Microsoft Surface Go $ 399, 10-inch rethinks Windows tablet for consumers



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For all of Microsoft's claims about mobility, the Microsoft Surface range of Windows tablets really has not been all that wearable. The smaller, cheaper, and lighter Surface Go announced Tuesday morning hopes to change all that, with a new 10-inch spin on the traditional Surface tablet

No, this is not the Surface Mini, or the device two-screen rumor "," Andromeda ". The Surface Go resembles the $ 499 eccentric tablet from Microsoft Surface 3, 2015, which offered a cheaper alternative to the expensive surface line. The Surface Go even drops to $ 399 for a model with 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage when it goes on sale August 2nd. A keyboard will be sold separately, starting at $ 99, and the optional area The pen will also cost $ 99

As its name suggests, Microsoft designed the Surface Go for people on the move: the sales manager who makes a quick montage or two for a presentation during his daughter's football camp, for example. A Wi-Fi model only will be shipped first, followed by an LTE model later in 2018. According to a Microsoft spokesperson, the difference between Surface Go and a device like the Surface Pro (2017) is a question degrees, price, performance, and screen size.

This is also a question of operating system and processor. Microsoft will pre-load each Surface Go with Windows 10 S, especially Windows 10 Home in S mode. A commercial variant will be shipped with Windows 10 Pro. The Surface Go is powered by a Pentium 4415Y "Gold" chip, the lower end of Intel's 7th generation (Kaby Lake) Core processor family.

What does it mean: The Surface Go between a space tablet whose most popular readers include the Android-based 9.7 inch Galaxy Tab S3 for $ 599 and the most affordable Amazon Fire HD 10 for only $ 150, as well as, of course, the Apple dominating iPad, which starts at $ 329. It seems that Microsoft is pulling somewhere in the middle: a price low enough to widen the Surface user base, and a feature set that includes a stylus and keyboard to keep up with Samsung and Apple competition (The Fire HD 10 not a).

  Surface go edu ecosystem of Microsoft Microsoft

Microsoft Surface Go ecosystem: Surface Go, Surface Pen updated, and Surface Mouse Surface.

A Windows Tablet for Consumers

There is a big However, have Windows users called for a basic Windows tablet? The Surface Go seems to be Microsoft's answer to the criticism that the Surface range has been too expensive.

The following specifications describe a modestly-equipped small tablet that no one will confuse with a Surface Pro – small enough to fit on a plane-tray table with the front seat tilted, says Microsoft. It seems to have enough equipment to handle Windows 10 S, at least. Do not forget that you will be limited to using Microsoft Store applications and browsing with Microsoft Edge.

Surface Go: Basic Specifications

  • Display: 10-inch (1800×1200) IPS, 10-touch
  • Processor: Intel Pentium 4415Y 1.6GHz (Kaby Lake)
  • Graphics: Intel HD 615 (Integrated)
  • Memory: 4 GB / 8 GB
  • Storage: 64 GB eMMC / 128 GB SSD (256 GB SSD in the commercial model)
  • Ports : 1 USB 3.0 Type C, 1 surface connector, microSD, headphone jack
  • Wireless: 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac Wi-Fi, LTE later in 2018
  • Cameras: 5MP front (Windows Hello-able), 8MP rear (with autofocus)
  • Battery: 27Wh, 9 hours (estimated) battery life
  • Operating System : Windows 10 Home Mode S (Windows 10 Pro for Commercial Model)
  • Dimensions and Weight: 9.76 x 7.48 x 0.18 inches, 1.15 pounds (tablet), 1.6 pounds (tablet and keyboard) [19659014] Price: Starting from $ 399. Keyboard is $ 99 (black) or $ 129 (Burgundy, cobalt, platinum)
  Microsoft Surface Go Mark Hachman / IDG

You can mix and match the Surface Go and its various type covers covered with 39; Alcantara. ] A new smaller surface to go

Microsoft said that there will be two consumer versions of the Surface Go: one with 4GB of memory and 64GB of SSD storage for $ 399, and an 8GB version (memory) / 128GB (storage) for an undisclosed price. With a keyboard, the cheapest Surface Go will cost just under $ 500. There will also be two commercial models with beefier specifications – the same processor, but 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD. Up to now, the only prices published by Microsoft have been for LTE versions [19659029] Surface Go (consumer):

  • 4GB RAM / 64GB SSD storage: $ 399
  • 8GB RAM / 128GB SSD storage: $ 549
  • Type Coverage: $ 99-129, by color
  • Surface Mouse: 39 $
  • Pen Surface: 99 $

Surface Go (commercial):

  • 4GB RAM / 64GB SSD Memory, 449 $
  • 8GB RAM / 128GB SSD memory, $ 599
  • Type Cover: $ 99-129, depending on color
  • Mouse Surface: $ 39
  • Pen Surface: $ 99
  Microsoft Surface Go Mark Hachman / IDG

The new Microsoft Surface Go includes both a USB-C port (sorry, no Thunderbolt!) And a surface connector.

