Isn't the next MacBook the first Mac OS device to go ARM (A13?) instead of X64? That's gonna be messy, lol.
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Microsoft Surface |OT| - Style, Performance, and Creativity in a Variety of Windows 10 Hardware
- Thread starter Vanillalite
- Start date
- OT
it's been leaked that Microsoft will announce a refreshed Surface Laptop with a black color scheme and most likely 8th gen chips https://www.slashgear.com/surface-laptop-2-to-come-in-black-almost-no-changes-16545906/
...why would you want that, Microsoft can't even make their own phones lol
I mean, I'd be interested. Design flaws/breaks aside I absolutely adored the Microsoft Band. Perfect fitness wearable.
I got my type cover today and it is feels really great. The typing experience is pretty great compared to my desktop keyboard and I love the touch-pad. This definitely feels like the way this device was made to be used, they really should have included some sort of cheaper keyboard in with the Surface Go at the $400 price point.
Overall I'm pretty impressed with the whole package. As I said previously the Windows 10 tablet experience is awful, but using this device as a pseudo laptop is a great experience. I bought mine as a demo unit without warranty so it is kind of hard to think if I would be able to justify it at full price, but as things stand it is a pretty nifty little device. If I were to compare it to other laptops in the $500-$600 range (Using my $400 model and $130 keyboard as a point of reference) it handles its own in screen quality, build quality, versatility, and overall portability. I think perhaps my biggest complaints with it would come down to the lackluster tablet mode, and I also think it would have benefited from either an extra USB-C port or maybe make it a little thicker and include a USB-A port.
Overall I'm pretty impressed with the whole package. As I said previously the Windows 10 tablet experience is awful, but using this device as a pseudo laptop is a great experience. I bought mine as a demo unit without warranty so it is kind of hard to think if I would be able to justify it at full price, but as things stand it is a pretty nifty little device. If I were to compare it to other laptops in the $500-$600 range (Using my $400 model and $130 keyboard as a point of reference) it handles its own in screen quality, build quality, versatility, and overall portability. I think perhaps my biggest complaints with it would come down to the lackluster tablet mode, and I also think it would have benefited from either an extra USB-C port or maybe make it a little thicker and include a USB-A port.
My only complaint about the Surface Pro 4 that I got is that, when plugged into an external monitor, the computer sometimes can't decide when to properly use font scaling and so context menus and such can get really wonky.
Besides that, I love this thing!
Besides that, I love this thing!
For me the Surface Go is the first windows tablet actually small and light enough to be used as a tablet. It's comfortable to hold one handed for reading, has a nice screen with an aspect ratio that's great for comics, and it's small enough to just throw in my bag for day trips. It's great for media consumption, I always have it right on my end table to look up stuff on the internet or load up a video real quick. As a computer it's fine, but comes at a price premium. So if you don't plan to use it as a tablet often, maybe consider something else.
Performance is okay for productivity work. I have had no problem using Office or doing basic photo editing. You'll wanna use Edge for web browsing though, Chrome chuggs on it. I don't have a problem using Win 10 tablet mode at all. But I have heard enough people complain about it, that I recommend buying the type cover. It's a really nice keyboard and trackpad anyway. So it's worth getting.
Performance is okay for productivity work. I have had no problem using Office or doing basic photo editing. You'll wanna use Edge for web browsing though, Chrome chuggs on it. I don't have a problem using Win 10 tablet mode at all. But I have heard enough people complain about it, that I recommend buying the type cover. It's a really nice keyboard and trackpad anyway. So it's worth getting.
Thanks, I have a surface pro 4 and love it. Good impression for the Go and answers things enough for what the misses will use it for. Yeah the type cover is just so good, she doesn't like trackpads so I'll grab a mouse when she wants desktop mode. Glad to hear it's ok for one handed use too, pardon the pun but handy for on the couch or bed.
They're more than likely going to announce the Pro 6 week after next, so perhaps hold on.
I've been reading about the leak and I'm disheartened to hear that USB-C may not be a thing. Which is madness. I was hoping for a tablet + eGPU situation, and no Thunderbolt means no chance.
I'll wait for the conference, and then I'll wait to see what Google announce with the next laptops (rumoured Windows support) before I pull the trigger.
I'm basically down Dell XPS 2-in-1, Surface or Pixelbook in terms of devices.
Mine has minor lightbleed. Not awful but you might as well wait to see if theres a refresh coming.
Here is a leak article, for reference:
https://www.techradar.com/news/surface-pro-6-leak-reveals-microsofts-next-windows-tablet
https://www.techradar.com/news/surface-pro-6-leak-reveals-microsofts-next-windows-tablet
I want one of these so bad, mostly for drawing, but I haven't been able to justify the price for the last however many generations are out now.
