Microsoft Surface Book 2 Review - The Perfect Laptop? | The Tech Chap
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ย. 2024
- This is the Microsoft Surface Book 2 - a premium, powerful & VERY expensive 2-in-1 laptop. With Intel 8th Gen chips & GTX 1050 -
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You might compare the prices of this device to the Macbook Pro but the Macbook is ONLY a laptop, you don't get the choice of using it as a tablet, you don't get any touch features, you can't write on it or draw. The Surface book can do everything and I suspect do it all pretty well.
If you're a digital artist, you can draw and sculpt using the pen. If you like to make notes then you can hand write them in OneNote. If you want to do some 3D modelling it'll run 3DS Max, Maya, Blender, ZBrush. You can game on it. You can pop the screen off and do some casual browsing on the net or social media. It does it all. To do the same on Apple products you'd need an iPad Pro plus a Macbook and then you're carrying around two devices everywhere, plus a shedload of cables and adapters.
Not to mention the dedicated 1050 graphic card
Just to clarify, you CAN charge with USB C, as long as the power brick is big enough. MacBook Pro USB Charger works perfectly with it.
You can charge with usb-c , just need to buy a separate adapter.
mmmh.... really? somehow I doubt it, I don't think Microsoft allowed the power-in function of that port. do you have a reference to your claim? I could be wrong of course
othjer reviewers all say you can.
Hussein Barakat - You are correct:
"Users can also recharge the Surface Book 2 with a USB Type-C charger as long as it is powerful enough.
You'll need to get a PD or 'Power Delivery' compliant USB-C charger. Make sure you get a quality one and that it's certified. Read the safety manual!
Devices can be charged from the Surface Book 2, such as a phone using USB Type-C."
I guess a Note 8 or S8 charger then.
It's real, I tried it on my Surface Book 2.
Good video, but the laptop is NOT fanless. True, it doesn't have a fan on the screen side, but there IS a fan with the GTX 1050.
No fan for the i5 version
I'm using this for my plane ride to Japan and need to do my homework while on vacation, I'm so stoked my brother got a mac book and left this hidden gem for me!
A 1050 in this 13" form factor is kind of nutty. I wish others did the concept of separating the CPU and GPU cooling into screen and keyboard halves, allowing a much higher TDP GPU than usual 13"ers.
He has it next to the XPS15 in a few shots and you can see it's not actually that different with regards to size. Yes, it's not as wide (a few cm narrower) but depth is the same, height is about the same. And that runs the same 1050 and a full 45W quadcore.
NickAccount01 but the XPS 15 isnt a detachable
Can't agree more.
Separating the two in that way is pretty hard.
I like the Magsafe-style charger. Many times, I've inadvertently snagged something on my Surface Book lead, and that has saved my expensive laptop's life. I found the same thing on my old Macbook Pro. I think Apple were foolish to drop what was a great charging solution.
As someone who needs a laptop to draw and handwrite on for a living and as a hobby, this is my dream computer. But for someone that just needs a computer for typing and using the trackpad, it's hard to justify the price.
Still, this seems like the perfect computer for me but not for the average laptop user.
Parker Brooks why not the regular surface pro?
Surface Pro has a smaller screen and the type cover just makes the whole thing.... flimsy. If all you want to do is draw, then sure, but if you also want it to act as a laptop... no go.
BROis the type cover is fairly stable. Yes, it’s not as good as laptops, but it’s good enough and it doesn’t cost exorbitant amounts.
Imran Ozair It's pretty strange to use it on your lap though
Parker, just went through this with my wife and after trying many machines, she settled on the Lenovo Yoga 920. Although she thought she'd never use it, she actually uses it a LOT in tablet mode with the pen. We returned the Surface Book 2 in lieu of the 920. Lighter weight, less reflective screen, usable tablet mode (Surface Book 2 IS NOT), and so on.
Hello Chap. Do note:
"Users can also recharge the Surface Book 2 with a USB Type-C charger as long as it is powerful enough."
