Since the presentation of the first iPad model, back in 2010, the Cupertino-based company has always marked the way forward for this ecosystem, an ecosystem that has had ups and downs due to the low renewal rate by users. Although Apple has included new features in recent years in the version of iOS for the iPad, this continues to offer a number of limitations.
Microsoft also created a new ecosystem of tablets, but unlike Apple's model, these are managed by a full version of Windows, which allows users to comfortably carry their tablet wherever they want, having access to any type of application they need, without having to resort to applications carried on a tablet, as is the case with the iPad. But it was out of price.
The Redmon-based company has just presented what can be a very valid alternative for all those users looking for a versatile, inexpensive tablet with a full version of Windows 10. We are talking about the Surface Go. The Surface Go is a tablet of 10 inches, with dimensions of 243,8 x 175,2 and 7,6 millimeters and a weight of 544 grams. If we add the Type Cover keyboard case, the weight increases to 771 grams.
Surface Go Specifications
The Surface Go offers us a microSD card reader, headphone jack and a USB-C port. Inside, Windows offers us two different configurations in terms of the version of the operating system: Windows 10 Home with S Mode and Windows 10 Pro with S Mode. Windows S is a version of Windows that only allows you to install applications that are available in the Microsoft application store, although we can deactivate this mode to convert the device into a PC to use and to be able to install any application.
Regarding the technical specifications, the Surface Pro is managed by the Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y 1,6 GHz processor. Being a PC, its performance may vary depending on the amount of RAM that we find inside. This model is available in 4 and 8 GB RAM versions. Regarding storage, Microsoft offers us 3 models: 64 GB eMMC, 128 GB SSD and 256 GB SSD.
The screen, another aspect that many users take into account when buying a tablet, offers us a 10-inch panel with a resolution of 1.800 x 1.200 and a screen ratio of 3: 2. According to Microsoft, the autonomy of the Surface Go reaches 9 hours, an autonomy that puts it almost at the same height as the Apple iPad.
This new model within the Surface range, is compatible with the Surface Pen, incorporates a retractable bracket at the rear that allows us to place it in any position. The Surface Pen, as well as the Type Cover that incorporates a trackpad, are sold separately.
Price and availability the Surface Go
Microsoft will put the Surface Go on sale on August 2 In the United States and Spain, in addition to other countries, although for now, only the Wifi version will be available without an LTE connection, a model that the company has stated will hit the market in the coming months and whose price has not yet been revealed.
- Surface Go with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage with Windows Home S: 399 dollars.
- Surface Go with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage with Windows Pro S: 449 dollars.
- Surface Go with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage with Windows Home S: 549 dollars.
- Surface Go with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage with Windows Pro S: 599 dollars.
- Surface Go with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage with LTE connection: pending to confirm availability and price.
The above prices aren exclusively for the team. Both Type Cover, Surface Pen and Mouse are sold separately. The price of the keyboard varies between 99 and 129 dollars. The mouse price is $ 39 and the Surface Pen is $ 99.
We are in the same case as with Appl's iPade, where the price only includes the device and where all accessories, keyboard cover and Apple Pencil are sold independently at higher prices than those offered by Microsoft for these accessories.
All Surface Go models arrive on the market with Windows S, either in the Home version or in the Pro version. This version offers us certain limitations when installing applications from outside the Microsoft Store, but if we see you in the need to, we can upgrade to normal Home and Pro version completely free of charge.
Expanding the Surface family
With the launch of the Surface Go, Microsoft currently has 5 different models on the market within this range, thus confirming that it has taken the course that should have followed a few years agoAlthough, seeing the growth rate of this new business model, it seems that the wait has been worth it.
One more proof is found in the launch of this new model for cover the tablet market, a market where the Surface Pro had nothing to do due to its high performance.