Microsoft - Surface Laptop - Copilot PC - 138 Touch-Screen - Snapdragon x Elite - 16GB Memory - 512GB SSD 7th Edition - Platinum - ZGP-00001 -
(881 reviews)
Exceptionally powerful, ultrathin laptop — The new Surface Laptop is not just faster—it's smarter. Get the most out of your day with accelerated performance that unlocks a new AI era to enable Copilot experiences that transform the way you work, enhancing productivity and creativity. Experience visuals like never before on its stunning and modern Razor-thin touchscreen display.
Exceptionally powerful, ultrathin laptop — The new Surface Laptop is not just faster—it's smarter. Get the most out of your day with accelerated performance that unlocks a new AI era to enable Copilot experiences that transform the way you work, enhancing productivity and creativity. Experience visuals like never before on its stunning and modern Razor-thin touchscreen display.
$1,831.57
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Microsoft - Surface Laptop - Copilot PC - 138 Touch-Screen - Snapdragon x Elite - 16GB Memory - 512GB SSD 7th Edition - Platinum - ZGP-00001 -
$1,831.57
(881 reviews)
Exceptionally powerful, ultrathin laptop — The new Surface Laptop is not just faster—it's smarter. Get the most out of your day with accelerated performance that unlocks a new AI era to enable Copilot experiences that transform the way you work, enhancing productivity and creativity. Experience visuals like never before on its stunning and modern Razor-thin touchscreen display.
Exceptionally powerful, ultrathin laptop — The new Surface Laptop is not just faster—it's smarter. Get the most out of your day with accelerated performance that unlocks a new AI era to enable Copilot experiences that transform the way you work, enhancing productivity and creativity. Experience visuals like never before on its stunning and modern Razor-thin touchscreen display.
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512GB / 16GB
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Last updated at 05/07/2025 03:39:16
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Reviews
A Beautiful Laptop With Definite Drawbacks
6 August 2024
VADarkstar
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Microsoft's new Surface Laptop has the same sleek design that I am familiar with (and like!). It is thin and lightweight and elegant with clear design inspiration from the
MacBook Air line of laptops (the Surface laptops are a bit thicker and heavier).Microsoft is proclaiming how impressively the Snapdragon X Elite processor performs (3.42
GHz), and surely it must perform better in some benchmark testing - it should, but for simple daily use by a human I see no clear difference in performance against my old
Surface Laptop Go 2 (2.42 GHz with half the RAM). The importance of this chipset is that it allows the laptop to run on-device AI (the Copilot+ of this laptop's exte...
MacBook Air line of laptops (the Surface laptops are a bit thicker and heavier).Microsoft is proclaiming how impressively the Snapdragon X Elite processor performs (3.42
GHz), and surely it must perform better in some benchmark testing - it should, but for simple daily use by a human I see no clear difference in performance against my old
Surface Laptop Go 2 (2.42 GHz with half the RAM). The importance of this chipset is that it allows the laptop to run on-device AI (the Copilot+ of this laptop's exte...
Amazing hardware, great battery, convenient AI
29 July 2024
gwtbike
originally posted on bestbuy.com
For the hardware itself, the size, shape, and weight are amazing. It's thin, light, and slips easily into a small backpack or even a sling. The construction is solid with little to no
flex with a tight hinge for the display. I've owned Microsoft laptops in the past and this is by far the most impressive and highest quality piece of hardware I've seen from them
yet. It's hard not to see striking similarities to a MacBook Air though but that's a very good thing in this case.The keyboard and trackpad are also a pleasure to use. The keys
have a positive and firm feel with a nice amount of throw and the trackpad is fantastic. It's predictable with taps and touches and the haptic feedback is positive....
flex with a tight hinge for the display. I've owned Microsoft laptops in the past and this is by far the most impressive and highest quality piece of hardware I've seen from them
yet. It's hard not to see striking similarities to a MacBook Air though but that's a very good thing in this case.The keyboard and trackpad are also a pleasure to use. The keys
have a positive and firm feel with a nice amount of throw and the trackpad is fantastic. It's predictable with taps and touches and the haptic feedback is positive....
An Outstanding Laptop For Students & Writers
28 June 2024
Wraith
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Wow! I have to say that I have always appreciated the Microsoft Surface line for its style and form-factors, but have always been a little 'meh' about the innards. This time,
Microsoft hit on all cylinders. Not only is this a solid and nice looking laptop, but the new ARM architecture and the POTENTIAL of the Copilot+ system really make this a
powerful system for pretty much anyone (with the exception of graphics creatives and gamers), but especially for students.I am really impressed with the power that we are
seeing from these new ARM chips, especially when you factor in the battery sipping specs. I have been working on this laptop for almost a week now, doing all so...
Microsoft hit on all cylinders. Not only is this a solid and nice looking laptop, but the new ARM architecture and the POTENTIAL of the Copilot+ system really make this a
powerful system for pretty much anyone (with the exception of graphics creatives and gamers), but especially for students.I am really impressed with the power that we are
seeing from these new ARM chips, especially when you factor in the battery sipping specs. I have been working on this laptop for almost a week now, doing all so...