Unlike previous Surface iterations – remember Surface Book 2? – The Surface Go is launched without fanfare, in four colors: black, burgundy, cobalt blue and the silver platinum of existing Surface models. Naturally, Alcantara-coated keyboards are color-coded to match the chassis, and there's a new surface-mounted mobile mouse to accompany it, starting at $ 39. There is also a new Surface Pen iteration, with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, which will be offered as an option at 99.

  Microsoft Surface Go Mark Hachman / IDG

The new Surface Go ( on the left) compared to Surface Pro (2017), on the right.

In a motion that refers to Surface 3, you'll have a choice between two options: the traditional Surface connector and the power-supply, or USB-C. The high speed Thunderbolt interface has not been included.

Although we have not had the opportunity to use it for a long time, the smaller form factor of Surface Go involves a different use case of its cousins Bigger and more expensive. . Although Microsoft sells the keyboard separately on the Surface Pro, its presence is virtually assumed. This is not necessarily true with the Surface Go.

While the compact design has its tradeoffs, like a stand limited to two positions – the Surface 3 offers three! – This is always a practical size for those who travel frequently. It corresponds to a board table, said the spokesman for Microsoft. Underside hides the traditional microSD location of most surface devices

  Microsoft Surface Go Mark Hachman / IDG

The Surface Go uses a stand that is fixed in two positions. A power button and a volume rocker are on the top.

You may not need the keyboard, but Microsoft has been careful. A spokesman said the company has been busy making small changes to maximize comfort and speed of typing. Although the keys are smaller than normal, for example, they have a slight concavity to improve the landing zone. (According to Microsoft, the keyboard represents about 85% of the size of the Surface Pro.) The displacement of the key is about 1 mm, compared to 1.5 mm or even 1.75 mm on the tablets and laptops competitors . All told, Microsoft estimates that typing rates will be about 96% of what you can get on the Surface Pro keyboard.

Microsoft also disclosed the details of the new Surface Mobile wireless mouse, ambidextrous accompaniment of Surface Go. The mobile mouse is relatively flat and is designed to be carried in the same bag or briefcase as the Go. It is powered by a pair of AAA batteries, with a battery life of about a year. The 4,000 fps Bluetooth mouse is also one of the first to use Swift Pair, the new Windows 10 technology that allows the mouse to signal to the PC that it is ready to be paired.

  Microsoft Surface Mobile Mouse Mark Hachman / IDG [19659008] Microsoft's new Surface Mobile Mouse comes in four colors.

Performance Will Be Modest

Microsoft's Surface Series offers a range of processor options, from the powerful 8th generation Core Chips available in Surface Book 2 to Core i7-7660 in Surface Pro (2017) , up to the 6th generation Core chips in Surface Studio. With the Surface Go, Microsoft has created an even lower level

  Microsoft Surfaces Mark Hachman / IDG

The Surface Range of Microsoft offers a range of options.

Expect to hear a number of comparisons with Surface 3 and its 1.6GHz Intel Atom x7-Z8700. According to Microsoft, the Surface Go has twice the processing power and 2.5 times the graphics power of the Surface 3. Versus the Surface Pro 3 – the first Surface Pro product to come out in the mainstream – the Go has about a third more than the Core i5 SP3, and about 20 percent more than the Core i7 version. The Go also has enough power to drive a single 4K monitor at 60Hz, and a pair of 4K monitors at 30Hz. Compare it to rival tablets using 8th generation Core chips, and Surface Go will be far behind.

One question, of course, is why Microsoft chose an X86 part, rather than an atom or even a new one. Power-sipping Qualcomm chips. The answer, according to Microsoft, is simple: because customers prefer it.

"We are normalizing on X86, because many of our enterprise customers do it, and they have several generations of X86 applications and services running on them," replied the spokesman for Microsoft. "Surface is X86 across the board." According to the Microsoft spokesperson, it's enough performance for traditional multitasking, with navigation in multiple tabs.

  Microsoft Surface Go Mark Hachman / IDG

Although the Surface Go is portable, you can use it as a desktop PC.

Who will use the Go?

Not having the chance to perform what I would call a complete hands-on, although the Surface Go is lightweight with the keyboard, the Surface Go is lighter than the SP3 alone , without its Cover Type. Typing on it will almost certainly require some effort because the keyboard is smaller and its keys are shallower.

We often look at products to discover an original feature that was ahead of its time. In this case, it was the Surface 3 LTE, which was delivered with the support of T-Mobile and Verizon at the end of 2015. Now, ubiquitous connectivity is becoming more and more important. When Microsoft killed Surface 3 in 2016, analysts debated the need for another low-cost Surface

  Surface 3 Main 2

The original Microsoft Surface 3. The question for Customers will be: do we need a cheaper and improved update?

And that is the question on which the success of Surface Go rests. Microsoft has always made the upper echelon of tablets and laptops a way to increase its revenues for the marketplace. PC and show what the PC platform could accomplish. Now he is heading in a different direction, exploring whether consumers might prefer something cheaper. Remember, nothing prevents a Surface Go buyer to attach a USB-C hub or Dock Surface and also use the Go computer as a desktop computer. Traditional surface fans tend to overlook everything but the most powerful machines. With Surface Go, Microsoft seems to be making a conscious effort to attract users everyday.

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