The reviews are out....

[ALpHa.Q.RoUgH]

Microsoft Surface Book review | The Verge

Surface Book review: the ultimate laptop, even if it isn't perfect

Seems like a lot of reviewers don't like the hinge design as it leaves a gap which most don't like. The dGPU (Engadget) seems like to me they hint that is doesn't do well with high intensive games and that the fans get real loud. 14 Hours of battery life for the i5 and a little more than 11 hours for the i7. 3 Hours for the tablet mode --detach.

What do you guys think? Is the hinge really that worrisome like for a backpack if you're a school student? Are some still going to try and game with the laptop?

I don't mind the hinge but it seeems the reviewers are dinging it becuase of that, and the location of the headphone jack.

 

[Poirots Progeny]

Personally it's the hinge and wobble that bothered me. Otherwise great device.

 

[ALpHa.Q.RoUgH]

Personally it's the hinge and wobble that bothered me. Otherwise great device.

I wonder, even though we are probably off from (IF) there is a SurfaceBook 2, how would they fix the gap issues or the wobble issues on the next iteration without losing the detacheable screen? Like what other options would there to be, would it be too thick to give it a magnetic connection like the Surface Pro line?

 

[afcor]

Microsoft Surface Book review | The Verge

Surface Book review: the ultimate laptop, even if it isn't perfect

Seems like a lot of reviewers don't like the hinge design as it leaves a gap which most don't like. The dGPU (Engadget) seems like to me they hint that is doesn't do well with high intensive games and that the fans get real loud. 14 Hours of battery life for the i5 and a little more than 11 hours for the i7. 3 Hours for the tablet mode --detach.

What do you guys think? Is the hinge really that worrisome like for a backpack if you're a school student? Are some still going to try and game with the laptop?

I don't mind the hinge but it seeems the reviewers are dinging it becuase of that, and the location of the headphone jack.

I actually think the gap is sort of cool looking, plus there's the fact that it'll never just be jangling around in a backpack with a bunch of garbage. So for me, aside from being a positive, visually, it's a non-factor.

As for gaming, who would really buy this, thinking they're going to do a bunch of hardcore gaming on it? Aren't the people who want to do that sort of gaming going to spend this amount of money on an actual gaming machine? This is marketed toward professionals, with an added benefit of being able to do some light gaming on the side.

 

[ALpHa.Q.RoUgH]

I actually think the gap is sort of cool looking, plus there's the fact that it'll never just be jangling around in a backpack with a bunch of garbage. So for me, aside from being a positive, visually, it's a non-factor.

As for gaming, who would really buy this, thinking they're going to do a bunch of hardcore gaming on it? Aren't the people who want to do that sort of gaming going to spend this amount of money on an actual gaming machine? This is marketed toward professionals, with an added benefit of being able to do some light gaming on the side.

There were people here aand there that thought since it was rumored possibly to have a 960/970 dGPU that they could use it as a gaming rig. I mean why not? Microsoft advertises it as the "Ultimate Laptop" but it doesn't do well for gaming, especially at paying $3000+ for a laptop? I might put off some people, I'm just saying.

 

[920Walker]

The screen is too small for real gaming. Also, no need for a touch screen tablet for any gaming besides App store games, which get by on the cheapest of tablets. This is for work first and a little gaming on the side. If you can afford a top of the line Surface Book you can probably afford a separate ultimate gaming laptop or desktop.

 

[ALpHa.Q.RoUgH]

Surface Book review: The hybrid that really does replace your laptop | Ars Technica

Main Microsoft Surface Book complaint - Tech Insider

Microsoft Surface Book review roundup | BGR


Thought I'll add a couple more I found. Seems to be more of the same results.

 

[ALpHa.Q.RoUgH]

The Microsoft Surface Book First Look

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2995...t-reimagines-the-laptop-and-its-glorious.html

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2493459,00.asp

For those wondering it seems to be around a GT940M dGPU with 1gb of DDR5 instead of the 2gb of DDR3 you typically see in the GT940M.

 

[gamer_stew]

There were people here aand there that thought since it was rumored possibly to have a 960/970 dGPU that they could use it as a gaming rig. I mean why not? Microsoft advertises it as the "Ultimate Laptop" but it doesn't do well for gaming, especially at paying $3000+ for a laptop? I might put off some people, I'm just saying.

I don't know why, people hyped themselves up when MS specifically said its not meant for gaming.

 

[Devhux]

Playing with one in-store is what sold me on this, and to see reviews with minimal complaints that would affect me are definitely putting a smile on my face. Yeah, the screen does wobble a bit when attached to the base, but it still feels durable, and not as top-heavy as some other 2-in-1 devices. I'd rather have a slight wobble than a machine that tips over easily. As far as Engadget saying it took some getting used to to re-attach the screen, I certainly had no issue when I did it. Roughly lined up the screen to the base and the magnetism took over. It was honestly harder to remove the screen.

I do wish the tablet portion had a bit better battery life, but I realize a compromise had to be made there. Since my Surface Book will be in laptop mode most of the time, it's not a big deal.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

 

[Dush Ku]

Personally I like the hinge and the look. If it wasn't the gap the keys would press up against the screen or they'd have to sink they keys in or build up the side of the base to "hide" the gap.
It's just personal preference and subjective, but when some of the reviews malign the gap by saying they get gum wrappers and dirt and hair inside when they toss it I their bag. That seems like an issue with their cleanliness rather than a problem with the design of the laptop.

