Things I would like to see but I know won’t happen
i5 model with 16GB RAM
Use screws instead of glue to put the machine together
User replaceable battery and drive
USB C Port with Thunderbolt
Base i5 model sold as a complete package with keyboard
Conversation
12 comments
jwpear
Premium Member26 June, 2018 - 2:03 pm
<p>Nice list! Absolutely second the screws and user-replaceable battery. </p><p><br></p><p>I'd add:</p><ol><li>Continue Connect port support for legacy Surface Dock users (while adding USB-C/TB3).</li><li>i7 model with 16 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.</li></ol><p><br></p><p>As far as battery, battery report shows that my SP3 still has 96 percent of its capacity with 687 cycles. If this can be trusted, it seems that MS did use some high quality batteries. That somewhat negates argument for user-serviceable.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#286361"><em>In reply to StevenLayton:</em></a></blockquote><p>Essentially yeah, but it grew into a bulletin board meme for a while. Just a funny <em>non sequitur</em> thing to add to a long list. Another thing I used to do back in the day was add "You" to the list, <em>a la</em>…</p><p><br></p><p>1) 50th Generation Intel Isolinear Rod CPUs</p><p>2) 8192 Gigaquads of main random access storage</p><p>3) Subspace uplink</p><p>4) Banjo Spaceship</p><p>5) Tu Blave</p><p>6) You</p>
<p>While it's not technically <em>part</em> of the Surface Pro, I'd hope that if they do put Thunderbolt 3 in it (either through the standard model or using Paul's updated Surface connector) that they would also release a Performance Dock with a built in GPU, say a GTX 1050/60 like the Book's keyboards, that can turn any Surface into a capable graphic machine.</p>
<p>The problems with screws and replaceable batteries is that the device will be thicker and probably heavier.</p><p>The screws need more space around the edge of the device, where no electronics or battery is, so the housing will need to compensate for that.</p><p>The battery would need to be a standard shape and couldn't be "smeared" all over the insides of the machine, meaning the device would be thicker and the weight distribution not as good.</p><p>I agree, having some form of maintainability on the devices would be good, but it is not possible, when keeping the device as small as possible. You have to make a compromise.</p><p>My Spectre X360 is screwed together, but it is a lot thicker than newer models.</p>
<blockquote><a href="#286571"><em>In reply to wright_is:</em></a></blockquote><p>Honestly, if it was slightly thicker and heavier so as to have some type of user replaceable battery, I would accept that. Which is why I am looking at the X1 Tablet. </p><p><br></p><p>Paul – any chance you could review the X1 Tablet 3rd Gen?</p>
<p>I wont buy another surface until they make the battery and SSD replaceable again. </p><p><br></p><p>Also I am hoping for a clone that will have your #s 3 and 4 plus a USB C charging port on either side of the case.</p><p>I know pipe dream here.</p>
<p>Main thing I want to see in a new Surface Pro…</p><p><br></p><p>Headphone jack on the bottom of device, not on the top (when attached to type cover, I mean.) Seriously, how hard is that to undertsand, MS? lol The rest is amazing. (Oh, and maybe a slot to slide in the pen and not have it hanging off device magnetically, and maybe power button relocation since many people seem to accidentally turn on their SP and drain the battery, ie. 'hot bag issue.') Thanks!</p>
<p> Simont,</p><p>I purchased my Surface Pro 2017 from Best Buy, complete with Type Cover in the box. Special deal they had a while back for students. In fact, MS made a special box for it to hold both. This was the Core M3 version, though, and was super cheap from what I recall.</p>