Last Updated: November 24, 2018 (Refresh Now)
Microsoft Surface Book 256GB Intel Core i5
Last Updated: November 24, 2018 (Refresh Now)
7.5
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
862
Old Reviews
282
Unverified
241
Spam Test
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13.5 meters
SIZE
262144 GB
MEMORY
Review Analysis - 339 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Product Reliability
50bugs, updates, surface, new, glitches
+54%
-46%
" ... This is a fast, well made machine which I think will last me ten years. ... "
" ... When I got the device packaging was brand new, everything looked like it was in working order. ... "
" ... Very Reliable Thanks! ... "
" ... I really like this surface book and have no complaint after 6 months. ... "
" ... I've used this computer for at least 6 months and I'm pretty sure that there aren't any defects in the product I received. ... "
" ... Update: Four months later, running OK. ... Anyways, after several manual and automatic restarts, everything appears to be working great. ... "
" ... I didn't know how it actually worked. ... "
" ... I've had it for a month so far and love it. ... "
Device Compatibility
45tablet, microsoft, desktop, windows, windows 10
+80%
-20%
" ... You must then remove and attach until it connects correctly. ... "
" ... I’m very disappointed, cause I was extremely excited to have the surface book. ... "
" ... Better than a MacBook in my opinion and definitely no other windows 10 device can complete ... "
" ... Really getting a true introduction to Windows 10 and loving the Surface Book. ... "
" ... When you fire it up, Cortana (Microsoft's virtual assistant) prompts you to complete some of the screens using voice alone. ... "
" ... I bought this to replace an Acer ultrabook that I had had for a few years, with the goal of being able to write emails, doodle, browse, do a little writing and programming and watch videos. ... "
" ... Newer devices such as the Surface Pro and the new iPad Pro digitally translate pen movement via a dedicated ASIC (i.e., beneath the OS). ... I can't express the exact difference, but while reading text and typing text on the SB is enjoyable, it's not the MBP (I've tested both the 13 inch and 15 inch models). ... For those thinking about a Surface Laptop, a Surface Pro, or a MBP: The SB is better. ... * It's much cheaper than the MBP. ... Microsoft will not let you install a native copy of Microsoft Word on an iPad Pro. ... The Surface Book was going to be a perfect productivity laptop. ... "
" ... The Surface Book is my PRIMARY device. ... "
Display Clarity
43screen, detach, keyboard, sb, ratio
+79%
-21%
" ... Display is handy to take out ... "
" ... My wife says the screen seems so crisp and the computer is the fastest she has ever owned. ... "
" ... - The screen IS the computer. ... - Screen resolution is incredible. ... - Screen sensitivity is wonderful. ... "
" ... There some details like the screen bright that adjust automatic and the way the screen separates from the keyboard when changing to tablet mode that I think are not the best, but it's not something that bothers me. ... "
" ... Touch screen works great, the image goes all the way to edges. ... "
" ... There's also a screen capture utility, so you can grab the screen and annotate it before sharing with your work group or whatever. ... "
" ... Display --- The screen is absolutely gorgeous. ... I sized down from a 15.6" so that I could afford a nicer screen and have a more portable device and it was definitely worth it. ... "
" ... I use as a laptop for my programming class and then I flip the screen for my statistics class so I can write out my solutions to those long word problems. ... "
Keyboard
40book, trackpad, touchpad, keys, typing
+73%
-28%
" ... - The keyboard has a battery as well. ... - Keyboard backlighting, travel and feel are amazingly better than anything I've ever had. ... "
" ... There some details like the screen bright that adjust automatic and the way the screen separates from the keyboard when changing to tablet mode that I think are not the best, but it's not something that bothers me. ... Everything else is perfect, the pen, the keyboard, the mouse pad, the screen, I think I made a very good buy at a very good price. ... "
" ... Oh, and I have to say the keyboard is something I never experienced before and typing is so comfortable with it. ... "
" ... You can switch to a touch keyboard in 2 clicks. ... "
" ... a great machine, had the surface pro 3 but I like the keyboard on this better. ... "
" ... The keyboard feels tactile (almost like a mechanical keyboard). ... Mechanically speaking, Surface Book's trackpad is better than the MacBook Pro's trackpad (more on this below). ... "
" ... Backlight keyboard and glass trackpad are very nice luxuries. ... "
" ... The keyboard and mouse pad work great and I believe this was a better investment than the MacBook Pro I had before. ... "
Battery Life
39battery, hours, charge, mode, base
+69%
-31%
