A Surface Pro 4 by Microsoft.

Price comparison chart for the Surface Pro 4

A Surface Pro 4 by Microsoft.

Price comparison chart for the Surface Pro 4

Apple, check your rearview mirror – Microsoft is catching up!

Microsoft has certainly come a long way with the Surface Tablet line. Since its introduction in 2012, the line has been critiqued and ridiculed. It has been questioned time and again by a barrage of skeptics ranging from technology enthusiasts, Apple fan boys, and even Microsoft loyalist themselves. Skeptics are far quieter nowadays.

The first Surface Tablet unit came with Windows RT, Microsoft’s attempt to showcase an unpolished and trimmed version of Windows 8.1 – it was oddly born and quickly died. The main failure was the app-only interface, which limited users from using the tablet as a full-fledged computer. Developers skipped over RT and, as such, so did most of the general public. It was a bit of a letdown to anti-Apple hopefuls, but it served as just the stepping-stone Microsoft needed to launch into a new market. Who else would have had the courage to step into a market dominated by Apple? As a major player in the tech arena and perhaps one of only half a dozen companies who could even attempt an upset in the highly monopolized tablet market, they dove in head first into iPad and MacBook infested waters. To the surprise of many, Microsoft quickly learned to swim in the deep end, and has made a name for itself in what once seemed a highly controlled and untouchable market.

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Microsoft is back… and killing it

This year, Microsoft’s stock rose to $61 a share, something not seen since December 1999. The company claims this is largely due to Surface Pro 4 (SP4) and Surface Book. Microsoft released the first SP4 model in October 2015 and has since released various sub-models and newly improved versions to keep up with the competition. In fact, Microsoft reported $926 million in sales last quarter, up 38 percent from last year’s sales, which tipped in at $672 million. The development and design team behind the new SP4 claim they aren’t aiming to invade the Apple dominated market, but the new hardware specs and design may suggest otherwise and bolster the timeless adage that “actions speak louder than words.” With many consumers looking for early Christmas gifts and back to school deals for computer systems, it seems like the perfect time to review this ultra-portable, yet powerful, tablet and shed some light on the new contender in the mobile-computing showground.

Portable and powerful: a winning combination.

Let’s start with portability. The new unit is a mere 1.73 lb. Add the Type Cover (Microsoft’s proprietary keyboard/cover combo) and weight bumps up to a still-scanty 2.37 lb. But don’t be fooled by its weight; the unit is elegant and housed in a durable magnesium shell. It also includes a sturdy kickstand, which is supposedly resilient enough for everyday use. The Type Cover has always been a separate purchase, and this time around things have not changed. The cover will cost an additional $129, but every review I came across stated it’s well worth the price. Not only does it provide a fold-open keyboard with built-in touchpad, the Type Cover also doubles as a protective shield to safeguard that impressive screen. There’s also an upgraded option to this already wonderful peripheral – the addition of a biometric fingerprint reader. This version will set you back $192 USD. The improved Type Cover with fingerprint biometrics allows users to take advantage of Windows 10’s Hello login feature and enables quick Microsoft Store purchases with a simple swipe of their finger.

Instant enhancements that stand out

The visuals have also been improved upon, with screen display resolution increased to an astonishing 2,736 x 1,824 (267ppi, or pixels per inch) up from the previous models 2160x1440 (216ppi) – which blow away main rival, Apple MacBook Air, with a resolution of only 128ppi on the 13” unit. It also narrowly outclassed Apple’s latest iPad Pro (264ppi on the 12.9” display). In addition to upgraded resolution, the unit is reported to have brighter and more vivid color reproduction. This may be great news for artistic types who are tied to traditional, calibrated monitors and WACOM tablet workstations. Many are looking to break-away from their customary desk environments. Perhaps the SP4 (or next year’s SP5) will grant these designers, artists, and photographers the mobility to step away from their conventional workstations.

Microsoft also introduced their trademarked PixelSense technology, allowing them to slim the screen by moving the touch sensors and lighting components closer to the glass. This resulted in the reduction of the unit’s thickness from 9.1mm to 8.4mm – a welcomed improvement over previous models. Furthermore, the screen is now capable of sensing 1,024 levels of pressure input, and there are some fancy apps that taking advantage of this amazing feature (Art Majors – be on the ready!). Also note the increased screen size, with workable real estate leaping from 12 inches to 12.3 inches. To accomplish this feat, Microsoft’s SP4 design and engineering team collaborated to remove and completely eliminate the dated and seemingly impractical, capacitive Windows button (OMG – finally!)

Other specs, features, and embellishments

So what’s the bottom line?

Microsoft has definitely pulled out all the stops for this acclaimed new tablet to create a portable-powerhouse targeting business users, digital creative, sales people, students, or anyone with a need to bring their computing power with them. All this in an elegant, durable and value-proven platform, paired with the Windows 10 operating system – it seems to make for an attractive combination. It feels like we just jumped backward 20 years. Have we really come back to square one with our computing choices – Apple (Mac) or Microsoft (PC)? I guess we’ve come full circle, and I cannot wait to see who jumps in to disrupt this heavyweight bout…

I hear HP might be working on a few things, perhaps out of Envy (pun intended)? I will leave that topic open for review and discussion in next week’s column. Until next week, keep Tech Savvy with TechTalk, news you can use. 

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