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Score: 8.25/10
Verdict: Microsoft moves that bit closer to the ideal laptop/tablet hybrid, and it’s now matching the experience of traditional laptops.
HOW MANY PEOPLE would have given Microsoft’s first Surface a chance? It’s worth thinking about because when it arrived, you would have been forgiven for thinking Microsoft had backed the wrong horse.
Tablets and laptops were entirely different beasts and to combine the two would mean compromises on both ends, and there were compromises.
Fast forward three years later and things are different. Tablets have diminished in popularity, laptops still hold onto their advantage and other companies like Apple and Google have adopted the hybrid idea in some form.
During all of this, the Surface range edges closer to an ideal middle-ground between the two. It’s closer to that ideal thanks to the release of the Pro 4, a device that manages to fix most of its predecessors’ flaws.
Each release has brought it closer to it fulfilling its promise of replacing your laptop and this time, it could actually fulfill it.
Refinement, refinement, refinement
Regarding looks, Microsoft hasn’t changed a whole lot in comparison to the Pro 3. It’s ever so slightly lighter this time although you’d be hard-pressed to notice the difference between the two. They were light to begin with and carrying one around is just the same as any regular tablet.
The Pro 4 does remove the standard Windows button that came with every version so far. While it made sense for Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows 10 doesn’t need it, and its removal allows it to increase the screen size from 10.8-inches to 12.3-inches.
The ports, or lack of, is a bit of an issue. Only one USB port is a bit frustrating if you’re the type of person who plugs in numerous peripherals, in which case you’ll have to invest in a Surface Dock, a smaller block this time instead of the quite large stand for the Surface Pro 3 (one that didn’t really make sense considering how the Surface already had a capable stand to begin with).
The kickstand can be adjusted to almost any angle, you can push it nearly upright if you really wanted to, and getting the right angle only takes a moment
Once you do, it’s comfortable to use and the differences between it and a normal laptop are too small to notice, it’s just as much at home on a desk as it is on your lap.
The charger port is also a bit awkwardly placed. Located at the bottom right-hand corner, it just a bit awkward as the cable travels down parallel to the side instead of perpendicular, meaning you will sometimes have to adjust it (or pop it back into the power slot) anytime you put it down on a desk.
Despite that, it’s improved in all the right places. The type cover has seen a much-needed upgrade and while it’s does still feel a tad flimsy – which can’t be helped considering it’s a cover – it’s the closest Microsoft is to replicating a traditional keyboard.
It might not look like that from first glance, but when you start working, it really shows. Keys pop out more instead of being flat and it really helps with typing feedback.
One of the more frustrating elements of previous type covers was the margin for error when using the trackpad because it was small and located left of centre. Now, the increased size, its centralised position and glass cover solves many of its problems, bringing a smoother and more accurate experience.
(On a related note, if you already own a Pro 3, it’s worth buying the Pro 4 type cover as it is a serious improvement.)
The major drawback to the type cover is it’s still a separate purchase. This is genuinely frustrating as you would have hoped by now, Microsoft would include the type cover in the purchasing price instead of treating it as an add-on. Maybe it will in future, but you’ll be adding another €155 to the price tag below.
The other improvement comes from the Surface Pen, which is included and can be attached to the side of the Pro 4. In comparison to previous versions, it now feels like a good addition to your workload instead of being a gimmicky extra.
Microsoft says the pen now has 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity and you do feel it. It doesn’t feel like you’re hitting two solid objects together but closer to the feel of pen to paper.
The end acts as an eraser, meaning you can undo actions or erase specific parts if you wish. It’s handier for quick notes but it’s better to have the option in the first place.
Face to face
Since Windows 10 has been around for a couple of months now, the first devices with Windows Hello, which unlocking your device by scanning your face, iris or fingerprint, have arrived.
In this case, it comes in the form of an infrared lens, a regular lens and a 3D lens that searches for your face. In practice, it’s surprisingly quick at recognising faces and you can add additional steps if it makes you feel more comfortable using it.
While we couldn’t test it with similarly looking people, other tests seem to indicate that it’s not easily fooled, and it won’t mistake someone else for you.
You do have to be looking directly at it for it to work so the angle when having it perched on your lap is different to having it on a desk, but at least it’s light so worst case scenario, you can just lift it for a moment so you get it right.
As for Windows 10, it’s the same as it ever was, which isn’t surprising considering it’s only a few months old. Edge is lightweight and fast, but you’ll likely opt for Chrome until it gets plugins, the marriage between the Start button and Windows apps still needs a bit of time before it gels together, but overall the logic behind it is better.
In fact, the Pro 4 better suited to Windows 10 purely because it’s not forcing a tablet mode on you. It’s learnt its lessons from Windows 8 and is all the better for it.
Microsoft’s own products like Word, Excel and OneNote are in their element here, but even outside of that, most desktop programs run pretty well.
Under the hood
If you’re comparing it directly to the Pro 3, there isn’t a massive difference unless you look for them. When it comes to dealing with multimedia work like creating 3D models, you’ll notice the extra improvements, but as a laptop, it’s probably closer to the Macbook Air regarding specs.
