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Microsoft's Surface Laptop and Pro are now available worldwide
If you're looking to buy the Surface Laptop or the Surface Pro, there's a chance that you'll be able to get it right now, even if you're not in the US. Both PCs are now available in over a dozen markets across the globe. The Surface Laptop is now out in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It's the flagship device for Windows 10 S, Microsoft's ChromeOS-like platform for the education market meant to run web apps and software from its official store. A Surface Laptop will set you back at least $999 in the US and £979 (up to £2,149) in the UK.
Microsoft’s new Surface Pen will set you back $99
Microsoft's new Surface Pen, announced at the same time as a new Surface Pro tablet, is supposed to feel like writing on paper. The company also claims its the "fastest pen ever" on any platform and it has a staggering 4,096 pressure points (up from 1,024), reduced parallax and a new Apple Pencil-like tilt feature that lets you use the side of its writing tip for things like shading. This new stylus is available for pre-order now for $99. Only the platinum color is available for pre-order, so far, but there are also black, cobalt blue and burgundy colors on Microsoft's pre-order page.
Microsoft's new Surface Pen should feel more like writing on paper
A new Surface Pro just wouldn't be the same without improvements to its companion pen, and Microsoft is going all-out with the upgrades this time around. It's introducing a new Surface Pen that it claims is the "fastest pen ever" on any platform -- with a 21ms latency, it's supposedly fast enough that it'll feel more like you're writing on paper than glass. There's also a whopping 4,096 pressure points (up from 1,024), reduced parallax (the mismatch between where your pen is and where input appears onscreen), and an Apple Pencil-style tilt feature that lets you apply artistic flourishes like shading.
Microsoft made the Surface Pro both lighter and quieter
Microsoft has mostly left the Surface Pro line untouched since late 2015, but the company is finally giving it a long overdue refresh today. Announced at an event in Shanghai earlier, the new machine -- now simply dubbed Surface Pro -- packs Intel's 7th-gen Core processors (Kaby Lake; m3, i5 and i7 flavors), an enhanced 12.3-inch PixelSense display (2,736 x 1,824) plus optional LTE Advanced radio due later this year. Microsoft calls this "the lightest, the best sounding, the fastest and the quietest Surface Pro ever," and the company was keen to claim that its own machine is 1.7 times faster than the iPad Pro.
It looks like Microsoft has a new Surface Pro after all
Microsoft VP Panos Panay recently said that "there's no such thing as a Surface Pro 5," and we now know what he meant by that. Images from uber-leaker Evan Blass (@evleaks) and his article in Venture Beat show a device simply called the Surface Pro, without a model or series number in sight. Other than rounded edges on the screen, it strongly resembles the current Surface Pro 4, including the lack of a USB-C port.
What to expect at Microsoft's Build 2017 conference
Microsoft's Build conference is not only about giving developers the tools they need to write apps or create Windows-friendly hardware but also Microsoft's chance to outline its vision of the future. What software and devices will matter in the months (or even years) ahead? And this time around, there's no shortage of new developments to discuss: Windows updates, the Cortana AI assistant, HoloLens, partner hardware and even a chance at new Surface gear. It's not necessarily clear what's likely to show up, but don't worry: That's what we're here to sort out. We've rounded up some of the most promising leaks, rumors and logical predictions to give you a sense of what to expect when Build 2017 kicks off May 10th.
Microsoft is holding an education-focused event on May 2nd
Surprise! Microsoft will hold an event on May 2nd in New York, and based on the invite we received, there will likely be a focus on its education initiatives. "Learn what's next. #MicrosoftEDU" the colorful invite reads. The company's Build conference is next month as well, so maybe don't expect anything truly earth-shattering from this event. Based on the rumor mill, a new Surface Pro or a Surface phone won't debut on May 2nd. Instead, maybe start an office pool for the unveil of Windows 10 Cloud (think: Chrome OS, but from Redmond) and maybe, finally a follow-up to the $499 Surface 3 from 2015. The countdown starts now, so get your bets in.
Microsoft's Dial is coming to the Surface Pro and Book
As part of its event yesterday, Microsoft revealed the wireless Surface Dial, a control wheel that attaches directly to the Surface Studio's screen, letting artists select colors and do other chores. While the $100 device is compatible with the any Windows 10 PC, including Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, the company originally said the on-screen functions would only work on the Surface Studio. However, VP Terry Myerson told the Verge that you'll be able to use it directly on the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book displays early next year thanks to a firmware update.
Microsoft passes on updating the Surface Pro
Microsoft announced a flurry of hardware at its Surface event, but there was one very conspicuous omission: a new Surface Pro tablet. For the first time in a long while, a year will come and go without an updated version of Microsoft's most iconic computer. There haven't been any quiet spec bumps either. The Surface Pro 4 still starts at $899 with a Core m3 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, while higher-end models also have the same specs as before. But why did the company pass on the opportunity?
Microsoft rolls out new Surface Pro Type Covers for NFL fans
Now that the NFL preseason is underway, Microsoft is taking advantage of the moment with a product designed specifically for football fans. If you own a Surface Pro 3 or Surface Pro 4, the company's rolling out new Type Covers featuring logos from all 32 NFL teams, in case you're interested in showing everyone your true colors. The themed peripherals, dubbed Surface Special Edition NFL Type Covers (say that ten times fast), are made from "premium quality" materials according to Microsoft. That said, they don't feature the same high-end, suede-like Alcantara fabric as the Signature Type Covers introduced a few months ago. Doesn't matter? Then you can get one today from Microsoft's site or one its retail stores for $160.
