Surface Laptop is the answer to many critics' prayers. But its not quite the machine everyone wanted Microsoft to make

Microsoft pretty much invented the 2-in-1 form factor in 2012 when it launched the original Surface RT, basically attaching a keyboard to a tablet and building a device that could provide the best of two worlds.

If you could give fractional stars, the actual rating would be a 4.75 instead of 5 stars. First, the good: It's an extremely light-weight, polished, beautiful machine. The battery lasts a long time. It's extremely quick.

Sometimes, we just want a computer. The Microsoft's and Apples of the world are constantly trying to reinvent consumer devices. There are all manner of tablets, hybrids, phablets and 2 in 1's vying for your dollars, promising to be the way of the future.

I've talked to a number of people on the Surface team over the last few months, and the decision to hinder their beautiful new piece of hardware still boggles the mind. The Surface Laptop is really nice - in fact, it's quite possibly the best piece of hardware to carry the Surface name.

It doesn't have all the ports we'd like but the Surface Laptop has excellent design and mind-boggling battery life. Read more in our full review.