Living Book: Microsoft’s hybrid PC is launched in France – JDN

The group markets its first true laptop. Touch, the computer loads up to 1TB It is optimized for Windows 10.

[Updated 02/17/2016 to 08.: 47] Book Surface is optimized hybrid laptop to Windows 10. with this terminal unveiled in October 2015 is the first time that Microsoft engages in the field of PC sales, an area that until now exclusively entrusted to its hardware partners (its surface was, she always positioned primarily as a tablet). The Book area was available for pre-order in France for a few weeks on the online store of Microsoft. The first deliveries are announced for February 18 to France.

Microsoft’s hybrid looks a bit like the surface. Featuring a touch screen slightly larger PixelSense (13.5 inches), it is equipped with a backlit keyboard. It is possible to fold down the back of the notebook (see image below), or even detach. “You then have a light and thin tablet which works perfectly with the area OneNote and stylus,” said Microsoft. Only without the keyboard, the tablet of 7.7 mm weighs 0.7 kg.

A competitor of Mac Book Pro

Under the hood, the Living Book has a latest-generation Intel Core processor (Core i5 or Core i7 depending on model). It offers 8 to 16 GB of RAM, as desired. In its high-end configurations, the terminal is also equipped with an Nvidia graphics processor with GDDR5 memory. This is a custom card dGPU (or Discreet GPU) on a Maxwell architecture. Technology-based GeForce GPU (with 1GB of video RAM), it would provide power equivalent to that of the Nvidia GeForce 940m. The battery time for the battery is 12 hours. The screen resolution of 3000 x 2000 pixels reached a density of 267 pixels per inch. According to tests conducted by experts from iFixit, the terminal is quite difficult to remove and thus to repair.

Even if everything is not perfect, such a technical configuration potentially raises the Book in the same area level as the Mac Book Pro. Furthermore, Microsoft does not hide: the Surface Book is indeed intended to compete with the Apple computer. The publisher has even launched an online guide to accompany the MacBook users who want to move to its hybrid PC. The first tests of the Surface Book made by colleagues show that the performance is rather the appointment (see example here)

Not surprisingly, Microsoft positions the Book Surface as a professional device. With its graphics chip, the “Living Book is designed for creative tasks such as photo editing or video,” said Microsoft also states that have optimized the terminal, in particular providing it with a multi-touch screen and stylus for graphics tools Adobe (Photoshop and Illustrator).

“It’s good that Apple copy us now with his iPad Pro” (Marc Jalabert, Microsoft France )

“with the Surface Pro, the goal was to offer an innovative product that combines the best of the PC and the best of the tablet. with the Living Book, philosophy is we position on the very high end with a two in one ‘ultra powerful and innovative, with the latest generation Intel processor, graphics card into the keyboard … “said Marc Jalabert, CEO Grand public Microsoft France. “All these initiatives aim to take the lead against Apple, while demonstrating innovation pathways in our hardware partners and is well on proof.. It is Apple who copy us now with the iPad Pro. “

An entrance fee of 1649 euros

depending on the configuration, the Surface Book is priced between 1649 and 2919 euros. To take advantage of the graphics card dGPU, the entry price is 2069 euros. Core i7 version, the Living Book allows optional mounting up to 1TB of SSD storage. This high-end configuration is for the time proposed in the United States (in 3199 dollars)

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