Surface Book 2 Hands-On: Now In Jumbo & Junior Sizes

For the past two years, the Microsoft Surface Book has sat at the apex of my ideal-Windows-device pyramid. When I reviewed its Performance Base upgrade last year, the Surface Book's funky four-in-one form factor won me over, its vast capabilities making up for its ponderous size and prodigious price tag. Today, Microsoft reinvigorates its halo notebook with the Surface Book 2, a duo of devices offering the same look and feel of the Surface Book, but with revised specs and two available sizes.

The Surface Book is a special line of machines, and the Surface Book 2 is just the shot in the arm the portfolio needed. Microsoft calls it “twice as powerful” as the MacBook Pro, and the company seems to be targeting Apple even more aggressively than it did last year, retaining the Surface Book’s USB-A ports and SD card reader while adding USB-C support. That kind of offering seems tailor-made for would-be Windows converts like myself … and it’ll be a miracle if I get to the other side of my Surface Book 2 review without buying one. Until then, hop on in to the Surface Book 2 hands-on, and let me know what you think of Microsoft's latest contender in the comments!

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 10/17/17