Surface Devices

[eltoslightfoot]

Anyone going eGPU? Was looking at options such as prebuilt enclosure that goes for $400+ for a decent one but the Razor Chrome X is bulky and kind of ugly. Thinking about going minimal with this $158 one and using a spare PSU.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000340228749.html

I wasn't, as I have a gaming PC, but let me know how it does, I am very curious!

 

[raqball]

It arrived... It's definitely and interesting laptop.. Just a few quick and crappy photos for now.. I'll make a thread on it in a few days after I spent some time with it...

Quick thoughts.

• It's well built
• Keyboard is very good
• Trackpad is stellar very close to being MacBook like
• Screen is clear, crisp and colors look great
• Sound is very good and it gets LOUD!
• The different modes are interesting and cool
• Windows 11 is fast and snappy on it

I ordered the pen for it but MS didn't send it with the computer. I called and they said they'll send one out. Might not have it until later this week....

Quick and crappy photos:

 

[dmr727]

It arrived... It's definitely and interesting laptop.. Just a few quick and crappy photos for now.. I'll make a thread on it in a few days after I spent some time with it...

Congrats on your machine! Incidentally I swung by the MS store and checked everything out, and was really surprised by how much I liked the SLS. It wasn't nearly as bulky as I thought it'd be, I really liked the curved corners of the display, and as you mentioned the trackpad is as close to my MBP as anything I've used.

I also thought the UI changes to Windows 11 were nice.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

It arrived... It's definitely and interesting laptop.. Just a few quick and crappy photos for now.. I'll make a thread on it in a few days after I spent some time with it...

Quick thoughts.

• It's well built
• Keyboard is very good
• Trackpad is stellar very close to being MacBook like
• Screen is clear, crisp and colors look great
• Sound is very good and it gets LOUD!
• The different modes are interesting and cool
• Windows 11 is fast and snappy on it

I ordered the pen for it but MS didn't send it with the computer. I called and they said they'll send one out. Might not have it until later this week....

Quick and crappy photos:

View attachment 1857606View attachment 1857607View attachment 1857608View attachment 1857609View attachment 1857610

SO Jealous!!!! Looks amazing!

 

[drinkingtea]

I picked up the SLS today. Damn, this thing is nice. Very smooth as well. There's some quirks in comparison to the MacBook that I need to get used to, but otherwise, I am very impressed. I'm constantly using the SLS in tablet mode.

I'm deciding between the SLS or the upcoming MacBook Pro for school. Hard choice. I'm giving the SLS two weeks before I permanently decide.

 

[Dave245]

It arrived... It's definitely and interesting laptop.. Just a few quick and crappy photos for now.. I'll make a thread on it in a few days after I spent some time with it...

Quick thoughts.

• It's well built
• Keyboard is very good
• Trackpad is stellar very close to being MacBook like
• Screen is clear, crisp and colors look great
• Sound is very good and it gets LOUD!
• The different modes are interesting and cool
• Windows 11 is fast and snappy on it

I ordered the pen for it but MS didn't send it with the computer. I called and they said they'll send one out. Might not have it until later this week....

Quick and crappy photos:

View attachment 1857606View attachment 1857607View attachment 1857608View attachment 1857609View attachment 1857610

VERY cool, you are also very lucky. I have been wanting to buy the Surface Laptop Studio since i saw it at Microsofts event. For some reason it isn't available in the UK until early 2022, it could be due too the chip shortage. The Pro 8 is available tho, but i know that really i want this lol.

 

[Queen6]

Oh I agree but i'm sure they have usage data that probably said most people buying Surfaces werent using those things anyways. and it's as simple as going to the MS store and clicking upgrade to pro for $50 dollars and takes about 2 mins and a restart.

Better to pick up an OEM license online, just $15/$20 but still think for the asking price SLS should come with W11 Pro.

Q-6

 

[Falhófnir]

Better to pick up an OEM license online, just $15/$20 but still think for the asking price SLS should come with W11 Pro.

Q-6

Is this a new thing for 11? As far as I can remember all surface products came with W10 Pro as standard apart from a couple that specifically had 10S (which could upgrade to Pro for free). I’ll have to look into whether the difference between 11 home and 11 pro is smaller than 10 home and 10 pro, or similar. As far as I can remember there wasn’t anything I was really worried about with 10 home, but that was for 100% home usage, if I was going to use it for work as well it might be different.

 

[Queen6]

Sounds like a solid plan to me. I'm agnostic when it comes to my desktop/laptop choices. My iPhone is with me all the time so the 'ecosystem' stuff can be decoupled from my computer without any heartburn. I'm at the point where I consider my phone to be merely an appliance anyway - I don't spend much time thinking about it.

My computer(s) are much more personal devices and there's a bunch of nerdy impulses that I like to scratch with them. Thus the almost year-long indecisiveness with regard to how I'm gonna replace this 2015 MBP.

