I’ve always heard that about the Surface Duo (you can use 2 screens, like a real profesional!), the Studio (it’s a real creative machine, not like a boring iMac) and now this laptop, yet Apple products are waaaay more successful in the profesional/creative market. It’s probably because this ”innovations” are as anti-ergonomic for pro/creatives as for the rest of users. Most of it is wishful thinking. There’s a reason why no one makes those internet concepts (the feasible ones) everyone praises and look so imaginative on paper, or if made, they completely fail.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Microsoft Debuts Magic Keyboard-Like Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Duo 2 Foldable Smartphone
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
That laptop thing is an amazing example of how bad their chips are. I mean, if need that ugly base brick to cool it…?!
I would love if the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pros had this hinge mechanism so it can lower at an angle when you want to use the Pencil as opposed to always having to unattach the iPad Pro to do that.
The fine print of their battery claims tells all already. A combination of active use and "modern stand-by" with screen brightness locked at 150 nits? What the hell is modern stand-by and why is it included in battery time?
It's easy to inflate battery hours by including standby time.
Are you sure about that? I think you're seriously underestimating how many creative professionals use Windows machines. It's a lot more than you think. This device solves a lot of the ergonomic issues of the previous Surface Book which had issues with the detached screen. I could be wrong but I think this will appeal to a lot of creative professionals that use Windows as their main or only machine.
And what's wrong with that if apple doesn't make a product like that themselves? There are tons of people here who'd love an iPad that can run full desktop apps so a competitor steps in a makes a product that people want. That's how healthy competition works. Not to mention it's larger than iPad too, something many people want.
And half the price compared to overrated Same style MacBook Pro! Time to wake up Tim, instead of innovating Emoji's build some good product.
Microsoft today announced several new additions to its Surface lineup, introducing an updated high-end Surface Laptop and a revised version of its Surface Duo foldable smartphone.
The Surface Laptop Studio is Microsoft's "most powerful Surface" to date, and it replaces the Surface Book line of laptops. Rather than a removable display like prior models, Microsoft has adopted a design that looks rather similar to Apple's Magic Keyboard. The 14.4-inch display lifts up and can be pulled forward into a tablet mode.
There are actually a total of three modes: laptop, stage, and studio. Laptop looks like a standard laptop computer, while stage is a middle tier mode that allows the display to be pulled forward at an angle for gaming and watching movies, and studio, which is a full tablet mode with the display folded all the way down.
Inside, there's an 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor and either Intel Iris Xe graphics or an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics card. It supports 16 to 32GB RAM and up to 2TB of storage, plus 120Hz refresh rates, and it works with the new Surface Slim Pen 2. Pricing starts at $1,600.
Microsoft's other big announcement was the Surface Duo 2, an updated version of the Surface Duo foldable smartphone. The new model, which is slightly larger at 8.3 inches unfolded, adds 5G connectivity to bring it in line with competing smartphones, and it now includes a rear camera system with wide, ultra wide, and telephoto lenses.
The Surface Duo 2 is equipped with Qualcomm's fastest Snapdragon 888 chip, and it continues to feature the same design as the prior model with a prominent hinge that's not hidden under the display. Pricing on the Surface Duo 2 starts at $1,499.
Microsoft also refreshed the Surface Pro lineup with the Surface Pro 8, which gains a 2x faster chip, Surface Slim Pen 2 support, a larger 13-inch display, 120Hz refresh rates, Thunderbolt 4, and improved camera technology. Pricing starts at $1,100. There were also minor updates to the Surface Go 3 and the Surface Pro X, Microsoft's more affordable options.
More on Microsoft's announcements can be found on the Microsoft website, and many of the devices can be ordered starting today.
Article Link: Microsoft Debuts Magic Keyboard-Like Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Duo 2 Foldable Smartphone
I've never felt so much "meh" in my life. The Surface Studio was a cool idea for a desktop... but for a laptop/tablet stack...? Not digging it at all. I'd stick with the Surface Book or Surface Pro. It looks like stack plates with an iPad resting on the top plate.
