14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft launched the Surface Laptop during a press conference in New York only a few hours ago, and the device represents the first conventional laptop created by the software giant.
Previously, Microsoft was more or less focused on creating products that offered more than the traditional form factor, as is the case of the Surface Pro series and the Surface Book, which both come with detachable keyboards.
In the case of the Surface Laptop, there’s no detachable keyboard, though a touchscreen is still offered and the device works with all the other Surface accessories, including the Surface Pen and the Surface Dial.
The Surface Laptop will be available in four different colors, namely Platinum, Burgundy, Cobalt Blue, and Graphite Gold, and with two CPU options, so your model will be powered by either the Intel Core i5 or the i7.
You can already pre-order the Surface Laptop
The device is already up for pre-order, and shipping is projected to begin in June for some models, while the top-of-the-range configurations will only become available in August.
The Surface Laptop is powered by default by Windows 10 S, which is Microsoft’s new Windows 10 SKU that’s restricted to Windows Store apps. This means that although it’s a regular laptop, the installed operating system cannot run Win32 software, unless you install the full version of Windows 10 Pro.
On the good side, while Windows 10 S comes pre-installed, customers can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro completely free of charge by December 31, with no extra cost involved. The whole process is performed through the Store, and once upgraded to Windows 10 Pro, all Win32 software can be installed and launched just like on full Windows.
You can check below for full technical specs of the available Surface Laptop versions and pricing, but keep in mind that shipments will only begin at a later time.
| Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i7 | Intel Core i7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4GB RAM | 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| 128GB SSD | 256GB SSD | 256GB SSD | 512GB SSD |
| Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 | Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 |
| Color: Platinum | Colors: Burgundy, Platinum, Cobalt Blue, Graphite Gold | Color: Platinum | Color: Platinum |
| $999 | $1,299 | $1,599 | $2,199 |
