Fast forward to today, and laptops have risen to the top of the computing world, outstripping desktops in sales way back in 2008 and becoming an essential accessory for the modern information worker.
A mainstay in this category, Surface Laptop has consistently balanced style, functionality and price since its release in 2017. Quickly carving a space in the market amongst execs, information workers and in the education sector as the perfect device for everyday tasks.
As part of Microsoft’s continued expansion and enhancement of its Surface family, we’re thrilled to confirm the imminent arrival of Surface Laptop Go, the latest iteration of the ever-popular Surface Laptop line. This device is now available for pre-order ahead of it’s release on 13th October.
To get you up to speed, we’ve dissected Microsoft’s recent announcement to put together a summary of the key features and who we expect will be the big winners with this release.
The Surface Laptop Go has plenty of muscle thanks to its 10th Gen Intel Ice Lake processor – i5 or i7 available – with the choice of 4, 8 and 16GB of DDR4 RAM.
Don’t expect a big change to the finish as it remains nearly identical to that of previous Surface Laptop generations with a traditional clamshell form factor. Available in Platinum, Sandstone and Ice Blue, all colours include a sleek, durable metallic finish that improves dirt resistance and hygiene.
Education customers will find these particular attributes great for young students. For students in higher education who are constantly on the go, the robust design will come out unscathed from the odd bump or tumble.
Weighing in at just 1.11 kg – down from the previous generation’s 1.54 kg – the laptop is very light for its size despite boasting a generous 12.45” touchscreen. Information workers and students alike will have everything they need to collaborate, communicate, and consume or create digital content – or enjoy a spot of casual after-hours streaming.
The 720p HD front facing camera remains on this model, but unlike most other Surface devices, Windows Hello is not enabled via the camera. Instead the power button doubles as a fingerprint reader. Meanwhile, the dual far field mics will ensure employees are heard loud and clear when video conferencing and dictating, which is particularly important when utilising Microsoft’s live captions feature.
At an affordable price point, this is a model spec’d for audiences that have been eyeing off investing in a Surface fleet but have so far been put off by the higher price tag. The attractive price point, paired with a lightweight design will be particularly appealing for education customers where devices must be easily adaptable for learning and work styles.
A key feature for select industries, the inclusion of a removable SSD significantly aids the security and simplicity of end-of-life device disposal. It’s not only valuable to organisations who must be careful with sensitive data, for government-issued devices this feature is often required as standard, making it ideal for public sector fleets.
Up to 13 hours1 of typical device usage and fast charging will see the device hit 80% from flat in just one hour using the standard charger. This extended battery life should see users achieve a full 8-hour working day and then some.
It’s worth noting that Microsoft have dropped Surface Pen support for this model. It was widely agreed that without the 2-in-1 versatility of other Surface models, digital inking on a traditional laptop was a somewhat awkward experience anyway, and this move reflects the fact that Laptop Go really is an entry-level Surface.
With the perfect balance of performance and form factor and an unbeatable price tag, Surface Laptop Go is set to make a serious splash. Education providers are the big winners, with an affordable device that provides the entry point into the Surface family that they’ve been waiting for.
While students will benefit from a light, compact design and long battery life, the vibrant touchscreen and serious grunt will also satisfy the demands of professionals and creatives alike.
As a Microsoft Surface Gold Partner, Data#3 is your go-to partner for end-to-end support, maintenance and training for all your Surface fleet requirements. We can also help you manage and deploy your Surface fleet with our Zero Touch Deployment solution. Fill in the form below to contact us today.
1. Up to 13 hours of battery life based on typical Surface device usage. Testing conducted by Microsoft in September 2020 using preproduction software and preproduction Surface Laptop Go Intel Core i5, 128GB, 8 GB RAM Microsoft Surface Edition devices. Testing consisted of full battery discharge with a mixture of active use and modern standby. The active use portion consists of (1) a web browsing test accessing eight popular websites over multiple open tabs, (2) a productivity test utilizing Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook, and (3) a portion of time with the device in use with idle applications. All settings were default except screen brightness was set to 150nits with Auto-Brightness disabled. Wi-Fi was connected to a network. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage and other factors.
