Thanks for the suggestions. I’d definitely go Wacom tablet for Windows as I am not a fan of the Surface pen or Windows ink.
Hope you get good use from your SB3.
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Surface Devices
- Thread starter Dave245
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Hope you get good use from your SB3.
Good, we've passed the worst of COVID-19 locally with normality slowly returning. On the business side very difficult, equally we have high hopes of getting back to some semblance of normality as we progress through the rest of the year.
Q-6
It looks intriguing but it is pricey, depending on the model, its easy to spend over a 1,000 to 1,600 vs about $838 for the Go (tablet/keyboard/stylus)
I was looking at the Go late last year but since we're all in lockdown here, the need for such a product as fell off my radar screen.
Here's a video from unbox therapy
The Quadro chip is not available for consumers (at least here in the U.K) we also can't get the 2TB SSD option either. I don't understand why Microsoft are doing that tho. At least with Apple's MacBook Pro, you can get the configurations in most markets, including us in the U.K where we can get 2TB as a build to order model.
Yeah they are not a cheap option, equally the build quality is top notch (think Surface) as is the hardware. I picked my TOTL i7 last year for around $1K. Really comes into it's own on the go, can just plug in an external display and it's an adequate PC for office productivity etc. Certainly leagues better than any mobile OS device being a full PC...
MS Go was too slow for my liking at the time, not sure about the Go 2, equally will remain behind my OneMix's i7 by a touch and the 2020 OneMix 3 Pro now has the 10th Gen quad core i5/i7. At the time between Go and the OneMix was around $150 difference and for me the latter is well worth it.
I've look at all the usual suspects and then some with W10 and ARM and none come close to the OneMix for performance. I'll wait and see how MS Neo develops and keep an eye on OneMix, don't really see much benefit to warrant upgrading to the 2020 model.
Q-6
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Could you elaborate on the major issues? The Book 3 is expensive, but so is the MacBook Pro 16” and the iPad Pro 12.9” if you go with the 1TB iPad.
While I have loved using my iPads over the years, what worries me is the bendgate of the iPad Pro, since the 2018 redesign it seems like they are too thin.
The software issues ive come across from the screen pins becoming less reliable (disconnect reconnect) to major battery drain along with mediocre battery life when disconnected from the base. Sometimes the Nitol wires to disconnect don't engage in the SB2 units, which hopefully is solved -- but again the costs make it hard to justify.
The biggest being that these devices are the least hackintosh friendly which locks you into windows only, where Lenovo and hp gives you some room to work with. And I just grabbed a standard iPad for the durability, Mac saved for the real work and its cheaper then the surface book at the same time.
that sounds bad. I would hope going to Surface to be issues free, especially going to the new Surfacebook 3, otherwise I could just stay with Apple and iPad if I wanted software issues.
The grass isn't always greener
but that said, if you focus purely on individual experiences on forums or forums in general then you would never buy anything as there will always be someone popping up to say don't buy!Apple despite all their issues of late still have more happy than unhappy customers who have never or rarely had a bad experience, the same can be said of all manufacturers.
The grass isn't always greener
Apple despite all their issues of late still have more happy than unhappy customers who have never or rarely had a bad experience, the same can be said of all manufacturers.
That’s a very good point! I would say I’ll wait until I can get my hands on these devices, but that won’t happen for a while here in the U.K at least.
If you want to make a change, sometimes you just need to rip off the Band-Aid.
All devices have issues anecdotally. But I'm sitting here typing this on a Surface Book 2, attaching and removing the screen to switch between browsing and typing, and I don't think I could ever go back to the restrictive world of Apple. I say that as a 20+ year customer; I've owned everything from the original iMac to the iPhone 11 with Watches and Power Macs, AirPods and Mac Pros and just about everything else in-between.
But I've had enough of the money pit. I've had enough of a 720p LCD screen and a massive notch on a £700 phone; enough of £400+ for a smartwatch just to have an always-on display; enough of having to carry two devices instead of one because Apple won't put a touch screen on a MacBook or a proper desktop OS on a tablet; enough of paying circa-£1000 so I can have an iPad with a bigger screen. It's a personal choice - not for everyone - and I've made it.
