You can say the same for Surface Go since it would be way too underpowered and has very limited storage (entry model) not to mention working on full desktop programs on a 10" screen is just awful, making it a DOA to me. As for the iPad, I agree with you, but at least the iPad have a proper tablet OS that is designed to utilize the hardware to its absolute best. Surface Go's OS goes to complete opposite direction where the OS is NOT suited for tablet use, and it's way too cramped and underpowered for using it as a full desktop OS and its desktop programs
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Tablets Surface Go DOA?
- Thread starter cbautis2
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You can say the same for Surface Go since it would be way too underpowered and has very limited storage (entry model) not to mention working on full desktop programs on a 10" screen is just awful, making it a DOA to me. As for the iPad, I agree with you, but at least the iPad have a proper tablet OS that is designed to utilize the hardware to its absolute best. Surface Go's OS goes to complete opposite direction where the OS is NOT suited for tablet use, and it's way too cramped and underpowered for using it as a full desktop OS and its desktop programs
Yep, the Surface Pro 2 had the same problem, as far as too small for the resolution and using things like Photoshop.
very good point. I honestly could replace "note" with a slew of other brands, and the point would still remain.
Nope, this isn’t DOA. This is a good upgrade to the Surface 3, which sold in large volume. This will likely also sell pretty well, regardless of the specs.
I wish I had your optimism.
These figures always assume less than 50% brightness, which, considering how dark most non-Mac screens are in the first place, is nearly unusable. I'd be surprised to get even four hours of battery out of this.
I'm a diehard Thinkpad fan, but I always roll my eyes when Lenovo claim "up to 30 hours" of battery life.
We will see...I have my doubts. Of course, I see how MS treats the Surface Book video drivers, thermal profiles on all of the Surfaces, there is the ever present sleep/hibernate issues. Like I said, I hope it does do well. They should have put an i5 in this though. It would have actually sold.
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Lenovos are great machines, I just don’t know now that the Chinese have been putting spyware in them...Hopefully that is behind them now.
I've personally owned Surface devices since day-1, but haven't for the least 1+ year. I use them occasionally at work. Based on my first-hand experiences and what is currently known about the Surface Go, I'm not interested. It doesn't bring anything new to the table for me to reconsider. That could change in the future.
The chronic lack of a quantity of quality of touch-optimized Modern UI apps make the Surface as a tablet a frustrating experience for me.
I generally agree, but I would qualify that "more choices" in and of itself isn't always better for the consumer. More GOOD choices are. If Microsoft stumbles with the Surface Go (as they did with the Surface RT and 2) then ultimately it is NOT good for consumers because it allows Apple to rest on their laurels and not feel the pressure of real competition.
That is why I encourage people who want Apple to offer a similar hybrid that they shouldn't stop at emailing Tim Cook, but to go out and buy a Surface. If the Surface is wildly successful, not by Microsoft's meager standards, but in general terms, watch Apple sit up, take notice, and offer something comparable. That is what Apple does.
Another thing I would really like to see from Microsoft is an actual surface laptop instead of these hybrid tablet devices.
Make a real MacBook pro competitor. Something I don't need a table to use when typing. Something weighted correctly.
A lot of people are waiting for a 2015 style MacBook pro and apple keeps making them thinner with less ports and needless features (touch bar).
Microsoft makes something like that with or without touch support and I (and non soldered ram and SSD) I'm sure they might just have a hit.
I mean they've made everything else but an actual updated MBP.
No removable keyboard or screen just a straight up laptop...
Make a real MacBook pro competitor. Something I don't need a table to use when typing. Something weighted correctly.
A lot of people are waiting for a 2015 style MacBook pro and apple keeps making them thinner with less ports and needless features (touch bar).
Microsoft makes something like that with or without touch support and I (and non soldered ram and SSD) I'm sure they might just have a hit.
I mean they've made everything else but an actual updated MBP.
