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Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

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Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#131

Post by stronglikedan »

tastyminerals2 wrote: post #93
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…

I disagree in case of Surface Book. I didn't try Go. This is a powerful premium laptop which can be used not only for pleasant programming experience due to good keyboard and 4k screen but also gaming due to powerful GPU card. It does not get hot and loud as much as any traditional gaming laptop with the same GPU card because GPU and CPU are separated (GPU under the keyboard and CPU in the detachable screen). I mean…

> pleasant programming experience due to ... 4k screen

I opted for a 4k 15" screen when buying a new laptop, precisely for this reason. I was so disappointed to find out that I could barely see anything on the screen at 4k without using the magnification function, and that was before I needed reading glasses. I've been using it in 1080p ever since, and I regret not getting a 1080p native resolution, because mixed resolutions are a pain with multiple monitors.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#132

Post by choward »

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.

I think it's pretty absurd too especially since I just bought a raspberry pi 4 for under $100 that has the same amount of RAM. If I'm spending that much for a computer it has to be better than that.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#133

Post by tastyminerals2 »

no_gravity wrote: post #66
KitDuncan wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

They don't and I would not advise you to. I had Archlinux installed on Surface Book 2 and was dual booting for some time but the Linux experience was pretty bad. Camera is not working and never will. Touchscreen works as an alternative to mouse pointer, no multi-touch. You can't detach it. Battery life is worse and you can't use GPU and integrated card in parallel (it's an ever-present Linux issue for all laptops with two GPU cards). On top of that when you have Linux and 4k screen Surface integrated GPU card starts to suffocate and you notice a lag when programming in some IDE. It's just not worth the effort. Just use WLS with VS Code.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#134

Post by kitsunesoba »

stronglikedan wrote: post #131
tastyminerals2 wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree in case of Surface Book. I didn't try Go. This is a powerful premium laptop which can be used not only for pleasant programming experience due to good keyboard and 4k screen but also gaming due to powerful GPU card. It does not get hot and loud as much as any traditional gaming laptop with the same GPU card because GPU and CPU are separated (GPU under the keyboard and CPU in the detachable screen). I mean…

> pleasant programming experience due to ... 4k screen I opted for a 4k 15" screen when buying a new laptop, precisely for this reason. I was so disappointed to find out that I could barely see anything on the screen at 4k without using the magnification function, and that was before I needed reading glasses. I've been using it in 1080p ever since, and I regret not getting a 1080p native resolution, because mixed res…

> I've been using it in 1080p ever since, and I regret not getting a 1080p native resolution, because mixed resolutions are a pain with multiple monitors.

This is mainly a problem with Windows and some desktop Linux setups. macOS handles mixed DPI displays without issue.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#135

Post by tw04 »

gmaster1440 wrote: post #107
tw04 wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Odd, I use both daily (original surface book, surface go, 2018 MBP) and completely disagree. Microsoft trackpads are the only ones I've come across that are just as good as Apple. You are the only person I've heard bash them. I've got hundreds of peers in the same boat and the MS trackpads are universally lauded.

Don't take my word for it, or your peers. Just google around for surface trackpad reviews and feedback. I'm sure it's fine for plenty of people, but I'm not alone with my opinion.

After 30 seconds of searching, I found exactly my experience: people find the trackpads equal, generally prefer the physical button of the surface, and prefer the more advanced gestures that Apple has provided.

Regardless, I'll trust my own experience and those of peers I know are unbiased to someone who may or may not be getting paid for their review online.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#137

Post by ripley12 »

tw04 wrote: post #105
gmaster1440 wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Use Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 and 3 for work, have to disagree that the only drawback is software. The trackpad is significantly worse on Microsoft devices than Apple fairly consistently. Even the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro trackpad, albeit smaller in size, is more sensitive and accurate than the Surface Laptop 3's.

Odd, I use both daily (original surface book, surface go, 2018 MBP) and completely disagree. Microsoft trackpads are the only ones I've come across that are just as good as Apple. You are the only person I've heard bash them. I've got hundreds of peers in the same boat and the MS trackpads are universally lauded.

I strongly, strongly disagree. The trackpad on my SB2 is terrible compared to the one on my MBP. It’s much smaller, two-finger right-click is unreliable, and the motion feels worse. Along with the glossy screen it’s my main complaint about the Book.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#138

Post by alpaca128 »

arsenalist wrote: post #47
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…

For what it's worth, Microsoft regularly scores 1/10 on ifixit repairability on most, if not all of their Surface products and they charge exorbitant prices for repair (or really, replacement). One of the reasons I didn't pull the trigger the Surface Pro.

And the reason I switched to a normal laptop when my Surface Pro was unusable for a couple weeks. The issue could have been solved in 30 seconds if the battery was removable. Instead even Microsoft themselves couldn't do anything because they glued it shut on all sides.

Also the power cord was thinner than cheap USB charging cables and didn't have any bend protection, quickly leading to defects. Absolutely unacceptable for a portable device and obviously intentional.

Never again.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#139

Post by jrace »

NikolaNovak wrote: post #71
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 limitatio…

My experience with hundreds of win10 machine in an enterprise environment has been that disk speed has a far greater impact than ram.

16GB ram with a HDD is a much slower and sluggish experience than 4GB ram with a ssd.

This is for the general office use case.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#140

Post by JoeMayoBot »

Zenbit_UX wrote: post #101
mkl wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I trust them, as they've dealt with issues better than any other company I've had to do it with. My Surface Pro 4's battery started swelling out of warranty, and MS replaced it right away with one that had a different kind of battery (better battery life than ever). The first (reconditioned) replacement had a screen issue right away, which sucked, but they sent another immediately. My work Surface Book 2 hasn't had a…

Samsung made sure that no company wants exploding battery press. I'm not sutprised they replaced your swelling battery.

They replaced my SB battery too - great service.
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