someone who loves my SP7, that SP8 is ridiculously great. It has some features that macs don't even have. 120hz screen for instance? The way the pen can just be stored in the keyboard and charged? Better than the SP7 and iPad Pro solution of magnets on the top or sides. 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports but still a magnetic power cord?

I want it...10 out of 10.
Click to expand...
I just got my SP8 yesterday and absolutely love it. It's a fine piece of hardware.
 
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