Microsoft's Surface Computers Lose Consumer Reports Backing

Consumer Reports is withdrawing its recommendation for four new Microsoft Corp. laptops and tablets after a survey showed that a quarter of older Surface devices posed problems for their owners after only two years, a black mark against the company during the key back-to-school buying season.

The report, which pulls recommendations for two versions each of the Surface Laptop and Surface Book, said the devices showed “poor predicted reliability in comparison to most other brands.” While the consumer group said the Microsoft machines did well in laboratory testing, a subscriber survey found problems with their devices at start-up, some respondents said their machines froze or shut down unexpectedly, and others said their touch screens weren’t responsive enough.