Microsoft Surface Book

MICROSOFT just released their first ever laptop.



Hands on & Specs

http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/06/...dium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+tuaw/RwqE+(TUAW)

http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/06/...paign=Feed:+engadget/Ebeq+(Engadget+RSS+Feed)

http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/201...e-book-has-turned-me-into-a-windows-believer/

 

Looks awesome and the best part is 13.5 inch 3.2 ratio screen which means that total screen size will be similar or more than normal 16:9 14 inch laptops, adding the windowscentral hands-on link: http://www.windowscentral.com/hands-on-surface-book

 

The 3:2 aspect ratio in a normal laptop (or at least a convertible that functions as a normal laptop when connected), AND one with a dedicated GPU? Pretty awesome and pretty unique on the market right now. If I was in the market for a smaller laptop right now I'd grab one of these in a heartbeat.

 

I agree. Now that thing looks attractive for once. A machine in a form factor we need, rather than that insufferable idiocy of 16:9 screens everywhere. Discrete NVidia GPU integrated in the base, so you can have the graphics performance when attached to the keyboard, but still a lightweight tablet on the go. Excellent design, I have to hand it to them. The only thing I am waiting for before I pull the trigger is the 1TB storage configuration. Right now their pre-order page only goes up to 512GB in the top configuration, but on their comparison page they list both the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book as coming with up to 1TB of storage. That's the one I want, and that's the one I'll order as soon as it's available...

 

Now I've got to decide between the Surface Pro 4 and this Surface Book. Only thing I don't like about the Book is it's screen size when used as a tablet. 13" is a wee bit too big for me to be handling for a tablet. But considering the Pro 4 is a 12", the one inch of difference in screen size shouldn't translate to too much in overall form factor difference.

 

https://twitter.com/surfacebookpro

"Intel HD 520/Nvidia G8 (?)"

Any idea about that NVIDIA G8.

by the way between razer blade and this, which one you guys will choose.

 

Given that the Nvidia Geforce GPU in the Surface Book has 2 1 GB of GDDR5 VRAM, I can only assume the dGPU being the GTX 950m or a refreshed GT 845m, aptly named GT 945m.
The GT 845m had a GDDR5 version used in the Dell Insprion 7746, and it makes sense that it would be updated to be apart of the 900m series. It would also be best suited in an ultrabook form-factor compared to the GTX 950m, but who knows, maybe it has a GTX 950m. A GTX 960m is a stretch, so I doubt it would have it.
EDIT: I should really re-look at the facts, According to the Surface Book fact sheet, the dGPU only has 1 GB of VRAM.

 

I don't think it makes sense to have HD 520 + 945M, right?
their performance are almost the same?

I think it makes more sense to have HD 520 + 965M ?

 

The HD 520 doesn't seem to be that powerful as the HD 530 doesn't surpass the GT 845m (a GT 845m is about as good as a GTX 660m or R9 m265x).
As long as the GPU is more powerful power than Iris 6100 and has GDDR5, then it could be anything. I don't think Microsoft is comparing the GPU in the Book to the R9 m370x or the Iris 5200 in the rMBP 15".
EDIT: Given the Book's 1 GB of VRAM dGPU (refer to my prevoius post), it limits what the GPU actually could be. I guess it's a custom GPU, but the could be as powerful as the Quadro M1000m, GTX 950m, or between both GPUs mentioned.

 

Microsoft claims that it is a custom GPU. Innovative design with the GPU in the keyboard base, so, it is only usable when the tablet is connected to its keyboard.

Love the 3:2 ratio of my Surface 3.

 

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/productID.325716000?vid=325721600

Microsoft Surface Book - 512GB / Intel Core i7

$2,699.00

The new 13.5-inch Surface Book is the ultimate laptop. The full punch of a high performance laptop with unprecedented versatility of a tablet. This is the future of laptop computing.

• 13.5-inch PixelSense™ touchscreen display (3000 x 2000) resolution
• Windows 10 Pro operating system
• Incredibly mobile at 3.48 pounds (1576 grams)
• Surface Pen included

• 512GB / Core Intel i7 - 16GB / dGPU /NVIDIA gpu

WOW 2700USD for the max specs! Between razer blade and this which one is a better choice?

