Is it just me or do people never have to charge their laptops and use a secondary screen at the same time? Dosen't combining the power delivery port with anything else cause similar issues?
If you mean USB-C, why can't you just have more than one port? A better way to look at is you've already got to have a charging port, why not make it do more?
Presumably because it costs money and complicates board routing to do so.
Most of the time when you are using an external display you also want to plug in your charger, so in practice, 1 USB port gets tied up for charging. At least that's my experience.
Ding ding ding. Having a single USB-C handle power in and display out is awkward. Having two USB-C ports handle everything (data, power in, power out, power delivery x watts, displayport, data, thunderbolt, whatever else you want to throw on alt mode why not) adds extra cost and complexity. Having each one handle certain things but not others leads to confusion.
With that being said I'd rather they tossed a single USB-C into the mix somehow. Maybe keep the existing ports and just add a USB/TB data-and-power-output-only port. But yeah USB-C is kind of a mess. If you have a USB-C port that charges the device... and you plug in a high-output USB battery pack... which transmits power and which receives? What if I want that flipped, where's the switch for that?
It's like non-Apple hardware manufacturers don't want to succeed. I like Windows 10 and dislike macOS, but Apple got the hardware right with the MacBook Pros.
Typically at the home or office you would pick up a USB-C dock which provides power to the laptop, and interfaces for things like video ports, ethernet, usb, etc. Then, when you are out-and-about you just bring a simple small video adapter to hook up for presenting.
No HDR spec screen. Which was literally the only must buy thing I had on my list. My Surface Pro 3 is aging, the keyboard is starting to malfunction. I'd LOVE a new laptop. Samsung just put out a crap Surface Pro clone with an HDR screen, but apparently Microsoft can't be bothered.
Why did MS's hardware division suddenly turn into crappy Apple? They charge just as much, but at least Apple tries to appear "innovative" or whatever. MS doesn't even do that anymore. What happened to the guy that made the Surface Book and etc. I want that MS back.
It's probably not really HDR and right now to get HDR you need a new discreet GPU. I'd not hangup on HDR for the time being. The support isn't there in software yet either.
Do these SoCs support HDR? The older ones didn't, hence Brett's dGPU comment. I can't find any info on these SoCs specifically that says they support HDR. You can still run HDR content, and there are advantages to doing so (filesize for some media types and/or reduced artifacts) but it gets converted to a format you can display. Hence Brett's "not really HDR" comment.
So, I'm willing to bet the holdup is Intel. What SoC is that Samsung model using, again?
What's innovative about a slightly better performing SoC? What's innovative about adding a touch surface to your laptop keyboard? And the only way to call 4 USB ports innovative is if it comes from the company that wants to kill all external ports. Oh wait.
The world is moving to USB-C with Alt Modes. Plug anything into anything and it just works -- power, data, or video, some or all at the same time. It's rather good.
If this had HDR... what would you then find to complain about? You've latched onto something that's really quite new which was basically added to televisions as a marketing tool for people to spend more cash. Maybe try not to fall for the rubbish. HDR should have been on 4k televisions from the start.
I'm in the admittedly small crowd happy to have high end options without Thunderbolt. TB is direct access to the PCIe bus, and a security hole that really can't be mitigated against. If I were forced into buying hardware with such a port I'd fill it with glue so at least I'd be aware of my device had been compromised.
I wouldn't mind USB-C, but unless its doubling as a charge port it's not all that useful until we see more peripherals using it for its secondary functions (audio/video/etc). A nice to have but not a deal breaker. All that said, still not really enough of an upgrade overall to move on from my SP3.
"but Microsoft is touting the new Signature Type Covers, which offer Alcantara fabric over the keyboards for a software feel"
I'm having problem understand the phrase above -- I'm a programmer and I write software on my PC, but I just couldn't associate a fabric to the feel of software.
Thinking about buying a Surface - if I can get a significant discount on a Surface Pro 4, is there any benefit to go for the more expensive and newer Surface Pro?
Other than a CPU upgrade (which doesn't do much anyway), I don't see anything worth the money here.
The screen is identical. Kickstand just lies back further. Battery life may not be changed, as they're quoting video playback time, which was over 10 hours anyway.
