Microsoft celebrates its excelling local partners in South Africa at its annual partner award event. The award event is set aside each year to recognize the contributions of the Microsoft partner community. The community that enables and empowers Microsoft customers and organizations in South Africa to do more. The event wasn’t short of the usual partner excitement even though it took place virtually this year.
Microsoft South Africa awarded partners in 18 categories. Among the many winners on the night, Gijima Holdings (Pty) Ltd took home the 2021 Managing Director Partner of the Year award. Mint Group won awards in three categories, the most by any Microsoft partner. Mint also got the most partner nominations in six categories. Followed by BUI with awards in two categories and four nominations.
Here below is a full list of award winners at 2021 Microsoft South Africa partner awards winner.
2021 Microsoft South Africa partner Award Winners list
Microsoft Modern Work Partner of the Year – Mint Group
Azure Infrastructure Partner of the Year – BUI
Data and Analytics Partner of the Year – Altron Karabina
Artificial Intelligence Partner of the Year – Praelexis
Security Partner of the Year – BUI
Business Applications Power Platform Partner of the Year – Mint Group
Dynamics Customer Engagement Partner of the Year – Enterprisecloud
Application Development Partner of the Year – Tangent IT Solutions
Dynamics 365 Business Central Partner of the Year – Just Dynamics Software Solutions (Pty) LTD
CSP Indirect Provider of the Year – Tarsus on Demand
Dynamics Finance & Operations Partner of the Year – Parity Software (Pty) Ltd
Commercial Channel Partner of the Year – NTT Dimension Data
Microsoft Consulting Services Partner of the Year – Mint Group
Industry Solution – Public Sector Partner of the Year – Boxfusion
Industry Solution – FSI Partner of the Year – InQuba
New or Emerging Services Partner of the Year – InfoVerge Solutions (Pty) Ltd
New or Emerging ISV Partner of the Year – iiDENTIFii
Managing Director’s Partner of The Year – Gijima Holdings (Pty) Ltd
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Microsoft is expanding its Surface devices market in Africa as it opens a new market in Egypt. The company is officially launching Surface Pro 7, Surface Laptop Go and Surface Go 2 for organizations in Egypt. This will increase the Surface market in Africa to two with South Africa being the only other market.
We are pleased to share the next step in our journey to support organizations and businesses says Mirna Arif, Country Manager, Microsoft Egypt, with the introduction of Surface Pro 7+, Surface Laptop Go and Surface Go 2.
It comes as no surprise to see Egypt become a market this quick as Mirna was the immediate Surface Business Group Director for the Middle East and Africa. It will be interesting to see the adaptation and growth of the devices in Egypt.
There is no immediate mention of prices. Microsoft says you can make an order for the devices through authorized device partners in Egypt. Alternatively, you can register your interest and find out more about the devices through Microsoft Certified Distributor, Redington Egypt.
Finn Morris, Surface Business Group Director at Microsoft Middle East and Africa notes, “We’re excited to introduce Surface products to the Egyptian market. Offering a new, Windows-powered alternative in the devices segment that balances security, aesthetics, speed and versatility.”
The announced Surface devices are currently heavily on discount across various markets and I will expect these to be as well. Microsoft also recently hosted an event to announce a new generation of Surface devices. The Surface Pro 8, Surface Duo 2, Surface Go 3, Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Pro X. I expect these new devices to be available to the Egypt market next year.
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Microsoft is introducing the Surface Laptop Studio as a replacement to the Surface Book line. The name and design suggest it borrows heavily from the Surface Laptop, Surface Studio and even the Surface Pro devices. It isn’t your conventional laptop by design, but Microsoft has a reason. It is a powerhouse device designed for developers, creative pros, designers and gamers. But as usual, the question is how will it stack up against Apple’s MacBook.
The 14.4″ Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio runs on the latest quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core H Series processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPU. It has a screen resolution of 2400 x 1600 and 201 PPI maintaining the famous 3:2 aspect ratio. 16GB up to 32GB of RAM and removable SSD storage starting from 256GB up to 2TB. Battery life estimations show up to 19 hours of typical device usage.
Microsoft says the feedback it got from Surface Book users was that they wanted a workstation with more power. They also wanted a device they can easily detach the screen and move around with. Interestingly this is Microsoft’s answer to that. The screen can’t be detached but like the Surface Pro models, you can adjust the kickstand to change the mode. But Microsoft isn’t calling it the kickstand here.
Price and release date
It starts at $1599.99 and you can pre-order it now and get it on 5th October 2021 when Windows 11 becomes generally available. Unfortunately, it will only be available in select markets, mostly the US, for now. But will come to other markets in 2022.
Watch the video below to find out everything new including design, specifications, and hands-on review about the Surface Laptop Studio.
