Gadgetory

since 2012 Microsoft has spent a lot of effort trying to sell everyone on the idea of a tablet that can replace your laptop last year's surface pro 3 was the culmination of that effort it was the best execution on that idea yet with the new servers Pro for Microsoft isn't trying to convince us anymore it's just making it better for the true believers I'm just going to cut to the chase the differences between the surface pro 3 and the surface pro 4 are so minimal only the most well trained I would be able to tell them apart the pro 4 has the same overall shape and design same magnesium finish the same infinitely adjustable kickstand hinge hell it's even the same color as last year's computer it's slightly thinner imperceptibly lighter and has a new processor and slightly larger screen but it's still a full-featured Windows 10 PC in a light and portable package that works better on your desk than on your lap but while the main design and appearance of the pro 4 remains the same Microsoft did make some important updates and they all revolve around how you actually interact with the computer the biggest change is the new type cover it features redesigned keys and a new trackpad the keys are greatly improved they're more spacious more comfortable to type on and have much better travel it's still not like typing on a laptop there's that weird hollow sound and you hammer away on the keys and the whole thing flexes a bit too much for my liking but I don't hate it as much as I used to the new trackpad is much larger it finally has a smooth surface making it much better for those multi-finger gestures used in Windows 10 but the service trackpad has always been pretty lousy so it didn't really have a high bar to beat like the keyboard it's still not as good as the best laptops and scrolling and navigating with it it's still a cramped experience there's also a brand new surface pen which has a redesigned tip that works with an updated touch sensor on the display for better writing experience there's an eraser enough on the back which does exactly what you'd expect an eraser to do and writing and taking notes with a new pen is much better than before it really feels like I'm writing with real ink I've actually enjoyed taking notes with a new pen but unfortunately can't do anything to fix my terrible handwriting maybe the coolest new thing with it is that it magnetically snaps to the side of the computer for storage but don't expect it to stay there when you toss the pro 4 in a bag and that's really it about the surface pro 4 it's the same experience as the pro 3 but with enough improvements make it better overall if you aren't sold on the idea of a surface being the tablet that replaces your laptop with last year's computer this year's model won't do anything to change that the pro 4 still is a shortcomings and compromises of this up it's really awkward to use on your lap or an airplane trade table and it's really clumsy to pick up from a desk and go it's also still not a great standalone tablet when you pull the keyboard off there's also the matter of the price the pro force starts at almost nine hundred dollars but if you really want this to be your main computer you want to pony up almost $1,300 for a faster processor usable amount of storage and decent amount of RAM plus you'd be a fool to buy it without the type cover which adds another 130 dollars to your bottom line at that point you're in the price range are some truly fantastic laptops which means you have to really think hard if you're bought into the whole idea of the service or not if you're not Microsoft's even happy to sell you a true surface laptop now but if you are into this idea and the tablet laptop hybrid is your dream of a perfect computer the pro 4 is a little bit more perfect than before