Could the Surface Book 2 arrive alongside the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update?
The Surface Book 2 hasn’ t shown up in the two years that have passed since the launch of Microsoft’s original 2-in-1 laptop. Although we thought we saw it pop up for the first time last year, even that instance turned out to be a hoax. 2-in-1 laptop thought we saw it pop up
However, with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update out next month and Intel having announced its 8th-generation Kaby Lake Refresh processors, it’s no wonder that the rumor mill is churning once again. Windows 10 out next month Kaby Lake What is it? The sequel to Microsoft’s first laptop When is it out? Signs point to October/November 2017 What will it cost? Probably to starts at $1,499 (£1,449, AU$2,299)
After a subtle appearance of what might be the Surface Book 2 was spotted in a Kaby Lake Refresh sizzle reel produced by Intel, there have been no shortage of spills related to its presumably imminent announcement. As a matter of fact, according to Microsoft insider Tom Warren, at least one new Surface device will, well, surface on October 31. the Surface Book 2 was spotted Microsoft insider Tom Warren
Sources speaking with Warren have said that on that day Panos Panay will take the stage at Future Decoded in London to unveil this device or family of devices. Warren himself suggested that while Microsoft could be announcing the Surface Book 2, there’s a chance we could also expect an LTE-equipped Surface Pro and/or Surface products sporting ARM-based chips.
Reports from DigiTimes led us to believe that Microsoft would reveal a more traditional clamshell laptop at its spring showing, resulting in a drastic reduction in price. As it turns out, those reports were only half right. Instead of the Surface Book 2, Microsoft churned out a new addition to its winning hardware lineup, this time referred to simply as the Surface Laptop. from DigiTimes
While the entry-level Surface Book of today would set users back a cool $1,299 (£1,449, AU$2,299) , this type of device would reportedly come in at a more modest $1,000 (about £810, AU$1,300) . We can safely expect a proper Surface Book 2 hybrid – if one exists at all – would retain the same starting price of the original, i.e., $1,499 or AU$2,299 (about £978) .
At any rate, as Microsoft’s top-end hardware offering, expect the Surface Book 2 to at least exceed the cost of the Surface Pro and the Surface Laptop.
For as much as we’ve been smitten by the Surface Book, firmware issues aside, there will always be room for improvement (that would be the case even if it had earned top marks from us) .
From the screen size and resolution to the hardware inside, we have a few ideas for how Microsoft could craft an even more awesome Windows 10 tablet.
Display-wise, the current model sports a 13.5-inch panel with a 3,000 x 2,000 (267 ppi) resolution that’s backed by an integrated Intel HD Graphics 520 GPU. The new model may utilize the same size screen but offer a more conventional 4K resolution: 3,840 x 2,160. may utilize
This rumor aligns with public knowledge about Intel’s Kaby Lake architecture, which includes the VP9 and HVEC 10-bit decode for better 4K video streaming, though we’ ll take it with a heavy sprinkling of salt. To this day, none of the Surface devices use the 16: 9 aspect ratio necessary for true 4K UHD. Kaby Lake
Still, if there’s a resolution bump in tow, there should come a better way to actually detach the screen from the keyboard. After all, one of the most vocal complaints of the original Surface Book was its “muscle wire” locking mechanism. Likewise, let’s hope the Surface Book 2 doesn’ t suffer the same backlight bleeding currently plaguing the new Surface Pro. backlight bleeding currently plaguing
Otherwise, we could see the Surface Book 2 go the way of many of the best 2-in-1 laptops, honing in on a 360-degree rotating hinge in lieu of a removable one. Besides, the muscle wire was largely criticized for a.) requiring power to function and b.) demanding that users hold down a key to disconnect the tablet from the hinge. best 2-in-1 laptops
Even if it doesn’ t go the way of a flip book, we would at least like to see the Surface Book 2 adopt a locking apparatus that doesn’ t rely as much on gimmicky software implementations as it does getting the job done with ease and reliability.
At the very least, we need a device that can handle the latest Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, unlike the Atom-based 2-in-1 laptops of just a few years ago. So, it would make sense, given the conjectured release frame, to refresh the Surface Book with Intel’s newest Kaby Lake Refresh processors. unlike the Atom-based 2-in-1 laptops
The Kaby Lake architecture supports up to quad-core processors as the default configuration with a thermal envelope of up to 95 Watts (W) , meaning it shouldn’t be a battery hog even with increased performance. What’s more, Kaby Lake offers native support of the faster USB 3.1 Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 specifications in addition to CPU/GPU performance enhancements.
That said, the Surface Book 2 will need better battery support overall, as the original provides only 4 hours of activity in the Clipboard and only 8 hours of juice in the base (based on our tests) . Customers eager to use the Clipboard on its own would no doubt be disappointed by the current battery’s inept sustenance while consuming 4K video.
An improved battery would also be needed to support a built-in recharge dock for the Surface Pen. If a patent filing from October is to be believed, Microsoft may have an improved Surface Pen loop in the works that would not only holster the Surface Pen itself, but simultaneously charge it via the USB port on supported Surface devices. patent filing from October
More power might also be needed for an updated, discrete GPU option, too. As previously stated, the current model has an option for a Nvidia GeForce graphics chip based on the Maxwell architecture, which has a thermal envelope of up to 75W.
If Microsoft were to offer, say, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics chip, the power wattage requirements wouldn’ t skyrocket and DirectX 12 support would assuredly be in the cards. This would fare well with gamers looking to take advantage of the latest API on their rotating laptop screen.
What would make the Surface Book 2 really shine is if it were to be VR-ready. It’s not too far-fetched, either, considering the company has said that its own “Mixed Reality” headsets will be available by Christmas, and we know that at least one of these will sport substantially lower PC system requirements than an HTC Vive or Oculus Rift.