This validates my decision to buy the SP4. I was holding out for a Surface Pro with USB-C and TB3, but now that they've skipped it on the SP5 I'm glad I stopped waiting.
Does your current machine have USB C? If not then what did you plan on doing with USB C? (Calls bluff knowing your answer will validate what you've put as that's the way it works)
No, my primary computer is the SP4, which does not have USB-C. My plan for USB-C/TB was to have an external GPU so I could use my SP4 for *everything*. Right now I still have a desktop computer hanging around for PC games.
At the current cost of TB3 enclosures plus the performance loss over it plus the 15 watt Surface CPU (especially the new fanless ones) limiting the GPU, you'd probably be better off with a small form factor desktop + a Surface. You can spend less on the Surface that way too.
I understand your point, but I play games at 1080p and I don't play the newest games at max settings, so it's unlikely to be a problem. And you only buy the enclosure once, though they are a bit pricey at the moment.
No USB-C is one thing but only shipping with USB 3.0 instead of 3.1 is also a pretty big nope in 2017 on a luxury product. The reason they don't want USB-C and USB 3.1 is that they can sell their proprietary stuff using their proprietary connector. No thank you MS. If I wanted to buy into a stupid proprietary ecosystem I could buy Apple.
What proprietary stuff that uses their proprietary adapter are you referring to? The only thing I'm aware of is the dock. They don't have much of an accessory line for these.
I don't understand the USB-C thing. They got me a new touchbar MacBook Pro at work and I can't stand having to use three different dongles to connect everything. I'm sure the situation will probably be better in a few years, but since that's about the upgrade cycle of a new mobile device, I don't see it as a 2017 problem. I love that I can just plug things into my Surface Book without needing any dongles.
My 'upgrade cycle' is nearer five years; Ivy Bridge -> Kaby Lake. (Actually I think that's six years isn't it.) I can't afford to buy a $999 device every couple of years, so I make sure what I do buy is future-proof as far as practicable.
My old laptop, from 2011 or 2012, had USB3. So I rather expect something new *five years* later.
I don't understand. My phone is USB-C. My external drive TB3 over USB-C. My screen connects with dp over USB-C. Yeah I upgraded my stuff for the first time since 2011 (bar the phone, which is 2015), but it is sweet.
I genuinely don't understand why people think that just because their old stuff uses old ports, they don't expect new equipment to use new ports. Are you genuinely never going to upgrade your equipment?
Microsoft's hardware division seems to be going badly wrong. 800 new parts for an indentical form-factor and what, a 5-10% increase in performance? Confusion over USB-C? There is none, consumers just read the symbols. More to the point: just feed TB, DP and power through two Type-C ports and there is no confusion because those ports do everything. But I guess that would make the propriety 'Surface Connect' port redundant. Ahhh, I see...
This device sticks out by the omission of USB-C: that's not good. We can cope, Microscope, I can assure you.
Has there been a personnel change at the top, perhaps? Combined with the irrelevant Studio and the phone being canned, it's like they're trying to self-destruct.
"the new Surface Pro now extends the fanless capabilities to the i5 model as well" "The i7 will continue to offer a fan"
Wait, you mean the i5 model doesn't have a fan at all or does but it simply does not kick in for lighter loads?
I'd hate to have a 15 W tablet without a fan. I doubt a fanless design can prevent throttling under all heavy computing conditions, no matter what MS claims.
OMG I'm so annoyed that this doesn't have USB C. I was planning on buying a few devices for, I'm not too sure really as they're priced above the standard usb 3.1, but now I can't.
I was planning on adding an over priced dock, then buying a really expensive GPU, to game on this! Really, I was. WHo wants a light portable gaming machine from Asus or MSI anyway!
OMG! No usb C. Marketing told me that I NEED it so I must have it now. It's the one thing that this doesn't have, despite the S Pro not having GPS etc. Who needs that anyway.
Plus why didn't MS release this in the 6"/7"/9"/10"/14"/15"/18"/42" screen size(s)?
When most of the posts, in an article, all moan about the same thing, you know that there's something not quite right. USB C is a bit rubbish. It's a mess. I admit that there's valid reasons for it but by the time it catches on there will be another new port, a Surface Pro 6, or something else to complain about.
USB-C is the first new USB form-factor in, what, 20 years? And that's too much for you? Do you still use PS/2 mice and keyboard? Rocking that D-sub VGA port? :-).
