Microsoft has scored a string of hits with its recent hardware releases. Whether it's the Surface Pro 4 tablet or the Microsoft Band 2 accessory, the response from both the critics and the public has been a good one.
The company famous for software like Windows and Office seems to have its sights set on developing high-end hardware that showcases its ecosystem in the best possible way. And the Microsoft Surface Book, which goes on sale in the UK today, is the latest incarnation of that.
Despite the tech giant peddling its recent Surface tablets as the ultimate answer to carrying a laptop around with you – it's now decided to build a laptop of its own.
Strictly speaking, the Surface Book is a hybrid device – the 13.5-inch screen can be detached (via an 'eject' button) to form its own tablet. In this mode its closest rival - in spec and in style - is Apple's iPad Pro.
When quizzing a Microsoft exec about the decision to get into the laptop biz, I was told that there are still a lot of people out there who want the laptop form factor. And that Microsoft's goal with the Surface Book is to build the “ultimate laptop” for Windows.
But lets get one thing straight – if you want to take the “ultimate laptop” home it's going to cost you. Starting price for the lowest specification is £1,299 and that skyrockets to £2,249 when you go for the top model. Immediately then, this puts the Surface Book in Apple-esque levels of premiumness that will preclude most of us from getting hold of one.
The only counter to that asking price is the fact that what you're getting for that hard-earned cash is an extremely sophisticated – and versatile - piece of kit.
Microsoft Surface Book: Design
A lot has been made of the “dynamic fulcrum” hinge that Microsoft unveiled with the Surface Book. It's a spring-like mechanism that folds into itself when you close the laptop, leaving a noticable gap between keyboard and screen that will infuriate Macbook-loving obsessives.
The argument goes that it's reinforced to hold the screen in place – even when you're jabbing at it with a finger or the Surface Pen stylus – and not tip it backwards. But for me, it still looks a bit unsightly.
The rest of the design is uniformly impressive. The whole gadget is milled from two solid blocks of magnesium and given a futuristic metallic coating. Both the (backlit) keys and the trackpad are well sized and comfortable to use. The slightly blocky aesthetic is at odds with, for example, the curve of a Macbook Pro – but if you've seen the Surface tablets in the flesh you'll have an idea of what Microsoft's done here.
The 13.5-inch screen has the same 3:2 aspect ratio as the Surface tablets and a dazzling 3,000 x 2,000 pixel resolution. That's not quite battery-draining 4K level but it's enough to look great whether you're watching films or editing pictures.
Microsoft Surface Book: Performance
Remember the prices I mentioned at the beginning? Here's where they come into play. Even the basic Surface Book lays claim to an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD card. Scale up to the £2,249 model and internal specs jump to a Core i7 processor, with 16GB of RAM and 512GB hard drive.
On each of the three advanced configurations there's also a dedicated graphics card built into the keyboard dock. You lose it when you shift to tablet mode but the advantages are clear – the Surface Book is aimed at high-end creative types that need a lot of graphical grunt.
This laptop is also a standard-bearer for Windows 10, Microsoft's latest operating system, and it's clear the marriage is working: it's fast and easy to navigate.
Windows 10, for those that have yet to use it, is a good blend of Windows 7 and Windows 8. The beloved Start menu is back, but the design is all about the updating Live Tiles you'll find on an Xbox console.
Battery life, according to Microsoft, is in the region of 12 hours when used as a laptop and 3-4 as a tablet. During my usage, it topped out at about eight hours away from the mains. Enough to get you through a day at the office – and probably more if you take measures to limit your power consumption.
Microsoft Surface Book: Conclusion
There's no doubt that the Surface Book is a laptop done the right way. It's well engineered, extremely powerful and comfortable to use for long periods. Despite that, I'm still not convinced Microsoft has pulled off the 'ultimate laptop' title.
Admittedly not aimed at the 'average consumer', the price is still going to be a sticking point for most. What's more, this beast is heavy at 1,578g. And whilst the hinge does it's job beautifully I'm not sold on the aesthetics of a gap between keys and screen.
When it comes to performance and usability, this laptop nails it and if you're a photographer or creative designer with money to burn you won't be disappointed. But I can't help feeling most of us would be better off with the Surface Pro 4 – and in fact, this feels like a stepping stone towards an almost-inevitable Surface Book 2.