Only 4 pounds
Buy Surface Laptop Studio 2 - See Specs, Price, 14.4" Touchscreen | Microsoft Store
Buy the Surface Laptop Studio 2 from Microsoft Store. This powerful 14.4: touchscreen laptop features the 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7, HD camera and long battery life. Free standard shipping. Free returns.
www.microsoft.com
Why can't you use the SP8 in your lap? I uploaded a video of how easy it was to use my SP6 on my lap a year or 2 ago, I always was confused by this supposition. Certainly much easier to use than the magic keyboard which would tip over with the wind if it was in my lap, and for sure easier than any iPad with no kickstand (or maybe the flimsy folding cover). I'll also double down and say easier in the lap than a Macbook because of the touchscreen, where on my Macbook on my lap I'm constantly contorting my arm and wrist just to use the trackpad since there isn't even a touchscreen.
But in any event I think they hit it out of the park with the Surface Pro 8, it makes me think iPad who? 16 hours battery life takes away my single largest complaint on the Intel SP line, now you can have a full OS with user accounts, no refreshing/backgrounding apps nonsense, full x86/x64 and legacy program compatibility, they reduced the bezels, and the new pen with the haptic feedback seems great. I always felt that writing on glass screens was too smooth and never mimicked the feel of writing on paper, so IMO this is a pretty nice innovation.
Surface Laptop looks quite nice, it's not the device for myself, but I can see this as someone's flagship laptop easily. It's really innovative especially for those who need to have that angle for writing/drawing. But as a huge fan of MS' kickstand, the advantage of being able to move the screen like that is priceless.
The Duo: No arguments there (other than it starts at $1500). It's still as much of a dud as the first one was, expect fire sales in 6 or so months just like the first one. MS is trying to hard to make 2 screens make sense, but seeing how poor their software support for the Duo 1 was they aren't really trying that hard. Plus I'm confused what happens if you flip it open 360 degrees. Do you scratch the camera or phone? Or does the hinge stop the opening before you hit the camera, thus providing an easy mechanism to break the hinge?
I'm also not seeing that they are copying Apple that much. Apple presentations seem much darker and more technically oriented in nature. MS has a more natural style, especially with large parts of the presentation being done in a family style. Bright open spaces, natural colors, family oriented, etc. Honestly I like both styles, but Apple always seems to me like they are pushing the yuppie, DINK's market where MS is pushing the executive with a family market.
Please, Apple abandoned the Professional/Creative market years ago.
No NVIDIA, OS updates that break plugins, hardware support and software, loss of Aperture, FCPX, etc.
Heck, hardly anyone in the scientific field uses Macs anymore either.
wow, i mean not even the slightest desire to play with any of those...
I wouldn't go as far as this. Apple definitely did let the Mac stagnate for a long time and likely did lose customers that were creative pros but many of them continue to use Macs and love using Macs. On the flip side, there are many who use Windows as well.
A Microsoft designer, looks at a MacBook Pro, iPad with magic keyboard (the magnetic part which holds the actual iPad) and says:,, let’s create something unique”If you get a Surface Studio laptop, just don't even remotely spill anything onto the work surface or allow a drink to condensate in its glass next to it - why? Because it'll go right into the vents at the bottom. I don't know this was a good design decision?
Dust and spills, come on in
other people: ,, but it looks like an iPad with MacBook body attached to it!”
,, alright, let’s sit it on a huge vent!, then”
Of course the aggregated of Windows machines surpasses the Mac. And they’re mostly “traditional”, economic professional alternatives, not Surface-like computers. And I think this is clearly worse than the previous Surface Book (even if the attachment system wasn’t exactly perfect) or the iPad/MK approach:
1. The screen is too thin and it will 99% wobble when drawing.
2. Even if it didn’t, it’s an uncomfortable device for that: bulky, vent holes, you can’t set the screen plain… it’s not a pleasant experience.
I agree that from a bird's eye they copied the SP design. But I WISH Apple copied the kickstand, I still opine that a tablet without a kickstand is inferior out of the gate. How do you prop it up without buying a case for it? I suppose there are the official Apple cases which are made up of cheap folding material that only does 1 or 2 positions before prolonged use makes them too floppy to hold the tablet up, or you could get a chunky aftermarket case with a kickstand. But it did always baffle me how anyone using their iPad with no cover could use it in any other position other than either flat on a table, or held in 1-2 hands.
I will probably be buying a Surface Go 3. I've been looking for a way to do proper work on a device smaller than a laptop. An iPad would be ideal, but it's a no-go due to Apple's dumbed-down phone OS. At least with the Go I'll be able to multitask, use all my desktop apps and arrange windows as I see fit, whilst still being ultraportable.
Dang, Microsoft is the new Apple. Innovative and pushing the boundaries of technology.