Microsoft’s Surface program has gone from zero dollar, to a US$900 million Surface RT write off, to being a 3.5 billion dollar business it is today, according to Microsoft. Three years later after the first Surface was released, and less than three months after the rollout of Windows 10, the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is now official. Pre-orders in the US began on October 7th, and it’ll ship there on October 26th starting at US$899 (more on the price later). Just three and a half weeks after that, Malaysia will get it too; Lazada has begun taking pre-orders from Malaysians, and it is said to be shipping here from November 19th.
Windows 10 is already out for close to three months with Microsoft reporting over a whopping 110 million devices running the operating system. With that, the Surface Pro 4 is poised to be the perfect device to showcase key Windows 10 features, arguably more so than the Surface Book. This is due to the lack of a fingerprint sensor on the Surface Book (Surface Pro 4 has a keyboard cover option with a fingerprint reader) and the portable nature of Surface Pro 4. Windows 10 offers features like Windows Hello for easy login through fingerprint readers and compatible iris-scanning cameras, plus the Cortana personal assistant (which is fairly new to Surface, since Windows 10 is only out for a few of months). Microsoft is also working closely with developers to make apps for the platform; one example being Facebook, with universal Messenger and Instagram apps coming soon.
Surface Pro 4
Microsoft must be doing something right if 98% of Surface Pro 3 users recommend it (according to Microsoft). To improve on that, Surface Pro 4 is the thinnest (8.45mm) and lightest (766/786 grams) Surface Pro tablet yet, with a very close footprint to the Surface Pro 3, yet having a larger, 3:2 aspect ratio 12.3-inch PixelSense display (Surface Pro 3 has a 12-inch screen). 12.3 inches with 2736 x 1824 pixels translate to around 5 million pixels at 267 pixels per inch. The exterior is made with the same, magnesium alloy construction as its predecessors, that comes in Silver color. Though thinner, Surface Pro 4 is able to dissipate the heat with a hybrid cooling system, and it also includes a 0.4mm Gorilla Glass 4 panel to protect the screen.
To live up to the Pro moniker, Surface Pro 4 is running on the sixth generation “Skylake” Intel Core M, Core i5, and Core i7 processors, a choice 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB memory options, plus 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB solid-state drive sizes. The graphics front is powered either by Intel HD 515 for the Core M processor, Intel HD 520 for Core i5, and Intel Iris for Core i7. All in all, it is 30% faster than the Surface Pro 3, but Microsoft also boasted that it (presumably the highest-end variant) is 50% faster than a MacBook Air (presumably the lowest-end model?).
The way Surface Pro 4 is built also promises to run quieter and cooler than its Haswell-running predecessors, with a touted battery life of nine hours on video (12 hours on the Surface Book, by the way).
One of its key hardware that complements Windows 10 is the 8-megapixel rear camera, but more importantly, its 5-megapixel front that’s iris-scanning capable. Microsoft calls it the “Windows Hello Camera” that can — in theory — detect the iris of the owner and authenticates the user session, which can’t be fooled by a photo of the same person.
Surface Dock
Surface Pro 4 has only one USB 3.0 port and one Mini DisplayPort (Surface Book has two USB 3.0 ports), but Microsoft has a new docking station to expand its connectivity. The company specifically design its new docking station as if to take into account that future Surface Pros may not retain the same dimensions or size. The Surface Dock is a rectangular brick that has four USB 3.0 ports, two 4K DisplayPorts, a 3.5mm audio socket, an Ethernet port, and the power socket, which has a traditional circular design (there is also a Kensington Security Slot). The dock is conveniently connected to the Surface Pro 4 through the tablet’s magnetic power port, which Microsoft calls Surface Connect. Therefore, while connected to the Surface Dock, Surface Pro 4 can also be charged at the same time.
Surface Pro 4 Type Cover with Fingerprint ID
A Surface Pro isn’t complete without an accompanying keyboard cover. Though Surface Pro 4 doesn’t ship with the new Type Cover, it can be purchased separately. This Surface Pro 4 Type Cover now has a Fingerprint ID reader option, that can be found to the right of the trackpad.
Speaking of trackpad, it is now made of glass, and is also 40 percent larger than previous generation; which is quite a feat, considering the mechanical keyboard now has better key spacing (chiclet/island-style keys), is backlit, and is actually thinner than previous Type Covers.