Just saw some nice deals for Surface Go that put it at 380€/500€, and I'd almost pull the trigger as a replacement for my iPad Air, with the added benefits of productivity and Visual Novels, but the lack of a Comixology app is a dealbreaker for me. Has anyone tried running Comixology on a Surface through an Android emulator?
there are a few legit concerns but this video is mostly, "It doesn't look and act like an iPad"
Well, yeah. You'd want an operating system on tablet hardware to look and act like a tablet operating system. That should be kinda the point of a "tablet mode".
The issues stated weren't that it didn't work as a tablet, i use one everyday and have for years and haven't had any problems, maybe I'm just lucky. I don't know. The issues stated are mostly once again, it doesn't act like an iPad. Things like, "The app isn't stuck to my finger when I drag it around" and "Apps don't flip into view, they fade into view" , Even the reviewer states that he's being nitpicky
It's a matter of perspective and priorities I'm sure.
I've been using one for the past two years and it's a horrible tablet experience. I love the hardware and the form factor but as a tablet, it's awful when compared to an iPad. It's just not fun to use and when you put down so much money for hardware (with bad battery life), you better nail the user experience to make up for it and Windows 10 clearly doesn't, IMO. The lack of meaningful app support (e.g. YouTube) makes it only worse. Now, you may not care about these things and maybe you're fine with it the way it is right now but it doesn't change the fact that it's pretty bad in comparison and clearly a step or two back from Windows 8.1.
It doesn't mean it's a bad product and for some, it's perfect the way it is, but it doesn't mean its shortcomings shouldn't be called out or criticized. There's still a lot left to improve and the touch interface is part of it.
Literally the only thing keeping me from using my Surface as a tablet more is just the software keyboard; if there was a better one, it'd be perfect -- I far prefer every other aspect of the OS for a tablet compared to Android or iOS. Those are just... big phones. I find multitasking so much easier on Win10 than Android, I prefer the taskbar being a thing, etc.
How much does the battery last you? i want it for notes + powerpoints and some statistical apps
3-6 hours, depending on the brightness and what I'm doing. But I got the older Skylake model. It might be better with newer chips.
It's so frustrating. The only thing I can think of at this point is they don't wanna cannibalize sales of their ridiculously expensive surface docks. I was able to buy a $15 USB-C dock for my Surface Go. It doesn't have all the same features. But it's all I need, and it works with my other devices too.
That doesn'´ appear to be a priority for Microsoft: https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/28/17913174/microsoft-office-universal-apps-windows-10-development
Time to kill UWP for good.
I know. This makes it only more frustrating and I don't think PWA is moving as quickly or as good as they want it to be. Improving the touch capability of Win32 apps would already be a big step. Spotify, for example, is really awful on a touch screen.
Office never adopted .net or WinForms/WPF either, didn't stop them from being popular development environments. UWP at least got adoption from much of the Windows shell and apps + a few Office things like OneNote, which is more than .net/WPF ever did ...
Yeah, the software keyboard is awful.
I am leaning towards a Go - local microcenter has a few open box ones for 425 (the 8gb model). SP3 is going on year 3 now.
My issue with the Go is that I want to use Ableton on it, and I think it isn't quite beefy enough to deal with it. Other than that, it would be perfect for me.
I'm in a place where I am now looking at a Dell XPS 13", waiting to see if the Pixelbook gets Windows support or hanging on for the 2019 Surface refresh.
I'm going for size and thereby not too fussed about graphical prowess, especially as I've got one eye on the eGPU scene.
Edit:
Pixel Slate appears to be one of the forthcoming Google things.
https://9to5google.com/2018/09/29/google-pixel-slate-nocturne-windows-10/
I'm in a place where I am now looking at a Dell XPS 13", waiting to see if the Pixelbook gets Windows support or hanging on for the 2019 Surface refresh.
I'm going for size and thereby not too fussed about graphical prowess, especially as I've got one eye on the eGPU scene.
Edit:
Pixel Slate appears to be one of the forthcoming Google things.
https://9to5google.com/2018/09/29/google-pixel-slate-nocturne-windows-10/
I think the main thing is they need to get swype typing working system wide.
Works in Photoshop for me but not Chrome. Is that Google's fault? I thought maybe it only worked with UWP apps but PS is not UWP.
Hmm, i was able to use to Swipe type this reply in Firefox
and edit this post to say that Firefox is a good alternative
and edit this post to say that Firefox is a good alternative
I tried getting swipe to work when it first hit the updates earlier this year but there were some absolutely boneheaded hangups like you had to use US English or something. I'll try again in six months and hope for the best.
Well. Nothing from Google on using Windows 10 at the recent event. Slate looks great but it is effectively a tablet which I cannot do anything I want to on it.