 

[xboxonthego3]

I don't mind the Gap. I would definitely get a sleeve for this and wouldn't just place this in a bag without one. The sleeve should prevent any crud getting between the screen and keyboard. But I like what @Dush Ku started suggesting about building up the sides. They should of put the keyboard on an angle to create no Gap. Almost all keyboards for desktops are tilted in this manner. Why not do it with the Surface Book. Like I said I don't mind the Gap but they could do that with the next generation to get rid of the complaints. It would also allow more room for battery or better GPU possibly. Right now I have a Surface Pro 3 and i'm content. But if they make a Surface Book 2 it will be my next device. It just looks so good. I cannot wait to get to try one out at the store. FYI i'm no where near a Microsoft store since I live in Kansas.

 

[eastbayrae]

There were people here aand there that thought since it was rumored possibly to have a 960/970 dGPU that they could use it as a gaming rig. I mean why not? Microsoft advertises it as the "Ultimate Laptop" but it doesn't do well for gaming, especially at paying $3000+ for a laptop? I might put off some people, I'm just saying.

When they say that it means all around laptop. Some areas are going to take a hit to give better battery life, etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[eastbayrae]

FYI The Verge will always give a **** review of an MS product, this is known. Look at the software only getting an 8.


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[ytrewq]

MS specifically said its not meant for gaming.

I would agree that MS never suggested this would be an ultimate gaming rig. However, I'm pretty sure MS didn't say it is not meant for gaming. In fact, here's the exact quote from Panos Panay during the reveal (which I'm listening to as I type):

"THIS IS FOR THE GAMER who plays League of Legends."

Of course, League of Legends is obviously not the most graphics-hungry game, and anyone who was thinking this was the ultimate gaming rig was fooling themselves. There's a limit to how much graphics horsepower you can put in a 3-1/2 pound device using today's graphics technology. MS never suggested the graphics performance would be competitive with a 15-pound gaming laptop that gets 2 hours of battery life. While I would disagree that MS said this machine "isn't meant for gaming," MS certainly never gave anyone a reason to believe this device would match the performance of an ultimate gaming rig.

 

[ytrewq]

The hinge and gap don't bother me at all. I think the hinge is nice, and the gap is different in a cool way.

As for gaming, I'm not a gamer. But many years ago, I used to play Civilizations (the original version), and occasionally think about trying out the last version of Civ. Having a Surface Book may get me to try that.

I pre-ordered an SB i7 8GB. My credit card has been charged. I'm excited for the 26th.

 

[ParoleGA]

I would agree that MS never suggested this would be an ultimate gaming rig. However, I'm pretty sure MS didn't say it is not meant for gaming. In fact, here's the exact quote from Panos Panay during the reveal (which I'm listening to as I type):

"THIS IS FOR THE GAMER who plays League of Legends."

Of course, League of Legends is obviously not the most graphics-hungry game, and anyone who was thinking this was the ultimate gaming rig was fooling themselves. There's a limit to how much graphics horsepower you can put in a 3-1/2 pound device using today's graphics technology. MS never suggested the graphics performance would be competitive with a 15-pound gaming laptop that gets 2 hours of battery life. While I would disagree that MS said this machine "isn't meant for gaming," MS certainly never gave anyone a reason to believe this device would match the performance of an ultimate gaming rig.

Actually, he said something like "Now, we didn't design the Surface Book for gaming", right before he showed video clips of gaming he claimed was from the Surface Book. I'd say he purposeful gave the impression that it would be "okay" for gaming, while leaving himself an out. I expect the dGPU version will perform well, for an ultrabook, and poorly when compared to dedicated gaming rigs.

 

[Ekmeet Singh]

I want to add that the hing and the gap has a special features as well that is when you detach the screen and put it back in backward and close it, it will have a little slant that will allow the user with the pen to work more comfortably.

And about gaming nobody should buy Surface Book for only hard core gaming, as it is designs for software like movie editor etc that are less intensive then a AAA games that requir a lot of gpu horsepower.

 

[Katokatokato]

FYI The Verge will always give a **** review of an MS product, this is known. Look at the software only getting an 8.


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Their windows guy reviewed it and he's actually pretty pro windows, only Dieter and their other yahoo Mac loving reviewers hate on Microsoft - Tom Warren is legit.

 

[Alandros]

I have no problem at all with the hinge... I think people are a bit silly to be honest. In *most* cases there'd be a problem with the hinge you are probably going to cause problems anyways. For example I've seen people suggest they wouldn't want to throw it in a backpack and get something sharp stuck in between it and scratch up the screen... Made up scenarios like this don't seem to fit reality for the most part though:

1) If you are buying this premium of a device the bag or backpack you are getting will almost definitely be designed to accommodate computers, in which case you almost definitely have a compartment (or more than likely many compartments) designed to hold just the laptop so other things can't get in there.

2) If you are throwing sharp object in the same compartment you'll scratch up the outside, possibly even put pressure and eventually damage the screen from the outside in... why would you do this in the first place lol, makes no sense

Beyond that people sometimes challenge the stability of the hinge, there's some video reviews out there that test that... on in particular the guy was swinging it from the screen and it stayed connected, he then sat in a chair, put it by his feat, put both feet on it and then started putting his body weight on it and had no problem at all. The thing seems sturdy.

This is also a bit ironic since a traditional hinged notebook can easily be put in scenarios where pressure can break it, especially the screen. I'm typing this on an rMBP 15 and I just closed the screen and put pressure on the outside of the top and it flexed quite a bit... it wouldn't take much to imprint the keyboard onto the screen or crack it. People often think of concerns without comparing it to other products and realizing these are just general things you have to be careful with using expensive electronics lol.