You'll need to get a PD or 'Power Delivery' compliant USB-C charger. Make sure you get a quality one and that it's certified. Read the safety manual!
"Devices can be charged from the Surface Book 2, such as a phone using USB Type-C."
Cheers.
Pürgatöry Priest OnePlus's Dash charger?
Kushal Rajbhandari - I'm not sure how that stacks up against PD chargers. Simply put, it may not output the required higher power to charge timely and efficiently (heat, battery conditioning, etc). See more below
OK, I'll try and make this a quick read, do read it all for a better understanding. ☺
*takes breath;
Compared to other USB Type-C chargers/tech,
"Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology which relies on delivering a higher voltage to the battery to expedite charging time."
Note:
"Quick Charge 4.0 is fully compliant with the USB-C Power Delivery (PD) spec."
So, a charge that's fully compliant with the USB-C Power Delivery (PD) specifications should be used to charge a Surface Book 2, I wouldn't use anything else not certified or compliant!
From ZDNet:
"The USB Type-C port also supports power delivery. Depending on the Surface Book base, the USB Type-C port can draw either 39W or 95W, the same as the Surface Connect power supply.
The catch is you must use a USB Type-C charger with an actual Type-C port that supports the Power Delivery 2.0 or 3.0 standard. (The 87W MacBook Pro charger should work just fine.)"
In any case, you'll most likely not be able to output enough power for the higher charging requirements the Surface Book 2 needs, or even the MacBook. It'll charge, but oh so slowly. I'd be cautious in any case as Dash Charge is a super proprietary technology by OPPO and not yet licensed to other vendors. So, not much is known of its overall tech and what OPPO may have done/tweaked/designed out-of-bounds(?) to make sure it works perfectly with devices Certified for Dash Charge charging technology compared to devices not certified (hence disclaimers in warranties!).
Things to consider, you are charging what is essentially an explosive material, factors such as heat, over charging (extremely high amperage) with no safety guards/automatic shutoff (like what you may get from cheap, shoddy/older chargers, etc).
There's a lot going on other than simply plugging in or wirelessly charging a device. Hence it's recommended to use the manufacturer's certified charger(s) for their given devices or one's that are certified by a recognised compliance lab or the manufacturer themselves. Unfortunately, not even their stuff is perfect, but you can be sure the big players take getting sued seriously. ;) So they make sure to dot the i's and cross the t's more often than not!
For some more reading and stats, see:
linustechtips.com/main/topic/836651-can-you-dash-charge-a-mbp-2017/
Dash Charge compared/differences to Quick Charge:
m.androidcentral.com/dash-charge
*some references gleaned from the above links.
hey.. just wanted to know if it can support an external gpu through the type-c port?
I know it requires a thunderbolt type-c but since it can be charged without a thunderbolt one I hope it can support an external gpu too?
Prayash Shrestha - The requirements for an external GPU on USB-C needs to be Thunderbolt 3 compliant. So no, unfortunately the Surface Book 2 does not support eGPU option.
I have the SB gen 1 and I still love it to this day. Its fantastic and beautiful.
*uses google docs to type "Surface Book 2 Review"..*
I mean i would use it for adobe software so for me won’t be much of a waste… OF course I would it for notes that’s the purpose of computers right? But I get you say this because of the price!
ALSO Always go for used or somewhere to pay less
Yup would definitely buy it.. Because... For me a computer or a laptop.. Is... Windows or Microsoft!.... Wonderful gadget from Microsoft. Will buy!
you lost me with the argument that the base is fanless, I was like whaaaaat! a 1050 without a fan will last like 5 seconds before melting. I think you meant the tablet part. minor error, no worries.
Yeah ... I just bought it yesterday....and yup that’s an amazing laptop 💻
i have being using this laptop during one and half year and i can say is the best laptop in the market . BUY IT i higly recommend it . IT WORTH EVERY DOLLAR IN THE PURCHASE
Is it repairable easily if damage?? Is it good for offline word excel typing task???