Surface Laptop Studio full device specifications
Dimensions
12.72” x 8.98” x 0.746” ( 323.28 mm x 228.32 mm x 18.94 mm )
Display
Screen: 14.4” PixelSense™ Flow DisplayRefresh rate: up to 120Hz Resolution: 2400 x 1600 (201 PPI) Aspect ratio: 3:2 Contrast ratio: 1500:1 Surface Pen enabled Touch: 10-point multi-touchDolby Vision® support3
Memory
16GB or 32GB LPDDR4x RAM
Processor
Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ H35 i5-11300H Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ H35 i7-11370H
Accessories Support
Integrated Surface Slim Pen 2* storage for charging compatible with Surface Dial* off-screen interaction
Security
Hardware TPM 2.0 chip for enterprise security and BitLocker support enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in Windows enhanced hardware security
Software
Windows 11 Home, Preloaded Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 Home 30-day trial Preloaded, Xbox App Xbox Game Pass Ultimate one month trial
2 x USB 4.0 with Thunderbolt™ 4 technologies support 3.5mm headphone jack 1 x Surface Connect port
Cameras, video, and audio
Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing)1080p resolution front-facing camera. Dual far-field Studio MicsQuad Omnisonic™ speakers with Dolby Atmos®
Wireless
Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax compatible Bluetooth Wireless 5.1 technology Xbox Wireless built-in
Exterior
Casing: Magnesium and AluminumColor: Platinum
Warranty
1-year limited hardware warranty
Keyboard layout
Activation: Moving (mechanical) keys Layout: QWERTY, full row of function keys (F1-F12)Windows key and dedicated buttons for media controls, screen brightness Backlight
Battery capacities
Battery Capacity Nominal (WH): 58.0Battery Capacity Min (WH): 56.3
Hinge
Dynamic Woven Hinge made of woven fabric with embedded cables that can bend 180 degrees
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Operating systems and digital devices have some myths around them; some are entertaining, while some are simply annoying. Ignoring these myths is usually the best, though it might also be interesting to discover what the rumours surrounding certain brands are. Let’s take a look at some of the common Mac myths with their explanations for more clarity.
Macs Are Not Meant for Gaming
Many users believe that Macs are not good for gaming. If you too think the same, read this. It’s true that until recently, Macs did not have discrete graphics cards, but the latest Mac models come with integrated Nvidia chips that make them great for gaming.
However, another perspective to this Mac myth is that there is a limited number of games available for Macs in comparison to Windows. So, developers must take this into consideration for promoting Mac computers among gaming-savvy audiences.
If you are finding it difficult to play your favourite game on Mac, try to play online games. Try to clear the system cache and clean other volumes in the container. Click here to get more information on optimizing your system for gaming by cleaning other volumes.
Macs Are Better for Work
Macs are amazing devices that are great for everything from work to entertainment. They are sleek, fast, and have a great design. Due to the ultimate display experience, Macs are considered to be some of the best for graphic designers as they need to work with graphics-rich files.
All macOS devices, including Macs, MacBooks, iMacs are good for handling artistic tasks; however, they are equally excellent for performing other simple-to-do tasks, watching movies, or web browsing.
You can perform calculations just seamlessly on Macs and can handle almost all sorts of tasks without worrying about the resources each task needs. Even if you run multiple apps simultaneously on Mac, you will not experience any performance lags.
Macs Are Better to Run Windows
If you are an age-old Windows fan, you must be delighted to run the aesthetic operating system on your new Mac system. Well, this is an amazing feature, and you can run Windows on Mac using Boot Camp, a built-in macOS utility.
Running Windows on Mac is an excellent way to play games that are not otherwise supported by macOS. Though Apple offers a limited variety of games, there’re a plethora of gaming options available for Windows.
BootCamp allows you to run Windows on your Mac by assigning a partition to the former operating system. However, you can also select to switch between the two highly productive operating systems as per your preferences and requirements.
macOS is Better Than Windows
Well, another Mac myth that users believe to be true, but both the operating systems have their own set of pros and cons. While macOS is unique in usability, it’s higher in price, whereas Windows computers are better in application support and are available at affordable prices.
macOS has an aesthetic interface, while Windows is extremely easy to use and is compatible with the majority of applications available in the market. While both Macs and Windows integrate Nvidia and Intel processors, the former offers the best sound and video output.
Windows offers better features and is popular among all kinds of audiences, from students to professionals. However, Macs are mostly used by professionals due to their heavy pricing and not-so-easily upgradable specifications.
Windows PCs Are Cheaper Than Mac
Due to the availability of multiple options at any given price range, Windows devices are considered pocket-friendly options. While macOS options are limited, buying a Mac computer or a MacBook is still a fantasy for many.
