8 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2020MICROSOFT SURFACE EVENT
on with a strong hiss.) In general, though, the Surface
Laptop line has transformed from a banshee to a
virtually fanless device: silent, without any particular
effect on performance. And even when the Surface
Laptop 3’s fan was called to action, it turned off nearly
instantly after the benchmark completed. Moreover,
the bottom of the chassis never came close to being
hot, let alone uncomfortable. That’s remarkable.
Laptop displays have improved over the years, but
the Surface displays, including the one on the Surface
Laptop 3, remain at the top of the heap. Unfold the
Surface Laptop 3, and Microsoft’s bold PixelSense
display brightens, putting out a blazing 383 lumens,
more than most of its competition. Though Microsoft
didn’t offer a 15in Surface Laptop 2 version, the 201
pixels-per-inch density of the Laptop 3’s 15in model
remains the same as the prior generation.Unlike some competing laptops, Microsoft
uses just a small hinge-mounted vent to cool
the Surface Laptop 3. Otherwise, passive
cooling appears to shoulder more of the load8 TECH ADVISOR • JANUARY 2020MICROSOFT SURFACE EVENT
on with a strong hiss.) In general, though, the Surface
Laptop line has transformed from a banshee to a
virtually fanless device: silent, without any particular
effect on performance. And even when the Surface
Laptop 3’s fan was called to action, it turned off nearly
instantlyafterthebenchmarkcompleted.Moreover,
thebottom of the chassis never came close to being
hot, let alone uncomfortable. That’s remarkable.
Laptop displays have improved over the years, but
the Surface displays, including the one on the Surface
Laptop 3, remain at the top of the heap. Unfold the
Surface Laptop 3, and Microsoft’s bold PixelSense
display brightens, putting out a blazing 383 lumens,
more than most of its competition. Though Microsoft
didn’t offer a 15in Surface Laptop 2 version, the 201
pixels-per-inch density of the Laptop 3’s 15in model
remains the same as the prior generation.Unlike some competing laptops, Microsoft
uses just a small hinge-mounted vent to cool
the Surface Laptop 3. Otherwise, passive
cooling appears to shoulder more of the load