Skip to main content

Five years on, Microsoft’s Surface has made your PC better

Panos Panay Surface Pro
Microsoft

“Microsoft’s Surface Pro fails to solve any problem for any user.”

That was my conclusion when I reviewed the original Surface Pro five years ago. Microsoft pitched it as an innovative, do-it-all solution, a combination of iPad, laptop, and workstation. I wasn’t buying it. It was too thick, too slow, and the battery lasted just a few hours in normal use. Most of my fellow reviewers were more charitable, but only just. The Verge, for instance, ran its review under the strictly factual headline, “The first real computer to come out of Redmond.”

Yep. It sure was. It was also far from the last. Microsoft continued from its rocky start, gradually refining each new model. The Surface Pro 2 was much faster and lasted longer on a charge. The Surface Pro 3 even more so. My mind had changed completely by the time the Surface Pro 4 rolled out in 2015. I called it our favorite 2-in-1 PC, and the 2017 Surface Pro has retained that title ever since.

It’s incredible that Microsoft has managed such a turnaround in just five years. The PC arena isn’t kind to newcomers. Most major players in hardware have been doing it for decades, but operate the business on razor-thin profits. Even chipmakers like AMD and Intel must fight constantly to keep themselves at the bleeding edge.

The fact that it was Microsoft – and not some plucky start-up — that pulled off a bold entry into PC hardware is even more unexpected. Very few people thought the company would not only continue in the space, but actually expand to add new models, like the Surface Book and Surface Laptop. Much credit is due to innovators like Steven Bathiche, as well as to CEO Satya Nadella, who was patient enough to stay his ax during the division’s formative years. And Panos Panay, of course, head of the devices group behind the Surface line. Despite some of the issues we took with the first-gen model, it helped bring Microsoft where it is today.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

“In hindsight, it’s clear that Surface Pro created the foundation for who we are today – our team culture, our dedication to our customers, our obsession with perfecting every detail, and our inexorable desire to innovate,” he wrote in a blog post celebrating the 5-year anniversary. “I’m incredibly grateful for everything these five years have brought, and I’m looking forward to continuing this journey.”

That’s not to ignore the bumps along the way. Microsoft still has some kinks to work out both with the hardware, and with how the hardware works alongside Windows 10. The high pricing of most Surface devices only underscores the problems that do exist. If you drop $3,200 on a high-end Surface Book 2, you expect it to be perfect, but that’s not necessarily what you’ll get.

Still, Surface has earned a loyal, even rabid following — and for good reason. The Surface devices are fast, functional, and interesting. They’ve pioneered new product categories and forced the more traditional PC builders, like Dell and HP, to up their game. I have no doubt that, without Surface, we wouldn’t see the modern portable PC embracing the 2-in-1 idea so aggressively that, in some cases, it’s harder to buy an old-fashioned laptop than not.

That, at the very least, is worth celebration.

Editors' Recommendations

Matthew S. Smith
Matthew S. Smith is the former Lead Editor, Reviews at Digital Trends. He previously guided the Products Team, which dives…
I tried Microsoft Office on my Quest 3 and came away disappointed
Most features, like adjusting a document's layout in Word, work fine on a Quest 3.

For documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, Office is the go-to suite of apps many rely on. Trying to work on a small laptop screen can be restrictive, so Microsoft teamed up with Meta to bring owners of the excellent new Quest 3 a potential solution to work in VR.

I previously attempted to get real work done using my Quest Pro for a week and, more recently, with the faster Quest 3 as a laptop replacement. In each case, there were problems that were best solved by wirelessly connecting my VR headset to a computer, making it more of a monitor replacement.

Read more
Microsoft just made Paint useful again
A screenshot of Paint Co-creator.

Microsoft Paint is taking a step into the future with the integration of DALL-E 3, better known as Cocreator. The AI-powered feature, previously featured in Bing AI, enables users to generate images based on textual descriptions and preferred art styles.

Microsoft originally announced its intentions to integrate Bing’s AI-based image-generating features with Paint during its September 26 event. According to a report by Windows Latest, Cocreator for Paint has now transitioned from the testing phase and is ready for a broader release for all Windows 11 users. While not every user may immediately experience the feature due to the gradual rollout, those eager to explore Cocreator should ensure they are running the latest version of Paint. Additionally, users may be prompted to join a waiting list within the app.

Read more
I’m worried about the future of the Microsoft Surface
Panos Panay with a Surface

I've always rooted for the Surface. What started exclusively as a way to push the concept of the Windows 2-in-1 has grown into a full-fledged premium laptop brand, with options at nearly every price point.

But after a year like 2023, it's hard not to feel like we may be reaching a turning point for the brand.
Lack of momentum

Read more