Microsoft quietly hikes Surface prices in Canada due to hardware shortages

The AI-related PC hardware (RAM, GPU) squeeze is trickling down the personal computer space and hitting consumers' pockets. Not only are new product releases stalling, older models are costing significantly more.

Microsoft has raised prices across its entire Surface lineup at the Microsoft Store Canada, with retailers expected to follow suit soon. Both its midrange and flagship Surface PCs are now substantially more expensive than they were just weeks ago by up to $500 more.

The hikes are steep. The Surface Pro 12-inch, previously the most affordable modern Surface at now starts at approximately $1,424.99 CAD. The 2024 Surface Pro 13-inch starts at $2.042.49 CAD. Similarly, the Surface Laptop 13-inch starts at $1,567.49 CAD, while the 13.8-inch flagship model lands close to $2,042.49 CAD, and the 15-inch variant starts around $2,069.99 CAD.

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Review: MacBook Neo

By Gadjo C. Sevilla

Apple’s MacBook Neo opens up a new segment for premium-built, performant, and generally attainable laptops not just for students, but for entire markets where new Apple devices have been priced out of people’s budgets.

Out of the box, the Neo provides the complete premium Apple unboxing experience. No expense was spared in the presentation and the unboxing experience. A tiny ‘hello’ tab greets new users before they unwrap the laptop, and in certain markets you get a 20W USB-C charger and a braided cable.

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What the MacBook Neo is, and what it isn’t

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple launched its most affordable laptop ever yesterday, the MacBook Neo. It is a product that I believe has been in Apple’s pipeline for years and it is a significant product for a number of reasons. 

While the announcement was met with mostly positive reactions—thanks to its lower price of $599 ($499 for students and teachers) and bold colors (the Citrus shade is sure to be copied by competitors and appliance makers); a quick look at Reddit and Threads reveals some negative reactions. Critics argue that the MacBook Neo falls short, pointing to issues like only 8GB of unified memory, the lack of a backlit keyboard, and the absence of MagSafe. They''re not getting it.

At the core of early confusion is a misunderstanding of what this device is and who it is for. So, let’s break it down.

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Apple launches $799 MacBook Neo

Apple capped off its week of new product annoouncements by announcing the highly anticipated MacBook Neo, a US $599 ($799 CAD) consumer laptop featuring a 13-inch liquid retina display, an Apple A18 Pro chip, 8 GB of RAM, 16 hours of battery life, and Apple Intelligence capabilities. The Macbook Neo comes in an array of colours, including silver, blush (pink), citrus (yellow), and Indigo (blue). It ships qith 256 GB of storage with an option for 512GB and Touch ID for extra.  Pre-orders are available today for shipping on March 11. The MacBook Neo seems to be targetting Windows and Chromebook switchers.