I just love reading all the comments on here of people willing to live without a USB Type-C and/or Thunderbolt 3. Acceptance is the final stage of death.
Wow. Still no USB-C? I skipped the SP4 because it only had dinosaur USB ports and held out for two years thinking they'd get their act together. Shame, this would have been the computer that brought my entire family back over from Mac.
As a SP4 owner I can say that I am very glad Microsoft included a USB Type-A port. The reality of the world we live in is that Type-A is still very much ubiquitous. So under no instances would I want them to remove the Type-A connector.
Now it is hard to argue that Type-C is not the future. As such I would be ok with adding a Type-C port so that you would have both.
As for only USB 3.0 speeds and no USB 3.1 gen 2, this is really an Intel limitation. No current Intel chipset (Sunrise Point or Union Point) offer anything other than USB 3.0. So as soon as Intel moves forward Microsoft will too I am sure. Obviously Microsoft could add this capability on their own but that would require an additional chip which increases cost, power consumption, space requirements, ...
And when you really get down to it, what mainstream devices today will saturate the USB 3.0 bandwidth? Sure there are corner cases like external GPUs and SSD raid arrays, but for "most" people USB 3.0 is going to be more bandwidth than they need. So sure it would be nice, but Microsoft is covering the majority of its market with the current offering and waiting for Intel to move forward.
You say that as if most people who want USB-C want it to replace USB type A. A fair few don't; they want both. USB type is not going away anytime soon, but USB-C, in it's many forms is useful and desirable. It's certainly more desirable than Display Port, or a propriety connector.
Maybe I'm weird because I bought a cheap Cherry Trail Atom tablet specifically because it had micro-USB for charging and micro-HDMI for display output. I didn't go for a similar tablet with USB-C because my phone still uses micro-USB. I also didn't go for a Lenovo Atom tablet that charges over a proprietary DC pigtail jack.
That said, if my phone had USB-C, I would also get a tablet with USB-C. I think Microsoft missed the boat on this one by promoting their proprietary Surface Connect port over a standard port like USB-C. Even Apple dropped their MagSafe power connector for unified charging, display and data over USB-C on the Macbook. I used to criticize Apple for that move but now I think it was a bold and smart one.
Microsoft made a huge gamble by making the first Surface Pro but it's been stagnant ever since. They should have included 2 USB-C ports this time, so users could charge and use an external device at the same time, and they should never have made the pen an optional accessory.
We get it. You don't like bezels. Some of use do though, especially on a tablet. And no, no tablet has been released with a display that 'turns into bezels' and even if one is, it would almost certainly by temperamental.
Can you bezel lot at least make a decent argument, rather than go, "... huge bezels...". Hey, maybe you could go buy a Dell XPS. Just don't video call me, as I don't want to see up your nose because of your thin bezels.
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dantech81 - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
"to pack it with new cooling, batter, and performance" - Finally, a laptop with all the power and pancake making abilities I could ever hope for...WorldWithoutMadness - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Hmm I thought cool batter is mostly used for dome cakes, not for flat cake like pancake.Dr. Swag - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Yeah, otherwise the Surface looks weird.carldon - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Is it just me or do people never have to charge their laptops and use a secondary screen at the same time? Dosen't combining the power delivery port with anything else cause similar issues?Brett Howse - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
If you mean USB-C, why can't you just have more than one port? A better way to look at is you've already got to have a charging port, why not make it do more?Egg - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Presumably because it costs money and complicates board routing to do so.Most of the time when you are using an external display you also want to plug in your charger, so in practice, 1 USB port gets tied up for charging. At least that's my experience.
Alexvrb - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Ding ding ding. Having a single USB-C handle power in and display out is awkward. Having two USB-C ports handle everything (data, power in, power out, power delivery x watts, displayport, data, thunderbolt, whatever else you want to throw on alt mode why not) adds extra cost and complexity. Having each one handle certain things but not others leads to confusion.With that being said I'd rather they tossed a single USB-C into the mix somehow. Maybe keep the existing ports and just add a USB/TB data-and-power-output-only port. But yeah USB-C is kind of a mess. If you have a USB-C port that charges the device... and you plug in a high-output USB battery pack... which transmits power and which receives? What if I want that flipped, where's the switch for that?
Meteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Yes, it would increase cost by several dollars.It's like non-Apple hardware manufacturers don't want to succeed. I like Windows 10 and dislike macOS, but Apple got the hardware right with the MacBook Pros.
vladx - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Several dollars saved per device could mean a few hundred millions down the line.Meteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Not if they don't sell the product in the first place.Alexvrb - Thursday, May 25, 2017 - link
Apple does the opposite. They just stick one USB-C on a device and call it a day. Revolutionary! So much better!phoenix_rizzen - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Or, you get a USB-C PD capable monitor and charge your tablet off that, while displaying video on it, via a single port/cable.Alexvrb - Thursday, May 25, 2017 - link
Oh dang, I forgot to throw away all my peripherals every time a new "standard" comes along. THANKS PHOENIX!CaedenV - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Typically at the home or office you would pick up a USB-C dock which provides power to the laptop, and interfaces for things like video ports, ethernet, usb, etc. Then, when you are out-and-about you just bring a simple small video adapter to hook up for presenting.One dongle to rule them all!
Frenetic Pony - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
No HDR spec screen. Which was literally the only must buy thing I had on my list. My Surface Pro 3 is aging, the keyboard is starting to malfunction. I'd LOVE a new laptop. Samsung just put out a crap Surface Pro clone with an HDR screen, but apparently Microsoft can't be bothered.Why did MS's hardware division suddenly turn into crappy Apple? They charge just as much, but at least Apple tries to appear "innovative" or whatever. MS doesn't even do that anymore. What happened to the guy that made the Surface Book and etc. I want that MS back.
Brett Howse - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
It's probably not really HDR and right now to get HDR you need a new discreet GPU. I'd not hangup on HDR for the time being. The support isn't there in software yet either.Frenetic Pony - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Nope, full HDR10 spec and everything. More and more games support HDR, Youtube and Netflix support it. But not MS hardware division.Alexvrb - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Do these SoCs support HDR? The older ones didn't, hence Brett's dGPU comment. I can't find any info on these SoCs specifically that says they support HDR. You can still run HDR content, and there are advantages to doing so (filesize for some media types and/or reduced artifacts) but it gets converted to a format you can display. Hence Brett's "not really HDR" comment.So, I'm willing to bet the holdup is Intel. What SoC is that Samsung model using, again?
Meteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Yep, Kaby Lake supports HDR.http://www.anandtech.com/show/10610/intel-announce...
I'm somewhat surprised Brett isn't familiar with information from the the website he actually works for.
To be clear: Kaby Lake Y and U support HDR playback with no need for a dGPU.
Brett Howse - Thursday, May 25, 2017 - link
It's not supported in Windows 10 with iGPU yet. I just wrote about this the other day: http://www.anandtech.com/show/11401/microsoft-buil...Meteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Because software can't be upgraded. oh hold on..That statement literally makes no sense, Brett.
Btw I read about the new SP on other sites 36 hours ago (EU time); why the delay here?
vladx - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
<but at least Apple tries to appear "innovative">Lmao Apple fanboys never ceases to amaze me.
tamalero - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Vladx: I actually laughed and he lost all his credibility when he dared to throw that line.Meteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Hmmm, you see nothing innovative in the iPhone 7 (phenomenonal SoC) or the new MacBook Pro (touchbar, 4 USB-C ports)?Death666Angel - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
What's innovative about a slightly better performing SoC? What's innovative about adding a touch surface to your laptop keyboard? And the only way to call 4 USB ports innovative is if it comes from the company that wants to kill all external ports. Oh wait.BillBear - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Those are four Thunderbolt ports.What other laptop has four Thunderbolt ports?