No removable keyboard or screen just a straight up laptop...
I don't think Microsoft is going to make two laptops, just the one.
Do you mean something other than the Surface Laptop? I LOVE the design, but I don't love the 0/10 repair-ability and Microsoft's track record of poor quality control. (that seems like a perfect storm)
Some of the comments on the Surface Go are comical to me. When Apple produced the iPad Mini, everyone on hear was all over how great it was. And now there are various sizes of iPads and buyers pick the one that suits their needs. The Surface Go provides a lower price point and smaller size vs. the Surface Pro. I'm not sure if I'll buy one, but will take a look. I love my Surface Pro that I've had for the last year and it has been the best and most productive device I've ever owned.
Regarding the iPad being a real computer... of course it is. But it also greatly limited in some ways. The advantage the Surface line has over an iPad is that you can attach it to a big monitor, mouse, and keyboard, and use it as a desktop computer. You can't do that with an iPad. I love that I can grab it and go and not have to worry about two different sets of applications for tablet vs. laptop... and where my files are that I'm working on. Many information workers can't get buy with an iPad. I can't. I need more screen real estate, and the ability to use a mouse and proper keyboard. The Surface is a great way to have a tablet and laptop in one device.
For a pure tablet experience, the iPad is of course better. But for what I do, the Surface tablet experience is good enough and I avoid carrying a whole lot of additional crap and the other inconveniences I missed above.
I expect the Surface Go will do fine in the market. And it will push the other Microsoft OEMs to also go after this space. I think its great that Microsoft continues to push the Surface line, and all the software that goes with it. They are continuing to push more and more productivity into their Office suite which is what many business users live in.
I will wait and see how the Surface Go performs in the field before deciding if it is something I might buy. I'm really happy with the Surface Pro, but will take a look at it.
Regarding the iPad being a real computer... of course it is. But it also greatly limited in some ways. The advantage the Surface line has over an iPad is that you can attach it to a big monitor, mouse, and keyboard, and use it as a desktop computer. You can't do that with an iPad. I love that I can grab it and go and not have to worry about two different sets of applications for tablet vs. laptop... and where my files are that I'm working on. Many information workers can't get buy with an iPad. I can't. I need more screen real estate, and the ability to use a mouse and proper keyboard. The Surface is a great way to have a tablet and laptop in one device.
For a pure tablet experience, the iPad is of course better. But for what I do, the Surface tablet experience is good enough and I avoid carrying a whole lot of additional crap and the other inconveniences I missed above.
I expect the Surface Go will do fine in the market. And it will push the other Microsoft OEMs to also go after this space. I think its great that Microsoft continues to push the Surface line, and all the software that goes with it. They are continuing to push more and more productivity into their Office suite which is what many business users live in.
I will wait and see how the Surface Go performs in the field before deciding if it is something I might buy. I'm really happy with the Surface Pro, but will take a look at it.
Do you mean something other than the Surface Laptop? I LOVE the design, but I don't love the 0/10 repair-ability and Microsoft's track record of poor quality control. (that seems like a perfect storm)
Yup something other the surface laptop. That's more of a MacBook air in my opinion
Ok. Why doesn't the Surface Book fit your description of a Macbook Pro alternative?
I have given the surfaces a shot twice. First a surface 3, and then I had a surface pro 4. I'm not even sure why these devices exist at all. They are not useable as tablets IMO.
Having to interact with windows 10 in tablet mode is aids. There really is no way around it though, so I just ended up using it like a weird gimped laptop.
Hard pass for me.
I am open to getting a non apple product for many categories, but the one that they are the undisputed champs of is the tablet market.
Having to interact with windows 10 in tablet mode is aids. There really is no way around it though, so I just ended up using it like a weird gimped laptop.
Hard pass for me.
I am open to getting a non apple product for many categories, but the one that they are the undisputed champs of is the tablet market.
