SurfaceBook in Laptop and Tablet on Top Modes
The glitzy “Windows10Devices” launch event here today in New York carries multiple meanings. Sure wonderful new Microsoft Hardware products bowed, but more importantly, Microsoft intends to leverage its audience of over a billion Windows users (110 Million+ have converted to Win10 in 10 weeks) and unified code base to concrete hardware world. From your wrist (band) to your games (Xbox) to your pocket (Lumia) and your work & lifestyles (SurafcePro/SurfaceBook, Microsoft has you covered.
Left to its own devices, this launch signifies Microsoft intends to no longer merely nudge and inspire PC makers to make great devices, but to actually manufacture and own the high ground (and high margins) with what are undeniably two of emory goes up to 16 GB and 1 TB of Flash storage. Microsoft claims the 5 megapixel Pro 4 is 50% faster than Apple’s popular MacBook Air. The 8.4 mm thin unit gains a fingerprint reader and improved keyboard – fully compatible with the SurfacePro 3 family.
The SurfaceBook is positioned as “the ultimate laptop.” Yet as we discovered, it is a sculptured, full-keyboard aluminum package which disguises the breakaway 7.7 mm thin 13.5 inch surface tablet package of goods.
Microsoft packs a whopping 6 million pixels (PixelSense 267 pip display) into a 3.34 pound 13.5 inch package boasting 12 hour battery life. The tablet is secured by a quick release tensioned spring system and stylish rolling hinge. Stuck together, the unit feels like a solid laptop when docked, yet the 7.7 mm thin tablet section can breakaway instantly from the Nvidia graphics accelerator base and keyboard as needed.
The display can be undocked and reduced on its flip side, allowing the display to face upright while the GPU keyboard remains docked beneath.
Microsoft claims SurfaceBook is two-times faster than Apple’s own MacBookPro. “Ounce for ounce, pound for pound it is the fastest laptop ever made!”
Lumia 950XL – a Desktop PC in Your Pocket!
Lumia Phones are positioned to woo back customers because these are essentially powerful Windows Cortana mobile devices…which when attached to a desktop display, form a no-punches pulled desktop PC on the go. In an Android world rife with rogue apps and packability, Microsoft stands a decent chance to gain business and consumer share with this dual capability.
Lumia Models 950 (5.2 inch) and 950 XL (5.7 inch) each capture 4K video (through a Zeiss lens 20 MP imager) and display on 518/554 pixel per inch OLED screens. The Lumia USB-C port expands the Lumias (with an adapter) into a desktop PC with dual USB 3.0 Ports and DisplayPort video. They are priced at $549 and $649. No carrier deals were announced. An entry Lumia 550 is just $139 and ships in December.
Microsoft’s ace in the hand here is one single Windows 10 code base. Write an app for Win10 and you can easily port to Lumia. Compare to Google with separate Android, Chrome and Google TV programming environments.
MicrosoftBand 2 adds an eleventh sensor – a barometer – to capture exercise while ascending. It aicroslso does a unique VO2 Max high-output oxygen test which may help performance athletes monitor their peak performance better. Band gains a curved, Gorilla-glass OLED display and the price rises to $249.
Microsoft showed powerful progress in HoloLens Augmented Reality demonstrations. Microsoft will ship a developer HDK in Q1 2016 for $3000 a pop as a Developer Edition.
Windows10 will add Xbox 360 emulation capability to Xbox One this fall when upgraded.
SurfacePro 4 starts at $899. SurfaceBook is $1499. Pre-orders start October 7th, deliveries commence October 26th.