Tag Archives: Surface

Microsoft surfaces pre-orders for Surface Pro 9 and Laptop 5

November 15, 2022 Thina Hareesh Leave a comment

Microsoft is ushering in the “new era of computing” for Windows PC by unveiling the latest iterations of Surface devices.

The Surface Pro 9, available for pre-order Nov 8th in, new Sapphire (top) and Forest (bottom) colors.

Surface Pro 9 with Intel and SQ®3 platform choice, two new colors and pre-order goodies

From 8th November to 28th November 2022, the Surface Pro 9 will be available for pre-order in Malaysia. Microsoft has also announced two new color variants, Sapphire and Forest, for more variety. To sweeten the deal, a Surface Pro Signature keyboard and other free gifts (worth up to RM1288) will be given along with every pre-order. Every purchase of the Surface Pro 9, pre-order or otherwise, will receive a one-month subscription to Microsoft 365.

The Surface Pro 9 now comes with two platform choices. There is the Intel Evo platform powered by the 12th Gen Intel® Core processor with Thunderbolt™ 4. The other is the Microsoft SQ®3 platform powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon with 5G connectivity, exclusive for Surface for Business users.

Both Intel and Qualcomm variants of the Surface Pro 9 will share the same build quality and core features. This includes the 13.3-inch PixelSense Display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and Microsoft’s custom G6 chip that enhances the inking experience with tactile feedback. The Surface Pro 9 comes with options of Intel i5, i7 or SQ®3 processors, 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB and 512GB of storage, with prices starting at RM5299.

New line of Surface Laptop 5 now with Thunderbolt 4 and more pre-order goodies

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 now with Thunderbolt™ 4

Microsoft also unveiled the new range of Surface Laptop 5, available for pre-order from 8th November 2022 in Malaysia. All pre-orders will receive a free Microsoft Arc Mouse and other free gifts (worth up to RM998). All purchases of the Surface Laptop 5 will receive a a one-month subscription to Microsoft 365 as well.

With prices starting from RM5299, the Surface Laptop 5 comes in 13.5-inch and 15-inch variants. Variants have options of 12th Gen Intel i5 and i7 processors, 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of SSD storage. All Surface Laptop 5 comes with the signature 3:2 PixelSense display and now with Thunderbolt™ 4 to further boost productivity.

How to pre-order?

Pre-orders for the Surface Pro 9 and Laptop 5 are available in Malaysia starting 8th November 2022. Visit commercial authorized reseller Maxis and authorized retailers including All IT, Gloo by SNS Network, Harvey Norman, Lazada Flagship Store, PC Image, Senheng, Shopee Authorised Store and TMT by Thundermatch.

Computers, Lifestyle, News

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Has Landed in Malaysia for MYR 3,488!

July 5, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Thin-and-light notebook PCs are some of the most popular choices today in the laptop market. The appeal of a thin-and-light notebook is technically in its name; it is thin, and it is light. You can take it anywhere and set it up anywhere you want to and get productive whenever. You don’t have to break your back carrying lugging your work set-up around. In the current pandemic situation, where remote working is a norm, this format of computing solution has proven to be the most versatile for the general workforce too.

Choosing the right thin-and-light notebook is not as crucial as making a life-and-death decision. But choosing the right one will not only help with your productivity, but it could also save you from a lot of trouble. It could also be the difference between taking hours to set-up or getting work done whenever you need to. So, what do you get?

You could consider this, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2.

Microsoft should know a thing or two about making laptops for Windows 11. They are the makers of Windows 11 operating system, after all.

To recap, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is Microsoft’s take on what a thin-and-light laptop for the discerning professional. It weighs just a little over 1.1kg and is entirely made from aluminium. It looked good too in its Platinum metal finish.

Open its sleek metal clamshell and you are met with a 3:2 12.4-inch PixelSense display that is also touch sensitive. Above the display is also an HD camera with dual Studio mics for crystal clear video calls.

Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft

Underneath the large trackpad and keyboard is a very powerful 11^th Generation Intel Core i5 processor. The processor is paired with an 8GB RAM and up to 256GB in SSD storage. Of course, there are no discrete GPU within the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. Instead, it has Intel’s Iris X^e graphics to ensure that the laptop can still edit 4K videos.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is now available in Malaysia via Microsoft’s commercial authorised reseller. You can also get your hands on one from Maxis and Microsoft’s authorised retaliers across the nation. It starts at MYR 3,488 for a 128GB SSD variant and up to MYR 3,788 for a 256GB SSD variant. More on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 can be found on their website.

Computers, Lifestyle, News

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is Now Officially Available in Malaysia for MYR 7,399 Onward!

March 9, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Back in February, Microsoft has announced that they are finally bringing the new Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio to Malaysia. They put it up for pre-order in the middle of February 2022. Now you get to officially buy it in stores.

As mentioned in the previous article, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio was launched in back in September 2021. This is also an era when Intel has yet to introduce their latest 12^th generation Core processors. That also means that the most powerful Microsoft Surface device is still powered by an 11^th generation Intel Core processor.

In case you forgot, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio comes with a display you can tilt around to make it a sort of a tablet or a touch display with an easel stand or kickstand behind it. It is more stable though since it has the whole weight of the laptop underneath it. Of course, it works like a normal laptop too.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio comes in either an Intel Core i5-11300H processor or an Intel Core i7-11370H processor. With the Core i5 variant, you get Intel’s proven Iris Xe graphics. The More powerful Core i7 variant gets NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3050Ti GPU. The One with Core i7 and the GeForce RTX 3050Ti is the one you want.

There is also a Stylus included with the laptop. The stylus can be used on the brilliant 14.4-inch touch sensitive display that boasts 120Hz in refresh rate. The Studio laptop also features Quad Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos certification to keep you inspired or entertained when it matters.

Surface Laptop Studio Photo 1 — Source: Microsoft

Surface Laptop Studio Photo 5 LR — Source: Microsoft

The Microsoft Surface Laptop is now available via Maxis and all Microsoft’s authorised retailers including Shopee and Lazada. You can choose between two configurations for the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, as mentioned. There is also a third configuration available for Malaysia. It is a Harvey Norman exclusive though. The Harvey Norman exclusive (MYR 11,999) comes with Intel’s Core i7, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050Ti, 32GB of RAM, and 1 TB of SSD storage, whereas the regular (MYR 9,399) Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio tops out at 16GB of RAM with 512GB in SSD storage. More information on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio can be found on their website.

Android, Mobile, News

Microsoft Updates the Surface Duo 2 with Snapdragon 888

September 23, 2021 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Microsoft’s Surface Duo made quite the splash in its initial outing. The smartphone rethought the notion of foldable devices with a more productivity centred approach. This year, Microsoft is doubling down on their approach with the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 which bumps the specs and functionality of the smartphone.

The Surface Duo 2 comes with the Snapdragon 888 paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage. Microsoft has also increased the size of the screens on the Duo 2 to 5.8 inches with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Both screens individually have a resolution of 1892×1344 pixels. When viewed side to side, it has an 8.3-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and resolution of 2688×1892 pixels.

The cameras on the Surface Duo 2 have also been updated. The foldable now comes with a triple camera array for its main camera setup. The array is made of a 12-megapixel wide sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. This is a big upgrade from the single sensor that was on the Surface Duo. On the front, the Duo 2 still sports a single 12-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 sensor.

Aside from that, the Surface Duo 2 remains one of the thinnest smartphones in the market. It comes in at 11mm thick when closed and 5.5mm when opened. It supports WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth5.1 and has a fingerprint reader. It’s powered by a 4,449mAh battery with support for fast charging.

It’s Not Just About Hardware

Microsoft leaned into innovating technology which made an impact. With the Surface Duo 2, they are staying true. The focus isn’t just on the hardware, Microsoft has been working on the software of the Duo. They have optimised their version of Android 11 for the Duo 2 packing it with features that make sense for the dual-screen setup.

They have created an extended experience that takes advantage of the slight curves of the Surface Duo 2’s screens when closed. With the Glance Bar, you will now be able to tell how many notifications you have when the screen is closed. The same feature can also be used to tell your battery capacity when charging.

Microsoft is also banking on a more seamless experience across its Windows 11 devices and the Surface Duo 2. They have updated the Microsoft launcher with a UI that is both familiar and utilitarian – similar to the one we see on Windows 11. These optimisations also include widgets that share the same approach.

