Surface Book 2 An Monitor Anschließen

I was a large Surface Volume two user, rocking it as a artistic powerhouse with a bit of gaming on the side. I was primarily using it to create content, via video editing, blogging, podcasting, and streaming on Mixer. I'm also doing some low-cal gaming on the side, indulging in PC-just games like Stellaris, World of Warcraft, and Heroes of the Storm, alongside Windows Mixed Reality. I've sinced moved over to a Razer Blade xv (opens in new tab) for more gaming chops, but if you're looking for accessories for your Book 2, look no farther.

The Book ii is the most versatile device I've ever used, wrapped in a svelte and portable package. Thanks to its serious GTX 1060 GPU, I can finally use it the way I wanted to use my Surface Book 1. And for those that have been request, I thought I'd circular up the accessories I was using to go the job done.

Run across Surface Volume ii at Microsoft Store (opens in new tab)

Microsoft IntelliMouse Pro

Recently I was lucky enough to test out Microsoft'south IntelliMouse Pro, and while I expected it to exist an average mouse that would gather dust in a drawer after review, I and so far haven't been able to put it down.

The IntelliMouse is an aggressively ergonomic mouse with 1 of the most robust sensors I've ever used. My antique wooden desk-bound is a barren wasteland of pockmarks, scratches, and stale pigment from decades of art corruption, but the IntelliMouse laser makes brusque work of it even without a mouse mat. It has a bunch of improvements over the IntelliMouse Classic too, including better materials, a braided cable, and RGB lighting.

It comes with two additional buttons which can be programmed with all sorts of extra features, and a roll wheel that feels as good as it is functional. This has become my favorite mouse of recent times. There's a reason kids at my school e'er used to steal the original IntelliMouse from the 90s. It tin be yours for just $60.

See at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Razer Vespula V2

While the Microsoft IntelliMouse can be used on practically whatsoever surface (even glass), I figured I should treat my wrist likewise as my palm afterwards I received the IntelliMouse, so I picked up a Vespula V2 mousemat from Razer.

The Vespula comes with two different textured sides for different purposes. The plastic side offers faster mouse movements, while the rougher, cloth side allows for more than precision. The best feature for me, though, is the generous memory foam wrist remainder that forms its base of operations. No longer practise I have to rest my wrist on the wood of my desk, and my arm feels way better for it. The Vespula V2 tin can be yours for around $40.

Encounter at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Turtle Embankment Aristocracy Pro Tournament (PC Edition) headset

I use a lot of headsets in this chore, and there's one product I always go back to: Turtle Beach's Elite Pro Tournament headset. It'due south supremely comfortable, durable, reliable, and sounds tremendous. Furthermore, the omni-directional microphone with in-line controls is surprisingly high quality for creating voice overs for YouTube clips, making it a versatile companion for gaming and inventiveness.

The PC edition comes with a USB interface, but in that location are 3.5mm cabling options out there also if you desire to go mobile. Yous tin combine the headset with a Elite Pro Tactical Sound Controller too for consoles, making it an extremely powerful esports-grade headset, with accurate DTX vii.1 surround and a clangorous soundstage. Cannot praise this headset plenty. You can take hold of the Aristocracy Pro for around $200.

Encounter at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Surface Dock

I actually have two of these, and regard them as absolutely essential if you lot're a frequent desk hopper. I purchased one to utilise at piece of work in the role at my previous chore, and kept 1 at home besides, so that I could just dock and become.

The Surface Dock is a big, heavy brick with 4 additional USB ports, ethernet, 2 additional mini-display ports, and a iii.5mm audio jack. It connects via the Surface Connect port, providing power and data, allowing you to just connect up your Surface and gain all of those additional devices at your desk. The weight is to prevent information technology from sliding effectually when you have several accessories plugged into it.

The Surface Dock has a couple of limitations, in the sense that its charger has lower power than the Surface Book 2 charger, leading to some battery drain bug in more intensive situations. Additionally, despite sporting four USB ports, it feels like it can get easily overwhelmed if you connect upward too many devices. I use information technology primarily for my mouse, and my Elgato capture equipment. You can grab it for $200.

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Hex Sleeve

I picked up this "15-inch MacBook" sleeve on a whim from our ain Surface Book ii sleeve roundup, purely based on the aesthetics, and I'm extremely happy with it.

The Hex Sleeve fits the Surface Volume 2 near perfectly, and has generous amounts of cushioning to go on it safety in your bag. The textile on the outside is extremely durable, made of a waterproofed wax canvas. Information technology's not the cheapest bag yous can go at $40, but I accept no regrets.

