Paul Thurrott has posted a reasoned look at the recent negative rating Consumer Reports have handed the Microsoft Surface and Intel's reaction to it. There were problems with the release of Skylake powered Surface products and Microsoft initially laid the blame fully on Intel; which proved awkward when they conversed with Lenovo about the problems Skylake caused as Lenovo had not had a similar experience. Instead the reliability issues stemmed from Microsoft's drivers and when you break down the issues, most had to do with frozen screens and unresponsive touch interfaces.
Microsoft have since rectified this issue and the new Surface products do not have the same issues as the previous models. There is an interesting bit of speculation in the article about the fallout of this issue, it could be that this was the driving force behind Microsoft's sudden push to have Windows 10 run on ARM processors. For more on that as well as some interesting background on how companies measure the success of their products you should head over to read the full article. At the very least you can bask in the glory of the quote from an internal memo at the beginning of the article, describing your purchase as an "ownership journey with our products".
"Thurrott.com has seen an internal Microsoft memo that indicates that the software giant is readying a broader campaign to undercut this past week’s news from Consumer Reports. It also provides greater insight into why Microsoft believes the Consumer Reports recommendations are incorrect."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
- Notebook lithium battery prices rising @ DigiTimes
- Infosec eggheads rig USB desk lamp to leak passwords via Bluetooth @ The Register
- A Year Later, You Can Still Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free @ Techspot
- Firmware update blunder bricks hundreds of home 'smart' locks @ The Register
- Revealed: The naughty tricks used by web ads to bypass blockers @ The Register
- We'll deliver 'in a few weeks' says troubled ZX Spectrum reboot firm @ The Register
- Linksys LGS326P 26-Port Smart Gigabit PoE+ Switch Review @ NikKTech
Except Paul’s initial post
Except Paul’s initial post took the report at face value and he threw Microsoft under the bus.
Windows Central has a MUCH MORE leveled take on the CR statement. It essentially comes down to, could CR be right? Yes. Did they provide evidence in support of their “findings”? None whatsoever.
Right, Windows Central with
Right, Windows Central with the “Shop” referral links that go to the Microsoft surface store pages…
Not very hard to follow the
Not very hard to follow the money trail on that conflict of interest with that 800-Pound Sweaty Ballmer-Monkey setting in the room!
Yes Windows Central as Redomnd’s overpriced Tat-Emporium with that Over the TOP Overpricing that even leaves Jobs spinning in his grave!
That’s some overpriced crappy
That’s some overpriced crappy M$ tat, so full of M$ bugs!
Redmond’s an Apple wannabe for sure, such over priceed tat even by Apple overpricing standards that M$ crap-tat is!
With my limited experience
With my limited experience with the Surface Book (initial version), the only ‘issues’ I’ve found is it occasionally waking while in a bag (which could equally be down the to the sleeve being for a smaller laptop and pressing the wake button), and when docked it occasionally re-waking immediately after being put to sleep if the mouse is moved during the shutdown process. Basically: use a case that fits, make sure it’s off before you unplug it.
Positioned as a high
Positioned as a high end/luxury device but they have put the worst performing and buggy WiFi/Bluetooth in every single product. Thirteen times in a row. That should tell you something about Microsoft.
I do not have those problems
I do not have those problems listed by Consumer Reports on my over 2 year-old Surface 3!
Your anecdotal musings have
Your anecdotal musings have no bearings with regards to the larger statistical sample size(1) that CR used to come to its findings. Your one single experience is statistically insignificant as is your “not” having any of the issues that CR may have looked for, what with you not possessing a copy of the statistical questionnaire/list that CR utilized in its statistical analysis of the product/products in question!
Your sample size of one, if you where in fact the only Surface 3 owner, or one of only 10 owners, would have a little more statistical weight but has not much weight at all statistically speaking compared to a total population of millions of these divices.
(1)
“Sample size determination”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sample_size_determination
My wife and I both have
My wife and I both have Surface Pro 2’s, we purchased them with the extended warranty, and both have been replaced under warranty after the first year. Two separate issues, but the employees at the Microsoft store seemed to know of them and replaced them both with no issues.