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The big change for the new Surface Laptop 4 is the choice of AMD or Intel for business and government buyers. How do the two options compare, and which should you choose for your users?  Faster cores versus more coresThe biggest difference between AMD and Intel options is the number of processor cores. The new 11th gen Intel Core i5 and i7 have four, while the 4th gen AMD Ryzen 5 has six and the Ryzen 7 has eight. The new AMD options also cost less than their equivalent Intel options. All processor options are available on the 13.5 inch Surface Laptop 4, while the 15 inch version offers the choice of AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i7.  AMD - more coresMore cores mean more calculations can be made at the same time. To gain an appreciable performance boost, you need to be using apps and doing tasks that are designed for multi-core processing. These include media encoding, 3D rendering, complex Excel calculations and image transformations. If you have a team working on video or content creation, then their encoding time will be faster, making the AMD models a good choice. The AMD versions are also a bit less expensive. With The Laptop Company's deployment and migration services, you can migrate users without anyone noticing they're not using an Intel-powered device. It offers a substantial boost over the Surface Laptop 3, and extra battery life over the Intel versions.  Intel - faster coresThe faster cores of the Intel models make them well suited for single core processes, these include scripting, general application responsiveness, software development, testing and any software that's not multicore optimised. Microsoft is recommending the Intel version for data scientists, developers and researchers. This comes at a reasonable price premium. The new Intel option provides an even greater performance boost over the Surface Laptop 3. Battery life is up to 17 hours for the 13.5 inch model, or up to 16.5 for the 15 inch one. By the benchmarks Benchmarks by PC World so far indicate overall performance for the Surface Laptop 4 Ryzen models trailing that of the 11th gen Intel powered Surface Pro 7+ (the same CPU used in the new Surface Laptop 4 Intel option), this helps justify the price premium commanded by the Intel versions: https://www.pcworld.com/article/3614716/the-surface-laptop-4-really-is-twice-as-fast.html The notable exception is HandBrake media encoding and Cinebench 3D rendering, where twice the cores equals twice the performance for the Ryzen 7. If your job is heavy on the media-encoding front, the AMD will be a boon. Both processors provide a performance advantage over the outgoing Surface Laptop 3, and provide a substantial performance improvement over 7th-8th generation processors that were supplied with Intel 620 graphics. What about graphics? Despite AMD's reputation as a GPU leader, the AMD Radeon Microsoft Surface Edition graphics has not benchmarked as fast as the new Intel iRIS Xe found in both Intel options so far. Intel's iRIS Xe graphics have also benchmarked around 50% faster than the previous generation Intel iRIS Plus graphics used in the Laptop 3. Both are more than adequate for most users, and have sufficient power to run the Surface Laptop 4's high resolution PixelSense display and up to two 4K monitors at 60 hz. 3D creators are likely to opt for the more expensive Surface Book for the option of powerful dedicated NVIDIA graphics, higher resolution 3K+ displays and enhanced Pen and Touch support on a reversible tablet screen. Which would I choose for my team? For most users, either look to be a viable choice and provide a performance increase over the now discontinued Surface Laptop 3 as well as the lower cost Surface Laptop Go. Either is suitable for fleetwide deployment in corporate environments and each provides a significant performance boost for users migrating from older 8th generation Intel Core i5 or i7 laptops, particularly for graphically intensive tasks. We recommend talking to your account manager to see what models suit your team best (and which are likely to be delivered sooner). There are still stock constraints across the PC industry, so getting your order and your preferred specification in ahead of time will save time and hassle. If you don't have an account manager at The Laptop Company yet, enquire below or contact us.  Find out more: How does it compare?
Microsoft announced its new Surface Laptop Go – a few of you might want to know whether it’s worth buying for business and how it compares. As with most Surface devices, there's no direct competitor for the new entry-model. Here’s the run-down.
What is it?
Microsoft's new entry-level laptop offering. With a smaller 12.4 inch display, the Surface Laptop Go, slots in below the Surface Laptop 3. Like the Surface Go 2 tablet, it's smaller, lighter and less expensive than its larger peers.
How does it compare to the Surface Laptop 3 13.5 inch?
