Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) on Wednesday started taking pre-orders for the Surface Laptop Go 2, the first revision to its entry-level laptop. The PC starts at $599 U.S. , an increase of $50 from the original Surface Laptop Go that Microsoft released in 2020.
The tech giant known colloquially as “Mr. Soffee” is adhering to its incremental approach to updating products in its Surface line, which delivered 5% revenue growth in the most recent fiscal year. That’s slower than most other major products from the company.
But Surface devices are more than a revenue play — they serve to show what’s possible with Windows, and with the new device, Microsoft intends to show that a good-quality portable Windows computer can be affordable.
Microsoft has not managed to turn the Surface into a major hit in the nearly 10 years the product line has been available. The company had 0.6% share of PC desktops and notebooks in the first quarter, according to data from industry researcher IDC.
But many Surface computers have carried price tags of more than $1,000, and with the Surface Laptop Go 2, Microsoft is targeting consumers and businesses with less money to spend — and offering a fresh alternative to cheaper Chromebooks running Google’s Chrome OS.
There are a few notable changes, though. The new one ships with Windows 11, which Microsoft released last year.
The initial model came with Windows 10 in S mode, which restricted people from running programs that aren’t listed in Microsoft’s app store, although it’s possible to switch out of the mode.
MSFT shares spiked $5.09, or 1.9%, to $276.96.
