Microsoft surface laptop

Microsoft has just launched a laptop version of its Surface tablet. From a business user’s perspective, this has been designed for now, rather than the technology that is likely to be popular in 5 years’ time.

By designing the Surface laptop around the concept of what users want / need today, Microsoft has created a computer with all the connectors and ports you are likely to need, a 13.5-inch touch-screen secured with a sturdy hinge and enough power to run typical business applications like Microsoft Office, etc.

The design looks smart and up to date while the screen is sharp with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels. The case design is slim and the battery is designed to last up to (a claimed) 14 hours. 

On the right side of the Surface laptop you will find the port for Microsoft’s proprietary charger. On the left there is a headphone jack, MiniDisplay port, and a single USB 3.0 port. Note this is not USB-C. As the Surface laptop has been designed for today rather than 5 years in the future, it has been designed to connect to today’s printers, cameras and accessories – all of which tend to use standard USB connectors.

Buyers can specify the Surface laptop with Intel’s Core i5 processor or the more powerful Core i7. You can also choose between 4, 8, or 16GB of RAM, and 128, 256, or 512GB of solid-state storage. The choice of specification obviously affects the price, which starts from £979.00 to about £2,000 for the top spec version. Most buyers are likely to choose a mid range spec which will typically retail for around the £1,250 mark (including VAT).

The Surface laptop comes as standard with Windows 10, but most business users will want to specify it with Windows 10 Pro which has additional network management features, etc. The Surface laptop is a capable piece of kit that is likely to appeal to business users who want a solid, powerful tool that looks good and has decent battery life.