 

That is one expensive notebook/tablet, but it looks like the jack of all trades. It has lots of competitors at its price point, though - ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Latitude E7250 especially, both of which can be had for a little more than half the price of the base Surface Book. I suppose if the pen and detachable functionality are important to you, the Surface Book might be worth it.

Charles

 

The Surface Book $1700 version with i5, 8gb ram and 256gb SSD looks nice to me. The 13.5 inch screen with 3:2 aspect ratio will be a good replacement and similar/better size than normal 14 inch 16:9 laptop. The other benefits of this high priced device is awesome build quality, good looking magnesium case, included pen and tablet capability.

I am also looking at the upcoming Dell XPS 15 infinity display as this 15.6 inch display laptop is shrunken to the same size as a 14 inch laptop, so i would be gaining screen size at same body size. Even the price for i5, 8gb ram and 256 gb SSD should be 1600-1800 USD for XPS15.

 

$2,699.00 for the i7 model?

SKA-ROO THAT!

I'll stick with the Surface Pro 4. It's i7 model comes in at $1599. And it's RAM can now be upgraded later on it one so desires.

 

I think the sweet spot for the Surface Book is the $1900 model with a 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM, i5, and the dedicated NVIDIA GPU. I suppose depending on the model of the i5/i7, the $2100 i7 model might be better, though in general I find the i7 price premium not worth it. An additional $600 to jump to the top-of-the-end model is very steep indeed for just 256 GB more SSD space and 8 GB RAM. Presumably they aren't upgradeable, or you'd just go out and buy them aftermarket for a fraction of the cost.

Really though I think this is an excellent notebook. Nice screen (and not 16:9! Hallelujah!), nice and portable, has a dGPU option with what's rumoured to be a pretty respectable GPU, and a real tablet PC mode with the Surface Pen, which by all reports is an excellent piece of stylus technology. Detachability too, so there's a lightweight option for the road. I agree with Chaz that it's a jack of all trades, and if I were in the market either for a single PC, or for a single travel-friendly laptop, I'd have to give this one strong consideration. The only real concerns are upgradeability (particularly storage, since 256 GB isn't that much), and how the hinge would handle being in a backpack with books or travel supplies. I'm sure reviews will cover the latter, and that more about upgradeability or lack thereof will be learned soon enough.

The dGPU and top-of-the-line tablet functionality/flexibility really do set it apart in my opinion. The X1 Carbon and Latitude 7250 are nice, but I haven't found a dGPU option on either, and I could really go for them as single-PC choices as a result. The Surface Book reminds me of 5-6 years ago when Sony had the fairly thin (particularly by 2009-2010 standards) 14" VAIO Z with a noticeably high-quality screen for the time, an optical drive, and dedicated graphics. It's been rare to find a thin-and-light option with a dedicated GPU since then, let alone also having high build quality and a good screen. The Surface Book really strikes the mark - switching the Blu-Ray out in favor of top-notch tablet functionality, which really makes sense in today's market.

Now as it is, my needs for a laptop are limited these days, and a 17" behemoth does pretty good for the laptop use cases I do have. But at other times when I used a laptop exclusively or traveled a lot, having a laptop that combined all these aspects into one device so smoothly would have been very compelling. And I may still wind up getting one in time if the reviews live up to the promise and I eventually need a more powerful mobile GPU than what I have now.

 

I am pretty sure you miss read that... I really doubt the RAM can be upgraded. If I am wrong, can you please show me a link. I googled it to make sure and turned up with nothing.

As for the surface book. I love it. I will end up waiting a few months before I get one though... I really want to see some solid tests to see how it stacks up against the competition. There are quite a few great notebooks and 2-in-1's coming out very soon.

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonk...-pro-4-vs-surface-pro-3-whats-the-difference/

Halfway down the page under hardware:

Maybe the article is wrong, maybe the article is right. No one will know until Microsoft sheds light on this.

 

It looks nice, but it probably won't have a matte screen option and I'm not sold on the hinge design....also it is very expensive. I'll stick with thinkpads and latitudes for now.
If the reviews are good and they provide native or ad hoc anti glare solution, I'll consider buying the second generation of this.

