Microsoft used this nervy phrase in touting its Surface Pro 3, and the adage stays the same with its vastly amended Surface Pro 4. After some brief time with its fourth loop, it appears like Microsoft has finally done it. And it is likely only a matter of time before the industry at large follows suit even more closely than it has already.
The firm went and introduced a 40 percent larger, glass trackpad packed with Microsoft’s new Preciseness Touchpad tech. Toward the end nearest the Pen tip, attached to the magnetic strip, is the standard function button, and on top of the stylus is a revamped button that now doubles as an eraser.
It feels even like one as you stroke it across the screen. Look at both side-by-side, but it should make all the difference for creative professionals, particularly with how delicately you can control the new Surface Pen, but more on that in a bit.
Microsoft did to better position the Surface Pro 4 as the laptop killer was in its Type Cover. Still magnetized to the base of the tablet, the new keyboard ditches the flat, spongy keys that are jammed together in favor of chiclet style, mechanical keys with far more satisfying travel and way punchier response.
Microsoft also boosted the performance of the Surface Pen through this eraser button. A single click now summons OneNote immediately, while a double click takes a screenshot that you control the dimensions of using the Pen. Then it immediately throws that screenshot into OneNote for scrawling.
Microsoft Devices team lead Panos Panay and his crew had to get creative when it came to amendments. The best designers know when to let go of something, and it is clear that Microsoft has taken this to heart.
Microsoft is allowing those who pre-order to customize their Surface Pro 4 as well, with the gamut of selections from Intel Core m3 to Core i7 chips, 4GB to 16GB of RAM and 128GB to 1TB of storage. There are certain limitations throughout the spectrum a Core m3 system cannot have a 1TB drive.
The Surface Pro 4 should only cement Microsoft’s place as the leader in 2 in 1 laptops, and for that alone it should be worth the hefty price of admission when it launches on October 26.