I love my Surface Pro and use it as a tablet, laptop, and desktop replacement. So the device exists for me, for one. And I've not been on a trip recently that I didn't see others on the plane with Surface Pros. Its easy to spot them because we are the ones that are still working when all the guys with Macbooks have to put them away during takeoff and landing. Nothing Apple makes matches the productivity gains I get with a Surface Pro. This is why my Macbook Air and Mac Mini pretty much sit unused for anything but backing up my wife's iOS devices.
Well, when one owns a Surface Pro one must look for any and all opportunities to showcase a benefit... even if it is being able to work an extra 5 minutes on each end of a flight.
(I'm not serious, just a light-hearted jab)What specifically is it about the Surface Pro that gives you productivity gains that are exclusive to the Surface Pro but not possible with a macOS device and are of such significance that those macOS devices sit unused? The only thing that comes to mind is being able to markup documents with the Pen... I guess depending upon how much of one's productivity relies on that can indeed be a determining factor.
Well, when one owns a Surface Pro one must look for any and all opportunities to showcase a benefit... even if it is being able to work an extra 5 minutes on each end of a flight.
What specifically is it about the Surface Pro that gives you productivity gains that are exclusive to the Surface Pro but not possible with a macOS device and are of such significance that those macOS devices sit unused? The only thing that comes to mind is being able to markup documents with the Pen... I guess depending upon how much of one's productivity relies on that can indeed be a determining factor.
Hey, we have to take the moments of showcase that we can. It is actually more than 5 minutes too. My routine when I get on a plane includes turning on my hotspot, connecting to update Outlook (nothing worse than starting to go through email and not have the latest starting point), and working connected as long as I can, followed by continuing on through take-off. There are rare cases that an unknowing flight attendant will ask me to pack it away, but if they do I'll just remove the keyboard and keep going. But I never have to stow it during the flight at all.
As for productivity, its the "all in one" factor. Up until about 5 years ago I was all Apple... work and phone. My last two jobs we have been an all Microsoft shop(s), and so I ended up using the company issues laptop for work, and moved to a Mac Mini for home. But I travel a lot, and really want to have access to home and work when I'm away. I have also wanted to move my note taking from paper and pencil to some pen based tablet. I fooled around with an iPad and also looked at a colleague's workflow using an iPad Pro with OneNote. But I won't want to haul around yet another device. So I bought a Surface Pro and was able to move everything into one device.
Work
- Moved my Office 365 environment, Outlook, OneNote, etc.. from my company laptop to the Surface Pro.
- Gained the ability to take notes in meetings and conferences with the pen input directly into OneNote.
Home
- Moved all my scanned archives from Mac to the Surface Pro
- Moved my Lightroom libraries from Mac to Surface Pro
- Migrated Mac Mail to Windows Mail
- Moved the few things I would do on my iPad over - Netflix, web browsing, etc.
I then bought a Note 8 to replace my iPhone so I can take notes in OneNote by pen on both, and edit either way.
So another colleague travels with me globally and brings his Dell laptop, Macbook, iPad, and iPhone. When trying to charge all that stuff up, its quite comical. I have my Surface Pro and Note 8. I've reduced my backpack by about half the weight.
I pretty much live in the Microsoft suite for most things. I don't have to worry about going back and forth between an iPad and laptop with two different platforms and apps and worry about syncing files. When I'm in my office, I dock the Surface Pro and have 2 external displays. If I need to leave, I just undock it and go. Takes 1 second. I am always working in the same apps. I have no constraints.
The only downside that I can perceive is that the pure tablet experience isn't as slick as an iPad, but for the things I use a tablet (mode) for, the Surface Pro does perfectly fine... and I have the kickstand and much better keyboard ... and a mouse.
I travel light and have everything with me where ever I go. I can't do that with Apple.
Because they buy from Apple!
