Surface Devices

[Queen6]

Just goes to show we are each the product of the positive and negative experiences with the products that we use.

Many major multinational companies also use Elite Books, as they are cost effective and reliable, far more so than the consumer line. If you all had issues like a not someone procured the wrong tool for the job as I seriously doubt that teachers are going to push notebooks harder than engineers and geologists in the field running simulations...

Our children conducted lessons from home, one used one of my old ThinkPads from around 2012 and it coped more than adequately with the likes of Zoom and others, seems like IT need to go back to school.

Q-6

 

[Abazigal]

Many major multinational companies also use Elite Books, as they are cost effective and reliable, far more so than the consumer line. If you all had issues like a not someone procured the wrong tool for the job as I seriously doubt that teachers are going to push notebooks harder than engineers and geologists in the field running simulations...

Our children conducted lessons from home, one used one of my old ThinkPads from around 2012 and it coped more than adequately with the likes of Zoom and others, seems like IT need to go back to school.

Q-6

Are we referring to the same product? This is the model I am referring to.

HP EliteBook Laptops and 2-in-1 Laptops

HP EliteBook laptops and 2-in-1 laptops provide strong security and simple management along with powerful collaboration features. Learn more here.

www8.hp.com

Its pros are being thin and light. Battery life is okay but not fantastic. We often joke about the travel hub (a USB-C dock) being thicker than the laptop itself, but one increasingly common issue is the usb-c port in the laptop getting loose over time (could be user error, I don't know). Keyboard is okay to type on, but I absolutely abhor the trackpad.

With over 80 teachers in the school, it's expected that some of them will run into issues over time, but I am seeing my share of flickering screens, loose ports, dead laptops due to motherboard issues, and I am guessing the thin form factor means it's more prone to throttling as well. Enough for word processing, I suppose.

Mine's still fine, but mainly because it usually stays docked at my desk which is in an air-conditioned environment.

 

[LeeW]

I bought my daughter a new laptop, an Asus Zenbook, just waiting on it arriving so I can have a play with it to decide whether it's a brand worth considering for myself She was fairly adamant she did not want another Mac.

 

[Queen6]

Are we referring to the same product? This is the model I am referring to.

HP EliteBook Laptops and 2-in-1 Laptops

HP EliteBook laptops and 2-in-1 laptops provide strong security and simple management along with powerful collaboration features. Learn more here.

www8.hp.com

Its pros are being thin and light. Battery life is okay but not fantastic. We often joke about the travel hub (a USB-C dock) being thicker than the laptop itself, but one increasingly common issue is the usb-c port in the laptop getting loose over time (could be user error, I don't know). Keyboard is okay to type on, but I absolutely abhor the trackpad.

With over 80 teachers in the school, it's expected that some of them will run into issues over time, but I am seeing my share of flickering screens, loose ports, dead laptops due to motherboard issues, and I am guessing the thin form factor means it's more prone to throttling as well. Enough for word processing, I suppose.

Mine's still fine, but mainly because it usually stays docked at my desk which is in an air-conditioned environment.

Like I said seems like your IT or procurement need to study harder as something is off. I've a consumer grade Acer Switch 5 that's very and runs fine, basically the same idea as the HP, just a lot cheaper as I fund my own hardware for work and purchase what I know will work.

Passively cooled by a liquid loop, never gets hot or throttles, and I mostly used it in the tropics (Malaysia & PNG) in a field engineering role. Not a powerhouse by any means, none in this form factor really are, yet guarantee it will do VC all day long. Many in this tablet form factor are temperature limited to protect the user, the Switch 5 CPU if I remember correctly has a threshold of 70C. Wouldn't be at all surprised it the HP was the same as they all tend to use the back case to dissipate heat.

Ports are totally down to the implementation and QC, Retina MacBook's share the same issue. I've still got one and it's USB C port has lost much of it's retention, hence why it's in a drawer somewhere I only retain it as has some data archived that I cant run on a Mac past OS X 10.10

Q-6

 

[Dave245]

I just read that Microsoft won’t be announcing the Surface Pro 8 until early next year (2021). I wonder if they are redesigning it and that’s the reason why they are waiting until next year?

I will say one thing for what they announced last week, the Surface Laptop Go is very appealing. I like that blue colour and if I didn’t have my 2019 MacBook Pro, it would be very tempting.

 

[LeeW]

I wonder if they are redesigning it and that’s the reason why they are waiting until next year?

I suspect it is more to do with the delays everyone is facing as a result of COVID, probably pushed everyone to get the SLG out there 1st. I have heard the SP8 has been redesigned though.

 

[Dave245]

I suspect it is more to do with the delays everyone is facing as a result of COVID, probably pushed everyone to get the SLG out there 1st. I have heard the SP8 has been redesigned though.

That makes sense. It will be interesting to see a new design of the Surface Pro, thinner bezels like the X would be good.

 

[Serban55]

 

[canesalato]

it looks great but damn...that trackpad could be so much bigger...sigh. So close.

