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Windows 10 related Mobile Devices and Apps | Mobile O.S's => All Surface Devices | Surface Pro | Laptop | Studio => Topic started by: javajolt on September 28, 2018, 04:07:46 AM

Title: Microsoft Surface Laptops Regain Consumer Reports' Recommendation
Post by: javajolt on September 28, 2018, 04:07:46 AM
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Microsoft Surface laptops are now eligible for “recommended” status in Consumer Reports’ ratings. Last year we removed that designation because of poor predicted reliability in comparison with laptops from other brands.

Reliability evaluations are based on surveys of our members. We now have results from our latest survey. “Microsoft’s reliability is now on par with most other laptop brands,” allowing its products to be recommended, says Martin Lachter, a senior research associate at Consumer Reports.

This is the first year that brand reliability is being factored into the Overall Scores for many products rated by Consumer Reports. Owner satisfaction, which is based on the same survey of our members, is also being incorporated into the Overall Score.

The new reliability scores are ready just as we’ve completed our lab testing of the recently released Microsoft Surface Go. That 10-inch Surface Go, released in August, is meant to be a two-in-one laptop, though a keyboard must be purchased separately. The Surface Go isn’t receiving a CR recommendation, but that’s based on the results of lab testing, not member survey data.

The Surface Go is the only Surface that isn’t getting a recommendation; the company’s other models, including the Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, and Surface Book 2, do score well enough to be recommended. (Based on feedback from Microsoft, we are testing and rating these devices as laptops; last year we considered some Surface products separately as laptops and as tablets.)

Why did the Surface Go fall short of being recommended? Mainly because its performance falls below what consumers can find in a number of other laptops, which can result in some lag when performing tasks such as cycling through different windows. “We weigh processing power heavily when we’re evaluating laptops,” says Maria Rerecich, who oversees all electronics testing for Consumer Reports. “A computer that doesn’t do well in performance testing isn’t likely to get recommended.”

Microsoft declined to comment on CR’s latest findings.

The Microsoft Surface Go isn’t alone in putting up lackluster performance marks. Generally, 10- and 11-inch laptops struggle in Consumer Reports’ testing because of their relatively weak processing power. (It’s more difficult to fit powerful, battery-hungry processors in smaller laptops when there’s not a lot of space for a large battery or sufficient heat dissipation.) Currently, only two models out of 10 in that size category are recommended, the Samsung Galaxy Book 10.6 and Acer Spin 1 SP111-31-C2W3.

Microsoft offers two versions of the Surface Go, and Consumer Reports bought and tested them both; neither is recommended. The $400 model comes with 64 gigabytes of storage and 4GB of memory, and a $550 version has 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. (You can buy a Go-specific keyboard for $100.)

The less expensive model scored one overall point better in our tests because its battery lasts 11 hours. (The battery in the more expensive model lasts 10.25 hours.) The more expensive model, however, was just slightly faster, owing to its use of SSD storage instead of eMMC (a slower form of flash memory), according to our testers.

Note that both computers ship with Windows 10 in S mode, which restricts you to apps that are available in the Microsoft Store. But you can upgrade to Windows 10 Home, which CR did in order to test them.

Microsoft is expected to announce new Surface devices Oct. 2 at an event in New York. Consumer Reports will purchase and test any new models once they become available at retail.

source (http://www.consumerreports.org/laptop-computers/consumer-reports-recommends-microsoft-surface/)