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Reviews
A Beautiful Laptop With Definite Drawbacks
6 August 2024
Microsoft's new Surface Laptop has the same sleek design that I am familiar with (and like!). It is thin and lightweight and elegant with clear design inspiration from the MacBook Air line of laptops (the Surface laptops are a bit thicker and heavier).Microsoft is proclaiming how impressively the Snapdragon X Elite processor performs (3.42 GHz), and surely it must perform better in some benchmark testing - it should, but for simple daily use by a human I see no clear difference in performance against my old Surface Laptop Go 2 (2.42 GHz with half the RAM). The importance of this chipset is that it allows the laptop to run on-device AI (the Copilot+ of this laptop's extended name).The standout performance improvement here is, without a doubt, the amazing ... MoreMicrosoft's new Surface Laptop has the same sleek design that I am familiar with (and like!). It is thin and lightweight and elegant with clear design inspiration from the MacBook Air line of laptops (the Surface laptops are a bit thicker and heavier).Microsoft is proclaiming how impressively the Snapdragon X Elite processor performs (3.42 GHz), and surely it must perform better in some benchmark testing - it should, but for simple daily use by a human I see no clear difference in performance against my old Surface Laptop Go 2 (2.42 GHz with half the RAM). The importance of this chipset is that it allows the laptop to run on-device AI (the Copilot+ of this laptop's extended name).The standout performance improvement here is, without a doubt, the amazing improvement in battery life! While I am lucky if my older Surface can stay with me for more than a few hours of continuous use, this new 7th Edition Surface truly delivers all-day battery life. Alas, Microsoft is continuing to require a proprietary charger that is awkward to insert and always looks like it is threatening to get caught on something and pull apart. Sigh.The 120Hz display is gorgeous - bright and VERY clear. But it is worth noting that the recommended display resolution of 2304x1536 renders the screen unreadably tiny - so in this resolution there is a recommended scaling (magnification) of 150% which gives some applications a slightly unfamiliar look and feel.Superficially, Microsoft's new Surface Laptop (7th edition) is a stunner with great battery life.But the reason this new laptop can supply amazing battery life is not because of better batteries, but because this laptop uses an ARM-based processor (so, not an x64-based processor). That makes this Surface a very different kind of Windows laptop than most people are used to having.While this laptop reports running Windows 11 Home like my old Surface, it is NOT able to run just any add-on program that you might want to run. I found this out immediately when I attempted to install my antivirus and performance software suite (install would not even initialize on an ARM-based processor - at least not at this writing). Simpler things like my Kindle Reader app installed just fine. I was able to get my Adobe Photoshop Elements 2024 program to work with a crazy workaround that bypassed the initialization screen (thank you to the industrious user who dropped that wisdom on Adobe's site!). In general, program installation was my introduction to the drawbacks of having an ARM-based processor that I would have never considered when shopping for a new (Windows!) laptop. So there is an unexpected trade-off for great battery life that I don't think Microsoft is fully honest about in their hype and advertising for this laptop.Finally, this laptop integrates Microsoft's Copilot+ AI assistant that provides an interactive "chat" environment. The chatty interface is very ChatGBT-y? So, yes, there is a dedicated Copilot+ button on the laptop and it takes you directly to the chatting interface. And AI is all the rage right now, right? But my own experience with Microsoft's AI feels gimmicky and underdeveloped.The Microsoft AI is fully integrated into their Microsoft 360 suite, but I don't have lengthy documents to test this functionality. Surely the integration of this new Microsoft AI product with existing Microsoft products will be amazing?As an AI novice, I love the algorithm's desire to summarize and to provide relevant links. I have queried the algorithm many times now with questions I knew the answers to and was not disappointed, but was also not impressed. Microsoft is surely anticipating my malaise with their AI by presenting a series of gentle introductions to AI queries that summarize elegant AI requests for things that feel foreign to me.One crazy-amazing AI analysis that I received resulted from a personal photograph I submitted in search of a response...a photograph of my very moody porch toad.Ultimately, I like the summarization capabilities of Microsoft's Copilot+ AI, but as someone old enough to read books and query effectively, this summarization capability feels a little bit delicate and incomplete. I can't recommend this laptop based solely on the novelty of AI integration (there's a whole key for that AI!).AI is fun and engaging right now. But the implementation of AI here is not going to be the tie that binds you to the greater AI developments you're seeing out there.Overall, this is a beautiful laptop with incredible graphics. But Microsoft appears to be releasing a new type of chipset that might create significant impediments to unsuspecting users.Please do you due diligence before investing in this laptop based solely on battery life. OK?
VADarkstar
originally posted on bestbuy.comAmazing hardware, great battery, convenient AI
29 July 2024
For the hardware itself, the size, shape, and weight are amazing. It's thin, light, and slips easily into a small backpack or even a sling. The construction is solid with little to no flex with a tight hinge for the display. I've owned Microsoft laptops in the past and this is by far the most impressive and highest quality piece of hardware I've seen from them yet. It's hard not to see striking similarities to a MacBook Air though but that's a very good thing in this case.The keyboard and trackpad are also a pleasure to use. The keys have a positive and firm feel with a nice amount of throw and the trackpad is fantastic. It's predictable with taps and touches and the haptic feedback is positive. I'm a stickler when it comes to trackpads and this one is ... MoreFor the hardware itself, the size, shape, and weight are amazing. It's thin, light, and slips easily into a small backpack or even a sling. The construction is solid with little to no flex with a tight hinge for the display. I've owned Microsoft laptops in the past and this is by far the most impressive and highest quality piece of hardware I've seen from them yet. It's hard not to see striking similarities to a MacBook Air though but that's a very good thing in this case.The keyboard and trackpad are also a pleasure to use. The keys have a positive and firm feel with a nice amount of throw and the trackpad is fantastic. It's predictable with taps and touches and the haptic feedback is positive. I'm a stickler when it comes to trackpads and this one is awesome.For ports, it has one USB A port and 2 USB C ports along with a headphone jack and charging port but I would have loved to see an SD card slot.The touchscreen works very well - just like the trackpad is quite predictable and responsive requiring just a light touch to interact with it.I find the 13.8" display with 2304 x 1536 pixels to be a great size with enough real estate to have 1 to 1.5 windows open at a time so I can easily switch between windows.Battery life is pretty astounding for a machine of this size. I've been using it for about 4-5 hours a day for web browsing, writing, and watching videos and I usually have to plug it in every 3 days or so. This should absolutely be able to last a full work day or a long-haul flight without having to plug it in. Even though it uses a proprietary charging cable with their Surface connector you can also charge it via USB C if you don't have the stock charger, which I would actually recommend as the stock charger only supplies 39 watts.The "highlight" of this laptop are the Copilot+ AI features which allow you to call on it at any time using it's built-in Copilot+ key. I was a bit skeptical of this initially but have come to enjoy the convenience of being able to ask it to provide quick summaries of different search topics without the need to sift through numerous search results in a browser. You can also customize the interaction and results with different "conversation styles" which I found particularly interesting where you can choose from "Balanced", "Creative", and "Precise" styles. I liked the Precise conversation style as most of my usage with Copilot+ was to do research.Responses are also quite quick where results come back within 3-5 seconds at most and I also quite like how it saves your AI history so you can go back to a particular task to see the results. Of course, you can delete these results at any time.One thing to be aware of is that this uses a Snapdragon processor vs an Intel processor and apparently it's so new that not all software is optimized to be used with it quite yet. I do almost everything through a browser so I didn't run into those issues but it could be worth looking into if you have a specific piece of software that you use.The built-in AI features are incredibly convenient but the hardware is what really makes this laptop shine. It's an absolute pleasure to use for its speed, the fantastic keyboard and trackpad, portability, as well as the superb build quality.