" ... It has a battery. ... This is the big battery and it lasts me a week of use without recharging. ... "
" ... I read before buying it some issues with the battery life, but honestly this is mainly a laptop and as a laptop, battery works fine and last long enough for me, as a tablet it last around 3 hours but i think it is enough for what I use it for. ... "
" ... It's able to keep up with my workload and battery life is great. ... "
" ... Lastly, battery life is good as most claim and is the main reason why I got this laptop to begin with. ... Just charge it when home, and it will last most likely throughout the day. ... "
" ... Battery life is excellent. ... "
" ... Battery -- The battery life is good, especially considering the quality of the display. ... "
" ... The Machine is excellent , speed is amazing , battery back up is awesome. ... "
" ... has a longer battery life ... "
Marketplace
37seller, microsoft, refurbished, new, microsoft store
+70%
-30%
" ... Amazing for the price on Amazon. ... "
" ... Thanks Microsoft for nothing. ... "
" ... Ordered brand new during the Black Friday Sale. ... "
" ... I am grateful to the seller. ... "
" ... Very Reliable Thanks! ... "
" ... It is the same like in description ... "
" ... Thank you for reading my review! ... "
" ... Even found it cheaper than bundling deals at bestbuy. ... "
Software Platform
32windows 10, microsoft, updates, macos, os
+59%
-41%
" ... I also think the Surface Book is the best premium laptop for Windows ever. ... "
" ... - Cortana understands me well and it works very well. ... "
" ... However, the device is not for non-technical users and to get everything working smoothly out of the box and navigate latest Windows 10 FCU glitches, older drivers etc. ... "
" ... Better than a MacBook in my opinion and definitely no other windows 10 device can complete ... "
" ... It's user friendly and if I do have questions, my friend Google knows everything. ... I'm learning that I need wifi access or I need to upload programs that can work offline if I want to do cool things like write with the stylus for taking notes, etc. ... "
" ... When you fire it up, Cortana (Microsoft's virtual assistant) prompts you to complete some of the screens using voice alone. ... ), some great example apps fire up. ... "
" ... Software-wise, the trackpad occasionally glitches. ... Windows 10 is better at resolution scaling than MacOS. ... Windows 10 is user friendly. ... Windows 10 was made to run Microsoft Word. ... Windows 10 can do just about everything (and probably more than MacOS). ... There is no doubt that MacOS has fewer bugs. ... Microsoft will not let you install a native copy of Microsoft Word on an iPad Pro. ... If you are either an employee or a student, you can purchase the entire Microsoft Office (Windows or MacOS) suit for $10. ... "
" ... We are primarily a Windows shop and I must say that the Windows 10 OS coupled with the Surface Book tablet is a great combo. ... "
Price
32worth, cost, worth the price, paid, lower
+72%
-28%
" ... worth the retail price. ... "
" ... price was right. ... "
" ... Can't beat the price. ... "
" ... I believe this is the best machine on the market for the price. ... "
" ... More importantly, excellent price! ... "
" ... Price: Costly but value worth the money. ... "
" ... Got this used/second hand from Amazon which made the price palatable. ... Very nice design from Microsoft and worth the price I paid. ... "
" ... -Cost or value ... "
Apps
31photoshop, microsoft, drawing, adobe, windows
+74%
-26%
" ... I am a apparel designer therefore, the software's I use such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop work great. ... "
" ... - Cortana understands me well and it works very well. ... you can actually talk to it and it gets it, including opening programs and changing things and looking for things and whatever. ... "
" ... Microsoft has difficulty allowing other drawing programs in like Corel Draw and Photoshop. ... "
" ... However, the device is not for non-technical users and to get everything working smoothly out of the box and navigate latest Windows 10 FCU glitches, older drivers etc. ... "
" ... Majority of the programs right just fine. ... "
" ... It's user friendly and if I do have questions, my friend Google knows everything. ... I'm learning that I need wifi access or I need to upload programs that can work offline if I want to do cool things like write with the stylus for taking notes, etc. ... "
" ... That's way more than you need for everyday tasks. ... A brilliant sketching app that makes use of the Surface is Sketchable, which runs like a dream even on the base model. ... ), some great example apps fire up. ... It's blazing-fast for web browsing and using any basic apps from Word to most any drawing app. ... The default drawing mode in most apps lets you draw with varying pressure on the pen, then erase with the eraser on the back of the pen. ... "
