Needing 8GB of RAM is actually based on reality. Maybe I need to expand on my previous comment so you know where I am coming from...

I use Windows pretty much every day for work and personal use. At work, I spin-up a lot of virtual and real Windows machines in multiple configurations to test and debug software. At home, I more casually use Windows for browsing and gaming. So I think my usage covers a wide spectrum of medium to high utilisation of Windows. Based on that alone, I can tell you that I can "survive" on 4GB RAM, but there is a noticeable difference in having 8GB plus.

Also, I agree that Chrome is a huge system resource hog (especially if you use extensions such as ad blocker), but it is objectively the most popular browser by a pretty huge margin. It's fine to say you don't use it, but you can't ignore the fact that the majority of people who buy this tablet will use it, and they will suffer slowdown and refresh issues due to the lack of system memory.

But yeah... If you want to spend sub-£700 on a machine for basic use such as Excel and note taking, and you have no intent to upgrade the RAM in the future, then sure, go for it :-)

I'm not voting hot, nor am I voting cold. I'm just giving a little perspective on this product. Sorry for the wordiness of this comment...

I use this model and it runs perfectly fine. I don't use chrome because its crap though just excel and one note.

I'm not sure where this idea that windows needs 8GB of ram comes from but it isn't based in reality.

You'll be feeling that low RAM if you use Chrome with more than 5 active tabs. 8GB should be the absolute minimum for Windows.

I would have voted hot if the RAM was upgradeable

Code is SURFACE - brings down to £695

Just tested and is working

Have some heat!

Heat added, but pity it's not the 8gb model :disappointed:

You'll be feeling that low RAM if you use Chrome with more than 5 active tabs. 8GB should be the absolute minimum for Windows.

I would have voted hot if the RAM was upgradeable

Feeling the low RAM, give it a break. 4GB is enough for most people. Windows is fine with 4GB. I have it running perfectly well on 2GB on an ASUS transformer. Its a good deal at this price, at least its not the m chip variant.

Good deal, but missing the pen :disappointed:

Glad to see a decent price for this....and with the keyboard! 4gb ram is more than enough for most people, only those that really wish to push their machine will be challenged.

The i5 256gb/8gb Surface Book is on offer at the moment too with the xbox bundle thrown in but i'm not going to bother posting it as it looks like they are hated more than Apple deals! Sell the xbox s bundle for £200 and not such a bad price for what you are getting.