The beauty of having the new Surface Pro 4 at similar dimensions to the Surface Pro 3, is that this new Type Cover is reverse-compatible with the latter. This is especially important if we’re talking about the version with Fingerprint ID, as it will make the Surface Pro 3 Windows Hello-ready, and also have enterprise-grade security.
Surface Pen with Pen Tip Kit
To complete the Microsoft Surface experience, its Surface Pen has also been redesigned, now available with interchangeable pen tips to emulate real-life experiences, with B, HB, H, and 2H sizes available.
The pen itself packs 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, but that’s not all; the Tail Eraser at the other end can be used to erase sketches, and it’s also a button — hold down the button to call Cortana. Without the hassle of a pen loop, the new Surface Pen now attaches magnetically to the side of the Surface Pro 4.
All these powered by a non-rechargeable battery, but hey, it can last you all year long. Another added bonus is that it is also reverse-compatible with Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3, besides support for Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book.
Pricing and availability
In the US, Microsoft began taking pre-orders of the Surface Pro 4 since October 7th, and it’ll start shipping on October 26th there. Here, Microsoft Malaysia tweeted that we’ll get a chance to buy one from November 19th onwards, which is unprecedented, since this is just six weeks after the initial announcement and three weeks after it starts shipping in the US.
A couple of days ago on October 19th, Microsoft Malaysia announced that is has, for the first time ever, partnered with Lazada to officially launch Microsoft’s official Online Store which will be going live on October 27th. This link is not live yet, however this one is, so I’m not sure which one will be the official store page moving forward (I’m guessing the latter). Here, you’ll be able to find first and third party products like Windows, Office, Lumia phones, peripherals, laptops, tablets, and 2-in-1s.
October 19th was also the day Microsoft Malaysia began taking pre-orders of the Surface Pro 4 products through Lazada, which happens to be exactly a month before it’ll be on sale in Malaysia. You can pre-order one yourself here: http://www.lazada.com.my/microsoft-store/surface-pro-4/.
The following are the variants of Microsoft Surface Pro 4, its accessories, and all their prices in the US. The conversion to Malaysian ringgit is made as of today’s date:
- Surface Pen with Pen Tip Kit: US$59.99 (~RM258)
- Surface Pro 4 Type Cover: US$129.99 (~RM559)
- Surface Pro 4 Type Cover with Fingerprint ID: US$159.99 (~RM688)
- Surface Dock: US$199.99 (~RM860)
- Intel Core M, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD: US$899 (~RM3865)
- Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD: US$999 (~RM4295)
- Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: US$1,299 (~RM5584)
- Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD: US$1,699 (~RM7304)
- Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: US$1,599 (~RM6874)
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD: US$1,799 (~RM7734)
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: US$2,199 (~RM9454)
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD: US$2,699 (~RM11,603)
Not surprisingly, the Surface Pro 4 models on Lazada are more expensive than the ones being sold in the US. However, the new Surface Pen and the new Type Cover are slightly cheaper. A total of six stockkeeping units (SKUs) will be available locally, which are basically all the Surface Pro 4 variants except the Core i5 model with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD, and the Core i7 model with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD. Here are the local prices:
- Surface Pen with Pen Tip Kit: RM240 (Charcoal, Dark Blue, Red, Silver)
- Surface Pro 4 Type Cover: RM529 (Black, Blue, Bright Blue)
- Surface Pro 4 Type Cover with Fingerprint ID: Not available yet?
- Surface Dock: RM789
- Intel Core M, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD: RM3,999
- Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD: RM4,449
- Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: RM5,799
- Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: RM7,099
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD: RM8,049
- Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: RM9,799
If you’d like to pre-order from a physical store instead, that will only be available from selected Microsoft retail partners starting October 26th (list of outlets below). If you pre-order the Surface Pro 4 either on Lazada or through any of the retail outlets, you’ll get a free “premium” leather sleeve and a screen cleaning pad.
- Harvey Norman Malaysia
- All IT Hypermarket
- PC Image
- Senheng Electric / senQ Digital Station
- SNS Network
- Thunder Match Technology
- Viewnet Computer System
- Microsoft Authorized Reseller Store (Lot 317 & 318, Level 3, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre; +603-21810847)
Visit www.surface.my for more information on the Microsoft Surface family.
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