The closest alternative in the Surface range is the entry-level Surface Laptop 3 with Intel Core i5.
We’re omitting the entry level Surface Laptop Go from this comparison. Although it’s powered by the same processor as the upgrade models, we don’t recommend the entry-level model’s 4GB of RAM or 64eMMC storage for business users. That model also misses out on the fingerprint reader that's standard on the upgrade models.
Bold indicates better. *4GB Surface Laptop Go available in consumer range, 16GB model available in Platinum
Performance: Better than we expected.
Application performance from the Intel Core i5 1035G1 is generally excellent, and roughly equivalent to both the entry-level Surface Laptop 3 and other current 10th generation Intel Core i5 business laptops. It’s notably more powerful than the Surface Go 2 tablet.
The Surface Laptop Go uses the latest version of the Intel UHD ‘G1’ graphics, which is competitive with most other brand devices – but it can’t match the Intel Iris Plus ‘G7’ graphics that’s standard on the Surface Laptop 3. The upgrade options available on the Surface Laptop 3 are also more powerful – if you want an i7 processor, or more 256GB storage, opt for the Surface Laptop 3. Display: Smaller, less detailed than Surface Laptop 3.
The Surface Laptop Go has a smaller 12.4 inch touch screen – as with other Surface Devices this is the squarer 3:2 aspect ratio shape than most competitors widescreen displays.
The display resolution is noticeably lower the Surface Laptop 3’s 13.5 inch display with approximately one third lower horizontal and vertical resolution. At 1536 x 1024, its resolution is lower than the typical 1920 x 1080 displays seen on other laptops. This may be a good thing for business users given many in-house legacy software interfaces don’t work well with small screens at high resolutions. The pixel density is roughly equivalent to a 15.6 inch Full HD screen. Not recommended for users who stack multiple documents or applications on their laptop screen at the same time, unless they want to use an external monitor. Surface Pen not supported:
The Surface Laptop Go is the first Surface device not to support the Surface Pen for on-screen writing and drawing. That's probably a moot point for most Surface Laptop users. Unlike the Surface Book, Surface Go or Surface Pro, the Surface Laptop 3 does not have a detachable or reversible keyboard for dedicated pen users.
Fingerprint reader is a first for Surface:
Both SSD versions of the Surface Laptop Go include an integrated fingerprint reader for Windows Hello authentication. This is in place of the infrared facial recognition of the Surface Laptop 3. The fingerprint reader is integrated into the power button for instant-on authentication.
Users: Commuters and general fleet users apply:
Both the Surface Laptop 3 and new Surface Laptop Go are good choices for commuters, students and travellers – both are light, slim and offer good battery life. Surface Laptop Go users miss out on the illuminated keyboard of the Surface Laptop 3, which is invaluable for presenters and travellers.
Power users, heavy admin-users and creatives should opt for the Surface Laptop 3 to enable stacking of documents onscreen, better graphics performance and should consider the 16GB upgrade. Further up the tree, the Surface Book 3 with dedicated graphics provides the highest performance and greater versatility for power users, professionals and content creators. Our pick: Surface Laptop Go with 8GB or 16GB and 256GB SSD.
This provides sufficient storage for most business users and application performance that's competitive with any other 10th generation business laptop powered by Intel Core i5 despite the entry-level billing.
If you’re considering switching your users to the Surface Laptop Go, please contact us for deal pricing and to book in a demo when these become available. Being a new form-factor, it's worth trying before buying under our seed programme. If you’re looking to switch to Surface, ask about our fleet and user migration services to make the move painless. 
Contact us for pricing, or to find out more:
 Microsoft has announced a major update to the Surface Book range. While appearing fundamentally unchanged from the Surface Book 2 on the outside, there have been some important changes for power users. Surface Book 3 13.5 inch |
Surface Book 2 13.5"13.5" 3K PixelSense™ display Intel® Core™ 7th gen dual core or 8th gen quad core processor options 8 or 16GB 1866Mhz memory Intel® HD 620 graphics + optional NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 2GB graphics in keyboard 15 hour manufacturer-rated battery 802.11AC Wi-Fi 5™ |
Surface Book 3 13.5"13.5" 3K PixelSense™ display Intel® Core™ 10th gen quad core processor options (no dual core option) 8, 16 or 32GB 3733Mhz memory Intel® Iris™ Plus + optional NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 4GB Max-Q Design graphics in keyboard 15.5 hour rated battery 802.11AX Wi-Fi 6™ |
Increases are bolded.
