JANUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 27Admittedly, we’ve dinged prior Surface tablets
like the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 because they have
largely remained static over the past few generations.
We can’t quite say the same for the Surface Pro 7,
for two reasons: One is that chip, and the other is
the addition of a more modern USB-C port.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7 starts at £799, and is
available in either black or platinum. (The existing
Type Covers have several different colour options,
including black and the red colour shown here.)
That price can quickly climb to £2,249, though, with
higher-end. A corporate version running Windows
10 Pro is available as well.
If you’re familiar with the Surface lineup, you’re
familiar with the Surface Pro 7. Behind it is the familiar
kickstand, which still reclines to 165 degrees. The
optional Type Cover and Surface Pen are still here, too.
The USB-C port is a change that looks to the
future. In the new Surface Laptop 3, for example,
the miniDisplayPort port was removed and replaced
with USB-C. On the older Surface Pro 6, USB-C was
added to the mix of ports, which still includes the
miniDisplayPort. (That was somewhat of an odd
choice, if only because the Surface Pro tablet has less
physical volume to play with than the Surface Laptop.
But who knows?)
Microsoft is also touting the dual far-field stereo
mics. They figure into the enhancements Microsoft
is making to digital assistants within Windows, such
as placing them on the lock screen in the upcoming
‘19H2’ release of Windows 10. I didn’t have a chance
to test those.JANUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 27Admittedly, we’ve dinged prior Surface tablets
like the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 because they have
largely remained static over the past few generations.
Wecan’tquitesaythesamefortheSurfacePro7,
fortworeasons:Oneis thatchip,andtheotheris
theaddition of a more modern USB-C port.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7 starts at £799, and is
availablein eitherblackorplatinum.(Theexisting
TypeCovers have several different colour options,
including black and the red colour shown here.)
Thatpricecanquicklyclimbto£2,249,though,with
higher-end.A corporateversionrunningWindows
10 Pro is available as well.
If you’re familiar with the Surface lineup, you’re
familiar with the Surface Pro 7. Behind it is the familiar
kickstand, which still reclines to 165 degrees. The
optional Type Cover and Surface Pen are still here, too.
The USB-C port is a change that looks to the
future. In the new Surface Laptop 3, for example,
the miniDisplayPort port was removed and replaced
with USB-C. On the older Surface Pro 6, USB-C was
added to the mix of ports, which still includes the
miniDisplayPort.(Thatwassomewhatofanodd
choice,if only because the Surface Pro tablet has less
physical volume to play with than the Surface Laptop.
But who knows?)
Microsoft is also touting the dual far-field stereo
mics. They figure into the enhancements Microsoft
is making to digital assistants within Windows, such
asplacingthemonthelockscreenin theupcoming
‘19H2’releaseof Windows 10. I didn’t have a chance
totest those.