Microsoft has just announced the Surface Go tablet for $399 which is going to compete against the entry level Apple iPad, which currently retails for $329. The Surface Go basically looks like a smaller version of the Surface Pro 3. This device is going to have a 3:2 aspect ratio display and a resolution of 1800 x 1200. Underneath the hood is an Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y processor with either 4 or 8GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of storage. The processor is a dual-core seventh-generation model, which Microsoft says was chosen because of its balance between performance, battery life, and thermal properties that allow for a thin, fanless design. The company says the Go has up to nine hours of battery life as a result. The Go will run Windows 10 with S mode enabled, which means you can only install apps from the Microsoft App Store. You will be able to upgrade to a full version of Windows 10 Home for free, if you want a full desktop experience, but you likely will sacrifice battery life. The Surface is bundled with their signature built-in kickstand with unlimited positions, a front-facing camera with facial recognition login, and Microsoft’s proprietary Surface Connector port for charging and connecting to a desktop dock. Microsoft has added a USB-C 3.1 port, capable of charging the tablet or outputting video and data to external devices. It has also rounded the corners a bit compared to the latest Surface Pro, but overall, it’s the same familiar magnesium design Surface users have come to expect. Preorders for two hardware variants at four price points start today in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Taiwan, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Malaysia, and Thailand. In the future, versions of Surface Go with integrated LTE and 256GB SSDs will be added to the line-up. Surface Go pricing 4 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD, Wi-Fi: $399 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD, Wi-Fi: $549 Accessories Surface Go Type Cover (black): $99 Surface Go Signature Type Cover (Alcantara, red, blue, or silver): $129 Surface Mobile Mouse: $34.99 Surface Pen: $99 Michael Kozlowski is the Editor in Chief of Good e-Reader. He has been writing about audiobooks and e-readers for the past ten years. His articles have been picked up by major and local news sources and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times.<doc-sep>Microsoft has taken the wraps off the Surface Go, the company's answer to the Apple iPad. Available now for pre-order, the $399 (starting configuration) budget 2-in-1 laptop is aimed at students and enterprises and will ship starting August 2. It's not the most powerful laptop, but it should be great for traveling given its flexible, lightweight design and battery life rated at 9 hours. The $399 version of the Surface Go gets you a system with an Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage with a 1800 x 1200 display. The $549 configuration doubles the RAM and storage. Whichever model you choose, be sure to put aside some extra money if you want the keyboard or stylus which are sold separately for $99 each. MORE: Why Your Next Laptop Should Be a 2-in-1 How to pre-order the Microsoft Surface Go 1. To pre-order the Surface Go, visit its product page on Microsoft's online store. 2. Next, choose your configuration. 3. Add to your cart and check out. We're currently reviewing the Microsoft Go, but while you wait, check out the five ways it already beats the iPad.<doc-sep>Start transforming your game’s economy and increase your bottom line. Get the free guide now. Elevate your enterprise data technology and strategy at Transform 2021. Microsoft today introduced its smallest (10-inch screen) and lightest (1.15 pounds) computer yet: the Surface Go. Powered by an Intel Pentium Gold processor, the new laptop-tablet hybrid is available for preorder now starting at $399 (without a keyboard), and hits store shelves on August 2. Microsoft insists the Surface Go “is the best of Microsoft and the iconic Surface design you know and love, with no compromises in premium quality.” While we’ll have to wait for a review unit to judge for sure, on paper this appears to be true: Surface Go really does seem to be a shrunk-down Surface Pro (in fact, just like the Surface Pro, the Surface Go will get an LTE option later this year). Removable TypeCover keyboard? Check. PixelSense display with a 3:2 aspect ratio? Check. Touch, Surface Pen, and Surface Dock support? Check. Built-in kickstand? Check. Fanless? Check. Also like the Surface Pro, Microsoft even managed to squeeze a microSDXC card reader into the Surface Go under the kickstand. The tradeoff for all these features is battery life: Microsoft expects the Surface Go to get up to 9 hours of battery life, which is less than estimates for the Surface Laptop (14.5 hours), Surface Pro (13.5 hours), and Surface Book (17 hours). Speaking of battery life and charging the device, the Surface Go supports USB-C, first introduced to the Surface line with the Surface Book 2. The USB-C 3.1 port can be used for charging, as well as data transfer. Hardware aside, the best part here is that Microsoft is not shipping Surface Go with a limited version of Windows, as it did with Surface RT, for example. Surface Go is definitely not part of the company’s Windows on ARM efforts. Surface Go is running Windows 10 Home in S mode (which you can turn off for free), though schools will be able to purchase the Surface Go with Windows 10 Pro via commercial channels for an extra $50. That means Surface Go has everything you would expect from a Windows 10 machine, from features like Windows Hello (signing in with facial recognition) all the way to supporting decades of third-party apps. Microsoft promises the Surface Go can handle productivity apps like Office and casual apps like Spotify and Netflix. Specs and pricing Surface Go sounds great, but depending on what you’re looking for, the devil is definitely in the details. Here’s the full list of specs: OS: Windows 10 Home in S mode (consumers), Windows 10 Pro configurable to S mode (commercial) Dimensions: 9.6 inches x 6.9 inches x .33 inches (245mm x 175mm x 8.3mm) Mechanical features: Magnesium body, kickstand with