Microsoft's Surface Laptop arrives on June 15th for $999

If you like the Surface Laptop and its combination of portability with upscale design, you can do something about it very quickly. Microsoft is taking pre-orders for the Surface Laptop today ahead of its release on June 15th. Prices start at a relatively reasonable $999 for a platinum-colored model, although you definitely won’t get a monster machine for the money: that base machine includes a Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM (really, in 2017?) and a 128GB solid-state drive. You’re clearly paying for the 13.5-inch touchscreen more than you are the underlying performance.
We don’t have full pricing available as of this writing, but there will be a higher-end Core i5 model with 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and the full range of color options (burgundy, blue, gold and platinum). And if you just have to get a Core i7, you’ll have the choice of two platinum-hued models: one with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, and an all-out version with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. And don’t forget, the Surface Laptop runs Windows 10 S out of the box. You may be shelling out for an upgrade to full Windows 10 (it’s free in 2017, $49 afterward) if you want to run apps beyond those in the Windows Store.
Much like other Surface PCs, then, this is still a premium system — you’re just paying less than you would for a Surface Book. That’s not necessarily a problem if you’re interested in the touch technology or the craftsmanship, but there are definitely lower-cost options if you’re just looking for a reasonably fast and eye-pleasing ultraportable.