Beautiful kit and specs, but a little pricey Tomo, personally if i had the readies, then I would self indulge!
gogadget go get acer swift 3 8th generation
When you're watching this TH-cam video on the Surface Book 2...
And how is it? It gets sold cheap second hand rn, is it worth it?
@@akira7ink I got a 15” 1tb for $1375 and it is amazing. Does everything you throw at it and the pen comes in clutch for notes and drawing if you are into engineering or similar fields.
@@linkzyofficial well, after hours of researching I decided to get a gaming laptop. Looks like a business laptop. I love it, but thx for your answer :)
1. The screen wabble is much less than the previous model. Now the hinge is stiff enough to hold the screen while using stylus or touching screen. I saw many other videos give positive feedback on the hinge improvement and I feel the same on my Surface Book 2.
2. I don't know why you said "why can't we charge it through the usb type-c port". Did you ever try? You can actually charge it through that port and many people do like the magnetic connection.
These are the things that I think are misleading.
Microsoft is underrated
By the way, the best true review ever.
Maybe I will buy this for my college.😀
same :D
Thought about it a lot recently. But then is sleek looks really worth it for the long term? I'm not one to buy into planned obsolescence, but this is a good piece however, potential maintenance is a nightmare, like apple products, you'll have to send it to a specialist mostly. I think out of pocket service fees can reach up to 600 dollars. If you get the amazon 1,099 then, that's almost half the initial cost to buy.
I think everyone needs to stop and take a look at the darker side of the 'sleekness' factor. This is
insane designing that requires the same expert settings that put them together, to take them apart for maintenance.
You need to do some serious research before posting a review.
1) "Also, why can't they charge it through the USB-C port?" - Sorry man. Yes you can charge it as long as the cable supports the Power Delivery 2.0 or 3.0 standard and the supply is at a high enough wattage
2) "There are no fans on the bottom" - There is a fan on the bottom of the 13 inch i7 model. The i5 model is fan-less
Just...facepalm
OH NO BOO HOO TAKE THE VIDEO DOWN.
Care to link us to your video?
I agree on both points. But tbh... after he stated the 2 points in the video, i instantly jumped down to the comments to check if others pointed out these two big errors already,... not a good way to do a review.
the fan for the 13 inches model is just for the gpu, while the 15 inches also has a fan in the screen part
also, Just... cringe dude
Exactly. The GTX 1050 needs to be cooled. The CPU is fanless in all 13,5" models. 15" has a CPU fan.
Microsoft is the new Apple
@Frischeparadies - mmm... several of my colleagues have this machine and simply love it. I'm in the states so maybe there is a difference.
Damn I really like the intro and the outro!! Nice work Tom!
Would’ve been great if they had also put a flip stand behind the screen like the surface pro so when using it as a tablet it’s a bit more comfortable
Stunning audio and video quality, keep up the good work!
I like the fact that they kept the magnetic charging port. I currently have last year's performance base variant - worth upgrading?
Vids are always so good, thanks. Up the UK!
Is the keyboard painted silver keys or silver plastic?
Nice video and greetings from Germany :D
A niche product for sure. I have been enjoying it so far.
You think you will you it as your daily driver?
Thank you man! I was considering buying this but you just persuaded me to buy it! Thank you love your reviews and keep up the good work!
Hey, well done review! You say you're not sold on the fact that it's a hybrid, but it doesn't seem like you use the pen at all. I have one for University, and I take all my lecture notes in OneNote and do all of my assignments on it and homework on it. The pen is awesome and this is what set it apart from other laptops. I wouldn't be able to do this if I couldn't flip the tablet part around and use the laptop in its "studio" mode.
What is the suitable pen for it?🤔 Can you give me a name?
The Surface book 2 and the MacBook pro are the leaders in the laptop world right now! I dream of having both of them😭😭
got a great dell 17" 2-1 for 900.00 with a mx150 video GPU... just cant beat it for the price... i7 8th gen and 512 GB SSD and 12GB ram...this thing works great... I guess some people have more money than brains...