 

[Dave245]

Interestingly Microsoft have launched the Surface Pro 7+

Microsoft Announces Surface Pro 7+ for Business - Thurrott.com

Surface Pro 8 is not a thing: Microsoft today announced Surface Pro 7+, a small revision to its predecessor that’s aimed solely at commercial customers.

www.thurrott.com

There is no consumer version, it only for schools and businesses (which I find odd). I do wonder if this means a consumer redesign is coming in the form of a Surface Pro 8? maybe later this year.

 

[kazmac]

Interestingly Microsoft have launched the Surface Pro 7+

Microsoft Announces Surface Pro 7+ for Business - Thurrott.com

Surface Pro 8 is not a thing: Microsoft today announced Surface Pro 7+, a small revision to its predecessor that’s aimed solely at commercial customers.

www.thurrott.com

There is no consumer version, it only for schools and businesses (which I find odd). I do wonder if this means a consumer redesign is coming in the form of a Surface Pro 8? maybe later this year.

Actually, MS released a SL3 that was aimed at businesses, so this doesn’t seem too odd to me.

I almost wish they’d release a smaller version of the Surface Studio.

 

[Dave245]

Actually, MS released a SL3 that was aimed at businesses, so this doesn’t seem too odd to me.

I almost wish they’d release a smaller version of the Surface Studio.

Maybe it’s just me, I’m a little disappointed that they haven’t launched a Surface Pro 8 with thinner bezels (like the Surface Pro X) better battery and updated keyboards and pen.

 

[kazmac]

Maybe it’s just me, I’m a little disappointed that they haven’t launched a Surface Pro 8 with thinner bezels (like the Surface Pro X) better battery and updated keyboards and pen.

I saw something about the Surface Pro 8 US price starting at $899 yesterday, but nothing about design changes.

It would be nice if they implement a design change, though I prefer more bezel for holding the tablet. That said, MS could certainly tweak Apple’s smaller bezel design.

 

[LeeW]

It would be good if the Alder Lake chips work out well, the only thing that holds me back from a Surface Pro is the battery life, if that was significantly improved I would have one as a portable for around the home for everyone to use as needed.

 

[jrichards1408]

I think the surface line is in real trouble if they can't make an arm chip that matches the apple's Mx ones

 

[LeeW]

I think the surface line is in real trouble if they can't make an arm chip that matches the apple's Mx ones

Really don't understand this comment that many are making. I have said it before, the M1 makes Macs better, it does not make other windows device worse. Sure, it puts them to shame a little. But 7 generations of Surface devices and for those that buy it, they seem to do just fine. That will continue with the 8,9 and whatever comes after it.

 

[Falhófnir]

I think the surface line is in real trouble if they can't make an arm chip that matches the apple's Mx ones

I’m sure it’ll come on the hardware side, sounds like both Microsoft and Nvidia have something cooking. A bigger problem for Windows is the poor emulation, and the open ended not-a-transition, which will leave the software library a mess of emulation (which may work well, badly or not at all) and native apps (which may work well or be half assed ports). Worse is Microsoft’s interpretation of emulation cancels out any of the efficiency gains the hardware brings.

 

[IowaLynn]

Surface Pro 7+
Surface Pro 8
Surface GO 2
Surface Laptop Go
Surface Laptop 4
Surface Duo (2?)

Intel 11th Gen chips SoC
...

I really like these devices going back to the RT2

 

[Dave245]

Is anyone from the UK tempted to give Surface Duo a try, when it launches (Q1 of this year apparently).

I’m tempted to give it a try, im guessing some of the software bugs will have been ironed out (with software updates). The only thing I’m not sure about is battery life, as I haven’t seen it mentioned.

 

[The_Interloper]

Is anyone from the UK tempted to give Surface Duo a try, when it launches (Q1 of this year apparently).

I’m tempted to give it a try, im guessing some of the software bugs will have been ironed out (with software updates). The only thing I’m not sure about is battery life, as I haven’t seen it mentioned.

Not a snowball's chance in hell. From the massive bezels to the mediocre specs to the lousy camera to the colossal "Why???" of it all, it's a complete dud.

To add insult to injury, the resale value of this thing will be horrible. You may as well dig a hole, drop your money in and set fire to it.

And this is coming from someone who actually likes Surface devices.

 

[LeeW]

You may as well dig a hole, drop your money in and set fire to it.

Yup, even as a tech enthusiast who would buy virtually anything just to 'try it', no chance with this. It is way too lacking on every important element.

 

[derekamoss]

Just realized the SP 7+ has an upgradable SSD! Hallelujah!

 

[maflynn]

tempted to give Surface Duo a try, when it launches

I'm not tempted by the Surface Duo (not in the UK either), but I've been tempted by the Surface Neo, the dual screen tablet. That was supposed to be released this past holiday season if memory serves me. Given how the Duo was received (or rather was not), I wonder if the tablet will ever see the light of day

 

[The_Interloper]

I wonder if the tablet will ever see the light of day

I doubt it: https://www.pocket-lint.com/tablets...-be-delayed-until-2021-surface-neo-until-2022

 

[maflynn]

I doubt it: https://www.pocket-lint.com/tablets...-be-delayed-until-2021-surface-neo-until-2022

windows 10x being delayed is no surprise, but I'm a tad disappointed about the neo news