Diamond IT Blog

Microsoft's Surface Laptop is now a contender

Written by Samantha Cordell | February 27, 2018

 

It’s time to give the Microsoft Surface Laptop a 2nd look for your business with the recent changes it has made to the operating system and support options…..

We were all a bit surprised when the Surface Laptop was announced last May. Sleek, thin, and priced to compete with Apple’s MacBook air, it deservedly earned itself a place as a university student’s laptop/notebook PC – as Microsoft intended.

For business users the hobbled Windows 10 S operating system was a turn off, even though it was free for the remainder of 2017 to “upgrade” to the full Windows 10 Pro version.

The limitations of Windows 10 S were enough to scare people off what is otherwise a very nice piece of kit, and the free upgrade remained a lost addendum.

The combination of the elevated support options and Windows 10 Pro off the shelf finally makes the Surface Pro a true candidate in the business user market. It's time to take a 2nd look at it for your business...

What are the positives for SMBs?

Now in 2018, Microsoft has re-targeted the Surface Laptop as a business (more specifically small business) laptop alternative by changing the default operating system (OS) to Windows 10 Pro.

On the 19th of February, Microsoft also announced a Surface family-wide warranty upgrade to next business day (NBD) service and replacement for those who have purchased the Complete Service warranty on their Surface Pro, Surface Laptop or Surface Book 2.

Having up to two free accidental damage replacements along with Next Business Day parts/device replacement for a period of three years is worth a few hundred dollars for most business users, where a non-functioning PC can cripple a sole trader or small business.

Also great for the SMB budget

The Surface Laptop has a price advantage too, coming with an Alcantra-bound keyboard, an accessory that will cost you $250 AUD to add to your Surface Pro tablet. Something you should budget for, as you should with the Surface Pro and Surface Book 2, is a Microsoft Surface Dock or at the very least a USB 3.0 port replicator, as you’ll only get the one USB 3.0 port in your Surface Laptop.

The Surface Laptop with Windows 10 Professional is now available in Platinum, with further metallic colours expected soon (Cobalt Blue, Burgundy and Graphite Gold), along with matching mouse and pen combinations. 

How can Diamond help?

Should you have any further questions on the above or any other of your IT business needs please contact us today. We can work together with you on your IT Infrastructure, Managed Services and other IT and Communications needs – call now on 1300 307 907 or via our online contact form below.