Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Surface Book underlines the problem with hybrids
Microsoft’s Surface Book is as good as it gets for hybrid devices. You can’t buy a better one, even if it still has a few irritating bugs.
Hybrids are popular. They are the only growing PC segment. There is no doubt they are what many people want from a computing device.
And yet there is something wrong with the hybrid format. Wrong could be the wrong word here. Perhaps unsatisfactory better fits the bill.
The problem is that all hybrids involve some form of compromise. In most cases you don’t get the best laptop experience, nor do you get the best tablet experience.
Many users are happy to tradeoff these experiences in return for having two devices in one package.
This tradeoff plays out in a different way with the Surface Book. As my earlier post says, it is an excellent Windows 10 laptop. In practice I found once the review was over, I only ever used the Surface Book as a laptop.
Sure detaching the screen is clever. But I never need to do this apart from testing to see how it works. [1]
And there’s the problem.
The Surface Book is a great Windows laptop, the extras that
turn it into an OK tablet add a lot to the cost. Prices
start at NZ$2750. That’s $1000 more than you’d pay for
something with the same specification that doesn’t double
as a tablet.
- I also found I almost never use the touch screen. It helps that the Surface Book has a great touchpad that means you don’t need to make uncomfortable reaching movements.
Surface Book underlines the problem with hybrids was first posted at billbennett.co.nz.
Bill Bennett
New Zealand technology news
Bill Bennett publishes technology news and features that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers.
Covering enterprise and small business computing, start-ups, listed companies, the technology channel and devices. Bennett's main focus is on New Zealand innovation.
Bill Bennett stories are republished on Geekzone and Scoop.
Stories published on this site are available to publishers for a fixed fee or a monthly subscription.
Binoy Kampmark: The Australian Defence Formula, Spend! Spend! Spend!
Ian Powell: New Hospital Building Trumps ‘Yes Minister’ Hospital Without Patients
Mike Treen: Prices Are Still Rising - It's A Cost Of Living Crisis
Gordon Campbell: On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
Peter Dunne: Newshub And TVNZ Tip Of Media Iceberg
Harry Finch: Austerity – For And Against