Run across at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Surface Pen

Some other essential slice of kit for whatsoever Surface user is some type of pen, and rather than branch out with third-party options, for now I've picked up the $99 Surface Pen. The latest Surface Pen supports tilt, 4,096 points of force per unit area, and a clickable eraser on the reverse end. It's also magnetic with the Surface Volume, which makes it convenient to store (and non lose). Although I had some driver issues initially, in one case I got everything ready and running properly with the Surface Book 2, the latency betwixt ink and pen is almost imperceptible.

Information technology comes in a range of colors, and is bachelor for $99.99.

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Surface Dial

I always wondered if the Surface Dial was a superfluous gimmick or the real bargain, and after finally giving it a get for myself, I can't imagine drawing without information technology at present.

The Surface Dial is a hockey puck-like device that can balance on your compatible Surface's display, creating contextual menus for all sorts of popular inking apps. So far, I've only been using it in Sketchable, and found information technology to exist an incredibly intuitive selection for irresolute the size and intensity of my brush, without having to defer to the app's menu or employ a fix of hotkeys on the side.

I'll be going over the powers of the Surface Dial in more detail in the future, only if y'all're already eager to go, it'due south available for $99.99.

Run into at Microsoft Shop (opens in new tab)

Elgato HD60 capture menu

For streaming on our Mixer channel, I'm utilizing a combination of XSplit and Elgato'due south HD60 USB capture card, plugged into my Surface Dock.

The HD60 captures video game footage at a maximum of 1080p with 60 frames per 2nd. While my upload speed here is nowhere near potent plenty to apply the HD60 to its full potential, the ease of utilize, small product size, and affordable price makes information technology an absolutely essential piece of kit for whatsoever streamer. While you can stream directly from Windows 10 or an Xbox One console, y'all need an Elgato and compatible streaming software such as XSplit to get stream overlays and other triggers, and the HD60 is a great place to start.

In that location is a more powerful USB-C selection (opens in new tab) (and an even more than powerful PCI-due east choice (opens in new tab) with 4K capture), but if you'd like to proceed your USB-C port free, this is a great pick at around $160.

Come across at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Elgato Stream Deck

If yous'd rather not rely on bots to deliver your messages to chat while streaming, you take to take a expect at the Elgato Stream Deck, which features 15 programmable buttons and toggles, with deep integrations for all sorts of services. However, the interesting thing most the Stream Deck for Surface users is that it can provide you with a range of hotkeys when you're using the Surface Book 2 in sail mode, which for artists, creates a valuable proposition for programs like Prune Studio Paint, Adobe Animate and Photoshop.

You can set up different profiles for dissimilar programs, making information technology extremely versatile, even for non-streamers. The Stream Deck is available for $150.

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HP Mixed Reality headset

Thanks to the GTX 1060 GPU within this affair, the Surface Book ii is a capable VR machine for use with Windows Mixed Reality. I've been using it with my HP Mixed Reality headset to that end, and establish the experience to exist totally solid and comparable to that of my Razer Blade.

While you're going to need a USB-C HDMI adapter (opens in new tab) to leverage Windows Mixed Reality on the Surface Book 2, due to a lack of HDMI port, the bear upon the dongle has on the experience is imperceptible.

HP's Mixed Reality headset isn't equally good as the Samsung Odyssey headset, simply it more than gets the job done if you desire to bound in for an early on adopter experience. The Mixed Reality headset, complete with motion controllers, is available for around $261 on Amazon right now.

See at Amazon (opens in new tab)

That's a wrap!

Those are the master accessories I'm using with my Surface Book two correct now, although I'm looking into external monitors, desk mounts, and a desk stand up likewise to get some additional elevation. The Surface Book two isn't cheap, only if you're planning on using all of its features, at that place actually is no laptop on the market place that can exude this level of versatility, with this amount of ability and adroitness. Head over here for some more than of my early on Surface Book 2 impressions, and over here for our official review from Executive Editor Daniel Rubino.

If you're rocking a Surface of whatever kind, let us know what your favorite accessories are in the comments!

Update July 26, 2018: I have updated this article with the new mouse and mousemat I am using, because they are awesome.

Jez Corden is a Senior Editor for Windows Fundamental, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking sectional news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered past caffeine. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and mind to his Xbox Two podcast, all almost, you guessed it, Xbox!