It has been around five years that Microsoft launched its first installment of Laptop PCs. The Microsoft Surface and Surface Pro were more than just an eye candy to all users alike. When Microsoft launch tablets in the consumer electronics market, a market already dominated by tech giants like Apple and Samsung, it quickly gained popularity and became a competitive brand.
For Microsoft, it was all about maintaining a gold standard and giving consumers more freedom on controlling the software and hardware aspects of their laptops or tablets. Looking back half a decade, the Microsoft Surface seems to be a low-end laptop. The newest version of the Microsoft Surface Pro launched in the first half of 2018. It offers a 2-in-1 experience, giving the user the freedom to use it as both, tablet and laptop.
Let us take a closer look at its features and what makes it worth a buy:
Build and design
It can be confusing to differentiate between the new Microsoft Surface Pro and the Surface Pro 4 as both have a similar look. However, a keen eye will notice that the Microsoft Surface Pro now comes with a magnesium-aluminum alloy frame with more dramatically rounded edges. The new Microsoft Surface Pro is 292mm long, 201mm wide, and a mere 8.4mm thick. Its 12.3-inch PixelSense touchscreen offers a vibrant 2736×1824-pixel resolution.
Drawing inspiration from their own arsenal of PCs, Microsoft Surface Pro offers a “studio mode” giving users a Surface Studio-like (Microsoft desktop) experience. The “studio mode” offers a 165-degree angle, allowing users to do much more than just doodling.
The keyboard or as the company fondly calls it, the “Type Cover,” is offered as an accessory. Which means you will have to pay extra to use the tablet as a laptop. This might not work well with consumers who are looking for a comprehensive solution. The “Type Cover” connects to the tablet magnetically. Although it adheres to the screen perfectly, the arrangement can be wobbly if you get too comfortable with it and use it on your lap. The keys are backlit which is helpful if you are using the laptop in a dark room. However, the layout is cramped if you are used to working on a full-size keyboard.
Technical specifications
The following three variants are offered in Microsoft Surface Pro:
All variants have a single USB 3.0 port for swift file transferring and a mini display port to cast Surface Pro on bigger screens and projectors. This can be handy for presentations or watching movies in a small room. It also houses a micro SDXC card reader, and a headphone/mic jack.
The battery life has always been an important component of a tech gadget as it powers all the components present in them. A RAM is only good enough until backed by an efficient battery. The official Microsoft website claims loftily that the Surface Pro’s 42 Wh (Watthour) can run a video playback straight for up to 12 hours.
Microsoft has tried to up the ante by making the Surface Pen more sensitive by increasing the pressure levels. This gives the users more control over the intensity and width of the lines in their illustrative drawings. They also offer Surface Pen Tip Kit which lets you select a tip based on size and level of friction. The Surface Pen tip kit is offered as an accessory, which is a down-low for users looking for a comprehensive solution.
Price and availability
The basic variant of the Surface Pro which has an Intel® Core™ m3 CPU paired with 128GB SSD storage and 4GB RAM costs approximately less than $800, but it just escalates from there. If your work involves using high-end editing and project-building software, you might have to go with techier and pricier variants. Microsoft Surface Pro with Intel Core i7 with 1TB SSD storage and 16GB RAM can go well over $2600. If compared with leading competitors, such as Apple, they might fall behind as Apple offers a 10.5-inch iPad Pro with 64GB SSD with Apple’s signature A10 X processor for approximately $650 while the most heavily-equipped Macbook (with 512GB and same CPU) costs around $950. Microsoft surpasses Apple given the technical specifications offered for the price.
Having said that, Apple outruns any other brand in terms of security. The curated app store is a boon for people who are in search of a failsafe OS. They have been able to thwart cyber threats in under a week. This gives them an edge over any other brand. However, when it comes to flexibility, Microsoft seems to be flexible in terms of an OS as it gives plenty of elbow room for apps. It gives the users more functionality as compared to iOS.
The new Microsoft Surface Pro is a good idea if you are planning to upgrade from the Surface Pro 4 as it comes with more variants and an enhanced battery performance. The Microsoft Surface Pro straddles the fine line between entertainment and productivity. Its 2-in-1 aspect is a sure seller, but it can be heavy on the pockets.
