New Microsoft Surface Pro

LCDG on 24/05/2017 - 10:44
Last edited 24/05/2017 - 10:55

https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/store/d/surface-pro/8NKT9WTT…

It looks like doesn't has much changed. What you guys think?

According to Cnxt Report:

What exactly is new about the Surface Pro? Highlights include:

A slightly thinner and lighter body, with rounder edges, at 8.5mm thick and 1.69 pounds (767 grams). I was hard-pressed to tell the difference between this and a Pro 4, however, even side by side.

A move to newer seventh-generation Intel Core processors, including Core m3, and Core i5 and Core i7 U-series options.

A fanless design for the Core m3 and Core i5 versions.

A kickstand that lowers the system to a slightly lower angle, down to 165 degrees, compared to the previous 150 degrees.

Redesigned stylus, going from 1,024 levels of pressure to 4,096.

New keyboard covers, with similar colors to the Surface Laptop's, and covered with the same Alcantara fabric.

Longer battery life, up to 13.5 hours, according to Microsoft.

Computing

Comments

  • KitchenSink on 24/05/2017 - 10:51

    Its whats on the inside that counts.

    Fanless i5? I'm very curious about how this performs. But overall seems like a good spec update. Sad not to see USB-C/Thunderbolt 3. But I heard the charger will house a USB port or something on it not just for charging devices but also data transfer? Source Here

    • Diji1 on 24/05/2017 - 11:30

      Fanless i5 is going to throttle itself very fast. The M3 will be a better gaming machine because of this.

      • Hazzard on 24/05/2017 - 11:55

        I am guessing they might have used the Y series i5 which are basically the 7th gen m5. If not Y series, as you mentioned, it would throttle real fast. The store listing doesn't specify cpu version.

        • ProspectiveDarkness on 24/05/2017 - 12:00
          +2

          Ars Technica reports that it's the i5-7300U, not a Core M ""Y"" series model.

        • iridiumstem on 24/05/2017 - 12:03
          +2

          Nah, they are using i5 u series one.

          I am not sure how it'd perform, but there is another device that does that (it's made by Acer). Obviously it's not going to be a good indicator of how it will perform exactly, but I think it shows what can happen in theory.

          https://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Aspire-Switch-12-Alpha-SA…

          To quote the review (so that you don't have to go and search for the part about throttling):

          The actively cooled Surface Pro 4 (Intel Core i7) does a much better job with maximum temperatures of 45.4 °C (~114 °F). However, the Surface Pro 4 version with Intel's Core i5 reaches much higher temperatures on average than our review sample.

          …

          We first max out the processing power via Prime95. The clock frequency remains stable for 20 minutes with Turbo. Subsequently, the clock drops to 2500 to 2600 MHz. The CPU calculates just above its base clock of 2.4 GHz after approximately half an hour. The CPU recurrently fluctuates between 2.3 and 2.5 GHz. We cannot provoke throttling up to this point. The processor first has to clearly drop below its base rate after starting FurMark, where it clocks at only 1.1 - 1.2 GHz on average.

          The review sample throttles only in the stress test, which causes a load that is unlikely to be produced in real world use. According to 3DMark 11 the Switch Alpha 12 can retrieve its full performance as soon as Prime95 and FurMark are closed.

          MS vs Acer, I'd probably wait for the full release and see how it actually performs. I am not going to write fanless i5 off as an "awful idea" just yet, since Acer I think pulled it off well enough to be called a trade off from looking at the review.

        • Hazzard on 24/05/2017 - 12:10

          @ProspectiveDarkness: Mmh. Interesting. Checked the store listing once again and the integrated graphics specified is for the 7200U or the 7300U that you mentioned and its not for the Y series. I stand corrected.

        • KitchenSink on 24/05/2017 - 12:19

          @Oversimplified: Yeah I'm waiting to see the reviews for the i5 model. IF they can achieve a fanless design and I'm sure they did without much issue then hats off to MS. Lots of R&D go into these products so I wouldn't write them off.

        • iridiumstem on 24/05/2017 - 12:29

          @KitchenSink096: I'd probably wait and see. There are some things that goes for MS (like how this is a later model) and there are others that go against MS (their track record on throttling is awful).

          I am just going to wait and see without assuming one way or the other.

  • Kunalk222 on 24/05/2017 - 11:38

    too expensive …

  • Scyl on 24/05/2017 - 11:40

    The IO is a little disappointing. Fanless i5 is cool if it works well.
    Not bad from what we know so far, but not as good as I would have hoped.

  • ProspectiveDarkness on 24/05/2017 - 11:43

    Generally, I like what Microsoft's been doing with the Surface line, and I'd be keen to get one if I needed it, but…

    • 4GB base ram is still insulting. Having to go to the third tier at $2K even more so.

    • Dropping the Surface Pen from the main bundle is bs. They needed to include more accessories in the price, not leave more out. Now you need to spend ~$300 to get the 'full Surface experience'. And no reduction in base price. Shocking. Wonder if they'll start charging extra for the power cable next.

    • That fanless i5 is going to throttle something terrible.

    • [Deactivated] on 24/05/2017 - 12:56
      +1

      I use the SP4 for general productivity - MS Office etc.

      I've never used the pen. The real rip off is the keyboard which is really non negotiable unless you're using it as an overpriced iPad.

      • ProspectiveDarkness on 24/05/2017 - 13:09

        I'd agree the keyboard is more relevant to most than the Pen, but just removing it entirely (without changing the price) isn't the answer either.

        I mean seriously, now that they're calling it a laptop, the keyboard really should be included. A "laptop" that doesn't include a keyboard isn't much of a laptop.

      • CDG on 24/05/2017 - 13:31

        true..Keyboard is overpriced, i got it on ebay for $145 recently but still expensive!!!

  • [Deactivated] on 24/05/2017 - 13:59
    -1

    apple seems a better buy.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/05/2017 - 19:40

    LTE…
    I don't see many people using the pen at work, in fact I don't think I've ever seen anyone use it.

    • All Blacks NZ on 24/05/2017 - 20:53

      I don't think I would use the pen either but with LTE and keyboard, it's a very useful work tool.

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