" ... Software-wise, the trackpad occasionally glitches. ... For these purposes, OneNote is better (more on this below). ... Microsoft will not let you install a native copy of Microsoft Word on an iPad Pro. ... "
Overall performance
28core, photoshop, performance, i7, i5
+89%
-11%
" ... I run cad on it with no problems. ... "
" ... There's a lot of attention to letting you know what's going on, and getting you started fast. ... I've seen plenty of demos of people using this unit for Photoshop and video rendering, so obviously it has the chops to do those too. ... "
" ... This is a result of the laptop advantageously being x86 (i.e., having an intel core i5). ... "
" ... It is more than capable to perform the task. ... "
" ... The specs on this model make all of the applications load quickly and easily. ... It runs all of the current Office products really fast. ... "
" ... Everything runs quickly and smoothly. ... "
" ... Fantastic computer, I've had a few and this is definitely the best one I've ever had, quick, smooth look, works perfectly as laptop or tablet. ... "
" ... It runs AutoCAD and solidworks great. ... "
Delivery
28arrived, shipped, received, well packaged, opened
+71%
-29%
" ... When I got the device packaging was brand new, everything looked like it was in working order. ... "
" ... When I received the item, I instantly fell in love with it. ... "
" ... Well packaged for it. ... "
" ... It arrived very quickly and was priced well compared to the stores. ... "
" ... I received it in two days, right on time. ... "
" ... it worried me a llittle when i saw the box. ... "
" ... Well packaged and arrived on time. ... "
" ... To start, I'm going to say that I was ready to return this upon delivery ... "
Build Quality
24feels, build quality, book, magnetic, flap
+71%
-29%
" ... That is very cool becasue it locks on TIGHT. ... - The hinge is strong and well designed. ... "
" ... It's quality made, slick, and still feels like it is cutting edge. ... "
" ... In his old age, my Dad dropped 3k on a new 15 inch MacBook Pro (abbreviated as MBP) (the kind with the touchbar). ... "
" ... All I can say is that I am very fortunate to receive a stable and solid build from the assembly line. ... The magnetic flap which reconnects back to the base of the Surface once re-attached is amazing. ... "
" ... The fulcrum hinge is brilliant, and the powered mechanics behind the detachable screen make it easy and durable. ... "
" ... It looks, feels, and smells nice, though, seems to do a decent job of protecting the book, and has so far failed to either fall to bits or burst into a swarm of locusts (I hate when products do that - "1 star" just doesn't do it justice :P ) so make of that what you will. ... "
" ... These holes ARE TOUGH TO SEE, even in light. ... The last piece of feedback I could provide is that I purchased the UAG Surface Book Feather-Lite Rugged Case with it. ... "
" ... Build quality is very good. ... "
Design
23feels, beautiful, touchscreen, surface book, sexy
+96%
-4%
" ... Well built, very portable, fast and good looking. ... "
" ... it came on time & it looks stylish and formal. ... "
" ... So far this device has been perfect I am a programmer often compiling a lot of code and doing a lot of graphic design work. ... "
" ... Premium device, absolutely unique form factor, great joy to use, premium build quality. ... "
" ... Top-notch thought went into that selection. ... "
" ... While the MBP is fashionable looking and capable of running MacOS (more on this below), the surface book is better for productivity. ... "
" ... However the fact that it is a touchscreen makes it extremely impressive, because it doesn't have the grainy or overly-glossy appearance that other touchscreen laptops have. ... "
" ... Very light and slim design makes it really easy to have it be in various positions. ... "
Touch Sensitivity
19touch, touch screen, surface, touchscreen, touch pad
+89%
-11%
" ... - Screen sensitivity is wonderful. ... "
" ... Touch screen works great with the OS. ... "
" ... Touch screen works great, the image goes all the way to edges. ... "
" ... However the fact that it is a touchscreen makes it extremely impressive, because it doesn't have the grainy or overly-glossy appearance that other touchscreen laptops have. ... "
" ... No issues with touch . ... "
" ... pen is helpful. ... "
" ... Pen sensitivity isnt as much as I had with my Wacom Intuos tablet but being able to work on screen is great. ... "
" ... surface pro was fine. ... "
Returns
17returned, returning, refund, tomorrow, amazon
+18%
-82%
" ... The item was supposed to be new but it was not. ... "
" ... I'd like to replace this as it's new outta the box, but no contact? ... "
" ... So I packed the thing up and returned it. ... "
" ... Will be returning tomorrow. ... "
" ... Had to send it back. ... "
" ... Then I talked to amazon, the only choice they gave me was to return it and they had no replacement to send me. ... "
" ... I'm returning this product. ... "
" ... Im returning it today ... "
Size
17small, lightweight, carry, backpack, travel
+100%