gwtbike
originally posted on bestbuy.comAn Outstanding Laptop For Students & Writers
28 June 2024
Wow! I have to say that I have always appreciated the Microsoft Surface line for its style and form-factors, but have always been a little 'meh' about the innards. This time, Microsoft hit on all cylinders. Not only is this a solid and nice looking laptop, but the new ARM architecture and the POTENTIAL of the Copilot+ system really make this a powerful system for pretty much anyone (with the exception of graphics creatives and gamers), but especially for students.I am really impressed with the power that we are seeing from these new ARM chips, especially when you factor in the battery sipping specs. I have been working on this laptop for almost a week now, doing all sorts of test and a lot of Copilot testing and still have not had to recharge it from its initial ... MoreWow! I have to say that I have always appreciated the Microsoft Surface line for its style and form-factors, but have always been a little 'meh' about the innards. This time, Microsoft hit on all cylinders. Not only is this a solid and nice looking laptop, but the new ARM architecture and the POTENTIAL of the Copilot+ system really make this a powerful system for pretty much anyone (with the exception of graphics creatives and gamers), but especially for students.I am really impressed with the power that we are seeing from these new ARM chips, especially when you factor in the battery sipping specs. I have been working on this laptop for almost a week now, doing all sorts of test and a lot of Copilot testing and still have not had to recharge it from its initial fill up. Now granted, I was not doing any of the 'usual-suspects' for battery drain (that is: gaming and photo/video/audio encoding), but that is mainly because there aren't any 'big-name' pieces of software out yet for the Windows-ARM environment. Still, this really isn't intended to be that kind of platform in the first place. Once we see some inroads with GPUs in this sphere, THEN we can talk about real horsepower and battery sipping ability.It has been a joy using the laptop over the last few days. The screen is beautiful and bright. The keyboard is pleasant to type on, and the trackpad is large and responsive. I don't touch my screens so I can't speak to that (I hate fingerprints on my laptops), but I have always been a fan of the 3:2 aspect ratio on laptops and I'm glad that Microsoft is sticking to its guns on this and leading the way. I've also been really lucky over the years and have never really had to have any work done physically on any of my laptops (software is another issue altogether), but from what I understand from other reviewers, is that the Surface is relatively easy to fix which should translate to a longer useful life and/or cheaper repairs if needed.My only gripe with the physical features of the Surface Laptop is with Microsoft continuing to use its own proprietary charge port. I am less frustrated with this since you CAN use USB-C to charge your laptop but it's more the principle of the matter. The power brick is relatively tiny and light (as to be expected with something that only cranks out 39W), but there is ZERO reason why it is not just a simple USB-C brick and a nice cable to go along with it. Just sayin'.Getting back to the good stuff. What has REALLY been fun over the last few days or so has been playing with Copilot+. I've never really had any need to use any of the AI platforms previously, and to tell the truth I didn't think I ever really would, but after just a bit of work with Copilot in both office apps and as a stand-alone, I think the POTENTIAL for Copilot is absolutely crazy. It's fun to play around with writing prompts and see where they lead. This will actually be a pretty cool tool to use for my writing, especially with character development. It has also been good to help me identify tropes that I may be leaning on a bit too much. I put in a few sci-fi story ideas and let Copilot run with them, and quite a few of those tropes kept popping up (hence them being tropes), but it becomes glaring once you see them in several different story ideas. While I can also see how this can make someone pretty lazy with their work, for me it frees up some brain cycles for me work on plot and dialogue and less on the peripheral characters.My biggest gripe with Copilot+ though, is the content restrictions. I completely understand the AI not wanting to generate material that is sexual, hateful, defamatory (though really, it ought to do it if asked, or there should be a setting to do the processing locally if the issue is using Microsoft servers for the work), but some rather anodyne requests were met with statements from Copilot that said that it could not do that and encouraged me to generate that material on my own. Again, we are still in the early stages of the 'AI Revolution', but I think we could use a bit more 'Wild West' and a little less 'Corporate Boardroom'.As a former educator, this platform really excites me and scares me a bit. It excites me to think about the ideas and content that students could produce with such a powerful platform, but then the teacher in me worries about how I could ever separate the student from the AI with the current tools available. Fortunately, I'm retired and that is no longer my problem, and so I can just be excited to see what my rather gifted nephew is going to churn out with this laptop once I give it to him next month for his birthday.Microsoft has really hit it out of the park with this generation of Surface devices, and I think you are getting a really high-quality laptop with tons of power and phenomenal battery life for a really good price. If you are looking for a solid laptop that is light, powerful, beautiful, and in the Windows ecosystem, then the Surface Laptop with Copilot+ is a no-brainer. It
Wraith
originally posted on bestbuy.comA very interesting and unique ARM & AI machine…
2 July 2024
I have spent the last week setting up and evaluating this very interesting and unique machine, the ARM based Microsoft Surface CoPilot+. Combining a week’s intensive use with watching many YouTube videos and numerous podcasts and reviews, I can say that this machine seems to boil down to two main considerations. First, it's a new type of Windows machine that runs on an ARM processor, which is a departure from the usual Intel or AMD machines. Second, it has a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) chip for AI tasks.Let me address the AI aspect first.Short version: This AI stuff is pretty cool and having a CoPilot+ laptop with the built-in AI chip will let you do AI things that other computers cannot do.Long version: You can experience AI and play around with ... MoreI have spent the last week setting up and evaluating this very interesting and unique machine, the ARM based Microsoft Surface CoPilot+. Combining a week’s intensive use with watching many YouTube videos and numerous podcasts and reviews, I can say that this machine seems to boil down to two main considerations. First, it's a new type of Windows machine that runs on an ARM processor, which is a departure from the usual Intel or AMD machines. Second, it has a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) chip for AI tasks.Let me address the AI aspect first.Short version: