Review: Why the New Microsoft Surface Pro Is the Ultimate Laptop for Students

Published on 11 December 2017

Microsoft Surface Pro

It might look like its predecessor but the 2017 Surface Pro by Microsoft is anything but. Packing a lean 12.3-inch display, the new flagship device for Windows 10 platform may look “very similar [to the Surface Pro 4], but the change is inside: the new parts, the performance, the battery, the software,” explains Panos Panay, corporate vice president of Microsoft devices.

At its core, the new Surface Pro is a best-in-class laptop with the versatility of a studio and the convenience of a tablet. Backed by the full Microsoft experience, it runs on Windows 10 platform, providing you with that familiar desktop experience. It also comes with a suite of Office 365 applications for performance driven-productivity on the go.

Creating an immersive and inclusive experience is mission critical towards inspiring lifelong learning, stimulating development of essential life skills and supporting teachers in nurturing student passions. And we think that the under-the-hood incremental tweaks of the refreshed Surface Pro do just that.

Top 6 Surface Pro Features for Students

Touted as “the most versatile laptop”, check out our review on what makes this two-in-one device one of the best options for students and education professionals for the coming school term.

1. New processors

Hot off the shelf, the refreshed Surface Pro boasts Intel’s newest and seventh generation Kaby Lake processors. Expect up to 20% more performance than the Surface Pro 4 with the Core m3-7Y30, Core i5-7300U and Core i7-7660U processors. From sneaking in a quick game of League off Legends to dishing out some serious edits on your next creative masterpiece, the Surface Pro delivers on its superior computing and graphics performance capabilities.

2. New Surface Pen

Able to detect up to 4,096 points of pressure, the new and improved Surface Pen is truly every creative’s partner-in-crime. Its sensitivity is now four time greater than the previous Surface Pen so you have finer control and greater accuracy for the smallest details. What’s more, tilt recognition for shading is also supported, addressing a previous pain point for many with the Surface Pro 4 Pen.

3. Cortana Voice Assistance

Navigate your busy school day with Cortana, Microsoft’s voice-enabled personal digital assistant. Simply summon Cortana by saying “Hey Cortana”, or if you have the new Surface Pen, just click and hold the eraser button. From setting your morning alarm to searching for last week’s lecture notes on your Surface Pro, you can ask Cortana anything. “Hey Cortana, what can you not do?”

4. Supports Surface Dial

Pen and Dial are the perfect complements to each other. With Dial now supported on the Surface Pro, you’ll be able to lean into the screen and perhaps edit a Word document using your Pen with Ink editor in on hand, and then turn the Dial with the other to see the Ink Replay to understand the order in which people have previously annotated the document. Plus, Adobe Photoshop CC is now synergised with Surface Dial, unlocking more ways for creative ideas to flow.

5. Redesigned hinge

Sketch and design with ease with the new hinge which allow the Surface Pro to tilt up to 165 degrees. The almost flat design is a nod to the Surface Studio all-in-one PC and offers better ergonomic support for prolonged use. There’s a perfect angle for every design purpose and working style imaginable.

6. Seamless utility

Switch between touch, pen and keyboard for a true multi-sensory experience that sets you up for productivity anytime, anywhere. Use the Surface Pen to draw on it as a tablet while on your commute to school or type on the Type Cover keyboard, which now comes in a luxurious Alcantara fabric finish, as you take notes in lecture. It’s a familiar design but executed so seamlessly with the Surface Pro that it might have slipped your notice.

Overview

In all honesty, the 2017 Surface Pro might not be for you if you’re in the market for a traditional computer with bigger screen. But the device does pack a lot of versatility into a slim design that’s basically a portable Windows PC. It’s ideal for being productive while popping in and out of classes and covers most, if not all, instances where you’ll find yourself reaching for a traditional laptop. So much so that we think you’ll be hard pressed to find a hybrid device elsewhere that delivers a performance as superior as the Surface Pro in the 2-in-1 laptop category.

Get your hands on the new Surface Pro here. We’ll even throw in a free JBL wireless in-ear earphone E25BT (worth S$89) for all early bird purchasers! Plus, trade-in your old laptop device and enjoy up a discount of up to S$400 trade-in value. Click here to find out more.

If you are a student or an education institution, do contact us for Education pricings.

Tags: 2-in-1 Device, Microsoft, New Surface Pro,

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