Rosie Grace: MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO LTE REVIEW: The real mobile computer is here

Cellular connection laptop for consumer has arrived

For the past week or so, I have been using computers to work on trains, parks and cafes. All this is normal, but what was unique about the past week was that because of the built-in LTE connection on this computer, I didn't need to connect to Wi-Fi or set up hotspots on my phone. No matter where I go, the Internet will follow.

Finding a laptop that has both a built-in cellular connection and a modern design and feature set is not easy. Each personal computer or laptop with a cellular connection is suitable for business people, with heavy design and outdated features. Another major option is to use LTE iPad Pro, which may not meet your actual computing needs.

But as the equipment that runs Qualcomm's permanently connected PC platform will be released in any week, it is expected that this year's LTE notebook will become a serious matter. Until they arrived, we had Surface Pro LTE from Microsoft. It was the same as the Surface Pro that was released last year, but it increased the dose of LTE. Starting today, it can be pre-ordered from Microsoft and Best Buy.

Surface Pro LTE will still attract business users and their purchasing departments (in fact, they have been able to purchase them since the end of last year), but it will also appeal to everyday PC buyers. This is a modern, powerful 2-in-1 computer that can connect to the Internet without using a Wi-Fi network or hotspot device. This is the first Surface computer that truly fits the concept of a truly mobile computer. It can be used anywhere without losing any functionality.

I reviewed the standard features of Surface Pro in my review of the Wi-Fi model last year, so check the use of this computer. For this article, I will focus on the unique aspects of using a computer with a built-in internet connection.

The best word I can use to describe the use of Surface Pro LTE is "release."

The LTE version of Surface Pro shares all of the same features and design as the Wi-Fi-only model released last summer. It has a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, a seventh-generation Intel Core processor, and it It weighs less than two pounds. The only visual difference between the Surface Pro LTE and Wi-Fi models is a polycarbonate strip on the top, slightly different from other metal chassis and SIM trays, and slightly different colors. The SIM tray is located next to the bottom microSD card slot Tripod.

If you have $150 more than the standard Surface Pro, you get an integrated modem that supports 20 LTE service bands. Microsoft did not specify which carriers Pro supports, but its sales have been unlocked and supported by AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, as well as the international network, so it can be run almost anywhere. Like the cellular-enabled iPad Pro, the Surface Pro LTE has both an integrated eSIM and Nano SIM card tray, and you can set up services on both and switch between them via the Windows 10 setup application. The setup application also provides a data usage monitor so that you can see the amount of cellular data you use and set limits on it.

Microsoft stated that LTE Pro lasts 12.5 hours between charges, but this is based on cyclic video testing rather than actual usage. In my experience, the battery life on LTE is close to 7 hours, which is a bit less than the version of Wi-Fi I see, but still within the acceptable range of this size computer. I'm really happy to see that Microsoft is using larger batteries in this version to really make it a true mobile computer, but I think most people will be happy with the battery life of LTE Pro.

The difference between using a computer that relies on the Wi-Fi network to connect to the Internet and a computer that always has only available connections is small, but the differences between them add up. I don’t have to set a hotspot on the phone before I turn on the computer to the train and wait for the computer to find the hotspot and connect to the computer. I just need to open LTE Pro to start work. With the movement of trains and access to cellular connections, LTE Pro can find the network after a loss of service and reconnect more quickly than when I must rely on my mobile's hotspot connection. The most important thing is that I don't have to worry about draining the battery of my mobile phone and the battery of my laptop in order to connect to the Internet.

Computers that use cellular connections are also more secure than relying on public Wi-Fi networks and are more convenient than using hotspots that require accounts and logins.

Accessing the Internet through LTE Surface Pro is very simple and I never need to consider this. This is a computer that allows me to complete the tasks that I need to accomplish, rather than distracting me through network settings or other annoyances. This is why I have long wanted to connect to a cellular connection via Wi-Fi dedicated mode, but here it is extended to a fully functional working computer.

Because Surface Pro is a complete Windows 10 PC with desktop browsers and desktop applications, you need to focus on data usage, especially if you use a prepaid or cap data plan. In just a few days of exclusive LTE use, I only burned nearly 4GB with daily workload (Slack, email, lots of browser tabs, lots of Twitter, downloads and updates from Microsoft stores, etc.). This will allow me to approach 20GB within a month. If I want to transmit Netflix or other video, I will use more. If you use such a computer, unlimited data planning may be wise.

All of this adds to a more seamless and enjoyable work experience when leaving my home or office. Instead of worrying about whether I have connected or mapped out a location that I can connect ahead of time, I just have to open Surface Pro to start work and save time and hassle. This may not be worth the cost of adding LTE features and monthly services that everyone needs, but for those who are constantly moving and still need to do their jobs, this is certainly the case.

Rosie Grace

Tuesday 13 March 2018

MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO LTE REVIEW: The real mobile computer is here

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