This AI stuff is pretty cool and having a CoPilot+ laptop with the built-in AI chip will let you do AI things that other computers cannot do.Long version: You can experience AI and play around with creative applications without this specific computer. Before getting this AI laptop, I got a subscription to Microsoft CoPilot PRO, which integrates well with my Office programs, and I've had a lot of fun using Microsoft 'Designer' to create cool graphics for social media and emails and using AI to look at spreadsheets and whip up PowerPoints. What’s new for AI here is this machine is the first to have a built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU) chip, which is designed to take the load off the main processor when the laptop is running AI processes. At the moment, some of the graphic functions like Designer for graphics and the language translation use the NPU chip to boost processing speed, and there are some video conferencing filters that have been around a while - but more significant is the tremendous potential for apps and ‘small models’ that will use this onboard neural chip to great advantage. Having an on-board Neural Processing Unit (NPU) chip is a new thing and developers are cranking out AI apps and AI program updates on a daily basis. I am looking forward to more and more of these program updates and apps to become available to really help the AI functions of the CoPilot+ show its capabilities. This is about as “future proof” as you can get for the surge in AI capabilities at the moment. Having the built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU) will help speed up some of the AI process, allow use of AI applications and plug-ins, and provide many AI functions even when the machine is offline.Now, to put the AI aside and evaluate the Surface CoPilot+ as a laptop – Microsoft Surface machines have a reputation for being well engineered and this machine looks good and feels very sturdy in the hand. The edges are nicely chamfered and easy on the hands. This machine is well-built, with a backlit keyboard, solid hinge, and a very nice 120MHz screen. The haptic touchpad is wonderful. My first haptic touchpad, and this is a whole new experience as I really never liked touchpads until this one... very smooth, responsive, adjustable, and clicks anywhere! I can also use an inexpensive capacitive stylus for basic drawing on the screen when using OneNote or playing with the AI graphics. This 15” machine has a micro-SD slot and first thing i did was pop in a 512GB card for game files, software repository, and cloud storage. Long battery life is one of the main benefits of the ARM-based machine—it lasts much longer than my other laptop. My experience is easily 2x to 3x the battery life of my i5 laptop (which just got a brand-new battery). Another very nice feature of this ARM based machine is 'instant on' when you open the lid to resume work – the laptop instantly jumps back to life every time and doesn't drain the battery when asleep. The more I use this laptop the more I appreciate how nice it is to not worry about shutting the lid when I step away for a moment or pack up to go to the next location and know that I can pop the lid and go right back to work without having to wait for the computer to wake up. With the facial recognition enabled (and it works very well) you don’t have to put in a PIN code or password – the laptop recognizes you and is instantly ready to pick up where you left off. Really nice!As for gaming, it has been well established that this isn't a hardcore gaming machine, but don’t sell the ARM laptop short - it can handle many fun and modern games. It runs all the normal programs for office work, school, photo and light video editing without any issues. It's fast, lasts an incredibly long time on battery, and doesn't keep me waiting.In conclusion, if you want a well-built, long-lasting laptop that's quiet, cool in your lap, and on the cutting edge of AI, the Surface CoPilot+ is a great choice.Greetings from Central Georgia and Happy 4th of July!banjo
banjo
originally posted on bestbuy.comCopilot+ Isn't Ready, but the Hardware is on point
28 June 2024
Windows machines finally have a win on the ARM platform, I charged this laptop once when it arrived, and I was setting it up, and haven't needed to charge it yet. I'm not stress testing and benchmarking it, there are enough people you can find doing all of that, I am just using it like a regular, average get things done laptop. Email, writing, browsing, light games, and goofing off. So far it's been a smooth ride. Windows on arm still isn't 100% Arm compiled it looks like, but the Prism compatibility layer that translates x86 to Arm64 seems to be putting in the work for the parts of the OS that aren't native, and the majority of programs you will likely be installing as well. Games being the sticking point I can see being a problem for now, both because of the ... MoreWindows machines finally have a win on the ARM platform, I charged this laptop once when it arrived, and I was setting it up, and haven't needed to charge it yet. I'm not stress testing and benchmarking it, there are enough people you can find doing all of that, I am just using it like a regular, average get things done laptop. Email, writing, browsing, light games, and goofing off. So far it's been a smooth ride. Windows on arm still isn't 100% Arm compiled it looks like, but the Prism compatibility layer that translates x86 to Arm64 seems to be putting in the work for the parts of the OS that aren't native, and the majority of programs you will likely be installing as well. Games being the sticking point I can see being a problem for now, both because of the relatively anemic onboard graphics power, and the troubles of trying to run more complicated stuff like graphic intensive games through prism, big sticking points in that front you can see in some YouTube videos, it seems a lot of anti-cheat enabled games either fail or refuse to launch.The hardware and general fit and finish are really good here though. There is basically zero deck flex on the keyboard making for a solid typing experience as far as laptop keyboards go. The trackpad is nice and big, and haptic, has all the multi finger gesture fun you expect on modern touch pads, and a nice setting to set a corner of it to be 'right click' dedicated so you dont always have to 2 finger click for a right click, making it a little more accurate. The haptics on it are strong enough that it feels like a nice satisfying little click is happening. It's a little light on ports and would really benefit from a micro sd card slot, but the available full sized usb and 2 usb c ports are enough in most cases. The screen is nice and bright but has a non standard resolution that might make it a little hard to get a perfect wallpaper for it, just little 1st world problems that don't really affect anything.The hardware is not the only thing that this new breed of "Copilot+ PC" machines are trying to sell themselves on. and unfortunately, I think it needs more time to cook, and Microsoft needs to dedicate more time into fleshing out the on-device capabilities. It's nice marketing that the onboard NPU is 45 TOPS of performance, but that doesn't really mean anything to the average person. Copilot is an always online service and remains an always online