Microsoft launches Surface Go to take on iPad, Chromebooks

Microsoft aims to make the 2-in-1 tablet create an impact with the users keeping the pricing of the device at affordable levels.
Microsoft launches Surface Go to take on iPad, Chromebooks
Microsoft launches Surface Go to take on iPad, Chromebooks
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After a lot of speculation about the device, Microsoft’s Surface Go is here at last and sales began officially on July 10 with orders being booked. Deliveries are expected to be made by the first week of August, but only in the US. Other markets may have to wait a little longer. Microsoft aims to make the 2-in-1 tablet create an impact with the users keeping the pricing of the device at affordable levels.

The display on this latest device is 10 inches in size and has a 1800x1200 pixels screen resolution, a conventional 3:2 ratio with thick bezels on all four sides. Microsoft has made the Surface Go weigh quite less, just 1.15 pounds and the thickness has also been kept at bare minimum 8.3mm. The Surface Go is being released in a different configuration, starting from 4GB/64GB going up to 8GB/128GB. At the lower end, the storage is eMMC flash type, while at the top end, it is SSD. The CPU is common – Intel 7th generation Pentium Gold 4415Y processor.

The initial lot will sport the Wi-Fi only tag and the LTE capability will be added going ahead. The USB 3.1 universal connector is another first on the Surface Go, while retaining the proprietary Surface connector as well for docking the Surface with the desktop. The charging of the new Surface Go will also be through the custom connector.

Facial recognition feature using the Windows Hello has been provided. The optics section has an 8MP camera in the rear and a 5MP front sensor which is capable of recording 1080p videos. The rear camera is also capable of recording videos in HD.

In other features on the Surface Go, the OS is Windows 10 though customers are being offered to upgrade to the full-feature Windows 10 at no extra cost. The limitation with Windows 10 is that it does not permit downloading and playing of apps, which are not on the Windows app store.   

Microsoft has kept a price of $399 for the Surface Go for the lower end model in the US and hopes that it can attract the students to buy and use it. The segment is virtually dominated by iPads while Chromebooks also enjoy a decent market share. This price does not include the Surface Pen and the type cover, which will be charged extra.

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