Thanks for the reviews tech chap. Is the review unit i7 or i5 model?
Glad I exchanged my surface laptop 2 for this
I'm deciding between this and the laptop.
Why did you decide to get the book instead of the laptop?
I plan on just buying this that way i won't have to upgrade for a very long time
Great review. Great intro too
this is cool. But i think i am happy with a surface laptop.
I have a Surfacebook 1 and I use it for all kinds of things but mainly for digital art.
I love this laptop but as an artist I have to say that the screen gets pretty damn hot, which is a problem because my hand lays on it while drawing. But beside of this fact its fantasitc.
useful video, it would have helped to have some benchmarks vis a vis your daily XPS 15. that is for smoothness of premiere editing and speed of rendering. Also, something I think worth mentioning is that compared say to XPS15, this surface books are unserviceable by the user, they are basically sealed up, and everything being soldered on, it means basically you throw it away if it fails..and hence, an extensive warranty is a must.
Thanks man! I was pondering whether I want this computer and after watching the review I realized it's totally worth it.
You can still charge via USB C port. The Microsoft connect is still included because it still needs to be able to charge in table only form.
Lovely hybrid as you say but that price! I can't imagine what it'd cost in New Zealand. :/ Anyway, great video mate ;)
Hey...I just bought it today from noeleeming $2500 i5, 8g ram, 255 gb hdisk....have u try it before
I loved your review and I so want a Surface book now haha
Great review @TechChap - Question for you. Would you wait for the new XPS 15 and the i7-8750H chip or go with the book 2 15" /w i7-8650U chip?
you nailed it :) all the spots. usb-c should have been used in fact x2 usb-c one for external gpu and one for charging, they should have removed the previous charger port. you are totally correct about the tablet mode operations, i think edge might be a better option for web browsing in tablet mode, but most of the icons and navigating the ui is very tiny in tablet mode and also cumbersome. i noticed loud fan noise in other videos during gaming and that became a real turning point as basic operations could start the fans and be annoying, chrome might do this if lots of tabs opened
i hope he knows now that you can charge it through the USB-C port
Lovely piece of tech there, but personally I still love my SPro4, it's just perfect.
Tichyz Tech also the bottom does have a fan with the gpi, its hella loud i dont know how you wouldent hear it. Also, its not the same gpu as the XPS '15, because thats a 4 gig 100, but this is a 2 gig.
The laptop looks stunning but again i'd get it if i had the money to spend and because i watch a ton of movies and shows the tablet mode is something i'd use and probably for some illustrations as well.
I will wait for the 15 inch model. Hope it will come to Germany in 2018 too.
Great video. Might be interesting to compare with what spec Surface Laptop you can get for the same price, especially since most people will be using it as a clam-shell machine.
If you can afford it, it is the best all in one laptop out there
An artists life is truly troubling since it's very difficult to find the right tablet.
If Microsoft makes a super premium and powerful non-detachable version I would consider buying one
Christopher Yiwei Liang agreed!
you bean like a Surface Laptop Pro? you can just wait for the Surface Laptop 2 with the quad-core 15 watts CPU, that should provide enough power for most users.
Daniel Rodriguez-Delgado True, don't know if I can get a discrete graphics card though
This laptop is tooo expensive😭😭😭 but every good thing doesn't come cheap
Awesome review! I have the 13.5' i5 - do you think this version's specs can handle video editing via Adobe Premiere Pro?
I see tech chap, i click
A nice video, and thanks for sharing!
I think the lack of TB3 and use of the propitiatory charging port is because of the Surface dock. Damn shame, its very close to being what i want in a laptop.
You can charge via the USB C port
Great review, top notch!
What a wonderful computer. As a student, I will save my money for one year and then I will be happy with this new piece of art! I'm a future video game developper, so this is tablet/powerful computer is perfect for me!