service on these new Copilot+ PCs as well weather any of their workload can be done locally is irrelevant if it will not even try when it doesn't have an internet connection in the first place. While connected to the internet it feels no different than the copilot beta that's been available on windows this past year. You can ask it questions, it has integration with the web browser for additional context etc, I used it to help me better write out a resume, and a few emails that I wasn't really sure on the best way to phrase things, and that's really helpful. But It's far from the game changing future of PC's the marketing would suggest. I think the Co Creator in Paint is a cute feature, but paint is quite possibly the worst thing in the world for doing any kind of graphic design and it's only recently gotten the ability to handle 'layers' and still immediately rasterizes text so you can't edit things in it well, but I guess if you just want to play around, the image generation can be interesting. I have experience with AI image generation models and the gamut of settings and tweaks that can be done to adjust their output, and this doesn't really have anything more than a slider for how 'creative' you want it to be, and I think that's just how firm it sticks to your prompt or not. but I don't know what's really going on under the hood there beyond that.As much as a selling point, they are pushing all of the AI features to be, I don't recommend buying one of these on that. I do think that the hardware is good enough to warrant picking this over an intel/amd option if you aren't looking for a gaming machine. It's light, sleek the Sapphire and Dune colors both look amazing if you want something other than Silver or Black.In the end, I give it a solid 4 out of 5, amazing hardware, but I feel like if you're going to really push for on device processing of the AI features, you need to make those features accessible for offline use, even if it is using smaller models and may not be quite as fully featured as the connected resources allow. I hope they continue to improve on what they have, and I hope they take public feedback seriously as they shape the services and features going forward. Till then, I'm happy to let the features cook a little longer till they are done and ready.
RedMage
originally posted on bestbuy.comCoPilot+ Productivity and Creativity in one laptop
28 June 2024
It’s interesting to note that the exterior design of Microsoft Surface laptops hasn’t changed much over the years. My wife’s 2019 Surface Book 2 looks nearly identical to this new Surface CoPilot+ laptop although the older laptop is a 2-1 design and so was a little thicker. Evidently, Microsoft wisely adheres to the principle that if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Even the keyboards have a similar look and feel. The differences naturally are found inside, with Microsoft charting a bold new course with neural processors designed and tuned to run newly released AI applications…the wave of the future. To make this laptop more affordable, Microsoft chose to use the lesser of the two Qualcomm processors (Snapdragon X Plus) in this latest line of Surface7th Edition ... MoreIt’s interesting to note that the exterior design of Microsoft Surface laptops hasn’t changed much over the years. My wife’s 2019 Surface Book 2 looks nearly identical to this new Surface CoPilot+ laptop although the older laptop is a 2-1 design and so was a little thicker. Evidently, Microsoft wisely adheres to the principle that if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Even the keyboards have a similar look and feel. The differences naturally are found inside, with Microsoft charting a bold new course with neural processors designed and tuned to run newly released AI applications…the wave of the future. To make this laptop more affordable, Microsoft chose to use the lesser of the two Qualcomm processors (Snapdragon X Plus) in this latest line of Surface7th Edition CoPilot + laptops. With 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, this laptop is still plenty fast and to prove it, I installed Adobe Photoshop 2024 and loading time was only a matter of just a few seconds…even faster than my gaming desktop. Similarly, components of Microsoft Office 365 Suite like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint also are lightning fast. The screen is bright with excellent contrast and the onboard Qualcomm graphics processor seems more than adequate for most computing needs.The development of the CoPilot+ series of laptops is of course to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) to computing. While it’s in its early stages, AI brings user-friendly options to enhance creativity and efficiency in daily computing needs. CoPilot+ brings simplicity to browsing and it’s been my experience that search results make sense and are easy to understand, complete with references. For creativity, AI has elevated Microsoft’s simple Paint app to new heights with its ability to create artwork (Image Creator) based on simple inputs and/or crude drawings (Cocreator). I could see where this might be handy for creating artwork for Powerpoint Presentations, for example. Windows Studio adds some nice features for video conferencing, such as blurred backgrounds, face-following, and lighting effects. While I wouldn’t designate this laptop as a gaming machine, Windows 11 has added Auto Super Resolution to improve and enhance game resolution and visual quality, taking advantage of the AI capabilities of the Snapdragon X series processor.What I liked…The laptop is lightweight yet rugged and the perfect size for ease of portability. Having a lighted keyboard is a must and the feel of the keys makes typing fast and easy. The screen looks great with crystal clarity and deep rich blacks, making photos look amazing. Battery life is excellent, and it comes with a proprietary charging cable, but Microsoft claims it can be charged through one of the two USB-C ports with a minimum 65W PD charger. A fully charged battery dropped to 80% when on for four hours, so getting all-day use should be no problem. Apparently, the Qualcomm electronics run cool as there are no fans or vents visible anywhere, making it completely quiet and nice to rest on your lap without the constant worry of blocking air vents, etc. and overheating. Setup after unboxing was a breeze and transferring everything from our old Surface laptop couldn’t have been simpler. Even our family version of Microsoft 365 loaded quickly, and Outlook email transferred without a hitch. Last but not least, I love the clean design of the all-metal case and sapphire blue looks amazing.What I disliked…Well, not much to say! The main concern with Surface laptops is that they are designed and configured with a specific set of components. It usually requires a technician to add RAM or change out an SSD, for example. Microsoft isn’t the only laptop manufacturer that does this, so just be sure when you buy a Surface laptop to get it configured correctly to meet your all your current and future computing needs right from the start.I sense things will only get better as the basis of AI in computing is just getting started and the Microsoft Surface CoPilot+ laptop is designed from the ground up to take advantage in this new era of computing now.