Performance increased for 13.5"
A switch to the new 10th generation Intel Core Quad Core processors and faster memory with higher capacity improves application performance. Network speed is increased, particularly in crowded environments with the switch to Wi-Fi 6.
Switching from the entry-level Surface Book 2 with Intel Core i5 7300U to the new entry level Surface Book 3 provides roughly double the processing power.
Switching from the entry-level Surface Book 2 with Intel Core i5 7300U to the new entry level Surface Book 3 provides roughly double the processing power.
Substantial graphics improvements
The detachable tablet now has Intel Iris Plus graphics - early benchmarks indicate roughly twice the graphics performance of the previous Intel HD 620. Given the high resolution of the display, this is a welcome boost.
NVIDIA graphics is included with Intel Core i7 models. The new GTX-1650 benchmarks as much as 45% faster than the GTX 1050 option in the Surface Book 2.
NVIDIA graphics is included with Intel Core i7 models. The new GTX-1650 benchmarks as much as 45% faster than the GTX 1050 option in the Surface Book 2.
Surface Book 3 15"
Surface Book 2 15"15" 3K+ PixelSense™ display Intel® Core™ 8th gen quad core processor options 16GB 1866Mhz memory Intel® HD 620 graphics + optional NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 6GB graphics in keyboard 17 hour manufacturer-rated battery 802.11AC Wi-Fi 5™ |
Surface Book 3 15"15" 3K+ PixelSense™ display Intel® Core™ 10th gen quad core processor options 16 or 32GB 3733Mhz memory Intel® Iris™ Plus + optional NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti 6GB Max-Q graphics in keyboard 17.5 hour rated battery 802.11AX Wi-Fi 6™ |
Increases are bolded.
As per the 13.5" model, a 10th generation Intel Core i7 Quad Core processor and faster memory with higher capacity options improves application performance. The Surface Book 3 15" also gets Wi-Fi 6 for faster and more reliable connectivity in crowded environments.
More graphics horsepower
The 15" features NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti graphics, which benchmarks around 40% faster than the Surface Book 2 15" and 66% faster than the NVIDIA option in the 13.5" model.
This makes the 15" the device of choice for engineers, film makers and architects as well as gamers.
This makes the 15" the device of choice for engineers, film makers and architects as well as gamers.
Workstation graphics option
An NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q option is available for users seeking workstation-class driver certification and ray-tracing support. For professionals seeking ultimate stability in engineering, architecture, VR, game design and motion pictures, the Surface Book 3 allows access to one of the best on-screen Pen experiences in a device that supports 3D work spaces.
Full specifications for the Surface Book 3 are on our web portal:
For pricing and availability, please Contact Us or speak to your account manager at The Laptop Company.
Benchmarks source: https://www.userbenchmark.com/
Microsoft has just announced the new Surface Go 2 tablet. With the new Intel Core M3 CPU option, this is now a viable solution for a greater number of staff. The lightest Surface understands your handwriting, lets you draw on almost anything in Windows 10 and secure by design with S mode. With a larger 10.5" display, the 544 gram tablet features more battery life and a new performance option for workplace applications. The following outlines the differences between the two generations:
Surface Go10" 1800x1200 PixelSense™ display 9 hour rated battery From 522 grams plus Type Cover Intel® Pentium® Gold 4415Y eMMC or SSD storage |
Surface Go 210.5" 1920x1280 PixelSense™ 10 hour rated battery From 544 grams plus Type Cover Intel® Pentium® Gold 4425Y or Intel® Core™ M3 Dual Core eMMC (Gold only) or SSD storage Faster SSD speeds with Core M3 |
Increases are bolded.
New Intel® Core™ M3 option
The entry-level Intel Pentium Gold processor receives a modest performance bump.