vladx - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
What's the point if you can barely find a use for all of them? One or two TB ports is quite enough for these days.BillBear - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
They are also USB-C ports. In what universe is that not the most flexible way to go, going forwards?vladx - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Sorry but I hate dongles so until USB-C/ can replace the Ethernet port without one, I will prefer the specialized ports over it.Meteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
The world is moving to USB-C with Alt Modes. Plug anything into anything and it just works -- power, data, or video, some or all at the same time. It's rather good.BillBear - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Sorry, but I hate paying premium prices for a device that only sports obsolete ports.damianrobertjones - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
If this had HDR... what would you then find to complain about? You've latched onto something that's really quite new which was basically added to televisions as a marketing tool for people to spend more cash. Maybe try not to fall for the rubbish. HDR should have been on 4k televisions from the start.Reflex - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
I'm in the admittedly small crowd happy to have high end options without Thunderbolt. TB is direct access to the PCIe bus, and a security hole that really can't be mitigated against. If I were forced into buying hardware with such a port I'd fill it with glue so at least I'd be aware of my device had been compromised.I wouldn't mind USB-C, but unless its doubling as a charge port it's not all that useful until we see more peripherals using it for its secondary functions (audio/video/etc). A nice to have but not a deal breaker. All that said, still not really enough of an upgrade overall to move on from my SP3.
id4andrei - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
I recall MS itself justifying it's refusal to add native Windows support for TB due to the exact thing you mentioned. Direct access to the PCIe bus.geekman1024 - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
"but Microsoft is touting the new Signature Type Covers, which offer Alcantara fabric over the keyboards for a software feel"I'm having problem understand the phrase above -- I'm a programmer and I write software on my PC, but I just couldn't associate a fabric to the feel of software.
Reflex - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Just wait till Visual Studio VR hits. ;)HideOut - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Still no USB C. And BT 4.0? Thats like...4 years ago or more.computatorium - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
According to Microsoft's spec sheet, the Surface Pro has Bluetooth 4.1.damianrobertjones - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Why do so many people have to repeat the same USB C issue?It's almost like the forum is being flooded with employees of... (Add x or y company).
Xinn3r - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Thinking about buying a Surface - if I can get a significant discount on a Surface Pro 4, is there any benefit to go for the more expensive and newer Surface Pro?Other than a CPU upgrade (which doesn't do much anyway), I don't see anything worth the money here.
vladx - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Maybe the battery boost to 13.5 hours but yeah if the discount is significant, I would pick SP4 over it too.damianrobertjones - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Battery life. Improved screen. Better kick stand. etc etc.Meteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
The screen is identical. Kickstand just lies back further. Battery life may not be changed, as they're quoting video playback time, which was over 10 hours anyway.helvete - Thursday, August 24, 2017 - link
"etc etc." These are very amazing examples of advantages!sorten - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
This validates my decision to buy the SP4. I was holding out for a Surface Pro with USB-C and TB3, but now that they've skipped it on the SP5 I'm glad I stopped waiting.damianrobertjones - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Does your current machine have USB C? If not then what did you plan on doing with USB C? (Calls bluff knowing your answer will validate what you've put as that's the way it works)sorten - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
No, my primary computer is the SP4, which does not have USB-C. My plan for USB-C/TB was to have an external GPU so I could use my SP4 for *everything*. Right now I still have a desktop computer hanging around for PC games.tipoo - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
At the current cost of TB3 enclosures plus the performance loss over it plus the 15 watt Surface CPU (especially the new fanless ones) limiting the GPU, you'd probably be better off with a small form factor desktop + a Surface. You can spend less on the Surface that way too.
sorten - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
I understand your point, but I play games at 1080p and I don't play the newest games at max settings, so it's unlikely to be a problem. And you only buy the enclosure once, though they are a bit pricey at the moment.beginner99 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
No USB-C is one thing but only shipping with USB 3.0 instead of 3.1 is also a pretty big nope in 2017 on a luxury product. The reason they don't want USB-C and USB 3.1 is that they can sell their proprietary stuff using their proprietary connector. No thank you MS. If I wanted to buy into a stupid proprietary ecosystem I could buy Apple.Reflex - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
What proprietary stuff that uses their proprietary adapter are you referring to? The only thing I'm aware of is the dock. They don't have much of an accessory line for these.Meteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Yes it is the Surface Connect thingy. And yes, given the meagre range of compatible accessories, it is strange.gerz1219 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
I don't understand the USB-C thing. They got me a new touchbar MacBook Pro at work and I can't stand having to use three different dongles to connect everything. I'm sure the situation will probably be better in a few years, but since that's about the upgrade cycle of a new mobile device, I don't see it as a 2017 problem. I love that I can just plug things into my Surface Book without needing any dongles.vladx - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Same here, it's the usual 'USB-C is the new cool' kind of thing.Meteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
My 'upgrade cycle' is nearer five years; Ivy Bridge -> Kaby Lake. (Actually I think that's six years isn't it.) I can't afford to buy a $999 device every couple of years, so I make sure what I do buy is future-proof as far as practicable.My old laptop, from 2011 or 2012, had USB3. So I rather expect something new *five years* later.