MikeyLikesIt
originally posted on bestbuy.comGives MacBook Air a run for their money
30 July 2024
Packaging: simple but effective, with minimalist packing. Surface Laptop is covered in a thin paper wrap, and then the power cord and brick are underneath the tray.Screen: touchscreen capable, with 120 Hz refresh rate. Standard 2304 x 1536 resolution makes for a crisp view on the 13.8” screen. 600 bits brightness is plenty for offices or home, but trying to use the laptop on a sunny day out on the patio at my local coffee shop was a little difficult to see.Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 USB-A, 3.5 mm headphone jack (hallelujah), and the magnetic jack for the charger. The magnetic connector is proprietary, but has been consistent for all Surface products so not a surprise. Of note, you can use the USB C ports to directly charge the Surface Laptop, in case you don’t want to ... MorePackaging: simple but effective, with minimalist packing. Surface Laptop is covered in a thin paper wrap, and then the power cord and brick are underneath the tray.Screen: touchscreen capable, with 120 Hz refresh rate. Standard 2304 x 1536 resolution makes for a crisp view on the 13.8” screen. 600 bits brightness is plenty for offices or home, but trying to use the laptop on a sunny day out on the patio at my local coffee shop was a little difficult to see.Ports: 2 USB-C, 1 USB-A, 3.5 mm headphone jack (hallelujah), and the magnetic jack for the charger. The magnetic connector is proprietary, but has been consistent for all Surface products so not a surprise. Of note, you can use the USB C ports to directly charge the Surface Laptop, in case you don’t want to carry around the power brick or forget to bring it.AI: this is the big push in tech nowadays, and the Surface Laptop 7 has a dedicated Copilot key to launch the Copilot+ AI assistant. Pushing the key launches the AI chatbot in a new window, which looks identical to the page if you have tried using Microsoft Edge’s new updated version. Copilot is powered by ChatGPT-4, so it’s pretty standard fare. You can ask Copilot to generate anything from form letters, to schedule templates, to workout plans. Some more sophisticated prompts can yield some pretty amazing results. Then, the big surprise for me was CoCreator, which is linked into Paint. You use AI prompts to ask it to generate images based off what you write, and it was actually very cool.Battery life with standard office work (judicious use of Microsoft Excel and Word, and web browsing - no videos) has literally lasted me 3 full workdays on a single charge. Microsoft touts 20 hours of video playback, and I believe it based on my usage.I’ve used Surface Pros dating back to the Surface Pro 4, and I always had gripes (some major), but for the first time, I can and do recommend the Surface Laptop wholeheartedly.
codeblue
originally posted on bestbuy.comGreat unit for traveling/business/recreational use
20 July 2024
Rating this laptop proved to be somewhat challenging because there really is no way to separate the hardware from the operating system. (While I would love to be able to compare speed, RAM, resolution, and other similar statistics to competing products, the synergy between the hardware and OS is part of the selling features of the laptop. Therefore, I am looking at this laptop as a whole/complete package with hardware and software/operating system.)To begin, I really like the form factor and construction of this laptop. I have used numerous other laptops before and the build quality of this laptop matches that of more expensive competitor laptops. The aluminum body is solid and sturdy with a nice tactile feel to it. I have the blue model, which is very nice to ... MoreRating this laptop proved to be somewhat challenging because there really is no way to separate the hardware from the operating system. (While I would love to be able to compare speed, RAM, resolution, and other similar statistics to competing products, the synergy between the hardware and OS is part of the selling features of the laptop. Therefore, I am looking at this laptop as a whole/complete package with hardware and software/operating system.)To begin, I really like the form factor and construction of this laptop. I have used numerous other laptops before and the build quality of this laptop matches that of more expensive competitor laptops. The aluminum body is solid and sturdy with a nice tactile feel to it. I have the blue model, which is very nice to look at as well. The laptop does have a little heft to it, but nothing crazy and the squared edges are comfortable when carrying it. The screen is beautiful with rich colors and adequate brightness. To take things up a notch, it is a touchscreen as well. (I am used to laptops without touchscreens.) What really impressed me, however, was the touchpad. I have yet to find a touchpad that I like on a Windows-based PC; that is, until now. The touchpad on this laptop is silky smooth, provides haptic feedback, and allows for tapping/clicking anywhere on the touchpad (including a right-click with two fingers). There are other gestures supported by the touchpad as well. Very well done.If I understand correctly, the CPU in this laptop uses ARM architecture (as opposed to the competing x86 architecture that has defined Intel chips forever), so I was curious as to how the usability experience would be. Without comparing side-to-side to another laptop, all I can say is that the laptop seems very fast and capable to me. Ultimately, I look at a laptop like this as a tool for using the Internet, maybe watching videos, and taking care of office-related tasks like checking email, checking social media feeds, and working in an office suite to create, view, and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. In this respect, the Surface Laptop feels just as fast as other more expensive laptops I have used. I also really like the Windows "Hello" feature that recognizes my face and unlocks the computer based upon that biometric measure. (As opposed to using a fingerprint, the facial recognition is much more convenient as it does not require any physical intervention on my part. Just open up the laptop, click on the