Close to the Metal Ep. 41: Everything Microsoft, and our first reader poll

By Brad Bourque Published May 5, 2017

As Microsoft gears up for Build, it’s only natural the software producer-turned hardware maker would want to show off what its been working on. The press conference today marked the release of the Surface Laptop, a traditional notebook, and a Windows 10 S, a student edition with specific limits and quick pick-up time.

Software limitations set Windows 10 S apart from its full-featured sibling. Users can only run apps downloaded from the Windows Store, preventing any unwanted problematic installations or security issues. If need be, an administrator can install more typical x86 applications, but it wasn’t made clear exactly what that process would look like. In addition to client systems, Windows 10 S helps administrators configure other systems, with a simple wizard that creates USB drives to load that image onto new computers.

Speaking of new computers, Microsoft took the opportunity to roll out the Surface Laptop, starting at $999. While the Redmond team didn’t mention any specific configurations, the system will come with Seventh-Generation Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs, and up to 1TB NVMe SSD options, with an estimated battery life of more than 14 hours.

Microsoft is certainly swinging for the fences, but is it risking its OEM partners by infringing on their territory? We’ll discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of Close to the Metal.

Close to the Metal is a podcast from Digital Trends that takes a deep dive into computing and PC gaming topics. Each show, we’ll focus in on one topic, and leave no stone unturned as we show off the latest in hardware and software. Whether it’s the latest GPU, supercomputers, or which 2-in-1 you should buy, we break down the complicated jargon and talk about how user experience is affected in the real world. Please subscribe, share, and send your questions to podcast@digitaltrends.com. We broadcast the show live on YouTube every Tuesday at 1pm EST/10am PST.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Brad Bourque is a native Portlander, devout nerd, and craft beer enthusiast. He studied creative writing at Willamette…

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Computing

Want a Copilot+ laptop? Get the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 while it’s $350 off

The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

Less than a year after its release, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is already has a discount from the 2-in-1 laptop deals at Best Buy. From its original price of $1,350, this powerful machine is on sale for $1,000, for savings of $350. You wouldn't want to miss this opportunity! We're not sure how much time is remaining before this offer expires though, so we highly recommend completing the transaction for this device as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the Microsoft Surface Pro 11
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is a Copilot+ laptop, which means it's been designed to support Microsoft's Copilot -- a powerful AI assistant that's integrated into Windows 11. To maximize the technology, the device is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus processor and the Qualcomm Adreno GPU, along with 16GB of RAM that's on the level of top-tier machines, according to our guide on how much RAM do you need. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 also comes with a 512GB SSD, which should provide ample storage space for your apps and files.

Computing

The latest Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ PC is over $700 off at Walmart

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 front view in tablet mode.

The best laptop deals are those that offer deep discounts on the latest technology. That’s what we’ve spotted right now at Walmart. Today, you can buy the Microsoft Surface Pro with Copilot+ for just $900. It normally costs $1,643, so you’re saving a huge $743 off the regular price. Potentially the ultimate way to discover the wonders of Copilot and AI-assisted computing, it’ll make a great gift or an excellent investment for yourself. Here is everything it has to offer.

Why you should buy the Microsoft Surface Pro
Microsoft has steadily built up a reputation as one of the best laptop brands, with the Microsoft Surface Pro being one of its biggest highlights. In our Microsoft Surface Pro review of a similar model, we appreciated the design immensely, along with its great hardware. This particular model uses the same CPU -- the Snapdragon X Plus CPU -- and it’s a great one for using on the move.

Computing

Cyber Monday Strategy: Should you save the full $466 on a complete Microsoft Surface Pro 11 for Cyber Monday?

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 front view in tablet mode.

A lot of Cyber Monday deals can give you a feeling of restriction. And by this, I mean there isn't a lot of room for the freedom to choose and build and tinker like there are at other times. "This is what you'll get, and you'll like it!" the world seems to say. And that's true of Cyber Monday Microsoft Surface deals, too (including the "you'll like it" part, they are pretty great deals and you will like them, go check them out!). But, if you go through Microsoft you can now get a Surface Pro 11 bundle with the works (including the critical keyboard and even a stylus pen) and get up to $466 in savings. It's one of the best ways to get the full Microsoft Surface Pro 11 experience out there. But how should you build your bundle? And is maxing out the savings really the best choice? Tap the button below to get started and we'll walk you through the five-step process in no time.

How to shop Microsoft's Surface Pro 11 Bundle offer
Microsoft's store lays this out as a five-step custom order, and there's no reason for us to do any differently: