Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


Dingbatt

6760 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#214240 3-May-2017 11:31
Send private message

Just been watching some videos on Microsoft's new Surface Laptop. Replacing, presumably, the Surface Pro and the Surface Book. Nice looking ultrabook, but no USB C and also a 'new' version of Windows 10 that will only allow apps from the Store to be loaded. Walled garden anyone?
$999 in the US for an i5 with 128GB of storage, so goodness knows how much they will retail for here.




“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996


View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic
 1 | 2
wasabi2k
2098 posts

Uber Geek


  #1774862 3-May-2017 11:40
Send private message

I don't think this is intended to replace the Surface Pro at all - different use case - tablet vs laptop.

 

Surface Book could be retained as a premium product.

 

 

 

 




Benjip
943 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

  #1774868 3-May-2017 11:50
Send private message

Very disappointed to see no USB-C, but it's a good looking laptop. The Windows 10 S can be upgraded to full Windows 10 for $40 USD, I believe.


JayADee
2148 posts

Uber Geek


  #1774896 3-May-2017 12:39
Send private message

Looks very nice. WinS upgradeable to Win10 until the end of the year I read. Good plan making it pen compatible, I use my SP4 for drawing with the keyboard attached, can't wean myself off keyboard shortcuts.




dafman
3928 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #1774899 3-May-2017 12:41
Send private message

Defies belief there is no USB C in this day and age?


dafman
3928 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #1774900 3-May-2017 12:42
Send private message

And the fabric keyboard - looks great, but keeping it clean? How will it stand the test of time and look after, say, 12 months of heavy use?


Dairyxox
1594 posts

Uber Geek


  #1774931 3-May-2017 13:16
Send private message

I like the screen and component choices. Price seems a little steep, but I guess it matches Apple.

 

What puzzles me is having a stylus support in clamshell format. I just cant imagine anyone doing decent art or taking more than 1 minutes worth of notes with a clamshell type laptop screen.


Batman
Mad Scientist
29771 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1774969 3-May-2017 14:49
Send private message

Wow another step towards matching Apple, but not quite.

 

I've been eyeing the XPS 13 - which I consider to be nearly the complete lightweight laptop. But haven't gotten one because it's not complete enough. PS why do I have fixed double spacing on my replies???

 

Pros of the XPS 13:

 

- light @1.2kg

 

- great batt life for non touch 1080p screen

 

- full fledged computer

 

Cons

 

- not quite light enough

 

- small trackpad. why oh why???

 

- charger is bulky. make a lightweight portable device and the charger is like weighs nearly as much??!

 

- not compatible with pen (minor issue)

 

- uneven thickness (minor, but if you make the thickness more even, the thickest part can be made thinner)

 

- 13.3" screen could be a 14", that would be perfect

 

- no 3G (minor)

 

- keyboard could be less noisy (minor)

 

- speakers not awesome enough

 

I wonder how the surface laptop compares here. Will hang out for some youtube reviews.


 
 
 

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.
Batman
Mad Scientist
29771 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1774971 3-May-2017 14:55
Send private message

dafman:

 

Defies belief there is no USB C in this day and age?

 

 

Defies belief how companies make high end products and leave 2-3 important (sometimes non negotiable!) things out seemingly on purpose. 


JayADee
2148 posts

Uber Geek


  #1775275 4-May-2017 06:57
Send private message

dafman:

And the fabric keyboard - looks great, but keeping it clean? How will it stand the test of time and look after, say, 12 months of heavy use?



The black one on my Surface pro 4 is fine so far. I like it. We'll have to see how it looks after a few years I guess. I'm curious myself to see how it goes. I got some ash or something on it the other day so need to give it a light go over with a damp cloth; it's due for it anyway.

JayADee
2148 posts

Uber Geek


  #1775280 4-May-2017 07:07
Send private message

Dairyxox:

I like the screen and component choices. Price seems a little steep, but I guess it matches Apple.


What puzzles me is having a stylus support in clamshell format. I just cant imagine anyone doing decent art or taking more than 1 minutes worth of notes with a clamshell type laptop screen.



I've been drawing on my pro 4 with the keyboard attached and sitting on the table like a laptop, it's fine. If I were a uni student I'd be typing the notes and using the pen for diagrams probably. I type faster than I scrawl- at uni diagrams are a must, or were to me.

tripp
3848 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1775284 4-May-2017 07:20
Send private message

Oh why no USB C for charging.  I wish PC companies would just change to it now.  But I guess there is money to make in their own charging ports.

 

 


dafman
3928 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #1775334 4-May-2017 08:42
Send private message

tripp:

 

Oh why no USB C for charging.  I wish PC companies would just change to it now.  But I guess there is money to make in their own charging ports.

 

 

 

 

Yep, $138 for a replacement Surface Pro 4 power cable in Melbourne last week.


Batman
Mad Scientist
29771 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1775347 4-May-2017 09:08
Send private message

thumbs down

 

at least Dell gave me one for free when I blamed poor design


coffeebaron
6235 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1775467 4-May-2017 11:39
Send private message

dafman:

 

And the fabric keyboard - looks great, but keeping it clean? How will it stand the test of time and look after, say, 12 months of heavy use?

 

 

Machine washable?? lol

 

 





Rural IT and Broadband support.

 

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71 
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

 

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com


Batman
Mad Scientist
29771 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1775468 4-May-2017 11:41
Send private message

coffeebaron:

 

dafman:

 

And the fabric keyboard - looks great, but keeping it clean? How will it stand the test of time and look after, say, 12 months of heavy use?

 

 

Machine washable?? lol

 

 

 

 

No needs to be sent in for dry cleaning.


 1 | 2
View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic





News and reviews »

Gen Threat Report Reveals Rise in Crypto, Sextortion and Tech Support Scams
Posted 7-Aug-2025 13:09


Logitech G and McLaren Racing Sign New, Expanded Multi-Year Partnership
Posted 7-Aug-2025 13:00


A Third of New Zealanders Fall for Online Scams Says Trend Micro
Posted 7-Aug-2025 12:43


OPPO Releases Its Most Stylish and Compact Smartwatch Yet, the Watch X2 Mini.
Posted 7-Aug-2025 12:37


Epson Launches New High-End EH-LS9000B Home Theatre Laser Projector
Posted 7-Aug-2025 12:34


Air New Zealand Starts AI adoption with OpenAI
Posted 24-Jul-2025 16:00


eero Pro 7 Review
Posted 23-Jul-2025 12:07


BeeStation Plus Review
Posted 21-Jul-2025 14:21


eero Unveils New Wi-Fi 7 Products in New Zealand
Posted 21-Jul-2025 00:01


WiZ Introduces HDMI Sync Box and other Light Devices
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:32


RedShield Enhances DDoS and Bot Attack Protection
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:26


Seagate Ships 30TB Drives
Posted 17-Jul-2025 11:24


Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser Review
Posted 13-Jul-2025 11:05


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Raising the Bar for Smartphones
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Brings New Edge-To-Edge FlexWindow
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.