 

In my opinion the DGPU at minimum has to be a 950M to justify the price, all around amazing package but dat pricing.....

 

@ 32:20 Panos Panay said "2 processors". Can someone clarify it.

 

He is talking about Intel processor and Microsoft custom G5 display processor, apart from that you also have Nvidia GPU.

 

That's for the Surface Pro 4, not the Surface Book. It's definitely a good sign that the Surface Pro 4 will have upgradeable RAM, and I'm slightly more optimistic that the Surface Book will as a result, but it's entirely possible that the Pro 4 is upgradeable, while the Book is not.

Yeah, matte screen would also be a plus. That said, there are rare "glossy" screens that aren't actually all that terribly glossy - the VAIO Z is my favorite example of a small notebook that did things right, but it really did have a sweet spot with its screen of halfway in between glossy and matte - technically it was glossy, but it was definitely not the reflect-like-a-mirror glossy that a lot of cheap TN panels are. I'm cautiously optimistic that with this high of a price, and the already-good reputation of the Surface line's build quality, Microsoft will have a screen that strikes a nice mix and is not an automatic no-buy for those who don't like the cheap glossy screens (myself included).

Ultimately it'll come down to the reviews, and for those of us fortunate enough to live near one, visiting the Microsoft store. I'll probably swing by the local Microsoft store to check it out in-person in November.

 

My thoughts exactly. If the Surface Pro 4 has expandable RAM, then reasonable to say the Surface Book should as well.

 

Not necessarily. The Clipboard portion of the SB would house the RAM and there is not a lot of room in there. How is the Surface Pro 4 RAM accessed? Or can it only be upgraded by Microsoft?

 

I don't know. The only mention of the expandable RAM is from that Forbes article.

 

I highly doubt you'd be able to access the Surface 4's RAM if it actually uses the "hybrid cooling" as stated in the Lumia slides.

Edit: This picture looks to confirm that; http://www.techspot.com/news/62361-surface-pro-4-hybrid-liquid-cooling-system.html

Even if the DIMMs are accessible, it appears it'll be a much more time consuming / difficult event than a regular old swap. And that's if they *don't* use glue.

 

Very true. That's when I couldn't believe it when it was written. But for all we know, Microsoft may be using some sort of new RAM form factor for the Surface Pro. Then again, the Forbes article may be bogus.

 

The Surface Book may be expandable due to how much additional room for components there are. The Pro has effectively half the space without that bottom keyboard dock.

 

I'd be shocked if the SP4 or Book RAM is upgradeable. I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere until radji posted that article... I'm betting its wrong. Having said that, I hope it's right ha

Glad to see the Surface line expanding. I love using my SP3, and was happy with my SP1 and 2 as well. Excited to play with a SP4 in the store.

 

Microsoft Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 First Look

 

I'm curious how many Vodka cranberries she downed before that video. Very informative video, though.

 

Lol, I was thinking the same thing... at least she had fun with it ha

 

Anyone have any ideas as to the number, if *any*, ports, that are on the Clipboard portion of the Surface Book? I thought I saw one of the tech specs somewhere that stated this info, but I can no longer find it,

 

Yes, @mmukalian I believe in the video there's 2 USB 3.0's shown.
What I want to know is what MS was thinking *Not* including a 3.1 on their flagship... I just ordered a Nexus 6P and Clevo P750ZM I'm excited to lose the 'regular size' cable. I know it won't happen for a while but I'm still excited.

 

I think it's because the 3.1 standard requires the Type-C connector (just a guess, not really sure). Microsoft may not want to support the Type-C USB until it's more widespread.
It's a shame. If they swapped out the Type-A's for Type-C's, they could have potentially designed the SP4 to be even thinner.

 

I have googled google to death and I cannot find the answer I am looking for.

What are the specs of the portable clipboard beyond a 13.5" screen? I own a SP3 and I am on the fence about this one. It seems like everyone's biggest complaint is the usability of the SP3 as a "lap" top but my biggest issue with the SP3 is when it is detached as a tablet. It is heavy and gets quite warm at times but I am willing to accept that because it is powerful.

