I've used a couple of the previous Surface Pro models, and they've generally been reliable. They’re designed to balance portability and performance fairly well. With each iteration, Microsoft seems to focus on enhancing the performance specs significantly. From what I've read about the Surface Pro 11 rumors, it sounds like they’re upping the ante on processing power, which should be great for video editing and software development tasks.
The Surface line has also consistently been pretty good with battery life, though it always depends on the workload. In similar categories, especially against ultrabooks or convertibles, Surface devices often stand out for their build quality and the versatility of being a tablet and laptop. However, for intensive tasks, comparing exact specs once the Surface Pro 11 is released with other contenders like Dell XPS or HP Spectre might give a clearer picture. Evolution-wise, they’ve become more refined in design and utility, though I’d still keep an eye on reviews for any quirks that sometimes accompany new releases.