In most cases, users end up purchasing Windows computers after comparing the features and the prices of both devices at specific pricing. In addition, users also consider the availability of compatible applications for both operating systems before purchasing one.
Windows are easy to upgrade while newer Macs are not upgradable, and repairs are expensive. For example, if you find battery issues, you can buy a new battery for a Windows laptop device, but repairing Mac batteries can involve huge costs. Therefore, it won’t be wrong to say that Windows is cheaper and affordable to maintain than Macs.
Macs Are Easy to Use
Despite being heavily priced, macOS is considered one of the best operating systems among users. Though the availability of Dock simplifies usability on Mac, making it easy to operate and easier to customize than any other OS out there.
MacBooks are faster than Windows laptops, and the credit goes to the top-notch specifications that the former integrates. Users who have used Windows on Mac or have experienced both operating systems agree that Macs are easy to use.
Windows is used by a significantly higher number of users than Mac. The best-in-class features, ease of operability, top-notch support, high affordability, and seamless performance are considered some of the reasons behind its popularity.
Are there other Mac myths you know of? Are they just made up Mac myths? Let’s hear about the Windows and Mac myths in the comments.
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Microsoft officially welcomes realme to the Windows partner ecosystem with the launch of the realme Book. Alvaro Celis, the company’s VP of World Device Sales shared this at the launch event of the realme GT series and realme Book (Slim).
Alvaro shares that with more than 1.3 billion users the Windows ecosystem is more vibrant than ever. A platform that allows people to do whatever they need from their place of choice, he adds. He also notes that the realme Book is an incredible example of that [Windows 11] innovation.
Windows 11 is the Windows that you care and love, it has been reimagined, it has been simplfied. Today I have the distinct pleasure to welcome realme to the Windows partner ecosystem. With the launch of their device the realme Book, a device that will be available worldwide. I look forward to our joint success in the marketplace. Congratulations and welcome.
Alvaro Celis
The launch of the realme Book sees the company join smartphone companies Infinix and itel. They also recently joined the laptop market and announced their debut devices.
For realme, this venture will see if they can extend their mobile phone business model of delivering premium devices at budget prices to the laptop category. They have already made a name in the smartphone market claiming to be the world’s fastest smartphone brand to reach 100 million device sales. That question that remains is will they be able to give realme fans premium laptops at value prices?
The laptops will be upgradeable to Windows 11 for free when it launches officially later this year.
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realme is introducing its first high-performance slim notebook, the realme Book, as it enters the personal computer market. Just like it does with its mobile phones, the company wants to give consumers premium laptop devices at budget prices. But will realme be able to do this with the laptop category? I guess we will find out soon.
The Book has a 90% screen-to-body ratio with a resolution of up to 2160×1440 and bright screens at 400 nits. It sports a 14-inch IPS display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a broad viewing angle. realme says it factors in an all-round screen in its design, giving creators what they want, more screen space to create. The Book is powered by an 11th generation Intel processor and Intel iris Xe graphics and supports up to 8GB+512Gb storage combination.
The notebook comes in a premium looking aluminum body and is lightweight at 14.9mm thin and 1.38kg. It notes the Book is thinner than the MacBook Air and Pro and lighter than the MacBook Pro. With its super-fast charger realme says you should get a 50% charge in just 30 minutes. It boasts of an extra-large touchpad and a backlight keyboard with three modes. It comes with Windows 10 that will be upgradable to Windows 11 for free when it launches. You also get Microsoft Office Home and Student with all features pre-installed and can go ahead to activate it and use it.
Everything about the Book from the launch event
In terms of pricing, the device will start at $749 for global markets. However, the Intel Core i3 with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage will retail at $632 or INR 46,999 in India. Whilst the Intel core i5 variant with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage will retail at $807 or INR 59,999. Devices are expected to start selling from the 30th of August.
In Africa, Kenya is the only official realme market at the moment. It is therefore expected that it will officially get launched in Kenya in the near future. Check out the full device specifications below.
realme Book 14″ laptop device Specifications
Dimensions
30.7 x 22.9 x 1.5cm, 15.5 mm thin
Weight
1.38 kg
OS
Windows 10 Home (free upgrade to Windows 11)
Display
14″ 2K full screen, IPS display, 2160 x 1440 UHD, 400 nits, 100% sRGB, 3:2
54Wh,65W Adapter, 65W PD Super-Fast Charge, up to 11 hours of usage
Audio
Stereo sound by DTS, Dual HARMAN audio speakers system
Port
i3 Version: USB-C 3.2 × 2 Gen 2, USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 3.5mm Headphone and Microphone Jack i5 Version: Thunderbolt 4/ USB 4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 3.5mm Headphone and Microphone Jack
realme fan? What are your thoughts on the laptop?
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