Microsoft's new surface devices are beautiful, but imperfect



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Microsoft announced Tuesday three new models in its PC Surface range: the Convertible Surface Pro 6, the traditional Laptop Surface 2 and the Surface Studio 2 all-in-one. The company also introduced its new Surface noise headset. While the ads revolved around the idea of ​​personal productivity (and the return of a particular color palette), some of the new products do not offer an increasingly important feature: USB-C, the port universal that you can use from the thousand dollar smartphones to your Nintendo Switch for kids.

The all-in-one Surface Studio 2, with its 28-inch widescreen display containing more pixels than your 4K TV and its innovative "hinge" design, is probably the coolest device in Microsoft's Surface portfolio. especially when it is associated with the Surface Pen and the Surface. The dial that makes photo editing and multimedia creation more fun than expected. It is also the most expensive, and has already been criticized for its high price and lack of graphic power. The new Surface Studio 2 exceeds the $ 2,999 introductory price of the latest model – it now stands at $ 3,499 – but offers a brighter screen, a USB-C port (more on this one), a huge disk 2TB solid-state hard drive, the seventh generation of Intel processor, and presents the 'new generation graphics Pascal' from Nvidia graphics card manufacturer. Unfortunately for Microsoft, Nvidia recently released new graphics cards powered by its "Turing" technology, making Surface Studio 2 a "new generation" after all. Despite the absence of state-of-the-art processors, it remains considerably faster than the previous Surface Studio, and it's hard to move this screen.

Microsoft product manager Panos Panay unveiling Surface Studio 2.

Microsoft product manager Panos Panay unveiling Surface Studio 2.

Microsoft

The $ 899 Surface Pro 6 Convertible Surface has been upgraded to the latest Intel eighth generation processor and now has a life expectancy of approximately 13 hours. It is always endowed with an iconic adjustable crutch, a removable keyboard and a compatibility with accessories such as the Surface stylus and Surface dial. Whether in black or silver, it catches the eye and the four cover options add a little color if you wish.

Of the three updated devices, the $ 999 Surface Laptop 2 is the most traditional product in Microsoft's Surface PC family. It looks and acts like a normal laptop – or at least as normal as any laptop computer coated with Alcantara fabric. It has also been upgraded to the latest Intel eighth generation processor and has a battery that can last about 14 hours, according to Microsoft. It is still available in red, blue and silver, although the previous gold option has been replaced by a matte black version (colder).

The hardware announcement was followed by a preview of October's October update of Windows 10, which will bring new features to Windows 10 easing the rebound between your desktop and your mobile device. The application Your phone, for example, lets you control your Android smartphone from your desktop. You can run applications, reply to messages and take or move camera pictures from your smartphone to your PC.

Overall, the designs remain largely unchanged, although the matte black versions available for the Surface Pro 6 and the Surface Laptop 2 are very attractive options. But even the new colors can not distract from one of the most important issues of two of the three updated computers. We are in 2018 and there are no USB-C ports to find. Which give?

Surface headphones have 14 levels of noise cancellation and a USB-C port for charging.

Surface headphones have 14 levels of noise cancellation and a USB-C port for charging.

Microsoft

Unlike Apple, which manufactures MacBook Pro laptops with only USB-C ports since 2016 (much to the frustration of some users), Microsoft laptops have mostly moved away from the port, which means that those who want the new standard connection need an external USB port. C dongle. Admittedly, it's not as if Microsoft did not know how to put the port on a laptop. It already features the recently released 15-inch Surface Book 2 and Surface Go 10-inch, both equipped with USB-C ports that allow you to charge your laptop or other device, transfer files, and connect to displays. external, all without the need for different cables. Even the discovery by the company of the $ 349 Surface headphones left me scratching my head. Silver over-ear wireless headphones with 14 levels of active noise cancellation feature a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C port for charging. The all-new Surface Pro 6 "versatile", described on the Microsoft website, lacks port.

In the past, Microsoft had relied on the once-very low adoption rate of USB-C and the confusion surrounding USB-C dongles and hubs as reasons for excluding the port in favor of Surface Connect's magnetic port. Mini DisplayPort. While this may have been a logical decision a year or two ago, excluding the connection standard in 2018 seems surprisingly short-sighted. Many modern devices now use USB-C, which means that users are more likely to be frustrated by its absence rather than by its inclusion. As when Apple had been criticized for opting for the USB-C with its MacBook Pro laptops a few years ago, we have reached the point where Microsoft neglects the new standard can be seen as a similar hostile decision to it. user. The omission is more than puzzling; It's frustrating and requires Microsoft to look back despite its range of cutting-edge devices. No matter the black color of your laptop, who wants it if it is already obsolete?

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