login screen, and it recognizes me and boots up to the OS. Nice.)Microsoft claims up to 20 hours of battery life with the unit. While I have not run a battery test to verify that claim, I am more concerned about having decent battery life to last a full day at work or on a four to five hour flight (plus some time sitting at the airport). Thus far, it appears as though the battery life on the unit is more than adequate for my needs when completing the relatively "simple" (non-processor-intensive) tasks that I mentioned above. I suppose playing games or processing video would take a toll on the battery, that is not how I use this laptop, so I did not evaluate it from that perspective. (Along those lines, I do not know how long it takes to process certain types of video projects or what the frame rate is for a game.)My particular unit has 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, which is a decent size for all those office tasks that I mentioned before. If I were using this laptop for gaming or video/photo work, however, I would want more storage than that. (I think the Surface tops out at 1TB? The laptop I currently use for processing video has 8TB of storage.)Speaking of battery life... The unit includes a separate power supply with a proprietary connection for charging the laptop that reminds me of a magnetic connection available on another series of laptops. The power supply is not very large, so it is convenient for traveling. It is my understanding that the laptop can also be charged through the USB-C ports (and I also saw options to buy a Thunderbolt 4 hub to also drive a couple 4K displays from the laptop [although this is not something I tested]).Given the form factor of the unit and the thin bezels around the screen, there is no manual shutter to occlude the 1080p camera, so those who are concerned about that sort of thing may be a bit disappointed. (I was also surprised that the camera was 1080p and not a higher resolution.) As I have not used this laptop for teleconferencing, however, I really cannot say how good the camera is. (The camera is supposed to follow you around to keep you in the center of the frame when using the laptop for videoconferencing.)Lastly, this laptop incorporates Microsoft's "Copilot+" features, which is their integration of AI technology into the operating system. Some of the things that the AI can do is generate automatic captions for video (and translate to different languages), generate illustrations from sketches, an help with writing (similar to other AI platforms). Personally, I am not that creative and I also enjoy writing without relying on AI features, so I really have not used the Copilot+ features that much to fairly evaluate them for this review. As that technology continues to advance, however, I can only imagine the other tasks AI will be able to perform in the years to come (and this laptop appears to be well-positioned to take advantage of those features).So, are you looking for a Windows-based PC that can accommodate your business and recreational tasks while traveling without having to worry about finding an outlet? This unit definitely seems to fit that bill in a package that is compact and attractive. While I have been using non-Windows-based laptops for years, this is the first laptop offering I found that could possibly convince me to switch back to using Windows again.
Jeff W
originally posted on bestbuy.comImpressive Upgrade Experience
1 July 2024
I have always used Microsoft Windows as my favorite operating system but have not had a Surface laptop in many years. I was thrilled to find out about the new AI Surface Laptop enhanced with Copilot+. I chose the Sapphire color for the new Surface and was blown away with how beautiful it was in person. I realized it had been many years since I had any laptop that was not the standard silver color, so the Surface immediately stood out. My friends also commented on how beautiful the color was and how nice the display appeared on it. I did notice that even though the laptop color was amazing that fingertip marks did e up being noticeable on the lid from usage but would wipe away with a microfiber cloth.I had read all the specs Microsoft shared about the product ... MoreI have always used Microsoft Windows as my favorite operating system but have not had a Surface laptop in many years. I was thrilled to find out about the new AI Surface Laptop enhanced with Copilot+. I chose the Sapphire color for the new Surface and was blown away with how beautiful it was in person. I realized it had been many years since I had any laptop that was not the standard silver color, so the Surface immediately stood out. My friends also commented on how beautiful the color was and how nice the display appeared on it. I did notice that even though the laptop color was amazing that fingertip marks did e up being noticeable on the lid from usage but would wipe away with a microfiber cloth.I had read all the specs Microsoft shared about the product before releasing it to the public and I was curious how fast the Surface would operate with the Snapdragon X Plus chip with 10 cores and a Neural Processing Unit. I have to say that after I quickly did the initial setup, I realized that the system worked quicker than what I was used to. I was also drawn to this model because it had plenty of storage with the 512GB SSD.A new feature that I found after setting up my Surface was the new Windows Hello security feature which lets you setup signing in with a PIN or with your biometrics information. I chose to use my facial recognition since it would be faster than me trying to make the entries on the keyboard. I was surprised how accurate and much quicker it was for me to get past the normal sign on area with the device validating via the webcam that I was truly the person who installed the biometric data. I decided to research the new feature and was thrilled to find out how much more secure the Windows Hello security was than the standard methods adding to the encryption methods as well.Overall, I cannot say enough good things about how much the device has matured since my previous experience, but it has spoiled me from going back to regular laptops.
