The Surface Book, the soon-to-be released tablet-laptop hybrid, shows that Windows might be trying to attract a new crowd: the creatives.
The newly debuted Surface Book, which is scheduled to be released Oct. 26, was shown to the public last week and has since created quite a buzz. Microsoft claims that the Surface Book is the “ultimate laptop.” The device is a mixture between a laptop and a tablet and is definitely gearing itself toward a younger, more creative crowd.
The device itself looks a little bit like the classic Mac design — thin, brushed aluminum body with considerably nondescript features. The screen is 13 inches, which seems pretty standard for a newer laptop (though I still swear by my 15-inch MacBook screen), but pretty large for a tablet. The real standout feature is the flexible spine that allows you to position it however you would like: Keep it like a traditional laptop, flip it backward or remove the screen entirely and use it as a tablet. Being that it also functions as a tablet, the screen supports touch and also can use the included Surface Pen.
So, it’s essentially a computer-tablet hybrid.
The first commercial for the device was released last week, showcasing the laptop being used for a variety of creative tasks. However, claiming it to be the “ultimate” seems to miss the mark — mainly because there isn’t enough explanation as to why it is the device everyone needs.
Though it does seem like there are endless creativity options with this device, the handful of features that set it apart just don’t seem to be worth the price tag — the cheapest of the models is $1,499.
I personally like the way The Verge phrased it: “(The commercial) looks like a 2015 iPhone ad. That would be fine if Microsoft had established what the Surface Book is over many years and created a desire and need for the product previously, but this is probably the first thing most people will see. It’s forgettable, and there’s no explanation why this is the ‘ultimate laptop’ or why you’d desperately want to spend $1,500 on one.”
There’s nothing exactly “wrong” with the device. Its predecessor, the Surface Pro 4, is designed to be “the tablet that can replace your laptop,” and it seems to do just that for many of the users.
Though the world we live in mainly operates on Windows (according to Business Insider, there are 1.25 billion Windows PCs running today), Apple definitely has a monopoly on the more creative users. It seems like Windows is working hard on the Surface line to try to attract a little bit more of that group to its operating system.
Personally, I hate using Windows, mainly because I grew up using Apple products. However, the Surface seems to be Windows' saving grace.
Sophie Kruse is a senior majoring in journalism. Do you like the Surface Book? Email her at sk139011@ohio.edu or tweet her @kruseco.