Have you ever thought of how your life would be without your cell phone? These days cell phones have become a significant part of our lives. These smartphones come in handy, from making calls to listening to music and carrying on with your work. But buying a new smartphone can be tricky as there are many brands and options to choose from. Listed below are five of the best cell phones you can consider buying:
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
This cell phone is one of the smartest, sleek, and stylish devices. This cell phone is the first Galaxy S with a built-in S pen, and its 6.8-inch display is the best-in-class. It features the fastest processor ever and a nightography camera that is the most advanced camera system yet. It comes in exclusive, sophisticated, and elegant colors to broaden your choice and amplify its sleek design, such as burgundy, green, phantom black, and phantom white. The good news is that the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the S-Pen are IP68 rated.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
This cell phone offers exceptional performance and may be considered a convenient and practical cell phone. Its 120 Hz display and longer battery life are some of the reasons that make it an ideal choice. Its advanced sensors and a new photographic style feature make its camera the most advanced and improved. The new macro mode of the camera also allows you to shoot amazing close-ups.
Apple iPhone 13
This phone has a bright 6.1-inch OLED display. It features best-in-class cameras that offer excellent picture and video quality. Its brilliant display and longer battery life are the other reasons that may lead you to decide to buy this cell phone. Its availability in multiple colors such as blue, green, starlight, red, pink, and midnight enhances its versatility. It has 128GB of internal storage and is compatible with all 5G networks.
Google Pixel 6
It is one of the best cell phones for that ultimate and ideal Android experience. The most significant advantage is that this cell phone is powered by Google’s Tensor chipset, which makes it lean into Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning for something new and advanced. It has a 6.4-inch OLED display and comes with fabulous photo-editing features and powerful cameras. Its sleek and intriguing design is a bonus. It comes in bold color choices such as green, black, and two-tone red.
Samsung Galaxy A 53
This is a cost-effective phone for all Android fans. It has an incredible 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and offers remarkable software support. This smartphone is available in multiple colors for versatile choices such as white, black, blue, and peach. Its screen resolution is 1080 x 2400 pixels and comes with Corning Gorilla glass for the ultimate screen protection. The battery type is Li-ion, with a capacity of 5000 mAh. This phone’s storage capacity is also high, with 128 GB of built-in storage; plus, there is room for more, up to 1TB.
Buying a cell phone is tricky and can be difficult as there are multiple factors to consider, such as budget, features, etc. This post has explored the five best cell phones in the market. Compare the features of your preferred cell phones and choose one that best suits your requirements.
Computers have evolved from being ugly grey boxes to colorful all-in-one systems that are capable of multitasking. And today, there are several top brands that manufacture desktop computers keeping in mind the end user. However, with a plethora of options comes the added pressure of shopping, especially when you have a tight budget. This Black Friday sale, shop for new or refurbished computers and enjoy discounts ahead of the holiday shopping weekend.
Dell desktops
Dell is one of the leading brands when it comes to desktop PCs. This Black Friday sale, avail the best of discounts and promos on the latest Inspiron 5000 series. The All-in-one series is also one of the better compact desktop PCs, ideal for work and leisure. Get up to $150 discount on the Inspiron 5000 series. If you prefer a more powerful configuration, the latest computer in the Inspiron series features 256GB storage and a minimum 8GB RAM powered by the 10th generation for just $849. Alternatively, you can buy the Dell OptiPlex Micro desktop and get up to $500 off on this deal. Isn’t it the perfect upgrade to your workstation?
HP desktops
The HP EliteOne 800 G2 desktop computer is another alternative you can consider during the Black Friday sale. Powered by an Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB RAM available at your disposal, the all-in-one desktop computer is a real space saver due to its design. Despite having a compact design, the desktop PC is designed to handle all the performance tasks without the core overheating. You can save up to $420 on a refurbished perfectly working computer assembly and save yourself a ton of money. Another grade A refurbished HP desktop you can buy this shopping season is the EliteDesk 800 G1 series available for a massive discount of $300.
MSI desktops
If you are looking for a desktop with basic configuration, MSI is a better choice over other brands. The company’s flagship Cube N 8GL is powered by an Intel Celeron N4000 processor running 1.1GHz with 4GB RAM to spare for computing tasks. For storage, you can either buy the 64GB SSD version or a high capacity 64GB SSD+500GB HDD version. Starting at just $189 for the base configuration, MSI’s Cube can be plugged into any existing display setup.