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Pros and cons: Our verdict on the new Surface Book
The 2016 Surface Book is a lot like last year's Surface Book, which we already really liked. So we recommend this one too, though the few flaws we noted last time remain as well. As ever, it's a well-built piece of kit, with a bright detachable screen whose 3:2 aspect ratio makes it comfortable to hold in tablet mode. The keyboard and trackpad are both still comfortable to use, and more than ever (ahem, Apple), we appreciate the port selection, which includes some full-sized USB ports and an SD card reader.
Surface Book review (2016): The laptop to beat doesn't come cheap
Last year, when Microsoft introduced its first-ever laptop, the Surface Book, the company proclaimed that this was the "ultimate laptop." And it was -- mostly. This two-in-one notebook offered long battery life, with a distinctive, well-constructed case, a comfortable keyboard, fast performance and a detachable display that worked well as a standalone pen tablet. Starting today, the company is shipping a refreshed version, and it's mostly more of the same. The biggest changes are under the hood, with Microsoft claiming twice the graphics performance, a second fan and a larger battery, rated for either 12 or 16 hours, depending on the configuration. It's more of a good thing, but do you need that kind of horsepower enough to spend $2,399 and up on one of these newer models?
Microsoft's Surface Book i7 offers twice the graphics power
Were you worried that Microsoft would leave the Surface Book untouched during its Windows 10 event? You can set your mind at ease. Microsoft has unveiled the Surface Book i7, a refresh that focuses on pure power. The name is a giveaway as to the processor (surprise, there's a Core i7), but you also get twice the graphics performance -- the company added a second fan and otherwise redesigned the thermals to allow for faster GeForce GTX 965M video without cooking the inside. There's also a larger battery that promises up to 16 hours of battery life in laptop mode (no word on the tablet mode yet).
