Items tagged with Surface Pro
Microsoft has an event set for Octoberwhere it is set to unveil a new (or thoroughly refreshed) family of Surface computing hardware. The company sent out invites late last month for the event, and now Surface Chief Panos Panay is hyping up the big reveal on Twitter. According to sources for The Verge, the event will be more than just about hardware, and will also focus on new experiences. We have the feeling that this is in reference to Windows Lite, which is a cut-down version of Windows 10 that will be going head-to-head with Google's Chrome OS. This October 2nd we're showing the world what's next for Surface & Microsoft...and we're doing it live. Tune in at https://t.co/gL1bQ1Wmas...
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Microsoft files a lot of patent applications, and of course many of them won't result in products that actually arrive to market. One patent application seen last month that is expected to result in a new product, however, was for the Surface Pro 7. On occasion, the patents do tip some future devices and give us a glimpse of the tech we may be using years down the road. Today, A new Microsoft patent has surfaced titled "Dynamic Interaction Adaptation of a Digital Inking Device." Sounds juicy and it is. The patent is for a next-gen Surface Pen that is fitted with an OLED display on one side of its barrel. The patent application was filed in late 2017 but was published by the USPTO earlier this...
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When it comes to connectivity, Microsoft has been a bit slow on the uptake with regards to the USB-C interface. While the company did capitulate by adding USB-C to the entry-level Surface Go convertible, the company's higher-end Surface Pro 6, Surface Book and Surface Laptop have yet to embrace the popular port. That could change, however, with the Surface Pro 7 thanks to a new patent filing. The patent shows the inclusion of a USB-C port on the side of the device to complement the existing DisplayPort and USB-A interfaces. In essence, Microsoft is giving customers the best of both worlds; something that we feel it should have done years ago. Interestingly, there doesn't appear...
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If you've been following Microsoft's PC hardware efforts over the past few years, then you know that the company initially had a rough start with its Surface convertibles. However, the Surface family has recently started gaining traction and has expanded to includes laptops and even an all-in-one desktop PC. While some investors have looked at Microsoft's hardware ambitions with a skeptical eye as its fortunes in "the cloud" have grown, Surface Chief Panos Panay maintains that hardware remains central to the company's mission. "It's not just a core part of our strategy and at the centre of Microsoft, it's also a core part of how we build products at Microsoft," said Panay in an interview...
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A new Microsoft patent application has emerged that Redmond filed on May 1, 2017, but was only published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on November 1, 2018. The patent application shows an interesting feature that might turn up on a future version of the Surface Pro. The feature is a second supplemental display on the back of the Surface device that Microsoft has dubbed a "reflective display" and it would sit right above the hinge for the kickstand on the back. The abstract on the patent explains the screen would be a reflective multi-layer structure that forms an external surface of the electronic device and has a light-emitting display. The display portion is separated by a dielectric...
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Just over a year ago, Consumer Reports caused a huge rift in the consumer electronics realm when it withheld is vaunted "recommended" rating from Microsoft's Surface family of products. The publication based its decision on a survey from 90,000 of its readers and found Surface products to be “significantly less reliable than most other brands”. At the time, the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro and Surface Book were affected by the demotion. When the Surface Book 2 launched, it too was cast off with the lepers. Surface Book 2 What a difference a year makes. The Surface family has been re-evaluated and the publication has concluded that the products can now legitimately...
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If you're a fan of Microsoft's Surface family of PC hardware, mark October 2nd on your digital calendar. That is when Microsoft will announce the latest round of updates for its hardware family. We're likely to see across-the-board updates, with the exception of the Surface Go, which launched just a few months ago. Microsoft's Surface Pro is due for a redesign, and it’s likely that the device will take some cues from the smaller Surface Go including a slightly more rounded design and the inclusion of USB-C (or Thunderbolt 3) ports. Surface Pro When it comes to what powers the next Surface Pro, there's no question that that company will want to use 8th generation...