I'm now all-in on the other side. Ryzen desktop PC with mechanical keyboard and gaming monitor; Samsung Note 10 phone and Galaxy Watch Active 2; Surface Book 2 for laptop and tablet use. My iPhone and Apple Watch is sold; once the phone is gone, the ecosystem starts to crumble so that had to be my Band-Aid moment.
Again, think long and hard before you do it. If and when you do, however, and you give it a chance you'll find a world of really exciting, flexible and powerful computing devices await.
(Oh, and I genuinely believed Microsoft got the Surface design right. The iPad needs a kickstand.)
All devices have issues anecdotally. But I'm sitting here typing this on a Surface Book 2, attaching and removing the screen to switch between browsing and typing, and I don't think I could ever go back to the restrictive world of Apple. I say that as a 20+ year customer; I've owned everything from the original iMac to the iPhone 11 with Watches and Power Macs, AirPods and Mac Pros and just about everything else in-between.
But I've had enough of the money pit. I've had enough of a 720p LCD screen and a massive notch on a £700 phone; enough of £400+ for a smartwatch just to have an always-on display; enough of having to carry two devices instead of one because Apple won't put a touch screen on a MacBook or a proper desktop OS on a tablet; enough of paying circa-£1000 so I can have an iPad with a bigger screen. It's a personal choice - not for everyone - and I've made it.
I'm now all-in on the other side. Ryzen desktop PC with mechanical keyboard and gaming monitor; Samsung Note 10 phone and Galaxy Watch Active 2; Surface Book 2 for laptop and tablet use. My iPhone and Apple Watch is sold; once the phone is gone, the ecosystem starts to crumble so that had to be my Band-Aid moment.
Again, think long and hard before you do it. If and when you do, however, and you give it a chance you'll find a world of really exciting, flexible and powerful computing devices await.
(Oh, and I genuinely believed Microsoft got the Surface design right. The iPad needs a kickstand.)
I think my breaking point has been Apple charging £349 for a keyboard on the 12.9” iPad Pro, and not admitting to the bendgate issues. Also the issues I had with my AirPods Pro, which Apple did eventually replace. I’ve been in the Apple ecosystem deeply for many years now. The iPad Pro is a great tablet, but for the cost I really think it’s over priced. Where as the Surface Book 3 is also highly priced, but it can do more and has a lot high specs, I’m just not sure how well they are built and if they are built to last, like Apple products use to be (my MacBook Pro 2011 lasted me a long time, and so has my 2012 iMac).
I agree the iPad Pro really needs a kickstand.
I have the Surface Book 1 and I have never had an issue. It detaches just fine. I also have an iPad pro and have used other iPads. Having to carry two devices, and the limits of the iPad are a no go for me. Even as Apple claims to have a file system, it is a total joke. Programs are still isolated from each other. Getting things on and off of the iPad is still a pain in all the wrong places. And really no Apple fan has any place to comment on hardware issues with Apples track record. The one issue I had with a Surface device, I called Microsoft and they didn't play dumb, or pretend like they had no idea what I was talking about. Nor did they try and blame me.
Microsoft has continued to work on the Surface pen and now the line issue in slow drawing has been corrected. I too like Wacom and use it on my desktop and some other tablets. If you are looking for a nice new Wacom based two and one, check out the new Samsung Flex. It is beautiful and comes in 15 and 13 inch sizes. I am tempted, but I need a little more graphic power for my main notebook.
No device is perfect, but my Surface Book 2 hasn't given me any more or less trouble than my iPad Pro or my iPhone, and a little less trouble than my desktop PC (which seemed to have an nVidia and Citrix driver conflict that has seemingly been solved).
