I got to admit that the 15" miniLED with 4:3 ratio and a nice, big haptic touchpad plus RTX Spark make it probably a perfect... Linux laptop, right next to Framework 13 Pro. Except Spark should actually support running powerful local models, if you can afford it.
They also added magnetic USB-C port, which is interesting, considering it's typically Apple's avenue of innovation.
Why talk bad about stuff you obviously have no idea about? Or are you just trolling? Go and read the articles, watch the review videos, THEN comment. This new connector is not a full length usb-c plug, but much shorter, so it breaks away just as easily as magsafe!
The MagSafe(-esque) USB-C charger is interesting. I have to assume the USB-C end is a little nub that doesn't actually go all the way in if it's supposed to pop out with a tug.
But at that point I'm not sure I understand the advantage of just having all your USB-C ports in addition to a dedicated magnetic charging port like Apple has on the MacBooks? With Microsoft's solution you're just covering a port that could be used for something else while charging.
Compared to all the other $2600+ Windows laptops that just use a normal USB-C port, this one gives you the ability to plug in quickly without having to align it perfectly every time. So that's a pretty good benefit i'd say.
I'd still prefer a dedicated shallow port like you said, but this is still pretty cool and it's technically not replacing anything that would've been there otherwise.
There's nothing "plus" about that. The alternative, which it's directly competing with, is the same quick magnetic attachment to charge, except it doesn't eat up one of your USB-C ports. What advantage does it get from being doubled up functionality with one of the USB-C ports?
If anything the MacBook Pro's ports are USB-C "plus" because you can use all of them while charging.
> What advantage does it get from being doubled up functionality with one of the USB-C ports?
OMG dude, you need to stop with this crap. Magsafe is just power, this is full USB-C! Single cable to your monitor/docking station that won't get ripped!
I love Apple products but comments like this is exactly why people pick at Apple fanboys.
What is the value proposition for that over the 128 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD version of the laptop with a list price $100 less? Does it have a higher power budget or better sustained thermals?
Perhaps the dev kit will be released before the actual laptop, allowing companies that intend to release software for it to build their software in advance?
I bought a $7000 surface studio a few years ago. It still sits in a box unused as Linux support was extremely difficult to the point I have up after trying to get it to work for a few weeks full time.
If MS get behind Linux this could be huge, but they will need to demonstrate a change in attitude
They didn't mention buying it expecting a good Linux experience, but maybe later on they realized Windows was turning to shit and wanted to use Linux with it instead
I have a Studio 2 for work and even on windows it runs like absolute garbage. Almost unbelievably slow at everything and locks up frequently. Maybe I have a dud with some sort subtle hardware fault but it's by far the worst computer I've owned. Not a good look for a premium priced laptop that is supposed to be a showcase for Microsoft.
And yeah, can't run Linux on it either to try and salvage it because of all the weird and undocumented hardware.
I have a cheaper Surface Laptop 4 that I wanted to love, even for Windows, but it just has such poor support for Windows even though its a first party device that I had to kind of move on to something else. Shame, since it could have been a good laptop at the time having a custom AMD chipset it could even pull decent frames in gaming and whatever, but it just has awful driver support for the GPU / display dimming.
The battery life is also unremarkable, and having other surfaces people have dumped on me that are older and newer (but I did not buy) I don't think I like the designs of them all around.
Wow, that machine is such a Mac Pro ripoff. Yet Microsoft still does not get it. We don't buy Apple machines for what they look like. We buy Apple machines because they have all day battery and because they don't run Windows. This thing, at gazillions of dollars willl still run Windows 11. Certainly the Pro Edition, but that's still a turd wrapped in a box of gold.
Microsoft seriously needs to develop the Windows 11 Deluxe Edition if they are to sell machines at this cost.
I own surface pro 11 gen from my work and mac air m2 for my personal stuff. The windows touchpad experience is not even comparable to the macbooks'. There's a reason why people always being a mouse with them.
> Yet Microsoft still does not get it. We don't buy Apple machines for what they look like. We buy Apple machines because they have all day battery and because they don't run Windows.
Not to be Microsoft apologist, but this doesn’t make logical sense.
I'm clearly part of the target market for this thing. But they think they can appeal to me by making the laptop look like a MacBook Pro. MacBook Pro isn't bad, but there is plenty of room to innovate in looks and port selection.
