Microsoft Slaps $400 Premium on Intel-powered Surface Lineup (theregister.com) 24
Microsoft is charging business customers a $400 premium for Surface devices equipped with Intel's latest Core Ultra processors compared to models using Qualcomm's Arm-based chips, the company has disclosed. The Intel-powered Surface Pro tablet and Surface Laptop, starting at $1,499, come with a second-generation Core Ultra 5 processor featuring eight cores, 16GB of memory and 256GB storage.
Comparable Qualcomm-based models begin at $1,099. The new Intel devices will be available to business customers from February 18, though versions with cellular connectivity will launch later. Consumer Surface devices will only be offered with Qualcomm processors. Microsoft also unveiled a USB 4 Dock supporting dual 4K displays and the Surface Hub 3, a conference room computer available in 50-inch or 85-inch touchscreen versions.
Comparable Qualcomm-based models begin at $1,099. The new Intel devices will be available to business customers from February 18, though versions with cellular connectivity will launch later. Consumer Surface devices will only be offered with Qualcomm processors. Microsoft also unveiled a USB 4 Dock supporting dual 4K displays and the Surface Hub 3, a conference room computer available in 50-inch or 85-inch touchscreen versions.
Did I miss something? (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not sure when Microsoft started thinking that they were a "premium" laptop producer like Apple, and felt like could start dictating when their customers will start migrating to ARM processors.
I'm sure that Dell/HP/Lenovo will take advantage of their hubris and undercut them on price for their Intel based business laptops. Probably by around $400.
Re:Did I miss something? (Score:5, Interesting)
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Commonly this involves a fair amount of hubris and discovering that the OEMs do what they do for a reason(first gen surface docks, thankfully gen2s are not my problem, never worked properly; surface firmware had the joy of no CSM and 'modern standby' only well before that was actually not badly broken for power ma
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Not even Apple. I just bought a brand new Apple M3 with 1tb of storage and 16gb of ram for around $1,500. Runs fast as hell and the battery life is fantastic.
$1,600 to Microsoft gets you another ho hum boring Intel processor.
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Goodness knows I am not at all a fan of Microsoft. I have spent years cursing at blue screens, and before that, frozen systems. Their office suite often isn't even compatible with itself, and their development tools don't exactly enthrall me. I could go on, but won't.
That being said, I actually like the Surface. It has a cool design that just fits my expectations for a tablet-laptop hybrid.
Now, whether it's worth a $400 premium? Meh...
Article is an advertisement (Score:4, Insightful)
TFA contains no information on the reason for the price difference, it justs lists a bunch of prices. It's basically just a copy of a press release.
Re:Article is an advertisement (Score:4, Informative)
I don't think that's a bad reason to use that article, the submitter is linking to it as evidence not as an article discussing the issue.
In terms of the reason, one can speculate, but it could easily be that nobody really wants an ARM-based Windows machine. Windows isn't popular because it's great, it's popular because it's a component of "the standard computer." The moment you say "Oh, this computer won't be able to run (efficiently) with your software or more obscure hardware" there's nothing about Windows that'd make it compelling.
The only way ARM laptops would be worth the same as Intel laptops is if they're capable of running software compiled for ix86 at speeds comparable to those self same Intel chips. Until then you're limited to either slower Intel programs or specially recompiled-for-ARM software that customers don't generally think is available.
By comparison, Chromebooks seem to cost about the same whether they're ARM or not, because nobody cares about the availability of software or worrying they're going to plug something in that requires a special driver that's only compiled of ix86.
Not an ARM problem so much as a Windows problem. Windows isn't great, it's just standard. Changes the standards and Windows ceases to be something compelling.
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I don't think that's a bad reason to use that article
Not only is it a bad reason (we have enough slashvertisements here already) but it's also just a bad article, which is a good reason not to use it. It has no information of any value since none of us will be buying these piles of trash.
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How is an argument telling people Microsoft has a massive price discrepancy, something we'd want to discuss, a "Slashvertisement"?
You're being a jackass. Knock it off.
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The only way ARM laptops would be worth the same as Intel laptops is if they're capable of running software compiled for ix86 at speeds comparable to those self same Intel chips
It really depends on what percentage of software runs on the architecture natively.
Really, it's not like Intel natively runs x86. It's a translation layer to the real CPU instructions. It's possible that ARM's instruction set is more closely aligned with the hardware but they are already RISC. The difference is that it doesn't convert x86 in hardware but rely on software instead. Software still runs on the CPU, though. These have gotten fairly fast.
A generational performance bump usually is enough to w
What is premuim (Score:2)
with only 16GB ram?
Re:What is premuim (Score:4, Insightful)
Yeah, it also has a Core i5 (er Core "Ultra" 5) processor, 13" display, integrated graphics, and 256 GB of storage for that $1,400 base price.
In other words, it's about $500 overpriced compared to the business tier laptops from their competitors.
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It's a tablet. What are you doing on a tablet that needs 16gb of ram?
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As an extension of that, what are you doing on a tablet that you feel like spending over a thousand dollars on?
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People use their tablets as laptops when combined with a keyboard.
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It's a small form factor tablet and laptop that can still be a primary PC. It's not like it can't dock to dual 4K screens and a mouse and keyboard. Shrinking things adds huge costs, though, and also heat. I don't think anyone is spending that much on a tablet for it not to be a primary laptop.
the only purpose a surface (Score:2)
where is the AMD choice? (Score:3)
where is the AMD choice?
Heck, I went out of my way to buy an ARM one (Score:2)
Don't fall for it (Score:2)
so much hate for Surfaces here (Score:2)
Dells and Lenovos fall into three categories: a) premium, thin and 1500 bucks at least or b) functional, under 1000 bucks, heavy and about 1.5 inches thick or c) cheap, thin, and barely functional because of the design tradeoffs.
MS surfaces are pretty nice premium devices, and if you want one with all
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These people posting how the MS Surface devices are awful, and they'll stick with their awesome Dell/Lenovos that are absolutely great and 500 bucks cheaper? That just doesn't track with my experience. ...
But if you're a professional that wants an ipad-like device that runs full-blown windows 11 with all the functionality, the surface pro is a pretty good option.
I think the "iPad-like device" qualification explains a lot here. People who like a good, solid, functional laptop aren't looking for an iPad.
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> that runs full-blown windows 11 with all the functionality
That seems like an extremely good reason to avoid them like the plague. Who cares what the hardware is when it's running a giant steaming pile of malware/spyware/crippleware !!!
MS on ARM is an ongoing joke (Score:2)
Had an ARM Surface a few months back. Mostly worked, but was missing some very important software I needed for work. Whatever they tried to do for x86 compatibility just wasn't cutting it. Plus there were no plans for making ARM versions of the software I needed.