Surface Pro 4 announcement Oct 6

[haven]

Microsoft is expected to announce the next generation Surface Pro on Oct. 6.

Speculation is mixed: Will Microsoft stick with the internal fan so a more powerful Core i3 or Core i5 processor can be used? or will Microsoft choose the less powerful Core M processor that will run without a fan?

It's possible that Microsoft will take a page from Apple's playbook, and introduce two models. Apple recently introduced a Retina MacBook with no fan and Core M processor. The retina MacBook Pro has faster processor and a fan.

Internal processor temperature has a big impact on performance. The processor throttles down when internal temp rises. Heat dissipation issues explain why laptops often can't run as fast as desktops with the same processor and memory configuration.

Here's a clever video that shows a Surface Pro 3 running at 1.6 GHz while doing a processor-intensive video recoding. Move the computer into a refrigerator, and processor speed jumps to 2.6 GHz within a few seconds.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SH6Us400dGA

what do you think? Will the Surface Pro 4 move to a fanless design, and become more like a tablet?

 

[Scott Brady]

I am looking forward to seeing what it looks like and the performance specs. I would really like to move to a high-speed desktop for image work and then a tablet (i.e. Surface or iPad Pro) for all travel.

The fanless designs really do lend themselves better to travel with the reduced/nil dust ingress.

 

[haven]

The new Surface 3 ( the non-Pro model) is fanless, and has a smaller screen, so it's more portable and easier to hold like a tablet. It uses the Atom x7 processor, so no fan is needed. Surface 3 runs any Windows application, but the Atom processor is much slower for graphics, compared to the Pro 3.

 

[kojackJKU]

The surface is fine for everything but gaming as far as I have seen. There is a new surface pro 14" model coming as well. For people with motorhomes etc, a windows phone with continuum will be the hot ticket. Phone does everything, and can be used with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse and monitor essentially turning your phone into your computer! Awesome technology. I am running windows 10 on my nokia 1020 and its awesome. Once continuum is fired up from MS, I will be connecting through my phone ALOT!

 

[haven]

Continuum is a very attractive idea. You'll need to run universal apps, designed with one interface for phones and small tablets, and a second interface for larger screen, keyboard and trackpad/mouse.

Plug the phone into a barebones laptop (a shell with keyboard and screen, but no cpu or memory), and the Continuum function moves the app display over to the laptop, while continuing to use the phone or tablet as the "brain" of the computer. Unplug from the laptop shell, and Continuum switches back to tablet mode.

Here's an article about Continuum
http://www.umpcportal.com/2015/09/think-about-the-continuum-laptop/

 

[kojackJKU]

they have a continuum dock actually for the new phones coming out. the apps automatically switch depending on how your using them as well. Its awesome.

 

[nwoods]

I might be more interested in the Surface 4 Pro launch than I originally thought. I might have one of my architectural models being used within a particular program that demonstrates professional grade 3D rendering on their hardware. Got to admit, that would be really cool to see one my buildings on the big screen during the product launch demonstration.

 

[kojackJKU]

Cool keep an eye out and make a note of when it appears. I am anxiously awaiting our surface 3s now. Finally ordered and shipped.

 

[mpinco]

Now this is interesting, Surface Book:

Here's our first look at the Surface Book, Microsoft's answer to the MacBook Pro

Wow. Microsoft finally did it. After years or rumors and speculation the company finally unveiled its very own laptop. Not a tablet that could replace a laptop (though there's that too), but a bona fide laptop, with an attached keyboard. Well, almost. The Surface Book at first glance looks like a traditional clamshell notebook with a touchscreen. In fact, though, it's more like a lovechild between the Surface and Lenovo's Yoga line. Which is to say, it has a removable display that supports pen input but, when attached, it can also flip back 360 degrees into tablet mode. Oh, and on the inside, it has enough horsepower to take on the MacBook Pro........

 

[MotoDave]

Now this is interesting, Surface Book:

Here's our first look at the Surface Book, Microsoft's answer to the MacBook Pro

Wow. Microsoft finally did it. After years or rumors and speculation the company finally unveiled its very own laptop. Not a tablet that could replace a laptop (though there's that too), but a bona fide laptop, with an attached keyboard. Well, almost. The Surface Book at first glance looks like a traditional clamshell notebook with a touchscreen. In fact, though, it's more like a lovechild between the Surface and Lenovo's Yoga line. Which is to say, it has a removable display that supports pen input but, when attached, it can also flip back 360 degrees into tablet mode. Oh, and on the inside, it has enough horsepower to take on the MacBook Pro........

I thought it was interesting too ... until I priced out one with a i5, 8gb ram and the discrete graphics option - $1900!!!

 

[OCD Overland]

I really like the design, and the materials/construction look top notch; but I'm not sure about the gap at the back when closed - I could see myself crushing the hinge is it isn't super strong.

 

[nwoods]

I thought it was interesting too ... until I priced out one with a i5, 8gb ram and the discrete graphics option - $1900!!!

Same as MacBook Pro.

Kinda bummed my exhibit didn't make it in the demo. Was an interactive 3D PDF of one of my current building designs

 

[kojackJKU]

I thought it was interesting too ... until I priced out one with a i5, 8gb ram and the discrete graphics option - $1900!!!

Cheaper than the equivalent mac book pro, a better device that does more and has many more features. I think that's a win win.

 

[nwoods]

Cheaper than the equivalent mac book pro...

Kojack my friend, I'm not sure I agree with you. Spec for Spec, the prices between the "High End" MacBook Pro 13" and the Surface 4 Pro are identical. They do differ a bit for comparable low end models, but not a lot. It is true that the Surface 4 comes in an el cheapo model that Apple doesn't offer competing specs for. See screen shots taken today from Apple's configurator site, and Microsoft's configurator page:

Apple low end. i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD = $1299


Microsoft Surface 4 Pro low end: i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD = $1299


Apple MacBookPro 13" high end: i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD = $2199


Microsoft Surface 4 Pro high end: i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD = $2199

 

[kojackJKU]

Yes, the guy said 1900, I did not look at the cost of MS because I figured he checked, so 2100 and 2100. still you get way more for your money with the Microsoft products. My lowly surface 3 will still be great!