Wish you would tell more specs like screen color accuracy.....and not just say more travel cuz other reviewers say it is slightly less by a 0.1mm. How do you feel it is more? Details....but important if you are a reviewer
You can charge it by the USB c port
But as a tablet, you get a fully functional OS which I think is nice. Nobody actually mention that.
Wacom, Apple and Microsoft make the best drawing tablet, and its amazing to have such a tablet in a very powerful labtop.
And its at the same price as the highest dell, or the razer latop for the 3000$ model, but all of the others dont habe a drawing tablet in it, yet to say such a huge batter.
A bit price, but Im looking for a long lasting machine that is powerful and can do drawing as well. ❤️❤️👌
closets products to this, will be Lenovo Yoga 720, it has a 45watt CPU 7700HQ, and the 1050. and is Wacom. so on paper is quite more powerful. of course, nothing is as nice as this screen, and the yoga does not detach.
There is a fan in the i7 with the GPU. It does charge through usb c. And the key travel is actually less.
Microsoft should do a new Surface Laptop Pro or something in those lines with the hardware of this but with the classic laptop form factor.
I feel like the wobble would cause me to getting into the habit of using the trackpad mainly instead of the touchscreen for laptop mode.
just bought a surface book 2 with the gtx 1050 and 8750u amazing device paid 1178 total, although i dont get that screen wiggle like you and the keyboard enter key is different so idk if Microsoft did a revision but great device its fast even in 2021
Sir
Surface book
Vs
MacBook Apple
Which is number one??
Very nice. But the wobbling screen thing is a deal breaker. It would drive me nuts. If the XPS 15 is more sturdy, that would be a better choice.
Well that makes no sense. It doesn't wobble while in use. Only when you touch it. And if you want to touch it go tablet mode.
I've been really impressed with Microsoft's take on design recently. Both hardware and software.
You need the Microsoft charging solution because it can directli charge the table wothput base! Not to forget the magnetic ability to be pulled out fast without damaging anything...
Thankfully, the awkward headset jack can be offset by the fact that I have a 6 foot (2-ish meters) cord.
Waiting for Dell's 2019 XPS OLED....
11 hours of battery back up is pretty good.
Pl tell the apps which were on at that time.
Wow another great review .
You can actually charge it through the USB-C if you have a powerful enough adapter.... (maybe an Apple one)...
This or the new Dell XPS 13"?
obviously this if price isnt a problem.
Any other model that compete with this monster in terms of price and performance ??? HELP ME
You can charge through usb c port surface connector rules with switchers and stuff man
Great video, I'm getting one.
Real prices for be competitive
Base model - $999
With GTX 1050 - $1499
With GTX 1060 - $1999
Thoughts on the Surface Book 2 vs the Dell XPS 15?
will you be taking a look at the surface book 3?
there is a fan in there just like in the old one
Yes you can charge with USB C!
Not only did he make the USB C comment, but he also stated no fans? I'm pretty sure each version with a dGPU has a fan. It's only the the ones without a designated GPU that are fanless from what I have read.
Could you connect your external screen with your surface book 2 ?
Thibault Saint-Aubin Photography yeah
i think there is fan on the base, there are vents right above the f1-f12 keys
Which is better for an $1,800 budget: XPS 15 or Surface Book 2 13.5in
I'd recommend you start finding alternative sources for background music. Using music commonly found in "Spider vs Elsa" videos takes away from an otherwise awesome video.
There are lots of good free tracks out there.
Stefan Randa I thought it was ok. Why should he change it for one opinion?
Synapse I'm not telling him to do anything. Hence why I used the word "recommend"
Nay keep doing what you do man! Music is great and everyone's tastes are different. This chap is recommending on his own behalf - I don't see any other complaints :DD
Your tone says otherwise.
Do you think the base model is fine for me? I’m a college student and plan on using it to take notes and do some coding on the go. I don’t like the surface pro because it’s awkward to use on the lap. And I won’t be gaming on it because I already have a desktop pc that I game on.