The starting version has 128GB space, an Intel Core m3 and 4GB of RAM, but you can upgrade to 512GB storage, an Intel Core i7 and 16GB of RAM.
The starting version is nothing fancy, but it’s enough to handle core tasks and to its credit, Windows 10 does run smoothly on less powerful devices. If you want to do more, however, you’re better off looking at the Intel Core i5 and i7 versions first.
The speakers and screen quality is great for watching TV and movies; the sound quality in particular is loud and clear thanks to a dual, front-facing setup and the 3:2 ratio suits the likes of Netflix.
Despite the many improvements, the biggest disappointment is the battery life. Through mixed use (web browsing, working, and listening to Spotify in the background), you can expect in and around seven hours. It’s not terrible, but it’s one thing that most traditional laptops still have an advantage over.
While they won’t be used that often, both cameras are surprisingly good. The rear end 8MP camera is sharp enough for standard photos while the front facing 5MP is good enough for Skype calls.
Should you buy one?
Despite the minor gripes, this is the closest Microsoft has come to creating a successful laptop/tablet hybrid. The devices were great once you got over the caveats but the Pro 4 puts forward a much stronger case.
Unless you’re into gaming in some form, then this is certainly the first true contender for replacing your laptop. Part of that is down to Windows 10 being more accommodating to desktop users, but some good design choices help too.
Will it replace your laptop entirely? Well, that depends on what your priorities are. As a work device, its versatility and software makes it a great option to have but most importantly, you won’t feel like you’re missing out when you’re using it instead of a regular laptop.
That’s probably the biggest compliment you could give the Pro 4, and considering what it’s been building towards, it’s not a bad one to receive. Just don’t settle for the basic version.
Pros
- Good specs even with the cheapest option.
- Surface Pen is now a joy to use.
- Comes the closest to replicating the feel of a traditional laptop.
Cons
- Battery life could be better.
- Type cover is still a separate purchase.
- Higher starting price point compared to traditional laptops.
The Surface Pro 4 starts at €1,029 and is available on Microsoft Store, PC World, Currys, and Harvey Norman.
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Kenny is definitely an EU follower, does whatever the EU people tell him to do, in the best interests of the EU, to the detriment of the Irish people. I’d say he wouldn’t know what to do if he was an actual active leader and had to make the important decisions himself. He’s a “do what they tell me and keep up the fake appearances” leader.
@Adrian: How can my lovely horse Enda sign anything on our behalf without a referendum by us???
@Alois Irlmaier: us doesn’t come into it. When it came to any decision with banks bond holders and transferring the debt to the public we got zero say.
Ends and FG don’t care about Irish people its only what Merkel wants that matters.
EU is a poisoned chalice that we are addicted to. If the EU was in the interest of all member states then they would want in and not need to be locked in.
@tom: All lies are covered under the Maastricht or Lisbon treaties I believe but the Maastricht states banks can’t be bailed out whoops???
@tom: “John Perkins, Former Advisor IMF.
“My job was to identify countries with resources that corporations covert, like oil and then arrange a huge loan to that country from the World Bank or from one of its sister organisations. The money however would not go to the country, it would go to our own corporations who would make huge profits, but the majority of the people would suffer terrible as a result, because money would be diverted from Education, Healthcare and other Social Services to pay interest on the debt.”
What happened when the IMF moved in and the debt couldn’t be repaid?
“We go back into that country and say, since you can’t pay your debt, sell your resource oil or whatever real cheap to our corporations without any environmental restrictions or, or social regulations. Privatise, sell your electric utilities, your water, sewage systems, your schools, your jails, all your public sector businesses to our corporations, and in the few cases where we failed economic hitman, the jackals went in and still do and aah, they either assassinate the leaders of the country or overthrow them in coups.”
United States of Banks?
I’m all for Europe, and the European Union, but let’s do it by celebrating our diversity as well. There is no need or want by any majority of the populace to have each countries uniqueness, sovereignty, and culture subsumed into one monolithic European system. The more power seems to ebb towards Brussels, the more backlash there will be.
@The Throwaway: we have to leave this organisation before it starts collapsing around us.
@The Throwaway: agreed. They should ask the citizens of Europe how they see the future of the EU before group thinking the whole project over a federalist cliff most don’t want
@The Throwaway: So you want a POLITICAL UNION then as that is what is promised? The end of democracy and the banks will take over from governments?
https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/320457-eu-currency-economy-crises/
I’m all for the “European Economic Community” but not in favour of a European union.
@Kerry Blake: The WTO forced this single market behemoth in order for banks to take control, if there was no WTO then there would be a global single market them without conditions or trading blocks?
30 scandals and crises since Fine Gael came to power. The next one up, the Garda veil of silence on lying about tests and checkpoints – and sick Fianna Fail continues to prop them up. Sheer madness.
Aaa.. but everything will be ok. Fine Gael will no doubt announce another tribunal or inquiry – then give more of our rights and personal data to more Eu private companies. Go Enda!
