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Microsoft's Surface Laptop With Windows 10 S Leaks Ahead of New York Unveil (hothardware.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the surprise-ruining dept.

MojoKid writes: Microsoft is holding an event in New York City tomorrow, the core theme of which is "Microsoft in Education." It's widely expected that the company will be unveiling a new Surface Laptop device running a Windows 10 Cloud version OS. As it turns out, images of a new Surface laptop leaked to the web tonight portray very much that type of product, though it's not necessarily a budget machine. For starters, it has a 13.5-inch PixelSense display with 3.4 million pixels, which appears to retain the 3:2 screen ratio that we've seen with previous Surface-branded products. Given that this is a laptop, there's no detachable keyboard here. The display is permanently attached to the base and features an Alcantara-covered keyboard deck (the same material used on the Surface Pro 4's optional Signature Type Cover). It also appears the Surface Laptop will be available in four colors: Platinum, Burgundy, Cobalt Blue and Graphite Gold. Other images of the machine show an SD slot, a single USB 3.0 port, mini DisplayPort and a headphone jack. Microsoft apparently hasn't equipped the machine with a USB-C port, unfortunately.

15 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. And we can guess what the S stands for by DrXym · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Windows 10 Cloud is basically a rebranded Windows RT. It is stripped of the capacity of running normal Windows applications, being only able to run UWP ones and is therefore worse than fucking useless.

    I wonder if there is an argument to port Wine to UWP so it can revert some of the brain damage for people stuck with one of these devices.

    1. Re:And we can guess what the S stands for by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Interesting

      being only able to run UWP ones and is therefore worse than fucking useless.

      Yes and no. Windows RT suffered from being ARM and having no developers or software. The world has changed a lot since that abortion of an experiment with many people quite happy to work on online only programs reverting to the occasional app to do work.

      I had a think about this recently, with Office 365 a thing now I couldn't come up with a single reason why a heavily locked down machine like this or a Chromebook couldn't be a primary work machine. There's just not that much most people actually do with their computers beyond consuming media, firing up word, or spending the entire day in a web browser.

    2. Re:And we can guess what the S stands for by squiggleslash · · Score: 3, Interesting

      RT/Cloud/S is designed to compete with ChromeOS, not Ubuntu. ChromeOS is extremely popular in the target market, so actually this version of Windows stands a much higher chance of success than RT did in the generic consumer market.

      What I'd be interested to know is if this is effectively "RT Pro"/"RT Enterprise", and if so how they've implemented it. We only saw "RT Home". If you're wondering what ol' squiggleslash is blathering about (and how a stripped down Windows could get a "Pro" label), the main difference between Windows Home and Windows Pro is that the latter is possible to manage using Active Directory.

      This is VERY important in the target market. Chromebooks are selling not just because they're locked down, but because an admin can easily centrally create and manage user accounts, and users can log into any Chromebook and have access to the right features.

      Windows S needs that central management. But also, that central management needs to be much easier to use than Active Directory, whose user interface has always been powerful but unbelievably opaque and clumsy.

      If they don't produce AD S to go with Windows S, they haven't got the right product.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    3. Re:And we can guess what the S stands for by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

      RT/Cloud/S is designed to compete with ChromeOS, not Ubuntu.

      You can install arbitrary software on a Chromebook.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    4. Re:And we can guess what the S stands for by Lumpy · · Score: 2

      Huh? chromebooks are insanely powerful here because they are absolutely virus proof. not even the executives can bork these things. The other aspect is the all the time connectivity via LTE and the google cloud sync of all data. Fred in sales lost another "laptop"? hand him another one, charge his paycheck $350 and he is back running as if nothing happened in less than 10 minutes.

      Locking it down is the bottom 10% of the desired feature set.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    5. Re:And we can guess what the S stands for by squiggleslash · · Score: 2

      You can put it into developer's mode and then yeah, you can do that. As of now we don't know if Windows S will have the same kind of function. But it doesn't really matter: the point is ChromeOS is intended to be used in its locked down state, and the same is true of Windows S. And both support the ability to run both web applications and semi-native apps (NaCl vs Metro/whateveritscalledtoday) that are sandboxed.