" ... Well built, very portable, fast and good looking. ... "
" ... The best portable laptop solution for me. ... "
" ... I sized down from a 15.6" so that I could afford a nicer screen and have a more portable device and it was definitely worth it. ... The weight doesn't bother me when I carry it in a backpack or tote, like my previous 15.6" laptop did. ... "
" ... Lightweight and easy to use. ... "
" ... Although, I always carry it with me as a BACKUP. ... "
" ... in your lap) when you need it to be (like on a bus or other place you can't easily set up a stand for a regular Surface or iPad). ... "
" ... Does everything we need it to and is light and easy to haul around. ... "
" ... It's super portable. ... I love the form factor . ... just the perfect size. ... "
Charging
17charger, charging, surface, book, hours
+53%
-47%
" ... Just charge it when home, and it will last most likely throughout the day. ... "
" ... The charging cable is magnetic, so you don't have to worry about damaging it if you forget about it, or if someone walks through it. ... "
" ... I even let it sit charging for two hours. ... "
" ... And when I do charge, it charges every quickly. ... "
" ... 7) recharges quickly ... 4) the charger gets quite warm while charging. ... "
" ... For note: The charge cable will charge either the tablet by itself, or as as the keyboard / tablet combo (laptop mode). ... Unlike a Surface 3 (not 3 Pro) you can charge the Surface book will using it. ... It will take longer to charge if you do, but you still get to keep using it. ... The normal charger that comes with a Surface book is 15 volt, 4 amp 102 watt output. ... Which is how you get a faster charge and can use it while charging. ... The charger feels solid. ... However, my older Surface Pro charger failed after about a year, so actual quality on this one may be for debate. ... "
" ... They charge pretty slowly, but once charged they last a long time - I was drawing for around 6 hours the other day without plugging in and only reached around 50%, so kudos there. ... "
" ... That said, the computer seems to work as advertised after I charged it and I have not noted any issues with it. ... "
Comfort
16keyboard, hands, keys, typing, fingers
+81%
-19%
" ... That is very cool becasue it locks on TIGHT. ... - Boots up so fast that it's like never been asleep or off. ... "
" ... Older slates were trying, but this is the first one that really feels practical. ... You don't really NEED it, per say, but it feels nice and is a lot easier to clean than the keys if you, like me, occasionally operate your computer with messy hands or eat while watching movies on it. ... It looks, feels, and smells nice, though, seems to do a decent job of protecting the book, and has so far failed to either fall to bits or burst into a swarm of locusts (I hate when products do that - "1 star" just doesn't do it justice :P ) so make of that what you will. ... "
" ... I have found, that only this product can provide the hand writing experience digitally. ... "
" ... Keys have ample space between them so my fat fingers don't hit two keys at once. ... "
" ... Hands down the best Laptop I've owned. ... "
" ... It has a quality feel to it. ... Comfort and feel are subjective. ... "
" ... In conclusion, this is an awesome laptop, with some unnecessary effort made to make if feel too delicate (though it is actually quite robust) and some amazing drawing hardware that is ahead of its software (Come on Adobe, you need to fix up touch mode on Illustrator, and develop a better painting interface in Photoshop. ... "
" ... So far I'm in love with all of the ways I can customize everything to suit the way I would like to use it. ... "
Gaming
15game, gaming, nvidia, graphics, gpu
+93%
-7%
" ... Microsoft has difficulty allowing other drawing programs in like Corel Draw and Photoshop. ... "
" ... However, it will run basic games from my steam library. ... "
" ... It's a fantastic little machine and does all of those things brilliantly, even being able to handle streaming games with Steam across the local network. ... "
" ... Runs my 4k monitor without stutter on photoshop and handles everything I throw at it (short of games or video editing). ... "
" ... I've never seen such amazing quality in display with a tablet let alone such a small laptop when compared to bulkier gaming laptops. ... "
" ... With new gaming options being added and this level of power for this machine, it will suite any of your needs. ... "
" ... As a college student who likes to play some video games and create graphic art on the side, the surfacebook met all my needs in one slim and powerful package. ... "
" ... But this high resolution comes at a cost for video games: if the game won't or can not use the secondary Nvidia graphics chip, it will have to use the built in Intel chip. ... "
Ease of Use
14user friendly, microsoft, keys, easier, windows 10
+93%
-7%
" ... This Tablet is fast and easy to use! ... "
" ... it requires little bit of patience and technical knowledge. ... "