At a minimum, you are carrying a tablet and a laptop with Apple if you need the breadth of full function computer and need a tablet. That is frankly the whole point of the debate between Apple's view of the world and Microsoft's. And if you happen to work for a company that issues you a Windows machine, and you want to travel with your home stuff... then you end up with 3 devices. With a Surface Pro, I can reduce that to 1, and that is precisely the reason I love it. Apple doesn't give you that option.
So the dell is for work?
Why do they need their personal laptop too if they are on a work trip? I would leave the mac at home and just bring my iPad for pleasure and use the work issued Dell to do work on. Or maybe they just like hauling gadgets around with them
Ditto I have had the same issue for many years with locked down Company laptops then having to carry your own on top
I travelled since 2011 with 11" MBA's updating them on each iteration till finally with rMB 2015 trying to cut down on gadgets in my backpack. The SP4 was a great step forward IMO giving back the performance I lost by loosing the top spec 11" MBA for the rMB and gained a whole new experience and screen resolution etc
I'm not an app person and outside of a few conveniences, dealing with foreign government departments, food orders and navigation which is pant's on IOS, plus Netflix's and Kindle the rest are integration with MS Office and social communication that any Android smart phone handles with ease
For those of us that used PDA's, Windows CE or Pocket PC way before Apple even bought "iPhone" these new small footprint PC's offer great opportunities not possible with IOS and reminiscent of the old arguments we had then with Symbian etc and IOS was not even a contender. It was a shame MS lost their way for a good 8 years but their lofty goals of cross platform support and scalable OS I find far more admirable today
Sure like many I have tried several Ipads and Yogas 8" & 10", book, 12" Samsung Tab Pro S, but for me the Surface Go is getting closer than any recent iterations over the last few years of a perfect companion device
Build quality, styling, connectivity with sufficient resources that stops you having to grab a full size laptop at the slightest hurdle which drove me nuts with Android or IOS tablets. It's not all about speed or doing one thing really well it's pure convenience in one small package
I'm hoping it's good enough to even stop carrying a conventional laptop on holiday given now I have gifted my SP4 to my youngest and got a larger laptop for personal use
Shame is pre-order out here starts in August
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Good thoughts.
But with the current Lenovo Yoga Book (Pen+Halo keyboard included) selling for around $275 brand new (both Android and Windows 10 models) It's a hard sell to justify $529 (base Go + keyboard + Pen) for an entry level Surface Go.
Of course there's a difference between the Halo keyboard of the YB and TypeCover of the Go, and that alone might make it worth someone paying nearly double for the Go.
I have the Android version of the Yoga Book. It has been a surprisingly good experience. Traveling with it has been terrific. If I needed access to Windows apps on a similar form-factor, I'd snatch up the current Windows version of the Yoga Book in a heartbeat.
Yep, tried them all in W10 versions but the Atom processor was a little to slow at times and the Halo KB did grate when having to switch by touching the KB spot between typing and TP control but they were nice to play with although the 8" was defiantly too small
Yoga book was a very cute device and a bit more laptop like than the straight Yogas and the charging was painfully slow via micro usb
I think there is a significant step up with the GO:
Processor wise near the 2015 base models rMB or SP4. 8GB and 128GB SSD is a must IMO to make the best of performance, full charging and USB-C port capable of driving external monitor etc plus up to 1TB SD card, one of the best cover KB designs and TP that is also backlit
It has all the missing hardware elements of an Ipad/Android devices
but I agree compared to US pricing on Yoga's a and some Chromebook's a little steep but compared to an iPad a bargain almost given it's flexibility I was considering the newish Samsung Book 10" or 12" and had it been available here I would of got it, but glad I did not as I think the GO is far more promising if I can get 6 or preferably 8 hours from it will be great although hard to beat Samsung Amoled displays in these form factors regardless of refresh rates 120mhz in grey is still grey LOL
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Part of me wants one of these and three years ago I would have bought one. But three years ago me buying whatever they wanted is why I can’t buy one today.