Microsoft has left its Surface Pro line of Windows 10 tablet/laptop hybrids pretty much untouched since 2015 but today announced the latest generation device which is simply called Surface Pro. It comes with slightly rounder edges than the predecessors but looks otherwise very similar and is only 8.5mm thin.
It also offers 50% more battery life (up to 13.5 hours for video playback) than the Surface Pro 4 and the Kickstand can be adjusted to a 165 degree angle which according to Microsoft is ideal for drawing and design work. The 12.3" PixelSense display with 2736 x 1824 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio can be controlled via the new Surface Pen which, at 4096 pressure levels, offers double the sensitivity of the previous version. In addition there is a new optional Type Cover with LED illumination and a glass trackpad.
The new Surface Pro comes in platinum, cobalt blue and burgundy colors and can be pre-ordered from today starting at $799. The device is available with Intel's 7th-generation Core processors, with specifications starting from 128GB SSD and 4GB RAM up to 1TB SSD and 16GB RAM. Shipping is envisaged for mid-June.
I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for this update. All I can say is I'm somewhat underwhelmed. No USB-c? Really? And I still can't connect a card reader and external drive at the same time without an external hub. I don't get it.
That said, the battery life is impressive and no one has mentioned the one big upgrade: optional LTE. I would *love* to have this feature on whatever I end up getting instead of this new Surface Pro.
Downloading Photos - easiest way is via wifi, but if you require an external card reader, there will be a usb-c dongle that should support high speeds.
storage -- you can get up to 1TB ssd internal, not sure why you would want to connect an external drive to this. If it is like SP4 Pro, you'll also be able to install a microsd card as a second 200GB+ drive.
In any case, if you really want to connect multiple external devices at high speed...I assume there will be a next generation hub at some point that will support usb-c given that Microsoft is already releasing a usb-c dongle and a lot of people connect their SP4's to hubs.
@virtualreality A microSD card reader is built in. And while I appreciate this—I use it all the time on my original Surface Pro, it can't handle the 64GB SDXC cards used in my X-T2.
@deploylinux I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions. In my case, I'm generating photos and video content while traveling that consume more than a TB of space. But even if it didn't, best practice is not to trust critical data to one drive. I back up to a set of Samsung T-series external SSD drives. I was an early adopter of the original Surface Pro. I've been using it for many years now and it still works very well. However having to assemble a mini computer system of hubs, drives, readers, etc., any time I need to do a quick backup has become tedious. People have been complaining about the lack of multiple USB ports since I bought my Surface Pro. It's personally disappointing that MS has chosen to ignore these concerns. And because I do hold onto my laptops for a number of years, I don't want to start out behind the curve when it comes to USB-c (I really should clarify that I'm talking about Thunderbolt 3) and its potential speed advantage for data transfer.
What has nothing to do with this iteration, virtualreality? What have I said that is inaccurate? Are you suggesting that the latest Surface Pro has an SD card reader? The specs on MS site say otherwise though I would be happy to be wrong.
I agree with you, releasing a new convertible in 2017 without Type C is just daft... I'm guessing they didn't wanna commit the internal space (and potentially a bit more power usage) to the extra controller chip needed, as Intel still hasn't integrated this unto their northbridge (I think?)...
Even from a practical point it makes sense, a Type C data port can double as a charging port or a video out port so it frees you up to eliminate those, and you can put multiple Type C ports in the space of the larger legacy ports. Watch Surface Pro 2018/2019 go Type C.
If I recall correctly, it comes with a "Windows 10 S" - a severely locked down version of the OS, that only runs applications installed through Windows Store, and disables a lot of built-in software (like the command prompt).
Despite what some irate users say on the forums, the "S" stands for "streamlined".
The OS can be upgraded to a less-restricted Windows 10 (currently, an upgrade to "Pro" level is free).
That was the Surface laptop which Microsoft said was going to come with Windows 10 S on it (and then upgradeable to Windows 10 Pro for free). Just to confuse everyone. :)
This device, the Surface Pro tablet, comes with full Windows 10 Pro already (See specs at the bottom of the following link).
You're so wrong. USB-C can charge the tablet and connect it to a monitor at the same time. It has enough bandwidth to connect to an external device with PCI-E like bandwidth which means external periperhals even including high power GPU's. One plug can connect to a box that includes keyboard, mouse, monitor, Ethernet, speakers, anything you can get in an expansion card. And it can charge the device through the plug at the same time.
Wireless is s*** for 4K video out, fast data transfers, fast home broadband, or many of the kinda things enthusiasts and pros do with these systems. Type C is the future, being able to use ports interchangeably while making room for more of them, being able to use one single cable for both data and power (the opposite of clutter), being able to use the same charger for phone and laptop in a pinch, etc etc. MS dropped the ball IMO.
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