milkywayer - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
No USB-C on a mid-2017 release?No thanks.
damianrobertjones - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
...because so many people, so, so many people need and use USB C. /sMeteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
I don't understand. My phone is USB-C. My external drive TB3 over USB-C. My screen connects with dp over USB-C. Yeah I upgraded my stuff for the first time since 2011 (bar the phone, which is 2015), but it is sweet.I genuinely don't understand why people think that just because their old stuff uses old ports, they don't expect new equipment to use new ports. Are you genuinely never going to upgrade your equipment?
t.s - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
...because in 5 years from now, I will still using USB 2 /svladx - Thursday, May 25, 2017 - link
Yes I will, now wipe your smug look from that face.Meteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Microsoft's hardware division seems to be going badly wrong. 800 new parts for an indentical form-factor and what, a 5-10% increase in performance? Confusion over USB-C? There is none, consumers just read the symbols. More to the point: just feed TB, DP and power through two Type-C ports and there is no confusion because those ports do everything. But I guess that would make the propriety 'Surface Connect' port redundant. Ahhh, I see...This device sticks out by the omission of USB-C: that's not good. We can cope, Microscope, I can assure you.
Has there been a personnel change at the top, perhaps? Combined with the irrelevant Studio and the phone being canned, it's like they're trying to self-destruct.
damianrobertjones - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Personally I don't see a reason for USB C to be on the Surface. It's just another random port at this time and space.t.s - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
If only you've had use something like thinkpad X series + docking.sarvendranath - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
The microsoft Surface Pro Fact Sheet has a foot note saying "new Surface Pen" is sold separately.https://msblob.blob.core.windows.net/ncmedia/2017/...
The table in the article shows
"Surface Pen (included)"
Xajel - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
So still with this shitty i7 2C/4T ? they should never called it i7 in the first place.And still there's no Type-C there ?
And still no 15" version ?
Why they're still putting "Pro" in it's name ?
damianrobertjones - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
A core i7 that hits 4.0GHz. i7 is marketing. You do have Quad i5 chips on the desktop.Type C is a mess. Not one person, in this business, other than myself has anything USB c.
There's the Surface Book for people that want something bigger. I bet if MS released a 15" you'd want an 18". The same story over and over again.
...it deserves the Pro name more than the iPad Pro!
Notmyusualid - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
I fully agree with his thoughts on the i7. In 2017, nothing with 2 cores deserves the i7 badge.And if they sold an 18", I'd buy it.
eddman - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
How are they going to cool a 25+ W chip in a thin tablet? /rhetoricalUSB C would have been nice but the world is still dominated by USB A, DP and HDMI and will be for quite a while. A con but not a major one.
Have you ever held a 15" tablet?
eddman - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
"the new Surface Pro now extends the fanless capabilities to the i5 model as well""The i7 will continue to offer a fan"
Wait, you mean the i5 model doesn't have a fan at all or does but it simply does not kick in for lighter loads?
I'd hate to have a 15 W tablet without a fan. I doubt a fanless design can prevent throttling under all heavy computing conditions, no matter what MS claims.
vladx - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
I think the i5 is specially binned to consume much less than 15W.tipoo - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
i5 has no fan at all. It'll probably act pretty Core M-ey despite being 15W on paper, possibly even uses TDP-Down to 7.5W max.
damianrobertjones - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
OMG I'm so annoyed that this doesn't have USB C. I was planning on buying a few devices for, I'm not too sure really as they're priced above the standard usb 3.1, but now I can't.I was planning on adding an over priced dock, then buying a really expensive GPU, to game on this! Really, I was. WHo wants a light portable gaming machine from Asus or MSI anyway!
OMG! No usb C. Marketing told me that I NEED it so I must have it now. It's the one thing that this doesn't have, despite the S Pro not having GPS etc. Who needs that anyway.
