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Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

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61–70 of 184 posts

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#61

What I really don't get is how companies get away with shipping any model that has 4GB of RAM. I mean,come on, it's 2020. The OS running idle probably needs more than that,not even mentioning opening a few tabs in Chrome.

IIRC Windows 10 is able to run with as few as 256 MB of RAM these days.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#62
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The first Surface Go can run Ubuntu pretty well. The Pentium Gold processor is a bit of a let down, though.

Do you have a link where someone describes how he got Ubuntu to run on the Go natively without installing software from outside of the repos? The user reports I saw did not get WiFi to work with what is in the Ubuntu repos.

https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Supporte...

Wifi should work out of the box.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#63

I feel like MS laptops are getting bashed left and right by various online experts these days without a decent reason. Apple products are not less cheaper and follow the same "100EUR for a charger" scheme. If you calculate the totals, MS laptop is no more experiensive than the Apple one. Except with MS products you also get a true mobile experience if that is what you are after. The only drawback is Windows and its t…

This isn't a laptop and suffers from a bit of "neither one thing nor another" syndrome; it can be used as either a kinda awkward tablet, or a _really_ awkward laptop (good luck using one on your lap on a plane or train or something, say). I think a certain amount of scepticism is warranted. If you _just_ want a laptop, a laptop will be far better than this thing. If you just want a tablet, an iPad will be far better…

To be fair, I've been using my Surface Pro 4 for a bit over four years now, and pre-lockdown I was on 2 round-trip flights a month on average.

No issue whatsoever using it on the tray. On the contrary, my size and the reduced seat pitch in most narrow body aircrafts made my other machine (a 15" macbook) rather unusable.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#64
post #44

I really hate how Microsoft replaced the Sketch app with their Whiteboard app. It was perfect on the Go. The Whiteboard app now requires you to login in to cloud services just to draw a squiggles. I'd rather not have my notes forced into the cloud.

Sketch app was one of the most useful apps in Windows 10. It was snappy and just one click away. Hate its replacement, wish they at least let us to keep Sketch app instead of just replacing it.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#65
post #17

My Surface Pro 4 just died this weekend to the “screen scramble” issue. As I bought it more than 3 years ago, Microsoft are asking me to pay >$700 for a replacement. OK, I understand it’s out of warranty, and I’d accept its fate if this were genuine wear and tear, but this is an admitted manufacturing defect so it feels very raw. I was a happy user while the thing worked, but I can’t bring myself to recommend any Sur…

If you are in the EU then you may be covered by EU consumer law if it is a manufacturing defect

I think the EU law is 2 years, minimum with additional warranties provided per state:

https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/dealing-with-customers...

Consumers are entitled to a repair or replacement, for proven manufacturing defects in the UK "Statutes of Limitations" consumers have this right for six years in England and for five years in Scotland.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have a link where someone describes how he got Ubuntu to run on the Go natively without installing software from outside of the repos? The user reports I saw did not get WiFi to work with what is in the Ubuntu repos.

https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Supporte... Wifi should work out of the box.

This seems to be a compatibility list of Surface devices with a special kernel made by someone. I don't see how it is related to what is in the Ubuntu repos?

If anything, the exsitence of this kernel seems to be an indication that the major distributions do not cope well with the Surface and do not work out of the box.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#67
post #57

I feel like MS laptops are getting bashed left and right by various online experts these days without a decent reason. Apple products are not less cheaper and follow the same "100EUR for a charger" scheme. If you calculate the totals, MS laptop is no more experiensive than the Apple one. Except with MS products you also get a true mobile experience if that is what you are after. The only drawback is Windows and its t…

> The only drawback is Windows and its tooling. I switched last year from using Linux and macOS for 10+ years to a surface laptop. At the beginning Windows was going on my way all the time, but now that I’m more familiar with its system and powershell, it’s way better, and I really enjoy it as a dev environment. The main pain comes from a lack of familiarity. Once that’s behind, you can be quite productive using Wind…

Yeah, IMO if you start out by installing bash and trying to treat Windows like a Unix, you're in for some really bad time.

A lot of developer tooling works just fine in Windows environment and trying to fight the system with unix shell is not the best way to coexist.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#68

What I really don't get is how companies get away with shipping any model that has 4GB of RAM. I mean,come on, it's 2020. The OS running idle probably needs more than that,not even mentioning opening a few tabs in Chrome.

It's trying to compete against iPads, which don't have more than 4GB of RAM in most SKUs either.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#69

I feel like MS laptops are getting bashed left and right by various online experts these days without a decent reason. Apple products are not less cheaper and follow the same "100EUR for a charger" scheme. If you calculate the totals, MS laptop is no more experiensive than the Apple one. Except with MS products you also get a true mobile experience if that is what you are after. The only drawback is Windows and its t…

> The only drawback is Windows and its tooling

Oh goo, I was worried it was a serious drawback.

Also try reselling a Surface Go 2 in 3 years compared to a MacBook Air/Pro.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#70
post #36

Off-topic, but I wish they would make a "Surface Laptop Pro". The Surface Laptop is more like an "air" with its limited connectivity (ports). Whereas the more capable Surface Book is a bit awkward as a laptop.

I have surface book 2 and have been using it both for development via WLS + VS code and as a tablet for drawing, taking meeting notes etc. I would never come back to Mac or any Linux compatible laptop because I got used to its versatility. I simply cannot comprehend how a laptop with detachable screen, which is powered by GTX1060 and has by far the longest battery life on the market can be awkward. Couple this with b…

I own a Surface Book 2 as well. At work I use MBP 16. And before that I used ThinkPad W520 for 6 years. SB2 is the best laptop. There are issues like glossy screen or not repairable/sturdy/modular like ThinkPad, but ergonomics and performance is just too good.
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