Microsoft Surface roundup: Surface Pro X, Surface Laptop 3, and their processors

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode dissects Microsoft’s 2019 Surface lineup and the company’s broader platform shift. The hosts praise the Surface Laptop 3’s fundamentals but criticize missing Thunderbolt and the odd 15-inch AMD model, while the Surface Pro 7 is mostly iterative. The Surface Pro X is the most ambitious—and divisive—device: sleek hardware and LTE, but ARM app compatibility, pricing, and incomplete software support make it compelling only for a narrow set of users.

Main Topics: Surface Laptop 3 design and usability (Priority: 5/5): The Laptop 3 is praised for its excellent keyboard, trackpad, display, and overall feel, but Microsoft’s omission of Thunderbolt 3 and reliance on Surface Connect are seen as major missed opportunities. 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 and AMD confusion (Priority: 5/5): The larger model is framed as a stretched 13.5-inch laptop rather than a higher-performance machine. The AMD version underperforms for demanding tasks, making the Intel model the recommended option despite its limited availability. Surface Pro 7 incremental update (Priority: 3/5): The Pro 7 adds USB-C and improved wake behavior, but otherwise feels nearly identical to older Surface Pros. The discussion focuses on how little the design has changed and how the product still misses some key configurations. Surface Pro X hardware and tablet feel (Priority: 5/5): The Pro X is described as the most tablet-like Surface yet, with thinner bezels, gentler curves, and a more refined design. The new Slim Pen storage/charging setup is praised, but the keyboard and kickstand behavior remain contentious. Windows on ARM and app compatibility (Priority: 5/5): The central debate is whether Microsoft has solved the ARM transition. Native ARM apps perform well, but emulated x86 apps are inconsistent, 64-bit x86 support is absent, and many pro workflows still break or underperform. Microsoft’s broader app strategy shift (Priority: 4/5): The hosts interpret recent OneNote changes and Ignite announcements as evidence that Microsoft is retreating from the UWP dream and leaning toward Win32 desktop apps and the web, with Fluid Framework representing a future cloud-document model.

Key Arguments: The Surface Laptop 3 has best-in-class Windows input hardware, but lacking Thunderbolt 3 is a serious flaw at its price point. The 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 is not a power-user upgrade; it is mostly a bigger version of the 13.5-inch model. AMD on the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 does not deliver the expected benefit and can be worse than the Intel version for real workflows. The Surface Pro 7 is polished but too familiar, reinforcing that Microsoft still hasn’t fully redesigned the line. Surface Pro X hardware is excellent and feels more like a tablet than prior Surfaces, but its software ecosystem makes it risky and expensive. Windows on ARM works better than expected for some 32-bit apps, but the lack of stable 64-bit app support and the unpredictability of what will run make it hard to recommend widely. Microsoft appears to be deprioritizing UWP in favor of Win32 desktop apps and web apps, especially for productivity software. The company’s long-term hope is a more flexible, cloud-connected app model, but today its platform story is still fragmented and confusing.

Data Points: Surface Laptop 3 screen aspect ratio: 3:2 - Praised as especially good for productivity work compared with 16:9 laptops. Surface Laptop 3 processing: 10th gen Intel Ice Lake quad-core - Used in the 13.5-inch model, with surprisingly strong integrated graphics. Surface Laptop 3 charging: 65W Surface charger / 87-90W USB-C charger - Fast charging works with sufficiently high-wattage USB-C chargers, but not while actively using the laptop. Fast-charge result: 40% in 30 minutes - Observed in testing with the laptop asleep/closed. Fast-charge result: 80% in about 1 hour - Described as possible when the device is sleeping. Surface Laptop 3 15-inch battery: Same capacity as 13-inch - Called out as surprising because the larger model does not gain battery size. Surface Pro X battery estimate: 13 hours - Microsoft’s stated battery life estimate for the Pro X. Surface Pro X observed battery life: About 6-7 hours - Real-world use with mixed/emulated app workloads. Surface Pro X emulation battery use: ~10% per hour - Observed when trying to use mostly native ARM/UWP/browser apps. Surface Pro X app compatibility: 32-bit x86 supported; 64-bit x86 unsupported - Key limitation of Windows on ARM discussed at length. Surface Pro X price: About $1,800 fully configured - Includes keyboard and higher storage/RAM; highlighted as too expensive for the compromises. Surface Pro X cheaper version: About $1,000 base price - Considered insufficient because the better configuration is necessary to make the device worthwhile. Microsoft Store/Edge timeline: January 15 - Referenced as the date for the stable Edge Chromium release, though ARM64 stable availability was not expected then. OneNote legacy version: OneNote 2016 - Microsoft is reviving the desktop version and moving features back toward it.

Pivotal Quotes: "if you're looking for a 13-inch laptop and you're looking for a Windows 1, I think the Laptop 3 is actually an excellent choice as long as you don't mind the loss of Thunderbolt 3." — Dan Seifert: Closing assessment of the Surface Laptop 3’s strengths and key compromise. "it feels like a tablet first rather than a computer." — Dieter Bohn: Description of the Surface Pro X’s physical design and handling. "you just never know what you're going to get when you click on an icon." — Dan Seifert: Core complaint about the unpredictability of app compatibility on Windows on ARM.

Implications: Microsoft is close to a compelling ARM Surface, but app compatibility and pricing keep it niche. For now, the safest bets are the Laptop 3 and Pro 7; the Pro X is a bet on Microsoft’s future software roadmap rather than today’s realities.