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Do you own a Surface device

  • Yes I own a Surface Pro or Surfacebook - it’s great

    Votes: 165 51.2%
  • Yes I own a Surface laptop - it’s great

    Votes: 36 11.2%
  • No - i’m not a fan

    Votes: 69 21.4%
  • Not anymore I had a bad experience

    Votes: 52 16.1%

  • Total voters
    322
Two years ago I bought a Surface Book 2 to use as a Windows notebook. From time to time I pick it up but get really tired of the tablet usage. As a notebook its ok, but tablet use is horrible. I forced install Windows 11 on it because it wasnt supported ?!?! and now the tablet mode is gone, which was more or less crap anyway. As an avid Mac and iPad user the UI is so terrible. Until you cant use it you never realise how often all the shortcuts in the iPad os is used, like adjusting the screen brightness. In win11 it returns to 100% every time the screen is rotated needing adjustment from the control panel. I would never buy one again.
I had the same experience with my Surface Pro 4. I used it in tablet mode for a few times, the experience was rough, to say the least, and now I just use it as a laptop and use my iPad for my tablet. I swear it’s been so long since I’ve used the Surface in tablet mode I had perhaps forgotten that I could. I actually like the Surface Pro for an easy to carry laptop when I occasionally need one, or need to use that one blasted occasional odd PC app, etc.
 
Yes, its an ok laptop, but I totally get why Apple has not fallen into this. I much prefer using and iPad
 
Well, since Microsoft removed the whole tab experience from win 11 means they have come to the same conclusion as me and Apple.
 
Yes, its an ok laptop, but I totally get why Apple has not fallen into this. I much prefer using and iPad

iPad doesn't even have a full desktop browser so it's useless. My iPad Pro M1 just collects dust. Need to remember to declutter and pawn it off.

What I'd love to see is a $300 Lenovo Duet type tablet with newer Mediatek SoC and 8GB RAM but running Windows on ARM or even better yet Windows AMD x64 version. That would be the ultimate usability and bang for the buck but sadly no one builds it.
 
That is the problem, the iPad kinda sucks att beeing a computer, but the Surface Book sucks even more beeing an iPad. I dont see how they will ever become one great device.
 
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Having used both, Surface sucks less at being a tablet while iPad sucks a lot more at being a computer. Overall, iPad has a lot more cons and fewer pros. It's the last device I would choose when I hit the road if I could only carry one device. iPad running MacOS would be closer to Surface.

(Windows x64 > Windows on ARM > MacOS > ChromeOS) > (Android > iPadOS)
 
Having used both, Surface sucks less at being a tablet while iPad sucks a lot more at being a computer. Overall, iPad has a lot more cons and fewer pros. It's the last device I would choose when I hit the road if I could only carry one device. iPad running MacOS would be closer to Surface.

(Windows x64 > Windows on ARM > MacOS > ChromeOS) > (Android > iPadOS)
Luckily I am not stuck with one device. ;)
 
Surface Pro 8 I'm seriously considering, since I’ll be moving to the S22 Ultra when it comes out, I’m thinking that a Surface device would pair well with it, giving features I won’t be able to get with that and my iPad Pro or MacBook.

Either that or the Surface Laptop Studio, which has only just been made available for Pre-Order here in the U.K.
 
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Well, since Microsoft removed the whole tab experience from win 11 means they have come to the same conclusion as me and Apple.
I don't think so you just need to remove or disable the KB opposed to adding a KB to an Ipad does not make it even close to a laptop LOL
 
Ok so I had issues with my previous order. I re-ordered a Surface Pro 8, it’s still on “Pending” with “Estimated delivery date 8th March” that’s tomorrow, it’s now 4:30pm in U.K. I highly doubt it will be here tomorrow :(

EDIT: Never mind I just received an email to say it’s shipped :)
 
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At this point I'd wait for Surface Pro 9 refresh and hope for AMD 6000U APU or low power Alder Lake whichever comes out on top.
 
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I am waiting for the Surface Laptop 5 and crossing fingers it will have the new AMD 6000 series apu's!! I have to restore my damn HP Spectre due to bad bios update and once I do it is going to be sold. I like HP but drivers are always an issue for OEM's and although Microsoft is not perfect their drivers tend to be solid and since they are integrated into the Windows update system and signed by MS I feel a lot better buying Surface laptops for light and portable use.
 
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You dont get it, the "Pad" experience is removed in windows 11, it's just one interface now.
If your referring to the large Icons interface yes they have gone in Win11

The tablet mode in Win11 is automated now by sensing a KB present or not for 2 in 1's or pure tablets with no KB

To get tablet mode on your fixed KB you have to deactivate the KB, there is no toggle switch anymore. but no idea why you would do that in the 1st instance and why its been removed who wants jumbo sized icons like an Ipad LOL
 
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It’s arrived :)
 
You got to tell us what you think? How is the 120hz screen. Thermals, and performance? Pretty sweet looking device!!

The 120hz screen makes it feel so snappy, much like 120hz on anything these days. I screen in general is great, i love the 13" inch size over previous Surface Pro models. It feels more like a laptop but in tablet form. It's a bright screen which i think looks brilliant.