I've always used a mixture of OS so can easily flip about. M1 is more of a challenge as the software availability isn't as broad yet, however it's getting better by the day as is emulation and wrappers.

I don't personally care to have all connected and the data freely accessible across all devices convenient it is, yet more problematic in the event of something going wrong or a malicious attack.

Q-6

 

[Queen6]

Is this a new thing for 11? As far as I can remember all surface products came with W10 Pro as standard apart from a couple that specifically had 10S (which could upgrade to Pro for free). I’ll have to look into whether the difference between 11 home and 11 pro is smaller than 10 home and 10 pro, or similar. As far as I can remember there wasn’t anything I was really worried about with 10 home, but that was for 100% home usage, if I was going to use it for work as well it might be different.

Good point W11 may still be too new, for cheap OEM releases. For me just BitLocker & GPE really. My Surface Book came with W10 Pro, what the new machines have I'm unsure some members have said home edition.

Q-6

 

[derekamoss]

Is this a new thing for 11? As far as I can remember all surface products came with W10 Pro as standard apart from a couple that specifically had 10S (which could upgrade to Pro for free). I’ll have to look into whether the difference between 11 home and 11 pro is smaller than 10 home and 10 pro, or similar. As far as I can remember there wasn’t anything I was really worried about with 10 home, but that was for 100% home usage, if I was going to use it for work as well it might be different.

They all come with home edition. You still get bitlocker but don't have group policy editor or remote desktop. In the MS store u can upgrade for 50 dollars if u need those

 

[Expos of 1969]

Other than the extra cost, for normal home use is there any downside to getting and using Windows Pro rather than Home? I have not used or had a Windows pc for years so I am not familiar with the current situation.

 

[diamond.g]

Other than the extra cost, for normal home use is there any downside to getting and using Windows Pro rather than Home? I have not used or had a Windows pc for years so I am not familiar with the current situation.

Aside from the price as you listed? No.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Good point W11 may still be too new, for cheap OEM releases. For me just BitLocker & GPE really. My Surface Book came with W10 Pro, what the new machines have I'm unsure some members have said home edition.

Q-6

Well, I am on Windows 11 Home on my Surface Pro 7 and it is using Bitlocker...

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Other than the extra cost, for normal home use is there any downside to getting and using Windows Pro rather than Home? I have not used or had a Windows pc for years so I am not familiar with the current situation.

I haven't found one yet, but I also have a work computer for work related tasks...I should try using my Surface and see if it can do everything.

I use remote desktop extensively, but they (my employer) get around that on home devices by using Citrix...

 

[diamond.g]

I haven't found one yet, but I also have a work computer for work related tasks...I should try using my Surface and see if it can do everything.

I use remote desktop extensively, but they (my employer) get around that on home devices by using Citrix...

I think the RDP client should work on Home editions. It is the RDP Server service that is “blocked”.

 

[kazmac]

Ah, @raqball the SLS looks lovely.

Congratulations! I look forward to reading your thread about it.

 

[drinkingtea]

I love that I can pull the screen forward whenever I want to see the screen more closely on the SLS. But I am concerned about the longevity of the lid/screen if I am constantly doing that.

 

[drinkingtea]

There are gaps along the lid of my SLS. MKBHD reported a similar issue in his SLS video. Yikes. I definitely don't think this lid will last long. It's like they didn't glue (?) it down all the way.

 

[kazmac]

There are gaps along the lid of my SLS. MKBHD reported a similar issue in his SLS video. Yikes. I definitely don't think this lid will last long. It's like they didn't glue (?) it down all the way.

Can you initiate a swap or return?

 

[raqball]

There are gaps along the lid of my SLS. MKBHD reported a similar issue in his SLS video. Yikes. I definitely don't think this lid will last long. It's like they didn't glue (?) it down all the way.

I don't see any gaps on mine.. I'd def start an exchange if I were you..

 

[Kung gu]

The only downside of the SLS is the ports and the price. 4 cores for $1599 and iGPU is a joke.

You have to spend $2099 for the rtx 3050 ti model.

come on MS, only 2 USB-C ports. This is a 14" inch laptop, I would like 4 USB-C ports.

even the 13" $1799 MBP has 4 USB-C ports.

 

[Mendota]

Interesting, Microsofts site claims getting a Surface Book now would come with Home.

All of my Surface devices came with pro as well.

 

[maflynn]

I have to say, I'm not a fan of the design, I think the hinge mechanism appears flimsy

I think this is trying to be a jack of all, master of none.

 

[drinkingtea]

The screen portion of my SLS has already left black markings from the screen resting by the trackpad...

Yeah. This thing is going back. I've noticed weird screen glitches on the portion by the bending mechanism. The screen feels super fragile as well. There are actual gaps along the lid, too. Nope. Also, this thing is incredibly heavy.