@Unitedpeople: Fine Gael are best of a bad lot. The rest are populists caving in to any and all demands fron the Public Sector Unions.
@Unitedpeople: What other option?
They are trying to impose a united states of europe, that should be resisted. But the weasel Kenny and his like in FF, Labour will go along with it. Less control over our country rather than more is for the better.
Federalists still wield considerable influence in EU politics, but it is waning. It already was before the Brexit vote, and even more so afterwards. That’s one of the few good things about the outcome of the referendum in my opinion.
How about taking a step back and just getting on with cooperating like a normal treaty organization. I feel things started heading in the wrong direction for people, whether merely perceptually or factually, when the EU began to advertise itself as the greatest thing in the world.
@Mick Tobin: looking more like the Mafia every day.
Any chance of giving Enda that cushy EU job now as reward for his Merkel adulation? Please please you can have him, he is past his sell by date in Ireland years ago.
@Gus Sheridan: His new job is to warm Hogans bed lol.
These clowns can sign whatever they like the EU is dying fast. Nothing is happening in it and with America getting tough and the rest of the world having real growth the EU will fall apart as other countries see that Britain did the right thing.
Multi speed EU should be enough for the people to rise up and bring the EU down.
@@mdmak33: It won’t see past another 10 years because it is corrupt and rootten to the core and will eventually die. I would give it just under 10 years more?
EU unity ? Yes, unity of “over regulation” and costly over paid arrogant commissioners on the EU gravy train while we foot the unnecessary bill. Enda loves that stuff and intends boarding the gravy train. He is an EU yes-man. The British are right. Time to derail the lot !
The EU needs to focus more on economic matters. Deepen the single market and put in place structures to make the euro work better (limiting countries ability to borrow to pay public sector wages and pensions would be a very good idea).
If it just stays on that focus it will be fine. It needs to forget about further political, fiscal or military union and instead simply allow co-operation in those areas.
The threats to Western Christian/neeChristian civilisation from Eastern belligerents remain though they have changed. Europe is militarily with a Britain that sees things as they really are heading.
The Eu can be great but it very pro big business and makeing a few rich. While we pay the price.
They need to call it what it is Brussels is the head of power, stop the illusion that we vote for a government, that our taxes is not for our country but for Europe, that movement of people and goods is for all. Things like vrt are scrapped they pay a find, we bring a few bottles back we get locked up.
That our culture is been slowly eroded and customs we were us use is been changed to form a new culture and customs of one European people.
That our governments make us is changed there more manager’s to head of Europe that people in control of our country.
That eventually we be one county Europe, our country will no longer be a country but a county or state within Europe.
That we the people of now and probably our children will have to sacrifice the most and deal with the headache for us to become one European country.
So the people of the future will know as Ireland, France, Spain, Germany etc… as former countries of the eu which then be known as either United States of Europe, the European state, the European federation, and Federal Europe.
We should ask do we want this, and if have doubts use the brixt to address theses.
For the rich and elite only
Disgraceful EU
Unelected con men
@Jonathan Yeo: Which EU member wasn’t elected?
Enda did you get my permission to sign anything
@Anastasia: he didnt get mine , thats for sure.
Enda busy brown nosing again. For the record Enda not everyone in this country is pro E like you & its the people of this country that will decide whether we remain or go
He does not represent the whole of Ireland in fact he lost the election
He is only in by a dodgy deal with FF
Some of us do not want to be in the corrupt EU which is for the rich and elite only!
Do any of you remember what Ireland was like before we joined the EU? massive unemployment, and as a teenager in the 70′s in Dublin, there was nothing to do, it was bleak and depressing. The Catholic Church ruled every aspect of our lives. I could go on but I believe being part of the EU has liberated us both in thought and actions and is a force for good, albeit imperfect.
@Laura Clarke: Thanks Laura. My sentiments exactly. Ireland is too small to go it alone.
@Simon Peters: Iceland seems to be doing ok?
@Laura Clarke: while I agree that Ireland has come a long way in both attitudes and that the grip of the Catholic Church on every aspect of Irish life has been broken, most of this has more to do with the fact that the light was shone on years of institutionall child abuse and that fact that the church was more concerned with itself and it’s position than the victims of its members.
The main problem with the EU is that while the initial idea of the common market, trade, peace and cooperation was sound and a worthwhile exercise, the incremental evolution of that into the EU by way of various amendments, some of which we had no say in, and others which went to referendum in which we were told we either had no other option but to support or the sky would fall, or we got asked the same question again in another referendum, when we apparently got the answer wrong because we were too dumb to understand the question.
Now everyone that questions the EU is immediately classified as a right wing nut job and or an idiot, when that is simply not the case.
The level to which the EU has increased its power and removed sovereignty and control from member nations with little or no protest, is frankly frightening and I dread to think what it will become and how nember nations will lose not only their identities, but any illusion of control in another 20 years, nevermind another 60 years.
The English still can’t come to terms with their lack of exceptionalism.
An Y would she be there , ?????
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