Tech Advisor - UK (2020-01)

JANUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 9

At the top of the display, a tiny 720p camera sits

alongside depth sensors that allow you to log in almost

instantaneously with Windows Hello, providing quick,

efficient password-less logins to the computing world.

The camera doesn’t offer a built-in physical shutter,

so paranoid types will have to satisfy themselves with

some good old-fashioned black tape.

Adding USB-C is a plus

The other noteworthy addition to the Surface Laptop

3 is the new, long overdue USB-C port, which replaces

the miniDisplayPort found on most previous Surface

devices. Because Microsoft left the USB-A port alone,

you won’t have to worry about connecting to legacy

USB hard drives, printers, and other devices. But

if you’re an existing Surface owner who bought a

miniDP-to-HDMI dongle, it’s now obsolete within the

Surface line. So, too, is Microsoft’s Surface Connector-

to-USB-C dongle, or the much cheaper ecosystem of

third-party chargers. But there are literally dozens of

USB-C hubs to choose from, too, which offer much

cheaper I/O options than the Surface Dock.

Because it now sports USB-C, you can charge

your Surface using a USB-C charger, rather than

just the Surface charger. To be fair, the ubiquity of

Surface chargers has been a Surface strength, as one

Surface charger basically fits all Surface devices. Still,

there’s even less of chance now that you’ll be without

a plug in a pinch.

Remember, too, that this Surface Laptop 3 adds

quick charging: up to 80 percent charge in an hour.

We’re told by Microsoft that quick charging works

JANUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 9

At the top of the display, a tiny 720p camera sits
alongside depth sensors that allow you to log in almost
instantaneously with Windows Hello, providing quick,
efficient password-less logins to the computing world.
The camera doesn’t offer a built-in physical shutter,
so paranoid types will have to satisfy themselves with
some good old-fashioned black tape.

Adding USB-C is a plus
The other noteworthy addition to the Surface Laptop
3 is the new, long overdue USB-C port, which replaces
the miniDisplayPort found on most previous Surface
devices. Because Microsoft left the USB-A port alone,
you won’t have to worry about connecting to legacy
USB hard drives, printers, and other devices. But
if you’reanexistingSurfaceownerwhoboughta
miniDP-to-HDMI dongle, it’s now obsolete within the
Surface line. So, too, is Microsoft’s Surface Connector-
to-USB-C dongle, or the much cheaper ecosystem of
third-party chargers. But there are literally dozens of
USB-C hubs to choose from, too, which offer much
cheaper I/O options than the Surface Dock.
Because it now sports USB-C, you can charge
your Surface using a USB-C charger, rather than
just the Surface charger. To be fair, the ubiquity of
Surfacechargershasbeena Surfacestrength,asone
Surfacecharger basically fits all Surface devices. Still,
there’sevenlessofchancenowthatyou’llbewithout
aplugina pinch.
Remember, too, that this Surface Laptop 3 adds
quick charging: up to 80 percent charge in an hour.
We’re told by Microsoft that quick charging works