At last a tablet that works very well on your lap
Weighing in at just over a pound, the Surface Go 4 is the lightest in the family PLUGGED IN WITH ANDY O’DONOGHUE
Microsoft’s Surface range has come a long way since the first one was shipped in 2012. Now there’s a laptop, a notebook, the exceptional Pro version but also a brand new lower-priced member of the family, the Surface Go.
This new tablet is the lightest in the family, weighing in at just over a pound. It feels even lighter in fact, as it’s well balanced and easy to hold. That light frame isn’t short on toughness though thanks to its silver-coloured magnesium case. The Surface Go is beautifully made and has just a few physical buttons for volume and power.
Other noticeable features on the body include a 5MP front-facing 1080p camera for Skype and an 8MP rear-camera. This camera also records 1080p HD video and is equipped with auto-focus. There’s a single microphone and the almost invisible stereo speakers that actually pack a punch thanks to the Dolby Audio Premium. There’s one USB-C port as well as a headphone socket and a Micro SD card reader. While not overburdened with connectivity options, USB-C is the way of the future and increasingly all we need, whether for power or connectivity.
Setting up the Surface Go is a quick, painless exercise. The front camera is Windows Hello compatible, so you can teach it to recognise you and unlock instantly. If you wear specs, I discovered you can record both ‘faces’ so you’ll always have instant access to the device just by looking at it.
Cleverly integrated in to the Surface Go body is the kickstand found on its bigger siblings. Tablet computers are great for using on your lap, but the kickstand helps give them appeal for table-top use.
The surprising thing about the Surface Go, is the kickstand is also incredibly useful on your lap. When you extend it to its full position the screen is tilted just a little bit towards you, helping avoid light or even TV reflections. It sounds like a small thing, but it is incredibly useful. Combine that, with the optional Type Cover keyboard and the Surface Go achieves a blend of uses that Apple and Samsung have struggled with. Under the bonnet, there’s 4GB or 8GB RAM and a choice of 64 or 128GB of storage, with both versions powered by the Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y. Perhaps my one bugbear is I think the Type Cover shouldn’t be an extra cost at €99, but really should be included as part of the package. On paper, I thought the specification looked a little diluted, no doubt to get this device to a great entry-level price. However, despite my reservations, the Surface Go whizzes along. Graphics, gaming and video are all buffer free. It also dealt easily with Microsoft Office apps running along with Twitter updating in a separate window. I’m a user of the larger, costlier Surface Pro and I didn’t think Microsoft could scale that functionality down for this Surface Go price. They’ve done a great job though, and this is likely to be as useful in the classroom as it is in a briefcase.
Pros: l Wonderfully portable l Excellent design & build Cons: l Keyboard costs extra l Large screen bezels