full-friction multiposition hinge to 165 degrees, magnetic attach for keyboard fold stability Color: Platinum Physical buttons: volume, power Weight: 1.15 lbs. Screen: 10-inch PixelSense Display Resolution: 1800×1200 (217 PPI) Aspect Ratio: 3:2 Touch: 10-point multi-touch Processor: Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4415Y Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 Memory: 4GB/8GB RAM 1866Mhz LPDDR3 Storage: 64GB eMMC, 128GB/256GB Solid State Drive Security: Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in TPM 2.0 for enterprise security Network: Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible, Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology, LTE Optional Cameras: 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p HD video, 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD video Audio: Dual microphones, stereo speakers with Dolby Audio Premium Ports: USB Type C, Surface Connect, MicroSDXC card reader, 3.5mm headphone jack Sensors: Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope Power supply: 24 W power supply One thing worth noting that doesn’t come across in the specs: The Surface Go’s glass trackpad is bigger than on the Surface Pro. This is because the company acknowledges that finding the cursor on a smaller screen is that much harder. The entry-level Surface Go (4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage) sells for $399, while the next step up (8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage) costs $549. The 256GB configuration does not yet have a price tag. Again, the Surface Go doesn’t come with a keyboard. You have to buy a Surface Go Type Cover (black) for $99 or a Signature Type Cover with Alcantara (Burgundy, Cobalt Blue, or Platinum) for $129. Just remember that Alcantara stains easily. If you want a Surface Pen as well, you’ll have to pony up another $100. Microsoft today also unveiled the Surface Mobile Mouse with Bluetooth pairing for $35. The Surface Go may start at $399, but you can easily spend hundreds more if you add crucial functionality like a keyboard, more RAM, and extra storage. It can cost double the starting price if you also go for optional accessories like a pen and mouse. Target audience and availability So who is the Surface Go for? Well, given the starting price point, anyone on the move, really. But Microsoft is specifically targeting first-line workers, teachers, and students. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a lower entry point for the Surface product lineup. Speaking of which, here is how the lineup will stand starting on August 2: Surface Go: Starting at $399 Surface Pro: Starting at $799 Surface Laptop: Starting at $999 Surface Book: Starting at $1,499 Surface Studio: Starting at $2,999 You can preorder Surface Go today in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Taiwan, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Malaysia, and Thailand. Other countries will be able to preorder a bit later: Japan on July 11, Singapore and Korea on August 2, China on August 8, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain on September 12, and finally in India on October 2.<doc-sep>
There might be interest in a Surface Phone, but for now there's the Surface Go to enjoy. Revealed late yesterday, the Surface Go is described as Microsoft's "smallest, lightest Surface yet" -- and it's available to pre-order right now. Unfortunately, there's no discount for jumping on a pre-order, but if you're quick, you should be able to guarantee that you'll get one when it launches on August 2. The tablet will cost you $399, but you'll need to purchase a Signature Type Cover separately if you want to type rather than using the on-screen keyboard, and a Surface Pen if you like the idea of stylus operation. See also: While many are saying that the Surface Go is Microsoft's answer to the iPad, it's clear that the company is really trying to continue to bridge the gap between tablets and laptops. The Surface Go is supplied ready to use as a tablet, but the kickstand -- coupled with a keyboard cover, or a third-party keyboard -- allows it to double up as a laptop. Of course, for under $400, you're not getting a powerhouse tablet/laptop, but the specs are reasonable enough: Software Windows 10 in S mode, Microsoft Office 365 Home 30-day trial Dimensions 9.65" x 6.90" x 0.33" (245 mm x 175 mm x 8.30 mm) Weight Starting at 1.15 lbs (522 g), not including Type Cover Storage eMMC drive: 64GB, Solid-state drive (SSD): 128GB SSD Display Screen: 10" PixelSense Display, Resolution: 1800 x 1200 (217 PPI) resolution, Aspect ratio: 3:2, Contrast ratio: 1500:1, Touch: 10-point multi-touch, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Battery life Up to 9 hours of video playback Processor Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4415Y Security TPM 2.0 for enterprise security, Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in Memory 4GB or 8GB RAM Wireless Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible, Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology Connections 1 x USB-C, 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 x Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover port, microSDXC card reader, Compatible with Surface Dial off-screen interaction Cameras, video, and audio Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing), 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p Skype HD video, Single microphone, 2W stereo speakers with Dolby Audio Premium Graphics Intel HD Graphics 615 Exterior Casing: Magnesium, Color: Silver, Physical buttons: Volume, Power Sensors Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer What's in the box Surface Go, Power supply, Quick start guide, Safety and warranty documents Warranty 1-year limited hardware warranty Support 30-day return policy, 90 days of free technical phone support, 12 months in-store support and technical assistance, 1 free training session to transfer data and optimize performance While there's no early-bird discount available on pre-orders, Microsoft is offering "special pricing" for eligible students, parents, teachers, and military, bringing the price down to $379.05 If you want to get yourself a new Microsoft tablet, head over to the Surface Go pre-order page.