Managed.IT - issue 55

12 MANAGED.IT 01732 759725 COMPUTERS Announced at the launch of its new Surface computers (see below) and due to be launched this time next year, Microsoft’s first dual-screen Surface devices are designed to replace the handful of electronic devices – notebooks, tablets, smartphones – that mobile workers typically carry to perform the tasks for which each is best suited. Microsoft believes that having a single device with two screens will aid productivity by removing the need for workers to switch between apps or devices. As the launch press release states: ‘Imagine being able to take a Microsoft Teams call on one screen and look something up on the web or view a document on another.’ Surface Neo features two 9-inch screens connected by a 360-degree Replacing the popular TOUGHBOOK CF 54, the Windows 10 Pro computer delivers a 32% increase in system performance, enhanced durability with an increased IP protection rating, a doubling of battery life to 20 hours (40 hours with the optional second battery), enhanced security and many other new or enhanced features. What really sets the 55 apart are its three configuration areas that enable businesses to extend the life of their machines by upgrading, replacing or adding exchangeable components – easily done thanks to simple release mechanisms. hinge that, when fully opened, creates a full-size 13-inch display, while the pocket-sized Surface Duo has two 5.6-inch screens that unfold to 8.3 inches. The latter can also be used to make phone calls. In the meantime, Microsoft is bringing out a number of new Surface devices, including the Surface Pro X, Microsoft’s first always connected model with removable solid state disks (SSDs). Many of the improvements introduced by Microsoft are based on feedback from customers and have a strong business bent, notably the ability for organisations to service aspects of the Surface Laptop 3 for and Surface Pro X themselves. Should a device need to be sent off-site for repair, drives containing sensitive data can be removed and kept on the organisation’s premises. Other enhancements include 10th generation Intel Core processors for two-times faster performance; integrated USB-C connectivity; super-fast charging of 80% in just one hour; and new business-friendly finishes and cover options. Introduced following feedback from B2B customers, this capability allows organisations to adapt their devices to meet changing requirements. Should the IT department introduce more resource- intensive software, for example, a new graphics card could be fitted; or if a new hardware security authentication process is introduced, all you would have to do is upgrade existing 55s with the required authentication device (smartcard, RFID or fingerprint reader). Other options include a DVD or Blu-ray drive, extra storage or a second, hot-swappable battery for 40 hours of operation. As well as future-proofing devices so that organisations can use them for as long as 4, 5 or 6 years, the ability to upgrade individual components reduces New Surface devices include the: n Surface Laptop 3 clamshell laptop, now available with 13.5- inch and (new) 15-inch screen sizes, with easier serviceability, a 20% bigger trackpad and two microphones for clearer audio. The 15-inch version includes an AMD Ryzen Surface Edition graphics processor; n Surface Pro 7, a versatile ‘2-in-1’ laptop/tablet featuring a keyboard and kickstand that can be set at any angle for easy writing on-screen; and n Surface Pro X, a completely new product line for Microsoft, featuring removable SSDs and Wifi and LTE connectivity for ‘always on’ connectivity. The thinnest, lightest and most powerful Surface Pro device to date, the Pro X boasts premium features like a super-slim bezel that enables a 13in edge-to- edge display to be accommodated in the same footprint as a 12in screen, and a new Surface pen holder that prevents the pen from being dislodged accidentally. Magnets flip the pen if it is put in the wrong way around and, when it is picked up, sensors activate an on-screen menu of pen-based operations. www.microsoft.com TCO and delivers a lower carbon footprint. For security-conscious businesses, removable and replaceable SSDs mean that sensitive data doesn’t need to go off-site when a computer needs to be repaired – just remove the SSD and keep it somewhere safe. Panasonic says that the universal bay could even be used by IT partners to develop their own options and solutions. In a separate development, Panasonic TOUGHBOOK has become the first rugged mobile computing provider to join the Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider programme, enabling it to offer customers quicker and easier deployment and management using the Windows Autopilot cloud-based configuration and deployment service. www.toughbook.eu Microsoft expands Surface range and previews first dual-screen Surface devices Panasonic is breaking new ground with its Toughbook 55 semi-rugged notebook Doubling up More rugged, more flexible