Computer Shopper - UK (2020-01)

ISSUE383|COMPUTER SHOPPER|JANUARY

MICROSOFTANDINNOVATION...REALLY?

OK, we know the Redmond-based company isn’t exactly known
forbeing an innovative company,thoughone might argue that
having an operating system and software that’s used across the
globe in millions upon millions of devices is hardly dull.
But since SatyaNadella replaced SteveBallmer as Microsoft
CEO,the companyhas arguably been more innovative than
ever.Put aside the work it’s done with Xbox, cloud platforms
and Windows 10, and take the Surface range as an example.
What started out as aneathybrid laptop-meets-tablet has
spawned aseries of sleekly designed devices, from the excellent
Surface Laptop to the creator-focused Surface Studio.
Now Microsofthas unveiled the Surface Neo and Surface
Duo,dual-screen devices that demonstrateRedmond has as
much innovation up its sleeve as Apple.

SURFACENEO–WHAT’STHAT?
Take two iPad Mini-sized tablets, stick them together and essentially
you have aSurface Neo.It’s adual-screened tablet, with the screens
connected by ahinge that rotates 360 degrees. That means the Surface
Neo can either be used as asingle-screen device,with the two screens
oriented side by side like an open book, or in alaptopform, with one
screen acting as the base and the other as the main display.
In either form, the Surface Neo is effectively acompact Surface Pro
–it’s only 5.6mm thick –that plays nicely with the new Surface Slim
Pen, atrimmed-down take on the Surface Penthat magnetically
attaches to the back of the Surface Neo.
Speaking of magnets, theSurface Neo includes amagnetic keyboard
that can be stuck on the back of the tablet when not in use.Itcan be
attached to the bottom of the Neo in its ‘laptop’orientation, taking up
the lower part of the bottom screen (pictured, farright). The toppart of
that displayshows what Microsoftcalls the WonderBar,which provides
extra information alongside the topdisplay. The keyboard can also slide
up to cover the WonderBar,allowing forthe bottom part of the lower
displaytoshow avirtual trackpad.
To make sure the Surface Neo works with
Windows 10, Microsofthas created Windows
10X, aversion of itsoperating system
specifically designed fordual-screen devices;
expect it to be adopted by such gadgets from
hardware makers in 2020 and beyond.

ITDOESN’TSOUNDASIFITWILLBEVERYPOWERFUL

It maybethin, but the Surface Neo is the first dual-screen device to
use Intel’s Lakefield chip.Thisminiscule 12x12x1mm chipset not only
makes use of Intel’s 10-nanometre process technology,but also uses
the chip maker’s Foveros tech.
In anutshell, Foveros allows forchip components to be formed in
‘chiplets’ that can be stacked upon each other,thereby reducing the
footprint of achip without reducing its capabilities.
In the Surface Neo,the chip combines efficientTremont cores to
keep power consumption in check, then adds aSunny Cove core into
the mix to deliver computeperformance.Other chips based on these
architectures have yet to pop up so we can’t sayfor sure how powerful
theyare,but given Lakefield comes with Intel’s Gen11 integrated
graphics, it should be apretty capable chip.

WHATABOUTTHESURFACEDUO?

At first glance,the SurfaceDuo (above left) is effectively asmaller Neo
without the magnetic keyboard. But it’s different deeper down.

Rather than run amobile version of Windows, the gadget uses

Android, but what appears to be aheavily skinned take on Google’s

mobile OS, with Microsoftapps aplenty.Itcan also accept phone calls.

SOIT’STHESURFACEPHONE?

Microsoftutterly avoided the words ‘phone’or‘smartphone’, but

given its Android credentials, yes, it’s pretty muchthe heavily

rumoured Surface Phone.

Details around the Surface Duo’s specs are thin on the ground. Both

it and the Surface Neo are due out ‘holiday2020’,aka Xmas time,so

there’s room forspecifications, chipsets and even designs to change.

But we’d put our moneyonthe Surface Duo coming with a

Qualcomm Snapdragon-based chip,given Microsofthas worked closely

with the chip maker on gettingWindows 10 to work on ARM-based

chips and instruction sets.

The likes of Samsung’s Galaxy Fold andHuawei’s MateX,offering

smartphones with foldingdisplays, could arguably make the Duo look a

little dated by thetimelate2020 comes around. But the dual rather

than foldable screen approach could make the Duo more durable than

the aforementioned phones, especially the

Galaxy Fold,which suffered screen problems

and had its launch delayed this year.

WHOARETHESESURFACEDEVICESFOR?

That’s agood question. The Surface Neo could

be seen as acompanion Windows 10 device

that pulls double duties as atablet anda

pseudo laptop in asmaller andmoreslick form than aSurface Pro.So

someone could have adesktop or larger laptop setup at their desk or

place of work, and then have the Surface Neo as aneathybrid device

forworkingand consuming media on the go.Whereas the specification

of the Surface Pro 7might be seen as alaptop replacement, the Surface

Neo,toour mind,isdefinitely asecondary device.

The Surface Duo is amoretrickyproposition. While it looks like a

well-engineered device from Microsoft, it’s arguably still an Android

product, rather than atrue Windows gadget.

Android is avery capable operating system, but it’s no replacement

forWindows in terms of gettingstuff done.One could argue that the

Surface Duo is effectively acompanion device to the Surface Neo and

other Surface devices, aimed at those who want to have aMicrosoft

machine forany occasion.

Otherwise,it’s an Android tablet-meet-pseudo-phone.Givenhow

many very good large-screen Android phones there are,such as the

Galaxy Note10+, the proposition of the Surface Duo is not necessarily

as tantalising as the Surface Neo.

SurfaceNeoandDuo

We take acloserlook at Microsoft’sinnovative newdevices

Given its Android credentials,

the Duo is prettymuch the

rumoured SurfacePhone

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