14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft’s Surface Laptop looks great, runs Windows 10 S (upgradeable to Windows 10 Pro), and comes with top-notch hardware like Intel Core i7 processors. And yet, there’s one major shortcoming.
The lack of USB Type-C ports on the Surface Laptop makes the device a no-buy for many people out there, and it looks like Microsoft knows very well that it played a risky card here.
The first Surface Laptop marketing video that the company published after the May 2 launch event shows for a second a prototype that never got to see daylight and which actually comes with two USB Type-C ports. These models were developed and used for shooting the video, so when Microsoft decided to remove the ports, the company didn’t have the time to record another commercial.
In case you’re wondering how come Microsoft removed the USB-C ports and instead went for a standard USB 2.0 port and a mini DisplayPort, the company has one very simple explanation.
Lack of maturity
Company officials told The Verge that it’s all because what’s being described as “the lack of maturity in USB-C,” with the company also citing issues with power and cables, plus the lack of market adoption.
So although they originally intended to offer USB Type-C on the Surface Laptop, the company then changed its mind simply because it thinks that its target audience is very unlikely to use the device with accessories that include this connectivity port.
The decision, however, is a bit surprising, especially because Microsoft’s rival Apple has a completely different opinion. The latest-generation MacBook features USB Type-C ports exclusively, so while some companies still think this option is not yet at its maturity, others are going all-in on it.
On the good side, the Surface Laptop is still one of the best laptops available on the market and it could still be a better option than the MacBook for a number of customers, so hopefully for Microsoft, the lack of USB-C won’t impact sales.