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I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

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21–30 of 240 posts

Re: I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

#21
post #14

For what it's worth, I can recommend the Surface Go (2 and 3) as a tablet, even if you do not intend to run Linux. Simply because it's x86 and your not running Android or iOS. While the actual tablet experience in Windows 11 is mediocre, the fact that I run plain, regular desktop apps makes the device so much more enjoyable to use. It's not a replacement for a decent laptop, but as a tablet, I'd pick this one over cr…

As a tablet, you'd pick a mediocre tablet experience with a regular desktop experience over a good tablet experience? As a tablet?

Maybe because you need a mobile desktop, not a tablet?

Re: I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

#22
post #19

I've been using Surface Book 2 as a work laptop and at this point I won't buy a single Microsoft's hardware beyond an Xbox. It was utterly bad. Lack of thunderbolt so USB-C docks won't fully work, lack of HDMI ports, insane thermal throttling, had issues handling 1000hz polling rate mouses(seriously), quite often laptop would just not turn on until specific reset combination of keys was pressed, general performance i…

Similar experience here. Just shipped 20 off to a recycler. They didn’t even get to a year old. Replaced with thinkpad L series which suck but at least they actually work.

Re: I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

#23
post #19

I've been using Surface Book 2 as a work laptop and at this point I won't buy a single Microsoft's hardware beyond an Xbox. It was utterly bad. Lack of thunderbolt so USB-C docks won't fully work, lack of HDMI ports, insane thermal throttling, had issues handling 1000hz polling rate mouses(seriously), quite often laptop would just not turn on until specific reset combination of keys was pressed, general performance i…

Similar experience. And MS accusing me I dropped it and refusing warranty. I did not drop it; it was broken out of the shop. It never worked well even after I paid for fixing (they just sent a new one). Would be nice if it worked but maybe they should learn something about customer experience and hardware quality from other vendors.

Re: I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

#24
post #18
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think WSL is overrated. I haven't used Windows for years but it was forced upon me by my new employer. Overall I'm not impressed, at least when compared to a full native Gnome experience. Not sure how people are managing, any filesystem operation (on C: for e.g.) takes forever, also GUI apps feel sluggish and heat the laptop.

Did you use the WSL graphics support in Windows 11? If so then that is pretty disappointing that it performs poorly.

I am using WSL2 right now and it is not better than 'glass of cold water for someone stuck in hell'. It is better than running Virtualbox, but doesn't hold a candle to real thing.

Re: I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

#25
post #16

Depending on your needs it may be easier to use WSL2 under Windows vs native Linux since you get full device support. Fwiw I used Surface Go in this mode for years as my "light travel coding" platform but have recently upgraded to the arm-based Surface Pro X. Much (much) faster than the Goen, 16G ram and 1Tb SSD available. Also a full sized keyboard - the most annoying thing I found about the Go is not being able to…

I think WSL is overrated. I haven't used Windows for years but it was forced upon me by my new employer. Overall I'm not impressed, at least when compared to a full native Gnome experience. Not sure how people are managing, any filesystem operation (on C: for e.g.) takes forever, also GUI apps feel sluggish and heat the laptop.

I entered a project with the understanding that the client's systems work with Linux, but that wasn't the case. WSL saved me there -- for me it's much much better than developing on pure Windows. Still at the bottom of my choices though (Linux > Mac > Win WSL > Win).

Re: I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

#26
post #19

I've been using Surface Book 2 as a work laptop and at this point I won't buy a single Microsoft's hardware beyond an Xbox. It was utterly bad. Lack of thunderbolt so USB-C docks won't fully work, lack of HDMI ports, insane thermal throttling, had issues handling 1000hz polling rate mouses(seriously), quite often laptop would just not turn on until specific reset combination of keys was pressed, general performance i…

I agree, generally terrible performance all around and poor build quality for the price (almost £3,500 fully specced out).

I installed Linux on it recently thanks to the linux-surface project which improved the experience quite a bit as I don’t have to deal with Windows 11 shit anymore, but the performance is still dreadful. You know it’s bad when after 30 mins of it being on it’s slower and laggier than a £500 laptop.

Will never by a Surface product again, easily one of the worst purchasing decisions I have made.

Re: I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

#27
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think WSL is overrated. I haven't used Windows for years but it was forced upon me by my new employer. Overall I'm not impressed, at least when compared to a full native Gnome experience. Not sure how people are managing, any filesystem operation (on C: for e.g.) takes forever, also GUI apps feel sluggish and heat the laptop.

I entered a project with the understanding that the client's systems work with Linux, but that wasn't the case. WSL saved me there -- for me it's much much better than developing on pure Windows. Still at the bottom of my choices though (Linux > Mac > Win WSL > Win).

WSL sits above Mac for me, if only because you get a real distro with a good package manager. Even when losing some FS performance.

Re: I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

#28
post #16

Depending on your needs it may be easier to use WSL2 under Windows vs native Linux since you get full device support. Fwiw I used Surface Go in this mode for years as my "light travel coding" platform but have recently upgraded to the arm-based Surface Pro X. Much (much) faster than the Goen, 16G ram and 1Tb SSD available. Also a full sized keyboard - the most annoying thing I found about the Go is not being able to…

I think WSL is overrated. I haven't used Windows for years but it was forced upon me by my new employer. Overall I'm not impressed, at least when compared to a full native Gnome experience. Not sure how people are managing, any filesystem operation (on C: for e.g.) takes forever, also GUI apps feel sluggish and heat the laptop.

Agree, honestly I don’t see the point of WSL, it is far less hassle to either Remote Desktop into a real Linux machine, or run a VM.

Re: I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

#29
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a tablet, you'd pick a mediocre tablet experience with a regular desktop experience over a good tablet experience? As a tablet?

Maybe because you need a mobile desktop, not a tablet?

This is better served by a laptop for the majority of people, though as someone that uses an unconventional keyboard anyway, a laptop is somewhat less compelling (since it occupies a lot of space with a keyboard that I actively avoid using), I can certainly see the appeal of a tablet for that purpose.

I personally don't think Microsoft quite got it right with using Windows on a tablet, though it was certainly a lot better with Windows 8, which is what the surface pro 2 (I think the first one as well?) shipped with. There's way too many compromises on usability because it's running Windows, and there's no meaningful impetus for developers to create their applications specifically with touch in mind.

Apple's been much more antagonistic to developers yet they still get people making apps specifically for iPadOS in a way that neither Google nor Microsoft have managed. I think this is the advantage to their totalitarian strategy; they get less applications built for iOS/iPadOS overall and their restrictions make it significantly harder or impossible to create some things you can find easily on Windows, Android, or even MacOS, but because they control the platform they can impose minimum requirements for applications on the platform and as a result you actually get programs that run with that device's UX paradigms in mind. It probably also helps that their platform makes more money and that the iPad is already in a position of dominance in this market, but I digress.

If Microsoft wants to fully realize their Surface tablet vision, they need to pump a ton of money into getting developers on board and building apps that fit the UX paradigms of Surface tablets.

Re: I Finally Found a Solid Debian Tablet: The Surface Go 2

#30
I've used one, not great, but why would you spec a Go out, its a cheap coffee shop laptop, and at least warranty is pretty good in Asia. Keyboard broke, okay do you have a CC, yep, well send you a new one, send us the old back, as long as it isn't your damage (i guess water or obvious drop) its job done and no charge to CC. Small delay as part had to come from Hong Kong to Thailand first. Much better than travelling to and speaking to bloody genius if you happen to get an on the spot appointment with one of the clowns.

This was meant in response to the people complaining about build quality

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