Enlarge / The 15-inch Surface Book 2. (credit: Peter Bright) Introduced a little over two years ago, Microsoft's Surface Book was the hybrid laptop that I had long hoped the company would build. Like the Surface Pro, it worked as a true standalone tablet, but it had the all-important stiff hinge, making it suitable for use on your lap in a way that the Surface Pro's kickstand and Type Covers never really supported. The Surface Book was not just a useful form factor; it was also something of a technological showcase.