I want a keyboard-less tablet, so I'm discounting the XPS one. So I'm back onto the Surface again. No USB-C for eGpu is a kicker, but I could always trade up on a redesign.
Big question is the i5/i7 decision. Better on board graphics on the 7 but the previous one had a fan and throttling issues.
I want a keyboard-less tablet, so I'm discounting the XPS one. So I'm back onto the Surface again. No USB-C for eGpu is a kicker, but I could always trade up on a redesign.
Big question is the i5/i7 decision. Better on board graphics on the 7 but the previous one had a fan and throttling issues.
The SP6 i7 is the same as the i5 for onboard graphics, iirc. The SP 2017 had 640 vs 620 on the lower end, but they all listed the same for this year's models unless I'm mistaken.
The Pixel Slate was kinda interesting at first, but I dislike that keyboard they have. The round keys are odd. And I've never been a fan of requiring the keyboard to be attached if you wanna prop the thing up. (An extra $200 btw.) It effectively increases the weight from 1.6lbs to 2.7lbs, since I use my tablet's stand a third of time. A kickstand is such a better solution.
Alright guys. I'm looking at getting a Surface.
On the MS website I can get the 128GB Surface Go with a type cover for £583. However, the last gen Surface Pro (m3 and 4GB of Ram) with type cover is on sale for £650...
How does the power compare between the two? Is only having 4GB of ram going to be a major issue in the Pro model? Likewise is the processor in the Go much worse than the m3?
On the MS website I can get the 128GB Surface Go with a type cover for £583. However, the last gen Surface Pro (m3 and 4GB of Ram) with type cover is on sale for £650...
How does the power compare between the two? Is only having 4GB of ram going to be a major issue in the Pro model? Likewise is the processor in the Go much worse than the m3?
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I'm using a Surface Pro 4 i5 with 4GB RAM right now, and have used it as my main PC every day for 3 years. I have to babysit the RAM a bit, but I quickly learned to stop using memory hog software and find alternatives. Your experience will probably come down to questions like "am I willing to stop using Chrome and use another browser, like Opera?"
I really like the Surface Go, but that baby keyboard will take some getting used to.
Microsoft imply the i7 has a better GPU, but they both have a UHD 620.
You'll get better graphics out of the i7 inevitably, but whatever counts as a GPU in this chip doesn't seem to be the determining factor. The i7 units for every generation seem to struggle more as they're bumping up against heat and battery.
Looking forward to getting my 8GB i5 unit on Tuesday! Still trying to decide whether to treat myself to a new keyboard.
OP
OP
I wish you could get an i5 with 16gb of RAM.
The i5 is more then fast enough now, and i7s throttle in this type of casing anyways. The extra RAM could be nice for heavy users or devs though.
The i5 is more then fast enough now, and i7s throttle in this type of casing anyways. The extra RAM could be nice for heavy users or devs though.
Recently purchased a refurbished surface pro 3 for $290aud.
I was originally looking for a tablet as a glorified pdf reader, to watch movies tv etc. These older gen surfaces offer a tonne of value when stacked up vs regular android/apple tablets. The price and features you get not to mention a full working Windows 10 is a no brainer.
I would even buy a brand new surface down the track.
I was originally looking for a tablet as a glorified pdf reader, to watch movies tv etc. These older gen surfaces offer a tonne of value when stacked up vs regular android/apple tablets. The price and features you get not to mention a full working Windows 10 is a no brainer.
I would even buy a brand new surface down the track.
I just got last years I5 with 8 gigs of ram bundled with everything for 700 bucks and it sure looks like I got a great deal.
This thing is great and I wish I had bought one years ago. I had been trying an IPad pro for the music stuff I do but it just failed everytime I had to do things for my actual job. I flipped it and just this instead.
This is a bit of a reverse, so while Machine 2 is not available I can run Ableton at least and at the end of the day being able to do work from my couch on this thing was the goal.
This thing is great and I wish I had bought one years ago. I had been trying an IPad pro for the music stuff I do but it just failed everytime I had to do things for my actual job. I flipped it and just this instead.
This is a bit of a reverse, so while Machine 2 is not available I can run Ableton at least and at the end of the day being able to do work from my couch on this thing was the goal.
Is that which has kept me away from the Go. I love everything about it but it just won't be able to handle Ableton to a useful degree.
Yeah, I fully admit that my computing needs are driving me a bit crazy.
I have found that sofar most of the music applications too small for me to see anything so that is a bit of a wash.
I really like the Pro but in the hierarchy of my computing needs it's competing more with my personal laptop.
At this point I am am going to look at the go and see how it works as a day job device.
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I'm 90% of the way towards going for an i5 Pro 6, but I'm going to see what black Friday holds for the 5 range. Also still up in the air about Google adopting Windows 10 still.
