Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 Review: Mid-range notebook targeting students and workers



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It seems that the Surface Laptop 2 from Microsoft does not have a lot of time. It's true that the first generation of surface laptops gave us a lot of fun. This low-cost, double-hull notebook is still popular as an optimized device for students and mobile workers. The problem is that while Surface 2 laptops are shut down, competitors have jumped into the market with their own popular products. As we will see below, the 13-inch Laptop Surface 2 is still a "worthy" laptop, but the design choices made a year ago are now somewhat boring.

Surface laptops are identical to previous generations in almost every aspect, from battery life to weight. In addition to color, Microsoft has moved from the seventh generation to the eighth-generation core microprocessor and, fortunately, the first-generation 4GB memory option has disappeared. The Windows 10 S mode has also disappeared and is now replaced by Windows 10 Home. However, there are no options based on Qualcomm or Intel Pentium and the LTE options have not yet been announced. Of course, these options did not exist on first generation devices.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (left) and Microsoft Surface Laptop 1 (right). Both are almost identical in design. MARK HACHMAN / IDG

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2: basic specifications and buying tips

Although we have talked about our experience since the launch of Surface Laptop 2, Microsoft sells both the Business Laptop 2 for the company and the Surface Laptop 2 for the consumer. The starting model for the business model is $ 1,199 and the consumer model is $ 999. The difference between the two models is that the model relies on a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor, with the vPro feature, since you have a guarantee that you can get your device and that you only use Windows 10 Pro instead of Windows Home, the price difference of 200 USD seems pretty important.

The colors vary. The cheapest Surface Surface 2 laptop at $ 999 uses a Core SSD i5 / 8GB RAM / 128GB platinum color (available on both the Microsoft Store and Amazon). For the black, burgundy and cobalt blue colors, the cheapest model is the MSRP (manufacturer's recommended price) and the RAM / 256 GB i58GB SSD configuration. The version examined in this article is black. There are of course high end models with higher specifications. I will introduce it in more detail in the basic specification below.

There is one thing to think about here. At a press conference, Microsoft announced that it could buy a first-generation Platinum surface laptop with a basic i5 / 8GB / 128GB RAM configuration at a reduced price on Amazon. The problem is that you can buy the Platinum Surface Laptop 2, which is much more powerful with the same specifications, for only $ 100 more.

Viewing : 13.5 inches (2256×1504), 201ppi pixel sensing screen, 10-point touch screen
Processor : Core i5-8250U at 1.6 GHz (test product), i7-8650U at 1.9 GHz (consumer), Core i5-8250U at 1.7 GHz (professional), Core i7-8650U at 1.9 GHz ( professional). All processors are four-core eighth generation Kavilake-R processors.
Graphic : Intel HD 620
Memory : 8GB to 16GB DDR3 (8GB for products tested)
Storage : 128GB ~ 1TB NVMe PCIe (256GB tested)
Security : TPM 2.0, Windows Hello
Harbor : USB 3.0 Type A, Surface Connection, Mini DisplayPort, 3.5mm Headphone Jack
Wireless : 802.11a / b / g / n / announcement, Bluetooth 4.1
Camera : 720p HD Camera (Front, Windows Hello)
Drums : 45Wh
Operating system : Windows 10 Home (test product), Windows 10 for business
Size ; 308.1mm x 223.27mm x 14.48mm
The weight : 1,27 kg (with cover type), 1,64 kg (with AC adapter)
Color : Platinum, black, burgundy, cobalt blue
Selectable accessories : Surface Pen ($ 99 at Microsoft Store)
Price : $ 1,299 (product tested)

You know I … . Can I say Apple? Well, it is true that jet black recently added to the bodywork made Surface Aluminum 2 smooth aluminum body. The palm rest and interior design are very nice with the Alcantara fabric coating. But to be honest, it is neither understandable nor disappointing to ask for $ 200 more for such a difference.

The new black color of Microsoft is very good. MARK HACHMAN / IDG

Using Surface Laptop 2

The Surface Laptop 2 is a light but strong device. The hinge of the screen tilts slightly when you lift and move the bottom of the laptop 2. The Surface Laptop 2's screen is tilted at 45 degrees, which is the most comfortable for a sensation ergonomic. Also, no matter how long the floor was overheated, there was no problem. This was only an exception when I upgraded, but it was only slightly warmer at that time.

