There are times when no expression quite captures a product's price. Even if we fully understand what it offers in return, the lack of a more coherent value undermines any attempt at a recommendation. That's where we find the most advanced Surface Book model. If you want a terabyte of solid-state storage and 16 GB of RAM inside Microsoft's new hybrid, the investment will be a chilling $3,199, a figure that places it alongside the most fully loaded MacBook Pro.
We're in 2015 (with a couple of extra months to burn), and many people believe technology should be "cheaper". In fact, what potential consumers need to look for is the best cost-to-benefit ratio. Their initial investment may be more aggressive than normal, but if it delivers multiple positive aspects over a considerable period, it's easier to feel satisfied with that purchase. Another aspect to consider is that both computers and operating systems have become very efficient, which is why we have 2007-era platforms running Windows 10. With that in mind, how do you justify a high investment in a new computer? In reality, there's a small slice of the market that doesn't require such justification. If a new model is available and presses the right buttons, preorders simply fly off the shelves.
Preorders and patience
That's exactly what happened with Microsoft's Surface Book. Earlier last week, the dreaded "out of stock" appeared for the more affordable models; however, it's now possible to enter the preorder process with a five-week delay. If the buyer decides to increase the hybrid's specs or choose one of the intermediate options with dedicated Nvidia video, the wait extends to six weeks at best. The flagship Surface Book, with 16 gigabytes of memory and a terabyte of solid-state storage, demands patience until next January 22, but it also carries a frightening price: $3,199.
The MacBook Pro alternative
Microsoft's decision to set this value for its computer is curious, to say the least. Reading user comments on sister sites across the pond confirms the idea that a lower cost was expected. By going above three thousand dollars, comparisons with the MacBook Pro become inevitable. For the same $3,199, anyone in the United States can buy a MacBook Pro today with 16 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, a quad-core Intel processor (in Turbo mode up to 4 GHz), a 15-inch Retina display, and a Radeon R9 M370X with 2 GB of dedicated video RAM. The Surface Book's benefits lie in its hybrid design, touchscreen, higher resolution, the Surface Pen, and its sixth-generation CPU... but will that be enough? Once the BOM (Bill of Materials) is known, we'll know a little more.
Check the official site for more details.