Atxn
originally posted on bestbuy.comSo fast and intuitive
27 June 2024
First it has a backlight keyboard with 3 settings which is beautiful. The screen is super bright and just needed it set to 50 percent even when outside. It has a microsd slot near the proprietary charging port. It has two usb c charging ports and I was able to charge and work with just that and never dipped below 90%. I was able to fully charge the laptop from 30% to 100% in under an hour using just the usb c port. Has full size usb port. Battery life without any charging, I obtained while having meetings, games, some lite graphics, web surfacing, watching web videos, and playing music in background…at about 15 -16 hours was down to 18%. Also some of my apps/programs like Norton 360 had difficulty installing and had to call the manufacturer to finish install. I ... MoreFirst it has a backlight keyboard with 3 settings which is beautiful. The screen is super bright and just needed it set to 50 percent even when outside. It has a microsd slot near the proprietary charging port. It has two usb c charging ports and I was able to charge and work with just that and never dipped below 90%. I was able to fully charge the laptop from 30% to 100% in under an hour using just the usb c port. Has full size usb port. Battery life without any charging, I obtained while having meetings, games, some lite graphics, web surfacing, watching web videos, and playing music in background…at about 15 -16 hours was down to 18%. Also some of my apps/programs like Norton 360 had difficulty installing and had to call the manufacturer to finish install. I believe because the processor is very new that some hiccups are to be expected. I love opening up device manager and seeing NEURAL PROCESSOR…feel like Star Trek Data is in the laptop. I mention all this because the sd slot nor backlight not mentioned in the included literature. The processor is lightning fast, the always on capability is great without sacrificing battery life. Boot up from a full power down is under 35 seconds. The weight/balance ratio makes it easy to carry and handle. The aluminum metal construction gives it a great tactile feel and surety of grip. Speakers are really beautiful sounding and fairly loud and discernible even at 100% volume. My only wish was for the screen to be detachable or it be foldable but otherwise fantastic.Design and Build Quality: The Microsoft Surface Laptop 15" in Platinum combines a sleek design with robust build quality, creating an impressive first impression. The aluminum chassis feels premium and durable, with a smooth finish that resists fingerprints. The laptop is thin and lightweight, making it easy to carry around without compromising on sturdiness.Display: The 15" PixelSense touch-screen display is a standout feature, offering vivid colors and sharp details. Whether watching movies, editing photos, or working on creative projects, the display's clarity and color accuracy enhance the overall experience. The touchscreen functionality is responsive, supporting precise interactions and gestures, which is particularly useful for artists and designers.Performance: Equipped with the Snapdragon X Elite processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, the Surface Laptop delivers reliable performance across various tasks. From multitasking with multiple applications to handling intensive software like Adobe Creative Suite, the laptop performs smoothly without noticeable lag. The SSD ensures quick boot times and fast data access, enhancing productivity and workflow efficiency.Microsoft Copilot Experience: The Microsoft Copilot feature enhances the Surface Laptop's usability by providing intelligent assistance and productivity tools. It integrates seamlessly with Windows 11, offering features such as enhanced voice commands, smart scheduling, and proactive notifications. During my experience, Copilot proved useful in organizing my tasks, managing appointments, and providing relevant suggestions based on my usage patterns.For instance, Copilot intelligently suggested optimal times for meetings based on my calendar availability and even provided reminders to follow up on important tasks. Its voice recognition capabilities were impressive, accurately interpreting commands and queries, which streamlined my workflow. The integration of Microsoft 365 services further bolstered productivity, allowing seamless access to documents, emails, and collaborative tools.Battery Life: The Surface Laptop's battery life is commendable, lasting up to 15-17 hours on a single charge under normal usage conditions. Throughout my workday, which involved web browsing, document editing, and occasional video streaming, the laptop consistently provided sufficient battery power without needing to recharge frequently. This longevity is beneficial for users who require a portable device capable of sustaining extended productivity sessions.Keyboard and Trackpad: The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience with well-spaced keys and satisfying key travel. It's backlit, making it convenient to type in low-light environments. The precision trackpad is responsive and accurate, supporting Windows gestures effectively for smooth navigation and multitasking.Portability: Despite its larger 15" size, the Surface Laptop remains portable and easy to transport. The slim profile and lightweight design make it effortless to carry in a bag or backpack, ideal for professionals and students who need a versatile laptop for both work and leisure.Copilot alone:As a user of the Microsoft Copilot integration on the Surface Laptop, I have found it to be a transformative addition to my daily productivity and organizational routines. Copilot leverages AI-driven capabilities within Windows 11 to enhance the overall user experience, providing intelligent assistance and proactive support throughout my workday.Integration and Functionality: The integration of Copilot into Windows 11 on the Surface Laptop is seamless and intuitive. From the moment I started using it, Copilot began learning my habits and preferences, which allowed it to provide increasingly relevant suggestions and assistance over time. It integrates smoothly with Microsoft 365 services, such as Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive, ensuring that I stay connected and organized across all my tasks and communications.Productivity Enhancements: One of the standout features of Copilot is its ability to streamline productivity tasks. For instance, it intelligently manages my calendar, suggesting optimal meeting times based on participant availability and my schedule. It also reminds me of upcoming deadlines and tasks, helping me stay on top of my workload without feeling overwhelmed. The proactive notifications are particularly useful, alerting me to important emails, upcoming meetings, and task deadlines so that I can prioritize accordingly.Voice Commands and Interaction: The voice command functionality of Copilot is impressive and accurate. Whether I need to quickly jot down a note, schedule a meeting, or search for a file, I can simply use voice commands to accomplish tasks efficiently. The voice recognition technology understands natural language well, which makes interactions feel fluid and responsive. This feature has significantly sped up my workflow, allowing me to perform tasks hands-free while multitasking on other projects.Personalization and Adaptability: Copilot's ability to adapt to my preferences and work habits sets it apart. It learns from my interactions and adjusts its suggestions and recommendations accordingly. For example, it understands my preferred working hours and adjusts reminders and notifications accordingly. This level of personalization enhances its utility, making it feel like a truly personalized assistant tailored to my specific needs and workflow.Privacy and Security: Microsoft emphasizes privacy and security in Copilot's operation, ensuring that my data remains protected and confidential. The AI-driven assistance respects privacy settings and does not compromise sensitive information. I appreciate knowing that I can rely on Copilot for assistance without concerns about privacy breaches or unauthorized access to my personal data.Overall Impression: In conclusion, the integration of Microsoft Copilot on the Surface Laptop has significantly enhanced my productivity and organization. It seamlessly combines AI-driven intelligence with the robust capabilities of Windows 11, providing a cohesive and efficient user experience. From managing my schedule to assisting with document organization and communication, Copilot has become an invaluable tool in my daily workflow. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to optimize their productivity and streamline their digital workspace with intelligent assistance that adapts to their needs.