What isn't nearly good enough is Windows 11. I'm not buying a car just because it looks like some other car if all the seats have been replaced with liquid poo. The problem isn't that the mirror has a different curvature. It's that the internals are filled with liquid poo.
Just to let you know, the Framework 13 Pro with Windows installed on it gets better mixed productivity battery life and Netflix video playback than any MacBook currently on sale. Haptic trackpad, CNC machined chassis, touch screen, fully modular design.
This isn’t 10-15 years ago where no Windows laptops could compete with MacBook hardware. This is 2026 where Apple hasn’t touched the MacBook Pro chassis in 5 years and everyone else on the market also has an aluminum build with haptic trackpad, like the ThinkPad X9 15P.
This is 2026 where an ASUS ExpertBook has better speakers and is significantly lighter weight than a MacBook Pro.
This is 2026 where the notch on the MacBook Air and Pro is a ridiculous joke.
And really, Windows is not that bad. It’s not my personal choice but it’s fine, and there’s a bunch of applications macOS can’t run.
It's been 14 years since the first Arm-based Windows laptop. What's the state of the system software-wise? I feel they largely failed to make any significant inroads.
I don't get it why it seems to be so similar in shape and color to macbook pro instead of make use of Surface classic design which is already its' trademark.
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[ 3.4 ms ] story [ 15.9 ms ] threadThey also added magnetic USB-C port, which is interesting, considering it's typically Apple's avenue of innovation.
But at that point I'm not sure I understand the advantage of just having all your USB-C ports in addition to a dedicated magnetic charging port like Apple has on the MacBooks? With Microsoft's solution you're just covering a port that could be used for something else while charging.
Compared to all the other $2600+ Windows laptops that just use a normal USB-C port, this one gives you the ability to plug in quickly without having to align it perfectly every time. So that's a pretty good benefit i'd say.
I'd still prefer a dedicated shallow port like you said, but this is still pretty cool and it's technically not replacing anything that would've been there otherwise.
If anything the MacBook Pro's ports are USB-C "plus" because you can use all of them while charging.
OMG dude, you need to stop with this crap. Magsafe is just power, this is full USB-C! Single cable to your monitor/docking station that won't get ripped!
I love Apple products but comments like this is exactly why people pick at Apple fanboys.
Wonder if this seals the fate that M6 Pros will be at absolute minimum $100 more expensive?
Perhaps the dev kit will be released before the actual laptop, allowing companies that intend to release software for it to build their software in advance?
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If MS get behind Linux this could be huge, but they will need to demonstrate a change in attitude
Serious people don't use windows in 2026
Sir.
And yeah, can't run Linux on it either to try and salvage it because of all the weird and undocumented hardware.
The battery life is also unremarkable, and having other surfaces people have dumped on me that are older and newer (but I did not buy) I don't think I like the designs of them all around.
Can I have it?
They only want you avoiding windows if you're renting a machine on Azure.
Microsoft seriously needs to develop the Windows 11 Deluxe Edition if they are to sell machines at this cost.
Not to be Microsoft apologist, but this doesn’t make logical sense.
I'm clearly part of the target market for this thing. But they think they can appeal to me by making the laptop look like a MacBook Pro. MacBook Pro isn't bad, but there is plenty of room to innovate in looks and port selection.
What isn't nearly good enough is Windows 11. I'm not buying a car just because it looks like some other car if all the seats have been replaced with liquid poo. The problem isn't that the mirror has a different curvature. It's that the internals are filled with liquid poo.
And Microsoft needs to fix Windows 11.
> What isn't nearly good enough is Windows 1
Honestly, you are not. They target Windows developers, especially those who develop using CUDA for AI and other purposes.
Its looks has nothing to do with it, you don't get CUDA on macOS and I think you're showing a bit of "Apple arrogance" here, with all respect.
This isn’t 10-15 years ago where no Windows laptops could compete with MacBook hardware. This is 2026 where Apple hasn’t touched the MacBook Pro chassis in 5 years and everyone else on the market also has an aluminum build with haptic trackpad, like the ThinkPad X9 15P.
This is 2026 where an ASUS ExpertBook has better speakers and is significantly lighter weight than a MacBook Pro.
This is 2026 where the notch on the MacBook Air and Pro is a ridiculous joke.
And really, Windows is not that bad. It’s not my personal choice but it’s fine, and there’s a bunch of applications macOS can’t run.
This sounds insane to a Mac user.