Base would be fine, but it's 7th Gen i5 unfortunately. I'd go for the £1,999 with the much better 8th gen processor.
by that point should I just get the 15 inch then? (I'm in the US)I'm looking for something that will last me through senior year of college and med school (CS major while doing premed classes)
Great review. I'd like to add my experience with the Surface Book and why I won't be getting the 2. I was an early adopter of the 1st Gen Surface Book and for the first six months, I had to have the unit replaced and reinstalled the OS from scratch 3 times, but MS worked out the bugs and it then worked as advertised. I was trying to go all in on the MS ecosystem, had a Windows phone, fitness band, and the Surface Book that I thought would take the place of my iPad. The truth is that to use it as a tablet, it is a three step process to separate it, power it up, and get to where you want to be which was cumbersome on a train where as an iPad is take it out and turn it on…done. Not to mention that while there has been progress, there is still a substantial app gap for Windows. So, I was then carrying two devices again. MS then stopped making Windows Phones and the Band so I was back on an iPhone and Apple Watch. When the Surface Book 2 was announced I was tempted by the faster processor but in reality, I wouldn’t use it as a tablet and wouldn’t game on it (have an Alienware desktop for that), so I decided to take the plunge and go all in on a Macbook Pro. Reasons being that it will work with all of my devices, has outstanding build quality and technical support, and while not the latest and greatest specs, it works.
i have the 15 in. I love it. my only complaint other than the cost is the size in tablet mode, it's HUGE. I would recommend the 13.5 for tablet. But, I wanted the 1060, so i have a monster tablet.
Craig Chandler Hi, can you tell me what the fans sound like please as I'm looking at the 15",are they loud or a quite woosh etc,appreciate if you could tell me please,also do you have any screen bleeding and coil wine one reviewer mention
Ken,
I have been happy with mine so far. The fans are quiet, but I am not a gamer. Maybe a little coil whine, but to hear it I need to put my ear up to the screen. In normal use I don't hear it. I have had it less than a week and I have spent much of that time installing software and transferring files. I have not had time to stress it or really test it. But for me so far I am happy with my purchase. Screen is beautiful. The bezels are a lot wider than the XPS 15 for example, but the part of the screen that is used for the image is perfect.
Craig Chandler THANK YOU,I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GETTING BACK TO ME,IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE AND HELPS. ME DECIDE I heard the video camera is one of the best,so i definetly don't mind it not having supper skinny bezels like the XPS and an AWEFUL chin cam,if you need to put your ear up to the screen to hear the coil wine that fine by me,and I'm not a real gamer,just like minecraft and simple platform games, just like the idea of the 15" screen the new 8 gen chip and the 6Gb of 1060 and the QUAD CORE INSTEAD OG DUAL CORE THAT ALWAYS WORRIED ME ,IVE.I'VE BEEN WAITING 1-11/2 for this to come out,it's everything the surface book 1 was lacking for methey aren't available in New Zealand yet,CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH SIZE DID YOU GET IF YOU DONT MIND,THE 256. OR 512 SSD,I DONT THINK ID EVER NEED THE 1TB and its way way dearer,tossing up with the 256 and 512,ANYWAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP,KEN
Ken Purchase hi the 15 inch is currently not available in New Zealand.
Ken Purchase if you have a lot of files than I would recommend 512ssd but if you don’t have a lot of files than 256 gb.
The headphone jack issue for me is solved with a USB c adapter since my Samsung buds always have the adapter with them
Hey mate, how did you get good speeds editing on this laptop, Im using premiere in the same spec'd model and it barely plays back smooth 1080 @ 1/2 res... Are there any settings Im not aware of?....
would love to see them offering an AMD cpu notebook.
the market need to open up.
I have a surface pro 5 for 5 years and I've been planning to buy a surface book 3 or 2, I found one that is only around $500 - $600 in price which is affordable (this price includes GTX 1050 and stylus pen), should I buy it? I mean I want to buy to replace my overwhelmingly slow surface pro 5 (4gb ram, intel core i5, no gpu)