The laptop review parade continues as the next laptop on my desk is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7. This is one of the new Snapdragon X Elite laptops and probably the flagship of that platform, at least some would call it that. I’ve been on the hunt for the best laptop of 2024, and I’ve used several very amazing laptops already. The competition is heating up, and the battle between new chips is part of the reason Windows laptops are so hot this year. Qualcomm, AMD, and Intel all now have cracked the code to make not only a better performing system, but one that has fantastic battery life.

If you read any of my 2024 laptop reviews, you’ll see I’ve praised a few of them. In particular, I really enjoyed the ASUS Zenbook S 16 and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x. But now I am typing on the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 and I took it on a road trip to Germany and have been using it extensively for a few weeks. Is this going to be the one? Is this the perfect MacBook killer? Well, let’s find out!

Oh, man! Where do I even start with this Quick Take? I’ve been using and reviewing new 2024 Windows laptops for the past few months, and what makes them all special are the new chipsets they sport. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 I have is packed with the new Snapdragon X Elite 12-Core X1E80100 paired with 64GB of RAM. This is basically the Microsoft Store Exclusive.

I’ve had a lot to say about the bevy of laptops that I’ve used in 2024, and before I started using this laptop, my two favorites were the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and the ASUS Zenbook S 16 AMD. So what am I looking for? Well. I’m looking for a MacBook Killer and frankly, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is almost the perfect MacBook Killer. It really only falls short in one area. So here’s what I like and dislike about this laptop.

• Things I liked:
  • FANTASTIC build quality
  • FANTASTIC materials used
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Excellent keyboard
  • EXCEPTIONAL haptic trackpad that is just as good as the MacBook
  • Bright display
  • FANTASTIC battery life
  • Magnetic charging cable like MagSafe
  • FANTASTIC performance
• Things I didn’t like:
  • The display is bright and beautiful, I just wish they would have made this an OLED display
  • The price for this particular model is steep and most users should look at the entry-level versions
  • ARM processor may not play nice with some apps, but in my testing, it’s really a non-issue
  • The charging cable could use a redesign, I like it, but it can also be fiddly

Overall, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 has a lot going for it to be the MacBook Killer. The biggest thing it has going for it is the new Snapdragon X Elite chipset. This processor has truly turned things around for Windows laptops. This thing is a performance beast and a battery champion, two things Windows laptops could not get to work together, until now.

READ THE FULL REVIEW ON MY SITE HERE

I sold my MacBook Pro this year. As a reviewer, I am always surrounded by new tech and laptops, and I’ve been hunting for a good replacement for my MacBook Pro. Well, after many laptops, I believe that the ASUS Zenbook S 16 is the one that fits me the best. This laptop fits my needs and my requirements more than any other Windows laptop, so far. I’m also seriously considering not sending this back to ASUS, though I think they wouldn’t be too happy about that, LOL. But I digress. I am probably already ruining the remainder of this review, as I can honestly say that the ASUS Zenbook S 16 is that freaking good.

I realize that we all use laptops differently and what my requirements, likes, and dislikes may not be someone else’s. So read on for the full review here, parse the information I provide, and seek a few other reviews from other reviewers you trust. Once you have gathered all of our opinions, you can make a better choice for you and your needs. In other words, don’t take my review as pure gospel and as the final word. Do your due diligence because everything I love about the ASUS Zenbook S 16 may be everything you hate about a laptop. Let’s get into the full ASUS Zenbook S 16 (UM5606) with AMD Ryzen AI 9, review.

The Quick Take

I usually try to keep these quick takes short, but more often than not, I end up going longer than I should. Maybe the ASUS Zenbook S 16 will be different, and I can keep this simple and short? This laptop is well worth your money. With a combination of beautiful aesthetics and powerful performance, it’s one of the best Windows laptops on the market now.

• Things I liked:
  • The design is the nicest I’ve seen in a very long time, even nicer than the MacBook Pro
  • The build quality is ultra-premium with fantastic materials used
  • The 3K OLED display is outstanding
  • The touchscreen is responsive and accurate
  • The keyboard is fantastic, almost as good as the MacBook Pro
  • Performance is excellent with the new AMD Ryzen AI 9 chipset
  • Battery life is fantastic
  • The speakers are stellar, the closest you can get to a MacBook
  • You can upgrade the SSD
  • Price to value is excellent
• Things I didn’t like:
  • The trackpad is just OK. It’s nice and ample, but the diving board style is not my favorite. I would have loved to see the haptic trackpad that’s on the Surface 7 Laptop on this laptop. That said, I can at least say that while I don’t like this style of trackpad, it is at least useable.
  • My review unit makes a weird and very slight creaking noise when opening the laptop.

Out of all the laptops I have tested in 2024, the ASUS Zenbook S 16 is easily on the top 5 list and I highly recommend it.

Read the full review at Techaeris Here.

Time for a break from the enormous number of laptops I’ve been using lately to review something I really love with a passion, guitars. This time I have an ESP LTD TE-200DX Tele-style electric guitar. That is a mouthful of a model name, ESP, maybe work on that. LOL, but I digress. Telecasters have always been one of my favorite body styles, but I’ve not always been a fan of Fender’s necks or the fretboard radius used on those necks. So when I saw the ESP LTD TE-200DX (which I will refer to as the TE-200DX going forward) and saw it had a 14″ radius, I had to give it a spin.

The fretboard radius I am comfortable with is in between 10-inches to 14-inches. Most of the Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster come with 9.5-inch or rounder fretboards. There are probably some out there that are different, but the ones I’ve played, I’ve never got along with. That doesn’t mean they are bad guitars, it just means I didn’t get along with them as well as others. I still love Fender’s a lot, and I’ve owned many over the years. So let’s get into the full review of the TE-200DX.

The Quick Take

This is fairly straightforward on this review.

• Things I liked:
  • Purple Burst color is spectacular
  • Burl Poplar top is beautiful
  • Black hardware and purple color is a good contrast
  • The pickups sound wonderful, single coil sounds aren’t as bright as a real Tele, but good enough for me
  • Fretboard radius and 24 frets are great
  • Nice weight to the guitar
• Things I didn’t like:
  • Setup was not great
  • Fretboard was dry, and the frets needed some polish
  • Tuning machines seem to have some issues holding tune

Specifications

Specifications

The ESP LTD TE-200DX has the following features and specifications:

• General
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
• Body
  • Body Type: Solidbody
  • Body Shape: LTD TE-200DX
  • Body Material: Solid Poplar
  • Top Material: Poplar Burl Veneer
  • Body Finish: Gloss
  • Color: Purple Burst
• Neck
  • Neck Material: Roasted Maple
  • Neck Shape: Thin U
  • Neck Joint: Bolt-on
  • Radius: 13.77″
  • Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Dots
  • Number of Frets: 24, Extra Jumbo
  • Scale Length : 25.5″
  • Nut Width: 1.653″
  • Nut Material: Molded
• Hardware
  • Tuners: LTD
• Electronics
  • Neck Pickup: LTD LH-150N Humbucker
  • Bridge Pickup: LTD LH-150B Humbucker
  • Controls: 1 x volume, 1 x tone (push/pull coil-split)
  • Switching: 3-way blade pickup switch
• Miscellaneous
  • Strings: D’Addario XL110, .010-.046
  • Case/Gig Bag: Sold Separately
  • Manufacturer Part Number: LTE200DXPRB
• Construction: Bolt-On

What’s In The Box

• ESP LTD TE-200DX
• Allen keys for truss rod

Read the full review at Techaeris Here