Microsoft Surface Laptop Windows 10 S and starts at $999

Microsoft Surface Laptop Windows 10 S and starts at $999

Microsoft is trying to shake things up in the education market with the new Windows 10 S and Surface Laptop. And it's approaching things from two different directions. While the former is a lighter, less complex and easier to manage version of Windows 10 that's meant to compete with Chrome OS, the first Surface laptop, which it's using to showcase this operating system, is not actually a Chromebook competitor.



The Surface Laptop is a device aimed at college students and other prospective buyers looking for a Surface-branded laptop. So it features a high-end build, speedy internals, and, like you would expect, it has the price to match its premium aspirations too, kicking off at $999. In a sense, it's closer to the Apple MacBook Air than your typical Chromebook -- yet it runs a "lesser" version of Windows 10. Interesting, isn't it?





Here's what you need to know about it. First, there will be four hardware configurations available, two with an Intel Core i5 processor and the other two with a Core i7 chip. The Core i5 line includes a 128GB model with 4GB of RAM and a 256GB model with 8GB of RAM. Both get Intel's HD Graphics 620. The former can be had only in Platinum, while the latter can also be purchased in Burgundy, Cobalt Blue and Graphite Gold.





The Core i7 line features a 256GB model with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB model with 16GB of RAM. Both have Iris Plus Graphics 640, and both can be had in Platinum only.





No matter which one you get, there is a 13.5-inch PixelSense Display, with a resolution of 2,256 by 1,504 and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top, that is touch-enabled. Microsoft says that it's "the thinnest LCD touch screen display on any laptop," which is an impressive achievement. The whole device is only 14.47mm (0.57in) at its thickest point, and weighs just 1.25kg (2.76lbs). You'll be able to use a Surface Pen and Surface Dial with the Surface Laptop, if you want.