This Microsoft computer is a bit of a weird machine. It has a lot going for it, but some design choices make this computer frustrating.
The Surface Laptop Go 3 is a lightweight laptop aimed at students and professionals who want a machine that can handle good workloads. It weighs just 1.3kg (and I had heavier notebooks in college), making it ideal for users who are constantly on the move.
But don’t worry, the Surface Laptop Go 3 isn’t fragile, as it’s made entirely of specially designed aluminum. The back is made of “anodized aluminum” for exceptional strength. The bottom is made of a material composed of aluminum and a soft composite resin for the smooth feel. So it can sit comfortably on your lap.
Keyboard performance
The keyboard is by far my favorite aspect of this machine. Typing is very pleasant because the keys are soft and flexible to the touch. I actually typed this article with this Surface Laptop Go 3 and enjoyed the experience. The same goes for the touchpad which is made of the same smooth rubber, but unlike the keyboard, it makes a clicking sound when pressed. This helps provide feedback when performing actions such as highlighting text.
I also like the overall look of the keyboard. The keys and trackpad are a matte gray that contrasts nicely with the metallic sheen of the Surface Laptop Go 3. The device I tested was a sage green color, but other colors are available, such as platinum and ice blue.
I should mention that the computer optimizes space despite its small size. Many laptops in my experience tend to have a keyboard that takes up a lot of space, which implies the presence of a small trackpad or vice versa. The Surface Laptop Go 3 doesn’t go this route, as each component has ample space.
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But it is not backlit
Although I like the keyboard, there is one glaring drawback: it is not backlit. Before writing this article, I participated in an online press conference dedicated to the device and its features. Someone asked why there was no backlight.
A Microsoft representative responded that this feature was not a priority and therefore had not been included. I wish this were the case, because the lack of a backlight makes typing on this computer difficult in the evening. This is supposed to be a work laptop and the fact that it’s difficult to work at certain times of the day is a big mistake.
Ironically, you will also have difficulty typing during the day because the screen is not very bright and does not have an anti-glare coating… The sun affects the quality of the screen, which is why it is better to type inside. In addition, its resolution is curiously not Full HD (1920×1080 pixels). The 12.4” screen has a resolution of just 1536 x 1024 with a 3:2 aspect ratio. I find this disconcerting as I have seen similar sized laptops with a better screen. In fact, the 2018 Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 can display Full HD resolution on its 12.2-inch screen.
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Surface Connect: what for?
Another aspect of the laptop that I found confusing is its Surface Connect charging jack, a magnetic plug that you insert into a slot on the side. You can use its USB-C port to charge the battery. That’s great, but it begs the question: why not use the USB-C input as the default? Why this proprietary connector if you can use any laptop charger?
As for performance, most of it is satisfactory. All units feature a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U processor, Iris running. The computer is sharp.
You have the choice of 8 or 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, but there are no other ways to customize the hardware. Unfortunately, the battery doesn’t last very long, as is often the case with laptops of this size. But Microsoft says it will last 15 hours for a working day. I played a 720p video at 50% brightness and the battery life was around five hours before I had to resort to the charging socket.
ZDNET’s purchasing advice for the Surface Laptop Go 3
The same rep as before told us that the reason Microsoft chose the Intel Core i5 was to keep costs low. Apparently someone missed the memo, because the costs aren’t low.
The sale price is €900 for the version with 8 GB of RAM and €1150 for the version with 16 GB. To be completely frank, I don’t think this laptop is worth that much money, considering its equipment and all its faults. There are better, cheaper options. I personally suggest buying, for example, the HP Dragonfly Pro.
If you want something cheap, get the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3. In fact, I recommend most Chromebooks over the Surface Laptop Go 3. It’s easy to find machines with comparable performance to the device Microsoft.
However, if you’re more interested in a sleek, ultraportable computer, the Chromebook Go 3 is an option.
Source: “ZDNet.com”