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Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

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Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#151

Post by NicoJuicy »

AshamedCaptain wrote: post #108
phrz wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(Not specific to Surface Go 2) I assure you there is sometimes a reason, which in my mind can be generalized as lack of attention to detail: I deployed Surface Laptop 3’s to my SMB and now hairline screen cracking [1] is popping up left and right. Why? Because MS opted not to put a rubber gasket around their screens so when they changed from fabric to metal wrist rests, the imperfect closure fit led to pieces of sand…

The build quality in Surface devices is terrible, ABSOLUTELY terrible. I have a Surface Pro 2 where the (in)famous "VaporMG" coating layer was completely gone by the first year, leaving a pinkish-blueish-silverish combination of colors that makes the device look as if it was on ground zero at Hiroshima. The power button is flaky and no longer reliably turns the device on, the keyboard cover connector is flaky and cov…

Weird, at my work there hasn't been a single problem with the Surface Pro devices in 2 years.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#152

Post by vb6sp6 »

lentil_soup wrote: post #15

You reckon these kind of tablet/laptops would be able to handle remote desktop smoothly? Since the quarantine started I've been using my laptop to remote desktop to my PC in the office (I need a pretty hefty machine so a laptop doesn't cut it). I've been surprised how well it works and opens a world of possibilities for me. I'd imagine I'm not the only one realizing this.

Absolutely. RDC needs minimal resources so it can run on ancient and low powered devices.

You can get a $20 dock to add usb and hdmi ports so my current setup is 2 rdc sessions going (one of the go screen and one on the external 1080p monitor) and a full sized keyboard keyboard and mouse.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#153

Post by realharo »

mattferderer wrote: post #145
realharo wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Windows does have its flaws (e.g. the useless built-in search), but its window management and taskbar UI is the best of any OS I've ever seen - the live previews on hover, the way it interacts with middle click just like browser tabs/links, the window snapping with multiple monitors, etc. We'll see what WSL 2 brings to the table.

What's wrong with the built-in search? I'll agree the start menu search can be slow on occasion & instead of giving me an app will give me a Bing search on IE. That's my only complaint. Otherwise I like how I can search for just about anything with it. I'm a huge fan of the processes/windows search (Ctrl+Win) to help me find an app on a different visual desktop or a browser tab hidden among the weeds.

It seems ok now that I'm trying it, but I definitely remember not being able to find a specific settings screen (I think it was network connections) even when typing its literal exact name. Same for various applications. Maybe they fixed it in one of the more recent Windows 10 updates.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#154

Post by jccalhoun »

tastyminerals wrote: post #54

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…

As a windows user and primarily Android users, when I bought an ipad a few months ago I was stunned at the things that were either unintuitive or impossible to do in ipad (I just want an alphabetical list of all the apps installed. Is that so hard? Why is it is still so hard to go back one space in a text field?)

Looking at the new ipad pro keyboard monstrosity, I can't imagine how people wouldn't laugh it out of the room if microsoft, google, or samsung released the same product. Doubles the weight of the tablet and has that weird hinge thing, and that price.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#155

Post by nikofeyn »

AshamedCaptain wrote: post #108
phrz wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(Not specific to Surface Go 2) I assure you there is sometimes a reason, which in my mind can be generalized as lack of attention to detail: I deployed Surface Laptop 3’s to my SMB and now hairline screen cracking [1] is popping up left and right. Why? Because MS opted not to put a rubber gasket around their screens so when they changed from fabric to metal wrist rests, the imperfect closure fit led to pieces of sand…

The build quality in Surface devices is terrible, ABSOLUTELY terrible. I have a Surface Pro 2 where the (in)famous "VaporMG" coating layer was completely gone by the first year, leaving a pinkish-blueish-silverish combination of colors that makes the device look as if it was on ground zero at Hiroshima. The power button is flaky and no longer reliably turns the device on, the keyboard cover connector is flaky and cov…

the surface pro 2 was released seven years ago. whatever your experience was then, it isn't relevant now. the surface pro line has undergone big design changes and improvements since then.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#156

Post by vb6sp6 »

ABS wrote: post #10
skocznymroczny wrote: post #5

Too bad they're sticking with the kickstand design. Makes the device so unusable on the lap (as mentioned in the review). I have the original Go and I can't actually complain about the performance, but it's very hard to use without a flat surface. It's also unusable in your hand, e.g. to show something to someone while standing up.

