Yes, it's strange to use a keyboard that's surrounded by fabric, but my fingers got used to it instantly.

It's covered in Alcantara, a microfiber material that's typically found in cars and was previously used in one of the Surface Keyboards. Speaking of the keyboard, it's the most unique design element of the Surface Laptop. In comparison, other laptops have speakers off to the sides, or beneath the screen, which projects sound away from you.

It's ideal for video watching, since it comes right at you. The sound is enveloping and detailed, and there's even a bit of low end too. It's a bit odd at first, especially since you can feel vibrations as your fingers rest on the keys, but the speaker placement makes for a far better audio experience than you'd find on most laptops. You also won't find any speaker grilles on this laptop - instead the sound comes directly through the keyboard. While the Surface Laptop doesn't sport ultrathin screen bezels like Dell's XPS line, its 13.5-inch display is generous. The only problem? It's powered by Windows 10 S, Microsoft's more restrictive OS meant for schools, which could end up frustrating plenty of consumers.īy subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. In that respect, the Surface Laptop delivers in spades. Many people just want a portable, well-built and powerful machine with great battery life for getting all of their work done. It might not have the flashy features of its siblings, but it's far more focused on one thing: being a great notebook. With all of that innovation, the idea of a traditional Surface notebook seems, well, a bit boring. (That the upcoming Surface Pro looks almost exactly like its predecessor is a testament to great design.) And earlier this year, we got the Surface Studio, a unique attempt at reinventing the all-in-one PC. The year 2015 was when it all came together, with the excellent Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. But, like any wise newcomer, Microsoft learned and improved with every new Surface. (I distinctly remember wanting to throw it out of a window during my review). The first Surface didn't inspire much hope. Just a few years ago, the idea that Microsoft could be one of the most exciting PC makers around would have seemed insane.

Windows 10 surface laptop