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Microsoft's Surface Book is the sleek, MacBook-beating laptop
pcworld ^ | 10/06/2015 | Brad Chacos

Posted on 10/06/2015 9:55:16 AM PDT by prisoner6

Well this came out of nowhere. After years of pleading from PC enthusiasts, Microsoft finally revealed an ultra-premium Surface laptop, dubbed Surface Book, at its hardware event on Tuesday—a portable PC designed to embrace Windows 10’s most cutting-edge features, and one that’s just oozing style.

If the Surface Pro is a tablet that can replace your laptop, as Microsoft’s marketing crowed last year, does that make the Surface laptop a laptop that can replace your tablet that replaces your laptop?

Not quite. Both aim for different targets. While the Surface tablets were initially introduced to highlight the sort of mobile 2-in-1 experiences possible with the touch-friendly Windows 8, the 13.5-inch Surface Book showcases what traditional PC makers can achieve with Windows 10.

“What if we can do for laptops what we did for tablets?” Microsoft device chief Panos Panay wondered aloud on stage. “We made the ultimate laptop. We made the Surface Book.”

(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: convertible; microsoft; tablet; windowspinglist
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
The big advantage to a SP4, you can throw it further when it pisses you off.

LoL,
Range is everything when it comes to computing! :)

41 posted on 10/06/2015 2:36:04 PM PDT by moose07 (DMCS (Dit Me Cong San ) - Nah)
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To: prisoner6

Probably a heat pipe / convective circulation type thing.


42 posted on 10/06/2015 2:37:41 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!Just read)
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To: prisoner6
Well, there is a pretty little device.
May be forced to go and have a little look at one of those.
:)
43 posted on 10/06/2015 2:42:31 PM PDT by moose07 (DMCS (Dit Me Cong San ) - Nah)
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To: All

I am sure it will sell at least as well as the “Zune”...M$ should just give up on the hardware side.


44 posted on 10/06/2015 3:00:20 PM PDT by Drago
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To: pgkdan

Traditionally a laptop has a separate keyboard. Also, laptops didn’t have a touch screen.

IMO, the laptop still has the tablet beat. I can type a 50 page term paper on a laptop but it would be impossible to do the same on a tablet.

Actually, a desktop is best for major projects like a 50 page term paper.

Some laptops are all solid state now which means that they consume less power and are more portable.


45 posted on 10/06/2015 3:13:26 PM PDT by dhs12345
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To: Still Thinking
> MuSoft should stick with styling PC people like. Mac people aren’t going to want it no matter what it looks like, and PC people don’t want a wannabe Mac.

That's a very insightful comment.

It DOES have a lot of MacBook Pro aspects, at least from the outside. But perhaps Microsoft has watched the evolution of the laptop frame and finish, and decided that whether or not it happens to look like an MBP in some respects, the fact is that's what most (not all) of their customers want.

It is, after all, possible that they reached that design independently or nearly so. It IS an incredibly functional and attractive design overall.

46 posted on 10/06/2015 7:42:13 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: MarchonDC09122009
Microsoft vs Apple provocateur ping! 3, 2, 1...

Why? I don't find the design at all compelling. It's thick, and a bit kludgy looking. The hinge looks interesting but it leaves a huge gap when the laptop is closed and there seems to be a few downsides with it such as adding additional weight for little true beneficial hinge functionality. Complexity adds mechanical breakage points that may come back later to bite the user when the warranty expires. It looks cool, but is it necessary for added cost/benefit of the function of the device?

As a tablet, is the storage on the keyboard or on the screen section . . . or do they split duties? How? If so, where? I'm curious what exactly is lost when undocked.

I

47 posted on 10/06/2015 8:38:31 PM PDT by Swordmaker ( This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: Swordmaker

Hey you never post negative things on windows threads! Oh wait...


48 posted on 10/07/2015 5:27:11 AM PDT by for-q-clinton (If at first you don't succeed keep on sucking until you do succeed)
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To: Swordmaker
I'm curious what exactly is lost when undocked.

Start with weight.

49 posted on 10/07/2015 5:40:36 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: Swordmaker
I'm curious what exactly is lost when undocked. Battery power. 3-4 hour battery in the top, 8 hours in the bottom, GPU is in the bottom. MS expects that the top will be used by itself only around 80% of the time so that shouldn't be a problem. I understand but can't confirm that all of the memory is in the top.
50 posted on 10/07/2015 10:24:58 AM PDT by prisoner6 (Unmutual and Disharmonious)
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To: Swordmaker

From MS curmudgeon Paul Thurrott (who also has issues with The Hinge):

preorders for Surface Book are higher than for any previous Surface device


51 posted on 10/07/2015 10:39:56 AM PDT by prisoner6 (Unmutual and Disharmonious)
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To: prisoner6

Applebots just crapped their pants :-)


52 posted on 10/07/2015 10:40:49 AM PDT by for-q-clinton (If at first you don't succeed keep on sucking until you do succeed)
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To: prisoner6

Hardware cannot overcome the biggest negative a Windows machine has.... and that’s Windows itself.


53 posted on 10/07/2015 10:42:20 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: prisoner6

The issue with the hinge will be if it’s stable on an airplane or train. If it vibrates the display that will be an issue. But for a first version this thing looks amazing. Surface pro is the tablet that replaces your laptop. Surface Book is the laptop that replaces everything :-)


54 posted on 10/07/2015 10:43:03 AM PDT by for-q-clinton (If at first you don't succeed keep on sucking until you do succeed)
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To: for-q-clinton

Yup! Getting ready to watch Windows Weekly and they should have more info.

FWIW MS >claims< they put most of the weight in the bottom so the entire device would be more “stable” as a laptop. I too wonder about the stresses on the hinge in that situation on a plane or train.


55 posted on 10/07/2015 10:53:04 AM PDT by prisoner6 (Unmutual and Disharmonious)
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To: for-q-clinton
Hey you never post negative things on windows threads! Oh wait...

So, to you, my asking serious questions is "negative" posting in Windows threads? M'kay. Delusional.

56 posted on 10/07/2015 3:24:04 PM PDT by Swordmaker ( This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: Swordmaker

So you didn’t say this “I don’t find the design at all compelling. It’s thick, and a bit kludgy looking.”


57 posted on 10/07/2015 5:15:47 PM PDT by for-q-clinton (If at first you don't succeed keep on sucking until you do succeed)
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To: for-q-clinton
So you didn’t say this “I don’t find the design at all compelling. It’s thick, and a bit kludgy looking.”

Of course I did, but that is an opinion in response to a comment about me BUYING one of these computers, but not negative. It's my opinion about why I would not buy one. I don't find it compelling. It looks thick and a bit kludgy to me. That's what I think and those are the reasons I think it is not compelling enough to buy. Your milage may vary. I attacked nobody. I did not even criticize the price, the users, or Microsoft. . . although I question why Microsoft wants to compete with their own customers, the VARs and OEMs who buy operating systems from them to install in their own laptops and hybrid computers.

I then asked a serious question that has yet to be answered by Microsoft, although a couple of posters have made some comments I find worrisome such as the "tablet section" has only a 3-4 hour battery life. It cannot be a successful tablet with such a poor battery performance before being recharged. . . but I don't know that answer to be true. . . I want to see a link to a test, a specification from Microsoft, or other authoritative source.

Again, you are misquoting what I have said . . . I believe I have said that I do not go on Windows threads and criticize Windows users. . .

58 posted on 10/07/2015 6:17:08 PM PDT by Swordmaker ( This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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