Microsoft last week added a smaller sibling to its Surface line of tablets — the Surface Go.

The 10-inch tablet is a little larger than the standard iPad, but is capable of running a full version of Windows.

The company has talked up how the smaller tablet will appeal to two particular demographics: students and women.

For one, it can fit in a purse. Second, the smaller size and lower price (the 12.3-inch Surface Pro starts at $700) is well-suited for classrooms.

The messaging around the Go reinforces Microsoft’s overall push to showcase Surface devices as ones that go from work to play and back again — to act as laptop, sketchbook and textbook reader in one.

The company said the lightweight Go would also suit the needs of businesses, which have been early adopters of Microsoft hardware including the Surface line and its HoloLens augmented reality glasses prototype.

The Go can plug into a monitor for a more traditional desktop experience.

The Surface Go uses a lower-end processor, the Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y, though Microsoft promised it would be up to the task of powering everyday tasks, as well as some games such as the education version of Minecraft.

The smaller size forced a bit of compromise on battery life. The Surface Go has an “all-day” nine-hour battery life, as opposed to the Surface Pro’s promised 13.5 hours.

Also, accessories are sold separately.

All are on the market Aug. 2.

WASHINGTON POST

PARALLELS TOOLBOX $20

Software is essential jack of all trades

Just as every home should have a toolbox, every computer should have Parallels Toolbox, a collection of virtual tools that enhance everyday computing and make complicated tasks as easy as clicking on a mouse.

And it just released a new version that can launch more than 30 tools for Windows and Macs with one mouse click.

Examples: Hiding e-mail notifications during presentations. Taking screen shots or videos of a PC’s laptop.

There also are alarms, a file-archiving utility and programs that will clean a hard drive, free up memory and lock the screen so that nosy co-workers won’t know what you’re up to.

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE