Surface Go is Actually a Decent Tablet

[soulreaver99]

Yeah that’s me looking at Reddit lol. I’m day 3 on the 8/128 surface go and so far have used it mainly as a laptop vs a tablet. I’m looking to see if this can replace my MacBook 12inch and 9.7 inch iPad Pro.

So far it’s been pretty good as a laptop. Sure it was laggy during the first few hours during updates but it’s performed pretty well on all the software I use for work which is Office 365 and Chrome.

Today I’ve finally decided to just use this as a tablet laying on the couch. Chrome runs like garbage in tablet mode. However, Edge runs very well. As well as Safari in the iPad except with much more versatility since the Surface Go runs on a fully functional operating system.

Still wish the Go had better hardware though and i would definitely pay more for 16GB RAM and a better CPU on this form factor. Excited to see what Microsoft will announce in October.

 

[xraydoc]

Maybe not so good since your post is copy & pasted like three times...

 

[SteveJUAE]

Maybe not so good since your post is copy & pasted like three times...

LOL I thought that but its not true as this reply is done on my GO with no issues

 

[soulreaver99]

Maybe not so good since your post is copy & pasted like three times...

Lol did this on Tapatalk on my iphone

 

[SteveJUAE]

Yeah that’s me looking at Reddit lol. I’m day 3 on the 8/128 surface go and so far have used it mainly as a laptop Yeah that’s me looking at Reddit lol. I’m day 3 on the 8/128 surface go and so far have used it mainly as a laptop vs a tablet. I’m looking to see if this can replace my MacBook 12inch and 9.7 inch iPad Pro.

So far it’s been pretty good as a laptop. Sure it was laggy during the first few hours during updates but it’s performed pretty well on all the software I use for work which is Office 365 and Chrome.

Today I’ve finally decided to just use this as a tablet laying on the couch. Chrome runs like garbage in tablet mode. However, Edge runs very well. As well as Safari in the iPad except with much more versatility since the Surface Go runs on a fully functional operating system.

Still wish the Go had better hardware though and i would definitely pay more for 16GB RAM and a better CPU on this form factor. Excited to see what Microsoft will announce in October.vs a tablet.

Excited to see what Microsoft will announce in October.

No point wishing for higher specs as the form factor would soon be gone given that the battery is already stretched

If you use an IP or an IPP mainly for entertainment purposes no point opting for the GO as it is more laptop biased and it easily covers the basics of the lower tier rMB

Replacing two devices with one has always been a plus point of any 2 in 1 but for a more premium feel a SP4 is probably a more rounded device where the GO is all about ultra portability and more of a companion device

Although I'm sure for many it could easily be a main for those with modest requirements

 

[meddow]

I got one....not very impressed even with the keyboard. :-(
Was trying to find a newer tablet to replace my aging ipad mini 4

 

[soulreaver99]

No point wishing for higher specs as the form factor would soon be gone given that the battery is already stretched

If you use an IP or an IPP mainly for entertainment purposes no point opting for the GO as it is more laptop biased and it easily covers the basics of the lower tier rMB

Replacing two devices with one has always been a plus point of any 2 in 1 but for a more premium feel a SP4 is probably a more rounded device where the GO is all about ultra portability and more of a companion device

One day dude, one day we will have smaller devices with desktop level hardware without sacrificing battery life and form factor. I’m sure that future is not too far away

 

[soulreaver99]

No point wishing for higher specs as the form factor would soon be gone given that the battery is already stretched

If you use an IP or an IPP mainly for entertainment purposes no point opting for the GO as it is more laptop biased and it easily covers the basics of the lower tier rMB

Replacing two devices with one has always been a plus point of any 2 in 1 but for a more premium feel a SP4 is probably a more rounded device where the GO is all about ultra portability and more of a companion device

One day dude, one day we will have smaller devices with desktop level hardware without sacrificing battery life and form factor. I’m sure that future is not too far away

 

[SteveJUAE]

I got one....not very impressed even with the keyboard. :-(
Was trying to find a newer tablet to replace my aging ipad mini 4

If you do not like the GO KB better you stick with your mini
[doublepost=1536429874][/doublepost]

One day dude, one day we will have smaller devices with desktop level hardware without sacrificing battery life and form factor. I’m sure that future is not too far away

Better use Tapatalk on your S8+ as it's repeating again on your iPhone

 

[soulreaver99]

Better use Tapatalk on your S8+ as it's repeating again on your iPhone

Lol this is weird. Time to leave Apple only to complain about not having iMessage again!

 

[meddow]

If you do not like the GO KB better you stick with your mini
[doublepost=1536429874][/doublepost]
Better use Tapatalk on your S8+ as it's repeating again on your iPhone

it's not just the KB though, the whole OS is really bad as a tablet

 

[NT1440]

One day dude, one day we will have smaller devices with desktop level hardware without sacrificing battery life and form factor. I’m sure that future is not too far away

We have that today. Tablets are more powerful than desktops from the 90’s. Desktops will always be more powerful in year X than a mobile device in year X.

That’s not going to change.

However, we crossed the rubicon years ago where literally every device sold today will cover the basics of what the vast majority of people do (browser, some type of office sweet, video playback). It’s simply a matter of what actually matters to you as a consumer today.

 

[SteveJUAE]

it's not just the KB though, the whole OS is really bad as a tablet

That's fine I would never recommend anyone to buy the GO to just replace a relatively restricted tablet experience other than dailies, kindle and media consumption

Mobile OS tablets have their place but if you want more there maybe some compromises that impacts some more than others

Seems your one of those and that's understandable

The GO has a strong laptop full OS bias if you do not need that stick with your mini

As for the GO/SP KB there are no better alternatives out there for tablets

 

[meddow]

That's fine I would never recommend anyone to buy the GO to just replace a relatively restricted tablet experience other than dailies, kindle and media consumption

Mobile OS tablets have their place but if you want more there maybe some compromises that impacts some more than others

Seems your one of those and that's understandable

The GO has a strong laptop full OS bias if you do not need that stick with your mini

As for the GO/SP KB there are no better alternatives out there for tablets

it's just a shame, microsoft have had ages to implement touch correctly, but the apps/OS just aren't there!

 

[SteveJUAE]

it's just a shame, microsoft have had ages to implement touch correctly, but the apps/OS just aren't there!

Lol why do I want apps when I can have Prog's I have my apps on my phone other than one I do not need to replicate them other than a few simple ones like HP Print, Netflix WhatsApp, Kindle for convivence

Everyone is still evolving touch interface there has been major changes on Apple products

As I said before if your happy with the limitations of a mobile OS tablets then ignore the GO.

if you want something ultraportable with most bases covered without having to buy and carry 3 devices I am happy to forgo the lesser touch interface of MS for greater flexibility overall

 

[dwig]

Lol why do I want apps when I can have Prog's I have my apps on my phone other than one I do not need to replicate them other than a few simple ones like HP Print, Netflix WhatsApp, Kindle for convivence

Everyone is still evolving touch interface there has been major changes on Apple products

As I said before if your happy with the limitations of a mobile OS tablets then ignore the GO.

if you want something ultraportable with most bases covered without having to buy and carry 3 devices I am happy to forgo the lesser touch interface of MS for greater flexibility overall

Exactly my position.

Based on my some 4 years experience with my Dell Venue 8 Pro (8" Windows tablet, originally Win8.1 and now Win10), I'm sure the Surface Go is a decent tablet. I may not be as good at being a pure tablet as a recent iPad, but even my DV8p is decent at the job.

When it comes to pushing past the tablet world, even my old DV8p out classes an iPad. I have installed, and use frequently, several programs that don't have good clones for either iOS or Android and there is no restrictions or difficulties in networking and file transfer. Also, being able to use a mouse in addition to a keyboard allows my DV8p to remote in to either my personal Win10 desktop or any of several work machines (2 Macs, MacMini, MacBook, and several Windows notebooks) when needs be puts the Windows based 2-in-1 devices in a class that doesn't exist in the Apple ecosystem.

 

[danpass]

The Surface has a desktop OS.

Minimal comparison, at best, to an iOS device like the iPad, perhaps just the fact they both have touchscreens.


A better comparison would be the MacBook to the Surface, the primary difference being that the Macbook has a permanently attached, full size keyboard and no touchscreen.

 

[meddow]

The Surface has a desktop OS.

Minimal comparison, at best, to an iOS device like the iPad, perhaps just the fact they both have touchscreens.


A better comparison would be the MacBook to the Surface, the primary difference being that the Macbook has a permanently attached, full size keyboard and no touchscreen.

they both are market as tablets tho?

 

[SDColorado]

they both are market as tablets tho?

Do they? Microsoft says of the Go "Laptop performance, tablet portability"

 

[meddow]

Do they? Microsoft says of the Go "Laptop performance, tablet portability"

good spot!

maybe one day were get a full OS and good touch capabilities

 

[SteveJUAE]

The Surface has a desktop OS.

Minimal comparison, at best, to an iOS device like the iPad, perhaps just the fact they both have touchscreens.


A better comparison would be the MacBook to the Surface, the primary difference being that the Macbook has a permanently attached, full size keyboard and no touchscreen.

I had the rMB when it first came out and my wife still uses hers as her main

Great little laptop but way over priced especially for a companion device plus the usual Apple baggage of having to buy another intermediate device to fill in the gaps between smartphone and laptop

But once your in rMB price territory the SP/SP4 come to the forefront

 

[pika2000]

Meh. If the definition of being a good tablet is having a usable internet browser, well, I guess the Surface is a good tablet.

In reality, it's not. Sooner or later, you have to deal with Control Panel, Device Manager, File Manager etc, all still using classic Windows desktop UI. And these are still the OS. If Microsoft is not even interested in completely migrate those functions into the metro UI (or whatever it is called now), then it shows the company's dedication into make a good tablet (not much).

And we have not even talking about tablet apps.... wait, what tablet apps?

The Surface are laptops, plain and simple. The fact they are sold without the keyboard doesn't make them into tablets.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Meh. If the definition of being a good tablet is having a usable internet browser, well, I guess the Surface is a good tablet.

In reality, it's not. Sooner or later, you have to deal with Control Panel, Device Manager, File Manager etc, all still using classic Windows desktop UI. And these are still the OS. If Microsoft is not even interested in completely migrate those functions into the metro UI (or whatever it is called now), then it shows the company's dedication into make a good tablet (not much).

And we have not even talking about tablet apps.... wait, what tablet apps?

The Surface are laptops, plain and simple. The fact they are sold without the keyboard doesn't make them into tablets.

Whilst I think you will find no one will disagree that the Surface "Tablets" are far more laptop biased being one they are a full OS based and of course it's easier to dumb down a laptop to emulate in part a mobile based tablet than the reverse for mobile OS tablets

But I think your throwing stones in glass houses lets face it the IP/IPP with icons that the Hulk could use or in your best Chandler Voice "Could they be any bigger" even on the simplest of observations shows equally lack of commitment to the form factor let alone digging in to details which serves no real purpose

If the GO is not enough tablet for your use then move on but many will appreciate the direction MS is taking in filling in the voids between clamshell laptops and tablets with it's flexible approach for those that want more than just an extension of their smart phone