      Schools buy Chromebooks because they're locked down by default, because it's easy to tell if they're not (and easy to reset them if they're not) and because they work with easily maintainable centrally maintained accounts.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    6. Re:And we can guess what the S stands for by squiggleslash · · Score: 2

      "Locking it down" is why they're absolutely virus proof. If Windows S can only run Metro apps and web apps, both of which are sandboxed, I'd expect it to be comparable. You're limited to exploits based upon bugs in the web browser and sandboxing environment, and the chances of those existing are more or less equal (OK, Microsoft has been incompetent in the past, but...) for both platforms.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    7. Re:And we can guess what the S stands for by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

      Chromebooks are selling not just because they're locked down, but because an admin can easily centrally create and manage user accounts, and users can log into any Chromebook and have access to the right features.

      Chromebooks are also wildly cheap. I have a bottom of the line Acer Chromebook that I bought for the luLz when they came out. ~ 4-5 years. It's still going strong, and it's still fast for what it is.

      I have my good stuff at home, and use this out at breakfast and on travel because I don't have to worry about it.

      Wonder what the price point is on the Surface product? Better be damn low to compete with the Chromebooks. And it better be damned reliable as well. Microsoft's track record in that area is definitely not up to the Chrome level.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    8. Re:And we can guess what the S stands for by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

      RT/Cloud/S is designed to compete with ChromeOS, not Ubuntu.

      You can install arbitrary software on a Chromebook.

      A chromebook with Linux on it sings pretty darn well. Nothing like a whole boot sequence in 6 seconds. The other software runs nicely as well.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  2. Re:Sounds like either USB-C is dead in the water.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'd hazard a guess it's more an issue that Type-C isn't anywhere near as common as Type-A yet when it comes to peripherals. This thing only has a single USB port (seriously?), and a single Type-A is going to be far more useful than a single Type-C. I have a laptop with A's and a C, but honestly haven't found a reason to buy a Type-C device bearing in mind I'd not be able to use a C device with my desktop machine without some sort of additional adapter.

    Obviously the best solution would be one (preferably more than one) of each, but Microsoft apparently thinks a single port is sufficient.

  3. Isn't that by design? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    From the title:

    > "Microsoft's Surface Laptop With Windows 10 S Leaks"

    Isn't that a feature of Windows 10 anyway? Or perhaps the surprise here is that one Microsoft product is working as intended?

  4. Screen resolution? by itsme1234 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    3.4 Mpixel with 3:2 is something like 1500x2250. Remains to be seen (no pun intended).

    As for only Universal Apps (BTW called just "Windows Apps" last time I checked, but I might be wrong as they are changing them periodically, remember Metro apps, W8-style, Modern Style, etc. ?) they (or were rumors?) said desktop apps could be installed, just that not "enabled" by default. It does look to be the normal Wintel ultrabook (of which we do have plenty).

    It all depends on pricing and what's the quality overall, the screen, the keyboard (again the CLOTH keyboard?!) and so on.

    1. Re:Screen resolution? by dohzer · · Score: 3, Funny

      I was about to ask for someone to convert the number of pixels to a usable quantity like Libraries of Congress, but I guess resolution will suffice.

  5. Re:Sounds like either USB-C is dead in the water.. by fred6666 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Most early adopters of the USB-C port will replace their PC before connecting a single USB-C device. And no, dongles don't count.
    This is especially true for iPhone owners since phones are by far the most common USB-C devices.

    It was also true that at the beginning of USB, there was no reason to rush into buying a PC without PS/2 ports. They worked just fine for keyboard and mouse. There was no real advantage in having 4 USB ports over 2 USB and 2 PS/2.

  6. If I'm reading this correctly... by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Funny

    As it is a laptop - not only is there no detachable keyboard, but also the display is permanently attached to the base.

    --
    #DeleteChrome