Gorilla Glbad 3 wraps the display in 3: 2 format. It's also the same configuration as the Surface Laptop 1. (Surface Pro 6 is a 12.3-inch screen with a high resolution of 2736×1824.) Moreover, by measuring the luminosity, a brightness of up to 337 knits was obtained, which is 8% less than the first generation. (Of course, as long as the brightness is above 260 knits in general, there is no problem in actual use.) However, there is no color option other than RGB as in Surface Book 2, and the display uses a standard dynamic range.

The Surface Laptop 2 does not have a fan, but the ventilation holes are oriented downwards, which allows a very quiet cooling. MARK HACHMAN / IDG

In addition to these numbers, the pixel screen used in surface products offers amazing color fidelity and a very pleasant experience. Microsoft has chosen a basic environment that can significantly increase the benefits of these screens. However, it should be remembered that high resolution displays can be pleasing to the eye but have a negative impact on battery life or device performance.

The experience of MicroSoft in opening the product is a bit different each time a new surface comes out, but Surface Laptop 2 is no exception. As with other surface devices, multiple screens appear during the initial setup process. But there is one thing that is different: this time Surface Laptop 2 has not asked for a pbadword and has updated it. Of course, when I was logged into my Microsoft account, I only had to approve the 2 laptop with my phone with dual authentication enabled. This is a very sophisticated and powerful way to accommodate users integrated into the Windows ecosystem.

Microsoft relies heavily on original cloud-based disk storage and automatically backs up documents, photos, and desktops. But I do not get consent in the process. When I put a few gigabytes of reference points in the folder of my office, it is automatically (and silently) downloaded and consumed. MARK HACHMAN / IDG

Of course, the Microsoft ecosystem still includes waste from most surface equipment. Candy crush soda saga, hula, bites coach. Of course, there are things that need to be removed, and there may be some students who really like these programs, but for those who do not like them, these programs are just pollution.

Old I / O elegant

The minimalism of the Surface Laptop 2 chbadis was nice (Microsoft designed a laptop on the surface in order to keep the student consumer from the Apple MacBook Air), but we can not deny that its design is a bit outdated. . Of course, since it's a laptop, it's easier to put it on your lap than a tablet like the Surface Pro 6, but the Laptop Surface 2 does not does not have a USB-C port offered by Micro SD slots (in Surface Pro 6) or other competitors. Compared to other things, it is a minor problem, but there is no rear camera.

Where is the USB-C port? He is still in the Microsoft lab. MARK HACHMAN / IDG

But if you spend another three or four years with Surface Laptop 2, USB-C devices will become more and more common. The $ 80 USB-C surface dongle is not only too expensive, but also has a bad reputation for charging and functionality. With the addition of a micro SD slot, the entry-level Platinum version (with only 128GB of storage capacity) will get a much better rating. Unlike the past, the absence of Micro SD or USB-C has become a flaw that degrades the product experience.

Surface laptops come with a USB 3.0 Type A port, a mini-display port, a microphone / headphone jack on the left, and a Surface connector on the right.

Laptop 2 expands as much as possible ⓒ MARK HACHMAN / IDG

Microsoft's surface devices are renowned for their excellent keyboards, but Surface Laptop 2 is no exception. It is slightly smaller than the Surface Book 2, but it offers a sufficient hitting area and good resilience so you do not get tired of beating it for a long time.

The Surface Laptop 2 keyboard is identical to the Surface Laptop 1 or Surface Pro 6 keyboard. MARK HACHMAN / IDG

The only thing wrapped in Alcantara fabric is the inside of the notebook, which gives a feeling of warmth to the palm of the hand instead of the cold metal. I also liked the fact that it is not stained when the hand touches the fabric for a long time or that another liquid touches it.

On the other hand, the trackpad did not seem to make a big difference. The Surface Trackpad 2 trackpad offers a spacious and soft feel (unlike surface surfing), like any other surface device.

The laptops on the surface of the built-in keyboards are surprisingly rich in volume. However, like other notebooks and tablets, the sound of this speaker is also flat and not the bbad or treble. There are not many options that can be set in the basic volume control panel. Instead, they migrated their audio controls to a separate Realtek audio console that handles the Realtek audio chip. With this console, you can enable or disable the Dolby audio settings, which adds considerable depth to the sound you hear through your headphones rather than your speakers.

Surface Laptop 2 does not have a rear camera and the front camera supports Windows Hello. MARK HACHMAN / IDG

Personally, I used a laptop every week to test the Windows 10 participating program builder, especially about a month after the release of the new features. In terms of continuity and ease of use, surface laptops are highly recommended.

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