Microsoft has unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra, featuring the Nvidia RTX Spark chip. The device is available in two base configurations starting at $2,600 and $3,700, with top-tier options reaching $5,900. The company also introduced the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box workstation, priced from $6,000, which includes development tools like VS Code and GitHub Copilot CLI.
These new devices are engineered to run AI models locally. They utilize specialized hardware, including enhanced cooling and unified memory, to support on-device processing. Microsoft is also offering a trade-in incentive of up to $1,000 for users switching from a MacBook Pro to the new Surface lineup.
The hardware runs a modified version of Windows 11 featuring Execution Containers, a tool designed to sandbox AI agents. CEO Satya Nadella noted that this functionality will be extended to all Windows 11 users, aiming to provide a platform for orchestrating multiple AI models and external memory.
In addition to Microsoft's announcements, Dell has detailed its XPS 16 Creator Edition PC. This model is currently available for pre-order at Best Buy with a price tag of $3,800, and shipments are expected to begin later in October.