Microsoft now offering Surface Membership Plans
Microsoft has quietly introduced a Surface Membership Plan that allows small businesses to keep up with the latest Surface hardware and buy the devices on a monthly payment plan. Starting at $32.99 per month, business users get "the latest Surface devices, accessories, support, and training." The membership plan includes the current generation Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, and Surface 3, but it also comes with free upgrades when newer models become available.
Microsoft has a slew of stability updates for the Surface
The myriad problems with Microsoft's Surface Book and its Surface Pro 4 tablet are well documented, and now we know what Redmond's definition of "quickly" is: A period of time no less than two months in length. The company has released a rash of updates to the devices that it says will help users get the most of the platform's power management options. There's a baker's dozen of them and the most common phrase among the listings is "improves system stability." That applies to everything from updates for audio drivers to the Surface Management Engine and a lot in between.
Microsoft formally recalls Surface Pro power cords
Microsoft said it would recall Surface Pro power cords to head off potential fire risks, and it's following through on that promise. The Redmond crew has officially recalled about 2.25 million AC power cables for Surface Pro tablets sold before March 15th, 2015. If you own a Surface Pro 3 or earlier, you're likely due for a free replacement. There haven't been many reports of these cables catching fire (56, to be exact), but it's safe to say that you don't want to take a chance if you can avoid it.
Patriots' Surface tablets break down during AFC title game
Microsoft paid the NFL a fortune to have teams use its Surface Pro 3 tablets on the sidelines, but it likely wasn't thrilled with the publicity it got on Sunday. During the AFC championship game, the Patriots' devices stopped working for an excruciating 20 minutes before Microsoft managed to fix them, according to a CBS sideline reporter. Microsoft chalked it up to "connectivity issues," saying that the Broncos' tablets were working just fine. The Surface is only used to view formation photos of previous plays, so it likely didn't handicap the Patriots too much. Unfortunately, they went on to lose the game by a tight 20-18 margin, so they clearly needed every advantage they could get.
Microsoft to recall Surface Pro power cords over fire risks
If you own a Surface Pro, you might want to be careful using it for the next little while. Microsoft tells Channelnomics that it's planning a voluntary recall for the power cords on every Surface Pro tablet released before the Pro 4 and sold before a certain period (March 2015 in the US, July 15th in Europe). The tech giant warns that the AC power cable could trigger a fire if it's wound too tightly or otherwise damaged. Only a "very small" number of people have reported problems, Microsoft says, but the company isn't taking any chances.
The Surface Mini is a real tablet that you can't buy
You've heard the rumors: Microsoft axed the launch of a small "Surface Mini" Windows tablet just before the Pro 3 hit stores. Hints of the canceled launch showed up in news articles, Microsoft earnings reports and even the Surface Pro 3's user manual, but now we finally have confirmation that the tablet actually exists -- and it was pretty much ready to ship alongside the Surface Pro 3. So ready that, for a time, Surface VP Panos Panay used one on a daily basis.
Microsoft has a docking station for your Surface Pro tablet
Microsoft isn't just unveiling a phone dock today -- it has a dock for your computers, too. The tech giant's new docking station gives the Surface Pro 3, Pro 4 and Surface Book the kind of connectivity you'd expect from a desktop. There are two 4K-capable DisplayPort outputs, four USB 3.0 ports and an Ethernet jack for your wired internet link. Microsoft's Surface Dock is available for pre-order now (with an expected release date of October 26th) at $200, which should be inexpensive enough that you can forget about buying a second PC. Get all the news from today's Microsoft event right here.
What to expect from Microsoft's Windows 10 device event
Microsoft may be tight-lipped about what will be revealed at its October 6th device event, but that doesn't mean that everything is a mystery. In some cases, a slew of leaks have telegraphed Redmond's plans in advance. More Lumia phones, anyone? However, there are still a few questions left. What about the fabled Surface Pro 4? When does Windows 10 reach your existing phone? And will there be any wearable tech? We'll answer as many of those questions as we can so that you have a good idea of what to expect when Microsoft's execs take the stage.
Microsoft and Dell team up to put Surface tablets in your workplace (update: HP too)
Microsoft really wants Surface tablets to be mainstays of the corporate crowd, and it just formed a partnership with Dell to help make this happen. The Surface Enterprise Initiative will see Dell selling both Surface Pro tablets and their accessories through its commercial sales channels, eventually including its website -- yes, you'll see Microsoft slates available alongside Dell's own Venue Pros. Those machines will get full Dell support, too. The effort will only be available in the US and Canada when it kicks off in early October, but it'll spread to the Surface's 28 remaining business-friendly regions by early 2016.
Microsoft is putting the Surface in more stores
Microsoft announced today that it is expanding the distribution channels for its Surface tablet line ahead of the upcoming Windows 10 global rollout. The Surface is currently sold through "a couple hundred" authorized Surface device distributors, as Gavriella Schuster, General Manager of Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Program, explained in a statement, but will soon grow to a few thousand. Any partner distributor can reportedly sign up for the expanded program assuming they qualify on volume sold. "We expect to get a few thousand resellers to jump on this," Schuster told ZDNet.
