Surface Book Performance Base

Scheduled to go on sale in France in the first quarter of 2017, the latest version of the Surface Book called “Performance Base” will finally land on April 20, 2017.
Considered by experts more as a technical update of the first version than a true second edition, the new Surface Book Performance Base will be available from €2,599 incl. VAT.

Surface Book Performance Base features

The main features highlighted by Microsoft on the
product page are :

6th-generation Intel Core processor for running professional software
enhanced graphics power thanks to NVIDIA ® GeForce® GTX 965M 2GB GPU
greater mobility thanks to battery life of up to 16 hours
13.5-inch high-definition PixelSense display with detachable touchscreen
Surface stylus with 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity and an eraser at the tip for making handwritten notes on screen just as you would on paper.

Surface Book Performance Base improvements

While the Surface Book Performance Base is heavier than the first version (1.6 kg vs. 1.5 kg), memory remains the same at 8 GB or 16 GB RAM (LPDDR3), as does storage (three SSD options – 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB).
In terms of connectivity, we note the absence of a USB Type-C port, but Surface Book is equipped with two standard-format USB 3.0 ports, a standard-format SD card reader, a Surface Connect, a headphone jack and a Mini DisplayPort.
As for the improvements brought by Surface Book Performance Base, Microsoft highlights the graphics card and battery:

New i7 references with a graphics card twice as powerful and a new battery optimized for 16 hours of autonomy.

Indeed, the chip is part of the penultimate generation of Intel processors and is an Intel Core i7 6th generation.
As for graphics, Surface Book Performance Base is equipped with the 3D GeForce GTX 965M (2 GB GDDR5) chip, more powerful than its predecessor.
Finally, as for the battery, they announce a 30% increase in autonomy compared with the first-edition Surface Book model.

Surface Book Performance Base user benefits

Thanks to the improvements made to this version of the Surface Book, you will be able to :

write and draw with stylus on detachable 13.5″ PixelSense screen
connect to your Surface Book using facial recognition technology, which can memorize multiple faces and create a profile for each family member
run professional software such as SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD, AutoCAD Revit and Adobe Premiere ^Pro3
Take your device with you wherever you go, thanks to the Dynamic Fulcrum Surface Book Performance Base hinge, which keeps its balance at any angle.