The most important change is the new 8th Gen Intel Core M3 option, a dual core ultra-low power processor that increases performance by approximately 64% according to Microsoft. Faster graphics and increased SSD transfer speeds for the M3 also provide more power for teams using enterprise applications and Windows 10 Pro.
Surface Go 2 with Core M3 and 8GB memory should exceed the performance of the entry-level 2018 Surface Pro 6 with 7th Gen Intel Core M3 and just 4GB memory.
The most important change is the new 8th Gen Intel Core M3 option, a dual core ultra-low power processor that increases performance by approximately 64% according to Microsoft. Faster graphics and increased SSD transfer speeds for the M3 also provide more power for teams using enterprise applications and Windows 10 Pro.
Surface Go 2 with Core M3 and 8GB memory should exceed the performance of the entry-level 2018 Surface Pro 6 with 7th Gen Intel Core M3 and just 4GB memory.
Wi-Fi 6™ now standard
All models now support Wi-Fi 6™, which provides more reliable high speed connections in crowded network environments.
The Surface Go 2 can also be optioned with 4G LTE Advanced data for remote teams.
The Surface Go 2 can also be optioned with 4G LTE Advanced data for remote teams.
New display
The high-quality PixelSense™ display has been increased in size to 10.5" without the overall size of the device increasing. An increase in resolution from 1800x1200 to 1920x1280 increases usability for office applications and makes monitor resolution matching easier for users.
More battery life
Manufacturer-rated battery life is increased from 9 to 10 hours, which should be sufficient for field workers and staff who are mobile throughout the day. USB-C charging allows staff more charging options when away from their workplace
Write, draw, share and capture
With exemplary handwriting recognition, drawing and painting, the Surface range provides a superior Pen experience with support in applications including Office 365, Adobe CS and a multitude of Apps. When not in use, the optional Surface Pen can be stowed on the Go 2's frame using strong concealed magnets.
5 megapixel front and 8 megapixel rear cameras are carried over from the first Go and are ready for Skype, Zoom, Teams and Hangouts and Full HD video recording.
5 megapixel front and 8 megapixel rear cameras are carried over from the first Go and are ready for Skype, Zoom, Teams and Hangouts and Full HD video recording.
Mix and MatchChoose an optional backlit Type Cover keyboard cover, Surface Pen and Surface Mouse for the complete experience. Weighs from 789 grams when paired with the Signature Type Cover. Compatible with Surface Go gen one accessories for mixed fleets. |  |
Full specifications for the Surface Go 2 on our web portal:
For pricing and availability, speak to your account manager at The Laptop Company or Contact us.
Wellington, New Zealand – October 17, 2019 – Microsoft New Zealand has celebrated its outstanding local business partners at the 12th annual Microsoft Partner Awards. The Laptop Company was a winner in the Surface Partner category.
Mark Mayo, CEO of The Laptop Company praised staff and clients saying “We’re proud of the work the team’s been doing with Surface for our fantastic customer partners. To receive this award two years in a row from Microsoft is an honour, and with the great new Surface devices announced this month, we’re looking forward to helping our customers do even more with their technology.”
The Microsoft New Zealand Partner Awards recognise innovative partners who are demonstrating inventive use of digital technology, with the awards open to all Microsoft partners big and small. The streamlined ceremony saw the awards pivot to a greater focus on customers.
Sarah Bowden, Microsoft New Zealand One Commercial Partner Director says, “We congratulate The Laptop Company for winning in the Surface Partner category. It’s been a real pleasure learning about the achievements of this year’s entrants and seeing how they’ve used Microsoft technology to empower their own customers in so many innovative ways. The Laptop Company is an example of the fantastic work being done right here in New Zealand to unlock even greater potential.”
“Most of our 1,200-plus Partners are small and medium businesses creating massive change for Kiwi organisations right across the country. They really are punching well above their weight when it comes to digital transformation and the calibre of the Partner Awards entries this year gives me great confidence that New Zealand is set for a very bright future,” says Bowden.
The Partner Awards took place in a special ceremony at Auckland’s historic St-Matthew-in-the-City last night, with 56 finalists across a range of sectors.