Plus why didn't MS release this in the 6"/7"/9"/10"/14"/15"/18"/42" screen size(s)?
When most of the posts, in an article, all moan about the same thing, you know that there's something not quite right. USB C is a bit rubbish. It's a mess. I admit that there's valid reasons for it but by the time it catches on there will be another new port, a Surface Pro 6, or something else to complain about.
Sheep repeat.
damianrobertjones - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
P.s. /sMeteor2 - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
USB-C is the first new USB form-factor in, what, 20 years? And that's too much for you? Do you still use PS/2 mice and keyboard? Rocking that D-sub VGA port? :-).milkywayer - Thursday, May 25, 2017 - link
That guy looks like an upset employee :p no reason why anyone should resists better and new tech.TEAMSWITCHER - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
I just love reading all the comments on here of people willing to live without a USB Type-C and/or Thunderbolt 3. Acceptance is the final stage of death.SharpEars - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
For the price, there should be a 32 GB option.tizio - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Wow. Still no USB-C? I skipped the SP4 because it only had dinosaur USB ports and held out for two years thinking they'd get their act together. Shame, this would have been the computer that brought my entire family back over from Mac.SMH, Microsoft.
soliloquist - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
As a SP4 owner I can say that I am very glad Microsoft included a USB Type-A port. The reality of the world we live in is that Type-A is still very much ubiquitous. So under no instances would I want them to remove the Type-A connector.Now it is hard to argue that Type-C is not the future. As such I would be ok with adding a Type-C port so that you would have both.
As for only USB 3.0 speeds and no USB 3.1 gen 2, this is really an Intel limitation. No current Intel chipset (Sunrise Point or Union Point) offer anything other than USB 3.0. So as soon as Intel moves forward Microsoft will too I am sure. Obviously Microsoft could add this capability on their own but that would require an additional chip which increases cost, power consumption, space requirements, ...
And when you really get down to it, what mainstream devices today will saturate the USB 3.0 bandwidth? Sure there are corner cases like external GPUs and SSD raid arrays, but for "most" people USB 3.0 is going to be more bandwidth than they need. So sure it would be nice, but Microsoft is covering the majority of its market with the current offering and waiting for Intel to move forward.
t.s - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
or they could throw in, like, 2 USB type-A, plus USB type-C, plus TB.Tams80 - Friday, May 26, 2017 - link
You say that as if most people who want USB-C want it to replace USB type A. A fair few don't; they want both. USB type is not going away anytime soon, but USB-C, in it's many forms is useful and desirable. It's certainly more desirable than Display Port, or a propriety connector.serendip - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Maybe I'm weird because I bought a cheap Cherry Trail Atom tablet specifically because it had micro-USB for charging and micro-HDMI for display output. I didn't go for a similar tablet with USB-C because my phone still uses micro-USB. I also didn't go for a Lenovo Atom tablet that charges over a proprietary DC pigtail jack.That said, if my phone had USB-C, I would also get a tablet with USB-C. I think Microsoft missed the boat on this one by promoting their proprietary Surface Connect port over a standard port like USB-C. Even Apple dropped their MagSafe power connector for unified charging, display and data over USB-C on the Macbook. I used to criticize Apple for that move but now I think it was a bold and smart one.
Microsoft made a huge gamble by making the first Surface Pro but it's been stagnant ever since. They should have included 2 USB-C ports this time, so users could charge and use an external device at the same time, and they should never have made the pen an optional accessory.
damianrobertjones - Monday, May 29, 2017 - link
My phone, a Microsoft 950, uses USB C so I paid £0.99p for a usb to usb c cable.peevee - Thursday, May 25, 2017 - link
Huge useless bezels. The screen could have been 14" in the same size.Tams80 - Friday, May 26, 2017 - link
*Bezels, bezels, bezels, bezels, bezels."We get it. You don't like bezels. Some of use do though, especially on a tablet. And no, no tablet has been released with a display that 'turns into bezels' and even if one is, it would almost certainly by temperamental.
Can you bezel lot at least make a decent argument, rather than go, "... huge bezels...". Hey, maybe you could go buy a Dell XPS. Just don't video call me, as I don't want to see up your nose because of your thin bezels.
helvete - Wednesday, August 23, 2017 - link
Does anyone know who is actually an OEM of these surface devices?