 Since 2012, Microsoft has spent a lot of effort trying to sell everyone on the idea of a tablet that can replace your laptop. Last year's Surface Pro 3 was the culmination of that effort. It was the best execution on that idea yet. With the new Surface Pro 4, Microsoft isn't trying to convince us anymore. It's just making it better for the true believers. I'm just going to cut to the chase. The differences between the Surface Pro 3 and the Surface Pro 4 are so minimal, only the most well-trained eye would be able to tell them apart. The Pro 4 has the same overall shape and design, same magnesium finish, the same infinitely adjustable kickstand hinge. Hell, it's even the same color as last year's computer. It's slightly thinner, imperceptibly lighter, and has a new processor and slightly larger screen. But it's still a full-featured Windows 10 PC in a light and portable package that works better on your desk than on your lap. But while the main design and appearance of the Pro 4 remains the same, Microsoft did make some important updates, and they all revolve around how you actually interact with the computer. The biggest change is the new type cover, it features redesigned keys and a new trackpad. The keys are greatly improved, they're more spacious, more comfortable to type on, and have much better travel. It's still not like typing on a laptop, there's that weird hollow sound when you hammer away on the keys, and the whole thing flexes a bit too much for my liking, but I don't hate it as much as I used to. The new trackpad is much larger, it finally has a smooth surface, making it much better for those multi-finger gestures used in Windows 10. But the Surface trackpad has always been pretty lousy, so it didn't really have a high bar to beat. When you're on a keyboard, it's still not as good as the best laptops, and scrolling and navigating with it is still a cramped experience. There's also a brand new Surface Pen, which has a redesigned tip that works with an updated touch sensor on the display for better writing experience. There's an eraser nub on the back, which does exactly what you'd expect an eraser to do. And writing and taking notes with the new pen is much better than before, it really feels like I'm writing with real ink. I've actually enjoyed taking notes with the new pen, but unfortunately it can't do anything to fix my terrible handwriting. Maybe the coolest new thing with it is that it magnetically snaps to the side of the computer for storage, but don't expect it to stay there when you toss the Pro 4 in a bag. And that's really it about the Surface Pro 4. It's the same experience as the Pro 3, but with enough improvements to make it better overall. If you weren't sold on the idea of a Surface being the tablet that replaces your laptop with last year's computer, then this year's model won't do anything to change that. The Pro 4 still has the shortcomings and compromises of this setup, it's really awkward to use on your lap or an airplane tray table, and it's really clumsy to pick up from a desk and go. It's also still not a great standalone tablet when you pull the keyboard off. There's also the matter of the price. The Pro 4 starts at almost $900, but if you really want this to be your main computer, you'll want to pony up almost $1300 for a faster processor, usable amount of storage, and decent amount of RAM. Plus, you'd be a fool to buy it without the type cover, which adds another $130 to your bottom line. At that point, you're in the price range of some truly fantastic laptops, which means you have to really think hard if you're bought into the whole idea of a Surface or not. If you're not, Microsoft's even happy to sell you a true Surface laptop now. But if you are into this idea, and the tablet-laptop hybrid is your dream of a perfect computer, the Pro 4 is a little bit more perfect than before.
 Since 2012, Microsoft has spent a lot of effort trying to sell everyone on the idea of a tablet
 that can replace your laptop.
 Last year's Surface Pro 3 was the culmination of that effort.
 It was the best execution on that idea yet.
 With the new Surface Pro 4, Microsoft isn't trying to convince us anymore.
 It's just making it better for the true believers.
 I'm just going to cut to the chase.
 The differences between the Surface Pro 3 and the Surface Pro 4 are so minimal, only
 the most well-trained eye would be able to tell them apart.
 The Pro 4 has the same overall shape and design, same magnesium finish, the same infinitely
 adjustable kickstand hinge.
 Hell, it's even the same color as last year's computer.
 It's slightly thinner, imperceptibly lighter, and has a new processor and slightly larger
 screen.
 But it's still a full-featured Windows 10 PC in a light and portable package that works
 better on your desk than on your lap.
 But while the main design and appearance of the Pro 4 remains the same, Microsoft did
 make some important updates, and they all revolve around how you actually interact with
 the computer.
 The biggest change is the new type cover, it features redesigned keys and a new trackpad.
 The keys are greatly improved, they're more spacious, more comfortable to type on, and
 have much better travel.
 It's still not like typing on a laptop, there's that weird hollow sound when you hammer away
 on the keys, and the whole thing flexes a bit too much for my liking, but I don't hate
 it as much as I used to.
 The new trackpad is much larger, it finally has a smooth surface, making it much better
 for those multi-finger gestures used in Windows 10.
 But the Surface trackpad has always been pretty lousy, so it didn't really have a high bar
 to beat.
 When you're on a keyboard, it's still not as good as the best laptops, and scrolling
 and navigating with it is still a cramped experience.
 There's also a brand new Surface Pen, which has a redesigned tip that works with an updated
 touch sensor on the display for better writing experience.
 There's an eraser nub on the back, which does exactly what you'd expect an eraser to do.
 And writing and taking notes with the new pen is much better than before, it really
 feels like I'm writing with real ink.
 I've actually enjoyed taking notes with the new pen, but unfortunately it can't do anything
 to fix my terrible handwriting.
 Maybe the coolest new thing with it is that it magnetically snaps to the side of the computer
 for storage, but don't expect it to stay there when you toss the Pro 4 in a bag.
 And that's really it about the Surface Pro 4.
 It's the same experience as the Pro 3, but with enough improvements to make it better
 overall.
 If you weren't sold on the idea of a Surface being the tablet that replaces your laptop
 with last year's computer, then this year's model won't do anything to change that.
 The Pro 4 still has the shortcomings and compromises of this setup, it's really awkward to use
 on your lap or an airplane tray table, and it's really clumsy to pick up from a desk
 and go.
 It's also still not a great standalone tablet when you pull the keyboard off.
 There's also the matter of the price.
 The Pro 4 starts at almost $900, but if you really want this to be your main computer,
 you'll want to pony up almost $1300 for a faster processor, usable amount of storage,
 and decent amount of RAM.
 Plus, you'd be a fool to buy it without the type cover, which adds another $130 to
 your bottom line.
 At that point, you're in the price range of some truly fantastic laptops, which means
 you have to really think hard if you're bought into the whole idea of a Surface or
 not.
 If you're not, Microsoft's even happy to sell you a true Surface laptop now.
 But if you are into this idea, and the tablet-laptop hybrid is your dream of a perfect computer,
 the Pro 4 is a little bit more perfect than before.