I have the exact opposite complaint :-) the kickstand is not a problem but performance is so abysmal I can basically keep only one application open at the time. I often wondered what I was doing wrong since many people are reasonably happy with its performance but never found an answer, even after disabling everything that can be disabled.

Here is how i use it

1. netflix\youtube

2. outlook\office - perfect for writing emails and reviewing docs when out of the office

3. remoting into a more powerful computer - I RDC into my desktop at home or work if I need to run an ide or do any other heavy lifting

(i got the model with 8gb ram and the faster processor)

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#157

Post by realharo »

afiori wrote: post #141
realharo wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After being subscribed to Louis Rossmann's YouTube channel for a while, I'm not sure Macs are much better in that regard (e.g. butterfly keyboard issues and replacement program, the bizarre cooling solution in new MacBook Air, pin layout that's very susceptible to liquid damage, etc.)

Most of Louis' criticism of Apple are not about the frequency of problems, rather on how they treat the consumer once problems happen.

He often makes fun of their "small number of users were affected" press statements that follow a certain pattern - denial, blaming the users (you're holding it wrong - though most of that is coming from tech media, not Apple themselves), begrudgingly admitting fault, addressing the issue after much pressure. So frequency also plays a role in it.

Not that other manufacturers are much better of course...

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#158

Post by Ididntdothis »

tastyminerals2 wrote: post #142
Ididntdothis wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny how different people come to different conclusions. I have a Book 2 and I regret it almost every day. The dock constantly runs out of USB resources, when I detach the tablet the external screen configuration gets f...ed up in random ways forcing me to rearrange screens and font sizes for a few minutes, the tablet mode feels very awkward to use and for its spec and price the Book 2 is not very fast. My company a…

Emm, screen config not retained is an OS issue and not a laptop tbo. I agree that tablet mode is not convenient but you are free to stay in desktop mode. USB resources are not enough but I never ran out of USB ports because I have no use for them. I connect everything via Bluetooth, mouse, headphones. Mini display port for external monitor. Yes, for the price of ~2k you can buy a more powerful laptop. But how less po…

“Emm, screen config not retained is an OS issue and not a laptop tbo”

My HP Zbook didn’t have these issues with the same OS. I could take it to a meeting, plug it back into the docking station and things would be like before. With the Surface in 80% of cases something gets messed up. I suspect it has something to do with the drivers.

The high res screen on it also causes problems forcing me to constantly adjust the font scaling.

In general, what’s the point of getting a very expensive Surface Book if it’s not really better ?

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#159

Post by reaperducer »

tastyminerals2 wrote: post #142
Ididntdothis wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny how different people come to different conclusions. I have a Book 2 and I regret it almost every day. The dock constantly runs out of USB resources, when I detach the tablet the external screen configuration gets f...ed up in random ways forcing me to rearrange screens and font sizes for a few minutes, the tablet mode feels very awkward to use and for its spec and price the Book 2 is not very fast. My company a…

Emm, screen config not retained is an OS issue and not a laptop tbo. I agree that tablet mode is not convenient but you are free to stay in desktop mode. USB resources are not enough but I never ran out of USB ports because I have no use for them. I connect everything via Bluetooth, mouse, headphones. Mini display port for external monitor. Yes, for the price of ~2k you can buy a more powerful laptop. But how less po…

Emm, screen config not retained is an OS issue and not a laptop tbo

It is when the same company is making both.

Re: Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

#160

Post by ableal »

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…

I echo the experience with "two cheapo media computers with Win10, 2GB RAM, 32GB MMC hard drive. They've been working BRILLIANTLY".

I have a couple of 2013 or 2014 vintage Asus T-100 TA (tablets with detachable keyboard) around the house still working like champs at tablet duties. I think they've been upgrade from the original Windows 8, and they even work with the Office 2013 apps that came included in the 300 euro sale price for each.

Not main work machines, but nice spares, and good for web, PDFs, tube and light games. And I get my fix of Metro Design interface not available on phones any more ...

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