The full list of 2019 winners are:
Winner & Highly commended list
New Zealand Partner of the Year (awarded globally)
Winner - Umbrellar
Azure Innovate Award
Winner - Aware Group – Port Otago
Azure Migrate Award
Winner - The Instillery – Carter Holt Harvey
Business Applications Award
Winner - Datacom
Empowering Employees Award
Winner - Information Leadership Design – Todd Energy
Modern Workplace Award
Winner - Intergen – Te Wananga o Raukawa
Highly Com - DXC Eclipse – Fonterra
Highly Com - Information Leadership Design Services – Todd Energy
Engaging Customers Award
Winner - Intergen – Lumino the Dentists
Optimising Operations Award
Winner - Intergen – Les Mills
Transforming Products Award
Winner - Enlighten Designs – Sitecore on Azure
Highly Com - Datacom – UDC Finance
Surface Partner Award
Winner - The Laptop Company
Channel Development Award
Winner - Exeed Ltd
Cloud for Good Award
Winner - Enlighten Designs – Sustainable Coastlines
Highly Com - Fusion 5 – Barnardos
Highly Com - Spark New Zealand – Oranga Tamariki
ENDS
About The Laptop Company
Founded in 1985, The Laptop Company is New Zealand's leading laptop and mobile device specialist. With locations in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin and headquarters in Wellington, we work with corporate, government and educational institutions throughout New Zealand.
For additional information:
Contact: Mark Mayo, CEO
Email: Mark.Mayo@laptop.co.nz
Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Mark Mayo, CEO of The Laptop Company praised staff and clients saying “We’re proud of the work the team’s been doing with Surface for our fantastic customer partners. To receive this award two years in a row from Microsoft is an honour, and with the great new Surface devices announced this month, we’re looking forward to helping our customers do even more with their technology.”
The Microsoft New Zealand Partner Awards recognise innovative partners who are demonstrating inventive use of digital technology, with the awards open to all Microsoft partners big and small. The streamlined ceremony saw the awards pivot to a greater focus on customers.
Sarah Bowden, Microsoft New Zealand One Commercial Partner Director says, “We congratulate The Laptop Company for winning in the Surface Partner category. It’s been a real pleasure learning about the achievements of this year’s entrants and seeing how they’ve used Microsoft technology to empower their own customers in so many innovative ways. The Laptop Company is an example of the fantastic work being done right here in New Zealand to unlock even greater potential.”
“Most of our 1,200-plus Partners are small and medium businesses creating massive change for Kiwi organisations right across the country. They really are punching well above their weight when it comes to digital transformation and the calibre of the Partner Awards entries this year gives me great confidence that New Zealand is set for a very bright future,” says Bowden.
The Partner Awards took place in a special ceremony at Auckland’s historic St-Matthew-in-the-City last night, with 56 finalists across a range of sectors.
The full list of 2019 winners are:
Winner & Highly commended list
New Zealand Partner of the Year (awarded globally)
Winner - Umbrellar
Azure Innovate Award
Winner - Aware Group – Port Otago
Azure Migrate Award
Winner - The Instillery – Carter Holt Harvey
Business Applications Award
Winner - Datacom
Empowering Employees Award
Winner - Information Leadership Design – Todd Energy
Modern Workplace Award
Winner - Intergen – Te Wananga o Raukawa
Highly Com - DXC Eclipse – Fonterra
Highly Com - Information Leadership Design Services – Todd Energy
Engaging Customers Award
Winner - Intergen – Lumino the Dentists
Optimising Operations Award
Winner - Intergen – Les Mills
Transforming Products Award
Winner - Enlighten Designs – Sitecore on Azure
Highly Com - Datacom – UDC Finance
Surface Partner Award
Winner - The Laptop Company
Channel Development Award
Winner - Exeed Ltd
Cloud for Good Award
Winner - Enlighten Designs – Sustainable Coastlines
Highly Com - Fusion 5 – Barnardos
Highly Com - Spark New Zealand – Oranga Tamariki
ENDS
About The Laptop Company
Founded in 1985, The Laptop Company is New Zealand's leading laptop and mobile device specialist. With locations in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin and headquarters in Wellington, we work with corporate, government and educational institutions throughout New Zealand.
For additional information:
Contact: Mark Mayo, CEO
Email: Mark.Mayo@laptop.co.nz
Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