Aside from this, the Surface Duo 2 comes with a lift to wake feature. This wakes the screen as soon as you lift it making things feel snappier and quicker. Of course, Microsoft XBOX App with Game Pass also makes an appearance on the Surface Duo 2. In fact, it comes with optimisations that turn one screen of the Duo 2 into a controller. This will allow you to have an uninterrupted gaming experience across the two screens.

Pricing & Availability

The Surface Duo 2 will be available in select countries starting October 21, 2021. It will be retailing at USD$1,499.99 (MYR6,271.80) for the 128GB version, USD$1,599.99 (MYR6,690.38) for the 256GB version and USD$1,799.99 (MYR7,526.69) for the 512GB version. It will be available in two colours: Obsidian and glacier.

Pre-orders are starting today in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and Japan. Units will start shipping on October 21, 2021.

There is no indication just yet if the Duo 2 will be making its way to other countries after its initial rollout.

Business, Computers, Gaming, Lifestyle, News

Microsoft Introduces the Surface Laptop Studio with Windows 11 – The Ultimate Windows 11 Content Creator?

September 23, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The content creator market is a hot one these days. Everyone wants a piece of the action in the content creator space. Of course, it is not like the Microsoft Windows platform was not an appealing platform for content creators in the first place. The Windows PC platform is still one of the most popular platforms in the content creation industry.

That was Windows 10 though. It was a versatile platform that could run anything you ask it to. It could do about anything you want it to with little compatibility issues. Because Windows 11 is pretty much Windows 10 in basic architecture, you should expect pretty much the same compatibility and versatility from Windows 11 devices.

Except, before we even see Windows 11 devices from manufacturers hitting shelves, Microsoft kind of jumped the gun a little and introduced their own Windows 11 devices. We want to say these could be reference devices, but it does not look like Microsoft is interested in creating references devices. Instead, these devices are built to compete and be as premium and powerful as Windows wants them to be for their purposes. The new Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is the very culmination of what Windows envisions a prefect creator class device should be.

First, it is powerful. You get to spec the new Surface Laptop Studio with up to an 11^th generation Intel Core i7-11370H. You also get up to 32GB of RAM to work with, which is ample when it comes to video editing, photo editing, and even 3D workloads. On the graphics department, you can opt for a very powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU for an even more seamless workflow. You can store all the works of art in a 2TB SSD (up to).

Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft

Of course, you get the highest standards of Windows 11 experience for creators with the new Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. The touch screen display does not just tilt open and close like the regular laptop you might be used to. There is a second hinge in the middle part of the display shell that allows the display to swivel a bit more. You can bring the display closer to you, for example, to have better access to the touch sensitive display. You could also use the Surface Slim Pen 2 to draw on it when you need to. Or use it as a tablet completely, when the mood takes you.

The display is not just some random cheap display too. It is a bright 14.4-inch PixelSense Flow Display that refreshes up to 120Hz, in case you are in the mood for gaming. It is a 3:2 aspect ratio displays at 2,400 x 1,600 pixels; odd, but it is a creator first display. With Dolby Vision as well, you can be proud at whatever film edits you would want to show your clients on the display.

The webcam you get on the Surface Laptop Studio is capable of Full HD resolution for crisp looking video calls. For good measure, the Surface Laptop Studio also comes with Windows Hello face authentication feature on the Surface Laptop. Of course, the Windows 11 device must have far-field mics for voice command and crisp audio for video calls. It also packs four Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos certification. Of course, for smooth, uninterrupted video calls, you have WiFi 6 capabilities on the Surface Laptop Studio.

The new Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio with Windows 11 will be available in select regions 5^th of October 2021 onward. Prices start from US$ 1,599.99 (MYR 6,703*) and tops out at US$ 3,099.99 (MYR 12,990*). There are no other colour options other than Platinum on the Magnesium and Aluminium built Windows 11. There are no confirmations on when the Surface Laptop Studio will arrive in Malaysia currently, but we are keeping our ears close to the ground. More information on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio can be found on their website.

*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.19 on xe.com as of 23/09/2021

techENT