As for performance i haven't had chance to test it just yet, however i have the i7, 16GB Ram and a 512GB SSD version. i've downloaded Netflix, Disney+ Amazon Prime and Steam for some of my PC Games. So far i've been able to run Two Point hospital with no problems at all.

The Pen is great, i can definitely feel the haptic feedback when writing or even tapping the screen with the pen.

Windows 11 so far is a great update from pervious versions, it feels much more cleaner, much more appealing and i love that now there isnt this tablet mode tab that i have to tap in order to use the Surface Pro as a tablet. Just detach the keyboard and Windows knows.

It's very early days, but so far I'm impressed. If this continues, i'll be selling my M1 iPad Pro.
 
The 120hz screen makes it feel so snappy, much like 120hz on anything these days. I screen in general is great, i love the 13" inch size over previous Surface Pro models. It feels more like a laptop but in tablet form. It's a bright screen which i think looks brilliant.

As for performance i haven't had chance to test it just yet, however i have the i7, 16GB Ram and a 512GB SSD version. i've downloaded Netflix, Disney+ Amazon Prime and Steam for some of my PC Games. So far i've been able to run Two Point hospital with no problems at all.

The Pen is great, i can definitely feel the haptic feedback when writing or even tapping the screen with the pen.

Windows 11 so far is a great update from pervious versions, it feels much more cleaner, much more appealing and i love that now there isnt this tablet mode tab that i have to tap in order to use the Surface Pro as a tablet. Just detach the keyboard and Windows knows.

It's very early days, but so far I'm impressed. If this continues, i'll be selling my M1 iPad Pro.
How does it feel if you try and use it on your lap or sat on the arm of a chair with the keyboard attached?

This is where an ipad with magic keyboard seems a better layout to me, although i’ve not tried a surface this way.
 
How does it feel if you try and use it on your lap or sat on the arm of a chair with the keyboard attached?

This is where an ipad with magic keyboard seems a better layout to me, although i’ve not tried a surface this way.
I think you will find in your scenario is when it shows the limiting factor of the Ipad KB as it will only tilt between 90 and 130 degrees and of course with the Surface Pro kickstand it is always present to use with or without KB attached
 
The 120hz screen makes it feel so snappy, much like 120hz on anything these days. I screen in general is great, i love the 13" inch size over previous Surface Pro models. It feels more like a laptop but in tablet form. It's a bright screen which i think looks brilliant.

As for performance i haven't had chance to test it just yet, however i have the i7, 16GB Ram and a 512GB SSD version. i've downloaded Netflix, Disney+ Amazon Prime and Steam for some of my PC Games. So far i've been able to run Two Point hospital with no problems at all.

The Pen is great, i can definitely feel the haptic feedback when writing or even tapping the screen with the pen.

Windows 11 so far is a great update from pervious versions, it feels much more cleaner, much more appealing and i love that now there isnt this tablet mode tab that i have to tap in order to use the Surface Pro as a tablet. Just detach the keyboard and Windows knows.

It's very early days, but so far I'm impressed. If this continues, i'll be selling my M1 iPad Pro.
iPad Pro is a nice tablet but in my humble opinion way over rated for anything serious. Whereas the Surface Pro is pretty much as useful as any windows devices. The Surface Pro makes some compromises but if I needed a very light and portable device that I need a pen with then the Surface is it!

How is the build quality, sound system and battery life when you get the chance. Enjoy your new device!
 
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How does it feel if you try and use it on your lap or sat on the arm of a chair with the keyboard attached?

This is where an ipad with magic keyboard seems a better layout to me, although i’ve not tried a surface this way.

The problem with the iPads Magic Keyboard, is that there are not enough angle's to use it. The Surface Pro has the kickstand, which personally i really like. The Surface Pro can be used at any angle you choose.

I have both the iPad Pro 12.9" with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, also i now have the Surface Pro 8 with the keyboard and the Surface Pen. In my opinion, the Surface is a much better laptop replacement. I have installed Steam and can play some PC games, only old ones like Age of Empires, Rise of Nations, Two Point Hospital and those type of things. This i can't do on my iPad.
 
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iPad Pro is a nice tablet but in my humble opinion way over rated for anything serious. Whereas the Surface Pro is pretty much as useful as any windows devices. The Surface Pro makes some compromises but if I needed a very light and portable device that I need a pen with then the Surface is it!

How is the build quality, sound system and battery life when you get the chance. Enjoy your new device!

The build quality is brilliant, the Surface Pro is light but also it feels like a premium device at the same time. The Alcantara keyboard is awesome, it's also well made along with the slot for the Surface Slim Pen 2, which i personally prefer over the older Surface Pen. Battery life is an improvement over the Pro 6 which i tried a couple years back, but it really will depend on the task. Like with anything, if you start playing a game or doing anything intense, the battery will go down quicker.

The speakers are really good, I've watched a couple of Netflix shows on it so far, i was surprised at how loud the speakers can get for such a small, light and portable computer.
 
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