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Intel is nearly ready to roll out a new family of low-power Core Y-Series processors, and they could find their way into a number of popular devices in the coming months. There are three processors SKUs that have been revealed, and they all fall under the Amber Lake family. According to Romanian website NextLab501, the three processors will officially launch during the third quarter and are considered part of the 8th generation Core family. All three processors are dual-core parts, HyperThreading-enabled, and incorporate Intel HD Graphics 615: Core m3-8100Y Base Clock: 1.1GHz All-Core Boost: 2.7GHz Single-Core Boost: 3.4GHz Core i5-8200Y Base Clock: 1.3GHz All-Core Boost: 3.2GHz...
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The Surface Pro tablet is already a very versatile mobile computing, especially when paired with the Type Cover which turns it into a competent productivity machine. For those that need a bit more than what Microsoft offers with the official Surface Dock, Kensington has its own take on boosting productivity with the SD7000 Dual 4K Surface Pro Docking Station. What first grabs your attention is the fact that the SD7000 in effect turns your Surface Pro into a miniature Surface Studio. It has an articulating hinge that lets you interact with the Surface Pro's display in an upright position or at the perfect angle to meet your viewing or writing/drawing needs. It also allows you to magnetically attach...
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Microsoft has been on a discounting spree with its Surface Pro laptop, which broke onto the tech scene in its current iteration back in 2017. When we last visited, Microsoft was knocking $200 off across-the-board on the Surface Pro family. Now, the company is discounting a bundle that includes a Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD and a Signature Type Cover (Platinum) by $360. The bundle typically costs $1,159, but is currently selling for $799. During the last promotion, the $799 pricing didn't include the Platinum Signature Type Cover. So, today’s deal is a 1-2 punch when it comes to value. As with all current-generation Surface Pro tablets, you will receive a 12.3-inch...
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For those of us that have bought new laptops or convertibles in the past two years or so, USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports have become commonplace. While USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals aren't nearly as ubiquitous as those using USB-A, it's nice to have the ports built-in. Microsoft, however, has been reticent to adding even a single USB-C port to its recent Surface products. So, Microsoft has come up with the above solution and just look at it -- it's massive! That is a single USB-C port that plugs into Microsoft's proprietary Surface Connect interface on the side of its Surface Pro, Surface Book and Surface Laptop. So not only is this device large and unsightly, but it also cannot be...
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If you're in the market for a premium Windows 10 tablet, Microsoft is running a promotion this weekend on the Surface Pro. The entry-level Surface Pro typically costs $799, but Microsoft is offering the tablet for $599. Those six Benjamins will get you a 7th generation Intel Core m3 processor (HD Graphics 615) paired with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. The $200 off discount extends throughout the Surface Pro family, which means that you can get a Core i5 system with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD for $799 or pony up $1,099 for a Core i5/8GB/256GB SKU. Whichever model you select, you'll get a 12.3-inch PixelSense Display with a resolution of 2736x1824, 8MP rear camera, 5MP front-facing camera...
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Things have been relatively quiet so far in 2018 on the Surface hardware front. There was a bevy of activity last year with the launch of the Surface Laptop, the fifth-generation Surface Pro and the Surface Book 2. Now, according to a new report, Microsoft is gearing up for another flurry of new hardware devices in 2019. The reporting comes courtesy of Thurrott, which says that three new devices are in the works. The first of these new Surface hardware products is codenamed Libra, and will be a low-cost tablet that will slot in below the Surface Pro. The Surface Pro starts at $799 (Intel Core m3, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD), so it’s possible that pricing for this device entry-level Surface...
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Last week, Microsoft announced that it would be lopping $200 off the price of its Surface Pro to celebrate the 2-in-1 convertible’s 5th anniversary. Well, that promotion has been ongoing since the start of the weekend, and unfortunately has to come to an end today. Microsoft's current $200-off offer, unlike other ongoing Surface promotions, extends to most of the Surface Pro family (the Surface Pro with LTE is the sole exception). This means that no matter if you are looking for a base Core m3 machine or a top-end model with a Core i7 processor, you can take advantage of the discounts. As we mentioned in our previous article, the promotion is currently running at brick and mortar...
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You might not realize it, but one popular hardware series is celebrating a birthday this month: the Surface Pro family was launched five years ago in early February 2013. Five years is a long time in tech, and many people thought that Microsoft wouldn't be able to last this long in the PC hardware business given some early missteps with Surface RT. But Microsoft's Surface Pro family has endured, growing stronger with each generation. In honor of the Windows 10 tablet's fifth birthday, Microsoft is cutting $200 off the price of all Surface Pro models over President’s Day weekend (February 17th through 19th). The offer will be available at the Microsoft Store (both online, as well as brick...