My own issues with Apple devices in the last few years:
- Three defective keyboards on MacBook models since 2016;
- "Bendgate" on iPad Pro (one LTE model returned with a prominent bend in 2018);
- "Stage light" issue on 2016 MacBook Pro;
- "Rattle" in display portion of 2017 15" MacBook Pro;
- Touch disease (intermittent responsiveness) on 12.9" 1st and 2nd Gen iPad Pro AND 11" 2018 iPad Pro;
- AirPods batteries spent within 14 months;
- AirPods Pro connectivity issues (connected but no audio);
- D300 GPU failure on 2013 "Trashcan" Mac Pro;
- Face ID camera failure on iPhone X;
- Apple Watch Series 3 refusing to accept Apple ID despite being connected and correctly set up.
There's a point where you question why the hell you're still buying this stuff. It doesn't even cover the software issues I've had: not being able to delete backups in iCloud; Apple Watch not unlocking Mac; iPadOS refusing to switch between portrait and landscape mode; Handoff barely ever working; iMessage refusing to work on all devices...
Enough.
This is all anecdotal, I know. But it just demonstrates there are issues, hardware and software related, on all platforms. And Apple gear is expensive as hell and getting more so. A £350 keyboard with a silicone coating is just such an example. And £700 wheels. And £1000 monitor stands...
Apple is an amazing brand. I'll never forget Steve Jobs' "bicycle for the mind" analogy and his analysis of where the company stood at the "intersection between technology and the liberal arts". I've loved using their products over the years, but things change and evolve. Sometimes things just get worse, and other things get better.
You have to know when to be in and when to be out.
- Three defective keyboards on MacBook models since 2016;
- "Bendgate" on iPad Pro (one LTE model returned with a prominent bend in 2018);
- "Stage light" issue on 2016 MacBook Pro;
- "Rattle" in display portion of 2017 15" MacBook Pro;
- Touch disease (intermittent responsiveness) on 12.9" 1st and 2nd Gen iPad Pro AND 11" 2018 iPad Pro;
- AirPods batteries spent within 14 months;
- AirPods Pro connectivity issues (connected but no audio);
- D300 GPU failure on 2013 "Trashcan" Mac Pro;
- Face ID camera failure on iPhone X;
- Apple Watch Series 3 refusing to accept Apple ID despite being connected and correctly set up.
There's a point where you question why the hell you're still buying this stuff. It doesn't even cover the software issues I've had: not being able to delete backups in iCloud; Apple Watch not unlocking Mac; iPadOS refusing to switch between portrait and landscape mode; Handoff barely ever working; iMessage refusing to work on all devices...
Enough.
This is all anecdotal, I know. But it just demonstrates there are issues, hardware and software related, on all platforms. And Apple gear is expensive as hell and getting more so. A £350 keyboard with a silicone coating is just such an example. And £700 wheels. And £1000 monitor stands...
Apple is an amazing brand. I'll never forget Steve Jobs' "bicycle for the mind" analogy and his analysis of where the company stood at the "intersection between technology and the liberal arts". I've loved using their products over the years, but things change and evolve. Sometimes things just get worse, and other things get better.
You have to know when to be in and when to be out.
tons of common issues with the sp1, you're maybe not using the unit hard enough to break the functionality with overwear and stress, but the sp1 has tons of engineering defects they corrected in the sp2. The sp2 still has some, but not as many.
Just hope the Sb3 solves the issues the 2 and 1 had, but that price is absolutely insane tbh... better grabbing an iPad Pro +pen for drawing, the surface can be a bit iffy with drawing due it its magnetic wobble when using rulers... it can't draw straight lines off reference, its a shortcoming in the digitizer / pen tech to this day.
Theres a ton of engineering issues, software to hardware to just quality of life - while I love how MS has become the new apple with innovation, its still not as good of a work unit vs apple.
Also, while I love the surface pro the most, and have been with Microsoft since the SP4 onward, ive gone back to apple recently and missed the quality here, minus the bad bootcamp drivers and gimped system in windows, like no Igpu.... its still nice to go back to osx.
