Microsoft Surface Pro 4 announced: "better in nearly every way" (The Verge)

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So a total newb question here - just started a new job where I have the option to get a new laptop (dell standard laptop) or Surface Pro.

Is this even a decision? Go with the pro right? Any downside?

Also can the pro be used to hook up to a dual screen set up? If so I can make it my one stop work device to use at home and at the office.
 
effzee said:
So a total newb question here - just started a new job where I have the option to get a new laptop (dell standard laptop) or Surface Pro.

Is this even a decision? Go with the pro right? Any downside?

Also can the pro be used to hook up to a dual screen set up? If so I can make it my one stop work device to use at home and at the office.
Click to expand...

The downside is it can be annoying to use on your lap/legs.
 
Marty Chinn said:
The downside is it can be annoying to use on your lap/legs.
Click to expand...

And this is only a "downside" in specific cases.

For me, the Surface Pro is more usable on my lap than an ordinary laptop because I can do things like this:

PL5AU0F.jpg


An ordinary laptop would just slip right off.
 
dLMN8R said:
And this is only a "downside" in specific cases.

For me, the Surface Pro is more usable on my lap than an ordinary laptop because I can do things like this:

PL5AU0F.jpg


An ordinary laptop would just slip right off.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's pretty rad. And tablet mode with pen is great for reviewing and marking up docs.
 
So, I am considering a Pro 4 M3, essentially I want a fanless hybrid that can run some light indies and stream videos. My already existing Steam library makes windows a given.

Main question I have is: what is the expected battery life?

It seems to vary from 9 hours (MS, notebookcheck) all the way down to 3-5 hours depending on where you look. I am coming from a MacBook Air but not expecting the same levels die to the screen, just something approaching all day use.
 
Battery life is pretty weak on my Pro 4 m3. Probably my main let down. I do use Chrome but pretty sure they've improved it recently as far as battery drain is concerned. I'd say 3 hours max with Chrome and Photoshop my main uses and alternating between 50-75% brightness.

So are the rumors early 2017 for Pro 5/Book 2? My GF took my 2013 rMBP 15" on a business trip. I had a photoshoot yesterday and decided to try out Lightroom on my SP4. Surprisingly performance is pretty much just as good editing ~35 MB RAW files. Some things are actually a bit faster and some things a little slower. I thought the m3 was going to be a dog compared to the quad-core i7 in my MBP but that's not the case.
 
dock said:
http://surfaceproartist.com/blog/2016/10/4/wacom-introduces-mobilestudio-pro-line
Wacom just announced their reboot of the Cintiq Companion range. Looks nice but prices are terrifying, and the size/weight remains an issue. Nice to see a portable 15.6" option though.
Click to expand...

Small things like "the stand costs extra" and the fact that they start with 4gig of ram at this day and age really turn me off.
If reviews are good, maybe something to consider.
Otherwise, overpriced as always.
 
dLMN8R said:
And this is only a "downside" in specific cases.

For me, the Surface Pro is more usable on my lap than an ordinary laptop because I can do things like this:

PL5AU0F.jpg


An ordinary laptop would just slip right off.
Click to expand...

I hope your kickstand doesn't break.

Actually, I feel that lapibility is good for Surface Book too thanks to the hinge not having "steps" like some laptops too.
 
Cobalt Izuna said:
I hope your kickstand doesn't break.

Actually, I feel that lapibility is good for Surface Book too thanks to the hinge not having "steps" like some laptops too.
Click to expand...

Honestly anyone who's ever used or held a Surface Pro would know that the hinge is really strong, and in that picture it's nowhere near fully-extended. The kickstand will open up to ~150 degrees before there's any risk whatsoever to it extending further than it should.
 
dLMN8R said:
Honestly anyone who's ever used or held a Surface Pro would know that the hinge is really strong, and in that picture it's nowhere near fully-extended. The kickstand will open up to ~150 degrees before there's any risk whatsoever to it extending further than it should.
Click to expand...

My (OG) Surface Pro kickstand broke after 2 years of abuse.

But yeah, I understand.
 
Steelyuhas said:
Yeah the Pro 3 and 4 kickstand is incredible. It feels almost impossible for something to break (that is not an endorsement to try!).
Click to expand...

Well, I would hold my Surface Pro by the touchcover to demonstrate to people

It didn't occur to me that 2 years of that, it would go wrong at some point.
 
Was checking Amazon's listing for the suface pro 4. All their listings denotes that its the old version. This just happened today. I wonder why this is. Is a refresh version coming? Or are we getting news of another type of device? I wonder
 
Raguel said:
Was checking Amazon's listing for the suface pro 4. All their listings denotes that its the old version. This just happened today. I wonder why this is. Is a refresh version coming? Or are we getting news of another type of device? I wonder
Click to expand...

Surface Pro 5 might be announced at the Windows 10 event later this month. Otherwise, it will announced between January-April.
 
dock said:
Meanwhile as someone that uses the i5 SP4 every day I have almost never heard the fan kick in.
Click to expand...

It only happens during some gaming for me. I'm pleasantly surprised by that, coming from a MacBook air that sounded like a jet engine whenever I opened Chrome.
 
Any recommendation for a Comic Reader on Surface Pro?

Heard Cover or Comic++ getting thrown around, just curious if anyone has experience.
 
Anyone else having issues with the mouse cursor jumping whenever their surface pro 4 is plugged in?

Using the trackpad on the keyboard is almost unusable when I plug mine in....
 
