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Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

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Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#71

Post by NikolaNovak »

cosmodisk wrote: post #50

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.

My instinct is the same - I have two computers with 32GB RAM, and it always feels well-utilized :)

But I also have two cheapo media computers with Win10, 2GB RAM, 32GB MMC hard drive. They've been working BRILLIANTLY over last ~2 years. Even went through major Windows self-updates... no clue how. Is there a version of Win10 better optimized for smaller footprints, or it's the same version but recognizes its limitations, I'm not sure. But we've been browsing the web, watching movies, even playing some dinky games.

So I can see 4GB actually being usable for many many people (NOT ones with multiple VMs etc of course:).

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#72

Post by stinos »

Kipters wrote: post #63
rsynnott wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Same experience here. I hear the 'unusable on lap' sentiment seemingly often (including in the OP article itself). Yet, I honestly cannot tell is because it's only the ones with a bad experience speaking up and the rest remaining silent, or because there really is a problem I'm not aware of. And in both cases: I honestly wonder how that is possible? Is my body different in some way that I don't see the difference between a Surface and a laptop for lap use? Or do I do things in another way than others? Are my legs longer than average? I mean I just put my legs next to each other, put the thing somewhere on my lap, screen like 15cm in fron of my knees, adjust the stand so it's in an angle I normally use and that's it. The only problem I could see is that if you'd want the screen to be roughly where your knees are that is impossible. But for me that distance is just a bit too much to be able to read text comfortably and I cannot rest my arms anymore because of how far the keyboard is.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#73

Post by chrisan »

numlock86 wrote: post #61
cosmodisk wrote: post #50

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.

It depends on the use case

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/min...

256MB for IoT without display, 512MB with display

For Mobile or desktop editions they say to have 1GB or higher for 32 bit (which I assume is the use case for a Surface)

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#74

Post by rsynnott »

stinos wrote: post #72
Kipters wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Same experience here. I hear the 'unusable on lap' sentiment seemingly often (including in the OP article itself). Yet, I honestly cannot tell is because it's only the ones with a bad experience speaking up and the rest remaining silent, or because there really is a problem I'm not aware of. And in both cases: I honestly wonder how that is possible? Is my body different in some way that I don't see the difference bet…

That seems very awkward versus a laptop, though; in particular you'd have stay very still. I'd expect it to be particularly problematic on a bus or train, where there was movement.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#75

Post by [deleted] »

numlock86 wrote: post #61
cosmodisk wrote: post #50

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.

[deleted]

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#76

Post by Timpy »

als0 wrote: 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.

This drives me absolutely nuts about Microsoft. I don't want to have to login to anything just to use a simple app.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#77

Post by disappearance »

jl6 wrote: 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…

So frustrating, I feel your pain.

The left CTRL key snapped in half on mine after ~8 months. While under warranty, I was told I had to send the whole thing away, 2-4 weeks. That was difficult to accept. I've had to occasionally re Sellotape it since then.

Later the tablet battery stopped charging, then stopped being recognised altogether. This means the screen cannot be detached without sticking a pin into a vent. This requires power down and I imagine not good to do frequently. I read it is a manufacturing default that won't be fixed.

After much inner wrestling I replaced it with a Lenovo. It had a hardware issue early on, but they sent an engineer around to my private residence within a few days with a spare part to fix it. Night and Day.

Never again.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#78

Post by numpad0 »

Kipters wrote: post #63
rsynnott wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Anecdotally, I tried OG Surface Pro back when it launched. On my lap the kickstand was extremely unstable; on high speed rail chairs the angle of kickstand was extremely steep and uncomfortable; on university desks and cafeteria tables it was okay but never good; only on airplane couches and Starbucks tables, which I’m not as privileged to say I use with frequency, it fit, at all.

The kickstand has reportedly improved since, but the problem is that it’s a highly engineered design for multiple but precisely pre-determined situations, with a limited adaptability.

Traditional laptop hinges on the other hand, oh they work beautifully between 0 to 1.1g under any posture, if you could put it on a lap or table it’ll be nice. That’s it. Way better than the kickstand.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#79

Post by mcny »

rsynnott wrote: post #58
cosmodisk wrote: post #50

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.

They're trying to hit a headline price (albeit for a model that no-one should ever buy). This is fairly common, though it's a particularly egregious example; even Apple puts 8GB in their headline-price-don't-buy machines these days.

That and Apple puts an NVMe SSD iirc and not eMMC. Even the Lenovo flex 14 with Ryzen 5 3500u I have has 12GB RAM and 256GB NVMe storage. It was US $450 on Amazon for Black Friday. I doubt Lenovo/Amazon sold it for a loss. Microsoft definitely could hit $400 price point with a surface Go that was worth buying if it wanted to...

From the article

> It’s also worth noting what you actually get if you buy the $399 model. For starters, there’s no keyboard. And the keyboard is really the thing here. After all, that sort of convertibility is a huge part of the motivation for buying a Surface in the first place. Along with the full Windows 10 experience, you’ll want the sort of productivity that requires a keyboard. That will run you $99-$129.

> A harder pill to swallow is the processor upgrade. Similar to the MacBook Air I just reviewed, the real top-line component refresh mentioned in the press material requires a not inconsequential premium. Microsoft heavily advertised the addition of the eighth-gen Intel core line, which was heralded as helping transform the Go into a proper laptop. The base level, however sports the Intel Pentium 4425Y, chip, far more in line with the original’s 4415Y — one of the bigger issues reviewers had with the first Go.

Now the R5 3500u isn't a desktop class processor by any means but I am pretty sure it is better than a Pentium.

https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-intel_pentium_gold...

Once again, I believe it is possible to hit $400 with respectable specifications. You just have to be willing to make a smaller/no profit.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#80

Post by numpad0 »

stinos wrote: post #72
Kipters wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Same experience here. I hear the 'unusable on lap' sentiment seemingly often (including in the OP article itself). Yet, I honestly cannot tell is because it's only the ones with a bad experience speaking up and the rest remaining silent, or because there really is a problem I'm not aware of. And in both cases: I honestly wonder how that is possible? Is my body different in some way that I don't see the difference bet…

https://msegceporticoprodassets.blob.core.windows.net/asset-...

This image is from Microsoft.com. Think how much his upper torso will have to bend to look at the middle of his thighs.

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