Windows Central Insider
One of the only 50th Anniversary Surface Laptops is now lost in Microsoft's void, and it's unclear if its owner will ever get the device back. Rhener Furtado was one of the 50 winners to receive a special edition of the Surface Laptop 7. That unit developed freezing issues and was sent to Microsoft for repairs. But the device Microsoft sent back was a standard Surface Laptop 7 rather than the 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop.
Furtado was told in writing by Microsoft's repair team that the fix was a "same unit repair." With that detail confirmed, Furtado sent the laptop in. Microsoft Support later deemed the device "non-repairable" and sent a replacement unit. But the replacement was a standard Surface Laptop 7.
The sent Surface Laptop 7 had the same core specs, such as RAM, SSD, and CPU, but it was not a 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop.
Furtado has requested the original device be returned repaired or unrepaired. At the time of publication, Furtado has not heard back regarding the status of the original device.
The below images are of a different 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop that our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino went hands-on with last year. They illustrate the design flares and elements the device has.
As explained by Furtado, the laptop is far from a standard Surface Laptop 7. It has a Microsoft logo from 1975 and a gold Microsoft logo. It even has a special boot menu to celebrate Microsoft's 50th anniversary.
The 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop has a special boot menu and preinstalled wallpaper.
Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino
The 1975-era Microsoft logo is laser-etched in the 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop.
Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino
Even the box the 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop ships in has a gold Microsoft logo.
Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino
I'm hoping this piece gets more eyes on the situation. Microsoft is a big company, so there's a very good chance that the people involved in making and sending out the 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop have no knowledge of this device being sent in for repair.
Reddit's reaction has been passionate and negative.
"This is a serious issue and I encourage you to use every means possible to resolve it. Keep escalating it, keep going higher," said user chuckop.
"I would post on twitter and email people at the verge and windows central," said BcuzRacecar. I hope other outlets pick up this story as well.
I have reached out to Microsoft for comment on the lost 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop. I will update this piece with an official word back from the company.
Surface Laptop 7 repairability
Microsoft clearly has work to do when it comes to making Surface devices repairable. The Surface Laptop 7 received an 8/10 from iFixit, which is a monumental leap from the original Surface Laptop and all previous models. The first Surface Laptop was called a "glue-filled monster" by iFixit.
"The Surface Laptop 7 is an astonishingly repair friendly device, almost the antithesis of the original Surface Laptop. It’s no Framework 13, but it clearly draws inspiration from it," said iFixit of the Surface Laptop 7.
The device is easy to open, has identifying labels, and allows access to several components for swapping or repair.
But seemingly, Microsoft did not make the Surface Laptop 7 repairable enough, because even its own technicians could not sort Furtado's 50th Anniversary Surface Laptop.
Despite calling the needed fixes a “same unit repair” in writing, Microsoft's repair team deemed the device "non-repairable" and swapped it for a standard Surface Laptop 7.
Without opening the device and having an expert look at it, I can't say for sure if the unit was repairable or not. But what Microsoft's repair team did is not acceptable.
This is a special unit that celebrates the legacy of Microsoft. That legacy is now tarnished by the special device disappearing.
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