Goodlife said:
Anyone else having issues with the mouse cursor jumping whenever their surface pro 4 is plugged in?

Using the trackpad on the keyboard is almost unusable when I plug mine in....
Click to expand...

I have a similar issue with my SP3, even when it's not plugged-in: every couple of minutes or so I get a random right-click on the taskbar that also makes the trackpad unusable.

Touching the display makes it go away. It's really annoying. Nothing seems to solve it; I guess I'll have revert back to factory setting formatting everything.
 
Proud owner of a new M3 Surface Pro, quick question:

How the feck do I game on this thing full screen without borders?

I see videos on youtube of people playing (light) games on this very model, running at low res but full screen, yet when I try to launch them they are windowed, if I select native res they crash (understandable), if I select a lower res but full screen I get borders...

Assume it's windowed full screen, is there a way to select that for all games etc...?
 
SteveWD40 said:
Proud owner of a new M3 Surface Pro, quick question:

How the feck do I game on this thing full screen without borders?

I see videos on youtube of people playing (light) games on this very model, running at low res but full screen, yet when I try to launch them they are windowed, if I select native res they crash (understandable), if I select a lower res but full screen I get borders...

Assume it's windowed full screen, is there a way to select that for all games etc...?
Click to expand...

Isn't it an option on a per game basis?

And congrats on the machine!
 
commish said:
Isn't it an option on a per game basis?

And congrats on the machine!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I suppose it must be, just didn't seem to have the option in some of the smaller indies I tried (Spelunky, Terraria).

I keep seeing something about some Intel Driver fix that gives you the option of setting the Surface to a lower 3:2 resolution?
 
SteveWD40 said:
Proud owner of a new M3 Surface Pro, quick question:

How the feck do I game on this thing full screen without borders?

I see videos on youtube of people playing (light) games on this very model, running at low res but full screen, yet when I try to launch them they are windowed, if I select native res they crash (understandable), if I select a lower res but full screen I get borders...

Assume it's windowed full screen, is there a way to select that for all games etc...?
Click to expand...

There aren't any 3:2 resolutions other than the native res. The graphics driver hacks look much too involved for me, but I really wish Microsoft would support a 50% size.

Worth remembering that lots of games will force 16:9 ratio borders even if you choose a wider/narrower ratio.
 
BeforeU said:
What not to expect

Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book predecessors.
Click to expand...

What no Surface Pro 3? ;-)

This isn't Surface event, its Windows event. Spring 2017 will be hardware event.

What to expect
...
Surface all in one
Click to expand...

That would be new Surface hardware wouldn't it?

I think there is a small chance for a minor refresh on Surface Pro 4 / Book to Kaby Lake but with no other significant hardware changes.
 
The Dial is going to work on the display of the Surface Pro 4 and Book, after a firmware upgrade early next year. Not that useful on the small screen, but still great to see that kind of support.
 
brotkasten said:
The Dial is going to work on the display of the Surface Pro 4 and Book, after a firmware upgrade early next year. Not that useful on the small screen, but still great to see that kind of support.
Click to expand...
Oh, interesting, do you have a source for that? Because that may persuade me to get that thing.
 
Irminsul said:
Oh, interesting, do you have a source for that? Because that may persuade me to get that thing.
Click to expand...

While you'll be able to use the Surface Dial with any Windows 10 PC, Microsoft is also working on a firmware update to let Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 owners attach the Dial to their display and have the same functionality as the Surface Studio. Microsoft's head of devices and Windows, Terry Myerson, revealed the planned firmware update in an interview with The Verge today.

There's no exact date on the firmware update apart from early next year, but it does mean existing Surface owners will be able to transform their existing devices into mobile equivalents of the Surface Studio. The screen size is obviously a lot smaller to work on and not as high resolution, but the fact these older devices can sense the puck and let you interact with it directly on the display will open up Surface Pro and Surface Book devices to the best way to experience this new input tool.


http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/26/...ace-book-surface-dial-support-firmware-update

That really makes it more likely for me to get one, even if it's just for the novelty.
 
That's bizarrely proconsumer from Microsoft (specially given that Surface's pricing structure is still all kinds of fucked up), but it makes sense to grab those Surface users and turn them into Surface Studio ones.
 
Funky Papa said:
That's bizarrely proconsumer from Microsoft (specially given that Surface's pricing structure is still all kinds of fucked up), but it makes sense to grab those Surface users and turn them into Surface Studio ones.
Click to expand...

People still think Microsoft is this evil company or what not.

The surface pricing is high, way high and that's because of certain things.

1). They don't want to make their partners angry by competing with them directly. That's why we ALWAYS see comparison with MacBooks and no other devices.
2). These are supposed to be aspirational devices. For years, people saw Windows device ecosystem as some cheap dollaram products compare to Apple products. These new premium devices helps change the perspective. Windows now also have very high end products which not everyone can afford.
3). to show case latest and greatest of their software. Microsoft are making Pro, Book and Studio so companies like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer see it, and tries to copy it. And make a cheaper version of it.
 
What I'd really love, and still wouldn't buy, because I wouldn't want to spend that much money on it, is a standalone Surface Studio Display. I'm sure it would be at least $1000, but man, would that be great. Same hinge, touchscreen, pen and dial support.

My Lenovo L220x is getting old (9 years in November!) and a 16:9 display seems like such a downgrade. It just shows how much the display tech has stagnated over the last decade. Like 1080p was some kind of amazing achievement and we didn't need higher resolutions after that.
 
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