The clipboard is even bigger at 13.5. It is a little thinner and lighter but I wonder how ergonomic it will be and if it will run much cooler? And most importantly what is inside?

 

Maybe u can check the same thread about SB on tabletreview forum. Last time I checked, there's a couple of hands on impression from some users

 

Power will increase. Skylake so far runs a bit cooler than Haswell in initial tests and the new hybrid cooling system should provide some benefit to heat distribution and as a result, power (less throttling, more time in Boost, etc) As for it being lighter or less cumbersome, remember it has increased in size, even if slightly. The Surface Book especially I would imagine will be more cumbersome. Not by a lot, but by some. And if that hinge doesn't fold flat, that might be even worse.

 

Quite a long thread over there so I just skimmed through it all and found some things I did not know yet:

The good:
- Someone on tabletreview said that the hinge should be sturdy enough to survive when the book is stored in a stuffed bag (which was one of my fears). Still, one will most likely not be able to stand on it ( as possible on other producs) but this issue is no longer a concern of mine.
- Seeing the pen in action (when drawing) is really cool - me want!

The bad:
- I could not find anything on how hot the device actually becomes when under load for a longer period on time. I would do some light gaming on mine when not home, with it being so thin I am very scared that throttling will become severe.
- Apparently the demo software is somewhat buggy (i dont really care...), and someone said he had a freeze when disconnecting into tablet mode.

The ugly:
- In laptop mode 110° is the maximal opening angle for the screen. I actually need more than this quite often, so this point might make me reconsider buying it... AARRGH .
- In Germany the SB will be in stores early 16... this is quite some time I have to wait - at least there will be plenty of reviews until then.

 

Here s are the ports :
Two full-size USB 3.0 ports Connect a USB accessory like a mouse, printer, Ethernet adapter, USB drive, or smartphone.
SD card slot Use the full-size SD card slot with an SD card (sold separately) for extra storage and transferring files.
Mini DisplayPort version 1.2a Share what’s on your Surface screen by connecting it to an HDTV, monitor, or projector. (Video adapters are sold separately.)
3.5 mm headset jack Plug in your favorite headset for a little more privacy when listening to music or conference calls.

 

Sadly, no vodka cranberries-- I had to Google that, clearly I was meant to be a tech reviewer and not a bartender Our camera person won't even let me have a beer before we start shooting LOL.

 

Hey Lisa
Love your reviews, don't let the comments from the peanut gallery get you down.
You absolutely are one of the better reviewers out there.
Keep up the fantastic work, looking forward to you review of the SB and if you can try as many games on this device as possible.
If you can compare to a Lenovo thinkpad flex with 940M that you have reviewed in the past it would be great.
I want to see exactly what this GPU is capable of.

 

Thanks and don't worry, I though the comment was funny (and curious). After this many years, I have a thick skin, but I was thinking that I must have looked like I was having an absolutely giddy time of it Much better than looking bored and glassy-eyed LOL.

 

Hey Lisa,
Glad to see you took it as intended, jokingly!
@pdagal
Thanks for the videos!

 

Microsoft Surface Book Review

 

Might as well complete the set

Microsoft Surface Book vs. Surface Pro 4 Comparison

 

There's still one more coming-- Surface Book/Pro 4 vs Vaio Z Canvas

 

Hi Lisa long time fan I love all your reviews, I am really thinking about getting two of the surface book's (wife really wants one). We have two samsung ativ book 9 plus i5 4200u 8gb of ram and samsung 850 evo 500gb drives I got these over a year ago at such an amazing price it's hard to justify the surface book higher price. I already have a qhd screen so the display doesn't wow me. I spend some time with it at best buy I just was expecting skylake to be faster I know it's a dual core still.

What do you think is it worth it to upgrade in the next few months or wait it out. I mean the extra battery and tablet mode are the main advantages I would be looking to get the i5 non gpu versions and mainly All i use is browser, office, light IT tasks.

 

The ATIV Book 9 Plus is a stunning and well made machine. It's simply a laptop. If you want the tablet/convertible experience and the pen, then Surface Book makes sense. Being 2 generations newer, Surface Book will feel faster, though I'm guessing your ATIV still feels responsive enough.

 

How is the fan noise and audio quality of the speakers?