Rumored Specs on the Microsoft Surface Pro 4

[James Falconer]

Hey all... was just reading this piece from Daniel: Rumored specs of Surface Pro 4 detail a fanless, but still powerful system | Windows Central

I realize the Surface Pro 3 just hit us... but hey, it's fun to talk about upcoming hardware, right? What do you make of these rumored specs? We'll learn more as time passes, but until then... let's talk about it!

 

[AFransella]

Sounds fair, although the only way I'd pick one up is if it has a decent GPU either built into it or at least in a docking station. Hope they improve battery life for the new one.

 

[Gunbust3r]

Fingers crossed for a real wireless/bluetooth chipset from Intel or Broadcom.

 

[melair23]

I hope Microsoft designs Surface Pro 4 with LTE or cellular connectivity this time like Apple does with the iPads. It's very inconvenient to have to turn on my hotspot on my mobile phone in order to hop on the internet if WIFI isn't readily available. Many times it disconnects and so unreliable versus a WIFI connection or LTE/cellular connection. I hear this same complaints with other users that are using Surface Pros. Until they have this feature, I think it will always be flawed unfortunately.

:unhappy:

 

[RealtyMarc]

I totally agree with you sir. I have built in cellular on all of my iPads and laptops. I would buy the Surface Pro 4 in a heartbeat if it had built in LTE

 

[James8561]

Though convenient for road warriors, LTE on tablets is still a very niche feature. I personally haven't seen anyone with a cellular tablet.
For the SP4, I want them to focus on reducing weight, not thickness. Thickness is fine as is, weight is the main impediment to tablet usage.
Also, they should consider upping the battery life more. 12 hours would be very nice
The next surface pro type cover should aim to maximize the size of the trackpad, like in MacBook. There is a lot of wasted space at the margins. Use those space for a bigger trackpad. Maybe move the keyboard part up even closer to the screen to increase the height of the trackpad. Also, a middle click gesture would be nice. I know some people uses middle click a lot

 

[oscarwashere]

I can't believe it has no fans, it just needs them in order to run smooth. When I did not plug the fan of my PC in the motherboard in the right way, my CPU reached temperatures of around 90 degrees Celcius and I was very lucky it didn't melt or broke. This will happen in the SP4 too if there's no fan, or they must have come up with something revolutionary, but it doesn't seem like it.

 

[dstrauss]

IF (the big IF) they can eliminate fans - DO NOT MAKE IT SMALLER - cram it full of battery and make it an all day powerhouse.

 

[ytrewq]

No need to add battery -- if they can eliminate fans, they can make it smaller, lighter, and have longer battery life.

First, the fans use power. Eliminate the fans, and you aren't using as much power. Which means you automatically get longer battery life when you eliminate the fans.

Second, the fans exist to dissipate heat from the processor. The only way to eliminate the fans is to find a way to have the processor generate less heat. And the only way to have the processor generate less heat is to have it use less power. And if it's using less power, then your battery life is lasting longer.

If they can get rid of the fans, then by definition they can also make it smaller, lighter, and still have longer battery life.

 

[Ethan Alvaree]

My hopes:
-Built-in LTE
-Biometric sensor for Windows Hello (Iris scanner, fingerprint reader, etc.)
-1 TB hard drive
-New USB Type-C port

 

[ar-7]

I really hope (although it doesn't sound like it will happen) they have an option for an i5 or something that can handle Photoshop and Illustrator in the next Surface Pro. Everything I have read says it will have a Core M. I was waiting to buy the SP4 but I might have to but a SP3 instead.

 

[Wes D]

If it has LTE, I'll buy on the first date. Otherwise I'll pass on this release. It's the only thing the SP3 is missing. At least offer the option, some won't see the value in it, by some will (like myself).

 

[vlad0]

Man, I thought I was the only one waiting for LTE...

So, the thing is.. even if they include LTE it won't be as elegant of a solution as .. lets say the Nokia 2520 where you have the LTE chip inside the SoC.

With Intel, at least for now, it will have to be a separate chip on the board, separate drivers, etc. and that would also impact the battery life more so than if it was part of the SoC.

I was really hoping for Intel to include LTE inside Core-M, but.. maybe next gen.

Either way, even if they have to add an extra chip on the board, I will take it..

 

[dawindbag]

Sounds fair, although the only way I'd pick one up is if it has a decent GPU either built into it or at least in a docking station. Hope they improve battery life for the new one.

I'd love it if it had a dedicated GPU baked into the dock. That'd be a great option that would support both mobility and life as a desktop replacement. The big risk there is if the dock continues to be a legacy accessory it could be an expensive paper weight when the SP5 comes out.

 

[RohanRonQM]

I would definitely buy the Surface Pro 4 if it is the same size (or thicker) and have the option for
> Intel Core i5/i7 with vPro
> 16GB RAM
> Trackpoint on Keyboard (all business laptops and tablet PCs have this circular nub in the middle of the keyboard and I love using this)

 

[psudotechzealot]

15 inches screen with two USB 3 ports please.

 

[Inge Jones]

I'd like it if the dock had built-in speakers to use if you didn't have speakers plugged in.

 

[anon(8985111)]

How likely is Skylake going to feature improvements for external display support?What resolution / framerate for one / two monitors might we be talking about?