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Microsoft's Surface Pro with LTE officially launched on December 1st, but since that time has only been available for business customers -- regular consumers were left out of the loop. Today, however, Microsoft has opened up sales of the cellular-equipped tablet to all customers and not just a select few. You can now head on over to the Microsoft Store to order own "Commercial Surface Pro with LTE Advanced", as it’s officially called. Despite its name and business-oriented mission, there doesn't appear to be any restrictions in place that would prevent you or I from purchasing the tablet. The Surface Pro with LTE is currently available in two configurations. The first comes with an Intel...
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Over the past week, many of the country's leading retailers have unveiled their tantalizing Black Friday deals. We've seen ads from Best Buy, Target, and Walmart among others. Hardware companies are also getting in on the festivities as well; the latest of which is Microsoft. The company just posted its Black Friday ad, and there are quite a few gems in there for gamers and productivity fiends alike. On the gaming front, Microsoft will discount the Xbox One S 500GB console to just $189 (a price matched by a few other retailers for Black Friday). However, Microsoft is sweetening the deal by giving you a choice of a free game and a one-month trial for Xbox Game Pass. If 500GB is simply too little...
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After apparently getting its signals crossed, Microsoft has finally settled on an official launch date for the Surface Pro with LTE. Microsoft Surface Chief Panos Panay made the announcement this week at the Future Decoded event, stating that the long-awaited tablet will be available on December 1st. If you recall, this date was first revealed by Surface Pro program manager Tim Golik back in late September. The launch date reveal by Golik was apparently provided by mistake, and Microsoft later issued a statement, claiming, "The Surface Pro with LTE will be available later this year. We will have more to share regarding specific timing and market availability in coming months." Things took an...
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Microsoft is prepping a version of its popular Surface Pro tablet/laptop/2-in-1/convertible (or however you want to classify it) with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 modem inside. A peek at the Surface Pro's product page in the Microsoft Store now states that the LTE-equipped variant will be available sometime next spring, and not on December 1 as a Surface Pro product manager stated last month at Microsoft's Ignite conference. There is an FAQ section at the bottom of the Surface Pro product page and one of the questions asks when LTE will be available. It goes like this: When will LTE be available? The new Surface Pro with LTE will be made available for purchase at retail Spring 2018. We're excited...
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A funny thing happened as we were evaluating the latest iteration of Microsoft's Surface Pro, a now iconic 2-in-1 that the company describes as "the most versatile laptop," despite its tablet-first design. A rumor emerged suggesting Microsoft would phase out its Surface line within the next couple of years. It was really more of a prediction than a rumor. During the EMEA Canalys Channels Forum in Venice, Canalys CEO Steve Brazier pointed to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella being a software guy who is more interested in the cloud than hardware. Lenovo COO Gianfranco Lanci backed his assessment during a subsequent Q&A session, saying Microsoft might even abandon its Surface business a bit earlier....
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When Microsoft announced the current generation Surface Pro (4th gen, if you're keeping score), the company revealed that an LTE model would be added to the product mix. Well, it's over four months later and we still haven't laid eyes on this mysterious Surface Pro LTE. However, a new report suggests that the cellular SKU is just a few months away. This news comes courtesy of Tim Golik, who is a program manager for the Surface Pro. According to Golik, the LTE-equipped version of the Windows 10 convertible will be available on December 1st. We were not made privy as to whether the device will be available to purchase on that date, or if it will simply be available for pre-order. Microsoft refused...
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Microsoft’s Surface family of hardware products have generally been lauded by the press for their seemingly high-quality designs, first-party status, and for getting most of the details right with regards to ergonomics and functionality (often times, later being copied by third-party manufacturers). Publications like Consumer Reports have also given Surface laptops and tablets recommended ratings based on their own in-house testing. However, Consumer Reports is now walking back its recommended rating after receiving tens of thousands of responses from its subscribers. In particular, the publication says that the predicted reliability of the Surface Book and the recently introduced Surface...
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