A lot of great design software on here, and this trackpad is just worth it... nothing comes close.
Now you are telling me how I use my device?... I think you are a Apple fan and have blinded yourself to their flaws. I have quite a few friends and acquaintances that have Surface Book 1, and they too, report good experiences. You know it is telling when you need to make up stories in order to justify your choice. If you prefer Apple more power to you, but let's not pretend that their track record and their quality hasn't been lacking. Apple has more class action lawsuits than any other tech company.
From what I can gather from all the posts and conversations recently, each platform has it's flaws and it's positives. Apple use to be known for being the best at a premium price, I'm not saying that they don't still make good products, I own a lot of Apple products that most of the time work as advertised, but when there are issues it's frustrating to deal with and even more frustrating to talk to Apple customer support.
These issue seem to be coming more frequently than they use too, that says a lot for Apple. It's not just that, it's also the prices that are getting out of control, £349 for an iPad Pro keyboard seems very expensive, I can't judge the product since I haven't used it or even seen it in person.
Apple still haven't updated the iMac in a while, it's design is looking really dated. I love the iMac, it's my all time favourite desktop. I wish they would update it with a new design, while they are at it make the iPad Pro less prone to bending and fix the software issues. Then I would be all in on Apple once again, but for now I'm browsing and watching the competition.
These issue seem to be coming more frequently than they use too, that says a lot for Apple. It's not just that, it's also the prices that are getting out of control, £349 for an iPad Pro keyboard seems very expensive, I can't judge the product since I haven't used it or even seen it in person.
Apple still haven't updated the iMac in a while, it's design is looking really dated. I love the iMac, it's my all time favourite desktop. I wish they would update it with a new design, while they are at it make the iPad Pro less prone to bending and fix the software issues. Then I would be all in on Apple once again, but for now I'm browsing and watching the competition.
In 20 years I have had two issues, one dodgy keyboard on the 2017 MBP and Bluetooth issues on the Mac Mini. That said my iPad, iPhone, Watch have all been perfect.
I come across a lot of people in my job, I check every iPad I see and have yet to find or hear of anyone complain their iPad is bent. An IT friend is bemused at the way his girlfriend mistreats her 2016 MBP that he got from launch, eating over it, throwing it about and it's been flawless. Yet in the office, we withdrew MBP as a laptop option due to the high volume of keyboard issues.
Everyone has a view and experience, I was considering a Razer Blade but too many I know have issues with theirs and support is awful. I would like to try the SB3 as a MBP replacement but the fact is Apple offers better value today and the keyboard is 'fixed' in that I hear no issues with it on the 16".
I got a new Mac Mini so I can still do the things I want, prefer and like to do on macOS, so I am not going back to the MBP but everything I look at, you can dig up as many issues as Apple has.
I come across a lot of people in my job, I check every iPad I see and have yet to find or hear of anyone complain their iPad is bent. An IT friend is bemused at the way his girlfriend mistreats her 2016 MBP that he got from launch, eating over it, throwing it about and it's been flawless. Yet in the office, we withdrew MBP as a laptop option due to the high volume of keyboard issues.
Everyone has a view and experience, I was considering a Razer Blade but too many I know have issues with theirs and support is awful. I would like to try the SB3 as a MBP replacement but the fact is Apple offers better value today and the keyboard is 'fixed' in that I hear no issues with it on the 16".
I got a new Mac Mini so I can still do the things I want, prefer and like to do on macOS, so I am not going back to the MBP but everything I look at, you can dig up as many issues as Apple has.
This, is gorgeous...
www.samsung.com
Mobile | TV | Home Appliances | Samsung Hong Kong
Samsung helps you discover a wide range of home electronics with cutting-edge technology including smartphones, tablets, TVs, home appliances and more.
This, is gorgeous...
Mobile | TV | Home Appliances | Samsung Hong Kong
Samsung helps you discover a wide range of home electronics with cutting-edge technology including smartphones, tablets, TVs, home appliances and more.
Unfortunately the Flex isn’t available in the U.K