" ... It's also just a gorgeous user experience. ... These things seems simple on their own, but you start to add them up and you get an experience that makes you more productive. ... "
" ... Lightweight and easy to use. ... "
" ... Windows 10 is user friendly. ... "
" ... nice and easy to use. ... "
" ... You don't really NEED it, per say, but it feels nice and is a lot easier to clean than the keys if you, like me, occasionally operate your computer with messy hands or eat while watching movies on it. ... "
" ... It's an easy fix, but it's annoying. ... "
Memory
14128 gb, ram, hard drive, 8gb of ram, storage
+93%
-7%
" ... Btw, mine is Surface Book with 128 GB SSD, 8 GB of RAM, i5 processor. ... "
" ... Total host writes: 2121 GB ... "
" ... My unit has 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and the i5 processor. ... "
" ... Use it for photography, and even with expanded memory, I filled up that hard drive very quickly. ... "
" ... I have been using my Microsoft Surface Book (128 GB, 8GB RAM) for the past 2 months. ... "
" ... *Do not buy a Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, or MBP with 4GB of RAM (don't even know if that's possible on MBP anymore). ... 4GB of RAM is suitable for ARM (e.g., an iPad). ... Therefore, 8GB of RAM will give you 5.5GB of memory to use, while 4GB of RAM will give you 1.5GB of memory to use. ... Put differently, 8GB of RAM offers an approximate 300% increase in working memory over 4GB of RAM. ... "
" ... It's got lots of hard drive capacity and runs my applications the way I need. ... "
" ... Storage: Mine is 128 GB. ... But 128 GB SD card slot adds the extra space for my media ... "
Controls
13keys, power button, tap, press, keyboard
+62%
-38%
" ... You can switch to a touch keyboard in 2 clicks. ... "
" ... Instead of going through the hassle of printing to PDF or equivalent, marking up, and then sending, I could simply press the button in the task bar and I was at it. ... "
" ... 10) the track-pad is very responsive (I'm still getting used to the tap-click, inadvertently clicking on things with a tap). ... "
" ... This definitely makes creating answer keys to my assignments easier. ... "
" ... One button to detach and I'm working on an awesome tablet. ... "
" ... Sketchpad is the digital equivalent of doodling in the margins of your high school math notes, but with less control. ... "
" ... its keys are red lit . ... "
" ... Also, use the NVidia Control Panel to set certain games to "force" the GeForce GPU, as some of them choose the Intel by default. ... "
Setup
10setup, microsoft store, microsoft, instructions, windows 10
+60%
-40%
" ... Ran through setup and installed all my software and was very happy. ... "
" ... I am a systems engineer for a government agency and forever researching the latest tech for personal and professional use. ... "
" ... Brilliant service, came the same day as I was told at the start and I didn't have to pay anything extra than what I paid on Amazon and I could watch where the computer was when I was waiting for it. ... "
" ... This is my four-day review, and I'll write a follow-up later. ... "
" ... consultant could do everything they need. ... "
For Kids
10college, son, portable, loves, college student
+90%
-10%
" ... Great for work and school ... "
" ... I'd recommend it to any fellow students ... "
" ... I just bought the Surface Book for my son's first year in college and we absolely love it!! ... "
" ... Bought two, one for each kid coming up in school, should last them each into college. ... "
" ... This device is unique and is way better than a regular old school laptop. ... "
" ... This is a very nice laptop to have as a college student. ... "
" ... I got this because I needed something portable for school. ... "
" ... My grandson loves that computer. ... "
Fit
10magnetic, magnets, flap, feels, book
+80%
-20%
" ... That is very cool becasue it locks on TIGHT. ... "
" ... You can also mount the tablet "backwards" and fold it over so the whole unit is like one big book, so you get all the joy of a tablet with all the power in the base. ... It has a clip or magnets to attach to the unit. ... "
" ... The magnetic flap which reconnects back to the base of the Surface once re-attached is amazing. ... "
" ... It looks, feels, and smells nice, though, seems to do a decent job of protecting the book, and has so far failed to either fall to bits or burst into a swarm of locusts (I hate when products do that - "1 star" just doesn't do it justice :P ) so make of that what you will. ... "
" ... It's a perfect fit on my lap desk at the right angle to use the pen to work on designs, etc. ... "
" ... Line it back up and it locks itself back in. ... "
" ... It's pretty tight. ... "
" ... The magnets to secure the pen and keep the screen down when closed are wicked strong. ... "
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Specifications
Body
Size: 13.5 meters
Memory
Memory: 262144 GB
Recommendations
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