JANUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 45breaks the way in which a user goes about their day, it
becomes a source of frustration. It breaks the ‘flow’ that
Microsoft’s chief Panos Panay so often talks about.
This brings us back to the Surface Neo, and to
some extent, the Surface Duo as well. Two-in-1s have
evolved beyond clamshells, providing alternative
ways of viewing and interacting with information: tent
mode, for example. Dual screens are the evolutionary
next step, even if – and this is important – even if
they’re not for everyone.
In the old days, when Apple first introduced
the iPad, reporters who used it to take notes were
offered the front rows in Apple’s small Infinite Loop
auditorium. This was peak Apple: offering pride of
place to those who saw the world (or were willing to)
as they did. I remember happily sitting behind them,
content to use a real keyboard.
Being forced to use a particular modality to interact
with your PC is simply misguided, and it will turn
people off. I have absolutely no desire to type on
glass, because it would be like jogging in bare feet.
Personally, I prefer a Surface Book 2, which offers a lot
more give in its keyboard than other laptops do.
The culmination of all of this is the Microsoft Surface
Neo, which provoked a ‘whoa’ from me when I saw the
keyboard. What impressed me wasn’t just Microsoft’s
willingness to bridge the gap between those who
prefer a ‘real’ keyboard and those who type on glass.
It was the way in which Microsoft carefully integrated
the keyboard into the device itself: accommodating the
reduced screen real estate that the keyboard covered
up, for example, by creating the Wonderbar. (I stillJANUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 45breaks the way in which a user goes about their day, it
becomes a source of frustration. It breaks the ‘flow’ that
Microsoft’s chief Panos Panay so often talks about.
ThisbringsusbacktotheSurfaceNeo,andto
someextent, the Surface Duo as well. Two-in-1s have
evolved beyond clamshells, providing alternative
waysofviewingandinteractingwithinformation:tent
mode,for example. Dual screens are the evolutionary
next step, even if – and this is important – even if
they’re not for everyone.
In the old days, when Apple first introduced
the iPad, reporters who used it to take notes were
offeredthefrontrowsin Apple’ssmallInfiniteLoop
auditorium.This was peak Apple: offering pride of
place to those who saw the world (or were willing to)
astheydid.I rememberhappilysittingbehindthem,
contenttouseareal keyboard.
Being forced to use a particular modality to interact
with your PC is simply misguided, and it will turn
people off. I have absolutely no desire to type on
glass, because it would be like jogging in bare feet.
Personally, I prefer a Surface Book 2, which offers a lot
more give in its keyboard than other laptops do.
The culmination of all of this is the Microsoft Surface
Neo, which provoked a ‘whoa’ from me when I saw the
keyboard. What impressed me wasn’t just Microsoft’s
willingness to bridge the gap between those who
prefer a ‘real’ keyboard and those who type on glass.
It was the way in which Microsoft carefully integrated
the keyboard into the device itself: accommodating the
reduced screen real estate that the keyboard covered
up, for example, by creating the Wonderbar. (I still